Many Dutch Christian groups are active on the TU campus, knocking on doors and trying to convert foreign students. But how is this for the Chinese students at TU Delft. Do the religious fanatics on their doorsteps make them nervous or are they merely entertained by the whole process?
Life’s like a box of chocolates, and you never know what you’re gonna get. As it happens, you also never know what could ensue from an unexpected series of melodious knocks on your apartment door, but that’s where my story begins, on a sunny afternoon several days after I’d settled into my new space-box room.
I happened to be surfing the Internet, searching for the nearest Asian supermarket, when suddenly there was a knock on my door. Having recently arrived in Delft, I usually had no idea who’d turn up on my doorstep, but still I was pretty surprised when there before me stood a graceful, middle-aged Dutch lady, smiling kindly at me like a long lost friend.
“May I come in?” Her question startled me.
“Y-y-yeah, of course,” I replied nervously, leading this uninvited guest into my room. Well, I thought, looking on the bright side, at least it’s not the police!
Our ensuing conversation began with the usual exchange of greetings. She then said she was from the church. After I told her that I had no religion, she instantly switched the conversation to a far more serious topic.
“Do you have any idea about God yet, and how you can know Him?” she asked.
“Maybe from a $5 bill,” I replied. “It says ‘In God We Trust’ on it?”
“Well, have you ever thought about the meaning of life?” she countered. Obviously, her questions were making the atmosphere a little dreary and me a little nervous again. I scratched my head for a while and finally gave up: “Sorry, madam. But what do you mean by the meaning of life?” She was quite patient and replied with a much easier question: “Or have you noticed that the world goes smoothly and is controlled by something?”
But this time I couldn’t agree with her. “Firstly, I never think the world goes smoothly . there’s poverty, war, terrorism, too many troubles,” I continued. “As for the world, it’s doubtlessly controlled by power.”
“Power?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes,” I explained. “Bush, for instance.”
I guess she must have been pretty disappointed that her attempts at enlightening me had ultimately failed, although I really had no intention of embarrassing her. I continued: “My life has been going well without God in my mind for more than twenty years, and that’s the truth, as God is my witness!”
We both laughed at my little joke. She ended by inviting me to attend various activities at her church. The moment she left my room, I suddenly regretted what I’d said and my failure to live up to her nice personality. What’s worse, I even forgot to treat her in the most typical Chinese way and serve her a cup of tea! ‘Maybe next time’ was the thought I consoled myself with.
Kindness
Two months pasted before the next holy knock resounded on my door. But this time when I opened the door a Dutch-Chinese girl named Teng appeared, and, frankly speaking, if she hadn’t been accompanied by another girl, I might’ve begun fantasizing that this was a splendid opportunity for a romantic involvement!
Nevertheless, I was flattered that she delivered her holy talk in Chinese, although her Mandarin wasn’t as fluent as her Dutch. Ms. Teng however turned out to be an amateurish holy knocker. It wasn’t bad that she came straight to the point and commenced her preaching.
During our conversation, she’d leaf through her Chinese-language Bible and show me the relevant passages, while her partner, an even younger girl, remained silent throughout.
Our talk didn’t take as long as I’d expected, since she, the priestess, behaved much more nervously than I, the prospective parishioner. Finally, she finished and offered to drive me to her church events in Rotterdam whenever I felt like attending. She also left me several booklets explaining the relationship between science and religion.
This proved to be the last holy knock on my door, because soon thereafter I moved out the international space-box ghetto. But rather ironically, I’ve since attended many of these church activities and now have a wide circle of acquaintances from church. What impressed me most about these church people was their kindness and openness; they’re always ready to help you and talk with you.
It’s worth noting that most of my fellow foreign students residing on campus had similar experiences. Following the holy knocks on their doors, a few were converted to Christianity and even fewer tried to get rid of the holy folks by slamming the door in their faces.
The majority were just like me: remaining neutral, but touched by the church people’s enthusiasm and eagerness to do something for us foreign students, such as organizing a yearly BBQ, two concerts in the church and recently a wonderful party by LinkDelft.
At times I still cherish the memory of those holy knocks on my door and maybe in my heart as well. But again, it has nothing to do with God and everything to do with human kindness.
