East Asia update

Jasmine Riden* is building relationships with a people group in southern China. "It is really easy to want to give up and go home," Riden said. When she feels like packing up and leaving she: 1. Refrains from pulling out her suitcases; 2. Asks her friends to remind her why she is there. What makes her stay is remembering why she came and what she is here to do: to tell this people group about saving grace. Riden and her friend's hope is to plant a church in every village in the seven counties. It is an ambitious dream, Riden said, one only the Father can accomplish. Read more about Riden's work in the Hard Places of China: http://easia.imb.org.

Jennifer's* first year in Asia has been tough and lonely as she tackles several new languages and looks for opportunities to share truth with members of an unreached people group. Recently, she had an opportunity to visit an area affected by China's massive earthquake. Along with some friends, she worked long hours in the hot sun to help locals move heavy loads and was pushed to use language to share the gospel with them. The experience of sharing in fellowship with others in a challenging environment also renewed her excitement to return to her people group. "I came back home excited not only about the work we did, but the other things that are going on in this country," said Jennifer. "I came home encouraged to keep pressing on in my isolated work, knowing that my new friends are all out there doing the same."

Showcasing East Asia: An "East Asia Peoples Summit" will be held on April 15-17, 2009 at Collierville First Baptist Church, Collierville, Tennessee. Connect with workers and regional leadership. Learn more about how you and your church can be involved in a practical and personal way. Watch for details in your inbox soon. Other ways you can help: • Pray specifically. Become a Priority Prayer Advocate for Zaozhuang or another unreached city in East Asia. Write to eaprayer@pobox.com in for details on Prayer Travels. • Volunteer. Come for a few weeks or few months to pray and serve along side our long-term workers. View requests: http://easia.imb.org/go • Come long-term. Is He stirring your heart to come for a few years or a lifetime? We would love to help you work through the process. E-mail gochina@imb.org.

Perhaps one of the most trying things about a city like Zaozhuang is how typical it is. It has little to make it stand out from other average cities in China, and has more than its share of pollution from the cement factories and coal refineries that ring the urban area. Members of the heavily populated working-class fill the streets as they commute on their bicycles, which outnumber cars 5 to 1. Each month we focus on a different unreached city or people on our Day of Prayer and Fasting. Join us as we lift up Zaozhuang November 11. Find specific requests for Zaozhuang on the web at: http://easia.imb.org/prayer-blog/zaozhuang-november-prayer/ Also, download the a .pdf with specific requests for Zaozhuang.

Our website has a new look with more resources for you! Check it out: http://easia.imb.org If you subscribe to our blogs and East Asia news feeds, you need to update your links: • All East Asia Feeds: http://easia.imb.org/feed/ • East Asia News: http://easia.imb.org/category/news/feed/ • East Asia Blogs: http://www.rssmix.com/u/40192/rss.xml

God is moving in amazing ways all over East Asia. Read more East Asia story on the web at http://easia.imb.org. Add the site to your favorites.