Written by Stella
Last October, I went to GX for home visits. The weather was very hot about 28゜C. The roads were bumpy and rocky. The terrains with its many uniquely shaped hills were rich with sugarcane and banana trees. After an hour’s drive, we finally reached our destination. Our car parked in front of an old and dilapidated building; living in it was a family of four – a couple, a son and a daughter. The son named TL was about three years old, and the daughter eleven. She attends a boarding school and comes home on weekends.
閱讀中文版 (廣西之行).
Although life is hard, TL’s parents are honest, simple, and warmhearted. TL was born with Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease. His body was very weak. However, his parents never gave up taking care of their son and did their best to protect him and overcome difficulties. Last September, TL finally had the opportunity to go to AHCZ for school and rehabilitation. TL’s mother stated TL was very shy in the past; he used to hide behind her all the time. He was afraid of contact with other people. Under the guidance of teachers, TL changed. He began to interact with other children in the center. With the tremendous help of the physiotherapist, his limb mobility improved significantly and he is learning to eat and crawl.
Because the family lives in poverty and have a disabled child, they qualified to receive government subsidies to build their house in a small and old village. However, they lack money for a second floor and a roof for their house. Planting sugar cane is their only source of income. Life is tough. The AHCZ knew their situation and negotiated with Rainbow Missions to sponsor TL’s rehabilitation expenses. At the same time, the AHCZ also provided TL’s mother a job to do some clean-up work in the center with a monthly salary to supplement their family’s income.
TL has been at the AHCZ for six months and has learned to crawl and hold onto things to help him walk. In addition, he not only learned to call mom and dad but also say a few simple words. He interacts more with people around him. He is livelier and is willing to open his heart to others. When he sees teachers, other parents and classmates, he greets them. In the classroom, TL is able to imitate teachers’ actions, actively participate in classroom activities and imitate simple moves. Teachers, parents and RM colleagues have been deeply inspired by watching TL’s progress.
In January, TL was in the hospital for almost two weeks when a cold developed into pneumonia and pulmonary edema. He is still recovering. Because it’s sugarcane harvesting season, TL’s mom is temporarily on leave from her job at the center to help with farming at home.
Prayer requests:
1. Please pray for TL’s health, especially his heart and lungs and pray he can return to the center for rehab treatment.
2. Please pray for his parents’ health so they can have good health and continue to work and take care of their son. Also, pray they can have peace in their hearts to face challenges and lay down their worries.
Rainbow Missions sincerely invites you to walk with us. Open up your life, live out the love in your heart, become their blessings and walk with them. You are welcome to contact us via email: rainbows@therainbows.org to obtain more information. You may mail a check to Rainbow Missions, PO Box 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015. Please state “Short term service trip STST”. Thank you!
在去年十月份的時候，我到了GX的一些較為偏遠的地方進行家訪。那時的天氣還真的有點熱！氣溫在攝氏二十八度左右。車輛在凹凸不平的馬路上行駛著。沿途經過了一些形狀獨特的小山丘，還有種植在路旁兩邊，生長茂盛的甘蔗和香蕉。經過一個多小時的車程，我們終於到達探訪的地方。車子停泊在一幢非常簡陋的水泥樓房前，那裡住著一對夫婦，他們育有一子一女。兒子約三歲，名叫TL，十一歳的姊姊在學校寄宿，只有周末才回家。
雖然生活艱難，居室簡陋，TL的父母卻淳厚樸實，熱誠好客。原來TL出生的時候便患有唐氏綜合症和先天性心臟病，身體非常虛弱。但憑著單純執著的父母愛子之心，他們不離不棄，盡全力用心守護，經歷幾許困難，去年九月份，TL才终於有機會開始到福利院上課，接受復康治療。媽媽還清楚記得，當時TL十分害羞，常常躲在媽媽的身後，不敢與其他人接觸。一段時間過去了，在老師們愛心的教導下，TL有著很大的改變，他跟福利院的其他小朋友開始有了互動。在物理治療人員的悉心幫助下，他四肢的活動能力也有顯著改善。他慢慢地學習自己進食和爬行。
由於家境貧困，加上有一個殘障的孩子，他們得到政府補貼，能夠在偏遠的農材自建房子居住，得免一家四口風餐露宿，居無定所。可是建築了房子的第一層後，已沒有多餘的錢把二樓也蓋建起來，而且現有房子的部分屋頂也沒法完成。他們的生活，就靠在屋子前面種植甘蔗維持，非常拮据。福利院知道他們的處境，一方面洽商彩虹工程，資助TL的復康治療費用，同時也為TL的媽媽提供一個工作機會，讓她在福利院內做一些清潔的工作，每個月給她一點工資作為生活補貼。
不覺間TL在福利院上學已有半年時間，今天的他已學會爬行，也會扶着東西走路。此外，他還學會叫爸爸媽媽，也會一些簡單的單詞發音。他跟身邊的人的互動也多了，整個人比以前活潑開放了很多。現在他看到老師和其他家長及同學時，他都會主動地跟他們打招呼。在吃飯的時候，也學會了自己拿着勺子坐在桌子前面好好的吃飯。在課堂上，TL也能模仿老師的動作，積極地参與課堂活動，完成一些簡單的動作。看到TL的進步，老師、家長及我們的彩虹同工都深感激勵。那怕在天涯海角，上帝的愛都一直眷顧著在困苦中挣扎求存的人。生活在豐衣足食的我們，是否可以懇切為他們，也為自己禱告？求上帝感動我們的心，讓我們在行動上為他們獻上更多。
在一月的時候，TL因為感冒，加上身體仍然較為虛弱，引發肺炎和肺水腫，在醫院住了差不多兩個星期。現在，他仍在康復當中，身體還沒有完全好起來，剛好這個時間是收割甘蔗的季節，媽媽需要暫時放下福利院的工作，請假在家幫忙做農務。
需要代禱的事項：
1. 請為TL的身體禱告，特別是他的心臟和肺部，能讓他的肺炎盡快康復，繼續回到福利院學習，接受復康治療。
2. 請為他爸爸媽媽的身體禱告，讓他們在貧困勞苦的生活中有充足的體力和健康；同時也保守他們心靈的平安，能够在困難中學習把憂慮放下、每天都有信心去面對生活和教養孩子的挑戰。
彩虹工程摯誠邀請你與我們同行，敞開你的生命，把心中這一份愛活出來，成為別人的祝福。倘若你願意在金錢上支持服務隊或捐款幫助更多像TL一樣的孩子，可把支票寄往Rainbow Missions, PO BOX 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015，請註明「短期服務STST」及電郵地址。謝謝！