Tasting Hope For The First Time, (China)

The Chinese expression, “chi ku,” literally means to “eat bitterness.” This explains Shao Changhe's entire existence. A lifetime has passed since Changhe, then four years old, painfully watched his father starve to death so the family could eat. Now he was watching his elderly mother suffer the effects of paralysis, a urinary tract infection and malnutrition. In the midst of extreme poverty, Changhe felt he had no choice but to take unspeakable measures to relieve his mother of any further suffering.

A Poor Farmer & His Sick Mother
Changhe has faithfully cared for his widowed mother and single-handedly run the family farm most of his life. It had been years since he had purchased new clothing. Their tiny tile home is filled with just two beds and a table. In order to eat as healthy as possible, Changhe exchanges some of the harvested grains for other foods. Their food still lacks many necessary nutrients.

When Changhe's mother became ill three years ago, buying medicine or going to a doctor was financially impossible. Her health digressed until she became bed-ridden and began experiencing more problems. In July, Changhe's heart couldn't take his mother's suffering anymore. He had heard about Operation Blessing Medical Clinic and went in hopes of getting some medicine to put her out of her misery.

Operation Blessing's medical team comforted Changhe and gave him medicine to alleviate his mother’s illnesses instead of taking her life. This loving son was so overwhelmed that he could not hold back the tears. Instead of a mother dying physically and a son dying emotionally that day, both tasted hope for the first time!

Mobile medical clinics are just one of the ways Operation Blessing China reaches out to impoverished children and families. The elderly community also is need of special assistance.

A Lonely Man
Strange smells wafted throughout the house. Filthy kittens rested on piles of dirty quilts and clothing. Dirty dishes were stacked in odd places. The state of Zhang Rui's home reflected the sad state of his life. The hopeless, depressed and lonely expression in his eyes spoke volumes.

Due to poverty and his single status, Rui lives with his brother, sister-in-law, and their sons amidst the squalor of their courtyard home. His brother only makes $25 a month as a doorkeeper in a vegetable market. Rui's mute sister-in-law suffers from mental illness. The family's only hope lies in Rui's nephew who attends vocational school.

Horrible Flashbacks
Rui’s pitiable living conditions pale in comparison to the horrible memory that continues to flash in his mind. Eight years ago, Rui’s poverty-stricken and aged mother had the premonition that she would soon die. She worried her single son would be destitute after her death. In her mind, the only true love between human beings is the love between a mother and her children. To put him out of his misery and prevent future distress, she tried to beat Rui to death with a club. He survived this horrible experience, but was left with deep emotional scars.

A New Family
When our office in China heard about Rui’s miserable living conditions, staff went to visit him. They brought food, quilts, pillows, and other provisions. More importantly, Rui experienced true love and concern. Ricky Yambing, of OBI, told the grateful man, “We are your children. We will come to visit you often.”

The elderly man grasped Ricky’s hands tightly and said, “Thank you so much. You are kind people. Thank you for your encouragement. I will start a new life. I will tidy up my house and throw away all the useless things. You will see a change the next time you visit.”

Thank you for helping us answer the painful cries of precious people like Changhe, his mother and Rui! There are still countless others that live in poverty and pain around the world.

Help us break the cycle of suffering today!