What did you do in East Asia?

After "How was your trip?" this is the inquiry that we hear the most upon returning from the Green City of Lights. Don't misunderstand...I do LOVE the question and I am always thrilled that people are interested in our adventures. However, my reply is usually sub par. So, in an effort to produce a more thoughtful and eloquent response, I have typed up an answer to this ever popular question.


We traveled to east Asia last week to visit friends and to learn about their culture and beliefs. While there, we learned that, unlike Americans, the people there think very little about god, religion, or death. They believe that when they die, that is all there is. Therefore, life has little purpose other than to be a part of and support institutions that are present and will outlast them, like the government, education, and the economy. The culture clearly demonstrates the truth that what you believe about God influences EVERYTHING else in life.

We shared with the people a different belief system, one that we believe is true based on the bible and our own experiences with Christ, not based on pride in ourselves or our own culture.

We told them that there is ONE God who created heaven and earth. He desires to have a relationship with us, but that relationship was broken long ago by sin, sin that is in each of us.

God sent his son, Jesus to defeat sin and give us the opportunity to be brought back into relationship with Him.

We told the people that God sent Jesus for all mankind, not just Americans, or people who grow up hearing about Him.

We gave them an opportunity to respond to this good news, and one night we saw 3 local people come to faith in Christ.

They will now be encouraged by the body of Christ that is there, be baptized, and continue to be changed by the spirit of Christ that now resides within them!

This is the power of the cross, that Christ became sin for us (and by us I mean believers from every tribe, nation, and tongue)!