Philip and his family bounced along inside the small mini van that took them from the bus to their friends village. It was a typical village with about 200 households. Each house had it's own courtyard where the water buffalo or ox ate hay in the stable. Next door, the pigs noisily waited for their next meal and the chickens scratched in the dirt for seeds or bugs.
Although it was market day, a variety of people stayed behind to welcome their foreign guests. The host family was busy preparing a feast for lunch. After a wonderful meal the festivities began. First several older ladies, dressed in their best Zhuang clothing, performed a variety of traditional Zhuang and Chinese songs and dances. Afterwards the foreign family also dressed up to perform the traditional Christmas story. This was the first time people in this village had ever heard this story. Would they understand that there is only one God who created the universe? Would they understand that this birth over 2,000 years ago still had important significance today? Could they even understand the person reading the script in Mandarin, rather than the local dialect they usually use?
Over 2,000 years ago simple shepherds were chosen to hear the good news that the Savior was in Bethlehem. Throughout China various believers have been and are sharing this same good news! Please pray that, like the shepherds of long ago, the message would be received with joy, personally examined, and then also shared with others. Pray that many who do welcome Christ as Savior would also make Him Lord of their lives day after day.
Praise:
