I had no idea what this little trip to Chongming Forrest had entailed. I was thinking a few dinners, some sight seeing and just lounging and waiting around the hotel while Danny went off to do a little bit of work with his bosses. Little did I know that Beck and I would be joining the entire crew to 3 nursing homes and a hospital amidst breakfasts, brunches, lunches, dinners, and sight seeing. It was a very crammed and eye opening 2 days.
The BEST part of it all were those few short impacting visits to the nursing homes and hospitals. I found out that nursing homes are a newer thing here in China, due to younger people wanting to be more independent from their elders (thats what people tell us). Therefore, there has been a huge need for nursing homes, as well as supplies, like wheelchairs, beds, and walkers. I wasn't fully filled in on the details until after I got there and noticed rows upon rows of wheelchairs and walkers with the letter "LDS" on them. Then like a dumby it clicked....hundreds of brand new wheelchairs, hospital beds, and walkers were donated to over 15 places in just Chongming Island alone. I sat there in the back of the long room with sleeping Beck in my lap and seriously got teary eyed (yes maybe too emotional, but it was in the moment kind of thing) thinking of all the love and help the LDS church gives to the world, even to this little island in China. Cheesy I know, but I love how we believe that whether you are a member or a 99 year old Buddhist Chinese woman, everyone is a child of God and we are our brother's keeper. Love, love, love that.
The sweet nurses trying to dodge my picture
Brother Crook
What Beck was doing during the Ceremony
What Beck was doing after. He easily draws a crowd.
The group that helped make this happen!
Right outside of a brand new hospital where tons of hospital beds were donated. I was keeping Beck entertained.
What a beautiful post! I love your blog, but especially your adventures in China. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this event with us! It really stresses to me how much more I, as another Latter Day Saint, should be reaching out to others to help them feel as I know they are, a child of God. :)
ReplyDeletelovely I think of all the crafty blogs I follow yours is my favorite
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAhhh! Love this post!! Mannnn that's so awesome that the church did that, I love being a member. Love your blog so much!! x
ReplyDeleteXenia x
This is so touching. I got teary-eyed reading it!
ReplyDeletesounds like it was amazing :) thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYAY :D I love hearing about people receiving what they really need.
ReplyDeleteI hope I am as surrounded with love as these elderly people are by such kindness when it is my turn. Love it! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI love the church. :) This just makes me so grateful to be a member! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOur ward just spent the whole summer raising money to buy wheelchairs through LDS philanthropies. I'm totally going to forward this my RS pres. She's the one who challenged the ward to do it and I think she'll love seeing this.
ReplyDeleteHey! I was just catching up on your posts, and noticed my great-uncle in your pictures! Brother Crook is my Grandma's brother! They are awesome, huh? Anyways, such a small world I just had to comment!
ReplyDelete