My First Mission Trip in China (II)

Continue from last week…

On the 28th evening, we took a public transport to Fuzhou. Over there, we stayed for two nights. The following day, we went around for a little shopping, especially wind breakers for we were told that the weather in Shanghai will be pretty cold. We were accompanied by a brother Chen and two other sisters. We also had an opportunity to visit a tourist attraction a mountain resort -- Gushan. Brother Chen and his wife gave us a lunch and dinner treat. May the Lord bless them for their Christian hospitality.

We left for Shanghai on March 2 by plane at noon. We arrived at the home of brother Jay & sister Angelina in the afternoon. Sister Angie extended a very warm welcome to us. The first thing we did was to put all our dirty clothes into the washing machine. She also treated us to "Teh-Tarik" (milk tea), and specially cooked curry chicken and steam fish for dinner. We truly appreciate her thoughtfulness in providing all the food that we missed for the past one week. There was a Chinese Bible study held in a neighbour's house in the evening. The participants were all foreigners (Singaporeans, Malaysians, Canadians & etc.). The theme for discussion for that evening was "God's Election & Freewill of Man". Pastor David tried to explain to them this deep theological issue, though it not completely satisfyied, but everyone agreed that God's Holy Word is the highest authority of our faith and life.

The following day at 9.30am, there was another English Bible study in the neighbourhood, both brother Jay and Pastor went for the meeting. Sister Angie and myself went to visit a florist & nursery nearby. Our hearts were truly gladdened as we admire the beautiful and colourful flowers. Thank God for His wonderful creation.

At noon, we took a free bus ride to a nearby MRT station (Lianhualu) to meet up with Dn Isaac & his family down town. It was most delightful to meet up with them in a foreign land. They brought us to visit the famous Nanjing Shopping Road, the Riverside and an ancient shopping area. As we had an appointment to keep at 4pm, we could only take a glance at these places. We arrived at the home of brother Yak Kin at the appointed time. Then the family worship commenced with singing of hymns and Pastor gave the exhortation. Thank God for such a wonderful time of worship and fellowship in the Lord. After the service, we had dinner together at a Chinese Restaurant. We truly appreciate their warmness in Christ. May God bless these two families as they learn to encourage one another in the Lord. After dinner, we returned to Puxi by taking the MRT.

On the Lord's Day (March 4), a Sunday Worship cum Lord's Supper Service was held in the home of brother Jay. There were more than 30 adults who attended the service with Deacon Isaac chairing and Pastor ministered the Word and Lord's Supper. What a joy to see brothers and sisters gathered for worship and listening to God's Word. I truly thank God for their love for Christ. We want to praise and thank God that our flight and train tickets and the lodging in Shanghai were all provided by His loving children. God will remember their kindness and love and surely will reward them accordingly.

After lunch, the driver of brother Jay took us to Shanghai Train Station which took about one hour's journey. The train trip to Suzhou was about an hour or so. After checking into the hotel at about 6.30pm, we took a cab and rushed to the evening service (7pm). The brethren gathered together were mainly returnees from Saipan. The service was held in a bedroom (the bed is situated right at the middle), and the congregation surrounded the bed for worship. I can see that these brothers and sisters are really longing and thirsting after God's Word. There are about ten to twenty of them who gathered regularly on other Sundays sharing and studying the Bible when there are no speakers in their midst. May our gracious Lord bless and reward them for their love and kindness shown to us.

On March 5, we journeyed west from Suzhou to Wuxi, the bus ride took about an hour. A few Christian brothers and sisters were waiting for us at the Bus Terminal. Because of a big crowd and poor transport arrangement, we arrived at Jiangying at 3pm. Some of the brethren had been waiting for us since 9am. We felt rather sorry for their long wait. After a sumptuous meal, we started the service immediately. There was no heater in the house and I was feeling very cold. Thank God that the host, sister Ruth brought me extra clothings to keep me warm. Pastor preached for more than an hour, followed a by Q&A time. After dinner, we met for another hour. Everybody felt that such a gathering was too short. A few of them suggested that in future we can hold meeting in their homes which are nearer to town. May the Lord keep and preserve the faith of these brothers and sisters who love Him.

We spent the night in Wuxi and on the following day (March 6), a sister brought us to visit a famous park, Liyuan. We toured around the place for about two hours, after lunch we took a coach and head back to Suzhou.

We arrived at Suzhou late in the afternoon and then we called brother Cheng Heng and sister Ee Loo for dinner. At about 6pm, brother Cheng Heng came to fetch us. We were overjoyed to see him doing well and he treated us to a sumptuous buffet dinner. We truly appreciate his generosity. After dinner, Cheng Heng showed us around Suzhou Industrial Park which is very modern and beautiful. The night lights that lit up the whole vicinity was magnificent, I was rather impressed. May the Lord help His children to shine forth for Him.

On March 7, we went to visit the famous Tiger Hill in Suzhou before taking the coach to Shanghai to catch our flight of Xiamen.

After spending a night at Xiamen, the next morning we made a quick tour to an island offshore. Later, we were invited by a Korean missionary for lunch and had a very good fellowship with him and got to know more about the ministry he is doing. After lunch, we were just in time to catch a cab to the airport and headed back to Singapore.

We truly praise and thank God for His protection and providence. Thank God for granting us journey mercies and good health, and we are lack of nothing. May this trip be a blessing to many whom we had met and ministered unto.

Many brothers and sisters who returned from overseas cannot find a church that they can worship and therefore stopped attending church. We realized that their spiritual must need be met with but at the same time it is also a danger for them. May God have mercies upon these sheep without a shepherd.

"The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; " 38 "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38)

Reported by Un Yuet Mui