Ruiqing was one of my high school best friends as I mentioned in my last email. She is Hakka Chinese, and Hakkafa is her first language (You can find the Hakkafa Bible in YouVersion). I have been sharing the gospel with her since 2017. She joined my online BS a few times, but she wasn’t interested in the Bible. She told me that she couldn’t believe that there was a God. I feel sad when I realize that the gospel doesn’t go into her heart. I sense that there is a wall in the Hakka people’s hearts. I had a friend told me that Hakka people were the most un-reached minorities among Chinese.
Despite the challenge, God directed my heart to the Hakka Chinese. Growing up, I didn’t have a good impression on Hakka people as they often seemed to be very feisty and defensive. The interesting thing is that one of my best friends in high school is a Hakka Chinese. God has a good sense of humor! I am half Hakka!!! Because of my linguistic studies, I got to find out more about my linguistic background and heritage. Also, my uncle (my dad’s brother) and his family were reconnected with us a couple of years ago. My uncle and his family are traditional Hakka people. They not only speak Hakkafa but also practice Hakka traditions. I feel a little sad that I can’t connect with them much as I can’t speak fluent Hakkafa and don’t know much about the Hakka culture.
Hakka culture
The Hakkas’ ancestral homes are chiefly in the southern provinces such as Guangdong and Guangxi (Where I am from). The Chinese characters for Hakka (客家) literally mean “guest families”. Unlike Han Chinese, Hakka people usually take ancestor worship more seriously. They also practice shine and altars worship.
Hakka people have their unique building style called Tulou (Hakka walled village). A Hakka walled village is a large multi-family communal living structure that is designed to be easily defensible. The Hakkas set up these unique homes to prevent attacks from bandits and marauders. I believe that God will break down the wall of Hakka people’s hearts as Hebrews 11:30 says: By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after the army had marched around them for seven days. 