CHINESE WEDDING:

JM missionary shared:

I had a most unusual experience a few weeks ago. I was invited to perform a wedding for a group of 17 travelers from the interior of China. Their native tongue was Chinese (Mandarin) and they did not speak much Japanese. Most of them seemed to speak and understand some English, although their pronunciation was poor.

I cannot speak Chinese, so I performed 90% of the wedding in English and a little in Japanese. During the vows I attempted to say their names and believe it was 80% correct. I struggled because the names were tonal and some of the sounds seemed to originate from the deepest parts of the throat. After they both voiced their agreement to the English vows I said, they also read their own vows to each other in Chinese. I could not understand a word, but I saw tears streaming down the bride’s face. As I prayed a prayer of blessing upon the couple, many said “Amen” heartily together with me at the end of the prayer.

After the wedding, we moved outside to congratulate the couple by throwing rose petals up into the air as they walked down the steps. As we waited for the couple to come out, my eyes met the eyes of those in the wedding party. I gazed at their smiling and beaming faces and instantly sensed that we were kindred spirits.

I asked the lady next to me if they were Christians from China and she nodded. I encouraged her by telling her, “We are praying for you in China!”

To think, these Chinese people had to escape to Japan to enjoy the freedom of having a Christian wedding!

These are the fortunate ones who have money to travel abroad. There are many poor and oppressed Christians in China who cannot experience these freedoms.

Please join us in prayer for these people.