With the prophetic, as with all other aspects of Christianity, God is constantly stretching us. Listening to God is "stretching."

Early this summer, while going through an unusually hard time financially in our house, I kept being "nudged" by the Spirit toward an older Christian book on my shelf about China. It had been 10 years or so since I'd read it.

My grandfather was a missionary in China so I had a reason to be interested in the subject. My own father was born in China and he had an adopted Chinese brother, now in the States.

The stories from the book, "China Cry" were amazing. Nora Lam, having undergone horrendous persecution in China, was now being used to bring thousands of Chinese into the Kingdom of God. But why was I being drawn to read it again--now?

As I was reading it over the course of the next few days, some friends came over and were telling my wife and me about their impressions of a dream one of them had about Chinese people.

I told them about my book.

"Something's up with China," I told them. "I don't know what it is yet, but I'll let you know when I figure it out."

Then, within 15 minutes of their leaving, the phone rang and I answered it.

"Mr. Shultz, someone gave us your name. We're getting desperate. There's a planeload of Chinese exchange students arriving in Portland in three days and one of our host families just cancelled. Would you be willing to take a Chinese student?

"We've never done it before," I told her (as my proverbial jaw dropped), "though we've talked about it before. But how did you get my number and who told you to call me?"

"Honestly, we've gone through so many people, I no longer know HOW we got your name."

Some people say they've never seen the prophetic really work in real life. It worked here. And though we were effectively penniless, and every meal we provided for the next three weeks would be supplied only by the Grace of God--we decided to accept the challenge. Using any logic whatsoever, we should have told the lady, "No, this isn't a good time for us." She would have politely thanked us and called someone else. But because God was speaking to us, we knew we had to obey, even if there were no known resources to do the job.

We picked up Jiang Nan (pronounced Jiong Lan') three days later. It was challenging and wonderful, educational and stretching. We laughed with Jiang Nan, watched her cry when her attempt to cook us a Chinese meal didn't turn out the way she wanted. We played monopoly, took her around town, taught her as much English as we could, and even talked politics.

One night as I was talking to Jiang Nan, I asked her about Tianamen Square and if the leaders were bad who put down the student demonstrations. She said, among other things--in her broken English, "In -- China---we do not say that ---our leaders are bad. We say that they made mistakes." I'm still pondering that. I'll let you know.

On her last week, we took Jiang Nan to a Chinese Christian church. When we came out, she said with a sincere smile on her face, "I prayed that I would go to an American church." We felt blessed that she was able to see Chinese people worshipping God. We had learned that if they do not see their own nationality involved, Christianity would be viewed as an American Religion only. We were able to get her a Chinese Bible which she spent the next hours reading. She told me before she left for China, that it was "hard to believe."

Jiang Nan saw me working on the internet a lot while she was here but told me that even though she had a computer, there was no internet hookup available. She said maybe within a year. But a week or so after she returned to China, I got my first email from her. Her father works for the Government in her city--something to do with environmental resources. Maybe she has "connections." (pardon the pun)

It's been six weeks since my first email from North Central China. A few days ago, after letting what seemed enough time go by, I asked Jiang Nan in an email to her, "Do you have any questions about the Bible?" (I added that it would be a great way to practice English.).

I heard from her today. Thought I'd just let you look over my shoulder and see what she wrote in her broken English:
-----------------------------

"Hello, everyone.

Our football team won the game last time. Tomorrow we will also have a match, I hope we will win the game.

What do you think of President Clinton? Do you sustain him?

If there is the God, where does he live in? Does he true exist?

Loves from Jiang nan.
----------------------------

Two things have made me continue to reflect on this email and I need to write her back by tomorrow.

My first reflection -- Remember that she said,

"In -- China---we do not say that ---our leaders are bad. We say that they made mistakes."

Now, what do I tell her about what I, a follower of Christ, have to say about my President. Do I "sustain" him?

But more importantly, while we're all trying to figure out what to do--- or what to say about our president, I remember that I was recently told that 35,000 Chinese people are coming to Christ every day--and all at risk to their lives. Many are persecuted or killed as a result of their decision to follow the Lord.

And then I realize that when Jiang Nan finally gives her heart to the Lord, and I know she will---that God, of all things, chose to send her to the U.S. -- to the Shultz's house -- to learn a little about America and a little about Christ. Now with so many people coming to Christ in China daily, it seems rather inefficient of God, don't you think -- to handle one person this way? Her parents had to spend an equivalent of over 5 years salary to pay for her to come stay three weeks with us--and to take a few classes. We serve an amazing God! His ways are past finding out.

Now, I'm listening to the Lord--who first made me realize that He was saying, "something is up with China." Now, how would he have me answer a 14- year-old Chinese girl from North Central China who has asked me:

"If there is the God, where does he live in? Does he true exist?"