My first visit to China felt like going home. My grandparents called their home in London, Ontario “Ping An”, mandarin for ‘peace’. Dorothy and Clinton Eacott had served as officers in China from 1921 to 1950, learning not only how to speak but also how to write the language. My mother spent her formative years until she was 15 in the country. Love for the country of China was in my blood.
As one of the oldest civilizations China led the world for centuries, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. This changed during the 19th and 20th centuries as China entered into years of civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, foreign occupation and a population that increased at an incredible rate. In recent years China has begun to regain its former glory, and in 2006 achieved economic success on the world stage as the second economy to the United States.
The country’s financial success is best seen in the cities with shops overflowing with every item imaginable and women dressed in styles straight from the fashion show runways of Europe. Yet the hustle and bustle of the crowds, the colour and aromas from the market stalls are uniquely Chinese. One market sold small pets, from turtles to gold fish, birds to rabbits. In another stall silk garments, in rich blue or red hues, would be displayed on hangers. Nearby vendors sold freshly cooked dumplings and breads. On the street, cars and bicycles vied for space. The sheer number of vehicles on the road gave the appearance of chaos and yet was surprisingly orderly. Drivers of all vehicles for the most part obey traffic signals.

Moving away from the cities into the rural villages the scene changes dramatically. There are fewer vehicles for one thing. Mule-drawn carts, bicycles and pedestrians share the narrow roads. Clothing becomes more traditional; sturdy and practical for the harsher climate. Especially in Meigu and Butuo County the traditional long, fringed white cloak and turban like headgear of the Yi minority were more common. In villages further up the mountains, dark blue capes that were so stiff and box-like in shape that they gave the impression that the owner had forgotten to remove the hanger, were ideal for the cool temperatures and the ability to protect packages strapped to the back from the rain.

The mountains in Sichuan province provide beautiful backdrops for the villages scattered in the valley, and an incredible setting for the more isolated and remote communities in the higher altitudes. The mountains are also the obstacle to the provision of basic needs such as clean water, fuel, and health care. At times we travelled as far as the narrow, winding roads would take us and then climbed the rest of the way to the village on steep mountain paths more suited to goats than an awkward Canadian!
One of the most successful projects the Canada and Bermuda territory has funded in these small villages is Biogas stoves. With hillside stripped of trees, this project provides a fuel source from the natural waste of the household. Colleagues held training sessions explaining the process and participating families paid a small portion of the cost encouraging ownership of the project. Village elders arranged for our small group to visit home after home, each with a functioning stove and light fixture, sharing stories of the difference the project has made in their lives.

Partnership with the Calgary South Rotary Club provided us with the opportunity to rebuild a small hospital, support additional training for the two young doctors and ensure that the health concerns of 130,000 people would be met. Butuo county has been identified as an area struggling with one of the highest incidents of HIV/AIDS in the province. Receiving patients long before construction was completed, the hospital is quickly becoming known for the care that it provides.

Some may wonder why The Salvation Army ministers in a land where there is not the freedom to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. For many of the officers forced to leave the land some 57 years ago the question of the difference their faithful witness was seemed like a cloud hanging over their ministry. Yet nothing is wasted in God’s hands. Personal and wonderful stories of the continued witness of the Christian community, and a growing awareness of the depth of faith and worship that is present even now in China is evidence enough that God moves in mysterious and wondrous ways. As The Salvation Army serves in practical ways for the most vulnerable and marginalized of people in the land it continues to live up to the translation of it’s name; “Save the World Army”!

While visiting a Three Self government registered church in Kunming I bought a fridge magnet in the shape of China with the simple words “Pray for China” inscribed in English and mandarin. It serves as a constant reminder to pray that the God who is able to do more than we can imagine or ask, will hear and answer prayer.

by Major Gillian Brown
Associate director, World Missions