Two Tears on the Window: An Ordinary Canadian Couple Disappears in China

by Julia Garratt

Mao’s Iron Rice Bowl approach used ration coupons and strict controls to feed the massive population.

Many children, radicalized by Mao’s thinking, turned in and punished their own parents in public to show party loyalty.

The younger teachers were equally hard-working and dubbed The Lost Generation after Mao closed universities from 1968 to 1975 causing 12,000,000 youth to

miss out on high school and university.

Boys outnumbered girls 15 to 1

They sat in different rows in class and walked on opposite sides of campus lanes.

Follow Lei Feng’s example, love the Party, love socialism, love people.

Mao Zedong wrote his eulogy and millions of Chinese memorized a booklet describing his heroism and spreading his fame.

he survived on corn husks, and saw his own son turn against him after joining the Red Guard.

We attended the welcome ceremony as staff and students lined the campus streets watching the appliance arrive by three-wheeled bicycle and cheering until it reached her apartment.

As they carted my piano away, I informed them it was dedicated for hymns to God and not for revolutionary songs.

One hour in their presence let us touch enough faith for a lifetime.

And a visit to the campus hospital for food poisoning included a free zoo visit since the tiger from the zoo across the street was recovering from surgery on the bed in the next room!

Kindness is not linked to power or money or race. The poorest person with one act of kindness can impact a human soul forever.

The difference between an enemy and friend is often a choice. Whatever it takes, I will love these MSS guards and interrogators as I love every Chinese person and respect and serve them whatever comes. I asked God for courage and prayed for the guards, investigators, and cooks. I did not know their lives, hardships, struggles, or pain. Maybe they need me. I must be here for a reason. Chosen.

“Julia, can you walk on water?” No, I answered, but you can. “Yes, Julia, I did–even in a raging storm.”

I’m a Christian by choice and it’s not my job to make anyone else one. I introduce God by being myself. If others ask why I’m helpful or joyful or how I get through my struggles, then I tell them the good news.”

My words shot into the atmosphere, penetrating their minds heading straight for the heart. Truth does that.

As silence screamed in an incessant hum I waited for answers. I stretched out my hands with nothing to offer God but suffering. He didn’t remove it but peace came. I felt him close. The more I offered him the more he filled my nightmare

with himself. He entered my fear, despair, and loneliness. In his presence, the size of my suffering was incomparable to the size of his love.

Even my weak prison prayers mattered. I was a participant in a supernatural event in progress. God had pulled back the veil, letting me peek at his great love.

I believed my story was part of a bigger plan too, but living it in millions of seconds was so different from reading the story in a chapter.

Our suffering is personal to God.

Apparently, China can refuse exit to foreigners who witness a crime or are connected to ongoing investigations.

I always looked up when I first stepped out to see a world bigger and better than prison.

Disappointments stacked up and each minute was a battle.

Watching lights sparkling over the city, I forced myself to zoom out. I belong to a bigger story–a city story, a nation story, a God story.

“The word that came to me on the way,” he said opening his Bible, “is Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Astounding! Courage returned and the weight of disappointment, although still there, loosened its tight grip. My weakened soul had to trust in God. Again.

The partnership of human resilience, prayer, and God’s personal involvement in our stories is a mystery and a miracle! It’s also a daily choice. We know for certain that in every situation God is always at work, always present and always has a bigger plan than we can see. We step forward with joy into a future designed just for us and hope many others will