Editor's note: This is a true story. When I was in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, I met a beggar-like elderly believer who donated 5,000 yuan (about 791 USD) to the Wenchuan earthquake rescue operations. Being all his possessions, he donated this money to the disaster area as a Christian who experienced God's love. He said, "What I give to the disaster area is the same as giving to Jesus."
With severe disabilities, Elderly Yang can't work. He can only make ends meet by relying on the charity of his neighbors. Although no one gives him much money, some would always give him a bowl of rice, a hot meal and drinks, one yuan, five yuan, and so on as small favors. It is not much, but he can live without worrying about everyday life for food and clothing.
Therefore, his life is completely dependent on the kindness of the people in the village. His indifference to taunts is a key tactic in winning the trust and care of the villagers. Yang sometimes needs to suffer a loss of respect and dignity as a gesture of vulnerability to overcome people’s lack of empathy.
Yang, who had been accepting gifts from others, at some point started to give and return favors. As said, an aged pastor of a church preached the gospel to him with the philosophical wisdom, "It is more blessed to give than to receive!"
The elderly pastor told him, "No life can be so rich that he does not need gifts from others, and no life can be so impoverished that he cannot give anything. Any person can receive the gift of love, but he can also give gifts and warmth to others which are not only money and material things but also smiling responses, words of hope, and encouragement to regain confidence.”
Yang took these words to heart. When the Wenchuan earthquake happened in 2008, he donated 5,000 yuan which probably meant merely a trip, a pair of shoes, or a bag for other people, but in Yang's place, it was all his livelihood. Donating it meant that he might have no means to buy food for a long time and might even go hungry. But he donated it without any regret.
As Yang said, "What I give to the disaster area is given to Jesus. I don't need others to know me. As long as Jesus knows me, that's enough."
- Translated by Shuya Wang
前言：这是一个真实的故事，是我在徐州时，遇到一个乞丐式的老年信徒，他在汶川地震时捐出了5000元。这5000元对他来说可以说是全部家当，但就是因为他是一名基督徒，因着上帝爱的缘故，他将自己的全部捐献给灾区，他说：“我给灾区就是等于给耶稣的。”
老杨是重度残疾，不能劳动，唯有靠乡邻们的施舍才可以勉强度日。虽然没有人施舍他很多金钱，但有人会给他一碗米、一顿热茶饭、一元、五元的小恩小惠等等。虽然不多，却可以让他不愁吃穿，温饱地活下去。
所以，他活着，完全是靠这座村庄百姓内心深处存着的一抹善意来支撑。他面对人们奚落时的不瘟不火，是在村庄赢得信任和人心的关键策略。老杨有时需要丢下面子、放弃尊严，但软弱之道战胜了坚硬、冰冷的人心。
一直在接受他人馈赠的老杨，不知道从何时起竟然也学着开始舍予与回馈。听说，是他在一个教会的老牧师那里领受而来的哲理智慧:“施比受更有福！”
老牧师告诉他:“没有一个生命可以丰富到不需要他人馈赠的地步，也没有一个生命可以贫瘠到不能舍予的境地。任何一个生命都可以接受爱的赠予，但也可以给予他人礼物与温暖，不仅仅是金钱与物质，还有微笑的回应、希望的言语、信心的鼓舞。”
老杨将这句话深刻于心，直至2008年汶川地震，那一年，老杨捐款5000元。别人的5000可能只是一次旅行、一双鞋子、一个包包，然而在老杨那里，却是全部的养生钱，这就意味着捐出后的很长一段时间里，老杨可能没有钱买菜买油，甚至还会忍饥挨饿。但老杨捐出去了，且没有丝毫悔意。
正如老杨自己所说：“我给灾区就是给耶稣的，我不需要别人知道我，只要耶稣知道我就够了。”
https://www.christiantimes.cn/news/36425/%E8%A7%81%E8%AF%81-%7C-%E4%B8%80%E4%BD%8D%E9%9D%A0%E4%B9%9E%E8%AE%A8%E7%94%9F%E6%B4%BB%E7%9A%84%E6%AE%8B%E7%96%BE%E4%BF%A1%E5%BE%92%E7%9A%84%E5%A5%89%E7%8C%AE
见证| 一位靠乞讨生活的残疾信徒的奉献
Editor's note: This is a true story. When I was in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, I met a beggar-like elderly believer who donated 5,000 yuan (about 791 USD) to the Wenchuan earthquake rescue operations. Being all his possessions, he donated this money to the disaster area as a Christian who experienced God's love. He said, "What I give to the disaster area is the same as giving to Jesus."
With severe disabilities, Elderly Yang can't work. He can only make ends meet by relying on the charity of his neighbors. Although no one gives him much money, some would always give him a bowl of rice, a hot meal and drinks, one yuan, five yuan, and so on as small favors. It is not much, but he can live without worrying about everyday life for food and clothing.
Therefore, his life is completely dependent on the kindness of the people in the village. His indifference to taunts is a key tactic in winning the trust and care of the villagers. Yang sometimes needs to suffer a loss of respect and dignity as a gesture of vulnerability to overcome people’s lack of empathy.
Yang, who had been accepting gifts from others, at some point started to give and return favors. As said, an aged pastor of a church preached the gospel to him with the philosophical wisdom, "It is more blessed to give than to receive!"
The elderly pastor told him, "No life can be so rich that he does not need gifts from others, and no life can be so impoverished that he cannot give anything. Any person can receive the gift of love, but he can also give gifts and warmth to others which are not only money and material things but also smiling responses, words of hope, and encouragement to regain confidence.”
Yang took these words to heart. When the Wenchuan earthquake happened in 2008, he donated 5,000 yuan which probably meant merely a trip, a pair of shoes, or a bag for other people, but in Yang's place, it was all his livelihood. Donating it meant that he might have no means to buy food for a long time and might even go hungry. But he donated it without any regret.
As Yang said, "What I give to the disaster area is given to Jesus. I don't need others to know me. As long as Jesus knows me, that's enough."
- Translated by Shuya Wang
Testimony: Small Offering of a Beggar Believer
