Edwin Myers - The Missionary to China

Edwin Myers, one of my dearest friends passed away this weekend. He died peacefully in his sleep.
 
I first met Edwin in 2010, just a few days after I got a call from his brother Edward telling me that he heard I was going to China. He asked if I would take a package to his brother who lived and worked at the university for which I was going to do so. Of course I said I would do that. As soon as I arrived, I knocked on the door of Edwin and Mary Myers and I thought I must have been in some sort of time-warp on the other side of the world, because there stood Edward – or so I thought. Edward failed to tell me that he, and his brother Edwin, were identical twins! What ensued, in many ways changed my life and my perception of what a missionary was. From that day until I returned home Edwin and Mary Myers were my constant companions, tour guides, mentors, friends and family.

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When I returned home about 40 days later, I started writing down all the things I had experienced and learned from Edwin and Mary Myers. Here are a few excerpts from the 180 pages that told of my first mission excursion to China.

A Description:
Edwin and Mary Myers have been described by many Harding students as the heart and soul of the mission effort in Hengyang, Hunan. They are well loved around the world but especially by the students of English at the University of South China and the student missionaries from Harding University. Edwin and Mary have had a lifetime of ministry in teaching and preaching. They spent five years teaching in Wuhan before coming to Nan Hua Da Xue (or the University of South China). The Myers bring a special energy to everything they do. Edwin and Mary are wonderful examples to the many students by opening their home for fellowship and study to anybody that desires to seek for greater values in life. (At the time), the Myers had been married for 44 years, (and a few weeks ago celebrated 60 years.) They have three children and six grandchildren.

My admiration for them grew
On one occasion, I was headed back to my apartment, because at some point the maintenance staff was supposed to come by and fix several items that were not working in my apartment. I ended up visiting more with Edwin and Mary Myers about their work, this mission, school, and the opportunities that are before us. They are wonderful people!! And I mean a REALLY GREAT and loving couple! They are just a few years older than me, probably in their early sixties.

His Chinese students were in awe of the marriage between Edwin and Mary:
One Thursday evening at 8:00 pm, Edwin had a great presentation in both English and Chinese, (the .ppt was in Chinese), on the American culture of love and marriage. For the students this was a volunteer attendance. But it was a packed classroom that had about 300 in attendance. Every time he told stories about him and his wife Mary, and how much he loved her, they applauded loudly!

On another occasion:
Edwin invited me to attend one of his English classes, and on the way home several students followed us to make sure we knew where we were going and got there safely. We had a good discussion with those that showed some interest in our Father. After class I walked back to the apartment with Edwin, and Mary insisted I stay for dinner. It hit the spot. American food, roast beef, mashed potatoes and veggies. And to drink – COLD WATER! Best of all it was served on a plate with forks instead of a free-for-all battle of the chopsticks from the middle of the table! Meeting Edwin and Mary Myers alone has been worth the trip to China.

The Last two paragraphs in my writings said,
I will never, ever, forget the faces and lives of the hundreds (yea thousands) of students searching for God, the souls of so many new friends asking me to tell them of my faith, the cultural difference I had experienced, and the absolute amazement of such a journey!

But when I ponder all of these events, and I think about what I had seen and what I had heard for almost seven weeks, the words that linger in my mind the most is something that Edwin Myers had said to me at the back of the bus on the trip to Fenghuang when he said,

“Steve, look around you. Tell me, how will the millions and millions and millions and millions of people here in China ever hear the gospel if the church doesn’t send somebody with the message?”

Edwin Myers was the consummate missionary in a far-away land, living out the message of God, and I loved him dearly! Rest in Peace my friend.