After a brief intro and the first Lewis letter (1:05), I share all ten C.S. Lewis letters that I found this week related to China (and prayer) (7:24). Then with the time I have left, I go through this week’s Pray for China cities, which include a few I want to talk a bit more about (50:55).

Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me (@chinaadventures) on Twitter/X where I post new Chinese city prayer profiles every single day, with amazing pics and links to many more China resources. Feel free to email me (bfwesten at gmail dot com) and find everything else at PrayGiveGo.us!

Although I can’t attend Grace Agenda in Moscow, ID, which starts today, entitled “Life Through the Wardrobe”, I can do something unique like look at China through Lewis’s eyes letters. 

C.S. Lewis mentioned China numerous times in his personal letters. Here are a few examples, followed by my own thoughts and commentary. The first one in particular stands out for how close it comes to outright racism, especially the original letter from Lewis’s brother, Warnie. 

But before getting into his China letters, let me mention one other Lewis letter that I just pulled up. Just after William Borden, the millionaire missionary, died in Egypt (he was about 10 years older than Lewis), there is a letter from Lewis (home sick from school) to his father. He writes:

[In the] afternoon came the essay paper which was one after my own heart, the three alternative subjects being ‘The qualities of a successful soldier’ ‘The possibility of an universal language’, and ‘West is west and East is east, and never the twain shall meet’. I chose the last and applied it chiefly to the Indian question. It was much admired by some masters at the College.

I share this for two reasons: First, to remind myself (and anyone else interested) of where my missionary hero Borden fits in the Lewis timeline (or vice versa). Second, to note that at just fifteen years old, Lewis already held strong opinions about the far East (in this case, India). 

Borden of Yale: The Millionaire Missionary

No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regrets

www.BordenofYale.com

Pray for China places of the week 

(Follow @chinaadventures to see which city daily)

https://open.substack.com/pub/chinacall/p/pray-for-china-aug-10-16-2025

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And don’t forget: Follow @chinaadventures on X, and find everything else @ PrayGiveGo.us. 

Luke 10, verse 2, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Talk to you again soon!