Second Trip to China (2013)

Dear Family, Friends, Brothers and Sisters,

The visit to China impressed us with what the Lord is working there in the believers. What we were allowed to experience, we see as a great privilege and gift from the Lord. It has been a privilege for us to be able to share in their faith, “to be encouraged together with you [them] by the mutual faith” (Rom 1:12). We want to share our impressions with all those who have contributed to this visit and the work of the Lord in any way, above all through your prayers. We have seen the results of it. The report shows that everything is the work of the Lord.

Departure and travel – Sunday and Monday 24 and 25 November

After prayers for us by the church and their accompanying prayers plus the prayers of many others, we drove to Amsterdam. On the way we listened to the news and heard that the airport of Harbin was shrouded in a thick blanket of smog, making visibility less than 50 meters and the airport closed.

We were wondering if it would still be so the next day and if we would be able to land. I remembered the word that the Lord has blotted out our transgressions like a thick cloud (Isa 44:22) and that He also is able to blot out that little misty cloud above that city. When we arrived, there was no problem with the air pollution any longer (at least not visible …). Praise the Lord.

In London we had to change planes and check-in anew. The desk was not yet open, and a Chinese student was already waiting. We had a chat and gave her the CD of Gospel Recordings Netherlands with the gospel in her own language.

When it was our turn to check in, it appeared that I had lost the little cart with the code of my suitcase on it, with as a consequence my suitcase could not be recognized to be sent through to the final destination. I was advised to ask at the boarding desk to call the luggage storage and check whether my suitcase was left there and to bring it on board. On inquiry it proved untraceable and possibly would be sent through. We would need to go on Friday to the lost and found desk at the airport of Harbin. The man would do his best to check whether the suitcase may yet go on board. He asked our seat numbers and would let us know just before departure. We prayed that the Lord would not lose mine out of sight among the thousands of suitcases and would take care that it would come aboard.

Just before we left a flight attendant came to tell us that the suitcase was on board. We felt a great relief and gratitude that the Lord had made it well. To be honest there was with the confidence that the Lord had made good a bit of the feeling: ‘seeing is believing’. We were ashamed, yet at the same time even more marveled by the Lord when we arrived at the baggage claim: there was my suitcase turning circles before the other suitcases arrived. The Chinese commentaries on the letter to the Romans had also arrived without any problems.

Arrival and stay in Harbin – Monday and Tuesday 25 and 26 November

We arrived Monday at 23.30 (local time). Sister Wang who also picked me up last year was waiting for us. We were taken to our stay. I found it very nice to give her as the first Chinese believer on Chinese territory a copy of the commentary of the letter to the Romans in Chinese.

When we were picked up for dinner next day around noon it appeared that our stay was less than five minutes walk from the school where last year the Bible studies were held. We were eating in one of the classrooms, where there were some other believers who had come for the Bible studies. They were two brothers and a sister. One brother was a reverent from Seoul, South Korea. He did not speak Chinese, but some English. The other brother would translate for him in Chinese. The sister was from Changchun, the city where we hoped to go to at the end of the next week. She knew some house churches there. Because we thought we would see them during the Bible studies, we didn’t talk further about our plans to go to Changchun, but it turned out differently.

After dinner we went back to our stay, waiting for the arrival of br. Thomas who arranged the meetings with sister Wang and would translate. He arrived at half past four. We went to the school where sister Wang asked for another copy of the book. While asking, she rubbed her belly, the international gesture for hunger.

We heard that we would go to another town by car. It was one of those unexplained changes in the program for us, and later we heard the cause. It was a drive of five and a half hours on hard frozen roads that were very bumpy through the hardened snow, with hills of snow on the roadside. The average speed was between 30 and 40 km per hour. We arrived at ten o'clock.

Town X – Wednesday-Friday 27-29 November

It was anticipated that we would arrive in the dark, because as Europeans our coming had to take place in the dark, so it would be as unobtrusively as possible. We were advised to show ourselves as little as possible. During our stay we were not allowed to go out by ourselves, not even to take a walk. So next morning, when we arrived at a common dining room, we had to take our place by the window with our back to the room.

