Hi all. During my time spent in Jurong Camp, a friend of mine told me
a story which had impacted me a lot and caused me to think about it
every now and then.

When I was admitted to hospital, this story suddenly came poppin' out
of my mind as I was bored and had nothing better to do. I messaged
him and requested that he repeat this story once again for me as I
longed to hear it.

I was glad he did. Then, he told me this story...

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After the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty, Kublai Khan established
a strong centralized government over the whole of China. His kingdom
was so enormous that it impressed a Venetian, by the name of Marco
Polo.

When Marco Polo visited China, he was welcomed by the Great Khan. Of
all things, Kublai Khan noticed that the westerners brought with them
a special book, which looked strange to their foreign eyes. That book
is The Bible. As the Khan read through every stanzas and paragraphs
of the Holy New Testaments, Kublai Khan couldn't help but felt
touched and also impressed - Who is this God that sent His only Son
to die for our sins just to give to us Salvation and eternal life to
those who believes in Him? - Who is this Jesus that could have the
power to heal many and to forgive sins? - How marvelous that God
loves Man for who they are? -

Touched by love, Kublai Khan made a pact with Marco Polo that if he
would bring him a team of just 50 missionaries, by the end of his
reign, all of his subjects will be converted to Christianity. Marco
Polo agreed.

Years passed as Marco Polo returned to his country after long and
tired voyages. When Marco Polo remembered his promise to the Khan, he
approached various churches for help.

However, few whole-heartedly agreed to make the trip to the unknown
east, fearful of the long and hard journey through the Gobi Desert,
raging oceans and storms, and strange cultures they might encounter.

Finally, a team of 20 missionaries promised to make the trip. But on
the very day when they were about to set sail, half of them backed
out.

Halfway through the journey, violent storms and uncomfortable whether
began to torment the missionaries. 4 of them couldn't take the
pressure, and decided to go home. 6 left behind.

As they were travelling through the hostile desert upon reaching the
Khan's capitol, 3 of the missionaries couldn't endure the hunger, the
thirst and foul conditions the desert is giving them any longer. In
the end, they turned the backs around and retreated back to Venice.

Now, 3 missionaries were left alone, and when they reached the city,
they were shocked - By the cultures, the tongues and the behaviour of
the "strange" people - Trembling with fear, and knowing nothing about
what to do, they each went their own ways - home.

For years, Kublai Khan waited in vain for the team of missionaries
Marco Polo had promised him. Eventually, Kublai Khan became so
desperate for answers regarding eternity, love, and God, that as a
result, he turned to the South-west, the Tibetan Monks for spiritual
food and also who are true to their promises towards the Khan himself.

Gradually, Buddhism spread vastly and rapidly throughout his entire
kingdom.

So, if there's one, just ONE, being a willing and available vessel,
God is able to use him to bring a complete change in history today.

=====================================================

Notes:
The vast size of the domain of Kublai Khan, which covered most of
East Asia, greatly impressed Marco Polo. His book boasts that: "If
you put together all the Christians in the world, with their Emperors
and their Kings, the whole of these Christians, - aye, and throw in
the Saracens to boot, - would not have such power, or be able to do
so much as this Kublai, who is Lord of all the Tartars [Mongols] in
the world."