News & stories Christmas provides opportunities in China CHINA - Over the Christmas holidays, a team of eight young adults from Pennsylvania traveled to China to assist an EMM worker* in hosting Christmas parties for students in the city where she teaches English. One team member, Fannie, commented, "Why do we get so excited about a baby being born? We were able to explain the story to some people who had never heard it before. What a wonderful way to spend Christmas! The highlight of my two weeks in China was meeting classes that involved junior high and high school age children. They nearly broke my heart, because they didn't even know what the Bible was. I was reminded of Romans 10: ‘How will they believe if they do not hear? How will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent?’” Another member, Jon, said, “It was such a joy to share the story of Christmas with the students. Another highlight for me was spending time and building relationships with some of the EMM worker’s Chinese friends. Many seeds have been planted.” Yet another, Janelle, said, "Many impressions of our trip will be etched in my memory for a long time – the intent looks on college students' faces as they heard the true meaning of Christmas, the hospitality and kindness of the Chinese people, and the experience of singing and worshipping with people who live halfway around the world.” The EMM worker coordinated the parties in partnership with her missionary support team. She was pleased that the team members were able to meet and encourage one of her former students. The student is from a poor village that is largely Christian. His mother is a believer, but the young man himself has not yet fully decided to follow Jesus. After his schooling, the village wants the young man to return and teach them from the Bible because most of them are illiterate. The EMM worker said, “Pray that the bilingual Bible he received from the team will not return void, but will bear much fruit in his life and in the lives of all those he returns to teach.” Pray that the many seeds planted would grow and produce much fruit in Chinese hearts. *worker is not identified for security reasons