Elderly Chinese Receive Unexpected
Holiday Joy
Families in Beijing’s poor area of Hutong were getting
ready for the holidays. An elderly man sat alone in the midst of their
excitement. Chen had no family to enjoy the festivities. To make matters worse,
his blind eyes were hurting constantly. As a retired village guard, there
wasn’t enough in his small pension for the badly needed medicine. Chen
needed to find a way out of the pain.
A Unique Gift
He called the police, the local hospital and welfare center looking for
assistance. No one could help. Desperate, he called Operation Blessing China
for a simple request for medicine to relieve the pain in his eyes. He
didn’t have to wait long until our staff cheerfully hand-delivered the
relief he so urgently needed. “I express my utmost thanks to you for the
assistance that you have given me,” he said. Not only did this man
receive emergency assistance; he discovered holiday joy through the care of
Operation Blessing.
Caring For the Young & Old
Chen is one of over 2,447 Chinese elderly and orphans who were able to
celebrate the holidays through Operation Blessing’s holiday program last
year. Our staff coordinated several holiday meals and more than a dozen gift
distributions to residences, housing both the elderly and orphans, throughout
the country during December. Many of the resident’s families are too poor
to buy basic clothing and shoes for them. This is why our gifts of clothing,
mattresses, sports equipment, eyeglasses and beds were so gratefully received.
Creating Memories
On December 12th, 77 men and women living at the Beianhe Nursing Home in the
northern Haidian District received winter clothes. Operation Blessing staff
spent time with them by singing Christmas carols and serving a hot meal. One
man shared, “Thank you very much for your care and friendship. We are
very happy that we have a friend like you from OBI who is dedicated to serve
the elderly people.”
Almost two dozen volunteers joined in the festivities at a remote village in the
Changping District on December 14th. They presented 15 elderly and 10 orphans
with gifts of winter clothing as well as a program full of song and dance. One
blind man was touched by a song that spoke about being grateful in any
situation. Tears flowed from his eyes.
Sixty elderly men and women at the Shunyi Elderly Apartments (a nursing home)
received a special treat on Christmas Day. Ten volunteers sang Christmas songs
and passed out much needed warm clothing and eyeglasses. An elderly woman
happily expressed, “I was so thankful for [your] love for the elderly
people. They really touch my heart and spirit; I wish they could come and visit
us here every day.” Her wish came true. Volunteers have continued to take
time to regularly visit the residents at this and many other nursing homes in
China.
You can bring joy to the world this holiday season! Your gift
of $50 or more will assist Operation Blessing in helping hurting people of all
ages and races this Christmas. With your gift of $50 or more during November or
December, you’ll receive a beautiful 2004 wall calendar as our gift to
you.
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