Matteo Ricci

He was a pioneering missionary to China during the early 1600s who had been greatly impacted by Francis Xavier. Ricci was not originally allowed into China, so he lived on the fringe of the country and studied the language and culture. He eventually earned enough credibility with elites to be permitted in, and Christianity spread as a result. He was a geographer, astronomer, mathematician, and clockmaker who utilized his gifts to gain influence with others for the sake of spreading the gospel. He even earned an audience with the imperial court because of his maps and mathematical principles. He inspires me to take the time to understand context, and to be patient.