Photo-A-Week #21: Suman and Dhana

This time when we visited the Children's Home in Nepal, we saw a few new faces. Though space is limited, we have received five more children to the Home this year - now having a total of 37 children! Two of them are Suman and his sister Dhana. They are extremely adorable and intelligent. Suman is only 2 years old but he already recognizes the names of all the children in the Home. He is also very focus when reading or playing and gets annoyed when interrupted. Dhana is attending school and has outstanding achievements in her grades. From this picture, it is hard to see what kind of life they had lived before coming to the Children's Home. I learned from the home parents that they came from an extremely poor family in a remote village. Their mother suffered from disabilities and did not have the means to take care of her children. As a result, they became very weak and even got infected with pneumonia. It was when they were in such critical conditions that they were bought to the Children's Home. I am very glad that we could save the lives of these adorable children. Now they can be fed well, go to school, and enjoy the love and care of a big family.

- Joe

Photo-A-Week #7: Growing up in the Nepal Children's Home

Though I have plenty of photos to choose from, the ones showing the lovely children in the Nepal Children's Home have always caused my heart to smile. I want to take the opportunity this week to share with you this special joy that I dearly hold.

Since the establishment of the Lovelight Society’s Children's Home, I have visited Nepal three times (in 2008, 2009, and 2011). In 2008, the children were still small. I didn't know much about them until I read their profiles one day. I was grieved when learned about their tragic past. Some of their parents passed away in various circumstances when they were very young. Some were neglected from basic care. Some were sent to forced child labour such as washing dishes in restaurants. One thing was common among them: they lacked parental love.

Because they had suffered so much so early in their lives, I cannot express my feelings of satisfaction when I saw them smiling and laughing so genuinely and freely. We have saved their lives. Their precious lives!

In each subsequent trip since first meeting them, I saw them grow taller and stronger. They also excel in sports and academics, winning many awards and certificates. Most importantly, they continue to smile and treasure growing up together in this home as brothers and sisters. 

The photo you are seeing was taken just a few months earlier this year by Shanta, the dear Papa of approximately 35 children. The girls were enjoying a field trip together. They have grown more since I saw them last time!

- Joe

最近趕製新的照片冊──加德滿都的磚廠。整個人都很投入在磚廠的故事及照片中，在寫稿及定稿之時，惟一心中有歡悅，甚至感動，有想哭的感覺，就是看到離開磚廠、進入兒童之家的孩子們的相片。不用他們親自說話，他們的臉龐、笑容、衣著、行動，表達著他們的幸福，他們可以去遊樂場，郊外旅行，有生日會，以前這些對他們來說，都是幻想，現在卻是他們的生活。

他們長高了，成熟了，他們珍貴他們的「家」，像兄弟姊妹一樣一起生活、學習。

這是Shanta──他們的「爸爸」替他們拍的生活照！

- Violin

Photo-A-Week #4: The Girl with the Large Shovel

When I look at the buildings in Nepal, I often consider where the building materials came from and how they were made. Maybe it's due to my architecture background. But there's something much more…. it's the reason why I go to mission trips in the very first place: the people whom God loves so dearly. 

Who made the bricks? How were they made? You'll find this out soon in the new photobook that we're busily working on.

Aside from bricks, concrete is the next most common building material used in Nepal. It certainly is the most vital for the strength of their buildings. However, in my quest to learn more about these building materials and how they were made, a pattern has emerged from the painful reality. It is the widespread practice of child labour.

When I look at this little girl whom Violin met at a construction site in 2010, I wonder how young she was. The shovel was up to the height of her shoulders! I also wonder how many hours she spent per day working and how physically demanding the tasks were. In first-world countries, we make concrete by simply mixing cement, sand, gravel, and water together in large concrete truck mixers. But as you see in the picture, it was up to this little girl and many others like her to do the job. Look into her eyes... do you see a glimpse of what her life was like?

- Joe