Over 5 million homes were destroyed in the May 12 earthquake. (IMB photo)
China (MNN) ― A Chinese doctor had only slept 10 hours in five days when a Christian medical team arrived to help. Although he had barely escaped death and lost his own grandmother when his house collapsed, he was busy caring for thousands of other earthquake survivors.
"Tears filled the doctor's eyes as he took our hands and said, ‘Feichang ganxie,' (extreme thanks) over and over," a member of the team told International Mission Board.
Chinese Christians in areas hit by the earthquake are reporting increased openness and spiritual hunger for the Gospel. Historically, the area has been resistant to the Gospel. Now, doors are opening as Christians open their homes to earthquake survivors and minister to them in various ways.
"Chinese Christians must simply come, listen to the stories, love the survivors and offer them hope for the future," a worker told IMB. "Some Chinese Christians are opening up their homes to the victims. Others from Beijing, Shanghai and other places around China are coming to give their time, money, love and hope."
International Mission Board has been able to provide food, water filters and purification systems, building materials, sanitation systems and health care. n the process, workers have heard a seemingly endless number of heartbreaking stories.
"One mother had dug her daughter from the rubble still alive but watched her die because there was no medical help," a worker wrote. "One man watched his house collapse on his wife and his mother before they could make it out the front door. A young, pregnant wife lost her husband when the mine where he was working collapsed, killing him and 1,000 other men. On and on the stories went."
Many of these people have learned of the hope of the Gospel from Christian volunteers. One 14-year-old girl had survived the collapse of her five-story school. More than a thousand students died. Though the girl wore a silver crucifix around her neck, she had never heard of the salvation offered by Jesus Christ until Christian volunteers shared it with her.
