“The harvest is past, the summer is ended...” (Jeremiah 8:20)
How fast summer time flew by with many, many staggering and truly humbling experiences. Our last letter was in June, right before leaving our home in Beijing, China for a three month rest in America. Prior to leaving, we had many fears and doubts about our time in America - I mean, how do we return to a place that three years earlier we said goodbye to, selling our possessions, home, vehicles and closing career doors. Three years ago we purchased one-way tickets and considered the possibility of never returning! And so, we wondered how our great need would be met? Would we need to get a job? Stay at a rescue shelter for the homeless? Well, there was only one way for us to go and that was with God. So, we offered up our “great need” to God and said, “Onward.”
How fast summer time flew by with many, many staggering and truly humbling experiences. Our last letter was in June, right before leaving our home in Beijing, China for a three month rest in America. Prior to leaving, we had many fears and doubts about our time in America - I mean, how do we return to a place that three years earlier we said goodbye to, selling our possessions, home, vehicles and closing career doors. Three years ago we purchased one-way tickets and considered the possibility of never returning! And so, we wondered how our great need would be met? Would we need to get a job? Stay at a rescue shelter for the homeless? Well, there was only one way for us to go and that was with God. So, we offered up our “great need” to God and said, “Onward.”
Our great need included a vehicle for transportation, a house to live in, finances in which to provide food for our family, getting visa’s reissued to go back to China, traveling funds to see family - all this and more was contained in our ‘great need” that we presented to God. At the time of praying, Rich received a quiet consolation that all would be supplied. In looking back on our time in America and the summer that has just ended, we see our Faithful God and Savior supplying all our need according to His riches and glory. Hallelujah! This walk of faith is tenuous at times but the sweet consolation of our Father is better than all the gold on earth.
We need to thank so many people for their generous giving and help. Maranatha Church in Springfield helped us so much in securing and financing our home for the summer. Many individuals gave to our need as the Lord prompted. Thank you, Maranatha Family! My mother also gave generously - Thank you! Lighthouse Ana Baptist Church - Thank you! You all helped fan the flames of devotion to Christ and soul winning! And to the several others who we won’t name but gave and prayed sacrificially, Thank you!
This letter would be too long if we labored to tell you all that was accomplished this summer. But let us hit some high points. Our mission cottage was in Springfield, Missouri from which we settled, rested and resupplied. In Springfield, we were able to share with three fellowships about China. While visiting family in Minnesota we were able to share with another fellowship the same message. Taking time to visit dear friends in Arkansas we shared with two other fellowships. One highlight was preaching with brothers on the street in Springfield and in Kansas City. Our only regret was not having more time to labor in Rolla, Fargo, New Orleans etc. where also Rich was invited to preach. Another highlight was seeing the Rusty Thomas nation in Waco, Texas and spending a few precious minutes with Jeremiah. They so graciously received us for a few hours and poured into us exhortation and encouragement. We just so happened to visit two months to the day that doctors said Jeremiah would not live past. We rejoice and sorrow with the Thomas nation now as Jeremiah is no longer with us on this earth. One thing that did not get accomplished was YangMei’s citizenship. We have some political hoops to jump through yet and will provide more details later.
We need to thank so many people for their generous giving and help. Maranatha Church in Springfield helped us so much in securing and financing our home for the summer. Many individuals gave to our need as the Lord prompted. Thank you, Maranatha Family! My mother also gave generously - Thank you! Lighthouse Ana Baptist Church - Thank you! You all helped fan the flames of devotion to Christ and soul winning! And to the several others who we won’t name but gave and prayed sacrificially, Thank you!
This letter would be too long if we labored to tell you all that was accomplished this summer. But let us hit some high points. Our mission cottage was in Springfield, Missouri from which we settled, rested and resupplied. In Springfield, we were able to share with three fellowships about China. While visiting family in Minnesota we were able to share with another fellowship the same message. Taking time to visit dear friends in Arkansas we shared with two other fellowships. One highlight was preaching with brothers on the street in Springfield and in Kansas City. Our only regret was not having more time to labor in Rolla, Fargo, New Orleans etc. where also Rich was invited to preach. Another highlight was seeing the Rusty Thomas nation in Waco, Texas and spending a few precious minutes with Jeremiah. They so graciously received us for a few hours and poured into us exhortation and encouragement. We just so happened to visit two months to the day that doctors said Jeremiah would not live past. We rejoice and sorrow with the Thomas nation now as Jeremiah is no longer with us on this earth. One thing that did not get accomplished was YangMei’s citizenship. We have some political hoops to jump through yet and will provide more details later.
And now...with many trials we have made it to our new home in XiAn, China, but the fields are still white with harvest. The apartment our Father selected for us is sufficient and we are thankful. Please watch the video of our new apartment we recorded here ( https://www.facebook.com/streetchurch34/videos/256688264983611/ ). Rich has been settling into really different work hours, but grateful for opportunity to share the name of Christ Jesus. The owners of this English school are brothers and have begun a Bible study inside the school. They have asked Rich to help the study get established and grow. In much trembling and joy, Rich will begin this work soon. Our language acquisition is still growing. Jody and Joshua will begin studying more formally next week with our new Chinese tutor, who is also our brother in the faith.
