|
|
|
Information on International Pilgrimages with Youth
|
March 17, 2003 China Pilgrimage Journal Submitted by Benjamin Broadbent and Megan Weymouth
Chong Wen Men is the name of our three-star hotel (foreigners are required by law to lodge in nothing shabbier) and it is the name of the church we attended this morning. It was a wet, grey, and cold morning. We crossed the street from our hotel and turned left down an alley to reach the church. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Chong Wen Men Church was used as classrooms and a meeting hall for a Junior High School. It was reopened as a church in 1982. You access it by the alley because the rest of the school was built around it. This doesn’t deter 4000 people from attending 2 services on Sunday. We saw this kind of picture: the people attending the second service began to enter the sanctuary, while the 1st service people just began to leave. The people from 1st service At the 8 a.m. service, we were warmly greeted by the pastors and congregation. They gifted us with CD’s of music by a person in their church.
Following the service, we met with Rev. Ying Gao, who studied at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. She speaks English very well. Even though another service was drawing near, she 40 minutes to answer questions. She told us the most important thing that church does is evangelism, that is, strengthening the quality of faith among those who attend. She also looks forward to a day when there is greater cooperation and understanding between Christians and people of other faiths. We enjoyed yet another Sabbath morning worshiping with people who welcomed us as sisters and brothers in Christ.
Later that morning, we went by bus into the hills north of Beijing and caught our first glimpse of that famous grey snake called the Great Wall of China. It is hard to begin to grasp the effort required of countless people to construct such a marvel. It slithers up and down the mountains surrounding the pass called “Juyong” resembling a never-ending Mohawk. We entered from a parking lot full of tour buses carrying Chinese, Spanish, American, Australian, and other tourists. Snow clothed the low trees and bushes on the hills, as well as certain parts of the wall, adding to the depth of its curves and rises. The steps were worn into concave shapes by ages of climbing feet. In some places, the wall is wide enough to fit a couple cars side-by-side, in others, two people could squeeze by each other. Every 1000 feet or so stands a guard post. We climbed and climbed and got very tired, shedding layers of clothing as we went, throwing snowballs at fellow pilgrims (and sometimes grazing an occasional passerby).
We still had plenty of sunlight left in the day, and how fortunate for us that our hosts chose to use that time showing us “The Summer Palace” -- a sprawling imperial summer retreat of temples, pavilions and halls surrounding the Kumming Lake. Originally conceived in the 12th century, and serving as a royal garden for many years, it was not established as a summer getaway until the reign of the Qianlong emperor (1736-1795). It is truly a wonderland in design and structure. One of the most notable sights in this encampment is the decadent Marble Boat which sits on the edge of the lake, but (obviously) does not float. Our guide informed us that it was constructed as a symbol of the emperor’s power: he could not be put down. We strolled the “long corridor”, a roofed walkway adorned with the most exquisite paintings; we sat by the lake and just soaked up the beauty of this setting; and we spent an hour or so leisurely walking the grounds and enjoying the peace and calming atmosphere that this idyllic getaway provided. In short, we did our best to prolong our final afternoon in this incredible country.
We concluded our day at the thoroughly fascinating Beijing Opera, the most famous of the regional opera in China. Chinese opera is a totally unique art form, and until you have actually experienced it, no description can do it justice. The shrill singing, heavy make-up, and lavish costumes were outdone only by the incredible acrobatics that the troupe performed to our delight. Our particular performance – a folk tale – featured males and females, warriors, sea nymphs, acrobatic battles, and occasional comic relief. The acrobatic feats are extraordinary, and the parry between players is timed to perfection, particularly in the battle scenes. Although language creates a bit of a barrier for Westerners, English headsets were available and they afforded us not only translation, but also helpful background information on the characters, the plotline, and this theater style. We were also given the opportunity prior to the performance to go backstage and watch the performers apply their own make-up. This delightful evening was great fun and a fitting end to a long and fulfilling journey.
And now we pilgrims will make our way back home. Our departure is bittersweet, for although we are longing for our families, the power and magic of this vast country has taken hold of our hearts. God is, indeed, alive and well in China, and we were fortunate enough to be able to witness that presence first hand. Farewell, dear China, God bless you and all of your people … we’ll be back. |
|
Send mail to: webdesign@auce-educators.org with questions or comments about this web site. |
