Testimonials

A new experience in the journey of life

Testimony of the Head of Studies of the Holy Family School of Macau

 

The importance of our trip to Yunnan has been extraordinary. In addition to visiting the ethnic minorities living in mountainous areas, the most important thing was to find out what local people need. We have raised money from students, parents and teachers in our school, so that those funds are sacred and we must ensure that all funds are used in a correct way, without abuse, and that all that money is spent on things that are really necessary for the population.

The personally visit these mountain villages, see their living standards and see their living conditions has taught us that the real conditions are even worse than we had imagined. There is no electricity or water, they have to go through two mountains on foot to find water fit for human consumption. We are told they can only take a bath three times in the life: the first at birth, the second when they marry, and the third when they die. In addition, the majority of children were not wearing pants, only very little clothing and their body was covered with dirt. When I saw them, I was eager to put them in any container with water and give them a bath. In our life, it water does not seem anything important and not always appreciate because we always have it available, but for these people living in these mountainous areas, every drop of water is like a drop of manna.

 

The face of children is plump, but when you examine it carefully you realize are swollen, probably due to malnutrition. They have no hospitals, clinics or pharmacies. They do not have doctors or nurses. So, what can they do when someone get sick?. They can only resort to their fate. Substandard living conditions, coupled with their lack of knowledge, have become the living environment in which they have to live.

In life we should all be more equal and there should not be so many differences between us. But why are so many differences between them and us? Is that God has a preference for us or has forgotten them?

None of this. I believe that God, through them, is teaching us to reflect on our own attitude to life, to be thankful for all we have, to appreciate everything we have and share our happiness with others. Today, children frequently compare themselves with others and put a lot of emphasis to make us know what others have and they do not, are angry when they think that they are given less of what they want. If we learn to be thankful, to appreciate what we have and share our happiness, our life would be complete. This trip really has taught me that all people have a heart willing to help others.

 

Parents, teachers and students have been very generous contribuying to the construction of schools in this mountainous area, the priests and nuns visit them diligently, local volunteers in Yunnan are doing everything they can to serve the people of this area, like Miss Yan Chen, who has been asking his friends for used clothes to take to the mountainous areas, they use their own vehicles to take us on this visit, and so on. I really sense that there is love in humanity, we must spread the flames of this love to others, but, above all, we must give thanks to God for giving us the ability to help others.



He Pei-Yi, Head of Studies of the Holy Family Elementary School in Macau

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