Easter Sunday with Jay and Ginny

Jay has been exciting to teach because he is a faithful temple-goer and idol worshipper with no knowledge of Christianity. A couple weeks ago when Allen mentioned that the Easter holiday was approaching he responded, "So, will you be carving pumpkins?" The church was preparing a special Easter Sunday service which provided the perfect opportunity to invite curious Jay.
When Sunday arrived the church was packed out. There was an early morning breakfast buffet including pancakes, biscuits and gravy, lettuce salad, hot dogs, and pizza. During the service there were many new faces. Church members had invited friends and even Jay brought along his girlfriend, Ginny. Alicia Edwards' young English class did a special song and some of their parents came to church for the first time to see them perform.
During the service Jay leaned over and asked Allen, "So Jesus is God's son?" They have been reading sections of the book of Luke together once a week for several months, but that day it was as though a light bulb popped on in Jay's mind and he was starting to understand.
After church Jay and Ginny came to our apartment for a traditional American Easter dinner. They were very excited about this, especially Jay who thinks Allen is so lucky to have a wife who cooks for him! We served a ham, asparagus, rolls, sweet potato casserole, and decorated hard boiled eggs. They ate the ham like candy. We enjoyed getting to know the two of them and even Kirstie had a good time teaching them how to play Uno.
When the afternoon was over we felt as though we had finally "arrived." I don't know how to explain this feeling that comes every once-in-awhile, but it has to do with feeling adjusted and finally being able to do things in a foreign country that would come naturally in our home country - like having people over for a meal and being able to talk with them as friends in a language that is not our own. It is very rewarding but also requires a lot of energy. After Jay and Ginny left, my people-person Allen had to lay down on the bed and crash because of the tiredness that followed a morning and afternoon entertaining and holding conversations in Chinese.
This week during class Jay asked, "What is the Bible?" and expressed a desire to have one to read on his own. We pray that God will speak to Jay's heart and that Jay and his friends and family will one day come to understand and accept God's great love for them.