To see China and... to die!

In nomine Domini!

4-th of July 2003 I crossed Polish-Ukrainian border... 3 years I spent in East Ukraine without going out from my "Donbass Parishes" even a single day. Yes, I made 3 trips to Kiev, 3 to Kharkov and perhaps 5 to Zaporozhye (capital of the state and 2 capitals of diocese in which actually I am ministering) For such a gipsy man as I am it was strong effort. All that time I was keeping in mind the words of Saint Teresa Little Flower: "It will be wonderful to go some day on the far away islands to be a missionary:

Her dream partially became realized in my previous activities in Russia and in my actual life by staying in Beijing.

It was planned as holydays, but even so I am happy staying here. Never mind my sickness or even a risk coming here without being sure who may care about me in case of hospitalization.

2 years ago, during long term I had no intentions so called stipendiums of the Mass. I took my personal intention which I expressed on a small piece of paper: "Jesus Christ, please bring me to China" annotation was laying on altar during long time. Providentially I got a teacher of Chinese which promised me to help my dream realize. Also during my staying in hospital my dean found the piece of paper in tabernacle and promised to help my dream became truth.

1. Difficult flight.

The flight was very difficult, because my sickness ever gives me a pain, but remembering st. Teresa (patroness of missions) telling that the heart of church is in these places where church is suffering I was sure that touching such a wound I may get miraculous healing.

My legs and all the body which got forms and behave as elephant ones and it disturb discovering the city, but tasting the feeling of being here, I am really happy man.

Flight was 14 hours long except 8 as planned. That very night of 9-th July happened strong storm in the air. Similar whether was in Irkutsk and the aircraft killed about 200 people just embarking.

Our aircraft was waiting for permission in the air. We was feeling strong turbulation perhaps 8 times, the fuel was near to be finished and the pilot was finally permitted to land in Dailan 700 km far away city from Beijing.

In the morning the whether changed and we came happy and alive to Chinese capital about 10.oo AM.

All the liquid from my body came to my legs. I was not permitted to stay without laying down so long.

My teacher who was waiting me in the airport proposed at first to have breakfast but when realized that I cannot move took me to the small hotel in the center of the city an invited Chinese doctor who treated me traditional medicine using acupuncture during 5 days.

Just after that I was able to walk and to move on another place in South Beijing in "Rainbow Garden.

At the beginning I am walking on Markets, visiting small restaurants, looking on the people around.

Too far away to visit the church.

2. Rainbow Garden - "Guang Cai Lu"

It is the last stop of bus 803. Once I decided to study the way of the bus from start point just to the end.

It took 2 hours and half. Just during such a trip I observed 2 Catholic and one Protestant Church I was happy seeing big number of people near bye.

It is too short time to make serious observations about freedom of soul and faith. Reading Catholic Press, we know about difficulties. But it was also big happiness when I looked on a boy sitting bye me and reading the bible all the time of the trip without being shy or criticized.

In many shops and bars even in hotel I was seeing small statues of Buddha or another religious herous.

Also big number of so called "Muslim pubs", you may buy there "Arab style" food. Nobody prays here but you may observe Muslim symbols, "Arabic" characters on the front, even half-moon on the roof.

Most part of Chinese movies which take 50% of all the films you may see in TV some way got inspiration on showing monasteries and monks. Another big part of movies inspire II World War, You may see Japanese troops killing poor Chinese without mercy. Also we may see many South Korean movies for youngsters.

Jesus for Koreans is popular topic, so you may see time to time churches in the landscape or priests blessing the marriage.

Cartoons for children, 80 % Japanese production showing: devils, strange animals and creatures with smell of magic as echo from Harry Potter.

Not many European movies. Once I so very nice movie: "A man for all the seasons", the story of st. Thomas More, also some Hong-Kong movies showing Catholic churches and the people praying there.

Time to time you may see Russian movies but unfortunately without religious topics.

3. Doors and walls...

Yes, Beijing is mysterious and nice, but as it was ever in socialism, many things creates artificially, to make impression on visitors, some other thing are artificially hidden.

Somebody said: �China means doors and walls"...

Yes, waiting for Olympic Games Chinese Authorities in big hurry destroy all the regions of old buildings, even all the streets, so called "hutongs", so small that to bicycle drivers may travel with difficulties.

