高山生

認識Karma Relief 這個團體/組織(?) 是2008年的時候

當時的英文老師 Stephen 親身體驗Karma Relief 每年送物資陪孩子們玩耍的活動後,

語重心長的告訴我,

You must join this trip once upon in your life time.

他說他非常討厭孩子也對這類活動一點興趣都沒有, 但是朋友們強迫他去,

沒想到被改變的人是他! 

從此之後, 他只要有機會就逢人推薦這個團體以及這項活動.

聽完他說的, 我想, 有機會一定要參加! 很高興今年有這個機會.....

今年我們前往的部落是台東縣延平鄉下野部落

第一天我們緩慢的往花東移動，比預定抵達的時間再晚了約一個小時

教會的朋友們已經準備好暖呼呼的晚餐等著我們

大家就在一個戶外的平台用餐

大約出現了幾位小朋友帶著好奇又期待的心情看著我們

我不敢對隔天的活動有什麼預設想法

於是大致瞭解隔天要擔任的角色後就先去就寢

女生們這次借住一位婆婆家打地鋪, 男生們則睡在下野部落的書屋裡

隔天起了大早, 感受到台東的好空氣, 以及空氣中的寧靜

看到孩子們迫不及待到籃球場上集合 我像個外星人一樣觀察他們

用過早餐之後大家陸續幫忙分配物資, 每個小朋友都有一套運動服以及球鞋

每位小朋友臉上都帶著一些些雀躍及靦腆

分發完禮物之後, 活動開始上場!

受到天氣影響, 只能在有遮掩的籃球場上玩分組競賽

大人們的體力和孩子們的差了好大一截, 紛紛要求休息,

而孩子們用不完的體力則投入在一場又一場的籃球及足球賽中...

晚餐前, 孩子們和牧師準備了一場歌唱表演

坐在台下的每位大人, 都哭紅了眼

孩子們大概很難理解為什麼這些哥哥姊姊 阿姨叔叔聽他們唱歌會哭得亂七八糟

我想除了被他們美妙的歌聲感動, 還多了一些心疼

和牧師聊天時, 粗略得知部落的問題,

然而這些問題似乎需要長時間且持續的大量協助才有機會看得見改善

面對這些問題, 我忍不住想"What can I/we do for it?"

這不只是這個部落面對的挑戰, 同時也是台灣的社會問題,

生在這個國家的我們, 可以為這些社會問題做些甚麼呢? 

相對於這些孩子, 對於出生在一個健全的家庭的我,

在我的生命裡, "成就任何事物的可能性"以及"陪伴"是理所當然的存在著的,

但是對於這些孩子, 這些似乎不若這般的理所當然

我們該/能做些甚麼可以提升他們擁有一個完整成長環境的機會呢? 

中午及晚上的用餐時間 孩子們對於我們總有問不完的問題

離開孩子圈已經三年的我, 看著他們有一種熟悉的感覺, 讓我想起了當年那一票學生

突然覺得自己的臉部線條好像柔和了些, 好像喚醒了身體裡的笑容功能

或許這就是牧師說的"讓我們用生命影響生命"

謝謝你們, 你們在我的生命裡投入了一些好的因子, 讓我的生命更柔和更懂得感恩

祝福你們未來的人生充滿喜悅, 滿足, 平安!

孩子們, 天主依祂的旨意造每一個妳/你, 祂已替你/妳佈好通往祂的道路,

Dear Lord loves each of you so deeply because who you are.

All of you are loved, so don't be worried. Dear Lord is always around you and support you.

Merry Chirstmas, dear childrend xx 

[English Practice]

The beginning of this month, I joined a charity trip to Taitung (Eastern Taiwan)

We visited a small aboriginal Taiwanese village there.

Not only brought those stuff they needed, we also spent whole weeken there with these kids.

These kids are facing pretty similar family issue - Most of them are raised by their grandparents. 

There're many reasons to cause this situation.

The main one is - no sufficient job opportunity there, so adults have to work in other cities.

Plus, some parents might not go back to the hometown anymore. Yes, they just left their children.

Raising by grandparents might not be a big issue, however, many of grandparents are subsidized by the governemet. 

Moreover, these elderly seem not think that children need growen spending time with them rather than only feeding them.

Which means they might not be THAT capable to raise children. 

I can't help thinking - Are there anything I/we can do for it?

Not particularly for this village, obviously this situation is more or less like a society issue.

Do these children have less opportunities to be success due to they have limited resource?

Or they just need some proper education?

I don't think I am able to find out the answer.

But, I truely thank God to offer me this chance.

This is a really special trip.

Spending time with these kids brought me unexpected joy - very simply, very purely.

In someway, I just felt thses children's smile was so pure and natural.

I'm glad that they at least live with the natural which will teach them what core value they should have.

They are the most beautiful babies created by the Lord.