Finishing this mission trip we feel that we learned a lot from the folks of “Iglesia Cristiana China.” This is the first mission trip that both my wife and I have taken together. This is a very solid group of believers. But as with everybody, they also have their problems. In fact when we planned this trip with them, they allocated time for us to do the “Brother’s Retreat” and the “Sister’s World” implicitly asking us for help in the area of marriage and childraising. Fortunately we all have gone through the stages of child rearing up to at least the college years. So we have some experience and words of wisdom to share with them.
However this group of believers had strength and maturity in different areas that really took us by surprise. Mainly their service, commitment, attitudes and joy were incomparable with any church I remember visiting. Listening to their stories, I understood that most of them have gone through a lot of pain and suffering. From these, it is evident that God has molded their character into a group of very sweet, humble and joyful Christians.
One couple related how their addiction to gambling created so much pain to their family, especially their children. Their daughter had to wait tables at an early age because they were so poor due to losses to gambling. Latter on as their finances got better; they left the store in care of their teenage kids as the couple went to the casino. Praise God that through their brokenness they finally sought help and Pastor Leung helped them break the addiction and got their lives back on their feet. However the painful part was that they had many relapses. It took them more than ten years to pay back all their debts. Now by God’s grace gambling is behind them and they are currently leading a fellowship to help others break the addiction.
We also learned how crime has taken toll on a lot of them. One man had a nail driven into his skull by a gang of youth. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He was operated and part of his brain was removed to reduce swelling and infection. The doctors were uncertain of his recovery. However, praise God he did recover but with few slowness in movement. Another man was shot in the stomach and at first survived. However, this created many complications that eventually he died after one year.
One man came to Costa Rica when he was in his teens to be with his grandfather. His grandfather came to this country right after his dad was born. His dad never met this grandfather. His grandfather never returned to China. His grandfather never saw the rest of the family again and died in Costa Rica. This man was forced to come to Costa Rica because his family was so poor and did not have enough to eat. He came and stayed with his grandfather and worked very long hours. His hands were in pain every day after work. He said he cried every time he got a letter from home. Eventually he made it, got married and had three children. He finally visited China in 2008 after 20 years to attend his father funeral.
Story after story of pain and suffering has molded this group of believers. Now the “Iglesia Cristiana China” has a new building built in a very prime central location. By God’s grace they got the land for $75/sq meter which should have worth $200/sq meter. They build a nice sanctuary for $600,000, all financed by church members. Right now their debt obligation is around $200,000. Their usual attendance is around 150 and they are the most vibrant Chinese church in San Jose. Their outreach program is excellent and their leaders and coworkers have searched and visited almost every Chinese family in San Jose and nearby towns of Alajuela and Cartago. They seem to know everyone here and have at some point visited and invited them to come to church. They have setup separate fellowships in these nearby towns to facilitate them to meet regularly. They have also gone to short term mission’s trip to Panama and now are planning one to Ecuador.
Many of the men have come to ask us questions on how to improve their marriage. Another one asked us for advice on when is an appropriate time to go to seminary. Many women asked questions on how to raise their children. I seen their men cry as they think about their families and worry about their children.
As hosts they have taken time off to drive us around to visit folks in the greater San Jose area and to perform services and workshop at their church and at Alajuela. They have invited us for dinner and cooked snacks for us many times. Their generosity and hospitality truly humble us and I feel that we are the one that have learned the most from them.
A lot of credit must be given to their previous pastor, Mr. Leung. They all fondly remember him as their true pastor as he stayed with them for over 20 years. He has done a great job laying down a solid foundation and work tirelessly getting them in a solid footing.
As for us, we could joke about some of the "sufferings" we had in this trip. The mission house where we stayed was not a four star accommodation. The bathroom upstairs leaked water. The kitchen faucet water pressure was just a trickle until I found a wrench and clean up the screen. I stayed in a room with four other guys. My bed sheets were always sliding off the mattress and had a musty smell. Someone snored but after two nights I got used to it. There is something growing in the floor of our bathroom. Not sure what it is, but as I was sweeping the floor, I could not get it out. It was gooey and it sticks pretty well on the floor (I hope this will not discourage anyone from joining an STM, but to make them aware that they need to be flexible. Actually I did not mind any of these inconveniences but welcome the opportunity to serve God).
However, the coffee from Mussmani (a bakery nearby) was excellent and so was the bread. The local food was excellent. The meals that the brothers and sisters invited us were so tasty and excellent. The weather in Costa Rica was absolutely gorgeous, mid 70’s all day long. Their church does not have air conditioning because they do not need it.
I have learned so much from them and now I feel that sometimes I have taken so many things for granted. However, it is clear that there is joy in the fruits of the spirit that came as results of the pain and suffering God have placed them. We also have been fortunate to know Christ early in life so God has been providing shelter for us for many years. We don’t need to go through what they have gone and spent years to pay back their debts and undo their problems.
The Mission house
The living room where we hang out
The small kitchen
The "something"
The "something" one day later. Notice that it grew.
