Western
Jurisdiction
United Methodist Volunteers
In Mission
By Jin Ming Ma
Our China UMVIM team visited the Western Mountain Farm School in western China, outside of Urumqi. When we arrived, the students and teachers were standing outside of the school for two hours to wait for us. The opening between the two rows of children and teachers afforded a vista of the warmest welcome. Even some Communist leaders were there to give speeches for welcome us. All team members have learned that it is a constitutional law in China that no Christian missionaries are allowed to spread Good News and to allot the Bibles with other Christian materials to Chinese people. We were careful not to speak any Christianity both at farm school and in the public. Our intentional plan for the Western Mountain Farm School was to build a shower room; however, the rich blessings we received are beyond our financial aid to the farm.
I could not describe the "China Experience" with a few words. It is not simply for us to help the farm school to build a shower room for which we donated $1900 this time. The unspeakable experience is far beyond our finance support to the farm school because we are blessed as one of the missionary pioneers in northwest of red China. As we sang "Let There Be Peace on Earth" in front of those Communist leaders, truly the Holy Spirit of Living God is with us. Looking at all smiling, lovely, and innocent faces of children, we have received a great benefit of love by their trust and belief. It made me think that one significant sign of Christian blessings comes where we realize that our faith is not just for our own benefit but for the benefit of others by sharing the Good News. I cannot imagine what kind of impact we did to each other, but I would like to say that true faithfulness requires that we be ready to share the truth in love through God's grace in Jesus' Name.
Rev. Jin Ming Ma