We just returned from a time in the Sichuan Province (China) during the recent earthquake activity. It is amazing to have returned to our home town in Texas… while outwardly all things have returned to normal for us our hearts continue to be deeply connected to the experience that we’ve passed through with our friends in China. One person we’re fully connected with just sent out these words in an email to us….
“Over the past week, life has seemingly returned to “normal”: people biking to work, waiting at the bus stops; traffic is at its usual craziness; people out running errands, eating out—except for the post-earthquake oddities: people still sleeping outside, the planes constantly flying low overhead, the supply-filled trucks leaving town and the donation stations on every major intersection, though by Monday the amount of planes and trucks began to slow down, and the donation stations disappeared. There is this underlying subdued quiet that permeates the air, though. I think people are trying to figure out how to cope. More people seemed to be eating out more; the street cafes (i.e. hole-in-the-wall restaurants) are busier. One of our businesses was really busy on Tuesday, while last week it was mostly empty. On one end, I don’t think people want to spend too much time in their homes, in case a big aftershock comes, but I also think they don’t want to be alone with their own thoughts either.”
As things continue to make progress there, it is imperative that our prayer continue to be focused on this area where great change is occurring! At such times, people are tender and open, asking great questions about what the future holds.
