I would have gone crazy (2003-02-26)

My husband and I were among the lucky ones in china who had the opportunity to go to church ever since were little. Such was extremely rare because Christianity was considered a "foreign ghost" religion. 

When we turned the corner, we could not believe what we saw. There were people crowding into this church. It looked like there were over 1000 people there with lot of young people. I remember when I left for America in 1996, the church only had 200 to 300 people and most of us were advanced in age.

 I am the type who loves to sit in the first pew in a church. Perhaps I could get more grace that way. Well, I'd at least hear more. Unfortunately, the first few were taken up by what look like a family of 3 generations. I was about to find other places, but I recognized that man's face - Sam, the chief cook with whom I worked for a year as an assistant cook in Tacoma. What a coincidence. 

Sam was very excited to see us. Unfortunately, service was about to start and he just briefly told me that he was sent back home by the American government. We exchanged contact information and the service started. 

When I met Sam years ago, he was a very quiet man. He did not have many friends. He did not go to church, but why was here at church? Why did we meet up again, out of all places, in a church in China, a country of over 1 billion people? 

Sam told me that he was arrested for his illegal immigration status in America. Twenty-three years ago, he left China with an illegal passport entering a small country in South America. And then he came over to America illegally. This explained why he was afraid to make friends openly and was silent for 23 years. 

Sam said that he met Jesus in jail. When he was arrested, He was put in the detention center in Seattle china Town and SeaTac Federal Detention Center (FDC) for all together seven months. Many strangers came to visit him weekly and introduced him to Jesus. Someone by the last name of Li actually baptized him. I asked him if that was Pastor Kin-Ming Li and he confirmed with a huge surprise in his face. God's world was small indeed. And I explained that my husband went to pastor Li's church and Pastor Li brought a team to visit jail regularly. With joy, peace, hope, love, excitement and tears in his voice, Sam said, "I would have gone crazy in jail, if I did not meet Jesus. Please, please thank pastor Li for me..." 

Sam went on to tell me that he still had several Buddhist and Taoist idles at home and wonder if I would go to his house to destroy them. Since I knew a lot of people in town, I said that I would bring some brothers and sisters with me to do this together. I couldn't wait for that day to come. 

Sam had a simple home. When we arrived, their whole family was home. Sam was very excited to see us. No sooner did we sit down, Sam took out some sheets of paper gingerly as if they were 500-dollar bills. He first showed us a sheet of paper - a very, very plain sheet of paper. He said proudly, "This is the picture of my baptism." On this sheet, you could see drawing of a man being touched on the head by another man. He explains enthusiastically that, since camera was not allowed in prison, a brother drew this on the spot for me. 

As I looked at Sam, he seemed so different from the Sam I knew. He used to be so reserved and far away, and yet he was filled with so much joy today. 

Sam showed us a Bible and another pile of paper. He read the Bible from cover to cover when he was in jail. The other sheets were the praise songs handed out during the weekly service in those seven months. He announced, "I learned all these songs in jail and I sing them all the time because they give me comfort and joy. I can show you." He then he disappeared into his room and came out with a flat Chinese musical instrument called "yeung qin" As he hit the strings with his 2 thin sticks, out came the music of his heart like pearls and beads sparkling in morning sun. We sang on and on.. Later on, we took down the idles and celebrated. 

For twenty-three years, Sam was wandering. Now he is finally home. He did not go crazy. He found Jesus. He found home. For the rest of his life, he wants to love God and live a simple life with his family.