Many Dongxiang live in the mountains. Most live as farmers, working the soil with their own hands rather than using large equipment. For city dwellers, confined to the cement jungle most of the time, a walk through green fields and fresh air is relaxing and refreshing. But for those who work the land day after day, it’s a hard life. Families normally produce just enough to survive. Many children do not receive an education, as they are needed by the family to work.
Joseph* and Mary* took their kids to visit a tea market, and the shopkeepers were all so excited
to talk to them. In the first visit, God allowed them to have very interesting conversations about the Qur’an, Muslims around the world, prayer, and Jesus. Now they go visit these Dongxiang friends every week, and every time they leave, a dozen new friends line up, waving and saying, “Come back and talk more!”
Jibril* told Joseph* that he cried a lot when he ended his relationship with his girlfriend. He said that men are not supposed to show a lot of emotion, but he knows they can cry, because he once saw his father crying when he left home to go to university.
Jibril has been away from home for one year. He’s an average college kid who likes to play video games, do puzzles and solve math problems.
Cities in Gansu contain neighborhoods and sections with high populations of Dongxiang people. Dongxiang people refer to these areas as Little Dongxiang. When Han people or even other Chinese Muslims look for apartments they intentionally avoid these Dongxiang areas. One Muslim woman from another people group was overheard saying, “Why would someone want to live in that area? That place is no good, there are too many Dongxiang living there, they are a bunch of barbarians, the dregs of society, so it is a dangerous place to live.”
Yunus* once told Abram* that whenever his daughter was sick, they would take her to an Imam. He would dissolve portions of the Qur’an into a cup of water and let her drink this water as a medicine to heal her. Then Joseph* shared with him, “I am a follower of the prophet Jesus, and He has power to heal all of our sicknesses! We can directly ask God in Jesus’ name; we don’t need any mediator. Next time your daughter gets sick, call me and I will show you how to pray.”
“It may be that some Muslims are following your Jesus, but it will never happen amongst the Dongxiang. We are traditional and will never relinquish Islam and Muhammad.” This was one of the most fervent declarations of Ayinsha,* a young entrepreneur.