Written by Rain
Last June I went to China with two Rainbow Missions co-workers to visit our sponsored college students. I was invited to speak at a couple seminars on emotion management at one of the universities. During the seminars I met ZM for the first time. ZM is a visually impaired student sponsored by Rainbow Missions. Initially, we only planned to stay a few days there where we had a busy schedule visiting and interviewing students. ZM stood out because he proactively approached me and we engaged in a very deep conversation on the dynamics of the reality of life. I was touched by his trust towards me and his overall positive attitude towards life issues and his work ethic; essentially, he never gives up. Because we focused on talking about philosophical issues, I didn’t have a chance to learn about his past and background. I recently received a letter from ZM where he shared about his upbringing with me. I would like to share his letter with you.
閱讀中文版 (ZM的故事).
ZM’s letter:
“Sister Rain, I was really sorry I haven’t reported to you on my status for a long time. I am now returning to my hometown ZQ. I am training for the track and field teams in my hometown, preparing to participate in the provincial competition held in ZQ this year. My specialties were middle and long distance running. Did you know that I am an athlete? Let me share with you my secret: I’m now tanned and with six packs of abdominal muscles. I have lost a lot of weight only weigh 96 pounds. The purpose of participating in this Provincial Competition was simple: to exercise and to earn pocket money through the training. I am very happy to do my best for both purposes. I have returned to ZQ Chinese Medicine Hospital. The standard of the hospital was much stronger than that of JN Hospital. I exercised without delaying my studies, and I had money to spend. Why not? Hahaha! I am a native of ZQ and lived in a remote mountain village in ZQ. I am the second college student in our village and am considered to be the pride of my village.
My childhood was basically lost in left-behind loneliness. My parents went to work in GZ when I was in grade one, and only returned home once a year. At home, only grandpa and two older brothers accompanied me through my elementary school years. Grandpa died in 2007, and my older brother also went to work in FS. I grew up doing farm work at home. I remembered when I was studying in grade 8, I worked on an acre of field all by myself. So, I worked hard in my physical training and I represented the city team in the 2015 Provincial Competition. I won two first and one second place at the event. To me, training on the track and field was much easier than doing farming by myself!
Sister Rain, this year I don’t want to apply for RM’s scholarship because I receive a salary when I am under training. If I get good results, I’ll get money from the award; the scholarship can be reserved for those who need it more than I do. I also decided not to ask my parents for money in the New Year because both my parents were already over fifty. I couldn’t squeeze them with the money they have been working so hard to earn. They are the most honest labor force in the society. They are getting old and they never dared to eat anything good. Even if they were sick, they never told us. It was often because they were reluctant to spend their hard-earned money even on medical needs. If I could support myself financially, there was no need to take any money from other people because nothing should be taken for granted. I already have the ability to make a living. Now I come to an understanding that as long as I can accept the reality of my life, have the courage to face my true self, and be able to think of ways to break through my cognitive and behavioral limitations, I think my future will not be bad. After all, there are always more solutions than problems.
I have already passed a written test for teacher credentials but haven’t taken the interview examination yet. I am determined to obtain a teacher’s certificate before graduation and later work in the education field. This year I plan to earn some money and I will try my best to apply for graduate school in December! My biggest dream is to get out from the village and to live independently with freedom in my thinking. Therefore, I must read more. I have come along a long and difficult way, but there were always nice people here and there offer to support me.
One of the teachers of my elementary school class treated me like her son. For a left-behind child like me, she has become my mother in a sense. At the beginning of this year I initiated a little class reunion and I personally went to the town to invite her and her family to attend the meeting. At the time when we met, she was still very kind and loving to me.
Sister Rain, I understand that you always have a very busy work schedule, I really dare not to bother you very often. But I will miss you and bless you! I will return to YT for a psychology thesis defense in June. I will invite you for dinner! Oh yeah, YY (RM’s field worker) often chats with me and give me Christmas gifts. It’s very nice. I like it very much! It will be very exciting when we meet! Looking forward to it! Blessings!”
The love of Christ Jesus compels us. Are you willing to open up your life, live out the love in your heart, and become a blessing of others? Rainbow Missions sincerely invites you to walk with us. You are welcome to contact us via email: rainbows@therainbows.org to obtain more information and you may mail a check to Rainbow Missions, PO Box 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015. Please state “Short term service trip STST”. Thank you!
