Dear Wu XiAs we do know that that the 互联网 is open to scrutiny by the authorities where you are, I am not sure I can write all that I want to write to you via email. I am thinking maybe if you ever did a google or a 百度 on your own name, you might see this. Of course, there are other things here in my blog which would probably not get through the firewalls anyway. Perhaps you might read this while travelling abroad, or perhaps one day the firewalls would be removed (amen!), and we can have open conversations about the Faith on the internet. It's a little funny isn't it? We had pretty open conversations in the spanking new cafes at the Border Town, while many a 公安 passed us by. We were only having English lessons of course :)
I did receive some updates from sister Fay about you and the rest of the class. I am very glad to hear that most of you are well and growing in the Lord. I am especially excited to hear from her that you have taken up various positions of service and leadership in the家庭教会 . It was clear to us from the start that you do have a gift for teaching, even while you interpreted for Jacob when he conducted the OT studies, I was always impressed with your clear and lucid explanations in your native tongue to the class. With your enthusiasm and admirable discipline for learning the scriptures, I am sure you will be, and are being used by God to do the much much needed work of teaching the Word of Life to the very many 兄弟姐妹 being added to the Kingdom everyday in your country, where bible scholarship and teaching resources are scarce indeed.
I remember how we used to chat after class, and you would ask me many questions about how a "regular" church is run in places with religious freedom, and the things Christians do in such congregations. It never failed to remind me just how lucky I have been to have always lived in places (Singapore, Hong Kong, Singapore) where freedom of religion is entrenched as part of the宪法 . Some of us do, of course, face persecution in other forms, for instance from our families, or just social pressures from friends or colleagues that we let constrain us in our practice and proclamation of the Faith. But yes, I have come to realize the need to learn never to take for granted to ability to freely worship, and to take lightly the ability to draw on any of the Christian literature and resources worldwide. And yes, you always reminded me how blessed I am to be able to openly identify with other Christians, worshipping and praying with them in public, a comfort and joy that I easily forget.
So, Wu Xi, I hope you are well. I hope things have been sorted out with your wife, and that your little daughter is not too much affected by the separation. It must not be easy sometimes, but you must remember that all things are new with the Lord, and that you can take courage to face life ahead with the strength of the Lord, and hope in Him alone.
Your sister in Christ,
Wei
p.s. Found a gouache at the Joomi Ching art gallery website called Baidu Passages. Thought it was quite nice. Hope your new graphic design firm is getting off on a good start too.
I did receive some updates from sister Fay about you and the rest of the class. I am very glad to hear that most of you are well and growing in the Lord. I am especially excited to hear from her that you have taken up various positions of service and leadership in the家庭教会 . It was clear to us from the start that you do have a gift for teaching, even while you interpreted for Jacob when he conducted the OT studies, I was always impressed with your clear and lucid explanations in your native tongue to the class. With your enthusiasm and admirable discipline for learning the scriptures, I am sure you will be, and are being used by God to do the much much needed work of teaching the Word of Life to the very many 兄弟姐妹 being added to the Kingdom everyday in your country, where bible scholarship and teaching resources are scarce indeed.
I remember how we used to chat after class, and you would ask me many questions about how a "regular" church is run in places with religious freedom, and the things Christians do in such congregations. It never failed to remind me just how lucky I have been to have always lived in places (Singapore, Hong Kong, Singapore) where freedom of religion is entrenched as part of the宪法 . Some of us do, of course, face persecution in other forms, for instance from our families, or just social pressures from friends or colleagues that we let constrain us in our practice and proclamation of the Faith. But yes, I have come to realize the need to learn never to take for granted to ability to freely worship, and to take lightly the ability to draw on any of the Christian literature and resources worldwide. And yes, you always reminded me how blessed I am to be able to openly identify with other Christians, worshipping and praying with them in public, a comfort and joy that I easily forget.
So, Wu Xi, I hope you are well. I hope things have been sorted out with your wife, and that your little daughter is not too much affected by the separation. It must not be easy sometimes, but you must remember that all things are new with the Lord, and that you can take courage to face life ahead with the strength of the Lord, and hope in Him alone.
Your sister in Christ,
Wei
p.s. Found a gouache at the Joomi Ching art gallery website called Baidu Passages. Thought it was quite nice. Hope your new graphic design firm is getting off on a good start too.
