Written by Rain
Last summer my youngest daughter graduated from her university. I arrived on campus 90 minutes early that bright, sunny day; it was already crowded with neatly dressed family members and friends. The young and confident graduates in their caps and gowns were interspersed in every direction. Everyone was in high spirits. It was exciting to successfully conclude an important learning phase. At the same time it was also the beginning of another milestone in life. Colorful flowers were everywhere along the tree-lined campus; the bright sun of June flooded the earth with gentleness, shining upon thousand and illuminating youthful hearts.
閱讀中文版 (不一樣的畢業禮).
Finally, the momentous occasion arrived. Everyone sat down in quiet anticipation. Honored guests, the master of ceremony, and the graduating students entered and were seated. A familiar name echoed in the air; my daughter smiled at the cheers of relatives and close friends and walked gracefully and confidently to the podium. Four years of intensive studies led to this shining, momentous occasion.
A few days later, I was on my way to China to attend another graduation ceremony.
Every June, Rainbow Missions sends a short-term service team to several cities in China. With God’s grace and blessings, we visit families in homes and children in autism centers, organize activities for teachers, parents, caregivers and disabled children, provide training courses, and conduct home visits. We also visit visually impaired students whom we’ve funded to attend universities and celebrate their graduation by organizing a warm and joyous banquet dinner. We feel it is important and necessary to acknowledge their great achievement because universities not hold graduation ceremonies for their visually impaired students. After three years of hard classroom work, a one- or two-year (each school’s requirement is different) internship in a hospital or clinic, and the completion of other graduation requirements (including thesis), each visually impaired student is notified and receives a diploma from the school office. Then everyone leaves school and goes their separate way. Most of their parents live in remote areas or in other provinces, counties, or cities. Even if they desired to visit their child during graduation time, they generally would not have the time nor the means to travel to the college to offer a celebration.
One of the guiding principles of Rainbow Missions is to provide long-term follow-up — a long-term and caring relationship with each child and their family. We have been sponsoring these students since they were in blind schools. We continue our walk with them by supporting their tuition and living expenses while they attended colleges for the visually impaired. A Chinese proverb reads “Ten years is like one day, never interrupted.” Rainbow Missions will continue to visit and support students with disabilities. In our annual visits, we meet each of them individually. We care about their lives and learning experiences, listen to understand their family situation, and learn more about challenges. We also share our beliefs and life experiences. We encourage them to continue to work hard but also find the meaning and value of life. To us, they are like our own children. Is there anything more important than their eternal life and hope? And when they are graduating from college, how can we not be moved or celebrate with them?
Before we depart each June, we carefully purchase special and useful graduation gifts for them. Last year, we prepared a large backpack for each filled not only with many lovely and practical gifts but also our allegiance and deep love.
Last year’s graduation dinner took place in a party room of a nice local restaurant. Attending were the Rainbow Missions team, several graduates, other sponsored students, and some local Rainbow Mission volunteers. We (20-30) sat around an oversized round table. It was a busy night. During the banquet, we listened attentively to graduates share stories of struggles and growth. We chatted with them, gave presents, and took pictures. Before parting, we bid fond farewells and expressed our good wishes. We packed delicious food, sealed them with our blessings and led them back to their dormitories. What a different graduation ceremony!
We are grateful and touched by children and young adults with disabilities who want to learn and succeed in life. We, by faith and the unconditional love of God, have been able to accompany and support many toward important milestones in their lives. We expect them to continue on their journey. At times, we are concerned about their future. During those times, however, we recall their perseverance, gratitude, happiness, longing and hope for the future and are encouraged. Although we do not want to part with them, we are pleased and thankful for their efforts and accomplishments.
“I planted and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6
Every June, Rainbow Mission sends a short-term service team to China. One of our goals is to hold a special ceremony for visually impaired graduates. We invite you to walk with us and experience a satisfying joy and happiness by giving. If you would like to financially support the service team or donate to help more visually impaired students, you can send a check to Rainbow Missions, PO BOX 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015. Please state “Short Term Service STST” in the memo space and provide us your email address. Thank you!
