The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 01, January, 1890 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 01, January, 1890Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 01, January, 1890
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
In the mean time, a Chinese preacher who was supported by the Methodist
Mission was very sick. His children were very small and his wife cannot
walk. There was nobody to go after a doctor for him. So he sent for me
to call doctor and get medicine. He and myself were the only Christians
inside the walls of the city. Outside in the villages were a few
Christians, but fifteen or twenty miles away. My wife advised me not to
go to his house lest I get sick also, for my health was not very good. I
say to her, that only he and I are Christians in this place. I _have_ to
go to his house. I rather die than not go. In about twenty days he die.
We sent for the Christian friends, from different parts--some thirty to
fifty miles away--some nearer. So we bury him the Christian way. The men
carry the coffin. They charge four dollars to bury him, because he is
Christian. The others they charge only two dollars. We also hire music
for the funeral--different from the heathen funeral. Several hundred
people were standing on the way, watching us pass by. Some say: "How
funny the burying of the Yason dog,"--_i.e._, the Jesus boy.
After the funeral I was very sick, and my whole body trembling with
cold. Many blankets put upon me, but cannot make me warm. My wife begin
to cry. My cousins and all said it was because I went to the dead man's
house and catch the sickness. Some of them said it was because I tore up
the paper and burned the punk-sticks of the stove-god. But my wife,
sitting on the bed-side crying, suggested the medicine which I brought
from California; the name--sulphate of quinine. So she ask me to take
that; but I say: I never have been this way before, and never use that
medicine for this kind of sickness. But she ask me to try; so I take a
very little with a little water. Not more than three minutes my whole
body stop shaking, and I felt a great relief. I thank God for his help,
and soon I got all well.
Another Chinese preacher came from Canton to my district to take the
dead preacher's place; also, to live in his house. Next day, he and his
wife and boy all taken very sick. They grow worse and worse, every day
appointed to death. I felt very much dismayed because many people say,
"The Death Spirit make them very sick because they will not worship
him." But I pray to God to make him well. I say:--"Oh Lord, if you let
this family die also, all the people in this place will not like to hear
thy Gospel, and I also may be tempted by the superstition. I ask thee,
oh God, let thy mercy be upon them and not let this family going to die;
so let all this people of darkness see thy power, and thy glorious light
appear to their sight." I believe that God answered this prayer, for
they grew better and better every day, though they were so sick they
expected to die.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account