An unusual request

Get this!  I have been asked to be a minister at a Chinese wedding!

Ok, ok–for some of you who know me well, this may seem a bit unusual, if not outright unbelievable.  But this is an interesting situation. Now pay attention and follow along carefully; this may seem a bit convoluted.

A young couple is getting married at the end of May.  It is common for young couples in China to plan a theme for their weddings.  This couple wishes to stage a western wedding during the afternoon, prior to their actual Chinese wedding in the evening.  Evidently they have been watching a lot of western movies, and they are compelled by the notion of saying, “I do.”  (Don’t you just love it!)

And so, the quest began for a western minister.  They asked their friend, “Where can we get a western minister?”

“I don’t know,” the friend said.  “But I have a friend, Mei (May) Hong.  She teaches at Hangzhou Foreign Language School.  She knows lots of westerners.”

That leads to Char, which leads to me.  I am, after all, the ministerial type.  (Please, do not post any unkind comments!)

“Yes, Mei,” I say when I finally return her phone call.  “I understand you need a minister.  I would be more than happy to help.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful.  Thank you so much.”

Mei was concerned about asking about this.  “I hope you are not offended.  I don’t know anything about Christianity, and I certainly don’t want to offend you, but I think the western movies have influenced this couple.  They just want to say ‘I do.'”

“Not at all, Mei.  Please do not be concerned.  Believe me, I am not offended.”

“They will be happy to pay you, of course.”

Yikes!  She really opened the door on that one.

“Well,” I said, “it is customary to pay a minister for his services.”

I thought about mentioning a customary fee of a thousand dollars, but I didn’t have the guts.

“Please do not worry about a fee,” I said.  “I am happy to help your friend.”

I left it at that because I am such a nice guy.   (Please, do not post any unkind comments!)

So, we are now on course to simulate a western wedding for this Chinese couple.  I find it rather charming.  What I would like to have is a robe of some kind, which I do not have here.  Perhaps somewhere in our house in Minnesota we have a graduation gown that might serve the purpose, but, alas, I cannot get it.  I’ll have to make do with what I have–a pair of dress pants and a sport coat.

With luck, I’ll have a photo of Rev. Koppi to post later.