Mr. Peanut has deep eyes and a slim figure. His hairstyle is the most noticeable feature - a fashionable mushroom head for men. Each strand of his hair is delicate and meticulous. His bangs are nicely layered and look refreshing. And the name, Mr. Peanut, has friendly and down-to-earth connotations.
After my inquiry, it turned out that his previous occupation was a professional barber. Even though he has left the profession for nearly a decade, his pursuit of fashionable and sophisticated hairstyles remains.
For the past ten years, Mr. Peanut has transformed from a barber to a seasoned social service worker.
His volunteer services began in 2012. He quit the barber job in 2014 and has been working as a full-time employee of a non-profit organization until today. In the past ten years, Mr. Peanut has served many groups, including patients with various diseases, the injured, the disabled, the elderly, the depressed, urban migrants, and children in poverty-stricken mountains.
He has provided a variety of services, such as haircuts, makeup application, counseling, hospital visits, as well as photo shoots for weddings, families, ID cards, and more. He has served in diverse communities, hospitals, and many places in poor mountainous areas.
"The idea was simple in the first place. I'm a Christian and wanted to imitate Jesus. Being a barber, what could I do? Perhaps I could serve the Lord through my profession," Mr. Peanut recalled what happened in 2012. A church hosted two missionaries from out of town. "I trained them for free on how to cut hair. As they moved on, they were able to provide haircut services for people. What they did inspired me to offer haircut services."
During the Ya'an earthquake in 2013, Mr. Peanut and several partners volunteered in the villages impacted by the earthquake. "Because I had haircut tools with me at that time, I offered services to those in need... I styled hair beautifully for girls and gave boys nice haircuts." That was how his journey of volunteer services started.
After serving in various places, Mr. Peanut realized that what one person could do was very limited. To collaborate and leverage, he volunteered to train barbers. For the first time, he trained a total of more than 10 people. Then every one of them began to serve those in need in the community.
With a pure heart, Mr. Peanut traveled to different places. Seeing the needs of many, he decided to quit his barber job to provide social services after careful consideration. Because he learned that one individual's ability was limited, he joined a non-profit organization to work full-time.
"We first offered haircut services in the community and visited those who were ill. Later, we unintentionally developed the service of shooting wedding photos for special groups." This expansion derived from an unplanned encounter.
"One year, probably in 2017, when I served with a brother in Christ, his mother suffered much pain from breast cancer. She lived on a mountain top, and we accompanied the brother to visit and pray for her every week. One of us asked her one day if she had any unfulfilled wishes. She said it was a regret that she didn’t take wedding photos when she was young. I was moved to take pictures for her upon hearing that. I had the skill set and also learned how to apply makeup."
"So I borrowed a few wedding dresses from a sister in Christ who ran a studio and made preparations. I invited the lady over on Mother's Day. After applying makeup to her, I took pictures. The lady was very happy and touched. In August of the same year, she rested in peace."
"This might be an ordinary event, but I felt that what I did at the time could make up for some people's regrets." Thereafter, Mr. Peanut and his partners started a new "business" - makeup and photography training. Every Double Ninth Festival and Mother's Day from then on, they organize photo shoots for marrying couples with disabilities and for families with single parents or children with cerebral palsy. In 2019, we started to offer ID photo shoots for the elderly, including memorial photos. Some elderly indicated that they would like to have a decent portrait for memory after they passed away.
"Most people we serve experience real difficulties. We have the financial pressure and need to find support from the corporations that care. We also seek support from the government and other non-profit organizations. Various fundraising events are another way to raise money. But there is still a great financial need."
The financial situation has caused pressure in Mr. Peanut’s life. He admitted frankly, "I have wavered indeed. Financial stress is inevitable when it comes social services. However, I am attached to my work emotionally. When things got tough, a voice in my mind told me not to give up. Whenever I wanted to quit, there were good reasons for me to keep going. Sometimes my volunteers made me stay. Sometimes it was the touching moments in the process of serving that kept me going. Other times, I stayed because there was a breakthrough or a new direction at work at the time when I wanted to give up. "
"There was always something that kept me moving forward when I wanted to quit. Definitely, I am grateful to my family, who supports me, especially my wife. She also worked full-time for three years and takes care of our children at home currently. Without her support, I cannot move on with peace of mind," he added.