In my opinion, will be nice to keep the style of hutongs, as it was made in polish Bialystok, so called "Boyary".

Unfortunately, all the long of the main streets you may see the walls with big advertisements which hide houses prepared to be destroy.

On that place you may see new houses 20-30 floors high with artificial towers on the roof or something in pagoda style. Every settlement of 10 such a buildings have also own wall entrance and even a guard. His job is to control the cars coming on territory. Only owners of the flat may cross bye, no aliens here. These "soldiers" or "policeman" you may see everywhere. Thanks God without guns and so young that you may smile seeing them without feeling fear. By the way Chinese people like to hide behind walls.

All Chinese properties were constructed according such a project: big and nice door, the wall at the front and three small houses around nice garden with some decoration from stones and flowers.

On the front door artificial roof, nice inscription with a name of owner below.

4. Very simple life...

Life in China is not expensive, salaries also not very high. 300 dollars it is a salary of young educated man in private company.

To get a flat is not cheep. There are some restrictions concerning migration from villages to the capital. It happen you may see slums in Beijing in the middle of garages. Better saying, garages used as flats for season workers, even underground private schools for their children, because without registration they cannot be accepted in regular state schools.

Bus ticket costs more less 50 cent. Taxi 1 dollar one km, very popular moto-riksha 3 times cheeper than taxi. Apples 20 cent one kilogram. Traditional small round bread with cabbage or other vegetable 5 cent, green tea 25 packets 50 cents, cucumbers 10 cents, 1 kg of boiled octopus 1 USD. I am writing just prices of objects which was buying by myself in dollars to imagine better and compare with local prices in your country.

The day starts like in old good times from the public sport. Finishes the same way. If you may think it is on pression, you will mistake. Somebody take small radio on batteries and it is enough for nice number of people to make some "shaolin dance"

You may also meet just on the street instruments for gymnastics. Surprisingly, that bodybuilding interests mostly the elderly people. Even old boys skating on rolling-skates you may see here seriously training.

Popular in Beijing is to eat just on the street. The mentioned round bread with vegetables, soya soup, the people eat from 6.oo until 9.oo AM.

Beijing sometime make me remember Russia. Here and there people eat "Pen-Men", aalso here and there people do not care about clinging the streets.

Of course, I am making observations in South Beiging. If I stay in the center, many things I will be unable to observe.

Bicycles and motorcycles are present everywhere. Typical scene: the people repairing their "bike", just on the road.

The heat is horrible. I was told it happen the first time last 50 years such a heat. The people may sleep just on the road, or even in the shadow of the car. Parents do not care when the child is "piping" on the road, but also happen to the adults same behavior. People do not care.

I was nicely surprised realizing less number of smokers and drinkers here comparing our Slavic Poland, Ukraine or Russia.

Of course in the evening many youngsters start drinking beer, but it is not so big tragedy as in countries I just mentioned.

Missionary ideas

Describing all these things, I am taking in mind and in heart the events from 15 years ago. Holly Father John Paul the II-nd invited the Youth from all over the world. Because it happened in Polish Czestokhova, and because Gorbachov permitted people traveling without problems and restrictions, at first many soviet youngsters participated such an event.

Just these days of Youth Meeting happened a pouch in Moscow. The Pope was praying special prayer for them and asking other youngsters to care about them.

The same very day, Maoists in Peru killed two young polish Franciscans for being Christians and believing in Jesus Christ.

China is celebrating anniversary of 15-th August Victory in war with Japanese.

Also happened 30-th anniversary of Mao Zhe Dong's death. Same time happened crazy earthquake. Finished Cultural Revolution.

Many interesting stories happened to this country and still happen.

500 years ago in far away Spain born Francisco Xavier, which spend his life realizing many missionary projects in India and Japan and after baptizing hundred of thousands members of many oriental nations he came as 40 years old man, to die - in China.

Moslems use to say "After seeing Mecca the best is to die". In some sense starting my trip, I was thinking the same, "After seeing China... I may die", but now, slowly I got new inspirations and ideas. I hope with God's help and with assistance of good people I will get my health back and will be more successful here than the holly man.

F. Jaroslaw Wisniewski
Beijing, 15-th August 2006