Christina in China

No, not one of the strange ones that I’ve had recently, like missing plane flights and not being able to leave China or people being knifed to death.  I don’t know why I’ve had these dreams

This is the good kind of dream (meng4 xiang2, in Chinese, as I learned two weeks ago).  Yesterday, MCC sent me their magazine for this month about Christian churches in Syria, and I really enjoyed reading it: A) because, to be honest, I don’t give much thought to Syria and thought it was cool to read about people there, and B) because it reminded me that there are places outside of China.  Odd how culture-centric you become after about six months.  On Yahoo, the only news I usually read is anything with China in it or a major U.S. news story.  But there are so many places I’m curious about and fascinated with, so this was just a good reminder.

So, my dream.  Yeah, traveling, but not just traveling.  Traveling and connecting with Christians around the world and writing about their lives, churches, culture, everything.  A book, maybe?  Articles?  Learning a bit of language if I can but probably trying to find people that are “embedded” in the country, like how some of the CEEers do with North Americans that visit China.

I would love to see how things are different in different places.  Just try to encourage them by a smile and prayers and translated conversations.  Maybe stuff some envelopes or do some menial work or teach a bit of English if needed.  But mainly just unashamedly observing and learning and recording.

Eunice says that jobs like this exist.  I’ve never heard of this.  I don’t know if I’d want to do this for a job, but for a year, maybe toting along a certain English literature M.A. candidate, it would be cool.  Even if I had to fund it myself and just write a book afterward.  About a year ago, Tommy said that he thinks you need some sort of rationale for this sort of thing, and I think if I was writing, I could find a rationale.

I just think about churches in Central and South America, in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, how they’re all so incredibly diverse and have their own sets of contributions and problems.  So yes, if you ever hear about someone who’s giving away money to people that are willing to make contacts with Christians in other countries, let me know.  Or even if you have your own ideas.

Anyway.  Back to the country I AM in, gotta study some Chinese and then teach class.  Just thought I’d share.

Tags: Travel

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