The way we were - Mission accomplished

01.04.2008

A Sister of St Columban, Hanyang, China

Our mission that day was to visit a sick woman in the suburbs of Hanyang. It was raining cats and dogs. In spite of the downpour the traffic was as heavy as usual. Hanyang can boast no tram or bus line much less a taxi system. Everything imaginable and unimaginable is carried on a pole... even live pigs which protest loudly but in vain against such treatment.
As we passed along we could see in every house the New Year provisions hung up on strings in preparation for the festivities due in a few days. The treat was usually dried fish with here and there a piece of pork. After half an hour's walk, we arrived at our destination; it was a little hut hidden among graves and surrounded by a sea of soft slippery mud. I managed to keep my footing by creeping along the tall grave mounds but Sister had to hold on to her precious bottles of medicine and nearly slipped several times.
It is a principle in China that no matter what the situation, as long as one keeps laughing, one does not lose face. And so we had to laugh for the benefit of the crowd that was watching our struggles. To tell the truth, it was not our faces we were afraid of losing but our shoes!
Eventually we regained dry land and our dignity. The children who were standing around the hut began to shout that the priest had come. They thought that wearing skirts meant we must be men.
As I entered the house the first thing to catch my eye was a large picture of the Sacred Heart pinned on the wall in the most conspicuous place. Two bouquets of artificial flowers stuck in bottles were placed on a table beneath it. This was a joyful surprise for there was only one other Catholic in the house, the husband of the sick woman. She had been baptised only a few days earlier when in danger of death. The older families in the house were all pagans but they received us graciously.
A flickering candle lit up the dark room where the sick woman was lying. Although she seemed conscious the poor soul was unable to speak. Sister did what she could to comfort her and pinned a Sacred Heart badge on her blouse.
On the way home we called on another of our patients old Mrs Dsong. While Sister was looking after his grandmother, young Joseph, who is about four, dragged a low stool from under the table and insisted that I sit down. When I did so I discovered the reason for his politeness. He wanted to reach my crucifix. They are dear little boys and apples of their granny's eyes.
We arrived home muddy but contented for into at least a few of those homes we had the privilege of bringing the message of God's love and mercy.

The Far East, March 1 1945, Page 5