Guodong (Fred) Zhong, from China, studies MSc Offshore Engineering. He can be contacted at: zhongguodong@gmail.com
(Illustration: Juan S. Sanchez, Colombia)
For this week’s full Study Breaks, go to: www.delta.tudelft.nl
Life’s like a box of chocolates, and you never know what you’re gonna get. As it happens, you also never know what could ensue from an unexpected series of melodious knocks on your apartment door, but that’s where my story begins, on a sunny afternoon several days after I’d settled into my new space-box room.
I happened to be surfing the Internet, searching for the nearest Asian supermarket, when suddenly there was a knock on my door. Having recently arrived in Delft, I usually had no idea who’d turn up on my doorstep, but still I was pretty surprised when there before me stood a graceful, middle-aged Dutch lady, smiling kindly at me like a long lost friend.
“May I come in?” Her question startled me.
“Y-y-yeah, of course,” I replied nervously, leading this uninvited guest into my room. Well, I thought, looking on the bright side, at least it’s not the police!
Our ensuing conversation began with the usual exchange of greetings. She then said she was from the church. After I told her that I had no religion, she instantly switched the conversation to a far more serious topic.
“Do you have any idea about God yet, and how you can know Him?” she asked.
“Maybe from a $5 bill,” I replied. “It says ‘In God We Trust’ on it?”
“Well, have you ever thought about the meaning of life?” she countered. Obviously, her questions were making the atmosphere a little dreary and me a little nervous again. I scratched my head for a while and finally gave up: “Sorry, madam. But what do you mean by the meaning of life?” She was quite patient and replied with a much easier question: “Or have you noticed that the world goes smoothly and is controlled by something?”
But this time I couldn’t agree with her. “Firstly, I never think the world goes smoothly . there’s poverty, war, terrorism, too many troubles,” I continued. “As for the world, it’s doubtlessly controlled by power.”
“Power?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes,” I explained. “Bush, for instance.”
I guess she must have been pretty disappointed that her attempts at enlightening me had ultimately failed, although I really had no intention of embarrassing her. I continued: “My life has been going well without God in my mind for more than twenty years, and that’s the truth, as God is my witness!”
We both laughed at my little joke. She ended by inviting me to attend various activities at her church. The moment she left my room, I suddenly regretted what I’d said and my failure to live up to her nice personality. What’s worse, I even forgot to treat her in the most typical Chinese way and serve her a cup of tea! ‘Maybe next time’ was the thought I consoled myself with.
Kindness
Two months pasted before the next holy knock resounded on my door. But this time when I opened the door a Dutch-Chinese girl named Teng appeared, and, frankly speaking, if she hadn’t been accompanied by another girl, I might’ve begun fantasizing that this was a splendid opportunity for a romantic involvement!
Nevertheless, I was flattered that she delivered her holy talk in Chinese, although her Mandarin wasn’t as fluent as her Dutch. Ms. Teng however turned out to be an amateurish holy knocker. It wasn’t bad that she came straight to the point and commenced her preaching.
During our conversation, she’d leaf through her Chinese-language Bible and show me the relevant passages, while her partner, an even younger girl, remained silent throughout.
Our talk didn’t take as long as I’d expected, since she, the priestess, behaved much more nervously than I, the prospective parishioner. Finally, she finished and offered to drive me to her church events in Rotterdam whenever I felt like attending. She also left me several booklets explaining the relationship between science and religion.
This proved to be the last holy knock on my door, because soon thereafter I moved out the international space-box ghetto. But rather ironically, I’ve since attended many of these church activities and now have a wide circle of acquaintances from church. What impressed me most about these church people was their kindness and openness; they’re always ready to help you and talk with you.
It’s worth noting that most of my fellow foreign students residing on campus had similar experiences. Following the holy knocks on their doors, a few were converted to Christianity and even fewer tried to get rid of the holy folks by slamming the door in their faces.
The majority were just like me: remaining neutral, but touched by the church people’s enthusiasm and eagerness to do something for us foreign students, such as organizing a yearly BBQ, two concerts in the church and recently a wonderful party by LinkDelft.
At times I still cherish the memory of those holy knocks on my door and maybe in my heart as well. But again, it has nothing to do with God and everything to do with human kindness.
Guodong (Fred) Zhong, from China, studies MSc Offshore Engineering. He can be contacted at: zhongguodong@gmail.com
(Illustration: Juan S. Sanchez, Colombia)
For this week’s full Study Breaks, go to: www.delta.tudelft.nl
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