It was Sunday, a blazing hot day in a large city somewhere along the Silkroad. We had arrived in the early hours of the morning, and we had barely slept a few hours before it was time to get up again. This morning, we were going to meet several missionary families for fellowship and encouragement. For lack of better options, we would meet in one of our hotel rooms.
When I knocked on the door, several people were already gathered in prayer, kneeling around the double bed in the middle of the room. A little toddler was playing with some plastic toys in a corner. Another family arrived and then another. The little room was getting somewhat crowded. Then came a call from the reception. Another guest had arrived and they were getting suspicious. What were all these people doing in one hotel room?
This could have gone south, but eventually turned out for the better. When we told the receptionist that we were having a meeting, we were offered an airconditioned conference room for free use, including tea. There we had the time to talk and listen to each other’s stories.
Several of the families were fairly recent arrivals, they had been there just a year or two. The little toddler was even more recent. The grandparents were worried the child would suffer if they would move to a country where living conditions were so basic and they imagined the parents would have to concentrate on their language study. So, when the parents left for the field, they had kept the child back in China. After a year, the grandma had visited with the child and then felt comfortable enough to let the parents take over again.
They were obviously very happy to be reunited and rather than a burden, the child had been a help with language study. As often is the case, having a small child with you is a natural conversation starter – especially for the mother who gets to have much more language practise now talking with other mothers about their children.
Other missionaries had been in the country longer, since before Covid. The pandemic had been a real test in perseverance. When you are new in a country and everything closes down, studying language or starting a business is not exactly easy. But they had persevered, and their teenage children had done well in local schools. They spoke four languages by now and seemed like confident young adults.
Fortunately, the workers did not live too far away from eachother, and they could meet up once in a while. Contact with local believers was difficult, because it posed a risk to them to be seen with foreigners. So, they would attend fellowship meetings with them just once a month.
As their language improved, they found that local people are quite willing to discuss religion, often asking the missionaries about their beliefs and suggesting them to read the Quran. But actions speak louder than words. What was most impressive to local people was the very different marriage relationship the missionary couples have. Many girls shared how they really hoped they could also find a husband who would treat them as a friend. This would give the missionaries openings to share about how our faith affects our relationships.
Fellowship, preaching and prayer are great ways to encourage field workers, but men cannot live by words alone. Fortunately, everywhere along the Silkroad there are Chinese restaurants to be found. A taste of home was the perfect way to end the meeting, with a dear brother picking up the bill and making sure everyone had the dishes they liked.
We left them with the assurances that the wider Church is praying for them. Please join us and pray for these field workers, their children, the relationships they build and the businesses they start to support their families on the field. They are on the front lines and need our backing!
