I recently went to a country fair. I joined a small crowd in the open air, listening to live music. The band was singing “I’ll fly away, oh glory,” while I sat on a wooden chair going nowhere, holding freshly cut wildflowers.

About 15 feet away, a little blonde-haired girl—maybe about two years old—was sitting with her parents. When she saw my flowers, her eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she stood up and started running toward me. But halfway there, her parents caught up with her and gently pulled her back.

You could see the disappointment on her face.

So, I pulled out a single black-eyed Susan and walked over to her. She smiled as I offered it. Her parents thanked me for this unexpected act of kindness, and I returned to my seat. A couple of minutes later, I saw the little girl smelling the flower, then looking over and waving at me. I waved back.

It was a small exchange, but it said a lot.

On the surface, the gap between us was wide. She was a little child, and I was an adult. She was growing up in America speaking English, and I grew up in China speaking Chinese. We didn’t speak a word to each other, yet we shared the moment.

But in that brief moment, something unexpected surfaced—trust and goodwill. And a simple moment of connection happened.

Isn’t this also true of our cross-cultural ministry?

As the fall semester begins, Chinese students are arriving on campus—carrying luggage, questions, and quiet concerns. They’re stepping into a world that often feels distant and unfamiliar. Many of them will hesitate to get close. And goodwill often needs to be seen before it’s believed. There is a gap between us and the new arrivals from China. They may want to make a connection but somehow are pulled back—by fear, distrust, or the weight of cultural differences.

I believe God is calling us to notice. To stand up. To take the first step. To show goodwill—freely and without pressure. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). May we be the bridge to help them cross over to God’s embrace.