First Outing for 2008

Bethesda Rehabilitation Ministry of Anshan, China
May, 2008



Spring comes late in the Northeast of China, so it’s usually chilly in eary May, as it is this year. Even so, the low temperature could not extinguish the joy and excitement of our children and their parent when we brought them out of the door after beining confined at home for the long and cold winter.


On May 10th, we bring 23 children with disability and their parents to a beautiful reservior area near Anshan to enjoy the beautiful view and fresh air. Like every time, Bethesda volunteers help children transfer to the buses that we rent for the trip. On the way to our destination, games were organized by our volunteers and laughter and excitement was full of the buses.


On the day of outing, we organized various activities for our children… After a short wheelchair donation ceremony, volunteers organized games and sports for children and parents. Then a special event was held to honor a special person – Auntie Ann. We hope that children and parents could learn her love, courage, and bravery when facing adversity. In fact, the important part of the activities that day was to honor Auntie Ann.


Ann is an American lady who a traffic accident left her quadriplegic when she was only 17 years old. However, she never lost her courange even having to spend most of her life in wheelchair. Her attitude to life always encourage people around her. He enjoys helping people. She had helped a quadriplegic girl in Xi’an, China, to face her adversity bravely. She even helped Bethesda through her nephew Dan. Three months ago, she passed away with an age of 72... Children sat in a circle to listen to Ann’s story by our teacher. It was all about her courage, her disability, her attitude to life, her love to people, and her help and support to Vivian, that quadriplegic girl in China.


“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment… “

Philippians 1:9


With many prayers and generous support from friends in Singapore, we finally have and moved into our new office in the downtown of Anshan on April 29th. Since then, Bethesda Ministry has a beautiful and “stable” home.


The apartment is on the 21st floor in a complex building of 25 stories, which can be called a “skyscraper” here. The size of the apartment is near 90 sqm. It’s bright and can overlook most part of the city.


For the time being, we use the office as the base to expend our ministry. The staff of Bethesda work in the office everyday to keep the ministry running properly. We will also use the office to train volunteers, have coulseling workshop for parents with disabled children, and have computer training classes for disabled chiildren, just like a small center in our vision. The locattion is very convenient for people from every corner of Anshan to reach in the downtown area.

We are all very excited and grateful for such a Provision.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:8


In our last issue of Newsletter, we appealled for the urgent need of wheelchairs for our children. Since then, we received positive response from friends in different parts of the world. With the generous donation of these friends, most of our children in need have their new wheelchairs. We had a special donation ceremoney on the day of outing to the resevior. It has a special meaning for them to have the new wheelchair that day. On behalf of her friends, Gu JiaQi gave their thanks to all friends who gave concern, love, and help to them. At the end of her thanksiving speech, she said in tears: “ This new wheelchair will bring me a new life… It will help my dream come ture..” Here, we also hope to thank you for your support to Bethesda Minisry.

今年的第一次出游

鞍山市助康会新闻通讯


二○○八年五月期


东北的春天总是来得很迟，即使已经到了五月上旬，天气还是让人感到阵阵寒意，今年更是如此。尽管这样，在经历了漫长寒冷的冬季以后，当我们把孩子们带出家门的时候，寒意却无法压抑到他们兴奋和喜乐的心情。

在五月十号那天，助康会带领二十三名残疾儿童他们的家长去鞍山附近的汤河水库游玩，享受那里的美丽景色和清新的空气。和每次出游一样，助康会的志愿者们需要把孩子们搬抬到大客车上。一路上，志愿者们组织各种游戏，大客车里充满了欢声笑语。


到达目的地以后，助康会为孩子们组织了丰富多彩的活动……在简短的轮椅捐赠仪式以后，我们为孩子和家长组织了各种游戏和体育比赛。接下来，我们又举行了一个特殊的仪式来纪念一个特殊的人——安阿姨。我们希望，在面对不幸和灾难时，我们的孩子和家长可以学会安阿姨的爱心、勇敢和勇气。事实上，那天活动的重要部分就是纪念安阿姨。


安是一个美国人，十七岁那年的一场车祸导致她四肢瘫痪。虽然在轮椅上度过了生命的大部分时光，她却从来没有丧失过爱心和勇气。她对生命的积极态度一直在激励身边的人。她非常乐于助人，曾经帮助了西安的一个同样四肢瘫痪的女孩，鼓励她以勇气战胜不幸。她甚至透过亲戚帮助过助康会的出游活动。三个月之前，七十二岁的安阿姨离开了这个世界……在冷风之中，孩子们围坐在一起，听我们的老师分享安阿姨的故事。


