Thanksgiving Greetings from Beijing,
Last Tuesday we said good-bye to
our eldest son Nathan and his wife Heather who moved back to Portland, Oregon.
In their two and a half years here Heather taught Biology and English in a
large Chinese high school. Here she shares with a blind Chinese boy who is a
part of the Bethel Home that is often served by the members of our church.
Nathan
began his career as a product designer working in two companies here. You can
see some of his accomplishments, and some his great photos of life in Beijing,
on this web site: http://nathanklblair.com
We,
and their many friends from our church and work, miss them already! But we will
see them soon as all three of our sons will gather with family for a Christmas
reunion in Hilo. It will be the first time we have been all together with Nathan
and Heather, Josiah, and Aaron - in six years. We are excited and grateful.
The Beijing International Christian
Fellowship continues to thrive. We are seeing the Lord work throughout our 21
congregations, including the five that we serve in Zhong Guan Cun. Last night
we had a full and dynamic “Unity” service with our English, Korean, Indonesian,
and African congregations! This fall we have seen Small Groups really grow.
Young people far from home are finding Christian community and solid Christian
friendships. Of the 82 Universities that surround our church venue, we have
groups on about 20. Pray with us as we try to reach even more. We are planning
an all church Thanksgiving Dinner, which has been much appreciated by students,
both Christians and not yet, who are far from home.
Dayna enjoys teaching baking, and we all
enjoy eating the fruits of their labors! Here are students from China,
Tanzania, Madagascar, and Ghana getting some tips from the Chef. We are
thankful we can open our apartment for fellowship and ministry.
We our planning our third annual “Christmas
around the World” program held at a large Chinese church again this
year. We again have a great team of performers, stage crew, and coordinators
who are already working hard. The pastor of the church, which now has 10,000
members, has asked us to do the performance for two nights (December 13 &
14) to allow more people to attend. Their venue seats over 2000 people and we
expect to fill the house twice. Many of those who come will not know the Christ
of Christmas. May He who became man long ago give them a new birth this year!
During
our time away from BICF ZGC these five young preachers will serve our church
here in Beijing. It has been a joy to spend time studying with them as they
prepare to preach, “King Jesus: Adored and Obeyed” from Matthew 1 & 2, and
5-7. It has been one of our goals to encourage and equip expository preachers.
And these guys come with knowledge and skills from Hong Kong, Tanzania, USA,
and UK. Please remember Hin Tai, Mbazingwa, Adam, Peter, and Josh in your
prayers.
We leave for Hawaii tomorrow and are
eager to be with our ohana, churches, and friends. Here is our Sunday schedule:
December 1 Kalihi Union Church, Honolulu
December 8 Living Waters Assembly of
God, Hilo
December 15 Hilo Missionary Church
December 22 Puna Covenant Church, Keaau,
Hawaii
December 29 Mokuaikaua Congregational
Church, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
January 5 Kalahikiola Congregational Church, Hawi, Hawaii
January 12 City Church of Honolulu (PCA)
January 19 First Chinese Church of
Christ, Honolulu
January 24 Kauai Island Missions Banquet
January 26 North Shore Christian Church,
Kilauea, Kauai
February 2
February 9 Kawaiaha’o Congregational
Church, Honolulu
February 16 Hawaii Kai UCC, Hawaii Kai, Oahu
February 23 AM - Waipuna Chapel, Kula,
Maui
PM – Wailuku Door of Faith, Maui
February 26 – Fly back to Beijing….
If you are in Hawaii, we really hope to
see you!
Yours in Him who came to Save
Us, Mark
and Dayna Blair
Our Mission
Pioneers - 10123 William Carey Drive -
Orlando, FL 32832 – USA www.pioneers.org
(Checks should be made out to ‘Pioneers’
– with a separate note attached saying: ‘Mark and Dayna Blair, Beijing.’
Electronic transfers can be sent to: http://www.pioneers.org/Give/AutomatedGiving.aspx )
Skype blairstan
Our Ministry
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