How are you? Have you had a good week? Are you enjoying your new week?

Until last weekend, I have basically completed my travel plan and on several hands, I have gotten gain more than the original expectation.

Last Monday, Nov 18, 2013, I visited Dr. Thomas Lane (he is on the first photo), Assistant Vice President Student Life-Director and the director of Plaster Student Union, sponsor of my art exhibition at PSU in May, 2010.

I knew Dr. Thomas Lane via email April,2010, and I met him first time May 3, 2010. What he did and touched me deeply, not only for his extremely responsible management and organization jobs, but also for he took care of every thing personally: it was he and Ms. Robin Lowe from Art and Design Department did the advertisement of my art exhibition and he itself was the connection in person, his email was on the advertisement page on the web site of the University for about one month. It was he discussed how to decorate the room with Ms. Robin Lowe and Mr. Gong Xiaoou, how to hang up the paintings, also, it was he and his assistant carried the sofas one by one in the exhibition hall in person, came to the hall each morning at about 7:30am, to see what had happened and whether I needed help before he started his work, cared for every thing and equipment of the reception...

If I did not know his title, I would never think that I was working with a senior management who is an assistant Vice President and the director of Plaster Student Union of the university...

With a respected and a grateful heart, I visited Dr. Thomas Lane in his office in PSU,. What I was most impression on: there are more than 300 students organizations in Missouri State University; their students affairs staff helped and supported those events to keep the healthy development of the campus community, but they never lead or command any student organizations by any forced administration styles; meanwhile, he has taught and worked on a national student affair management training program for a few years, one of his dreams is to make this program to be the top...

As soon as I sent out of the outline of the interview to Dr. Thomas Lane, I found the name and the connected style of the head of Art and Design Department, Dr./ Professor Carolyn Cardenas(she is on the 2rd - 4th photos) via the university web site, I wrote to her and wished to have an opportunity to talk with her. I was lucky enough that I got her good responding and Ms. Julie arranged an appointment for us Wednesday afternoon.

After asking some questions, checking some of my Chinese painting of Baimiao, Gongbi, Xieyi, maxed Xieyi and Gongbi, she heard me to sing some poems on my paintings with my own music, with a big smile, she asked me whether I would like to have a presentation for her students upstairs in her classroom at once, if there was no money for me, I said Yes, then I had a good time with her students, got applause from them.

A wonderful and unexpected gain was: I was lucky enough to “ attend an art lesson ” of her.

As soon as I finished the presentation, Dr. Carolyn Cardenas started her lesson in the same classroom. Since they were having a lesson, I stopped to order my paintings for I did not want to disturb them, then I had a good opportunity to listen to her wonderful lesson.

I was impression and felt happy for I did find: some of her art ideas are similar as my professor taught us in Beijing, the difference is just the materials and expressed styles.

For example:

-- She enjoys getting inspiration from those master artists, use the material of in the 15 century to express the realistic society and life in the 21 century; My professors taught us to learn from the tradition, the greatest artists in the history and from the nature, to create something new to help the current society.

-- She cares for politics and society via her arts; our art theory emphasizes: art is just a tool to service for the politics, society and human being.

-- She worked with a so detail style, it really touched me so much, so that I felt that I had met a master, there are so many things that I should learn from her and the local American artists and art educators.

My current feeling is: I do want to go back Beijing as soon as possible, to involve into my study immediately.

However, my new art exhibition sponsored by Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, MO will be held Feb 7 to Feb 28, 2014. I was asked to be in America Jan 27 at least. So, I am thinking: should I perform my original plan to go back home in the middle of Dec and then come back USA in Jan? Or I should change my ticket until my art exhibition will be finished, to pay the fee of changing ticket only, but save 4 tickets between Chinese and USA and between Beijing and Shenzhen? What would you do if you were me? :-)

Then I visited Miss Cassie F (she is on the 5th and 6th photos)and Miss Peggy Hanes (she is on the 6th photo)in Park Central Branch Library of Springfield - Greene County Library in Downtown Thursday afternoon. They would sponsor another art exhibition for me at any time I want in 2014.

Base on the Bible studying, attending to the Sunday Services, communicated with many Christians whom I quite respected, studied and worked among them (I mean 92% of people I have interviewed are christians), got their good help since 2002 (My first American teacher and my first English tutor from England are all Christians) and 2008 (since I came to Missouri State University) until last Saturday, Nov 23, 2013,I made a big decision: I am going to be a Christian and to follow the God, to live whole of the rest of my life in a big family of Jesus.

As soon as knew my idea, Dr. Qiao Yuhua, a lady professor I quite respected in Missouri State University led me to the senior pastor Philip Cheuk and his wife Mrs. Cheuck in Springfield Chinese Church at once, Sunday morning; after our lunch, Mrs. Wanda Nava (she is on the 9th painting)and her husband sent me back to them to have a tutorship in the afternoon.

Now I have prepared already, to be baptized in Springfield Chinese Church ( 1909 W. Chestnut Expwy, Springfield, MO. 65802) at 10:30am, Sunday, Dec 1, 2013.