不一樣的畢業禮
去年夏天，小女兒大學畢業。
記得那是一個晴朗亮麗的日子。
到達校園時，典禮還有差不多九十分鐘才開始，卻已經坐滿了穿戴整齊、盛裝出席、一臉期待的家人和朋友；畢業生們年輕而自信的身影穿插在不同的角落，他們個個神采飛揚，大概是興奮於一個學習階段的圓滿結束，同時也憧憬著生命中另一個嶄新里程的開始吧。鮮花處處、綠樹成蔭，明媚的六月驕陽溫柔和煦地灑滿了大地，也灑落了萬千寵愛，照亮著一顆顆年輕雀躍的心靈 ……
終於，大家都安靜地坐下來；終於，嘉賓、主禮人與一眾畢業同學魚貫入座；終於，空氣中迴響著一個熟悉的名字，女兒在親人好友的歡呼聲中，笑意盈盈、婷婷玉立、落落大方地登上了頒獎臺 ……
四年寒窗，彷彿就是為了這一瞬間的璀璨。
幾天後，我就飛到了國內，其中的一個目的就是要出席另一場畢業典禮。
每年六月，彩虹工程都會差派一個短期服務隊到國內的幾個城市。帶著上帝的恩典與祝福，一方面探訪我們資助的福利院和自閉症中心，為老師、家長、照顧者及殘障孩子們舉辦活動，提供相關的訓練課程，並進行家訪。另外，我們還會到兩所附設有特殊教育部門的大學，探望我們長期資助的視障孩子，更為每年的畢業同學舉辦一個溫馨而豐盛的畢業典禮晚餐作為慶祝。
對於我們來說，每年為應屆的畢業同學籌辦這樣的一次「盛宴」是必須且別具意義的。
因為，特教大學並沒有為畢業的視障學生舉辦任何畢業典禮。
基本上，經過了三年艱苦學習，再用一至兩年(每間學校的要求不同)時間到各地醫院或診所實習，加上其他畢業的要求標準(包括論文)達成後，一切順利通過了，每位視障學生就會被通知，可以到學校辦事處領取畢業證書。然後，大家就依次離校，各奔前程。而學生家長大部分都住在偏遠的地區，甚至散居於其他省份縣市，即使有願意的心，一般也沒有足夠的時間與旅費千里迢迢的跑到學校去跟孩子慶祝畢業的。
彩虹工程其中一個服務的宗旨是「長期跟進」，就是說，我們會跟每個孩子(甚至他們的家人)建立長久的關愛關係。這些年，每屆的畢業同學，大部分都是我們的資助人自他們在盲校就讀的時候，已經開始每月支援他們的學費和生活費。十年如一日，從未中斷。而我們每年的探訪，都會與他們每一位個別約見，關心他們的生活與學習，了解他們家庭的近況，聆聽生活中遇到的各種挑戰，我們同時也會分享自己的信念與人生經驗，鼓勵他們一方面繼續努力學習，同時也要尋找生命的意義與價值。對於我們來說，他們就像我們自己的孩子一樣，有什麼事情能比他們得著永恆的生命與盼望更為重要的呢？而當他們學有所成的時候，我們又怎能不感動、不跟他們好好慶祝一番呢？
其實每次出發前，我們都會用心去為他們選購特別且合用的畢業禮物。記得去年，我們就為他們每人預備了一個大大的背包，裡面裝滿的，不僅是許多精挑細選可愛別緻又實用的禮品，還有我們的依依不捨與濃濃愛意。
記得去年的畢業典禮晚宴，是安排在當地一間不錯的餐廳的一個獨立房間裏舉行的。出席的除了彩虹服務隊一行人、數位應屆畢業生、其他的受助同學，還有當地的彩虹義工等。我們二、三十人就這樣對著一個超大的圓形飯桌圍坐著。那是一個忙碌的晚上。席間，我們忙著用心聆聽畢業同學分享著他們過去幾年在學習與生活上的掙扎與成長，我們忙著在他們的盤子裏加菜，我們忙著給他們送上禮物，我們忙著跟他們拍照留念；臨行前，殷殷叮嚀，一切珍重，同時也忙著把可口的飯菜打包，用濃濃的祝福封存起來，讓他們一起帶回宿舍去 … …
那是一個多麼不一樣的畢業典禮啊！
看著這些在艱苦中掙扎求學的殘障孩子，我們實在感恩又感動。
這些年，我們憑著信心，以上帝無條件的愛，陪伴他們成長，支持他們走過人生中一個又一個重要的里程，眼看他們就要繼續上路，踏上征途，心中實在十分十分的不捨。然而看到他們一臉的堅毅不屈，卻又洋溢著一份單純的感恩與快樂，對前途也充滿著憧憬與盼望。雖然不捨，我們也為著過去曾經的努力與付出而感到欣慰與感謝。
「我栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有上帝叫他生長。」哥林多前書3:6
是的，每年六月，彩虹工程都會差派一個短期服務隊到國內，其中的一個目的就是要為應屆的視障畢業生舉辦一個不一樣的畢業典禮。邀請您與我們同行，分享一份能讓您畢生難忘、從給予中獲取的滿足與喜悅。倘若你願意在金錢上支持服務隊或捐款幫助更多視障畢業生，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！