June 26 , 2006

I have been in China almost a full year now. I am one day shy of the 11-month anniversary as I type this. One thing that I have observed, and that occasionally still amuses me, is how Westernized many Chinese people are—or at least try to be. Most signs and many advertisements on billboards have some English included, girls and boys— just as back home—fight over wearing Western brands of clothing such as Dolce & Gabbana and Nike. Women are under increasing pressure to keep their skin as pale as possible, hence the shelves full of bleaching and whitening creams that line supermarkets and the umbrellas that are out on the most glaringly bright sunny days, protecting skin from the sun’s browning rays. Needless to say, a tanning parlor wouldn’t make much money in China.

Even my church has adopted some Western aspects, which can be familiar, but also a little jarring. One of the Communion responses that is sung every week goes to the tune “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” all the pictures of Jesus and the saints in the building are Caucasian in appearance, and the pastor-in-training (as well as several congregants) speaks close to fluent English. The service itself is in Chinese. The majority of the people, while tremendously friendly and curious—to the point where little kids have grabbed my hair and yanked to see if it was real—also only speak Chinese. This can lead to quite a bit of frustration, especially for me, since I was used to taking a major role in the congregation and church services back home. At times, I have felt on the verge of tears attending this church, because all that is familiar seems only to remind me of how competent I used to be, and how incompetent I sometimes feel now. Feeling cut off and relying on an interpreter increases the feelings of isolation. I have a printout of the service order in Chinese characters and pinyin, so I can follow what is happening in the service, except for the sermon and the Scripture readings. This is unfortunate because it cuts me off from actively participating with my church and learning from those who are educated about what I have read. This past Sunday during church I was feeling overwhelmed by my feelings of inadequacy and frustrated by my lack of communication with my fellow church members, but something happened to lift me from my self-pity.

For the final hymn the congregation sang, “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” a song that I taught so often during my four summers at church camp that I still have it memorized. While the congregation sang in Chinese, I sang along in English, and I was struck by the words of the song. I realized how much they apply to my work here in China, and how they speak to the need for ecumenical understanding.

“We are one in the Spirit,
We are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit,
We are one in the Lord.
And we pray that our unity
May one day be restored.”

God’s Spirit has been poured out on the church in China just as in the United States. My own frustration in communicating with my new Chinese Christian friends has demonstrated the need for communication between Christians of differing backgrounds, that we may all come together at God’s table, with no one missing.

“We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news
That God is in our land.”

While here in China, my friend Sarah, who attends church with me, was asked by the bishop to record the service order in English so that he might learn how to give the service in English. We have both been asked to teach an English-learning Sunday School next term using Bible stories in English. My English dean, who is not a Christian, asked that I incorporate short religious stories into my courses. I lent my Chinese/English Bible and “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” DVD to several students at their request. I have done—and will continue to do—the best I can to connect my faith to my job here in China. I am doing what I can to walk hand in hand with my Christian sisters and brothers here, and hopefully we will all continue to spread the Good News that God is throughout the land of China.

“We will work with each other,
We will work side-by-side,
We will work with each other
We will work side-by-side,
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity
And save each one’s pride.”

Established by the Chinese Christian Council 20 years ago, the Amity Foundation acts as a historically Christian witness, alleviates suffering as a result of poverty, and assists in China’s economic development. While foreign money has been, and still is, a large part of their funding, it has remained a Chinese-run organization. Very few people appreciate a handout. What is more appreciated is a chance to rise on one’s own merit, or as a collective unit. I have found many Chinese to be frankly honest about the problems in their country, but also tremendously determined to pull themselves up as much as possible by their own effort. Organizations such as Amity work at the grassroots level to improve infrastructure and education so that people can become self-sufficient; they enable the Chinese people “to guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride.” I am incredibly proud to be associated with a historically Christian organization that offers such hope without becoming condescending in their work. I believe that the most powerful witness of our faith that we can give to another person is to see them as God sees them — a unique being with the right to make their own choices, to live peacefully and with dignity.

“All praise to the Father,
From Whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus,
God’s only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit
Who makes us one.
And they’ll know we are Christians
By our love, by our love
Yes they’ll know we are Christians
By our love.”

May God indeed be praised by our acts of love in the United States, in China and all over the world. May we be made one in the spirit of love, walking hand in had to spread the Gospel, side by side in humble dignity, giving praise to the Creator of us all. The differences in worship style and the lack of comprehension that inevitably occurs in my Sunday worship pale in comparison with the unity that I have with my Chinese friends in God’s Spirit. May all of you feel God’s uniting presence with you as you live out your lives.

Rachel