在一些新加坡朋友的合力祈祷和慷慨资助下，助康会终于有了属于自己的办公室。新办公室位于市中心繁华地带，我们已经于四月二十九日搬入。至此，助康会有了一个明亮和稳定的新家。


这套公寓位于一幢大厦的二十一层，面积为九十多平方米。房间内宽敞明亮，可以俯瞰大部分的鞍山。眼下，我们利用这间办公室作为助康会发展的基地。我们的工作人员每天在其内办公，以保证工作的顺利运行。以后，我们还计划用办公室进行志愿者培训，对残疾儿童家长进行心理辅导，对儿童继续电脑培训……办公室的位置位于市中心，非常便利人们前往。对于拥有这间宽敞的办公室，我们非常感恩。



在上期的新闻通讯中，我们紧急呼吁了残疾儿童对轮椅的需要。之后，我们得到了来自不同地方的朋友积极的响应。在这些朋友的慷慨捐助下，大部分有需要的孩子都得到了他们的新轮椅。在这次的外出活动中，我们进行了一次特殊的轮椅捐赠仪式。在那一天，孩子们得到的新轮椅对他们有特殊的意义。脑瘫儿童顾家琪代表她的小伙伴们做了感恩讲话，感谢朋友们给予他们的爱和关心。在发言结束的时候，她眼含热泪地说：“这台新轮椅给我带来了新的生活。它可能会帮助我实现梦想……”


在此，我们也要感谢您对助康会的支持。

Dr. Zhangxu's Speech at the CRRC during Joni Eareckson's visit to China

My dear friends:
I know I don't have to tell you how very excited I am to be here today with all of you. For it was right at this place more than two years ago, when I was desperate and in a deep depression I met Professor Yatani - a Japanese rehab specialist. She gave me this old English version of "JONI" - a book which changed my destiny. It was in this place that I gained the courage from my disaster to survive and to find a new destination for my new life. It was also in this place that I fulfilled my first important task since my rebirth - translating "JONI" into Chinese from my hospital bed. But today's memory will be the most exciting for me -- to be here my old friend of my heart - Ms. Joni Eareckson - again right here at CRRC.
This is not a thick book, but behind it is a long and moving story. It exists only because of the hard work and great LOVE of many people from many places. Today, just at the moment, these stories haunt my mind. I must take this opportunity to thank some of those who have contributed to this wonderful work. First of all, I must thank Joni for writing this wonderful book more than twenty years ago. It is really an important book for me, and it has greatly influenced my life. I also thank her for her encouragement and spiritual teaching for me over the past two years.
Thanks also to Dr. Guan Hua. Without him I would not have survived my accident, and there would have been no "Chinese JONI". It was also he who first suggested that I translate the book into Chinese in order to encourage others. Just at this very place, he taught me to step out the first step of my new life.
I must also thank my mother. At that time she also was in desperation - she felt all my pain and hopelessness. Nevertheless she worked with me late at night everyday while taking care my daily life. My thanks also to Dr. Aldis and to Ms. Judy Butler. It was they who make the necessary contacts for the copyright of this Chinese version with great efforts. Without their efforts, the book would be impossible!
I also want to thank the HuaXia Publishing House. When learning of my difficult situation, they immediately agreed to publish the book for free. Special thanks to Mr. ZhangWei and to Ms. XuJun for their contributions. During the editing of the book, Ms. Xu's family suffered a terrible tragedy which left her husband dead and her daughter severely injured. Even so she persisted in her efforts to fulfill this important work.
The Chinese title of the book is "Where is God?" So where is God? Surely He is there with love! In fact, He was there in my very darkest hours, and it was by reading Joni's words that I was first able to feel the love. So, I must also thank God for that love and for the wonderful things which have happened to me since my accident. Through the publication of this book, I hope I can share with others the same love.
I hope that, like me, many other disabled friends in China can benefit from this book, can gain courage and strength from it, and to gain a fuller meaning of their lives and of the need for a true spiritual rebirth. I also hope that, through reading the book, able-bodied friends will consider the meaning of life and that they will come to know how to respect each other and to love each other more perfectly. I hope our world will become a big family tied together with love and care for each other.
Thanks for your attention.
Dr. Zhang Xu October, 2000

