On Friday, December 9,
2011, we had five people from the Chinese American community come to
visit for the purpose of exchanging ideas about organic farming and
whatever else may come to mind.
snapshots
June was a doctor in China
and has been in the US for a number of years developing nutritional
products. Unknown to her, one of those products was started last year
on our farm and is on target for improvement this spring. Her vision
is to create a line of nutritional products that will fund Kingdom
work in China and could help fund the work we are doing here.
Yao has a PHD in economics
and has a vision for connecting the very poor with the very rich. Her
understanding of social strata and econ environments will allow her
to be a cultural, social and financial bridge builder.
Irene has been a
missionary and is now at Bethel's school in preparation for her next
assignment. She has a vision for growing quality food in China and
running a restaurant from that enterprise to establish a business
environment as a base for outreach in China; perhaps with a trial run
here in the US.
Fuda has a degree in
marketing and has ideas for the business community as a Kingdom
launch pad for funding and outreach. Perhaps unknown to him, he has a
redemptive gift of teacher. He has a plan in his mind about how to
have 5 ideas for cultivating income on the mission field.
Helen has a dream to farm.
During the course of our time together, it was very apparent that her
spirit understands the land. She easily connected with the animals,
and when we prayed for the Goji berries, she physically laid hands on
the ground itself for its' healing and blessing. Those who have
listened to Arthur Burke teach on this subject will know the value of
this lady's gift.
All of these wonderful
people were born in China and now live in Redding. They all go to
Bethel Church and three of them attend the Bethel School. Their zeal
is infectious and their love is genuine. And they want to come back
to the farm here for more of whatever is here and help, too!!
sharing
and prayer
As we all shared portions
of our visions and stories, it was apparent that we were remarkably
dovetailed together. The excitement level was pretty high.
As we went out on the
property to show everybody around, we went into the pasture area on
our way to the Goji berry section. The normally standoffish goats
came running toward us in mass. They probably thought I had some food
for them. After the initial introductions, everyone got along just
fine. (By the way, me and the goats are getting along very well.
Instead of avoiding me as before, they enjoy me being around. How is
that for a turn-around?)
So we prayed for blessing
and productivity for the berry section and the land in general. Then
some scriptures started coming. Haggai 2:9, Proverbs 31, Isaiah 62:4
and Haggai 2:19.
After giving meditation to
these scripture and weighing them with the presence of the Lord we
were experiencing, It seems the Lord was speaking this:
He was marrying our spirit
with the spirit of the land and through that marriage there would be
an increase of glory on the property that would outshine previous
encounters. Any previous seasons of forsakenness and desolation
(bareness) would now be overshadowed with the Lords delight and
rejoicing. And because of this wedding, this day will now have "first
day" status, and that from this day forward would come great
blessing. The glory of God up to this day will be pale in comparison
to what it will be from now on. The fruit of this wedding will be as
the Proverbs 31:10-31 wife giving herself fruitfully for her
husband's name sake. (read it to understand its implications;
awesome)
As for Ann and I, there
was an impartation of becoming one with the land that day; that we
had been married to Father's purpose for that property. The presence
of the Lord has increased dramatically.
following
day
We went to the Seventh Day
Adventist church the following day and experienced what we are coming
to understand as normal. We hit it off so well with these people just
as we had at the community church before. This community is ready for
the coming together of the organized and the organic church. Their
main desire is to raise up Yeshua and transform their community
collectively without regard to who does it and who goes where. The
two churches do things together frequently. Both churches reach out
locally and globally.
During the course of one
conversation, it was mentioned by the man I was talking with, that he
had been trying to engage a young man from China; who didn't know
English very well; and build a relationship with him so he could
share the gospel. He asked if I knew anyone who spoke Chinese. The
short version of this is that we will be getting this young person
involved real soon.
Well, that may not be
everything; new things are happening at incredible speed since we
arrived; but that is what is some of what happened this week.
Thank you for your
prayers.
Blessings to you all,
Jim and Ann
