ur Christian small group heard about an elderly woman who had lived alone, bedridden for several years. Three of us decided to go pay her a visit.

We arrived on bicycles at a very dilapidated house. Grass was growing on the roof and spider webs covered the windows. As soon as we pushed the door open, a stench overwhelmed us. We were startled by a weak voice and fixed our attention on a pair of lifeless eyes under dishevelled hair, lying on a plank bed. We were shocked.

One woman in our group began cleaning and airing out the house, while the other tended to the old woman, whose body was covered with open bedsores. She washed the old woman’s body, changed her clothing and laundered her soiled and bloodstained bed linen. Before we departed, we placed a pot of fragrant Jasmine tea in her room.

What penetrated into her heart, however, was not only the fragrance of the Jasmine tea, but the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ spread by love. The old woman was so touched by our help that she wept uncontrollably. She asked, “Who are you? Why are you helping me?” We replied, “We are children of God; the Lord’s grace has come to your house today.”

We began visiting the elderly woman each week. We brought her medicine and we read the Bible with her. As we prayed for her, she grew healthier and drew closer to God.

One day while reading the Bible together, the old woman’s daughter-in-law came for a visit. She was shocked by the improvement in her mother-in-law’s health and the condition of her house. Through the mouth of the old woman, she learned who we were and what we had done. She was so greatly moved and touched by the love of God that she accepted Jesus!

Now a small group of believers meets at the elderly woman’s house—the beginnings of a growing church family. —Ms Zhao, Bible League-trained Church Planter.

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