Fr. Andre Mangongo, cicm, is a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo who joined Missionhurst-CICM in 1997 and was ordained in 2006. He was sent to Mongolia in 2004 and, after a short stint in Taiwan, moved to Beijing to continue his Mandarin language studies. In 2006, Fr. Andre was appointed to the province's China Outreach program. He is currently the only CICM residing in the People's Republic of China.

There are now about ten million children around China whose parents are known as minggong, or migrant workers. Most of these kids are not officially "known" to the government, as they don't have any identification. They were born illegally; Chinese law still only allows for one child per couple.

Booming China - much praised in the press - is at a crossroads. The conversion from a socialist economy and society, to capitalism and consumerism, is challenging many, and people feel lost. The change is taking place so fast that, for many uneducated or partly educated poor people, it is hard to catch up and follow the trends. Traditional Chinese society, with it's own particular values steeped in solidarity and community, is being challenged by a new breed of individualism and outright greed. There is a need for new laws and/or reforms - everybody feels that. It is what everyone talks about.

The contrast is obvious. The flourishing cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzen contrast starkly with the remote villages of Gansu, Henna or Anhui provinces. In the latter, people are still struggling to provide for their basic needs. Because of this situation, in recent years a mass migration has occurred, and many poor people have left their villages for the flourishing cities. They are looking for the new "El Dorado," in order to make money, find a job, and improve their life conditions. These people are known as migrant workers inside their own country! The age ranges from teenagers to people in their 50's: men and women alike. Most of the time their dreams of a better life turn into a nightmare. They work in restaurants, factories, on construction sites, earning a monthly salary that is below one hundred US dollars. Government agencies are trying their best to help them and to resolve the issue, but the means and the experience in the field are very limited as China is, after all, still a developing country.

With parents working hard, spending most of their time in factories or on construction sites, when they finally get home they are tired, and often drink too much alcohol so as to forget the harshness of their lives. Soon, they find themselves trapped in that vicious cycle. My ministry among them is to simply try to be with them. I listen to them, give a smile when they are discouraged, and try to provide some help and support. Their biggest concern is the future of their children, and most of them have told me, "I don't want my kids to live such a life."

I joined a project for the children of such families, started by some Chinese friends. As many of the parents aren't home all day, our project is to have a place where we can take care of these kids, providing them with basic care and education. A former factory is being transformed into a kindergarten. There are 44 children so far. We have five teachers now, all volunteers. Some friends provide foods and materials, and we teach them English, which their parents appreciate so much.

When I first got to this area, a suburb of the city of Beijing, I was certainly a stranger to most of the people. I am black (heiren) - an African (feizhouren). I remember answering many questions about Africa, and about my race. Some people, who were then afraid to be near me, have actually now become my good friends. I remember the kids being afraid of me, as I'm so different from them. But today, they too are my good friends, and they call me Xuxu (uncle). Now when I visit some families, the parents don't want me to leave!

I teach soccer for a group of 12 to 15 year old kids. They love it, and through this involvement I teach them about teaming up for a goal, and working together to win. I use soccer as a metaphor for life with them: explaining that life is a field game, and in order to have a chance to succeed, they have to work hand in hand with others.

Being a missionary in China is a challenge. For me, this frontier situation gives me the opportunity to simply be present among these people, in their daily struggles, witnessing Jesus Christ's love and compassion for everybody.

The love and compassion of Christ brings people together in spite of their differences. By calling me Xuxu, someone from a world as far away as Africa, these Chinese people see me no longer as a stranger, but as part of their family - the human family. "May they all be one."

Andre Mangongo Benengando, cicm
Beijing, China