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Pictures of Jesus in a Chinese Hospital

September 2008

Imagine the scene. You are a mother living in a rural area of China. One day, your child comes home from primary school complaining of a stomach-ache. You give him herbal tea and try and feed him well, even though you haven’t got the ability to buy special food. However, his stomach-ache worsens and a fever develops. By now you are seriously worried.

In your village there is one ‘barefoot doctor’ a girl barely out of her teens. She takes one look at the boy and apologises but there is nothing she can do. Your son needs to be taken to hospital. There is a brand new hospital 30 miles away. Without hesitation, or consideration for the expense, you and your son get on a bus. When you get to town, you discover that the old hospital has been torn down, and replaced with a new hospital. You take a taxi. By now, your weekly food budget has been exhausted on this trip alone.

The hospital that you see is vast. It is a huge complex, much bigger than any building you have been in before. It is a cheerless place. Grey walls, and very dull. The waiting room is full of miserable people coughing and holding in the agonies they suffer. You wait with your son next to an elderly lady who turns to spit on the floor every now and then, despite the admonition of the reception staff who are watching her.

After a few hours, you are summoned to see a doctor. To your surprise, there are two doctors. One is exactly how you expect a Chinese doctor to be. But the other, amazingly is a Westerner, who speaks marvellous Chinese, even in your local dialect. The two doctors examine your boy while you sit battling the fears for the expense and the fears for your son. Eventually, the Western doctor turns to you and explains the prognosis. They will have to operate. He has to have his appendix taken out – it is straightforward and uncomplicated. They can operate that day.

The next couple of hours you sit nervously, twisting your prayer beads. Time seems to go very slowly. The spitting in the waiting room shows no signs of abating. After what seems like an eternity, the doctors come out smiling. Your son has gone into the paediatric ward, no complications. He can come out in two days’ time. You smile with relief.

When you go to seem him, though, there is a wonderful shock. As soon as you enter the children’s ward, you are leave the greyness of the corridors and reception and are greeted by vibrant colours: greens, blues, reds. Pictures of people and stories adorn the walls. What a delight your son will have when he wakes up. You ask who painted these walls. The Western doctor replies. In April, a group of friends came from Britain to decorate the hospital. These pictures are all characters from the Bible. That one over there, he’s Abraham. That one holding the stick is Moses. But the special one, carrying little children in his arms – that’s Jesus. He’s God’s son.

You are so grateful in your heart for these wonderful British people who came to paint the walls. You decide to ask your son to find out more about these stories.

At the moment, this is a work of fiction. We are still looking for the ‘wonderful British people’ to paint the walls. April 6-19, 2008. What better way can you think of to spend your Easter holidays?

Contact china@omf.org.uk or visit our China Vision trips area .

picture: christopher van belle flickr