Tomorrow, March 11th, City Hope is packing its bags, driving to SFO, and hopping on a flight to BCIA (Beijing Capital Airport) with a team from City Church. Though most City Hope partners are local, following God's redemptive work leads to surprising places; in this instance, the ninth most populated city in the world. As the team has prepared, we have been cognizant of the significance of going on behalf of City Church San Francisco.
A unique element of our trip this year is the opportunity to visit and work alongside a member of City Church who moved to Beijing last summer. He fell in love with the people and city as a member of teams from previous years. His presence there has had a huge impact on our ability to plan how to best spend our time. Several emails and Skype calls later, we have developed a schedule that builds on the success of our last four trips. Our friends in Beijing are wrestling with the same questions and challenges we face in our faith. Our schedule includes time where we can learn and encourage one another through sharing our faith experiences in small and large groups, not to mention karaoke.
As hearts are renewed, the people of Beijing are finding creative ways to participate with God in the renewal of their beautiful and broken city. We are privileged to be spending time with Compassion for Migrant Children, an organization that serves children primarily through social and educational programs. As urban growth explodes in China, many poor families migrate from the countryside into the city to find work for their family. The parents of these children work excruciatingly long hours and do not receive the health care and education that full-time residents enjoy. We have the opportunity to brighten the lives of these little ones by playing games, doing crafts, and painting classrooms with cartoons from Xi Yangyang, the kids' favorite show.
Just as in most cities, the exploitation of woman is an issue, and an organization called the Starfish Project is dedicated to helping—providing shelter, medical care, vocational training, counseling. We have been asked to continue the business consulting we offered last year. To beautify their space, the woman of Starfish have decided themes for a mural that they are going to help us paint. They have chosen freedom, joy, and new life.
It is a privilege to be part of a community that follows Christ wherever he leads. We are leaving with open eyes and open hearts, looking to document God's work. Our goal is to bring home the stories and share them with you; please remember us in your prayers. We are leaving expectant: expectant that we will be surprised, expectant that we will grow closer to God and to each other, expectant that God will encourage people through us, expectant that we will laugh and be filled with joy, expectant that we will be challenged and tired, expectant that we will make connections with people that will last an eternity.