Rou Rou is one of Rainbow Missions’ sponsored children. She is going to be seven years old this year. Rou Rou, which means gentleness, is such a beautiful name.
About a year and a half ago, one early spring morning, Rou Rou’s mother took her to the rehabilitation center for treatment. For a long time, you could hear Rou Rou crying every day in the facilities. Perhaps she felt uncomfortable with the pain caused by rehabilitation training, perhaps she was accustomed to relying on her mother; no matter the reason, what made everyone aware of her being in the rehabilitation center was her “signature” cry.
It seems there is a heartfelt story behind every disabled child.
Rou Rou has a brother who is a few years older than her. Her mother found herself pregnant unexpectedly, and after discussing with her husband, they decided that they wanted to keep the baby. When Rainbow Missions short term service team visited their family, Rou Rou’s mother recalled that at that time they were under the pressure of the one-child policy. Late into her pregnancy, because baggy clothes were not able to hide her baby bump, she had to hide herself from place to place. Twice, she almost lost her child because she was nearly caught having more than one child.
After going through all kinds of hardships, the baby was finally born safely. When the family was told that it was a girl, they were extremely happy! Unfortunately, the child turned out to be a disabled child, suffering from cerebral palsy, and everyone’s mood suddenly fell from cloud nine and hit rock bottom. They could barely handle it when they learned this news.
At this time, Rou Rou’s father, who is a construction worker, started to talk about his experience. At the time of her birth, Rou Rou’s condition was very poor, and the doctor clearly stated that she may not survive. He even persuaded them to give up treatment. But amazingly enough, when Rou Rou’s father rushed to the hospital from the construction site to see the child, Rou Rou’s heartbeat became stronger not long after he entered the room. Eventually her critical condition was stabilized. Embodying the Chinese saying, “The love of a father is as strong as a mountain,” this tough and honest father said with tears in his eyes, “If our child is trying hard to stay alive, how can we parents give up on her?
Rou Rou suffers from severe cerebral palsy. When she first came to receive treatment, she could not lift up her own head and the mobility of her limbs was weak. With her unstable emotions and uncooperative attitude with rehabilitation training, the teachers spent a lot of time calming her emotions and helping her adapt to the new environment. After establishing a closer relationship, Rou Rou’s emotion and performance has greatly improved. She no longer cries for no reason, she can lift her head up on her own, and she has even tried to eat with a spoon. Her parents are greatly encouraged, are more proactive in supporting Rou Rou in her rehabilitation, and are learning how to identify the needs behind Rou Rou’s emotions and make appropriate responses.
Due to long-term care of Rou Rou, her mother’s lumbar vertebrae has some issues; every now and then, it will cause her pain. In addition to taking care of Rou Rou for rehabilitation, Rou Rou’s mother works on their home’s sugarcane field during the busy farming season. She often rushes home with Rou Rou after class around 4-5 pm to work on the farm until late at night. If you ever see a woman driving a three-wheeled bike in a certain village in Guangxi, and there is a little girl who can’t sit still, bumping on the uneven dirt road in the countryside, that’s probably Rou Rou and her mother rushing home.
God has probably given every mother of a disabled child strength and resilience. Rou Rou’s mother said that no matter how poor, how hard, and how tiring it is, as long as Rou Rou’s condition is improving, she is willing to bear with it!
The road ahead is long. We pray that Rou Rou and her family will continue to live peacefully and experience the sustainability of God’s grace.
The love of Christ Jesus inspires us. Are you willing to open your life, live this love, and be a blessing to others? Rainbow Missions sincerely invites you to walk with us. If you are willing to support our ministries in China, please send an email to rainbow@therainbows.org for more information, or send checks payable to “Rainbow Missions” directly to Rainbow Missions at PO BOX 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015. Please indicate “Operation fund”, “Short Term Service Trip (STST)” or “Sponsorship”, and please include your email address for a donation receipt. Thank you!
