Ni Hao 你好 from Beijing, China! Easter Monday 2021
Yesterday many thousands of people did it here in this
capital city of over twenty million people. Many millions across this entire
nation, the most populous in the world, did it too. Some were on screens. Many
wore masks and shared waves and bumps instead of hugs and handshakes. Many met in different places because they no
longer possess the venues they used last year. All had to weather the
Motherland’s intense efforts to “protect religious people” from sickness –
apparently viruses spread more in churches, mosques, and temples than they do
in bars, sports stadiums, and massage parlors.
Yes, lots of us here in Beijing, China stepped into
the stream of those who have worshipped the Risen Lord Jesus Christ since those
who kneeled at His feet before His empty tomb two thousand years ago. Yesterday
brought new challenges to our gathering. It was the first time this
congregation met in the workplace of one of their members. Worst of all, there
was no PowerPoint – but somehow the Holy Spirit managed to show up without it. Most
of us here in China plan to meet next Sunday too.
Our preacher yesterday shared new insights from a
familiar text – Jesus on the Emmaus Road from Luke 24. This rich slice of
Scripture holds wonderful treasures; seeing Jesus through all Scripture
“Moses…all the Prophets…in all the Scriptures” (v. 27) – ongoing union with God
by the Spirit through the Word “Did not our hearts burn within us…while he
opened to us the Scriptures?” (v. 32) – and fresh courage when one meets the
Risen Lord “they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem” (v. 33). We
heard those great truths yesterday, with an insightful Covid application. Jesus
sought two disciples who wandered away from the fellowship of believers; and
when they had a fresh meeting with Him they ran back to join the brethren in
Jerusalem. How many of us who have grown comfortable watching church wearing
pajamas need that nudge?
Tomb Sweeping Day
Full disclosure, there were many more Chinese sweeping tombs yesterday than worshipping Jesus. Tomb Sweeping Day coincided with Easter this year. Families travel to relative’s graves to pay their respects, a Confucian form of posthumous respect and filial piety for ancestors.
Those of us who follow the true and living God in China pray that as our foolish friends burn bucks and tidy tombs they will reflect on their life after death. Perhaps they will think about that crazy family member – friend – work colleague – former classmate – bar buddy – college classmate – or that smiling old man who cleans their apartment complex – who told them Jesus’ promise of Resurrection and Life. The old ‘tell somebody who will tell somebody’ still works best to spread the Good News here.
Visit from the Gobi
You can see how a billion people burning paper goodies
for their ancestors does not help our breathing in China. In our 12 years here,
we have never traveled to the Gobi Desert, so the sands of the Gobi paid us a
visit during March. We had several ‘yellow sky’ days. The air quality measurement
for Beijing soared beyond the index levels. We will not miss this part of life
here.
Different views of Beijing’s Forbidden City within the same week last month!
New Adventures Ahead
Our plan is to leave China in June, finishing our work
here. We look back on the last 12 years with praise for all the Lord has done.
We treasure friendships with brothers and sisters in Christ from around the
world that we made here. At this point we hear His call to “Leave” more clearly
than where He commands to “Land!” But we trust the Lord who has guided us
through 40 years of global mission has a corner of his harvest field for us to
serve for the next season.
We plan to land in Portland, Oregon and visit with family
there. We are car shopping now. Sometime in late summer we hope to drive East
and see friends.
We hope to visit family, friends, and churches in
California this coming winter. And then
perhaps return to Hawaii in the first quarter of 2022, God willing.
A Work in Progress
Mark is busy writing our mission story. He has finished
the rough draft of our Uganda years. It is in need of editing. It might be
helpful if you have insomnia…
We hope to see many of you in the coming months.
Please let us know your availability, we are putting the pins in our USA map
phone app…it has a world map too!
Yours in the Joy of our
Risen Savior, Mark
and Dayna Blair
Our Mission Pioneers - 10123 William
Carey Dr - Orlando, FL 32832 USA
Checks
to ‘Pioneers’ – with attached note: ‘Mark and Dayna Blair, Beijing.’
Electronic
transfers: https://give.pioneers.org/p-75-give-to-a-missionary-or-project.aspx
(Our
Account # is 110565, Mark and Dayna Blair)
Email blairstan2@gmail.com Or blairstan@psmail.net (secure)
Blog www.blairstan.blogspot.com
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