Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 135, Number 30, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 28 July 2016 — Page 3

Traveling the globe, serving as missionary in China

By Merrie Chapman Staff Writer

NAPPANEE Chris Martin, known by local residents for her helpful presence inside Martins Supermarket, made the transition from spring into summer this year by traveling to meet with Christians in China. Here she shares the differences between American and Chinese culture, and tales of her adventure. Martin was so determined to follow through with the trip that she was not even put off when she fell ill with bronchitis just four days before leaving on her missions trip. "...(they) gave me an antibiotic, a heavy-duty cough medicine, a note that said I should stay home from work all week, and told me I should feel significantly better (not healed) by Thursday," said Martin. "I literally canceled EVERYTHING that week so 1 could stay home, and take it easy, and heal." When the day arrived May 6, Chris Martin ventured to South Bend, boarded a bus to Chicago, and began her trip from the North American Midwest to the foreign lands of Asia. The next morning brought flight from Chicago to San Francisco, and another arriving in Hong Kong. Upon arrival Martin spent a week in Hong Kong transporting Bibles deeper into China where Christianity is not prohibited but also not encouraged. "Most of the Christians there have to stay underground," said Chris Martin speaking of the need for the Chinese to keep their Christian faith secret to avoid repercussions from others who don't approve of the religion. In transporting the Bibles Chris Martin discovered her body was not yet fully healed from the-bron-chitis. Each day she brought the Bibles as far as, the border of China but was unable to continue further. It was then that her missions group rallied and made sure those Bibles made it to their destination inside China. "Friday I actually made TWO trips!" Martin shared with excited triumph.

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POWER FROM THE PAST

During official grand opening festivities to mark the arrival of Tractor Supply Company to Nappanee,the historic preservation organization "Power from the Past" featured a number of legendary examples of vintage farm eguipment, aligned in a stately fashion along the parking lot of the new business. Among the manufacturers showcased on Saturday, July 23 were John Deere, Allis-Chalmers, and Massey Ferguson, among several others. The membership has had a busy summer, with various events ranging from fund-raising endeavors to exhibitions demonstrations, and cruise-ins. The group will be collaborating with the Wakarusa Historical Society in August to assist with the execution of Historic Ag Days, scheduled to be held at the Wakarusa Historical Museum on Friday, Aug. 26 and Saturday, Aug. 27.

AMISH ACRES FESTIVAL • W« A* 54th Annual top ioo wnr w Wow Nation! 300 Artists & Crafters Thursday through Sunday August 4~7 Nappanee, Indiana US 6 • AmishAcres.com • (800) 800-4942 Festival Admission (Children under 12 Free) • Free Parking • No pets

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WHERE'S THE ADVANCE-NEWS? Nappanee native Chris Martin once traveled overseas with a copy of the Advance-News. Can you guess where the two ended up in this photo? Our staff would encourage all our readers and their friends and family to join in capturing selfies,or posed shots, with the Advance-News in places where they travel around the globe. Send your photos to us at: [email protected] and please include names, correct spellings, place where photo was captured, and the date and year it was taken. In this photo, taken over two years ago, Chris Martin posed with your favorite hometown newspaper while visiting the Great Wall of China (in the background).

Each trip was estimated to be a 5-mile round trip, involving a train ride, standing in lines, and risk of the Bibles being confiscated and never let to enter the country of China, let alone reach the hands of awaiting Christians there. It isn't

Community

illegal to take the Bibles into that country. It also is not welcome by non-Christians there which make up a majority of the population. That point of conflict often leads to such transports being ended once detected.

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Photo provided TRAVELING THE GLOBE Nappanee native Chris Martin spent time traveling to both Asia and the Mideast during May and June of this year. See related article for her first stop-a missions trip focused on carrying Bibles deep into China for Christians unable to purchase the religious readings in that country.

VISITS LEPER COMMUNITY During the second week traveling into China, Chris Martin experienced what she described as both unique and amazing—she traveled with a team called His Feet International into a leper village. She lovingly recalled feeling blessed as she visited with the people there, singing songs, praying for them, and taking in the reality of how far the leper community has come with advanced medical procedures to now treat and cure the disease. Alas the by then longterm damage has already occurred to their bodies, yet the healed lepers are able to continue life. Still Martin notes that this group is still sequestered just as she has read in the Bible happened thousands of years ago before modem medicine to help them function and take care of themselves. "Our visit there was very meaningful and emotional for me," shared Chris Martin. She admits there was a language barrier but feels blessed knowing in her heart that group understood Martin, and the other visitors, were there because they cared for

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each of those being visited. Next she was able to witness the His Feet International team being whisked up a mountainside —on what Martin describes as a wild ride —tp meet with a Chinese woman they are befriending and hoping to introduce to the Christian gospel. Perhaps one of Martin's greatest experiences during her May trip to China came at a moment when she heard a Chinese man thanking a man on her missions team for bringing the Bibles. "It was very meaningful to hear a Chinese man thank us for doing that," said Chris Martin. "It's something so simple...that we here in America take for granted. If we want to read, or own, a Bible we just go get one. But they can't do that there. And to hear him say that, and how thankful he really was that we would go all that way to do that for him...lt really touched me that it meant so much to him." Watch future Advance-News coverage of Chris Martin's other world travels this summer.

Photos by Hannah Wenger

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