Sue and Robert had lived a good life, serving God in their community, now retired from their teaching careers. During an afternoon tea break in their comfortable California home, they were counting their blessings. Good health, children, grandchildren, family, a church where they felt loved and a comfortable retirement ahead.
Sue casually mentioned to Robert that whatever happened to their plan in becoming missionaries? They had discussed this while they were engaged so many years ago. Somehow life took over and they were now retired.
This realization did not leave them for some time. Then they heard about tentmaking. Much to the displeasure of their church and family, they got jobs as ESL teachers in northern China.
This university of some 4000 students was far removed from the comforts of California. Long cold windy winters tested their resolve more than once.
The university had assigned them a ground level apartment that just happened to be right beside the tunnel which led to the university courtyard. The cold winds howled through this tunnel, making their apartment very hard to heat.
Susan had brought some chocolate chip cookie ingredients from US, so she could surprise Robert on his birthday. Now, Robert loved his chocolate chip cookies! To cool them off, she placed them on the ledge of an opened window. The wind took the smell of freshly baked cookies into the courtyard. Soon students were coming up to the window to see what the smell was. Susan gave them small pieces of the cookies which were much loved by the students.
Susan decided to see if she could find the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies in the local markets, and although not exactly the ingredients she would have liked, the end result was a pretty decent cookie.
Now she could bake cookies and give them out to the students, but not before giving them a hand written note with a carefully selected Bible verse. Soon she was known as the cookie lady across the university.
It did not take long for students to enquire where the source of the words on the notes were coming from. Susan said that if they were interested, they could come to their home to learn more. Thus a Bible study was born in their apartment. Soon they had to have multiple evenings as so many of the students were coming.
As some of the students were becoming Christians, word got out to the authorities and an order was made to have them leave China as soon as possible.
Two policemen showed up at their door with the notice. Susan asked one of them: How old are you? He replied that he was 26 years old. Susan then said: I am 70 years old, how is it that a young man comes and tells an old woman and her even older husband that they must leave? The police did not have an answer and left.
Their ministry grew and more students were coming to Christ and being discipled by Susan and Robert.
Some time later two different, older policemen came to tell them they must leave China due to their missionary activities. Susan once again informed them that it was disrespectful of them to be asking two very old people to leave their country.
Yet again, some time later a much older policeman came to tell them they must leave China. Susan again informed them that she was now very old, and should not be travelling at her age. The policeman was not convinced and kept insisting they must leave. Susan then asked how old the policeman was? He responded that I am 50 years old. Susan then responded, 50? I am 800 years old! The confused policeman left and that was the last time anyone tried to evict them from China.
Susan had learned that in Chinese culture using very large numbers was a way to impress others of anything that was very old.
During their years in China, they mobilized many new tentmakers, attended tentmaking courses, paid for travel and course fees for new tentmakers to these courses
As Susan and Robert were nearing the ends of their lives they informed their families that they wished to be buried in China.
