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Volunteers Redefine "Perfect Christmas"
January 18, 2005

Jeremy’s* definition of a "perfect Christmas" doesn’t include mistletoe or holiday ham. It does include new friends, wordless dramas, a new language and plenty of rice, however. One of a number of Christmas in China (CIC) participants, Jeremy stepped out of his comfort zone this winter break and into a life-changing experience.

"I’m truly thankful for this trip," said Jeremy. "There is a God who is alive and is at work in every tribe, in every nation, and in every tongue. And He is here in China."

Small teams of student volunteers like Jeremy traveled throughout China, learning about the Chinese culture and sharing about their own. Most found the Chinese people eager to learn about American culture and holidays. Sharing the true meaning of Christmas was an open door to reaching the millions of Chinese who have never heard of Jesus.

"Before I came, I had absolutely no clue of the need in China," said Maria*, a CIC participant. "I’ve been on tons of trips in different places, and in all of them there was a need. But 1.3 billion people? It blows your mind. I really had no clue."

Opportunities to Share
Opportunities to share came naturally as local residents asked questions about Christmas. At a local university, the "BY" team met Lee*, a Chinese student who belonged to a local minority people group. Lee invited the three-member team to visit his village and meet his family. Anxious to experience this aspect of Chinese culture, the team eagerly agreed.

Soon after they arrived, a smiling Lee dragged in a Christmas tree, a rarity in even the most prominent homes in China.

"They really rolled out the red carpet for us," said Matt, who was awed at the local hospitality, despite the area’s extreme poverty. As they began to decorate the tree, curious village residents began to stream in from all directions, bringing many questions about the meaning of Christmas.

Their questions opened the door for the visitors to share the true meaning of the holiday. After singing songs about the coming of Jesus, they asked the local people if they would like to watch a film about His life. The people eagerly agreed, and silence enveloped the house as they watched the newly completed Jesus film in their own minority language, the first movie ever recorded in their language.

The next day, the people returned to watch the video again, not just once but four times in a row.

Other teams had similar openings to plant gospel seeds, both in rural villages and in bustling cities. Whether caroling through dark streets, throwing Christmas parties with local students or backpacking to remote areas in blistery weather, the students faced an onslaught of new experiences as they prayed for opportunities to share their faith.

Challenges and refinement
The CIC participants experienced an outpouring of God’s moving during their time in China, but the trip was not without its challenges. One team was caught in an ice-storm while hiking in remote areas. Many others braved the cold weather with no heat or hot water. Some became sick and almost all were drop-dead tired at one point or another. Language differences and culture shock caused frustrations for many.

"At one point I thought, ‘I’m halfway around the world, its freezing cold, I don’t know what I’m about to put in my body, its just strange, strange, strange,’ and I was just thinking, what would I do without God?" commented one participant. "It was just amazing to me how I was so out of my comfort zone, yet so comforted by a comforting God."

When asked about their difficulties, the students were honest. But, conversation inevitably drifted to the areas in which the students were refined and challenged as a result.

"I learned that I have this much faith," said one student, holding his fingers close together. He then spread his arms wide and added, "And God wants me to have this much."

"Before I went, I knew I was blessed, but I had no idea how blessed I was," said another participant. "We are so blessed to even get to worship God, to have hot water and not have to carry it up 8 flights of stairs," he added.

"I learned most was how selfish I was," said Laura. "We have the answers to eternal life, and we have the answer to the greatest gift to mankind. What is our excuse for not sharing the gospel?"

Tackling the task
The enormity of the task in China boggles the mind. Almost one in every four people on the planet lives in China, but few have ever heard the gospel. Now back in the States, the CIC participants have a desire to change that statistic.

How do you reach 1.3 billion people? " China is so big. There are so many people here," said one participant. "How am I going to reach that? It starts one county at a time, one person at a time. If enough people get involved, great things will happen."

Many Christians back away from such a large task because they don’t feel qualified for the job. But, a cross section of Christian workers reveals that God doesn’t need only the valedictorians among us, but wants great and small alike. He uses the willing, not just the qualified.

"If normal people, everyday people aren’t willing to go, who will go?" said Clint*. "People need to know that. They need to open their minds to that. Because over here there is a world full of people who are in great darkness and bondage, and who will do it if we won’t do it?"

CIC not only opened the students’ eyes to the vast need in China, but for many, it is a stepping stone for return visits.

"Like everyone else, I left a big part of my heart in china," said Emily*. "But the part I left was so big, I might have to go back and visit it every now and then."

*names changed

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