Kings Witness

This is the story of one of my dearest relationships and it was all started by wearing my Witness bracelet.  I know it is a bit long but please take the time to read it....

To give you a little background...In October of 2008 i was in Guangzhou, China at the China Import/Export Fair.  Guangzhou is a city of approximately 10 million people, in which nearly none speak English.  This fair is the largest in the world and has nearly 100,000 buyers from across the globe in attendance.  As I was working this fair on the last day, getting ready to head to Hong Kong in the morning, I grabbed a lunch at one of the stands (which is another story in itself!) and proceeded outdoors to eat.     

As I was eating a young man approached me who I found out later was a senior at the major university in Guangzhou.  He asked me if I would do a marketing research survey for him.  Though I was anxious to get back into the center to continue working I agreed to fill out the questions for him.  As we completed the survey we got into a discussion that ended up lasting nearly 2 hours!  We covered everything from politics to family to freedom to religion, and the discussion opened my eyes and mind in a way that it had never been opened before. 

Lijinming, his “American name” is Tom, started telling me some of the woes in his life about girls, job, school, etc –I guess some problems are universal:).  As we continued to talk I shared some of my own troubles and heartaches and we quickly became, I guess what would be called kindred spirits.  So, Lijinming, a 20 year old kid from a “working-class” family in mainland China who speaks broken English and I continue to discuss these issues, when I look down at my wrist.  Now, I’ve often times heard and talked about how the Witness Bracelet is a cross-cultural/cross-denominational symbol but until this day I had never gotten the opportunity to use it in a foreign country.  I took it off my wrist and told him there are a lot of troubles all over the world, and a lot that is dear to each of our hearts but this bracelet is what is most Important to me.  I proceeded to walk through each of the five symbols and tell him about my faith.  As his eyes swelled up with tears he first apologized that he had nothing he can give me; then he asked me, “Do you think G~d is disappointed with His children?  There is so much evil in this world, I just wonder if He gets depressed too.” 

The Lord really is amazing and it’s an unbelievable honor that he opened this door for me.  I ashamedly do not look nearly often enough for opportunities to share Christ.  To be honest, I wasn’t looking for an opportunity to share Christ this time either but Lijinming and I, to this day, consistently communicate via email and I look forward to the Lord bringing him to a saving faith in Christ.  I ask that you all pray for Lijinming and the Lord working in him.  Below is his first email that was awaiting my arrival back in the states….

Dear ben , 

When you read this, I guess you have come back to your happy home. I wish you have a wonderful trip in China, and make great progress in your business.  

Do you remember the movies that I told you before? I have checked the English names of the films,one is “ The Shawshank Redemption”,and the other is “A Beautiful Mind”,they are both good films that win the Oscar prize.

It was very nice to meet you and made friends with you. We could learn many things from each other,and share the sweets and bitters of the wonderful life. I could tell my story to you ,and you could tell your story to me ,then maybe we could provide suggestions for each other and solve our problems wisely, though it seems a bit overconfident of me, I’m just an ignorant student and lack of social experience.

Please give my best wishes to your devoted wife and lovely kids, and I really very sorry that I could not give you a present when you were in Guangzhou. Maybe next time when you come to China, I would give you a surprise present. Sincerely thank you again for your profound present.

Well, let me finish here and I am already eagerly awaiting your reply to this first letter.

 Best wishes,

Tom  li jin ming 李锦铭

You know, it is so easy for me to get caught up in the day-to-day, but it is stories and relationships like these that make life meaningful.  Every day I wake I want to remind myself of this story and of what Christ has done for me.  The Great Commission tells us to go to all the nations and spread the Good News of Christ.  Every time I think of this I am humbled by what the Lord has done for me as I pray that He will use me, and continue to work in Lijinming!