“Lily’s Surprise”

By: Karen Lao & Ian Reid

Yesterday started as a fun day, and ended in an evening where the spirit of God descended from heaven, and flooded us with his love.

That day was our friend Rachel’s Birthday, and we were giving her a party. Rachel is a well known Chinese journalist, whose friendship I treasure. Like all good people, she has some serious problems throughout her life, but despite that; her love for Jesus is solid, her love for her friends is real, and she’s just plain fun to be around.

The party was held at my girlfriend Karen’s house, and the guests were to arrive at 5:00 o’clock, but I arrived at 1:00 o’clock, because Karen, her brother Te, and I had some work to catch-up on, before the party. Actually, the real reason for arriving at 1:00 was because Karen is a great cook. – I mean a great cook.

I rang the bell…and waited. Inside I could hear Te playing his drums in the basement. The last thing he was going to do was run-up to let me in. Unfortunately, I had to be patient with him, because I wanted to play his drums.

A few minutes after I was let in, while playing the drums, our friend Victor arrived. Victor is an engineer from China whom I admire very much. He wants to be a teacher, and boy, has he studied for it! I know that God will bless him for his endurance. Victor is a blessing to have as a friend. His logic, patience, and quietness are what I like to have around me. The only problem is that he was, tragically, born without a sense of humour – or maybe he has a Chinese sense of humour. Never mind; he’s good at barbequing, and great at translating. Victor is also cautious; to him 40 kilometers-per-hour is speeding.

When Victor arrived, we three, Victor, Te and I went into the basement to play drums. Big mistake! Te ended up showing us for 15 minutes – or was it 4 hours, how good he was on the drums. He showed us the same beat throughout. When I told him, 10 times, that he was giving me a headache; he just played louder.

Just when I finally sat down to play my favorite drum beat – actually, I only know one beat – Rachel arrived. Because Rachel is noisier than the drums; I had to stop. Actually, Rachel’s voice could easily compete with dynamite. When Rachel walks into a room it’s dramatic; like on elephant on a bus – she gets noticed. She arrived with her roommate. He smiled at me and sad “hello.” Four hours later he smiled at me and said “goodnight.” Did he speak English? I might never know. Oh, these Chinese; they are always so full of mystery.

Rachel also arrived with our friend Small Amy. Amy is little, but her son is big – and wild looking. If you ran into him while you were camping; you would run. In personality however, both he and is Mum are gentle. Amy always cleans the dishes at our dinner; this I respect.

Also, arriving with Rachel and Amy was our friend Maria. She’s a teenager; as tall as a giraffe, and with a mouth that talks complete teenager nonsense. To any question or statement, she wrinkles up her eyes and says “What!” or “What did you say!”, or What did you mean!”, or her favorite, “What, are you talking about!”

Initially when I met her, all she talked about was “China, China, China, and then –China” Now all she talks about are her dumb – and boy are they dumb friends. Blah, blah, blah…school, blah, blah, blah. If she ever says anything that I need to know; I’ll let you know, but don’t’ hold your breath. My worst nightmare, is when she starts to notice boys. Don’t worry, I’ll tape her mouth.

Shortly before Rachel’s very loud arrival, Jason, his wife Lily, and their three-year-old son Henry arrived. They were early; this was unusual. All of the guests usually keep Chinese punctual time. Arrive at 5:00, means, arrive whenever you want.

Lily is a big-mouth, just like Rachel; what’s worse, is that her English is good; therefore, she can talk, and, talk-back to me. With Rachel, when she talks too long to me, I simply nod my head and say “Hen-Hao,” but inside my mind, I am lying on a deserted Island looking at the stars in a clear, night sky. Rachel looks at me and thinks I find her fascinating – actually, as I just said, I’m on a desert Island. Sorry Rachel.

Jason is a nice-gentle person; I don’t know how Lily got him, oh well; God says that His plans are a mystery. Lily is very intelligent, and has a western sense of humour. I admire her determination. She’s a good wife and mother. Next to Karen, Lily’s cooking is the best.

Note: Most Chinese are good cooks – except Rachel. If she didn’t know how to open a can; then she’d starve. Rachel: Please, stick to Journalism.

Jason and Lily’s son Henry is about as cut as a kid can be. Cute, yes; naughty, double yes.

At the dinner table everything is total confusion. Canadian style is where we pass the plates around from the right. Everything takes a moderate portion of what they like, and a small portion of what they don’t like. When everyone’s’ plate is full, then the dinner starts. Chinese style is quite different. Everybody reaches over everybody else and grabs as much as they can get, of what they want most: This is frequently what they themselves made. Not only do they ignore what they don’t like – they talk about it. To me, the only white person there; saying “No thank you,” means just that, “no thank you.” To them, “no thank you,” just means – keep piling on even more food!

Each person at the table says that his city in China makes the best food anywhere, and of course to my Chinese friends, every food has a story behind it. A certain nice dish was the favourite of a famous person, or his uncle. The only history of Canadian food that I know is that…actually I don’t know anything about our food.

The one thing that is the same in both cultures, is that after dinner, the men immediately run-away and hide, rather than clean dishes. The women say in Chinese that the men are, Lazy, useless slobs.” In English, the women say that the men are also, “lazy, useless slobs.” The language is different; however – all women worldwide agree on this subject.

After dinner, Canadian men watch hockey and talk politics. It is a well known fact that every white Canadian male, thinks he is the best choice for prime-minister. After our dinner, the Chinese had a horrible surprise for me – they sang Karaoke – in Chinese. In Chinese! We won the war – for this!

Anyway, enough joking; here’s the real story. Before dinner, Lily told me quietly that she had a cold, and that she wanted me to know that she was Christian. The moment froze. I was standing by the counter, making her a lemon-honey drink, she was sitting at the table; and pow! She hit me with that.

The greatest moments of my life have always been when God’s love enters a person. They are saved. They’re going to heaven. It’s real. I was part of it. My life has meaning. God sent us, her friends, to bring her to Jesus. Our job is done. Thank you God.

At dinner, we said grace for our meal. After we said “Amen,” she said that she was Christian. I asked her a few questions.

“Is God real?” – “Yes.”

“Is He perfect?” – “Yes.”

“Is Jesus real?” – “Yes.”

“Is it’s perfect?” – “Yes.”

“Is the Holy Spirit real?” – “Yes.”

“Are they all perfect?” – “Yes.”

“Was Jesus’ mother pure?” – “Yes.”

“Did Jesus’ rise from His death, walk around, and then go to heaven?” – “Yes.”

“Do you believe?” – “Yes.”

I got up and walked over to her, hugged her and sat down – exhausted. I looked relaxed, but I was totally exhausted. A new Christian was sitting before me.

Karen and I met her a year and a half ago while doing our volunteering. A friendship slowly grew, and then we get to be good friends. She started asking questions, but with a reserved attitude. All that’s gone. She’s now a Christian.

God bless you Lily.