Love in Action
Mainland China
Greeting the Christmas Season
with Loving Deeds

By initiates from Shanghai, Mainland China (Originally in Chinese)

On the Christmas Eve of Golden Year 3 (2006), initiates from Shanghai decided to celebrate this beautiful holiday by presenting gifts to the homeless people and sharing God’s love with them.

Our initiates voluntarily purchased many items as gifts such as warm jackets, vests, cotton socks, vegetarian stuffed steam bread, chocolates and candies. After dark, we set off to the streets and gradually spotted people in need. Some wore thin clothes, some appeared to be poor in health and others could hardly get three meals a day to eat. Along with the gifts presented, we also sent them best wishes as “Merry Christmas! May God’s love be with you forever!” - hoping to warm their hearts in this cold wintry season. In addition, we also purchased the asthma-treating medicine for an elderly person.

All the recipients were very happy upon receiving the gifts. Some politely stood up to see us off; others repeated words of well-wishing and shook hands with us to express their gratitude. Most of them were very conscientious and would not take anything unless necessary. If they have already had meals, they asked us to keep their food for others in need.

When it was getting late, some homeless people laid out plastic bags and cardboard to rest for the night. We quietly put the gifts down by their sides and blessed them in our hearts. There was a lady who had difficulty moving about and could not beg for food. When we walked towards her, she was at first a little frightened but relaxed later after hearing our comforting words. She was moved to tears when receiving our gifts.

During this event, many kind hearted people extended their help to us. For example, the staff in the City Appearance Department directed us to the areas where the homeless people gathered and gave much good advice. The sales person in the stores helped us sort and pack chocolate candies and also delivered clothes.

We are aware that by helping the homeless people only once, we might not change their lives. But we believe that it will bring long term effect to the society through sharing love and Master’s blessing as well as positive thoughts, words and deeds.