When getting on the bus to go to the Bible study – which began at half past nine – I was told that I should not sit in the front because then there was a chance that I would be noticed. The windows were tinted, so from the side it was not visible who was in the car.

Then we went to the building of the Bible study, a drive of less than ten minutes. This building is located on the outskirts of the town. Before we turned down the road where the building is, the road was first checked to see if there were any people walking on the road. The car was parked right before the entrance. Again the road was examined if it was safe, that no people were walking down the road. If it was safe, the door of the building was opened, then the door of the car and we were led inside quickly.

What we saw when we entered the building, is almost unbelievable. The small hall was packed with believers who were hungry for God's Word. They were packed together sitting on small, low wooden fishing folding chairs, with rope or straps as the seat and without backrest. They all had a Bible and paper for notes on their knees. Others sat on the floor against the wall. In an adjacent room were also some believers before a TV screen on which they saw us and could follow the Bible studies projected thereon by a webcam. In the entrance to the building there were also believers who desired to get teaching from the Word of God.

We were told that many more would like to come. There were more than a hundred in the different rooms, who had come from a hundred house churches across five regions. Normally from every house church two or three believers come, but because of the limited available space, the number of participants was limited to this number. I had given the commentaries to br. Thomas because he knows much better the needs and possibilities of who can use them. He has given a commentary for each region. They can multiply them in their own region.

We also talked about a way to print the commentary in China by an underground printer. Br. Thomas will look at the possibilities and let me know. The printing of books as this one is still very sensitive. Not long ago a printer was sentenced to prison.

During the three days we were there, we were more and more impressed of how important the word of God is to them. In the morning they sat for three hours and in the afternoon for three more hours (with a fifteen minute break in between and a lunch break of two hours) and in the evening one hour and a half, almost without movement, except their writing hands. With the passage of time, the temperature increased in the little packed room. At times it was very hot, but no one complained.

The limited space and the temperature showed us the more clearly their love of the Lord Jesus and the Word of God. This we could read from their faces and saw in their attitude. We heard that they were believers who for the most part come from rural areas, working on farms, besides doing a work for the Lord. During wintertime there is more time for instruction and edification in the Word, an opportunity which they use as good as can be.

Every time we came into the building, everyone was in his place or they were standing singing. During the studies, there were no comings and goings. There was only one toilet. How they did in the break is a mystery to us, as so many things remain a mystery to us. In the afternoon break, the participants got the lunch in the building which we had in a house just down the same road. Both coming and going they examined if it was safe for us to go. One time when we wanted to go, we had to go back in the house. They drove the car up the yard, loaded us and transported us.

In the Bible studies we went through the Gospel according to Matthew. A variety of topics were discussed. As in the whole Bible the Lord Jesus is the central theme. We saw Him as the King of Israel, His birth from Mary and conceived by the Holy Spirit, whereby as Man He is the Son of God, while He also remained the eternal Son whom He always was. Furthermore, we spoke about topics as the kingdom of heaven, the future of Israel, sexuality and marriage and family, the government of the Lord Jesus now in the lives of His people, His place in glory, the rapture of the church and His return to earth. The worth of going through a book of the Bible is that Scripture can be made clear in its context, while frequently certain topics we meet in going through a section can be deepened.

Like last year the teaching could be done in collaboration with br. Thomas. We feel that we have been given to each other by the Lord. In between the talks we got to know each other better. We both noticed how the Spirit leads us and that we complement each other very well. This is according to the church as the body of Christ, in which the members need and complement each other. It is quite a task to translate from English to Chinese, because it is not possible to give a word by word translation, so he needs special help from the Lord which he also has experienced. It is a privilege to do this ministry together with him.

