Lily Among Thorns

June 17, 2014

Photo: Violin Chan
Words: Joe Lee

In the Kathmandu Valley, garbage are often carelessly dumped on nearby river banks or in open fields. Plastic bags clog the rivers and choke drainage pipes, creating floods and spreading all kinds of diseases. When the garbage get too high, they are burned and toxic fumes blanket the nearby houses. The health impacts are felt at all levels.

Yet, there are people who depends their livelihood collecting garbage from these polluted sites. They are the poorest of the poor, struggling to barely survive. Most adults would turn away from being photographed in these situations, because they know that they have been robbed of their human dignity. But these children… they are too young to understand how cruel this world is to them. They smile out of their innocence, but how long will it last? For now, they are still lily among thorns.

I wish that they could also be taken cared of in the Children’s Home, to be sheltered and to be loved. These children are a strong reminder that there is so much more that we can do for this country.

The New Children’s Home in Nepal

April 19, 2014

Words & Photos: Joe Lee

The unmistakably green and white building emerged from the grain field as we approached it in the van. The 30+ children had just moved into this new home on the week before our arrival. My heart raced a little as we drew near. I had been waiting to see this home and the children ever since I came last time in 2011 when the land was still vacant. Finally, the wait was over and I could see the product of those long hours drawing it in front of my computer screen.

The green was as bright as I anticipated, which matched the brightness of the smiles upon the children’s faces. The cheerful colour palette continued inside. Lavender purple for the main dining hall space. A lighter soothing green for the kitchen and office. Then, two sets of stairs on opposite ends of the hallway led up to the girl’s and boy’s dormitories.

We were accompanied by three girls to their pink dormitory, and afterwards, three boys to their blue dormitory. The boys would definitely hold my hands too if only I wasn’t busy taking pictures. They had sparkles in their eyes as they led us from room to room to show us where they sleep, where they store their clothes and change, where they study, and where they shower. They loved their new home a lot!

Yet most importantly, it was the essence of the home that really mattered. I was excited to see Shanta and Hannah again, the home parents of this great number of children. They worked hard all these years, not simply as workers but with a love so great that matched or even exceeded many fathers and mothers towards to their own children. Because the love of God, the Father of the fatherless, was in their hearts. Thus, the children who once lost one or both parents would not lack love and care again.

Shanta stressed during the inauguration that this was not the end of a project but just the beginning. I look forward to see the children continue to grow stronger in body and spirit, and also many more orphans to find rest in this home. Let us continue to change the lives of the children in Nepal together. All our efforts and donations are well worth the cause.

The new home with the unmistakably green colour brightens the whole rural neighbourhood.

All the children enjoy having their group photo taken as they hold up the gifts that they just received.

The surroundings provide a lot of open space for the children. The boys especially like playing soccer just across the road.

Aprana and the children at the back are cleaning their bowls and utensils after their afternoon snack time. In the past, she worked in the brick factory and was abused by her stepmother. Now, she can smile brightly and never lacks love and care agai… — Aprana and the children at the back are cleaning their bowls and utensils after their afternoon snack time. In the past, she worked in the brick factory and was abused by her stepmother. Now, she can smile brightly and never lacks love and care again.

Dhana (the girl in the foreground) is holding the flag of Nepal and dressed in traditional Nepalese clothing to rehearse for the inauguration ceremony.

The stair leading up to their boy's dormitory.

The studying room flooding with sunshine yellow.

The boys are getting ready for their dance for the inauguration in front of over a hundred people.

One of the bedrooms for the girls. Every bed has different dolls that belong to the girls.

The Day Before the Inauguration

April 11, 2014

Words & Photos: Violin Chan English Translation: Joe Lee

Last week, 42 people flew from overseas to attend the inauguration of the new Light and Love Home Children’s Home in Nepal. The two-hour long ceremony included performances by the children and several speeches by local government officials. But what we were most looking forward to was the end of the ceremony, when the children would hold our hands and show us their new home. There, we filled the home with laughters and joy when the team and the children played together.

Joe and I arrived the day before the inauguration to discuss with Shanta about the ceremony procedures. Therefore, we had the privilege to see the new home earlier than others. One girl held my left hand and another held my right hand to take me to the girl’s dormitories. Likewise, the boys held my hands to take me to the boy’s dormitories. As we toured from room to room, I could feel their feelings of excitement, joy, gratefulness… and so much more.

This is not just a place for for them to stay. The Children’s Home provides a home where they belong to. It is a family filled with love towards one another, and also from God the Father of orphans.

海外團隊四十二人浩浩蕩蕩到尼泊爾參加光愛兒童之家開幕典禮。最感動不是政府高官的蒞臨及致詞，那是儀式的必須程序。我們耐心地等待儀式完結，進入真正精采部分——讓孩子們拖著我們的手，參觀他們的房子及各樣設施；在新的大樓中與他們嬉笑遊玩，讓歡樂聲充滿新的兒童之家。

我和Joe早一天到達，好與Shanta傾談各樣細節，所以有先睹為快的感覺，不單是先看，而且閒情地看，兩個小女孩一左一右帶我看女生宿舍；然後是兩個男孩，也是一左一右，還要緊拖著我看男生宿舍，他們有的是滿足、自豪、興奮、新奇、快樂、感恩、珍惜……各樣的心情。

這裡不單是個安身之所，也是「安心」之所，因為這是一個家，不單是人間的愛與親情，更是耶和華在這所房子中作孤兒的父。