柔柔，一個溫柔的名字，小女孩今年快七歲了，她是彩虹工程資助的其中一個孩子。
大概一年半前的一個初春的早晨，柔柔媽背著她來到復康中心接受治療。從此有一段頗長的時間，每天整個院子裡，都可以聽到柔柔的哭喊聲；也許是不適應康復訓練所帶來的疼痛，也許是習慣了對媽媽的依賴；不管是哪種原因，讓大家對她印象深刻的，就是她「招牌式」的哭喊聲。
似乎每一個殘障孩子的背後，都有一個令人動容的故事。
柔柔有一位比她年長好幾歲的小哥哥。她媽媽發現自己意外懷孕，與丈夫商量後，大家都盼望能把孩子生下來。只是因為家境貧困，懷孕初期，媽媽仍然要繼續幹農活補貼家用。彩虹工程的服務隊到他們家拜訪時，媽媽回憶說，當時由於他們還是在一胎化政策的壓力下，懷孕後期，再寛大的衣服也隱藏不住自己懷孕這個事實，她就只好東躱西藏，有一兩次險些馬上就被逮住，孩子幾乎保存不了！
經過了千辛萬苦，孩子終於可以平安出生了。被告之是女孩時，全家人都高興得不得了！意想不到的是，孩子竟然是個殘障兒，患有腦癱，大家的心情一下子就從雲端掉到了谷底，幾乎無法承受這突如其來的沉重打擊！
這時，作為地盤工人的爸爸，補充了他自己當時的一些經歷。其實剛出生時，孩子的身體非常虛弱，醫生也清楚表示柔柔很可能無法活下去，甚至勸說他們放棄治療。但奇妙的是，當天他從工地趕到醫院看孩子時，進入房間不久，孩子的心跳就加強了，而且持續地穩定下來！父愛如山，粗壯老實的爸爸含淚說，孩子都這樣努力的要活下去，我們做父母的又怎能放棄治療呢？
柔柔屬於重度腦癱，剛開始接受治療的時候，頭都無法抬起來，四肢的能動性也很弱，再加上她的情緒表現，對康復訓練的不配合，康復老師實在花了不少時間與心思在她的情緒方面進行輔導，幫助她適應環境。隨著關係的建立和技巧的使用，柔柔的情緒表現得到了很大的改善：不再無緣無故大聲喊叫了，她現在不但能夠把頭抬起來，甚至可以試著自己用湯匙吃飯。父母因而得著很大的鼓勵，更積極投入，盡心支持柔柔的康復訓練，也學習如何去辨別柔柔情緒背後的需要，進而做出合宜的回應。
因為長期照顧柔柔，媽媽的腰椎也不好，隔段時間就會疼。除了照顧柔柔做康復外，到農忙時節，家裡的甘蔗地就會出現柔柔媽媽忙碌而疲憊的身影。她經常是下午四五點下了課後，就要匆匆帶著柔柔趕回老家幹農活到深夜。如果您有機會在廣西的某處鄉間，看到一個中年婦女開著三輪車載著一個無法坐穩的小女孩，顛簸在農村凹凸不平的土路上，也許就是媽媽帶著柔柔趕路回家了。
大概是上帝都賦予了殘障孩子的媽媽有無比的堅強與韌性，柔柔媽媽說，無論再窮再苦再累，只要柔柔的身體越來越好，她都甘之如飴，樂意承受！
前路漫漫，祝福柔柔和她的家人繼續平安前行，更深經歷上帝恩典的保守。
基督耶穌的愛激勵我們，您願意敞開您的生命，把這一份愛活出來，成為別人的祝福嗎? 彩虹工程摯誠邀請你與我們同行，倘若你願意在金錢上支持服務隊或捐款幫助更多像柔柔一樣的孩子及他們的家庭，請聯絡我們 (206)-734-7000或致電郵rainbows@therainbows.org 索取更多有關資訊，或直接把支票 (抬頭請寫Rainbow Missions)寄往Rainbow Missions, PO BOX 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015，及註明「機構發展」，「短期服務隊」或「助學計劃」，並請填寫電郵地址，以便寄發捐款收據。謝謝！