With so many thanks to you and to all friends, professors and tutors who have helped me and directed me on the road going to Jesus, with so much sincere, I would really like to invite you to attend and to share the sacred moment with me, if time is convenient with you.

About the journey of my heart, I would like to write a special article to record it. But now, still I would like to thank:

-- My professor who gave me the first question: what role of Christianity played in the development of America after World War II in 1999.

-- The dings of the Churches, the beautiful classical architectures and the greatest art works in my 3,000 miles travel by bus from Paris to Rome in Europe in 2000.

-- Mr. Charlie King, my first American art teacher since 2002 to 2007.

-- Mr. Mike Joyce, my English tutor since 2002 until 2013.

-- Mr. David Lawson, gave me the beginning and the biggest help on my Bible Studying by sending 2 groups, 4 missionaries to teach me face to face for 1 year since Sep, 2008 to Sep, 2009.

-- Mrs. Leigh Ann Hughes, helped me most in Pikeville City of Kentucky. And there on May 21, 2013, there was a quite special and suddenly touching came into my heart when I looked at a beautiful view that some teenagers in the colored clothes under the grape trellis, the peaceful atmosphere in a glass hall in the first floor of the East Kentucky Expo, the light yellow cards with blue patterns on the desks in a ray of soft, golden, with different colored sunshine. The extremely beauty could not be described by language, but gave me a feeling that the local people in the small city were living in a wonderland just like the Eden by the good looking after of the God. So that I could not help sharing my feeling with Mrs. Leigh Ann Hughes that evening.

Until today, it is still fresh in my memory, so that I cannot helping thinking, maybe, that was the first time that God was calling me?

-- Dr. Wenping Qiu and his wife Lisa, invited me and led me going in to a Sunday Service first time, Oct 6, 2013, sent me a Bible in English and in Chinese, drove me back home after the Bible studying Friday nights and taught me where I should start to learn Bible. Especially, the achievement of Dr. Qiu, and what he has done for the Chinese students and me, has set an alive example how a religious Christian works and lives…

Mrs. Wanda Nava (she is on the 9th photo)and her husband not only helped me most on my cross-culture and comprehensive art works in Springfield, but also, it was they took me to the biggest church in Springfield, then it was they carried me to the Springfield Chinese Church.

There, I met my former classmate Mr. Zhu Bin (he is on the 6th photo on the right)and a local resident, just like the God was looking after me, since then, I have been getting good help and strong support from Mr. Zhu Bin.

There, I met Dr. Qiao Yuhua, a lady professor I most admired in Missouri State University and his husband Dr. Zhu Xinyuan, I looked at the other side of their life. Both of them have really imperceptible influence me to go on the road to be a Christian naturally.

There, I met some senior pastors: Pastor Yan and Mrs/Pastor Yan ( she is on the last photo ), Pastor Huang and his wife, Pastor Philip Cheuck and his wife (they are on the 7th and 8th photos); the senior Bible instructors: Ms. Lynn Borich and her husband from Missouri State University, their high level and responsible teaching about Christianity and Bible has really opened my eyes and improved my interesting to know more about Christianity and Bible.

Can you imagine? Pastor Philip Cheuck and his wife spent for about 8 hours to help me on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, by the good talking with them, many problems about Bible and Christianity that had been confusing me were resolved, the road that Pastor Philip Cheuck has gone: from a finance student from Hong Kong -- created a successful career used for 20 years – gave up whole of those – to be a student of seminary in America and in Canada for 5 years – then became a senior pastor, along with the road to follow the God, Mrs. Cheuck has been accompanying him… What they did and chose really touched me and helped me to make the important choice finally.

Dr. Steve K. Olson, Dr. Olen Greer, Dr. Nancy Keith, Dr. Elizabeth Rozell, Prof. Pace, Ms. Anna Brasher, Mr. Stephen H. Robinette, Mr. Brad Bodenhausen, Dr. Thomas Lane, Mr. Brent Dunn, Mr. Harriet Mears, Mr. Zhang Peng, Ms. Yan ( the hostess of a Chinese restaurant and she looked after me very much) and Mr. Jeff Dexter ( helped me in Wal-mark on the first day I reached in Springfield) … with their sincerity, tolerance, and actual help, set some wonderful examples what the Christians should be and look like for me.

In fact, before I decided to be a Christian, I had been among the Christians, I had gotten the good help of the Jesus, just I did not realize them then...

So, the decision I have made, is not a sudden impulse, but the result base on the study and thinking seriously. Even, I have had some ideas to create some new art works recording to the stories of Bible by Chinese painting, maybe music and so on, I have also some ideas to help my classmates who are all successful artists in Beijing to learn Bible...

I am going to do my best to follow the steps of Jesus, to help the others and to improve myself by the good help of the brothers and sisters in the big family of Christianity... Amen.

You can see the big size photos by hitting the link.

How about you? Do you have anything special to share?

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Nov 25, 2013