The following are actual answers by participants to a reflections sheet we pass out to teams coming to work on this project. They are testimonies shared by participants in the Southern Cross project. We have tried to compile a selection that we hope God will use to bless you, challenge you and encourage you to respond to His calling in your life. Please contact us with any interest you may have in Southern Cross. We would love to hear from you!

Question 1:
What have you learned or experienced here that will help you most in life?
Praying: I know it is very important, but, to see the results so fast was amazing!

I have learned that we are not responsible for the decisions that people make. Some accept, some don’t. Our responsibility is offering the packets, loving the people, and praying to our Father on their behalf.

God can draw different personalities, ideas, ages, etc., and when these people are united with one goal, then God can really use them. Our goal was to give out as many packets we could to Chinese people. We were united in our focus, prayer and thought, P.T.L.

Like most of our focus people, coming here was a trip of a lifetime God provided for me. I have never been on a mission trip, but, I can assure you I will do another if and when God calls. He truly opened my eyes to the great need across this land for the Gospel and people to help do the job.

I have learned to see a bigger picture of what God is doing in the world to save the lost and glorify Himself.

I have found a joy in being outside my comfort zone in ministry, I am looking forward to our next overseas missions trip. (Pastor, TL)

I have learned that when I am faithful by doing the work of God that I don’t have to measure success based on the result I can see, but that my giving out packets is an act of faithfulness on my part making me successful and I don’t have to see the results to know that I am working for God. That has helped me tremendously.

To be obedient to what God asks, when He asks!

Question 2:
What would you MOST like to share with other believers and your church?
How closed Asia is. That the country is dark spiritually because the Good News has a hard time getting there. We must pray for the walls to be broken down.

Simply to pray, trust and obey. God will take care of the results.

Do all you can to share the Gospel all over the world. And, to be thankful for your own salvation.

This project is worthy of support and participation. It is a very efficient way to get the Gospel to many people in the short time available for missions trips by volunteers.

This is the most exciting ministry that I have ever been a part of! (written by Team Leader, previously been to China for missions trip).

Volunteers are needed to spread the Gospel to Chinese mainlanders. Anyone can do this for a short time.

How important this project is and that volunteers are desperately needed to spread the Gospel into such a highly populated country. This is, to me, one of the best ways to do so.

The fact that Chinese people are so empty spiritually and are eager to hear about Jesus.

How receptive people (Chinese tourists) are to hear about Jesus. America has had an inoculation against the Gospel, I want to encourage my church to do more than give to missions.

Everything!

That prayers and financial support are much needed and people to spread the love of God – it doesn’t matter where you are – just do it!

I want to tell about the Chinese peoples hunger for the word.

Question 3:
What would you MOST like to share with us before leaving?
Ya’ll did a great job of working with us prior to our arrival (evident in the scheduling) and working with us once we had arrived. I really appreciate your team working along side us.

I have fallen in love with this country, I wish I could stay.

Thank you to the team for making us feel so at home – your servant leadership is a testimony to the Lord’s work – you have an incredible team here. Just seeing the way that you all work together to complement each other and the volunteers makes it evident that God has chosen each of you specifically to make this ministry hugely effective.

My life has been so enriched by God and by the M’s here. I will definitely be back. I will also take Mandarin to learn more to communicate.

How much I have grown to love each of you and to pray that God will lead me back to you.

I have been encouraged by you all and your drive to reach lost Chinese people. I will continue to pray for you when I get back to the USA. And, your hospitality and attitude are great, thank you.

Thank you for the great experience. It also seems that the Chinese respond better if one is less aggressive in distribution.

I would like to thank all of you for how much I appreciate all the love and direction and hospitality that they gave us. You guys answered all our questions. Showed a lot of grace, we wish we could pack you up in our suitcases and take her home with us!

I want to thank you guys for being different from other missionaries I’ve known. I really enjoyed every minute of this trip, thanks for making this trip possible for us.

Question 4:
Did you experience any answered prayer?
Yes, for me personally in my walk with God and in the lives of those around me. Many times I prayed and witnessed many taking the packets that would not have otherwise.

Yes, praying for specific people and seeing them take packets. Stopping what were doing to pray, then before we could get back to it, having a whole crowd come upon us unexpectedly eager to take packets. One time a team member prayed we could empty our boxes at the beach, and we gave out all but 9 of our 300 packets.

Yes, many times when we prayed for specific people to take the gift they came back and pick up a packet!

Yes! One time when I was praying in the lobby a group of Chinese who had not accepted packets suddenly decided to accept them.

Yes, many times I prayed for specific people to take packets and they did. I prayed for my desire to reach the lost would grow and it did.

Many, we saw people come back and take packets after we prayed specifically. We were even able to communicate the Gospel even though we could not speak Mandarin.

I prayed when things were going really slow that we would be overwhelmed, then the tourists came! We passed out over 200 packets in five minutes! We couldn’t give them out fast enough!

Many! There was a time when there were no Chinese coming off boats on to the beach. We had two people praying and six giving gift packs. One was praying that God would send us some Chinese people while unknowingly the other was praying God would cast away the ties and strength satan had on these people through false religions. “Lord, make them desire Your Word and free them to receive it.” At that very moment God brought in four boats of Chinese tourists and when they left the beach almost every person was carrying a gift packet! This is just one instance, Praise God!