Misty Botanical Garden Stroll

      Umbrella days, as March tries to beat February, the rainiest February on record save one!  I am looking forward to riding gondolas through the streets, as Hangzhou is transformed into a Venice.  :)  Yesterday we were grateful for  a "cease-fire" allowing a group of us a pleasant stroll among the blossoming trees of the Botanical Gardens, with folded umbrellas.   We enjoyed the respite from the rain, as well as  a relaxing time of sharing, and watching the enormous fish in the pond nibble on bread bits.

      We learned a very appropriate song yesterday, all the words being taken directly from Habakkuk's song of triumph, a favorite of mine.  (Look at his song:  Flowerless Fig tree, Fruitless Feild,  Flockless Fold,  Failing Forces......all those frustrating F's like the big ones my classmate used to write on her paper when asked for her quiz score.....Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation!   How about " F" for Fountain of Joy!)  Then the young brother assigned to bring the message shared from his heart burden on prayer, revealing that we do not know how to pray as we ought and have become Laodicean, neither cold nor hot.  He shared his vision of real prayer times when rather than praying for others to hear, we get the ear and the will of God.  As is the custom at the end of each message, others shared what they thought, and it was all agreeing.  I was struck by Bro. Fang's comment: "Our praying is like a boy phoning his father only when he wants money."  I cannot say how melted I was to see God speaking to others the same as to me, and the promise of refreshing showers from Above!  If we draw nigh to God we shall know Him and love Him in increasingly marvelous measure.

      Last Sunday two brothers fresh back from Yunnan laid a fresh burden on our hearts for that province, as they told about the progress of the Gospel in the southwest (Buddist). 

      I am liking  living in our Light House, and Asian Village.  In the morning rain, I walked around it several times praying for the people there, with the thrilling feeling that Christ has come to Asian Village for His Kingdom purposes.  What joy when we are privileged to see Him work!