Editor's word: The author, one of CCD's columnists, went to the US to study theology in the Westminster Seminary in September 2016, and she will write a series of articles to share her experience and reflection on her life, study and faith in the US.
Going through sufferings and grace
My experience and reflection on my life in a US seminary in the first quarter
(6) "Together We are walking on the path of the cross."
A school's level or rank in the world is some kind determined by its students' level.
Due to the lack of information, I did not understand Westminster Theological Seminary 's rank in the world. However, I went there in obedience to God's guidance.
After arriving at the seminary, I still could not tell its rank because the humble Christian students seldom talked about their educational background, and, as I have mentioned before, the school did not make their scores public. The students did not study to compete with each other; but, to serve God solely. Nevertheless, I still found something strange. Regardless of how much efforts I put into my study, it was beyond my capability to handle the workload. Often times, when my classmates discussed with our professor, I could not understand their question, not mention the discussion.
Though they hid their educational background, they could not keep it a secret forever. A Chinese sister, one of my good friends, was the first one who accidentally revealed her background. We were put in the same Hebrew class, which had only 3 sisters and our seats were next to each other. As a result, we became good friends. To my surprise, she was studying Hebrew in ease. One month later while we were having dinner together, she mentioned by chance that she had studied in Shanghai before. Out of curiosity, I asked her about her past. She told me that she had studied in Fudan University's Graduate school. What shocked me more was that she did her bachelor degree in Beijing University's Chinese Department. After graduation, she came to USA teaching Mandarin and believed in Jesus afterwards. Now, we are classmates. I often told her that her bachelor degree was a too beautiful dream for me when I was a college student.
Afterwards, my roommate also revealed her background. Born in the 90s and grown up in USA, she loved the Lord very much and had done mission in China for 2 years and a half. Her Mandarin proficiency is so high that she can participate in fellowship discussion and understand the majority of the Bible's characters. Given the agreement that Mandarin is a difficult language, I wondered how could she learn it so well? Later, when we studied scriptures in a fellowship, I heard from others that she graduated from Stanford University. Though I knew that she was teaching physics and chemistry while studying in seminary to support herself, she had mentioned to me that her major in college was physics. How could I have known that the college was Stanford University! After knowing that my roommate who has been living with me was from a famous university in the world, I seemed to have received a prize of 5 million in lottery.
After I knew these two classmates' background, I could not help wondering whether other classmates had similar high educational backgrounds. It turned out that I was right. An American-born Chinese sister, who drove us to go shopping often, had been a teacher at Tsinghua University and a Chinese brother, who always encouraged me on WeChat, graduated from Boston University's Business College. A gentle brother from Taiwan in our Hebrew class had received a Master Degree in Taiwan University. Surprisingly, even the most careless student, a Korean brother, had graduated from Washington University. According to these students' backgrounds, I concluded that the Westminster Theological Seminary was a prestigious university in the world; because, it has graduates from famous schools around the world as students.
Three years ago, if someone told to me that Jesus would send me to a world-class seminary, I would not have believed it. Given the fame of this seminary, I am willing to study here even though I will remain the worst student forever. When I walked into the classroom and seeing the students there shine like bright stars, I felt that the class was shining because of them. Actually, stars do not shine by themselves; but, because of the sun's light. Sometimes, I wondered how God's grace had dawned upon us, who were dark like stars in the corner of the universe, and had given us a new life for the Lord's glory.
God guides use all uniquely. Having experienced God's grace, each student is willing to serve the Lord from their hearts.
The study in the seminary is hard. Students have great pressures to deal with and although I am alone, I feel the unbearable challenge. I thought it was not fair to judge international students and local students with the same standard since their mother tongue is English, because of which they could read and write much faster than I. However, God is just. Despite the fact my classmates from the US could finish their assignment faster than I, each one of them has their own burden. It did not surprise me, at first, when I saw one of my classmates, an African American brother, who studied with us and finished his homework on time every time until I learned that he had three young kids who have not yet gone to school yet. He did part-time jobs and served in the church on weekends. I can not imagine how he overcame his challenges. Another brother from the team of prayer, who failed to attend our gathering often, also has his burdens. Living in the state of New Jersey which was next to our school, he had to drive two hours each day. Many of my American classmates have similar situations. They have to take care of their study, family and service and work all together. Though they have sacrificed much for God, they did not do it in public nor did they tell others.
I think that meant true love for God. They remain silent when they serve God. Once, I met a group of people walking on the path of the cross in the seminary. Some of them went flew from the other half of the earth to study theology. Others have to do several part-time jobs in order to support their study. Other students preached God's word on weekends apart from their lessons at school without stop. A few even have to take care of their kids when they arrive home after finishing their lessons throughout the day and it is only until midnight could they start to study.
(To be continued)
