一年前陳文逸牧師從台灣送來電子郵件，說正在計劃年底來美國華人教會訪問，傳遞鄉福的異象，那時我回信告訴他，我們這地方Blacks burg，是個大學城，沒有像大都市有華人教會，只有一個中文查經班，與一個由倆對夫婦借用美國人教會的副堂作主日崇拜，而大部份參加的人都是從中國大陸來的留學生，這個小城屈指算來，從台灣來的家庭不多，基督徒就更不用說了。我告訴他這些實情，主要是勸他不必浪費時間，千里迢迢的來這小地方，沒想到他的回信是這樣：“收到你的電子回郵心中略有爭扎，但是鄉福是到沒有基督徒的鄉下伝福音，在小地方聚會沒幾個人是習慣了，所以還是決定走一趟-------。”
好了，這下可好了，陳牧師說要來我怎能拒絕？所以硬接下擔子，開始計劃如何安排，使他的來訪達到最好果效。仔細思考之下，決定在家裡舉行一個小型家庭聚會，邀請所有來自台灣的基督徒與美國或中國人對鄉下福音有興趣的，一共有十八人，然後第二天早上，則請牧師到華人崇拜講道。
因為這裡的華人基督徒都在不同的美國教會聚會，平常也沒什麼交通，所以為了這個聚會，我擬了一邀請信，附上陳牧師的一篇“我們的蔡長富弟兄”，盼這個見証能感動接信的人而來參加聚會。我私下慶幸我的計劃既週詳又精密，應該不會失敗才對。
哈！哈！人算不如天算。當天（星期六），陳牧師應該是從Durham, NC坐飛機來Roanoke，全程開車不過四個半小時，我們這邊有弟兄去機場接他，如果不誤點，他到達的時間是下午二點半，晚上聚會是七點半，有足夠的時間參觀一下我們的大學Virginia Tech，.如果你喜歡美式足球，對Hokies應不莫生，並且還有時間休息睡個覺。
沒想到天氣不合作，Virginia不常下雪，而且今年冬天非常暖和，尚未下雪呢！當天早上開始微微飄雪，漸漸變成下冰，頓時天昏地暗路況開始變壞，於是一整天就在擔心飛機誤點、延遲起飛中等侍，好不容易牧師在晚上八點才到，原來他在機場被困了十二小時。
因路況危險，幾個預定要來的也改變主意，心中想要取消聚會，但又覺得牧師來一趟不容易，正舉棋不定的時候，我開始唱詩禱告，求神帶領牧師平安來到，求神帶領該來的人來聚會，求神赦免我的自滿自義。我很平安的覺得不該取消聚會，一切在神手中，願祂的旨意成就。
就這樣牧師來了，星期六晚上有十四人在我家聚會，當中沒有一個不是基督徒。除了我來自台灣還有從香港、中國鄉下與美國的弟兄姊妹，我們在聆聽牧師的分享中，感到神的同在，多位也在交通中對鄉福有更深的認識。
第二天，牧師在溫和日麗下，帶領主日崇拜，講完道後，平安的離開我們的小鎮。開車送牧師上機場途中，我那聽不懂台灣話的洋丈夫說：「下次牧師來，我當他司機，免得他在機場受苦。」
哇！神說：「我的意念高過你們的意念。」(賽55:9)。又說：「----萬事互相效力叫愛神的人得益處。」(羅8:28)
About one year ago, Pastor Chen Wen-Yi wrote me an e-mail to inquire about visiting the United States to share the vision of Village Gospel Mission. He wanted to come visit our town and visit Chinese Church here. My reply to him was: "Our town, Blacksburg, is a small college town which does not really have a formal Chinese church. All we have is a Chinese Bible Study and a small Chinese Worship in a chapel belonged to an American congregation. Most of the people who go to these two Chinese groups are from China. There are very few Taiwanese here, even fewer Taiwanese Christians." What I really meant was to discourage him from coming here so he would not waste his time and energy. However, his response to me was: "Honestly speaking I have struggled a little bit to make the decision to come visit you all. But I understand what it is to have a small gathering because Village Gospel Missionaries go to the small country village where no Christian church exists. I am accustomed to the small meetings……So I've made the decision to come visit you…."
Well, since he invited himself to come, I surely need to take the responsibility to make arrangements in order to make him feel welcomed and hope to make his visit fruitful. After a lot of thought and discussions with a Taiwanese leader in the small Chinese worship, we planned to invite all Taiwanese Christians and those who might be interested in the Taiwan Gospel mission to come to our home group meeting on Saturday night when Pastor came. All together I counted about 18 people that I should invite. For the following morning, we plan to have Pastor preach to Mainland Chinese in the small Chinese Worship Service.
In our small town, all Taiwanese Christians go to different American Churches, therefore people actually do not have much interaction or fellowship together. In order to have a house group meeting, I therefore have to write an invitation letter. Attached to this letter I also enclosed an article that Pastor wrote several years ago " Our Brother Hsia Chung-Fu". This article is very moving. I felt very self-confident that anyone who read this article would feel drawn to this house meeting. Proudly I loved my plan. It was so well thought. For sure it would not fail. I would not loose face because of the small number of Taiwanese group.
Things turned out to be not what I thought and planned. Pastor Chen was supposed to arrive at Roanoke from Durham, NC, which was only four and a half hours away. One of our Taiwanese brothers would drive from Blacksburg to pick him up. Supposedly he would arrive around 2:30 in the afternoon and have plenty of time to visit our beautiful campus, Virginia Tech. For those who love football, Hokies should not be a strange name. He probably would also have time to take a nap before the night meeting.
That Saturday turned out to be one of the worst snowy days in this winter here. In the morning, snow and ice started coming down. The road condition was not good. Many car accidents happen because people were not accustomed to drive on the ice. Virginia doesn't get much snow in the winter. This was just one of those bad days. Pastor's airplane was delayed for several hours. Totally he stayed in the airport for about 12 hours. What a miserable day! When he arrived at our house, it was already eight o'clock at night.
While I was waiting for him that afternoon, several friends who planned to come to the meeting called and canceled because they did not dare to drive on the icy road. I was not very happy and wrestled with the idea of canceling the whole thing. With an anxious heart, I started praying to God. In my prayer I begged God to show mercy to lead Pastor to come safely; I asked the Lord to guide those who were supposed to come to come. In a moment like this God clearly showed me how self-righteous and proud I was. Asking forgiveness, I confessed my sins and handed all situations to my God. May His will be accomplished!
Finally Pastor came and there were fourteen people showed up. All were Christians. Most were from Taiwan; one couple from Hong-Kong; one couple from China country village and one Caucasian American. Pastor Chen shared about his and other coworkers' vision of preaching the Gospel in Taiwan village. In our interaction, many asked good questions. God's presence had made us feel this meeting was lovely and special. The next day, Pastor preached in the small Chinese Worship Service and left our little town in a beautiful day.
On our way to the Roanoke airport, my non-Taiwanese speaking Caucasian husband with his determined voice said: "Next time when Pastor Chen comes, I will be willing to be his driver. Wherever he wants to go in the East coast, I will drive him. This way he would not have to suffer at the airport because of long wait."
Marvelous!! What an excellent inspiration! Indeed "…my ways higher than your way and my thoughts than your thoughts…" (Isaiah 55:9). Also "…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Do you think Pastor's visit here was worthwhile? Next time when he comes, can you guess what the situation will be?
