One aspect of living long term in China, especially when living in a mountainous region, is seeing the amount of backpackers that frequently travel there.

They come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and religions.  But one thing they have in common, at least from my experience interacting with them, is that they’re all on a journey.  Obviously they’re on a physical journey but they’re also on a journey in their hearts.  One way or another they’re looking for something. They all pushed pause on their jobs and responsibilities back home because they knew something great was out there if they just went to find it.

Eventually though the destination ends, the wallet goes empty, the mountain is climbed, the trail is hiked and all that is left to do is go home weather their journey was fruitful or not.

I realized the Chinese were no different than these strange foreigner backpackers. When it came down to it they both weren’t satisfied with life and were searching for ways to fill it.  In China this is done by trying to find the best job to gain riches, or the best education to be able to have a great career.  Their whole life, even from childhood, the Chinese are drilled to be highly educated and successful to gain happiness and purpose. There’s nothing but great shame and disappointment when this isn’t accomplished.

The next generation of Chinese are no different.  They need someone to tell them their purpose and their worth in Jesus. They need someone to meet them where they’re at on their journey in life to bring the life changing truth of the gospel.