Public witnessing cart...in Chinese!

Yes, we now have a Chinese witnessing cart! This was something our circuit overseer recommended some time ago. So one Saturday Benjamin and I scouted out areas downtown that could be suitable for the placement of a cart. An important location is the Chinese supermarket called T2000.

Though many Chinese shop there, we decided that in front of T2000 would be too crowded. So we turned our attention to the hotel called T2000 (same ownership) around the corner, and especially across the street from the hotel entrance, which is in front of a hardware store.

We found the landlord of the building and had a nice discussion with him in his office. At first he wanted to charge us “rent” if this was going to be a regular thing, every week, but after we told him that we give our publications for free and never ask for money, he was willing to let us place our cart without charge, adding, “Anything that helps people learn about God and the Bible is good.” Yes, unlike in the western world, here in Rwanda people do appreciate spiritual things.

So now we have a standing arrangement: every Saturday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm! (including umuganda) This has been in effect since the end of July. In several weeks' time, a number of Chinese people have looked at the cart from across the street or from a passing car, but we have yet to have a Chinese person approach. A few Rwandans have come up, asking why we don’t have anything in their language, so we usually have some Kinyarwanda tracts on hand. Or we might direct them to a nearby cart that has their language.

Slowly but surely, Chinese people will get to know our regular presence at that location, and so we have to be patient!