There was also a couple that came along with him who asked if they could join him. We also got a nice contact with them. To Willy it was nice that the sister spoke some English. Before his conversion the brother was a member of a kind of mafia. Later he told us that he had been in jail several times, that he had been a drug addict and that he had come to repentance by what he read in Romans 3: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:23-24).

The last Bible study was planned for Friday, but was cancelled because of the demand to come to another place, where a small conference was scheduled on Saturday. We therefore had to leave Friday night, because it was again driving several hours, again on slippery, bumpy roads. Thus the last Bible study was Friday afternoon. The Lord spoke to us that final afternoon in a special way. We have all been deeply impressed by Who He is.

The closing words of the Gospel, which come out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus, are especially suitable for a farewell. We encouraged each other with these final words: “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” While praying and giving thanks, some could not help tears coming. In these moments a sister crept to Willy and gave a notebook to her, containing a ‘thank you’ and blessing wishes written in it, according to br. Thomas in a beautiful Chinese handwriting. After this they all sang for us the Chinese version of ‘Amazing Grace’, and a touching farewell followed. Then we moved to the next place.

Note to Willy given by a sister after the teaching in Tong He (transl. by Thomas)

My beautiful sister in Christ, the precious maid servant of God who comes from far. You and the brother of you (your husband), how beautiful are your footsteps of spreading the gospel! With full of our hearts, we bless His servants would enjoy the peace form the Lord. It does not matter which field in the world you go, you would always bring the fullness of His grace along. With the truth as tool in your hands you are spreading the seeds of gospel and true love in the dessert of hearts where no one has been before. Wish you bring a great harvest home. The Lord will be with you forever! Let us pray for each other! In truth we will bless you forever and we will love you forever. Wish you remember there is a church in China which is in the town Tong He. And right there, is a flock of the Lord who needs your prayer!

A village – Friday and Saturday 29 and 30 November

The town where we arrived late in the evening was a village. It was pretty cold and the wind was cutting. We drove to a farmyard. The house was very primitive but warm, and the reception warm too. We got a glass of hot water in a marmalade jar. When we asked for the toilet, they pointed us to a booth on the other side of the road. It was a hole in the ground, with two shelves over it and between the two shelves ‘it’ had to happen. That was a very cold happening, because the cold wind had free reign. You don’t take a book along to read during the ‘session’. Back at home it was extra comfortable.

The sister told us she had been demon possessed before her conversion. She believed in the god of the earth, but that made her unhappy. She was delivered by the faith in the God of heaven. Until about the beginning of this age the village was a stronghold of demons and full of idolatry. Then an old sister came to the village who had a burden on her heart to bring the gospel to children. Many children accepted the Lord Jesus and told it at home. By their testimony whole families became believers in the Lord Jesus. Many in the village are believers. Therefore we, Westerners, need not to hide ourselves.

Another brother was also present. He was one of the results of the work of the old sister. Now he is one of the leaders of this house church. They told us that there had been a schism in the church which weighed heavily on him. The occasion was the teaching that a believer can lose his salvation. This is a teaching that is not according to God's Word; it is a deficiency to the accomplished work of Christ and the eternal redemption He acquired for anyone who truly repented and is a child of God. During the conference br. Thomas explained that once more, clearly in the light of God's Word. This teaching would once again be discussed in another place. It seems to have intruded in various churches.

The bed which we could use, was a kind of stage in the room. The front of it was in the kitchen. There an opening was in the ‘stage’ by which it could be filled from the kitchen with the warmth of an oven heated with wood. The result was a really warm ‘stage’. It could serve as a seat or a bed with warmth that was more than an electric blanket. In that house were two of those ‘stages’ alias beds. Some thick blankets were laid down on the stage so that the bottom felt slightly less shelf-like. The brothers had to sleep in one room, the sisters in the other.

We were also first accommodated in the house, but after consultation between husband and wife we got another bedroom. We were taken to the building where the meetings are held, where they also have such a ‘bedroom’. We got a bucket as a toilet. The room and the bottom were comfortably warm. We attempted to sleep, which we occasionally succeeded at. The next morning at five o’clock we noticed a brother had come to the building, we understood to pray.