"A sense of insufficiency in what we could do prompted us to involve more people through training programs. We have organized three rounds of volunteer training and found that it is feasible this way. Training volunteers has expanded the scope of our services, from which more people have benefited. Many who received our services have become volunteers. Lots of volunteers have involved their families to serve alongside the team," stated Mr. Peanut. "Today, there are volunteers who have completed our training program in the community we serve. Through the training mechanism, we hope to make our community more heart-warming."
"Volunteers cannot take their services lightly. We guide them to experience with their heart and to serve authentically. For example, we take the trainees to experience tactile paths, wheelchairs, and more in the training. These experiences help them walk into the world of the people they are going to serve. They are not just helpers anymore. Rather, they are able to empathize and put themselves in the shoes of those receiving services. "
"Serving is actually a process of learning." Mr. Peanut spoke from experience, "I have gained more than what I have given in these services. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I believe that we build each other up in love."
- Translated by June I. Chen
花生老师眼眶深邃，身材修瘦。最引人注目的是他的发型——一种颇有时尚感的男士蘑菇头，每个发丝都透着精致、一丝不苟，眼前的刘海儿部分层次分明、清清爽爽。而“花生老师”这个名字，又透着一股亲切和接地气儿的感觉。
开口询问，原来他过去的职业是位专业的理发师。即使这样的职业经历远离他已经近十年了，但是他保持着对时尚精致发型的追求。
过去十年，花生老师从一位理发师转型为一位阅历丰富的社会服务人士。
2012年开始投身到一些志愿者服务，2014年辞职开始全职做公益机构的员工一直到现在，花生老师在过去的十年间，服务了许多的群体。包括不同疾病的患者、受伤人员、残障人士、老年人、抑郁人群、城市流动人群、贫困山区的儿童。
而他服务的内容也是多种多样，有理发、化妆、婚纱照、亲子照、证件照、心理咨询、医院探访等等。他也曾走进不同的社区、医院以及贫困山区等许多地方。
“开始的时候很简单，我是基督徒，我要效法耶稣。我能做什么呢，首先我是一名理发师，就想着可以通过这个事奉主。”花生老师回忆起是2012年的事情，当时有教会接待了二位外地来的宣教士。“我给他们免费培训理发，之后他们去了外地，就帮人做理发服务。他们的行动启发了我，我想我可以为人理发。”
2013年雅安地震时，花生老师跟几个伙伴去了震区比较严重的村庄做志愿者。“当时因为随身带着理发工具，所以就去为有需要的群体理发....如果是女生，就帮她绑漂亮的头发，如果是男生，就给他理好看的发型。” 花生老师的志愿者服务之路就此启航。
跑了一些地方，他有一个感受是一个人力量很有限。为了结合更多力量，他还义务培训理发师，第一次一共培训了10几名，然后大家一起开始去为社区有需要的群体服务。
就带着这样朴素的心，他走过不同的地方。看到很多人的需要，深思熟虑之后他开始决定辞职做社会服务。也因为他体会到一个人能力有限，所以就进入一家公益机构做全职。
“我们本来是做社区理发，探访各种患病人群，后来意外开展了为特殊人群拍婚纱照的服务。”这个服务的拓展是来源于一次意外的发现。
”有一年，大概是2017年，一起服事的弟兄的母亲得了乳腺癌，这个疾病给母亲带来很多痛苦。她住在一个山上，我们每周陪弟兄去山上为母亲守望祷告。有一天一起去的一个弟兄就问阿姨有什么心愿，她说年轻的时候没有拍婚纱照，有点遗憾。我当时就有感动为她拍照，因为我有这方面的手艺，我也学过化妆。”
“于是我去找一个开工作室的姐妹那里借了几套婚纱，做好筹备工作。然后在母亲节那天邀请弟兄的妈妈过来，先为她化妆再拍照，这位妈妈很高兴，也很感动。同年的8月份，这位弟兄的妈妈回天家了。”
“这个事情可能很普通，但我当时觉得我做的事情可以弥补一些人的遗憾。”于是，花生老师就和伙伴们开始新的“业务”——培训化妆、摄影。那之后每年的重阳节、母亲节等都会组织为残障人群拍婚纱照，或者为单亲家庭、脑瘫儿童家庭拍亲子照。2019年开始也为一些老年人拍证件照，包括遗照，因为一些老年人说，将来走的时候可以有一张体面的照片。
“经济是一个压力，我们服务的人群大部分有现实的困难。需要找到爱心企业支持，也会跟政府或其他公益组织申请援助、以及各种筹款的方式。但是需要依然很大。”
这样的现实导致花生老师也需要面对生活的压力，他坦言，“确实动摇过，做社会服务，经济收入肯定是有压力的。但是自己总是有一个割舍不掉的情感。很难的时候，心里一直有个声音说，你不要放弃。每当想放弃的时候，也有各种原因让我留下来。有的时候是志愿者的不舍把我留下，有时候是服务过程中得到的感动让我留下来，有时候是在我想放弃的时候，工作恰好有新的方向和发展。”
“当我想放弃的时候，总有继续前行的想法和感动。当然我也很感谢背后支持我的家人，尤其是我的太太很支持我。我太太也也曾经全职服务3年，现在在家带孩子。因为有她的支持，我才能一直安心走下去。”
“我们觉得自己做太有限了，然后就想到做培训，让更多人参与进来。我们之前做了三期志愿者培训，发现这条路可行。培训志愿者、扩大服务范围，然后越来越多的人受益。而受益人群中也涌现出很多志愿者。很多志愿者还带着家人一起加入公益的队伍。”他介绍说，“现在我们所服务的许多街道都有我们培训出来的志愿者，透过培训，我们希望我们的街道、城市更加温暖。”
“志愿者一定不是简单看看、走走过场，我们会带领他们用心体验，是真正在做公益。比如我们在培训的时候会带他们一起体验盲道、轮椅等，他们体验之后开始感受到他们将要服务的群体的内心，他们的心态就不再是简单的帮助者。因为他们有了共情能力，他们会带着我们跟你们同等的心态开始为别人提供服务。”
”其实服务也是学习的过程。”花生老师见证说：“我自己在公益道路上的收获比我给出去的是更多——施比受更为有福。我相信我们是在爱中彼此建立。” （==当summary）
