Luke Christensen’s Unexpected Journey Through Xi’an’s History, Hospitality and a Surprise Spotlight Performance
I had the opportunity to represent BYU and the United States in May 2024 when I traveled to China with the BYU Young Ambassadors. The experience was profoundly impactful — learning in-depth about Chinese culture and interacting closely with the people helped me develop a deep love and respect for them, despite the language barriers.
Throughout the tour, we had the chance to perform with and learn from many Chinese students, professionals and government officials. One especially rewarding experience took place in the city of Xi’an. Just weeks before our departure, we were invited to perform in a China-US cultural exchange. Thankfully, we were able to accommodate the change to our itinerary.
Upon arriving in Xi’an, we were welcomed like family. They gave us tours of local temples and landmarks and shared personalized showings of their artisanal practices and customs. On the day of our performance, we were told that we would be learning and performing the closing number alongside several local professional Chinese groups! We were excited but nervous at the opportunity to perform alongside such prestigious singers. Despite the short notice, it was an amazing experience to laugh, learn and collaborate on a beautiful cultural exchange.
Through laughter, shared photos and cultural exchanges, I felt God’s profound love for each of His children. I also gained a deeper understanding of the potential that every child of God has in this life. It was humbling to represent our nation and university in an environment of mutual respect between our two groups. I am deeply grateful for the chance to represent BYU and to witness God’s love across the world. I admire their rich culture and heritage and will never forget this experience.
