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| They were so happy to see us! |
The Miaos are one of China's 50 plus minority tribes, though they number several million. The majority live in Yunnan and its bordering provinces.
Over the years, the Miaos faced much discrimination as most minorities do. They were driven off the plains into the mountains. Their living standards and population declined. Unfortunately, they became known for their excessive drinking and promiscuous lifestyles.
About 100 years ago, Australian and British missionaries brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this area and turned the people's lives around. Today, about 80% of the the Miaos are practicing believers. Words cannot express what a privilege it was to be able to walk in the footsteps of those missionaries.
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For one leg of the trip, our hosts
had to arrange for a horse and cart.
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The village pastor is also a farmer.
He has many roles to fill. |
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Our trip began in Kumming, the capital of Yunnan. Two theological students from the village came to accompany us on the five hour trip that would take us to our destination. The village we were to visit had 227 people and was 9000 feet above sea level.
As in most agrarian villages, the 70 year old pastor had the role of both pastor and farmer. It took him two hours to walk from his home to the church. You couldn't help but love him. There was no
pretension, just a heart to serve our Lord and the desire to learn as much as possible.
He said at present, the Miaos only had the New Testament in their language but with tears of joy, he said the Old Testament translation was now complete and in the editing phase. In a few years, they would have both. We pray that he will live to see it.
All the Miao believers were like this, desperate for whatever materials we could pass on and share with them. Being so isolated, they were not aware of all the books now being printed in China.
The believers shared with us that we were their first outside visitors since the missionaries left in the early 1950s. The pastor was in tears when he talked about how the missionaries introduced them to Jesus Christ, gave them a written language and did not abandon them.
The desire to serve our Lord is great among the Miaos. At present, there are only two Bible Colleges in Yunnan province. Over the next 12 months, we will assist the colleges by providing more library resources and equipping more students with scholarships. In addition, we also hope to make available 50 mini-libraries to the minority churches. Please pray that East Gates' assistance will have a significant impact on the Miaos and the people they serve.
~ East Gates Australian Staff ~
East Gates Australia ~ Serving "China's Outback"