輪椅上的恩典 簡介

英偉不凡的張栩醫生在也門共和國為國家執行援外任務，深受眾人愛戴，沒想到一次跳水時摔傷頸椎，導致四肢癱瘓，人生努力經營的一下子盡失，在絕望中，認識了耶穌基督，為他的生命帶來了簇新耀目的新一頁……一直在身旁不離不棄、照顧看護的慈母，將這過程都記述下來，為讀者展陳上主奇妙的導引，叫人訝異、感動。

自序

　　　　我是一名普通的中國婦女，我同共和國一起走完了六十五個春秋。
　　六十五年來的生活歷程，在記憶中所留下的更多的是苦難的回憶。我彷彿是一葉小舟，漂浮在狂風怒吼的大海上。當然，在和平年代裡，我也曾歡呼過、幸福過，但那畢竟是短暫的一瞬。
　　貧窮和戰亂，天災和人禍，帶給我們這一代人的悲哀，在我的靈魂深處打下了深深的烙印。
　　做為一個小女子，倔強的個性和平民的出身，使我自小就看不慣權勢。這也是我一生不能在仕途上發達的原因。
　　日子如流水，在平凡中過去。當我即將走向人生旅途的尾站時，我想寫出我的故事──回憶那些酸甜苦辣的往事。
　　我出生在一個木匠世家。我的童年乃至青少年時代，都是在父親“吱嘎、吱嘎”的拉鋸聲中度過的。我曾親眼目睹了父親為了養育他的兒女，在繁重的勞動中，一邊吐血，一邊還在拉鋸。因此，我的骨子裡自小就注滿了對勞動人民的尊重和憐愛。一位偉人曾說：“卑賤者最聰明、高貴者最愚蠢”，這種思想佔據了我整個心頭。
　　站在弱者一邊是我的性格。在所歷經的多少次政治運動中，我始終不卑不慷地站在弱者的群體中，與他們共同歷經風雨的磨難。
　　結婚生子後，隨著孩子們長大成人，家庭也同社會發生了千絲萬縷的聯繫，我再不是一個“無所顧及”的盲者。
　　當災難降臨到我的孩子們身上，那種舔犢之情、那種崇高的母愛鞭韃著我。在為他們爭得公義的時候。我曾有時不得不低下那顆從來未曾低下的頭。去乞求憐憫、同情。每當這時，我都有一種犯罪感。我在問自己：“我到底成了什麼人呢？為什麼要向那些權勢們低頭呢？”
　　當然，為了孩子，我承受更多的是苦難、是勞累、是精神上的創傷。
　　現在，我把這一切都躍然紙上，無非是想釋放自己，從中得到些許的安慰。
　　有人也許會理解、同情，有人也許把它看成是無聊的故事。
　　不管如何，你們將看到的是一位母親發自內心的呻吟，和她告知世人對自己的剖析。
　　寫此書時，我已經是基督徒了。我虔誠的請求上帝，將祂的憐憫和慈愛施加給世界上象我一樣身處苦難中的姐妹們。
　　二○○四年八月十五日

