Mercy

A teenage girl begging on the street and I had lunch together. She said her name was Yang Yulin, seventeen, from the poor neighboring province Guizhou, left her parents and younger brother and took the train to Changsha to find a job. When I had sat on the street corner beside the girl whose black hair hid her ashamed face, inviting her to lunch, passers-by warned me, "Don't believe her, she's cheating you!" Whether or not she was telling the truth or partial-truth didn't matter to me, I was just interested in demonstrating mercy and listening. She was cautious, polite and warmed up slowly. She must not have been on the streets long, because she retained a healthy child-like brilliance -- no evidence of drugs or dehumanizing abuse. I urged her to allow me to help her in a comprehensive way, to make permanent changes and get her established in safety. She declined. And I couldn't blame her, for all she knew I might have been a sex trafficker. Trust is seldom established over one bowl of noodles.

The unnerving part of that experience was the nice-looking young man who approached us at the bus stop offering his assistance, claiming to be "just a warm, loving person." He warned me to not to let her cheat me, then told Yang Yulin not to bother me because I'm a guest in this country. We walked away, but he surprised me by appearing in our noodle shop 400 meters down the street, ordered a bowl for himself and asked if it wouldn't be a bother if he sat near us. He also asked to see the girl's ID and she refused. We ignored him. Yang Yulin finished her lunch and she and I walked down the street together. I don't think he followed us, but then again, I didn't think he had followed us to the restaurant either.

He was likely a sort of pimp, the guy who was controlling her and had placed her on the street to beg.

I am sad that for all my gentle persuasion, Yang Yulin would not receive the life-altering help I could have given her, and now she remains in serious danger. But I understand.

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An old man was shaking violently, lying beside wooden crutches, no shoes and no shirt, begging in the rain. From the adjacent supermarket I bought him two sets of clothing, shoes and a washcloth. By this time he had retreated to a secluded spot, no longer shaking, and counting the money in his tin. He received the clothes, we talked briefly, he said he had a place to stay. I went to join Drew, Titus and Michael who were just finishing lunch in the mall.

Soon after we passed him on the way out, shaking and begging in the rain again, the bag of clothing missing. I asked him why he didn't put the shirt on, and where did the clothes go? He said he had "put it over there," motioning vaguely across the street. I noticed that his jacket was sliced at equal intervals -- not naturally worn out, but perhaps altered to appear ragged. Because the more sick, pathetic and naked beggars appear, the more pity-money they can elicit from those walking by.

We wished him well and parted ways again.

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When I was spiritually destitute -- naked, hungry, alone, sick, manipulated, a cheater and a liar myself -- the Lord loved me and showed me mercy. He radically and comprehensively changed my situation, establishing me in permanent safety.

Listen to the Spirit of God. When prompted, be ready to drop plans and offer the same comprehensive, radical, permanent help.

I cannot meet every physical need that I encounter, nor am I called to. Jesus on earth did not even meet every physical need that he encountered. 

Whether or not the person in need is lying does not matter. Mercy.

Clothe the naked. Feed the hungry. Give water to the thirsty. Whatever act of love is done for the least is an act of love toward Jesus himself.

Prayer is a unique and invaluable help that I can and must give.

Rest in the knowledge that the Father sees and cares for each one.

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counting the graces

thank you Father for

especially fun Mom & kids night with neighbors, sharing the message, Auntie Wang and I working as a team

discovering a new fruit, Boluomi

Drew's successful networking trip to HK

new friends who came to Changsha to adopt their daughter, a lovely girl, their testimony and shared wisdom about China adoption

revisiting the hotel where we met Jonathon and his family for breakfast, the memories of that huge life moment

Mandie's success at her job

birds chirping

re-falling asleep on Drew's chest in the early morning

a place of prayer on the mountainside green

realizing that you had stripped things away so I would learn to fix my happiness only to you