Life touches life

The people of Brisbane City in Queensland, Australia, and Xining City, Qinghai Province, China, live about 9000 kms apart and have very little in common. So when a church family from Brisbane came to visit Xining Children's Home, the 25 Australians didn't know how they'd adapt to Chinese culture, or to the children. One of the group, David Fielder, is a friend of mine who moved to Australia some years ago, and he asked the leader of the group, his pastor, Stephen Goode, to send us some feedback after the trip. This is part of what Stephen wrote:

I needn't have worried about how we would adapt to Chinese culture and respond to the children. Something powerful happens when life is allowed to touch life in the way it was intended, and people allow love to speak in word and deed - regardless of cultural diversity.

We spent time with the children and helped with daily care. Feeding the children was easier said than done! It requires patience, as some children have difficulty swallowing.

Jin and his signature smile going for a 'walk' with Rev. Goode

Later when we took the children out to play, I was impressed by the way our Australian  youngsters related to the Chinese children, playing on the slides and swings with them. Apart from taking the wheelchair bound children for walks around the gardens, we also played soccer, which the children’s home kids played very well. It was great to see everyone share smiles and laughter.

Plans to visit the zoo were cancelled due to rain, but we made up for it with a day of fun, engaging with the children through song. Music is one of those things that bridges a variety of boundaries.

Our intention was to bless the people at Xining Children's Home, and I hope we managed to do that. However, I suspect that we left with a greater blessing than we gave! Their innocence and love touched us very deeply, especially the deep love and commitment which was evident in the way the carers and children engaged with each other.

I want to thank Christian Action and the Chinese Government for allowing us to spend time in their Home and allowing us to bring a small gift to them.

Thank YOU all Stephen for your gift of love – you and the team from GAP Church did indeed bless the children with your visit, and we look forward to welcoming more Australians as you share news of your visit. Thank you also to members of  Resurrection Church who generously provided accommodation for the Australians during their time in Hong Kong.  And a big Thank You to Angel Ho, the church administrator, for going to China with the group to help them where necessary. God bless you all!