“Do you want to go to my hometown with
me?”
“Umm, sure. I’d love to!”
Who knew that a simple yes would turn into
such an adventure.
Last week, we had a four-day vacation for China’s
Ching Ming Festival/Holiday. One week prior, I agreed to go with Taozi to her
hometown, just a few hours away.
Overall, it was a great trip. Her parents
and family were wonderful... Her family lives in a small town of 500,000+
people (small for China, I guess :). This town is situated in the middle of
several surrounding villages. Thus, foreigners are almost unheard of in this
city. For this reason, I was treated like a celebrity of sorts. Taozi had two
nieces around 10 years old with whom I instantly connected. They knew a little
English from their school and were very eager to practice it with an American.
:) They also invited a few of their friends from school to come over and take
pictures with me (oh dear… :).
Despite the awkwardness, I loved talking
with these young girls. The questions they asked were so funny. Who is your
favorite movie star? Have you been to New York? …I’m afraid I might’ve
disappointed them with my lack of knowledge of American pop culture.
Nevertheless, what an opportunity! We did our best to talk and converse a
little bit in English, but the whole time, I was kicking myself for not
studying Chinese more. What we lacked in language vocabulary, I think we made
up with in smiles though!
During my time with Taozi’s family, I was
able to visit three different villages. ....Wow. In many ways, China is so
advanced and yet, still very much a developing country. One evening, one of
Taozi’s relatives had heard that I loved jaozi (delicious Chinese dumplings)
and invited me over to their village home for dinner. They made way too much
jaozi over the open fire in their “kitchen.” Very primitive, but so fun. The hospitality of the Chinese
people I met during this trip humbled me.
Some of the highlights of the trip: I
climbed a hill/mountain, visited a shrine (on accident…it was on top of the
hill), ate chicken’s neck via a street vendor, visited two different village
homes, ate way too many chinese dumplings in a village home, took place in a
community dance to a fire god (once again, unknowningly :S), and took the slow
(and rather smelly) train back to Beijing for less than five dollars (and for
more than 4 hours…).
Throughout my time on the trip, something I had heard before
became more real to me. Before I left for China, a good friend of mine who once
lived in China told me, “China is a very dark country.” Although I knew this
theoretically before this trip, it became so much more of a reality this past
weekend. Not because of Taozi’s family. They were super moral and kind. But because
of the traditions I was exposed to…. During my time on the trip, Taozi, her
family, and I took place in a variety of Ching Ming festivities. The Ching Ming
Festival is a time for families to visit the graves of their ancestors.
However, this time to honor ancestors who have passed away tends to be more
comparable to ancestor worship than they may care to admit. On Friday, we went
to her grandparent’s graves in two different villages. To be honest, I don’t
know if I would have gone if I knew what I was getting into before. Taozi and
her family burnt paper “money” at the gravesites. I was informed that burning
this paper “money” gives money to their ancestors in the underworld. They burnt
this “money,” pilled more dirt on the graves, and placed flowers on the graves. At one of the graves, they
ceremonially bowed a few times. This was borderline ancestor worship.
Nevertheless, it did give me a deeper insight into Chinese culture and
traditions. It also opened up a few “doors of utterance” with Taozi. I was able
to ask her…what do you think happens to someone after they die? Do you
believe in these traditions that you follow? These questions did not lead to any
deep conversations, but I trust He is working in her heart, drawing her to
Himself.
I think the L*rd also used this trip also
opened my eyes to so many Chinese people who have never heard the name of
Jesus. These villages are full of people who very likely have never heard the
name of my S*vior. This just broke my heart….and if it breaks mine, I know it
must break the heart of One who shed His blood for them.
....I'm still processing the whole trip, but I'm so thankful
I was able to go. It was a little difficult (no internet, no hot water, no
shower for the whole time), but it gave me such a broader perspective of
Chinese culture and traditions....and a greater awareness of my embarrassing
lack of Chinese :). But even more than that, I pr*y that He used this weekend
to expand my heart for this nation He has placed me in.
No comments:
Post a Comment