It's Sunday, Time for Church and a Walk

Online I found an index of churches in China. Just type in a city or province to find listings. Christian Church of Taiyuan City is about 15min from our hotel at No.98 Qiaotou Street (ph202-7557). We arrived during the music service to hear hundreds of voices singing To God Be the Glory. There were several more songs, some that I knew and a special from the choir. Then the congregation did a reading of scripture. It appeared that all the prayers were scripted because, in unison, the congregation would say Amen! at appropriate intervals. Today’s sermon was given by an 81year old preacher from Shanghai. His passion and stamina during his one hour sermon hid his age well. The text was from Psalm 34:9-22. I’d ask my guide What is he saying? occasionally, hoping to keep her attention on the message. Just as with the Beijing church I attended in April 2007, there was no Invitation given.

The crowd was so large and packed into a medium sized auditorium. I just had to know the number attending, so counted seats and rows. 27 across x 38 rows=1026 seats and more in the balcony which I couldn’t see. Leg room was like on airplanes, so they get more seating here for the space. The locals and I don’t have much leg length, so it’s probably a good design plan. Over one thousand people in church in Taiyuan on a Sunday morning. And this was the 10am service. They also have 7:30am Sunday and 10am Saturday services.

As with any large church, there was moving around, folks leaving, and some obviously not paying attention. Like the guy sitting next to us. He kept rubbing his arm. Finally the lady in front of him turned to politely ask (I’m guessing here) Is something wrong with your arm? No, he said (I heard this part) and continued to rub his arm. Some folks had to leave early and some came in late. It was raining and cool today, so the un-air conditioned auditorium was comfortable. I wonder how many are actually Saved? Is this a weekly social gathering for some as it is in many American churches?

We walked home and stopped at a sidewalk kitchen to buy JianBing (like a rolled thin tortilla, smeared with beaten egg, sprinkled with chopped green onion, chunky pickle relish and a secret sauce (salty and bit spicy). Fried, then folded over and over, cut in half and put in paper sleeve to eat as you walk. Casi said she did not like it. The pickles added an unexpected burst with each bite. Cost was 7y (about $1

Sidewalk pet stores were abundant and Casi begged at each display to bring home: 1st, a baby duck, 2nd, a puppy or a kitten, 3rd, a hamster, or rabbit, or giant turtle. And there were birds. Thank goodness for Airline rules! And I didn’t stay to ask prices!

She brightened when we passed Yingze Park and found the cotton candy man. As my guide told me, this is not the same taste as our cc back home. The sugar is different, sort of tasted like brown sugar although the sugar he used was white. Just 2y (about 25c) for a stick.

Calling card and stamp collector sidewalk sales were in full swing today as well as a giant flea market. Looked just like what you’d see back home except for the chops, antique Chinese carved furniture and Chinese bird cages. There were even beautiful giant, truck size stones for sale. Maybe tomorrow we’ll visit here if it’s open.

We had dirty clothes to drop off at a local laundry, which is also the young couple’s home. 90y (~$11) for 22 pieces . They will deliver everything to our hotel tomorrow afternoon. Each piece will be clean, pressed and individually packed inside a plastic bag.