第一章 流血的五月 一 災難降臨

　一九九七年五月十七日的下午，我正坐在家裡等候丈夫回來。突然電話鈴聲響起。我拿起電話，只聽見小兒子張翀在電話中說：“媽，我爸感冒發燒，我陪他在三院紮點滴，今晚就不回家了。”
　　“我去陪他吧？”我說。
　　他說：“你一定不要來，我陪他明天一早就回家。”
　　這天晚上，剛好我的學生約我去同她會見男朋友，她的丈夫三年前溺水而死，最近有人為她介紹一位男朋友。
　　我倆很晚才回來，這一夜，我安穩地睡著了。這將是我以後數年中，最後一個平安的夜晚。
　　第二天，早起飯後，我去菜市場買菜。同往日一樣，碰到熟識的同志和朋友，我熱情的同他們打著招呼。可是，今天，他們卻彷彿陌生人一樣看著我。我很奇怪，他們怎麼了？過一會，一個蘇姓的老同志走過來，問我：“衣老師，你兒子怎樣了？”
　　我說：“我哪個兒子怎樣了？”
　　“就是在外國的那個。”他說。
　　我急切地晃動著他的雙肩：“快告訴我，你知道什麼了！”
　　“他在外國出事了！”
　　我的身體幾乎站立不住，天旋地轉。我無力再問下去，我相信他說的是真話。因為他得了腦病，到現在恢復得說話還不清楚。這也是我所見到的人中，唯一能同我說真話的人。
　　我踉踉蹌蹌地走回家去，我不敢想像到底發生了什麼事。我爬上四樓，鑰匙怎麼也插不進鎖裡。這時，門打開了。丈夫站在門前，我看到他眼睛紅紅的，我真以為他的病還沒好。
　　事後我才知道，那天夜裡所謂紮點滴，實際是省、市、醫院領導的有意安排，將他接到醫院，慢慢地告訴他兒子出事的消息。
　　那一夜，他嚎啕大哭。窗外大雨傾盆，風聲、雨聲，夾雜著閃電雷鳴，他痛不慾生，用手使勁地垂打著牆壁。張翀邊哭邊勸慰著說：“爸，你別這樣，還有我呢！”
　　父子倆抱在一起痛哭。
　　“你媽媽怎麼能受得了！”
　　現在，他看到我有氣無力的樣子，就問我：“你怎麼了？”
　　我說：“張栩出事了，現在不知是死是活。”
　　“不會吧，前幾天不是來信了嗎？”他故做鎮靜地說。
　　我無力說話，一下躺在床上哭起來。然後，我又起來，翻出孩子幾天前的來信及照片。我想從字裡行間找出蛛絲馬跡，可是，找不到。
　　不一會兒，小兒子張翀回來了。看到屋裡這番景象，他立即給他的舅舅、叔叔們掛電話，告訴他們我已經知道了。
　　半個小時後，屋裡已站滿了人──舅舅、叔叔、張栩的妻子、三院的同志們。這更使我相信我所聽到的是事實。
　　我弟弟衣秉，這幾天一直在為此事同衛生部和省、市領導聯繫、協調、研究下一步的安排。他勸慰我說：“姐，事情已經發生了，光哭也沒有用。張栩在五月十二日工作之餘跳水，摔壞了頸椎。國家一直在盡最大努力搶救，我們正在同他們要求無論情況多麼嚴重，要將他送回國內。當然，我們也要做最壞的思想準備。”
　　我哭得幾乎休克。這是他們早已預料之中的事。所以，那天晚上一直用一名護士陪伴著我，接著，我幾天不吃不喝躺在床上，等待也門傳回的消息。

第一章 流血的五月 二 也門之行

張栩是鞍山市第三醫院的一名骨科醫生。他高大、健壯、俊美。是一名受人喜愛和尊重的年輕付主任醫生。
　　他是一個完美主義者。他在工作、生活和學習方面處處表現讓人驚羨。對知識的追求達到如饑似渴的地步。看書、鑽研業務，是他每天必須堅持的。當然，他也很好玩：游泳、打球、唱歌，同朋友聚會，處處少不了他。青春的活力和特殊的氣質，使他成為醫院中年輕人崇拜的偶像。醫院也非常器重他，把他放在領導崗位上培養。
　　他有一個非常幸福的家庭。妻子年輕漂亮，是名護士。十八個月大的女兒，活潑可愛。
　　在他的事業蒸蒸日上，生活充滿了歡樂的時候，他接受了祖國的呼喚。
　　一天，他回到家裡對我說：“媽，我以前沒對你說，我報名參加了中國援外醫療隊。經過外語考試，現在省裡來通知，已批准我去沈陽參加出國前的集訓。”
　　“這怎麼行！孩子這麼小，去哪裡啊？什麼時候能回來？”我感到很突然。
　　“我們遼寧省醫生是去也門共和國，二年的援外任務，很快就會回來。”
　　孩子們的正當行為，我們向來是支持的。因此，這次也沒加阻攔。
　　一九九六年十月六日，張栩義無反顧地登上去北京的列車，然後從首都機場登機，途經阿聯酋，到達也門共和國的首都薩那。
　　半個月之後，他來信說：“我被分配到納賽爾醫院工作，這裡是也門伊蔔省的一個小鎮。山地起伏，因為它是信奉伊斯蘭教的國家，所以到處都建有清真寺。每天大部分時間，人們都去禱告，因為‘真主’是他們心中的太陽。
　　那裏的人們穿著長袍，女人都蒙著面紗。落後與懶散，使他們的生活節奏很慢。
　　中國醫生是他們生活中最好的朋友。
　　當我好奇地走在小路上，應接不暇的接受他們的問候時，中國醫生好！中國醫生好！此時此刻，我不僅有一種為祖國的榮譽感，也從此感到身負的重擔。”
　　看了信之後，我不僅放心了，也為兒子感到自豪。