Western
Jurisdiction
United Methodist Volunteers
In Mission
An Unusual Meal
By Jin Ming Ma, 2006
It was a very nice day in the middle of September in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province in China. Clear blue sky, with a few floating white clouds made me feel fresh and in good spirit when I stepped out of the hotel. Eleven American friends with courageous guts agreed favorably to take a bus to visit my mother. We walked along with the crowd through a flee market, which filled full of heavy smoke, toward the route 17th bus stop Quickly my friends located the color of the route 17th bus, “It’s yellow and green, and here is our bus!,” they exclaimed and were excited to take a bus in the northwest of China. Some Chinese people were polite to give some room for my friends; some were curiously observing those foreigners with blue, green eyes and blond hairs and others watched them with smiles. Watching the bus driver avoid other vehicles and bicycle riders, I sensed that my friends had been truly experiencing a new thing every day since they arrived in China. They might think the same thing, “What a crazy traffic”
Safely we got off the bus heading to a small apartment where my mother lives. Along the street a lot of vendors were selling various cooked food, fresh vegetables, fruits and breads. The smell of roast sweet potatoes caught our attention, and I got a nice bargain and bought some for our snack. My friends were laughing and joking as they stepped inside of the unit of the building. I was a little embarrassed as there was no light for the stairs from the first floor to the top, the fifth floor. No one made any complaints climbing the steep stairs, only I heard laughter. It seemed to me as if they were here before with familiar environment.
My mother and my two brothers welcomed us warmly with different fresh fruits and some fresh baked bread on the table. Watching as each of my friends greeted my mother and brothers, either with hugs or hands shaking, I had a deep sigh inside of me, “Oh, God! There is no way I can say or do enough to thank you for this precious time being with my mother and brothers as those strangers open their hearts to love others…” After having a Chinese oat meal with some sesame seeds, raisin, walnuts and honey, I was ready to serve the Holy Communion for the first time both with my beloved Christian sisters and brothers, and with my mother.
I stood up and looked at every person sitting right side by side in the tiny sitting room; without any preparation I began talking. I did not remember what exactly I said to each person, however; I still can feel the spirit of Living God even now right there with us. Eleven American friends graciously received the Holy Meal with fresh grapes and delicious bread one by one; my heart was touched by each one of them with their kind eye contact and smiles. As they all responded, “Amen”, my faith once again lifted by their sincere love in action. And then I saw my mother’s eyes were filled with tears, but her facial expression was in great joy. She and brothers are so proud of me, even though they did not understand a word of English. They understood the important meaning of this, a unique meal, because it was the first time for them with American friends. The deepest appreciation from their hearts was that they wanted us to eat more fruits and bread since they kept on telling me, “Tell your friends to eat more, and tell them we are sorry that we do not have a feast for them…” I did not translate these comments to my friends.
No need for any explanation as we all understood what a phenomenal moment for all of us to have Holy Communion in that small apartment. That is the most important purpose of our mission which is to build a bridge with ordinary Chinese people through God’s love. Never had I imaged this moment even three months before this trip. Jesus Christ is truly a living stone for our “Friends Forever” mission team. Jesus’ love is no border. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.