“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” 1 Peter 2:2.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts to place Bibles in rural China. These believers have tasted “that the Lord is good” and they are desperate to learn more from the Word of God. Your prayers and gifts matter and you are making a difference.

The word “crave” from 1 Peter 2:2 says a lot. During a briefing in China one of the leaders of Bibles for China’s in-country partners said, “Please, look into the eyes of the people you are handing a Bible. Don’t miss that blessing. Their eyes will express the desires of their hearts. Long after you have forgotten most other things about your mission here in China, you will remember the eyes of the people.”

The physical appearance of one young man whose physical appearance showed he had some obvious mental and physical challenges. He stayed several yards behind all the other people in the church and everything in his demeanor said he knew he would not get a Bible. When one of those who were handing out Bibles left the crowd and approached this young man, his eyes first showed fear that he was singled out, then his eyes flashed with anticipation, and finally his eyes filled with the tears of overwhelming joy.

Sometimes the bodies of the older Chinese believers show obvious signs of a hard life. Scratching out a living in rural China is hard physical work. Often the lack of mechanization means backbreaking labor. In some cases both men and women are bent, unable to stand up straight from back injuries that have gone untreated. Many shuffle when they walk from muscles that no longer allow free movement. Yet, despite the physical pain, their eyes flash with excitement and life because of their relationship with Christ. Their eager anticipation of having a Bible of their own is communicated clearly the moment your eyes meet theirs. They leave no doubt they have a “craving” for pure spiritual milk.

The eyes of the young people leave a lasting memory. Their eyes are wide with the excitement of receiving a Bible of their own. I find myself without words that can explain the emotions they display through their eyes. Thank you for supplying Bibles for these young people. Your gift of a Bible has a chance to change a life forever.