WESTWARD HO!

As it has been noted that student life in China at this time was a round after round of patriotic outbursts against foreign powers, strikes and frequent absenteeism from school, young Sung came to the conclusion that to advance in higher education there was no way out other than America. For a poor pastor's son such ambition was not unlike that of "a lazy toad aspiring to eat swan's flesh"! But Shang Chieh had learnt the lesson of faith from his religious upbringing and from the days of the Hinghwa Revival.

Without compunction he went straight up to his father: "Papa, I have decided to go and study in America." Too stunned for words, old Sung sat down to compose himself. After a while that seemed an eternity to young Sung, he retorted, "Are you dreaming? Do you think that by my own blood and sweat I could send you abroad to drink foreign ink and puff up your big head? Who do you think I am? I'm not the Prefect of Hinghwa. I'm no better than a poor church mouse of a pastor."

Undaunted, young Sung looked up to the Heavenly Father. Alone he traced his steps up the hill he was wont to climb. There he poured out his heart to God. "O Lord," he cried, "With You all things are possible." For one whole week he went up the hill to pray until he felt quite assured that his prayer was answered. Sure enough, as he mused about crossing the blue Pacific and that bright day when he would set foot on Gold Hill (Chinese name for California) there came to visit him a missionary friend with a letter from one Miss "Kan" in Peking. In brevity Miss "Kan" said she had heard of young Sung's scholastic attainments and of his earnest desire to study in the States. She felt moved there­fore to recommend him to the Ohio Wesleyan University for a scholarship. Moreover she promised to find him a job upon arrival in America.

"Olo Choo! Chan Bee Choo," (Praise the Lord, Sing to the Lord's praise) came Shang Chieh dancing into his father's study, the missionary's letter of recommendation held high in his hand. "Papa, see this letter! The Lord has answered my prayer!" "Very well indeed! But who is going to foot the bill of your travel to USA? In all my years as a preacher I have not saved so much as a hundred dollars. Should I empty all my savings, that would not pay half your fare. Living from "elbow to sleeve," as you can see, what can I do? What father will not want to see his son go abroad?"­

Still undaunted, young Sung climbed that hill-top again. Again he poured out his heart to God, "O Lord, with You nothing is impossible." "Yes," the Lord comforted him, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be open unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Matt. 7:7,8).

As news spread around that Shang Chieh had been awarded a scholarship to America, friends and co-workers in the Methodist Church of which Pastor Sung had been a faithful servant for over a decade rallied to help. From the Bible Schools under Pastor Sung's supervision came gradu­ates, now also pastors and fulltime workers in various ministries of the American Methodist Episcopal Mission. In no time a sum of over $500 was collected. Shang Chieh was careful to enter into his note book every item, intending to repay as soon as he got to his Newfound Land.

As it is promised that "God is able to make all grace abound toward you" (II Cor 9:8) and that "all things work together for good to them that love God," on the day young Sung went to the travel agent to buy his ticket, the American dollar had plunged to 95 cents against the Chinese dollar. By this favorable rate of exchange he not only had enough for the boat fare but also a little margin to spare. This allowed him to find for himself one or two suits of Western clothing and articles of daily use for the long journey ahead. Father Sung seeing God's hand clearly upon his son gave his blessing.

Alas! As young Sung was about to set out, it was discovered he had meantime contracted trachoma. This would ban him from entry to the United States all the same. As he looked up to God in prayer again, the Lord led him to a barber who in the Chinese tradition is also known to treat eye ailments. With an unsterilized bone scraper the barber landed a few hard strokes on his affected eyelids. This process he, repeated a number of times until the inflamma­tory granulations had disappeared. God had answered prayer through the bone scraper of a Chinese barber as he would by more civilized means were he treated in America. All things are possible with God! Bone scraper or stainless steel, the Lord had confirmed this trip to the West, where­upon more praises to the Lord were sung by the Sung family.

February 10th, 1920! With seven companions, young blood from Hinghwa also seeking advancement abroad, Shang Chieh took leave of his brooding mother, for father was away from home on Higher Service. Not looking back, he left the parsonage he loved abruptly, accompanied by his elder brother and some friends to the jetty. Here he boarded a coastal steamer that took him northwards to Shanghai to catch the mail boat to America. Did he know what would become of him seven years hence, as he noted in his diary February 10th, 1920, the date of his leaving home?

When the party of eight spirited students reached Shang­hai, and had found accommodation in a hotel to await the sailing date, only Shang Chieh stayed in. The rest of the party ventured out on a sight-seeing spree. Country bump­kins, they were mesmerized by the sights and sounds of Shanghai, China's megalopolis. Young Sung meanwhile kept strictly to his daily program of study, prayer, Bible reading, and writing up his diary. By this he killed two birds with one stone because in keeping indoors he conserved all that he had in the world, and that was not his, but borrowed. "Economy, the mother of prosperity" is one law the young man had learnt since birth! By not joining the crowd he became the butt of many a ridicule and sarcastic remark.

At last, March 2nd, the sailing date, arrived. All aboard, the S.S. Nile weighted anchor at Woosung wharf, located at the estuary of the mighty Yangtse River before she headed for the open sea. As the ship began to pitch and roll in the evening sun those seven rowdy companions beat a hasty retreat from the open deck they were enjoying to the cabins.  As for Shang Chieh he took to the sea like a duck to the pond. He helped himself to every course prepared by a first-class cuisine, with second and third helpings from the untouched dishes left on the table by his seasick friends. "He who laughs last laughs best."

As he stood on the bow, drawing in deep draughts of fresh ocean breezes into his lungs, suddenly, tears welled up his eyes - not because of homesickness, nor troubled by the thought of an insecure future, but overwhelmed by the immensity of God's loving-kindness like the boundless ocean upon his young life!

Westward Ho!