Sea of love helps heal deep wounds

After the earthquake on May 12, we seem to have forgotten about time and didn't realize that it would soon be the Children's Day. How would the children who have lost their homes, classrooms and relatives spend their festival? Will it be sunny and joyful?

The Youth League with our company announced a trip to the first elementary school funded by the Hope Project after the quake in Dujiangyan. I decided I must go there.

We prepared lots of presents: biscuits, candies, pencil boxes, pencils, rubbers, notebooks, planes that boys like, Barbie dolls that girls love We hoped that the truckload could bring some smiles to the children.

After a whole afternoon spent on bumpy muddy roads, we finally found the Dale (meaning "Big Grin") Elementary School. The playground has been turned into a temporary school with mobile flats. Each flat had a piece of paper indicating the teacher in charge of the class.

The students were very happy at our arrival. But the teacher asked them to read the textbook. Their concentration and bright smiles came as a relief to me. The children are still innocent, the sadness hasn't cast a shadow on their lives.

As we busied ourselves unloading the presents, local farmers came to help. Everyone forgot about the aftershocks that might come at any moment. We all thought of ways to cheer up the children and ensure that they could enjoy a happy childhood.

When the class was over, we asked the students to line up.

As I gave them food, stationery and toys, I would say: "Happy Children's Day!" They would reply: "Thank you, dear aunt!" Then they would raise their right arm above the head in the Young Pioneers' salute.

I could feel that the tiredness accumulated over the past three weeks of relief work was slowly dispersing. I was infected by the children's excitement. How happy I was to see them rejoicing over these little presents.

Everyone smiled heartily because we had brought happiness to more than 100 children.

A group of volunteers from East China's Fujian province also arrived. They brought many books. The teachers were grateful for the timely present. As the mother of a young boy, I almost cried as I thought how everyone in the motherland is concerned about the children in the disaster-hit areas.

I didn't have a chance to tell the children this, but I sincerely wish them to hear my words:

My dear children, please don't cry. The destruction of your home is not the end of the world. We have only lost our homes and classrooms. As long as we have hope, we can start from scratch.

Dear children, don't be afraid, the wounds you suffered in the earthquake will be healed in the sea of love.

Dear children, don't lose faith. The whole society has been mobilized. So many aunts and uncles are praying for you and working for you.

Children, you are the hope of our nation, the future of our country. When disasters come, we shall hold our hands, contribute what we can, so you'd live better.

(China Daily 06/03/2008 page20)