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CHINA
FROM THE HEART
    As a long-distance Coordinator of China who lives in Michigan, a continent
    and an ocean away, I keep in touch with meditators and contacts there
    through the Internet and by telephone. Whenever the possibility of a trip to
    China comes along, I drop everything and go. Such a chance came this
    May when my husband, Albert, was invited by Jilin University in Changchun
    in Northern China to deliver a series of lectures.

    After our stay in Changchun, Albert and I were able to retrace the steps
    that Fr. Laurence, Ana Fonseca, Maria Pereira and I took in 2004. Since I
    had already revisited one seminary last September, we had only to visit
    the other three to complete the circuit.

    Watering the seeds planted by Father Laurence was both a joy and a
    challenge. I gave nine talks; six in the seminaries, one to the Sisters and
    two to a lay church-group. These were all delivered in Mandarin. Although I
    speak that dialect fluently, speaking formally on meditation is very
    different from conversations in social settings. But I prayed for courage
    and trust, and after the people in attendance sang a special song to the
    Holy Spirit, I felt He did come to my aid.

    Using my multimedia presentation as a guide, I covered the tradition,
    theology, practice and gifts of our Prayer of the Heart. A similar
    presentation in Chinese, which had been adapted by Lina Lee, Anthony Ng
    and Joseph Chor in Hong Kong, was copied and distributed to each
    attendee.

    I usually have two contacts in each seminary, the priest in charge of
    spiritual formation and a seminarian whom I have met and corresponded
    with since 2004. I know that after tending the seeds planted by Fr.
    Laurence, the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest. Most of the
    seminarians have a very rigorous daily schedule, but in the early morning
    before breakfast, they have 20 minutes’ free time for personal prayer. So I
    boldly suggested that they have no excuse for not meditating from 6:40-7:
    00 am each day!

    I was happy to return home much lighter, having emptied half my suitcase
    of books by John Main and Father Laurence. These were all in English, but
    despite their limited grasp of the language, I am hopeful that they will get
    something out of them. We are indeed in great need for books and
    materials in Chinese translations. As I am writing this, a priest is in the
    process of printing the recently translated Chinese version of A SIMPLE
    WAY which he promised to send to all the seminarians and sisters.

    On Ascension Sunday, we attended the 8:30 Mass at a seminary. The
    church was packed, and it was so inspiring and awesome to see 16
    seminarians, all clad in black shirt and trousers, at their graduation Mass.
    They had just completed their six full years of education and training and
    would all be going back to their home parishes to work and teach before
    their ordination.

    I went to teach, but instead I have learned and been given so much more.
    Their strong faith, their innocent and generous love, their simple way of
    life and purity of heart have all taught me the meaning of how to be a true
    disciple of Christ.

    This two-week trip was filled with surprises and grace. And many
    miracles were encountered along the way. Like the time when the priest
    with whom I had previously had an appointment was suddenly called out
    of town and left no word of my pending visit. But he called just as Albert
    and I were sitting down to lunch as “uninvited strangers” and saved us
    undue embarrassment as we met the new rector at his dining table.
    Thank God for mobile phones!

    Then there was a seminarian with whom I had had a heart to heart talk. He
    told me of his miraculous conversion when he became the first Catholic in
    a very traditional Buddhist family. His calling to be a priest was no less
    miraculous, since he was the only child and his father adamantly refused
    to give him permission to enter the priesthood. Totally frustrated, but
    undeterred, he kept praying for light and guidance. Finally, after a full year,
    his dad suddenly asked one day if he was still thinking about the
    priesthood. “Oh, yes, very much so,” was his reply. “Okay, you have my
    permission.” Completely stunned, but unwilling to wait any longer, the
    young man ran to his pastor to share the great news. He was immediately
    accepted as a candidate by his bishop and within a week was enrolled at
    a seminary. That was six years ago and he has now completed his studies
    and training. The miracle continued. His mother was converted to
    Catholicism during his sophomore year and his father two years later.
    Now most of his extended family is Catholic and about a year ago his
    mother also became a meditator.

    These and other small miracles, frequent occurrences in different parts of
    China, are proof that the Holy Spirit is very much alive and working very
    hard in China. I am thankful and feel most blessed to have been allowed to
    play a small part in bringing to the people of China our “Pearl of Great
    Price.” Maranatha!


    Liz King.