MY Jesus, MY Savior

Since coming to Shekou over a month ago, I have not attended church.  From time to time, the Internet gods have smile upon me and allowed me to stream sermons from Jacob’s Well back home, I have listened to “worship” music and I have offered prayers of thanks for God’s amazing blessings thus far, but I have yet to worship in an actual church.

Almost three years ago I began attending Jacob’s Well, an “emergent” church located in mid-town Kansas City.  It quickly became my church home.  The community was something that I had never experienced before and I met people who not only challenged me, but also encouraged me to live the life that Christ intended.  When I decided to move to China, this separation was one of the hardest to take on.  But one day in worship I sang the words, “Wherever you go, there will I be” and I believed it. 

The other day a co-worker, Melody, invited me to an event at THE local church, Shekou Fellowship.  I had been fearful of attending the regular church service as I had heard that if you are a visitor, they make you get up and tell where you are from and a bit about yourself… yikes. But this event seemed like a safe bet and I need to get involved in some capacity, so I went.

I knew it would be a shaky start when the first question asked after, “Where are you from?” was “Are you single?”  They are starting a singles ministry and they suggested I go sign up at the table...right over there.   Those of you who know me well know exactly where I didn’t go.

The worship was not like the worship that I am used to.  The music was for sure not the rock stylings of Mike Crawford.  There was choreography involved.  We sang in Chinese at points.  The prayers didn’t sound like the ones I was used to praying. I felt a bit unauthentic and unconnected.  

But it was still one of the most moving experiences.  I was slammed with a truth bomb when the speaker quoted Galatians 3:28- There are neither Jews, nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  She added, “I could also say neither Australians nor Americans, Germans nor Chinese.”  And it was that moment, as I looked around me at the myriad of faces, that it finally occurred to me, in a completely concrete and profound way; Jesus does not belong to me.  He does not belong solely to my community at Jacob’s Well.  America can not stake it’s claim on Christ.  There is an entire world of believers with whom I share a deep and meaningful connection: Australians, Germans, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese. 

We don’t worship in the same way… so what.  As Melody, said earlier in the evening, “It’s not the church that I had at home, but I got over it.  God has great things in store for me and I need to share my gifts here.”  

I hope to be able to do the same thing.  Get over it.  Quit judging.  Become apart of this literal global community and find Christ in China.

Strange, but Usual

I have to say, I am very excited to have visitors.  Yes, I will be so happy to see friends or family; to hug them and laugh with them, but mostly I am anxious to see what they say about my home city.  There are things that are pleasantly surprising and then there are things here that have become a part of my daily life that I think will shock, surprise and possibly disgust some people.

If you are ever planning a visit, here are some things you should prepare for.

If there is a body fluid that escapes from an orifice, it is safe to assume you will find in on the ground. 

Toddlers are often seen being held by a family member, with their bottoms hanging out of a slit in their pants.  They will do their duty (doodie) on the sidewalk, in the grass, in a fountain… just about anywhere.  I actually saw a kid pee on the floor in Ikea.  While the father frantically called for the child’s mother, another shopper came precariously close to stepping in it. You will see it. It does happen.  Often.

Also, people will spit and vomit, dogs will do their business and people will just drop their trash on the sidewalks. 

I learned very quickly, if there is a puddle on the ground and it hasn’t rained lately, you should avoid stepping in it at all costs.   When I enter a house or return to my house, I always take of my shoes.  Not as a nod to the Asian custom, more so I don’t track all types of disgusting into the home. 

People will not recognize that you are in fact a solid being standing right in front of them.

Even if you are prepared for this, it will shock you.  When at the grocery store, you have your fruits and veg weighed by someone and they put a sticker on it for you.  If you don’t push your cart in and literally run a defensive scheme you will never get them weighed.  I find myself running screens for friends when we are shopping together.

The other day in the elevator at my apartment, I entered after someone else.  They punched the button for their floor and stood directly in front of the panel.  I had to snake my arm through to hit my floor. She didn’t budge an inch.

Chinese people will speak to you like you understand perfectly what they are saying. 

In some aspects, I love this one.  It’s like we have this common agreement, “I don’t understand you, you don’t understand me, but I’m not lowering myself to speak to you like a pre-schooler.” On the other hand it can be really aggravating when you are discussing something you really want to figure out like, “Why did you take my boc choy away from me.  I really wanted that for dinner tonight. Will your friend bring it back?” (This actually happened to me a few weeks ago. The grocery check out lady took my boc choy and didn’t return it.  It was like someone stealing my toy. I was pissed.)

There are dogs everywhere. 

I am a dog person and even I wouldn’t touch these dogs.  I miss Harry immensely.  But when I think about bringing him here, I look at the dogs he would call his “playmates” and I shudder.  I do not look forward to telling my dog person friends, “No, no… we don’t pet these.” One of the suggested inoculations before coming to China was a Rabies vaccination, now I get it.

Well, then there are the bats…

Photo Evidence

I just had to post this picture.  It is photo evidence of the last part of the medical exam.  Photo credit is given to one of my co-workers.  Makes me giggle every time. 

These Are the People In My Neighborhood

I recall a song from my childhood that contained those lyrics.  ( Not really sure from whence it comes, but I remember it none the less)

I was singing that song this evening as I walked by the plant guy.  The plant guy probably means nothing to you, but he is a well-known character if you live in my corner of Shekou.  Yeah, he has plants… hence the plant guy, but it’s how he sells his plants that matters.  He piles them up on a little trailer attached to his bicycle.  These are not small plants folks.  In the trailer, they stand as tall as one and a half of me.  He rides his little plant bicycle around Shekou.  You never really know where you will meet up with him. I have yet to buy a plant from him, but I’m willing to bet he’d deliver if asked.  Have plants; will travel.

It got me thinking about the other people who have become a part of my day in my little buzzing neighborhood.

The Running Homeless Man:  From what I can gather, he is homeless. He’s skinny as a rail and picks through the garbage on the sidewalks.  He has hair past his shoulders and I have yet to see him with a shirt on.  As hungry as he must be and as hot as it is here, I’m constantly surprised to see him running places. 

The Noodle Lady- Down a side street in Old Shekou, between the smelly grocery store and the place that sells fried chicken parts (mostly feet), you will find the most delightful Noodle Lady.  You choose your ingredients and your noodles and she artfully simmers them in a vat of something delicious until everything is cooked just to her liking.  Her husband then places it in a bowl and deals with the payment.  She is lovely and patient.  But I’m pretty sure she secretly rolls her eyes at the choices we make for our noodle bowls, “Seriously, this would be so much better with livers.”

The waiter at The Beijing Duck-  Possibly one of my favorite reasons to go to the Beijing Duck for dinner (besides the toffee sweet potatoes) is the waiter.  He basically tells us what we should order and rarely leads us astray.  Tonight he suggested the sweet and sour pork.   What I love about him though is his wiliness to teach us Chinese.  The first time we were there, he taught us how to ask for the bill.  I don’t know how to spell it, but I say, “Mai dan” and people bring me my check.  Such a useful phrase.  Tonight  he taught us “white rice.”  I’ve already forgotten it… I’ll chalk that up to the amazing brainwashing capabilities of the toffee sweet potatoes. 

The Smiling Illegial Taxi Driver- He always smiles and waves when I walk out of my apartment complex.  I know he just wants to see if I want a ride somewhere, but he’s still a friendly face. 

You can’ t have too many of those here.