public security...

A week or two ago we noticed a crowd gathered at the police station.  20 or so men gathered around posters taped up on the walls.  4-5 large posters detailing the dress and head coverings that are allowed for women:  hair covered with a scarf, which is the traditional Uyghur modest woman look, is ok, but no covering over the face (which associates them with staunch Islam).  Posters also show the facial hair that's allowed for local men (long beards, which most Han Chinese can't grow, seem to the government to be too Islamic, and therefore are too closely, potentially, connected to separatist/ Islamic terrorist groups).

There are more pictures on these posters of westerners (classic big nose, white skin, foreign suit and tie) passing out small booklets with crosses and locals are instructed plainly not to take, not to listen to any information from such trouble makers.  About 1/3 of an average monthly rent will be paid as prize to anyone giving information on any gathering taking place for the purpose of worship or teaching.

If you know this area well, it won't surprise you to hear that many of these posters, taped up all over town, have been torn to shreds.  Two months ago, when we first caught wind of these reforms, I nearly cried when I saw my first neighbor who had been forced to remove her face-covering.  I'm totally not for ladies needing to hide behind black veils for social or spiritual favor.... but I sure did want to cry for this friend who was forced, rumor has it there were police threats against her family's small grocery store, to dress more modern, acceptably, in the police's eye.

All this is the governments way to keep Islam from striking too deep in people's hearts here and causing terrorist ideals to take root among the people.  Yea, that would be a great thing to prevent, but   this is a hard way at it...  it does not appear to be inspiring peace in the hearts of the people.

And there's more discrepancies, hardships given to one ethnic group over another, and there are big cases that attract big attention and cause great concern.  If you have a minute you can read about the professor who was sentenced to life in prison last week in our city.... his crime?  As a communist party member he had tried to speak out about the government's weakness in dealing with the political situation in this province.   And even elsewhere in China, there's trouble....  across the country from us, crosses are being torn down from churches where they have been allowed to stand for years...

Much to pray for...  much to pray for, friends!  Please continue standing with us!

Our God is sovereign and we trust His love and His plans for this people, this great nation that He loves.  May He accomplish all the good works he has planned for this nation.  May He bring peace.... as we know is His heart when the angels proclaimed at the birth of the Son of God:

Peace on Earth, Goodwill from God to man.