Observations on the Chinese field

One thing I have learned about the Chinese field here--and this probably applies anywhere in the world--is that to get anywhere with the Chinese, you need dogged persistence. Yes. The Chinese naturally are hardworking, and the only reason they emigrate to other countries is to make money (or go to school so they can eventually make money). So it is a schedule of 7 days a week, often 12-16 hours a day.

Once you get the interest of Chinese people, and they realize the importance of learning more about God and the Bible, then taking time is not an issue. But how do you get them to reach that point?

In town, I have several return visits in businesses who expressed great interest on the first visit, but ever since then, it has been tough to even speak to them at all. When I ask what is the best time or day of the week, the response is invariably "时间表不一定" ("schedule not fixed"). I try to get people's phone numbers also, but when I call it is usually the same response. ("Too busy" and "I'll call you," but then they never do.) And then, I don't want to feel like I'm a pest, coming by or calling every week.

So I have evolved a line that I can pretty much rattle off:

"我只想用五分钟跟你分享一个要点，好吗?"
"I only wanted to take five minutes to share with you one point, OK?"

Then, with that one point prepared in advance, I use a question and a scripture. That's it. Five minutes. If you can take five minutes to use the bathroom, you can surely take five minutes for this. (No, I don't actually say that.)

If the person doesn't have even five minutes, which in the business setting is often the case, then I can try what this sister did in the experience in the 2004 Yearbook from Ghana (p. 64) about the young man who told the sister he had no time during the day, only returning home from work to sleep at 8:00pm. She said to him: "Is it possible to spare a little of your sleeping time to study the Bible?" (Great line!) He eventually did study in the evenings and progressed to the point of baptism.

The Chinese may not be willing to spare their working time, but might be willing to take some of their sleeping time.

In Chinese, this question would be "你能够从睡觉的时间拨出一点来学习圣经吗?"

Another common statement: "I can read the literature you leave me, you don't have to visit me to explain it." How to respond? Is there an illustration I can use? What about this one:

"你认为，如果没有来自老师的帮助，你能不能明白科学教科书的内容？圣经是这样的。"
"Do you think you could understand the material in a science textbook without a teacher's help? The Bible is like that."

So for those of you in the Chinese field--or even if you're not--if you have any other ideas on how to deal with these challenges, please share. (And please feel free to correct my Chinese also.)

A few of the Chinese here, though, recognize quickly the importance of spiritual things. Here is a picture of my student Mr. Liu, who is very happy to have (finally) received his Bible.

We are only in chapter 2 of the Bible Teach book, but already he has memorized the names of all 66 books of the Bible! And based on what is stated in the book on page 7 (even without my saying anything), he has started reading 3-5 chapters of the Bible a day. And now is willing to study twice a week, so as to progress faster. I can't ask for a better student! I told him that we presently have meetings in English, French, and Kinyarwanda, but not in Chinese. Not yet. But someday...