The Day Before the Inauguration

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。

The boys wearing traditional Nepalese clothing to rehearse the day before their performance at the inauguration.

Maya, one of the staff members looking after the Children's Home, helps Aprana to put on her costume.

The children are looking forward to the day of the inauguration.

The older girls are enjoying their time outside while holding their hands firmly with each other.

Sapana finished wearing her traditional Nepalese costume and ready to dance.

Merry, Shekhar, and Alpha (from left to right).

His Gaze (II)

Words & Photos: Violin Chan          English Translation: Joe Lee

On my way to visit the orphanage that Benny had been sponsoring, I tried to picture in my mind what the environment would be like. I also tried to imagine how the children would behave when they saw us as the "boss". As we were approaching the destination in the car, the children were already waiting outside. The building exterior looked average; just like other buildings in the area. However, as we stepped inside, we saw almost nothing besides walls. There were no beds and other furnitures, but just some plates and tarp on the unfinished floor. The scene was a lot worse than what I had expected.

As for the children, they only had one meal per day (and I believe that meal must be very minimal). To make matters worse, they didn't go to school at all. I wanted to know why the situation was so terrible. I asked many questions. In the end, I kept thinking to myself, "Why not go to school? How do they spend their time? How could they do nothing day after day? How could they live a life without arrangements or goals to work toward?" All the boys had a blank stare in their eyes… because there weren't anything for them to look forward to.

他的眼神（二）

去探望Benny一直支持的兒童之家。心中有一點準備，想像是怎樣的環境；孩子們也許比我有更多的猜測和想象，因為他們以為我 們是「boss」。車駛入小路，遠遠已看見孩子們在屋外等待。房子的外觀還可以，但裡面一無所有，沒有傢俱，只有少許盤和 碟，真的是「家徒四壁」。與孩子們逐個傾談，驚訝地發現他們每天只吃一餐（我相信每餐一點都不豐富，分量也不怎樣足夠），而且沒有上學。 我問他們，問照應他們的大人，問Benny；最後的問題，好像是在問自己，因為心中盤算著：「為什麼不上學？整天作什麼？怎樣消磨時間？什麼都不做？怎 可以？怎樣耐得住？為什麼不安排？為什麼不找點幹活？……」

難怪男孩子們都有茫 茫然的眼神！不知期待什麼的眼神！呆呆的目光和表情！

Lulumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014.

Lulumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014.

His Gaze (I)

When I was in Congo, it was hard for me to go out and take photos of the people there. The tourism industry has yet to be developed and the Congolese are very sensitive to foreigners taking photographs. They fear that we want to exploit them by publicizing their miserable conditions.

In fact, my only desire is to raise awareness of these issues so that more people can care for the orphans and families suffering in poverty.

One day, we went with Benny (a Congolese-Canadian accompanying us) to the market. He went outside to buy grocery while we looked from inside the car. We saw a few street kids selling plastic bags for only about 1 cent each. This was their means of surviving. Suddenly, one of them noticed that I was looking at him. He then approached me to ask for money. We did not say a word but from looking at his eyes, I could sense his childhood innocence, which is sadly missing in most other street kids. In the end, I gave him a little snack. He held it firmly in his hands, as I held this experience firmly in my heart.

他的眼神（一）

在剛果的日子，每天都外出探訪和視察，卻不容易拍照，因為當地還未發展旅遊業，他們對外國人向他們拍照非常敏感，誤以為我們要暴露他們的艱難生活，或想對他們不利！

其實心中很想將剛果生活的實際情況帶回來，讓更多人可以關心當地貧苦家庭及孤兒。

一天，隨Benny到市場，他們下車買水果，我們只能留在車上，卻見到幾個街童留連穿插於買菜市民中，兜售膠袋，價錢很低，美元1仙，這是他們為生的一種方法。忽然，有一個街童留意到我正看著他，他用手勢向我表示要錢，我們無語溝通，我心中沒有一點討厭，看見他的眼神，沒有一般街童的詭詐，仍有一份孩子的童真，只是他真的沒有，想找一點幫助。最後只遞給他一點小吃，見他緊緊握在手，而我的心頭也一樣緊緊。

Photos by Violin. Lulumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014.

Photos by Violin. Lulumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2014.