My Faith and my Profession

As a teacher of English as an Alternate Language, I am very aware that my class is filled with learners, not only from different nationalities, but all different faiths as well. Over the years I have tried to be a light for Jesus Christ in my classroom. Because I teach for organizations, I cannot openly share my faith within the classroom, but I have had divine appointments on coffee break, which have provided for some interesting conversations!

Once again, I find myself in that very place again. I am teaching, not for a mission, but for a university. I want to give integrity to the university as well as my profession by doing the best that I can with the mandate that has been given to me and that is to train professors how to effectively teach their students. I have contacted the Overseas Missionion Fellowship of Canada and asked what I should know about Christianity within China. The person reported that many people have grown up in an atheistic society and as such, do not recognize a "higher power." Although, expressing one's faith within the context of culture is fine, open evangelism is discouraged.

Although internet is available, wireless is not. Many social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube are not allowed in China. Email communications will probably get through. Paris will be monitoring this blog site from home. There is a possibility that communications may be monitored. I do not believe that I have to worry about it, but to be on the side of prudence, it was advised not to email Christian words. One person suggested that if you want to email such words, then do so without vowels. The government may be monitoring correspondence with the word "Lord" in it and if the word "Lrd" is emailed, it would not register. I hope that you will understand that when I say "think of me" I'm really saying "pray for me".

Another thing to keep in mind is when I go through the customs and immigration in China. My passport and visa say that I am a tourist and that I am here for leisure. I hope that this serves me well and that I don't have to explain any further (including why I am travelling with grammar books. Who travels with grammar books?!?)

The clock is winding down...it's my last night here in Canada! Tomorrow I will be laying my head down beside some stranger on a plane bound for Hong Kong.