Early in the morning, I saw a large crowd, forming groups of mostly three to five people. Initially, I thought they were enjoying breakfast at some sort of teashop. However upon closer observation, they were eating food that they had packed themselves. After finishing their breakfasts, they immediately went to work.

Driven by curiosity, I followed them to a ship carrying a mountain of gravel. I found out that by starting work earlier, they could carry a few more rounds of the raw material before the day became unbearably hot. They were racing against the sun.

Everyone was working with utmost efficiency and agility. In the shortest time, they could fill baskets full and lifted them up to their heads or shoulders. Repeatedly, they crossed the narrow wooden plank to the shore and unload their baskets. Repeatedly, they crossed back to the ship to have them refilled.

For the whole day, and from day to day, they lived and worked the same way, over and over again. There was nothing new or exciting. They laboured endlessly to live, because they lived to continue to labour.

What broke my heart the most was seeing the young men and women exhausting their youth away in the sea of gravel. The heavy burden had crushed whatever dreams that they had left.

過於人所能承担的重擔

清早見到一大羣、三五個一堆坐着吃早飯，還以為那是什麼茶寮餐廳，再走近看清楚，他們都是帶着自己的便當，吃過之後準備開工。

好奇地跟着他們，原來他們趁着日頭未猛烈，趕快多走幾轉，免得擔得更吃力。

看見他們手腳敏捷，一刻間已裝滿一籃一籃的碎石，熟練地從脅下、腰間，移上肩，有的頂一籃，有的擔兩籮，急步走過木板橋，卸下，再走第二轉。

一整日，重重覆覆，搬搬抬抬，走上走落，沒有趣味，沒有新意，用勞苦換取生活，因為生活要勞苦。

心痛是見到少男少女在沙石中消耗青春，消磨意志，重擔壓扁了他們的理想。

Words & Photos: Violin Chan

The gravel industry recruited only human labourers to transport the raw material from the ship back to the port.

Labourers had to finish their breakfasts before dawn to prepare for the long day of work.

Even young girls such as her were recruited for this heavy mode of labour.

Repeatedly she came back to the ship to fill yet another bucket of gravel.

Everyone had to rely on just their hands and very simple shovels for the filling process.

For the stronger men, they could carry up to two baskets at a time.

Back and forth uncountable times, they worked as if they were ants.

What was she thinking? How long had she been working there?

And how much longer does she need to keep working there?

Carrying the burden back to the port.

The manager sat and kept account of everyone's daily workload for their wages.

Light and Love Home volunteers brought with us more than 200kg clothings for the residents in the Myanmar slum area. We bought rice as well. We aimed to share and bless.

The leaders sent out the news and many came two hours before the distribution time. Rain and storm came and swept across rapidly, yet no one was willing to leave the queue. Even with umbrella, they got wet. How much worse were those who stood in the rain.

Many children were sent for everyone would receive one bag of rice and clothing. The young one really did not know what was going on. The big crowd pushed one another. Some jumped the queue and some were yelling.

They got it, they looked happy. Yet I had so much feeling during the whole process. They fought for so little for they really lacked.

光愛義工帶了超過200公斤舊衣物到緬甸，預備派給貧民區居民；我們也買了大米分給他們。

消息很快傳開，在指定派發時間之前兩小時，已排了長龍。怎知午間下起雨來，而且雨勢很大，排隊的人就算有雨傘，也全身濕透，更何況那些沒有雨具的，但他們沒有離去。每家都派出所有小孩，因為一人一份。人們前推後擁，有人插隊，有人大吵。孩子們拿著自己的一份，在雨中等待其他家人回家。

「拿到了！」我替他們快樂，但心中也有一點感慨，他們有的真的很少……

Words & Photos: Violin Chan