Experiencing China

What's This All About?

I grow more convinced that God is in fact deliberate and intentional. He is not in the business of chance and life is not a slot machine to be played until we get lucky or run out of the tokens of time. Regarding "accidental" events or meetings, well, they don't happen. With God, "accidental" is never an adequate explanation, an "out," or even a reality. The God of the universe, who originally created the world in harmonious goodness and order by simply speaking, is a God of purpose.

Consider the following circumstances in my life: two of my housemates are Chinese men doing graduate work here in America; I have been involved in an international Bible study in which I've come to know many Asians, most of whom are Chinese; I have several friends who are either now working in China or have in recent years; and I am presently working for Urbana 2000 and thus am daily exposed to global issues including what is happening economically, politically, and spiritually in China. And yet previous to this year, I've known little about Asian cultures and, having grown up in a part of America with few Asian Americans, I've had little contact with either Asia or Asian American culture. Asian culture is presently, and rapidly, enriching multiple facets of my life. And now, atop this heap of cultural blessings, is an exciting new chance: I will now visit the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Not that God's purposes in this needy world revolve around my life - rather, the truth is very much to the contrary - but I can't help but wonder what God has simmering.

This month, I will travel to the PRC to see a friend and to encounter Chinese people and culture. I will fly into Hong Kong and then ride a ferry to Guangzhou where I will meet up with, Tony, my dear friend from the States. He is teaching English for the year in Guangzhou, in the Guangdong Province. We will catch up, pray together, travel together, hear about one another's most recent experiences and challenges. I will have the privilege of presenting to Tony a "care package" from other friends and loved ones. Through all of this, I hope our visit will be a great encouragement to Tony as he's been away from home for many months now and lives a hectic, even if fruitful, life of service and relationships. We will travel inland from his present home and explore a diversity of Chinese settings. I also hope to meet some of Tony's students, as well as other university students in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

As a Caucasian American travelling to China, I must consider my own identity and my own ideological prejudices regarding race and culture. Recently, God has re-ignited within me a desire to know and live His justice. As God is a just God, integral to His justice is unity among peoples of the world. He thus allows no room for racism. He desires common understanding and cultural harmony. I must therefore, in light of God's justice and the state of the world, be conscious of my own racial notions and ideas of equity as I travel in China.

God does have a purpose for me. As the God of order grants me this opportunity to grow, He is simultaneously redeeming those I encounter and myself to a more whole appreciation of His diverse creation. And thus He is painting a more complete picture of racial empathy and justice, even if only on this small scale. I am so very limited in my own world, my own surroundings, my own culture. I want to encounter people different from me, people who can teach me and challenge my worldview. My desire is to be redeemed as one who's yet to grasp fully God's hope for a diverse yet fractured world. I want to be stretched and tested. This is my prayer.

Many Americans have the opportunity to travel to China. Personally, this will be my first visit. I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity and will be anxious to share my experiences with friends and loved ones, Chinese housemates, and with partners of the www.urbana.org community.

Please pray as God fulfills his purposes.

Mark Kramer

"Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow."
-Isaiah 1:17

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