We received this email update from Kelly Creech who is living and working in China. Thought you would be interested in hearing how our missions giving was being put to use around the world.


Hey Mr. Doug,
I wanted to let you know how grateful I am for the gift from my "family" in Moncks Corner. I will send you all another update when I can, but for now I wanted to give you a brief update. (also, there's a video I tried to share with you and the family, but maybe failed. Hopefully my dad will be in touch to help you guys out with that).

I have been lifting up a student for a while now in particular, her name is Yang Juan (sorry no English name). She's a student from last year as well. I remember at our Christmas party last year, she won a game, and received the door prize or a 10 cent equivalent notebook. She was SOOOO THRILLED. We've been meeting weekly now, and she's been incredibly open to His story of good news, and remains full of questions and curiosity. Her village is about 3 hours by bus outside of town, followed by a 2 1/2 hour walk home. Her parents currently work in a factory. They used to be farmers, but couldn't afford her tuition by farming, so are now working in a factory. They are doing all they can send her to school, but struggling. She is also worried about their health. They're older, and working extremely long and hard hours for someone their age in not great conditions. When I went to a restaurant with her (I was paying of course) that cost a mere 6 RMB for a dish (not quite 1dollar), she started panicking about how expensive it was. Her parents won't be home for their winter holiday in January either, because it's too expensive for them to come home, and they can't afford to take a day off of work if they want her to go to school.

So when I heard that FBC donated $1000 for Christmas, I was overjoyed. What a better way to show her the way that He loves her, than by helping her tuition. I have been pr@ying heavily for a way to help her financially, and this is what I believe to be the answer to that request. I just left her, after telling her this news, and explaining that it's a Christmas present from you all because of the gift of our Father. I WISH I could make all of you present for that moment. For the most sincere tear-filled hug I've ever received in my life. For the moment when I could once again tell her He believes she is special. He has a plan for her. He desires a relationship with her. AND HE gave a gift much bigger than this one, to cover a fee much larger than this school fee.

My request from Yang Juan upon giving this gift, was that she would 1. remember that this is not a gift from me, but a gift from Him because He loves her 2. that she would study hard and try her best in school 3. that she would tell her parents the reason for the gift, and not that "you have a foreign teacher that is from a rich country" or "foreign teacher that is a good person" because that would simply not be true, and 4th, that she would take the time to thank you all. So expect a thank you from her soon.

Please thank the family back home on my behalf. The Father will remember their generous giving. "When you give to the least of these, you give to me." I strongly believe He is at work in Yang Juan's life, as well as other's here. Thank you for your support and lifting me up. Please continue to lift up Yang Juan. Lift up her family as well. I want them to become a part of her "forever family" so badly! 


- Kelly