God has seen fit to put before us two opportunities to serve orphans and people from the community with disabilities. We recently learned about Agape farm, which is part of Shaanxi Agape Community Care Association and is a sheltered employment project for those who are not able to work independently in the community after graduating from vocational training. Agape helps individuals from the community and also serves the children who have aged out of the foster care system over here (at age 14). Secondly, we have connected with ELIM, a ”foster home” of sorts for children with HIV. Life in an orphanage is difficult at best, yet for a child with HIV is even harder than most. The fear surrounding HIV in China is still great. These children are isolated from other children. They are not allowed to eat or play with the other children and usually are kept in isolation rooms. In fact, most of the staff are unwilling to even touch or interact with these children so they become depressed and withdrawn very quickly. The are the ”untouchables” ; however, with treatment, these children can live long lives. With love, hope, compassion and warmth, these children can live happy lives too. We are excited to see all that God has for us with Agape and ELIM and will update you as our work in this area unfolds. Eventually, we hope to make connections that will enable us access to the large government orphanage here as well.
So, with all these things, our need continues to be great. Would you pray for us, that God would supply our physical, financial and spiritual needs. As we enter our fourth year in China, monthly financial support has become part of our great need. We are deeply grateful for those who already give regularly; would you help us pray for the full provision? As of now, Sundays will be used for teaching English, and so we need to be creative to not forsake the assembling of the brethren. Monday’s will be busy participating in a co-op homeschool group, where our children will learn and gain new friends. Tuesday’s will be reserved for Chinese language study and ministry opportunities.
The general needs here in China are also great. While trial, tempest and winds of persecution blow harder, there remains the need for the church to stand strong while being purified. We feel XiAn to be such a place where God can move mightily to build His church through yielded, humble people. Join with us in this great effort! Believe it our not, we are still in a missionary situation in the world! Hudson Taylor, Gladys Aylward, and C.T. Studd are dead and gone. There remains us, the few, the humble, the soldiers of Christ! Do we dare let their work and effort go unmatched, unchecked? Did they only have a race to run and not us? Will you join with us in the fight?
What can you do?
I will go down (into India), if you will hold the rope” ~ William Carey
1. Go - The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few (Luke 10:2). If God is calling YOU, we pray you GO!
2. Give - as you are led of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:27). Click here for one time donation or recurring monthly support: http://hagennation.weebly.com/support-or-contact.html (Donorbox link). Or if you prefer to use PayPal, PayPal.me/JodyHagen
3. Groan - as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. Pray the Lord would stand by us, strengthen us and that through us the truth and power of the Gospel might be fully known, that all the Chinese might hear and that the Lord would protect us and delivers us from every evil work, preserving us unto His heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:17-18).
Reach us at [email protected] or through Facebook, facebook.com/streetchurch34 to tell us your praying!
Let God Be Magnified,
The Hagen Nation
God has seen fit to put before us two opportunities to serve orphans and people from the community with disabilities. We recently learned about Agape farm, which is part of Shaanxi Agape Community Care Association and is a sheltered employment project for those who are not able to work independently in the community after graduating from vocational training. Agape helps individuals from the community and also serves the children who have aged out of the foster care system over here (at age 14). Secondly, we have connected with ELIM, a ”foster home” of sorts for children with HIV. Life in an orphanage is difficult at best, yet for a child with HIV is even harder than most. The fear surrounding HIV in China is still great. These children are isolated from other children. They are not allowed to eat or play with the other children and usually are kept in isolation rooms. In fact, most of the staff are unwilling to even touch or interact with these children so they become depressed and withdrawn very quickly. The are the ”untouchables” ; however, with treatment, these children can live long lives. With love, hope, compassion and warmth, these children can live happy lives too. We are excited to see all that God has for us with Agape and ELIM and will update you as our work in this area unfolds. Eventually, we hope to make connections that will enable us access to the large government orphanage here as well.
So, with all these things, our need continues to be great. Would you pray for us, that God would supply our physical, financial and spiritual needs. As we enter our fourth year in China, monthly financial support has become part of our great need. We are deeply grateful for those who already give regularly; would you help us pray for the full provision? As of now, Sundays will be used for teaching English, and so we need to be creative to not forsake the assembling of the brethren. Monday’s will be busy participating in a co-op homeschool group, where our children will learn and gain new friends. Tuesday’s will be reserved for Chinese language study and ministry opportunities.
The general needs here in China are also great. While trial, tempest and winds of persecution blow harder, there remains the need for the church to stand strong while being purified. We feel XiAn to be such a place where God can move mightily to build His church through yielded, humble people. Join with us in this great effort! Believe it our not, we are still in a missionary situation in the world! Hudson Taylor, Gladys Aylward, and C.T. Studd are dead and gone. There remains us, the few, the humble, the soldiers of Christ! Do we dare let their work and effort go unmatched, unchecked? Did they only have a race to run and not us? Will you join with us in the fight?
What can you do?
I will go down (into India), if you will hold the rope” ~ William Carey
1. Go - The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few (Luke 10:2). If God is calling YOU, we pray you GO!
2. Give - as you are led of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:27). Click here for one time donation or recurring monthly support: http://hagennation.weebly.com/support-or-contact.html (Donorbox link). Or if you prefer to use PayPal, PayPal.me/JodyHagen
3. Groan - as the Holy Spirit gives utterance. Pray the Lord would stand by us, strengthen us and that through us the truth and power of the Gospel might be fully known, that all the Chinese might hear and that the Lord would protect us and delivers us from every evil work, preserving us unto His heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:17-18).
Reach us at [email protected] or through Facebook, facebook.com/streetchurch34 to tell us your praying!
Let God Be Magnified,
The Hagen Nation