The man in the center, now a brother, described how he escaped. He was from WCh, working in DJY. He was under a mine on the other side of Longmen Mountain Range when the earth quaked. There were loud noises. They quickly elevated and noticed that the mine entrance was closing (getting smaller). They did their very best to get out of the mine, only to find that the situation outside was not any better. Huge rocks were rolling down from the mountain due to landsliding, making huge noises, and creating thick smog. People were running for their lives. Some who ran before him were hit by big rocks and died instantly. As he was running, a big stone (small rock) hit him right by his heart. He was struck to the ground, started to cough blood and couldn’t run. Someone that he doesn’t know gave him a hand and dragged him to run for a while. They managed to escape big rolling rocks, but small stones still keep hitting them. Soon, he fell behind, and couldn’t run any longer and fell unconscious. He must have slept for a few hours, as he woke up, it got dark. He picked up himself and kept running, still coughing blood. After a little while, he ran into another survivor who gave him some 云南白药 (special Chinese medicine). He took it and the blood coughing stopped. He waited for five days, gathering cookies or whatever edible from the dead, then walked for another 5 days until he met rescuers. With these few people miraculous saved his life, he understood that it must be the angels that God sent on his way. And he believes wholeheartedly and gives glory to the Most High. He also lost a daughter to the earthquake.

Rengui Zhou, 15 year old, 9th grader, attending Juyuan Middle School in DJY, where more than 1,800 students died during the quake. His class was the best among the classes ready for the High School Entrance Exams, originally scheduled in early June. On that day, this class was supposed to have PE class at 2:30pm. But in order to let them study more and be more competitive, the teacher-in-charge asked them to stay in the classroom to study. Their class has 60 students, 43 died, the rest become amputees; no one came out with one piece. Their classroom was on the 4th floor. As they were making their way out, a ceiling beam fell and chopped off the head of a classmate next to him, and blocked his way. He crouched with his legs stuck between cement blocks and his arms covering his head. In the beginning, he could still hear from students to his left and right. And they were encouraging each other to keep on going. By 8pm, those classmates breathed their last and it became silent. Renhui has the strong faith that his dad would surely come to rescue him. By 11pm, his dad and an uncle found him, and they started to clear the way to reach to him. By 3am the following morning, he was dug out, but lost his left foreleg as it was stuck. By 7pm, he was sent to the hospital and his left leg was amputated by half thigh the same day. Three days later, he felt severe pain on his right leg. After a series of test, it was diagnosed that the tissue of his entire right leg was completely dead. On May 27th, his entire right leg, including part of his hip, was amputated. When we saw him on June 5th, he was having fever and inflammation due to the unusual hot weather. Yet he finally could urinate since the last amputation surgery. When our coworker went to see him again on the 15th (the above left picture), he lost lots of weight. We heard that he was a little upset (quite understandable) when he learned that given his condition, he cannot have artificial legs. Yet he has been doing great in comforting the visitors and being very considerate to his grieving parents, who sleep on the bench of the hallway in the hospital for more than one month now. He is the only child of his parents. As I am writing this on the morning of June 23rd, he received the 6th surgery, cleaning the discharge in a big hole on his wound. Please continue to lift him up.

June 10th

Peace to you all,

Thank you all for sending a note of encouragement to me via email or blog comments and your sweet word to Dad on my behalf. I feel bad for the poor one way communication, as my time for internet access is very limited, if there’s any.

I’m back to the capital of the province this afternoon to meet PI (Partners International) regional director and my “boss” to give them a briefing. I will be back to the north again tomorrow if I can find a ride. All coworkers that I first met went back to their Home in other provinces one after another to share the need and vision. Some of them will be back again in a couple of weeks with their teams. Meanwhile, new workers (even baby believers) keep coming and some are still in the mountain. I was asked to give them some basic training and co-lead with their original team leaders. The condition in the north is pretty tough. No tap water and electricity supply during day time. Definitely no place to take shower. However, refugees do receive milk, food, and drinking water, and ￥10 ($1.5) per unemployed person per day from the gov., which is a lot better than their regular earning for rural people. We also experienced 2~4 major aftershocks day and night up there. We are used to it now, as we have the unshakeable kingdom within. Plus, it’s fun.

We are stuck for the good work in that area for the time being. For now the gov. is more strict towards X-ian groups along with other groups at check points. We discerned that Dad also closed some doors in places we visited earlier, but we are continuing to wait upon Him as we are seeking. Sometimes, our eyes are on the ministry and its fruit, but His eyes are on the molding of His instrument during the process.

I’m getting 5 mp3 players when I am down here in big city today to share with coworkers and hospitalized patients. These mp3 players are now filled with Songs to Him and Messages from Him, so that the weak can be strengthened. Some coworkers are entering the phrase of anxiety (which is common in the field). Please intercede for the vision to be clearer and the veil to be lifted up.

I am doing fine, by His grace and thru your uplifting hands. I learned to have refills of love and grace from above all the time, even when I’m walking between tents. Otherwise, this little instrument does not have much capacity to contain the oil to share ongoingly to meet the need. Thank you for your care for me and asking me to eat well. We had a wonderful brother who is gifted not only in building the House in the Family and the temporal tents, but also in cooking. He has spoiled us by cooking for us the best food using the limited supply. Amazing! He will return to his Home in FJ tomorrow. And the rest of us will take turns to cook. We certainly need His grace in this aspect. Haha! We know we need to have the strength for the work. So, we are doing good to take care of ourselves as much as the condition allows it.

The earthquake-induced lakes are still at risk of bursting and threatening thousands of people downstream in southwest China. Experts and rescuers are draining and channeling water by
dynamiting the barrier of a big swelling lake. Yet the water level is still rising. People downstream were evacuating. Bless with Ps. 29:10-11. Also pray for less/no rain.

Our Father is amazing and so are Bs&Ss here. Thank you all for coming here with your spirit. Grace be with you all!

P.S. I came across this yesterday during my devotion: Rev. 11:13