Yesterday evening a man came to my house to say goodbye. He brought with him a new young co-worker in the faith, some flowers for Lisa and some books for me. After 12 years of kingdom work in China, he was returning to Korea. His wife had already preceded him. He was packing up the rest of his possessions and saying goodbye to the believers.
Unfortunately, this is a time of travel in China - the Chinese New Year. Virtually everyone returns to their hometowns and to family during this season. Shanghai is a ghost town. So as Mr. Lee was saying his goodbyes, there was no one thank him, no one to see him off at the airport and no one to pray and wish God's blessing on his coming days. So he came to our house last night (we just learned he was leaving) in hopes of a good meal and some prayer.
He sat in our living room and he talked not of all his success but of his failures. His heart was broken. He spoke of his failed vision for China, his failed relationships, his loneliness through the years and the struggle that he has had with the authorities and government. He spoke of his disagreements with other workers and how his heart hurt when man after man refused his counsel - to their detriment.
After 12 years, Mr. Lee is returning to Seoul. He has no home, no car, no furniture. And while he is returning to serve in another capacity in Korea, he returns with nothing. And despite the hardships, the failures and the loneliness in China, he broke down and cried last night and he said, "I don't want to leave. I love China."
I only met with Mr. Lee a few times a year but last night will leave a lasting impression on me. Here was an older Asian man brought to tears through God's humbling hand and his own heart-felt love for China.
Here's to Mr. Lee: a good man, a good teacher and last of all...a lover of people.
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3 comments:
Mr. Lee is my hero. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to peer into a fellow believer's life. Don't you just love that he loves people the way God does. I always feel that I'm closer to God when I'm around broken, lovely and loving people like him.
God bless Mr. Lee
The four or five times I met with Mr. Lee were life changing for me. His humility was most impacting! Despite his feelings of failure, in 12 years he did more than many every dream of doing in a lifetime. The main thing I learned from him is that making one good disciple is more valuable than a thousand half hearted. Now that I think about it the trajectory of my life changed dramatically when I met him… Thanks for your faith and example Mr. Lee. May Gd bless you as you journey homeward to do there as you have done in China!
Brandon G.
To be sure, Mr. Lee and I had our differences - understandably so - he was an older Korean Presbyterian! But I always believed he loved China and he was devoted to his mission.
He gave me plenty of good advice. Some of which I have listened to. He was definitely a man who believe d the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. He was willing to start small - but he expected big things.
Hear, hear.
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