The next day we went to the conference that consisted of four speeches. Again, there was great attention. It was beautiful to hear all praying during a short time of prayer, softly and fervently at the same time, without giving the impression of disorder. At first we would also be there on Sunday, but there was an invitation for a service in Harbin. The brother who had come along with br. Thomas remained with his wife in the village to share the Word with the saints on Sunday and we went by car to Harbin.

Back in Harbin – Sunday 1 December

Sunday afternoon we were picked up and welcomed by br. Jin and warmly welcomed by him and his wife. In the evening we went with them to the meeting of a house church. Also others were present. They asked br. Thomas if a believer who lives in sin and dies without having shown repentance can be saved. Later, my opinion was asked. They were talking about someone who had been a blessing for many but started to live in sin and did not repent. I understood that they had the opinion that such a person perished even though he was converted. Scripture makes clear that anyone who has new life cannot perish. The fact that someone has been a blessing to many is no guarantee that such a person has new life. The Lord speaks of such people in Matthew 7 (Mat 7:21-23). Judas is an example of such a person. It is about having life or not having it.

Then they spoke about a person who alleges that a believer cannot perish and says that therefore he can do what he wants, because he is saved. The answer is that somebody who talks like that is not a believer. A child of God will never speak that way. He abhors sin. He may fall into sin, even live in it, but he will repent. Scripture gives examples, like David and Peter.

In the meeting in the evening the word was accepted again with great gratitude and agreement. There we were brought into contact with David, a brother who speaks English. He was willing to help with further planning of the trip to Changchun at the end of the week, because br. Thomas would then be back home. He said with a beaming face that about four years ago he came to know the Lord Jesus.

City Y – Monday and Tuesday 1 and 2 December

After that meeting we went by train to the next place. There again greatest caution had to be observed. Last year they had not dared to receive br. Thomas and me. Now they dared, but in a special way. They had rented an entire wing of the upper floor of a business hotel where there was also a conference room. The Bible studies were held there. It had to look like a business meeting. That indeed it was: a meeting of the great Business. As reason for renting the conference room was given that two days of ‘cultural exchange’ would take place. That also was true. We were together as different cultures, in which the cultural differences were overbridged by the common faith in the Word of God.

Due to the same safety, the number of participants was very limited and the time shortened. A brother from Mongolia was also present. Before we arrived br. Thomas had received a phone call with the messages that it could happen that the meeting had to be wholly cancelled or would have to be broken down halfway. By the goodness of the Lord we had two wonderful days with teaching about the church of God, as they had asked. We did that on the basis of the first letter to the Corinthians. The teachings are videotaped, so others can be instructed by them as well.

[Note: For those who have contact with Chinese believers: These Bible studies and those of Matthew are recorded. If the recordings are successful, we want to put them as a free download on www.oudesporen.nl (Homepage, Other languages, Chinese – CN)].

In one of the breaks br. Thomas told us he knew three leaders of house churches who have been of great significance to many house churches. They all had a nickname derived from the tabernacle. Brother John Sung was called ‘altar’ because he burned for the gospel. Brother Wang Dao Mieng was called ‘laver’, because in his preaching he emphasized holiness and cleansing. Brother Charles Lee was called ‘sanctuary’ because he knew the Scriptures so well.

The discussion after the break of the last afternoon spontaneously became a question and answer session on marriage and divorce. Before the break we studied in detail God’s thoughts about it as we spoke about the last part of 1 Corinthians 6 and the first part of 1 Corinthians 7. There appeared to be great recognition and approval and at the same time there were a lot of questions. In practice several house churches are facing major problems in this area. We spoke about confession and recovery and discipline by the church if there is a persistent refusal to condemn the sin.

Commenting on the questions they said that God's chastising hand rested on various house churches because of pre-marital sexual relations, of which the damaging results can also appear later in life, if this sin is not confessed. They recognized the need for such chastening and also of discipline by the church.

