December 2003
Snyder Asia Trip Update
October 7-26, 2003
Nairobi… Dubai… Hongkong….Kunming….
Beijing….Bangkok….Chaing Mai….Shanghai….then
back home to Nairobi. A whirlwind trip by anyone’s Dave & Suzie in Shanghai
reckoning!
The trip had been scheduled for May but the SARS outbreak required postponing until October. What brought us to such far-flung places? An opportunity to attend a board meeting, an invitation to speak at a health conference, and a challenge to consider where our Lord might one day call us to ministry.
When at last we arrived in China, we found ourselves in Kunming with several days to explore the city and see what God is doing to reach out to the millions of people who call this place home. It was refreshing to be able to walk the streets and parks of downtown areas day and evening without fear. We were amazed to see modern highways, functioning streetlights, and more bicycles and vehicles than we had ever seen… and all without a pothole in sight! Looking out our hotel room we looked upon downtown areas that dwarfed Houston and even Chicago in cities with populations of up to 24 million inhabitants.
We were also impressed with the creative ways believers are finding to show the love of our Lord in the most populous nation on our planet. For example, New Day Creations on the outskirts of Kunming combines a factory for the manufacture of items such as refrigerator magnets with a foster care facility which takes in children with severe birth defects. The factory provides workers with an income and a means to provide for their families, while the foster care facility provides a cozy home with top-notch care for little ones with considerable handicaps. Suzie spent an afternoon giving the kids checkups.
In Beijing, we attended the board meeting and enjoyed great fellowship with friends from all over the globe. The meeting was specifically dedicated to raising awareness of the challenges and opportunities for ministry in Asia. While in China, we were encouraged by the number of registered churches in existence. In a country of over a billion inhabitants, however, Christianity still represents only a small fraction of the populace.
While in that region of the world, we visited sites we never dreamed we would see. One afternoon, we took a tour of the Forbidden City, home of the Chinese emperors for centuries. Following another morning of meetings, we went to the Great Wall where we participated in a Prayer Walk lifting up the needs of this great country before God.
Before leaving China, our final stop was Shanghai to tour the construction site of a large manufacturing plant nearing completion. Christian businessmen are finding ways to invest in the people and country so that they are a witness for Christ in culturally acceptable ways. Suzie was able to present a health lesson to a group of executives in which they acknowledged the need for spiritual health as a part of human wholeness.
From China, we traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand to attend the "Health & Wholeness for the 21st Century" conference hosted by Project MedSend, a group which helps young doctors meet their educational loan payments while serving in medical ministries overseas. It was an encouraging time as we heard presentations of effective medical missions across the world. We were also delighted to cheer on John Sankok, our Maasai partner and clinic administrator, as he presented the impact of CMF's medical ministry on Maasai churches and communities.
Through this trip, we certainly gained a better perspective on the needs and opportunities for ministry in Asia. We also went away marveling at how God calls people to be his witness in creative ways. Perhaps, one day, we too will respond to the challenge of ministry in Asia… but, for now, we have work which is yet to be finished in Africa serving alongside our Maasai brothers and sisters in Christ and our CMF-Kenya Team. Thank you for your prayers for our safety during this remarkable journey. Please continue to pray that we will have open minds and hearts to follow our Lord wherever he may lead us in the future.
Your Partners in Christ,
Praise
- Safety on our journey; Lauren & Rebekah's well-being while we were apart
- Generous response of those who provided resources to repair our clinic vehicle
- Endoinyo Erinka community raised their share of the funds needed to construct a new church building at our former bush home
- Opening of CMF's first Maasai clinic in Kajiado District in temporary facilities; funding has been donated to build the permanent building at Kumpa
Petitions
- Need for training of AIDS counselors in Maasai clinics
- Need for additional funding to construct desperately needed staff housing for our Ewaso Ngiro Clinic
- Visitors in March: 1) a group from The Parkview Christian Church - Tinley Park, IL; 2) nine medical students & residents
- Our family as we prepare for furlough and transition back to the States: June 04-July 05
- Comfort for Suzie as she mourns the loss of her uncle, Charles Ross, who passed away suddenly in Scottsdale, AZ while we were in Thailand (In a favorite family picture taken in 1996)
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