We saw work in schools, factories, and medical clinics. One mom was able to share the gospel with her children’s Chinese-speaking classmates when asked to share the American cultural holidays with them. She shared about the real Christmas and Easter stories (not Santa and the Easter Bunny). What an opportunity!
Brant teaches the song, “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” in voice and in sign language at a Chinese school.Many Bible studies are taught in the factories after work hours. There are English corners where Chinese individuals seeking to learn English come as well as teaching opportunities for ESL teachers. In Macao, a former Portuguese colony that was turned back over to China, we had the freedom to meet in churches and hand out Christian materials.
While many mainland Chinese tourists (1 million each month) go there on vacation, they have the opportunity to get a packet of information including a tract, the Bible, and the “Jesus” film – all translated into Mandarin. Volunteers (at a cost of only $3.50 per packet) distribute these packets. What a great way to reach these vacationers!
Macao has 7 million people in 10 square miles, the most densely populated area in the world. This city rakes in more money from gambling than Las Vegas! Hong Kong also maintains her freedom of religion and still thrives as the financial center of the Far East. As one worker told me, “Hong Kong is capitalism with a veneer of westernism.” Even though it is now controlled by China, the freedom of free enterprise and religion still reign in this modern city.
It was disheartening to learn that affairs run rampant in this country and the divorce rates are high. The desire to succeed academically is so great that suicide rates are high as well.
Casino Babylon is just one of many casinos in Macao. Southern Baptists also have work that benefits casino workers.Married couples must apply for permission to have a child, and they are limited to one child. Which brought me to ask the next question, “What happens when you get pregnant with your second child?”
Sadly, the answer is simple and affordable. It is far cheaper to have an abortion than to pay the fine of having the second child. And we wonder why so many children are up for adoption in China!
We saw many couples from the U.S. being united with their newly adopted children in our hotel lobby. One of our drivers was a believer. When he told us that he had two sons, I had to ask the question, “So how much is the penalty?” I was astonished at his answer – “Five times your annual salary, but God has provided,” he said.