Suzie Q

Somewhere in China.      October 2003

I’ll always remember her dark unforgettable eyes.

We only met once in a bustling train station, and I never got her name. I don’t recall her speaking since we had a language barrier and a brief visit.

This young Chinese woman was in danger, meeting four Americans.

Our contact told us she would meet us at the local train station. A young woman approached, followed by two porters shouldering a bamboo pole with four heavy bags. 

Her eyes darted back and forth nervously as several policemen stood nearby. She handed our leader a cell phone and four train tickets.  Then she looked into our eyes as if to say, “Now, I’ve done my part.  It’s time for you to do yours.”  

Without a word, she waved us toward the crowded train platform.  

Then she turned and walked away, never glancing back.

 

The four bags contained hundreds of ziploc bags containing DVDs of The Jesus Film* in the heart language of her people.  For the first time, they would see and hear the story of Jesus in their native tongue.

This exchange might seem like a game to us, but it was deadly serious for her. If caught, we would be unceremoniously escorted out of the country.  The repercussions would be severe for her: ranging from persecution to jail time. 

In the coming days, our team traveled in pairs, walking the roads of rural China, hiding our precious packets in woodpiles, under rocks, and in the corn fields. Our goal was for the DVDs to be found, but only when we were gone.  

Walking the countryside that week, we talked about this young Chinese woman. We even gave her a name: “Suzie Q.” 

She was taking a significant risk in sharing the Gospel. She put herself in great danger to deliver these packages.  

I’ve thought often about Suzie Q for the last twenty years.  How is she faring with the persecution of the Chinese Christian Church? I hope she is safe.  I know she is faithful.

I won’t see her until eternity. When we meet again, I’ll learn her name. Until then, she’ll be Suzie Q, the brave young Christian woman with the unforgettable dark eyes.

 

Postscript 

Our team stopped in Hong Kong on our way home. The coordinator on this project told us about  Suzie Q. : 

“She is a twenty-year-old Christian who sells hair combs on the streets of her city.  She is brave and deeply committed to following Jesus, no matter the cost, and is always ready to perform any service to further the cause of Christ.”

 

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(* I’m often asked if there were TVs and players in rural China.  Nearly every home had a TV despite their evident poverty.)