ZM的故事—-從留守兒童的孤寂、種田的艱辛、田徑訓練的刻苦堅毅、到特教大學畢業的心路歷程
去年六月，我與兩位彩虹同工到國內探望我們資助的學生。因應校方要求，臨時在其中的一間特教大學辦了兩場情緒管理講座。也是在那裡，我第一次認識ZM。
ZM是一位弱視學生，是我們資助的其中一個孩子。其實當時我們只有短短幾天的時間，要接見的學生和處理的事情都很多，實在有點忙；但ZM卻很主動的找我聊，從現實環境的無奈到內心世界的衝擊，大家都談得很到位，也很深入。他的信任，當時就讓我十分感動。只是因為談論的主題比較哲理化，反而沒有機會觸及他的成長背景。想不到的是，透過他最近給我的一封來信，才讓我有機會讀到他的過去。
ZM，雖則視障，卻年輕有為；家境貧困，仍自力更生；客觀環境存在著許多限制，卻能積極面對，發奮向上。因為他說：「畢竟辦法縂比困難多。」
ZM的信是這樣寫的：
Rain 姐，實在不好意思，我很久沒有向您彙報我的近況了。
我現在回老家實習了。我在老家參加了田徑隊集訓，準備參加今年的省運會，我的專項是中長跑。您是不是沒有想到我還是一名運動愛好者？告訴您一個秘密：我現在已經有了古銅色的皮膚和六塊腹肌，體重也減輕了不少，現在只有九十六斤了！
參加這次省運會的目的很簡單：鍛煉身體，並且用我的愛好掙點零花錢，兩全其美的事情我就很樂意去做。我現在回到老家的中醫院實習，醫院的水準比去年實習的那家醫院強很多，我在不耽誤學業的情況下鍛煉身體，而且又有錢花，何樂而不為？哈哈哈！
我是在這裡土生土長的人，從小生活在偏遠的山村。我是我們村第二個大學生，也算是為村裏人爭了點光，哈哈！
我的童年基本是在留守的孤獨中逝去的，父母在我一年級的時候去了廣州打工，每年只回一次家。家裏只有爺爺和兩個哥哥陪伴我走過小學六年時光。2007年爺爺去世，大的哥哥也去了佛山打工。我從小就在家中幹農活。記得在我讀初二的時候，我一個人耕種了一畝田，所以我在體校訓練時比較刻苦，並且在2015年代表市隊征戰省運會，取得了兩個第一、一個第二的好成績。在我看來，田徑場上的訓練比一個人種田舒服多了！
Rain 姐，今年彩虹工程的助學金我不想申請了。因為我自己在訓練的時候有工資拿，如果我取得好成績，會有不菲的獎金，彩虹工程的助學金，就可以留給更有需要的人了。其實在過年的時候，我也不好意思問父母拿錢，因為我爸爸媽媽已經是超過五十五歲的人了，我不能無限量地壓榨他們。他們是中國最老實的農民工，是這個社會最廉潔的勞動力。他們年紀大了，他們一直都不敢吃什麼好的，連生病都從來不向我們說，很多時候就是因為他們捨不得花辛辛苦苦掙來的錢。我有了自己的錢，就沒有必要再拿別人的錢了，因為在這個世界上沒有什麼是應該、是理所當然的！
我已經有能力養活我自己。現在的我想明白了：只要接受現狀，勇於面對真實的自己，想辦法突破自己認知上和行為上的局限，我想以後的日子肯定不會差，畢竟辦法縂比困難多。
我已經考了教師資格證筆試，面試還沒有考。在畢業之前一定要拿下教師資格證，以後希望從事教育行業。今年先掙一些錢，十二月份嘗試考一下研究生，沒有考上繼續考！
我最大的夢想就是走出農村，做到思想上的獨立與自由，所以要多讀書。
我一路走來，無比艱辛，也有很多貴人相助。我小學的班主任對我如同己出，對於我這個留守兒童來說，她在某種意義上已經成為我的母親。今年年初的同學會是我發起的，我親自去縣城邀請她全家來赴會，當時我見到她依然很親切。
Rain姐，您工作很忙，我實在不敢打擾您。但是我會想念您，祝福您！我六月份會回去大學進行心理學論文答辯，我要請您吃飯！哦對了 ，YY姐 (彩虹工程的本地同工) 經常找我聊天，您們在聖誕節的時候還送我聖誕禮物，非常好，我非常喜歡！到時候我們見面會很熱鬧的！期待ing!
祝安康！
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ZM一樣的孩子，請聯絡我們 (206)-734-7000或致電郵rainbows@therainbows.org 索取更多有關短期服務隊的資訊，或直接把支票寄往Rainbow Missions, PO BOX 40145, Bellevue, WA 98015，請註明「短期服務STST」或資助貧困學生，並請填寫電郵地址。謝謝！