(The last of 3 blogs catching up on minsitry in China. The first two were The Absence of Awkward Silences and Impromptu Revolving Door English Class.)
My guitar weighs 14 pounds. That’s 6.35 kg. I’ve weighed it at many an airport check-in. I’ve been lugging it around for the last 7 months. Sometimes my teammates have been lugging it around for me. I’ve played here and there, but mostly just for the maintenance of my own sanity, not necessarily for or with other people. Lately I’ve been regretting bringing it and wishing I had brought my laptop instead.
Elizabeth and I had made friends with the vendors in the underground tunnel. It was our last night in the city and we stopped by for one last visit and to try to communicate that we were leaving. One young guy was down there playing guitar, a pile of coins lying on his guitar case. I ran back up to our hostel, grabbed my guitar, and came back down. While we played guitar together Elizabeth chatted with the other guys and hours passed without us realizing it. I taught him how to play “I’m Trading My Sorrows” and was able to explain translate each line and ultimately, the meaning of the song. I gave him the song at the end of the night so he could practice once we were gone. Those two hours I spent playing guitar with him in the underground tunnel made the last 7 months of lugging my guitar around totally worth it.
The next day, six of them traveled across town to meet us at the train station and say goodbye. They gave us each 2 bags of squishy balls (which they refused to accept money for) and wished us a Merry Christmas (in English, which they don’t know). With lots of smiles and waves, we forced ourselves to walk into the train station.
This was my favorite ministry on the race and it was totally unplanned by us. We hung out with some guys we met while doing an impromptu English class on the stairs of the underground tunnel. We helped them sell squishy balls to people passing through (white girls draw attention so we’re good advertisement). They taught us Chinese. We got frustrated and then laughed at our inability to communicate with each other. We took pictures together. We played guitar.
It was simple. It was easy. It was fun. And it was amazing.
I just want to encourage you with what I’ve learned. Ministry doesn’t have to be what you think it is. Ministry doesn’t have to be at church. Ministry doesn’t have to have a committee. Ministry doesn’t have to be expensive or hard. You probably won’t even have to go very far. Do you have a lonely neighbor? Is there a beggar on the street corner? Does someone need advice or just a listening ear? Ask the Lord who (not what) your ministry is today and what you can do for them. Then just do it.