We see the same problems as in the West. But there is a difference: we didn’t notice the ignoring or condoning of this sin. It was also pointed out that we should not look from our practice to the principles of God's Word, but conversely. We need to look at what God's Word says. That's the blueprint. Seeing things in the light of the Word of God deviations will be made evident. Then it is important what the Lord says in His Word to apply in dependence upon Him to the various situations.

After the meeting we had dinner together. During dinner they told us how the believers here are being watched, certainly in relation to visitors they receive, especially from foreign countries. It is possible that when we are gone, some will be taken by the police to be interrogated. That's not a pleasant experience. On the one hand they are not afraid; on the other hand they do everything to prevent being noticed and raise suspicions that they perform religious activities, which is a thorn in the eye of the local government. Although officially there is freedom of religion, the local differences in this freedom depend to a large extent on the mayor, whether he is well minded or hostile minded to the believers.

After dinner we went back to Harbin by train. Sometimes it's as if we dream, so unreal it may sometimes seem. But it is a very beautiful dream, and it's true too! Br. Thomas told us in the train that this time was very special for him too. We have been in places where believers from the West do not come and if any do come, they can only be there as a tourist. Giving Biblical teaching is not possible. Even for him it is not always possible. The people in the north of China recognize him as a Southerner and also view him with some suspicion, with looks that say: You do not belong here, what are you doing here? He has also sometimes been told that teaching for safety reasons could not take place at that time. That it could be done this time, we can only thank the Lord- – it happened because He wanted it.

Br. Thomas told that it is due to a misunderstanding that we were in the place where the studies about Matthew were held. The cause is that sister Wang, who had invited us, had made a double appointment. She had invited two brothers for the same period to teach God's Word. She had asked the other brother if he could go to the area where we had been. He was not able to go because he had already booked his flight. Therefore she had asked br. Thomas if we could and wanted to go. He has a desire to serve and teach especially these believers, so we ended up there. The Lord is above everything and controls everything.

I asked if he thought we could go there once again. The Lord must make that clear. Maybe we have to go to the south, he said, where it is much less dangerous for the local believers to receive visitors, because everywhere there is a great need for the teachings of God's Word. We said that the last thing we want for local believers is they get into trouble through our presence, despite the greatness of our desire to experience with them the common faith in the Lord Jesus.

Back in Harbin – Wednesday-Saturday 4-7 December

Wednesday morning we had to say goodbye. Br. Thomas and the couple went back home. We stayed here and got some time to rest. It also gave opportunity to process what we had experienced. Again and again we thought of something. But there was also the intention to go to Changchun next Friday to see if there could also be contacts. The intention was to be there from Friday to Sunday, but again by a misunderstanding that became only Sunday. The time which became available meant we could start writing a report. Furthermore, we could see how time could be filled up.

Friday morning at eleven o'clock David and br. Jin, who had promised to help came to us. We had some practical questions. We also wanted to visit the parents of Keran van Buren, the translator of the commentary, who I also visited last year. David called to make an appointment, but it appeared that they were outdoors for several days. On this same Friday in the evening there was a Bible study in the house church David frequents. He invited us to go there with him. Then we were invited by br. Jin to come to him the following morning (Saturday) for discussing some biblical questions. Then we got the invitation from David to come Saturday afternoon and evening to his home.

We had no further questions and were invited for lunch. After lunch we were brought to our accommodation.

At half past six we were picked up by David. The house church David frequents goes to meet at the upper floor (16th) of a flat. The majority of those present was between twenty and forty and female. Before the meeting we had talked to some of them, which was possible because they spoke English. It appeared that there was a willingness to translate the commentaries in Chinese which are already available in English. I pointed out that they would have to ask the Lord first whether He wanted this from them. They see us for the first time and He should give them the conviction that they need to do it, because it is about the building of His church.

