Last December, I had the opportunity to join a service team to Guangxi from Hong Kong. We visited the children of Angel House and orphanage where the children with intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy or multiple physical disabilities came from low-income families. The service team consisted of 24 people. Some members like me joined as individuals, while others as whole families. I made a promise to join a service team lone time ago, but for various reasons, I fulfilled my promise after 7 years. Prior to this trip, I only heard about other people’s stories and experiences about going on a service trip, but now I could make it. Every day was an unforgettable day and everything was a new experience to me.
This trip lasted 5 days. Therefore, each day all the activities had to be tightly packed which included family-fun outdoor barbecues, drama performances, workshops for parents, family camp, movies and games, home visit to the poor and so on. We arrived on December 25 and joined the teachers at the facilities for the Christmas worship at night. To us, the atmosphere of celebration there was so different. The next morning, members of our team met at the Children Center where we had prepared some family-fun events. Parents and students participated actively with an attendance of about 100+ people at the center. We had used 3 buses to take the 140 people for the outdoor barbecues and games. The most difficult thing on that day was not how to host the event but how to take the children to the bathroom as most of them were cerebral palsy, bodies with multiple disabilities or handicapped. It took us lot of time and effort. We really appreciated the teachers and parents who helped the children day in and day out.
The next day, our team was divided into groups of 5 people. Each group would visit a family from the center. After the visit, one of the group members shared about her experience. She was so touched by the grandparents’ love and selfless sacrifice. Though poor, they gave the best they could to the children. They accepted the fact that their grandchildren had disabilities, but they did not abandon them. The elders gladly took up the hard work and went with them wherever they could. She personally witnessed how the grandparents carried their children on the stairs and was deeply touched. At lunch time, my group and a few teachers sat at the same table. From their sharing, we learned about the difficulty they met at work and in life. This deepens my understanding of local people’s livelihood. After our departure from Guangxi, one of the mothers from the families sent us a letter mentioning how our visit and support has been a big help to her:
“I am Jun’s mother. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and great respect to you all! I took Jun to Angel House last year because he had cerebral palsy caused by premature birth, thus unable to walk. Fortunately, his cognitive aspect is still good. He is attending grade 4 now. He works very hard and makes me feel very happy. With your warm care and help, he has learned a lot at school. In terms of rehabilitation, he has improved a lot. Before, he cannot even climb. Now he can move around with the help of a walker. All this is due to your selfless contributions and love. We will continue doing our best to help him.”
During another outdoor event, our team members had a large ensemble with the students. We played different musical instruments. Although the students were physically defective and at different levels of performance, we were in tune and enjoyed the moment in music. When one of the students was performing a sing and dance, many of the team members shed tears because they were touched by the love of Lord Jesus and the lyrics of the song.
In this service trip, one of the students liked to lean on me. I felt that she was so enthusiastic and trusted me. One day, when she tried to lean on me, we fell to the ground together because of my tiredness and fatigue after a few days of service. The teachers immediately came forward to help. One said that this student can walk and stand on her own, and she might really like to get along with me.
This trip ended quickly. To me, it is like a vacation for rest and relaxation, making me forget all the busyness and pressures of life, yet still able to see and feel the needs of children with disabilities in Mainland China. When the team leader shared “When the world in need of a group, you can …”, I knew I can without any cause. What we feel most grateful for is: after working together for just a few days, team members were no longer strangers. They had got to know each other well and appreciated each other. These changes came so natural. I believed the spirit of the Lord was among us, helping us to merge into one body for His name’s sake. His presence has made this trip filled with energy, laughter and liveliness.
Every year, Rainbow Missions plans several trips to visit children with special needs in China. Not only will they be a blessing to the local people with disabilities, but also to each member involved. If you feel the call to join the service trip, please email rainbows@therainbows.org or call (206) 734-7000. If you want to support the rehabilitation of handicapped/disabled children in China financially, you can send a check to the Rainbow Missions, PO BOX 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015(in the memo line specifying CZ Financial Aids to Students).
