Cayman at the Chinese Christian Church
“I can’t bearly begin to explain how beary blessed we were to attend the Chinese Christian Church at Clemson this past Sunday. It was through nothing but by divine appointment that we managed to show up there besides I don’t believe in luck, just God. The lady Bair had been doing some praying about direction (actually we all have) and she just felt led to look up information concerning the Chinese community between the Greenville, SC and Atlanta, GA area. At any paw somehow the lines connected to get us in contact with Elder Dr. Hwu and so on Sunday we attended the Chinese Christian Church.
We cannot begin to say how much we were moved by our surroundings. The church is made up mostly of Clemson students that have come from China to study abroad. There were approximately 60 people there on this particular Sunday. It was beary neat as the worship music began and was displayed on the screen both in Chinese Mandarin Characters and in English. The Holy Spirit filled the room as the worshippers began to sing in Chinese. It was too beautiful to interrupt by singing in English, but even if the words would not have been on the screen the peace that only comes with the filling of the Holy Spirit could be felt within the music itself. I can still beary much so hear one of the songs play partially in my head.
We moved over to the sermon and it was such a blessing to hear such a timely message. The Elder spoke the beginning of the message while two of the teenagers took turns speaking the English interpretation after it was spoken in Mandarin. The funny part came whenever smiles just seem to come from nowhere as well as laughter. It’s beary funny how I really realized again at that moment that laughter and a smile don't come in any particular language. No, a smile and laughter is understood in ALL languages no matter what! It is like the symbols I wear; they can be understood in any language!
We took Communion and it was a totally different experience than any other Communion. The sanctity of the taking of the body and bread came alive in a way that we had never experienced before. It would be hard to express unless you were there, but it was indeed beautiful.
From there we were released to having a fellowship lunch, and while meals were being served, Brandon was given an opportunity to tell everyone about the symbols and the bracelets. He let them know we would give anyone that wanted a bracelet one, and by the time it was done we gave out over 80 bracelet’s including those who wanted two or wanted to take one home to a loved one. In a video we made concerning this you can see Brandon speaking to everyone in English and then Dr. Hwu translates what he says into Mandarin Chinese. (We hope to have that video out shortly. We have very limited internet connection where we currently are, hence the reason for delays in posting.)
I found out from Dr. Hwu that when teaching the History of Jesus to others the Chinese use their 5 fingers to teach the same story that my 5 symbols teach! I could bearly imagine that and was just taken aback on exactly how all that does work. Imagine that starting in their pinkies they say that Jesus came from heaven, then their ring finger teaches that He died on the cross for our sins, the middle finger teaches that he rose from the grave, the index finger teaches that he ascended into Heaven and on their thumbs they teach that He is coming back! WOW! I found out just how true this was after we had sat down for a traditional Chinese lunch of rice, broccoli and chicken so cheerfully given to us already on plates. Some of the children had come up wanting bracelets. One had already gotten one, but beary much so how could I complain, I wouldn't deny any of these children anything just as Jesus doesn’t deny His children (us) of our needs. At any bear after we let them pick the color bracelet they wanted. They asked again what they meant and the momma Bair explained that it is just like how you are taught on your 5 fingers the story of Jesus. She pointed them out and told them, “Jesus, He came, He died, He arose, He ascended and He’s coming back!” At that the one little boy said, "Oh I got it" and used his fingers on each of the symbols to show what they meant! Momma Bair told him he did a great job and then she gave them each high 5 as once again that universal language of a simple smile kicked in as they more or less skipped away! I couldn't help but smile again.
Speaking of cheerful giving, like how lunch was so generously served to us, what has happened that people cannot simply serve others like this without wanting in return? Where are all the cheerful givers? If we are of God, why are we not serving and loving like Him? If we are made in His image why are we not acting like it?
At that, the Momma Bair explained to Dr. Hwu the story of the Original Bear Witness. How Leigh was a missionary in China and went to the Hard Rock Café in Beijing where she met Bear and then took him home to meet the rest of her family. She then told him the story of how he became possibly the World’s smallest missionary. She also told him the story of just how the multiplication of Bears came about! Dr. Hwu smiled throughout this story. In the meantime, the older Bair Brandon was talking to Ms. Betty the lady that leads the AWANA’S at the church. She was asking if she could have a bracelet for each one of the kids and then even invited us to come by sometime and see her! I beary much so bet that we take her up on her pawesome offer of kindness!
Well it’s about time for me to go, but I want to leave you with some closing thoughts. Dr. Hwu let us know how thankful he was that we had come to their church, he asked so many times what they could do for us and indeed they did bless us. He thanked us for being respectful by not trying to come in and show them how to do their ministry. You know we need to be respectful of how people especially those of other culture do the ministry work God gave them. This is another reason why the symbols bridge such a big gap and why we need to do exactly like it says in Galatians 3:28 and remember that we are all in this together and are all equal. When Cory the middle Bair explained to Dr. Hwu that one day he’d like to go to Asia to do missionary work, he asked him what was the most important thing to learn, and Dr. Hwu told him, “Learn the culture and learn the language.” I beary much so agree with him if you want to teach someone something you need to be respectful and learn about them first. Do not think you can simply come in and show people your way whenever they have values and traditions of their own. Be respectful of people’s worldview and simply if you want to express the importance of a relationship with Jesus show them through you that the most important thing to do in the whole situation is love your neighbor as yourself and as you would our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus!
It’s so beary easy to fall in love with others if you will let God do the leading and look in the heart!
Well my typist says it’s time for me to go. so on that note. I will just say to all my new brothers and sisters in Christ at the Chinese church, “I’ll be back! THANK YOU! GOD BLESS YOU!” Oh yes and next time I visit I will have to get you to please show me the right way to read Psalm 23!
Make sure to click on the picture to go to the next picture!
In His LOVE,
Cayman Bear Witness
開曼見證
p.p. Sandra Bair