Before the Bible study began, which we visited as listeners, I was asked to share something from God’s Word. That changed a few minutes later by asking me if I wanted to give a testimony of what the Lord has done in our lives, followed by a question and answer session. This I did with pleasure. The hunger for the Word of God was made clear by their questions: How can I grow in my faith? How can I know God's will for my life? How can I make the right choice when there are two options? How can I prevent personal problems weakening my faith?

After the meeting we talked a bit about the possibility of a translation team. One of them said she was a teacher in Chinese at a school that was known as one of the best in the city. She also had other valuable contacts who were quite competent in the Chinese language. I pointed out that it should be believers, for only they can understand the Word of God and judge the explanation of it, because in them the Holy Spirit dwells and only through Him it is possible. They agreed wholeheartedly. A boy of fifteen clapped his hands when I told that the commentary was written especially for him. He was so happy that there was something for him too. He was quite intelligent, but his mother said: That he may grow for the glory of God.

Saturday morning David came to tell us that the discussion about biblical questions with br. Jin was cancelled because he had another appointment. In the afternoon we were picked up by David to have dinner with him. We had several good hours. He and his wife love the Lord wholeheartedly and are longing to serve Him, which they indeed do by serving the believers. So he bought the tickets over the internet for the fast train from Harbin to Changchun next day.

In Changchun – Sunday 8 December

Sunday morning at seven o’clock David was present to bring us to the station and to help to get to the right platform, the right train and the seat. In Changchun we were met by Elisabeth at the station. We went straight to the meeting of one of the churches Elisabeth visits which is held in English. It is a house church which is especially for foreigners. There were some testimonies given. We were invited to do the same. We said a few words about what we do for the Lord. Then there was a good word from a brother from America who as a teacher of English had lived in China for several years.

After the service, a sister from China came to us. I had briefly mentioned that it would be nice if there would be believers who were willing and had time to translate from English in Chinese. She said she had prayed to get an opportunity to translate. It was an answer to her prayer. She was a major in English and wanted to improve her English. At the same time she saw it as a wonderful opportunity to grow in her faith. We gave her the last copy of the commentary we had taken with us. If she reads this, she can see the design. If it seems good to her and she sees it as a task of the Lord, she can start translating. She really wanted to read it because she was hungry for the Word.

During the coffee time we had some other interesting brief encounters with believers who are in China in various ways to do something for the Lord. One of them said he was a great admirer of JO Fraser, the man who in the early part of the 20th century worked almost thirty years among the Lisu people in the southwest of China. Also Isobel Kuhn is a great example for him. We said that books of them both are translated in Dutch and that they are examples for us as well. He told that he was visiting the Linsu people and spoke with an old believer who said he was converted by the preaching of Fraser.

The brother was a nurse and teacher in it. In this way, he had the opportunity to be in China and preach the gospel. It is fairly easy to come into China if you indicate that you want and are able to teach in any subject, because there is a need. We also talked with two girls who were also in the meeting. They came from the U.S. and had also come here in this way, and are staying for a year.

After coffee Elisabeth took us to eat something. She told us a lot about life in China, where she now has lived and worked for ten years. That helped us to understand again a bit more of life in China, both of believers and unbelievers. At the end of the afternoon we took the bus to the station. When we arrived in Harbin David was there to help us to return safely to our accommodation. He also said that he and some others in the church wanted to start the ‘translation project’.

We were amazed how the Lord can use all kinds of misunderstandings we cause and even mistakes we make, to accomplish something that is to His honor. However, that doesn’t mean that He is the cause of our mistakes. God is not the Author of sin. We ourselves are responsible for it. It will only become clearer that it is His work and not ours. We see – and we long for– that the main thing is that He increases, but we decrease (John 3:30).

In Harbin – Monday and Tuesday 9 and 10 December

The two following days we could ponder over all things we experienced in China and conclude the report of it as well as the main part of translations thereof. We could also prepare for our visit to br. Jayabalan in Chennai, India.