去年12月，我有機會參加由香港出發到廣西的服務隊，去探望安琪之家和福利園的孩子，他們是智障，腦癱，身體有多重障礙而家境比較貧窮。服務隊有24人，有些是個人參加，像我一樣，有些是全家大小參加。其實我很久以前已許下諾言要參加服務隊，但鑒於種種原因，7年後才兌現，能以成行。從前只是聽別人的服務經歷，現在卻可以親身體驗。而每天都有難忘的經歷，每件事情都是新的體會。
今次的行程只有5天，所以活動排得滿滿的。活動包括親子戶外燒烤活動、話劇表演、家長講座、與孩子一起宿營、影片分享、遊戲、探訪窮困家庭等。我們在12月25日到達，在那一晚，我們相約中心的老師們一同參加聖誕節崇拜。在中國內地過聖誕節的感覺很不同。第二天早上，團隊們到達兒童中心集合，預備有親子活動，而家長反應很踴躍，戶外燒烤當日有百多人參加，家長及學生都很開心。我們租了3輛公交巴士，一行140人，浩浩蕩蕩的前往公園燒烤和遊樂。那天最辛苦的，不是辦活動，而是帶孩子去廁所。由於他們都是有腦癱或多重障礙的，活動機能不足，行動不便的需坐輪椅，所以幫助每一孩子如廁都十分吃力，由此我們更加敬佩那些老師和父母每天的勞苦。
次日，我們分5人一組去探訪受助兒童的家庭，其中一個隊員回來分享說，見到孩子的祖父母、外祖父母無私的付出，對孩子的關愛，令她很感動。雖然他們家中經濟困乏，但仍然堅持將最好的給孩子。他們完全地接納有病患的孩子，沒有嫌棄，帶着孩子東奔西走，不懼辛勞，表現出不計付出的愛。目睹老人家背着孩子上落樓梯的背影時，這位隊員深受感動。我們小組與幾位的老師午飯時，從她們的分享中，得知每一位在工作上和生活上的難處，加深我對當地民生及社會的了解。另外，有一位媽媽在我們離開廣西後，寄出一封信給我們，令我知道我們的到訪和支持對她有很大的幫助。
「我是俊的媽媽，首先在這請接受我們一家對你們的愛心表示衷心的感謝和崇高的敬意！ 我是去年帶俊來到安琪之家，因他早產引至腦癱，不能行走，還好他認知方面還可以，現於安琪上學，就讀四年級，他用功學習，讓我感到非常高興，有你們温暖的關懷和幫助，讓他在這裏學得很多；在康復方面，也進步很多，去年剛來前都不會爬，現在能推架子自己走，都是你們無私的捐助，對我們深深的愛意！我們一定會堅持的！」
在另一天的戶外活動中，我們與學生有大合奏，各有不同的樂器，學生雖然身體上有缺陷，也不是有什麼水準的演奏，但是大家都表現合拍，十分享受，樂在其中。有一位隊員 獻唱伴舞時，在最單純的歌聲中，主耶穌的愛深深觸動了很多隊員，不自覺地掉了眼淚。
在這次服務行程中，有位學生特別喜歡用身體挨著我，我覺得她是那麼熱情和信任我。但有一次，因為我經過幾天的服務後已經十分疲倦，而她走到我身旁的時侯，我體力不支的與她一同跌倒在地上。周圍的老師立即走過來幫忙。老師說這學生其實可以自己行走和站立的，可能真的很喜歡與我相處。
這幾天的行程匆匆過去，但對我來說好像一個休息的假期，讓我放下生活的忙碌和壓力，去經歷和感受一下中國殘障兒童的處境和需要。隊長分享『當見到世界有需要的一群，你可以…』時，我知道，做我可以做到的，不用計算付出，都可以得到成果。最感恩的是隊員在短短幾天由陌生和互不相識，到互相認識，互相欣賞且能合作無間。這些改變來得這麼自然和順暢，令我相信是主的靈在我們中間運行，幫助我們為祂名的緣故，合而為一。也令這次彩虹之旅，充滿活力、笑聲和繽紛燦爛的色彩。
彩虹工程每年安排幾次前往中國服務，不但祝福當地的殘障人士，也祝福了每一個隊員。若你有感動參與服務行列，以生命影響生命，請電郵聯絡 rainbows@therainbows.org 或致電 (206) 734-7000。如願意支持中國內地殘障兒童的復康治療，可把支票寄往 Rainbow Missions, PO BOX 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015，註明CZ助學。