Sheila Sims Iding
China called. It’s become my joke with Tim. As the day approaches for him to go back to China, I start with the “China called…” jokes and scenarios. It’s usually a whole week ahead so that I can get them all in…so that I can get the message across. China called. Your trip back is canceled.
Tim talks about things he needs to take back and I say “China called and they are so crowded they don’t have room for you anymore.”
Tim mentions the things he got at the Rosary Shop to take back and I remind him “Oh by they way…China called and they are all Catholic now so your mission is complete.”
Friends say good-bye and wish him well and I quickly chime in “China called and nobody lives there anymore so you can stay here now.”
Family stops by to say good-by and they bring him treats to take with and I advise them all that “China called and they had an earthquake. Everyone there is fine but you don’t need to go back.”
The most direct “China called…” is when I just flat out say “China called and it fell off the face of the earth.” No need to go back to something that isn’t there anymore.
So it becomes the joke each time as he prepares to head back to China. It’s a silly thing. A buffer for the preparing and packing and leaving.
It’s a life I don’t understand. I don’t understand life with food you don’t like, below zero temperatures for months, a harshly foreign culture and strictly communist country. And I certainly don’t understand no TV, no sportscenter…no sports period. No Olympics coverage. No March Madness. No opening day baseball. Nothing.
I don’t understand the loneliness, the disconnect, the very humble salary and the even more humble living style. I don’t understand returning to China and this being the first time going there with no “family”. No “uncle” who could help in times of emergency…medical and political. No Chinese “friend” who would call us from the hospital to let us know everything will be fine.
Tim has had numerous trips back to China but for the first time ever he goes back and has no support system in place. He is his own support system now. He is a big boy and very capable. He can certainly handle being his own support system. His mom…not so much. I need a phone number to call in emergency. I need a friendly voice on the other line to assure everything is okay. We don’t have that any more. China called. Your family/friend support system is gone.
I don’t understand the mission work where you can’t pray with others or set up a Bible study. I don’t understand the great faith it takes hoping someone will notice the Mary statue in your apartment, or hoping the Buddhist will ask about you going to mass or how you rejoice when the atheist takes a picture of your calendar with the Bible quote of the day. The mission victories are subtle and barely fuel the motivation for the mission…that has to be fed from the powerful, unending faith from within.
This theologian is off on his own mission because his prayers lead him to believe this is God’s will. His faith leads him to believe this is where God wants him to be. He is devoted to doing God’s work on earth. He always has been. He probably always will be. His theologian heart seems called by God to come to China and serve his humble mission there. So maybe my little joke to buffer him leaving isn’t entirely wrong. Maybe it’s not true that China called…but it is certainly true enough that God called.
Follow that calling, Timothy, and know that my prayers follow you half way around the world to where China called…to where God called. Vaya con Dios, Timothy Patrick Dominic Iding. I miss you already. I love you more. GbGs.