Amazing Grace

 The time was between 1954 and 1960, and the place was Chang-Hua, Taiwan. 

Lilly was her name.  Actually, I have forgotten her original Taiwanese name. Since Lilly is such a beautiful name, I will call her Lilly in this memoir. When I knew Lilly, she was 8 years old, and I was 10 years old.  We were neighbors. 

Taiwan was very poor at that time.  The neighborhood I grew up in did not have running water.  Everyday, we walked to a well to get all the water we needed for the day. 

At the time, the house in Taiwan was simply built with 4 living quarters.  At the most front was the worship room.   In that room, we put ancestor’s images and other god or goddess including Kawnging images on an altar. 

The bedroom was behind the worship room.  There was only one bedroom in the house.  Everybody in the household, mom and dad, brothers and sisters slept in the same  room.  Behind the bedroom was the kitchen and behind that was the toilet. 

Lilly and I and other kids of similar ages played together.  We did not have toys to play; however, we were very inventive, trying to use whatever was available such as pebbles, mango seeds, etc. to play.

Taiwan is situated in the subtropical region; it is hot most of the time especially in the summer.  The temperature in the summer could reach as high as 100 F. There was no air conditioner, not even an electric fan to cool off.  We cooled off the heat by opening  the door to allow the cool air to flow in.  When we opened the front door, we knew every household was worshiping their ancestor as well as similar gods and goddesses. 

Then one day, Lilly ‘s house was different.  The worshiping altar of her house was gone. Lilly’s household was converted into Christian. 

There was a small Christian church in our neighborhood.  Since it was a different religion from most Taiwanese families at the time, we did not pay too much attention except at the times when there were food distributions through the church.  

During the 50’s and the 60’s, Americans were generous in providing  food assistance to Taiwan.  When it was the time, the neighborhood would line up at the church door to receive the food.  The food we received was butter and bread.  When my mom received those ‘free food’, the bread and butter, she would bring them home ; first, she would put the butter in the wok, heat up until it melted, then she cut the bread and dip the bread in the butter.  In today’s nutritional point of view, it is absolutely a no-no way of eating because it could clog up our arteries.  But at the time, it was the calorie we were hungry for.

About a week after I realized Lilly’s family was converting to Christianity, she invited me to go to her Sunday School.  My mom did not oppose, Taiwanese are not avert to other religions especially to the church which had provided food assistance.  At Sunday School, I love to sing songs and collect bookmarks by memorizing Bible verses.  The hymn I liked most was Amazing Grace.  Here are a few phrases of the song.

The Lord hath promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures.

Of course, these phrases were sung in the Taiwanese language.

Few months later, a pandemic hit our neighborhood.  It was diphtheria,   Diphtheria is a serious infectious disease of the throat and nasal. The disease produces a sheet of gray matter, covering the back of the throat, making it very difficult to breathe.  The disease is very infectious, affecting a lot of children at the time.  

The school was closed, and the church was close.  People were advised not to be in close contact. 

Few weeks passed. Then there were a group of people convened at Lilly’s home, singing hymns and saying prayers.  Then they left.

A month later, the pandemic was lifted; the school was open and the church was open. 

One Sunday, I went back to the church to memorize Bible verses and collect bookmarks.  Lilly was no longer there at the church. Dispheria had killed Lilly.

The day when people convened at her house singing hymns and saying prayers was actually to say goodby to her.

I was heartbroken and did not go back to church for a long time until I was at the United States.  A Taiwanese Presbyterian Church was formed in the Princeton area in 1974 and was baptized in 1974. 

I still love to sing the hymn, Amazing Grace, although now it is in English.  When I sing this hymn, it reminds me of good time I had with Lilly.  It reminds me of all the good things I have received.  It also reminds me, despite that, God took Lilly away with such a terrible disease.