All my friends are the world’s best scientists… They are rich and have everything, but none of them are happy… and, I am not very happy.”

…”In your home, everyone is happy… Your son is happy he makes me laugh… your husband is happy… all your children are happy… even your dog is happy!”

Many scholars and scientists hear of God's love for the first time in Portland

Li (name & photo changed) joined our household two years ago.

In 1992, the Lord provided our family a huge eight bedroom house close to the university. Since that time, we have shared our home with up to five internationals at a time.

Expecting to meet a student researcher, we were surprised to see Li arrive, an older woman from Communist North Asia who had little use for spiritual things.

We were even more amazed to discover our house guest was a world-class scientist. She recently had left the United Nations working with nuclear energy research in Monaco to open a new laboratory near our home.

We rarely saw Li as she would leave for the lab by 7:00 a.m. and return home around 11:00 p.m. When we had opportunities to talk, we could always tell the Holy Spirit was drawing her to himself. This time, she told Kathy about her life and friends. She concluded observing, “In your home, everyone is happy… Your son is happy he makes me laugh… your husband is happy… all your children are happy… even your dog is happy!”

Finally Li asked the ultimate question, “What makes you so happy?” Kathy shared in a moment the Gospel.  Li chuckled a bit, leaving unconvinced.

Last Spring, more than a year after that conversation, Li stopped, mentioning to Kathy, “Everyone I see tells me that Jesus is very good… I have started to read my native language Bible each night before I go to sleep.”

Tonight Li just now popped in. In two weeks she will move out to be with her daughter.

“I don’t know what to do anymore… Nothing is working… I don’t know if God can help me… but still everybody I talk to tells me about Jesus!”

Li wept as Kathy shared the Gospel, this time marking scriptures to read in her Bible which pointed the way to Christ. After explaining how to receive Christ, Li left for her room and evening Bible reading saying, “As soon as I pray this prayer I will tell you.”

Pray with us for Li, representative of a large number of North Asian scholars, researchers and scientists we minister to.

We trust Augustine was right when he taught, if we would have someone be convinced of the reality of God and salvation through Christ, we should invite them to live in our home observing our life for a single year.

Author Profile:  Vic is Oregon and Pacific Northwest Area Director for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, part of the Leadership team of FOCUS at Portland State University, a writer, blogger, usually an INFP (with "E" overtones), a long time resident of urban inner southeast Portland, the husband of one wife for more than 30 years, a Dad, grandfather, and mentor & friend to all kinds of young adults. Read more from this author