故事|一位基督徒理发师的十年社会服务路
Mr. Peanut has deep eyes and a slim figure. His hairstyle is the most noticeable feature - a fashionable mushroom head for men. Each strand of his hair is delicate and meticulous. His bangs are nicely layered and look refreshing. And the name, Mr. Peanut, has friendly and down-to-earth connotations.
After my inquiry, it turned out that his previous occupation was a professional barber. Even though he has left the profession for nearly a decade, his pursuit of fashionable and sophisticated hairstyles remains.
For the past ten years, Mr. Peanut has transformed from a barber to a seasoned social service worker.
His volunteer services began in 2012. He quit the barber job in 2014 and has been working as a full-time employee of a non-profit organization until today. In the past ten years, Mr. Peanut has served many groups, including patients with various diseases, the injured, the disabled, the elderly, the depressed, urban migrants, and children in poverty-stricken mountains.
He has provided a variety of services, such as haircuts, makeup application, counseling, hospital visits, as well as photo shoots for weddings, families, ID cards, and more. He has served in diverse communities, hospitals, and many places in poor mountainous areas.
"The idea was simple in the first place. I'm a Christian and wanted to imitate Jesus. Being a barber, what could I do? Perhaps I could serve the Lord through my profession," Mr. Peanut recalled what happened in 2012. A church hosted two missionaries from out of town. "I trained them for free on how to cut hair. As they moved on, they were able to provide haircut services for people. What they did inspired me to offer haircut services."
During the Ya'an earthquake in 2013, Mr. Peanut and several partners volunteered in the villages impacted by the earthquake. "Because I had haircut tools with me at that time, I offered services to those in need... I styled hair beautifully for girls and gave boys nice haircuts." That was how his journey of volunteer services started.
After serving in various places, Mr. Peanut realized that what one person could do was very limited. To collaborate and leverage, he volunteered to train barbers. For the first time, he trained a total of more than 10 people. Then every one of them began to serve those in need in the community.
With a pure heart, Mr. Peanut traveled to different places. Seeing the needs of many, he decided to quit his barber job to provide social services after careful consideration. Because he learned that one individual's ability was limited, he joined a non-profit organization to work full-time.
"We first offered haircut services in the community and visited those who were ill. Later, we unintentionally developed the service of shooting wedding photos for special groups." This expansion derived from an unplanned encounter.
"One year, probably in 2017, when I served with a brother in Christ, his mother suffered much pain from breast cancer. She lived on a mountain top, and we accompanied the brother to visit and pray for her every week. One of us asked her one day if she had any unfulfilled wishes. She said it was a regret that she didn’t take wedding photos when she was young. I was moved to take pictures for her upon hearing that. I had the skill set and also learned how to apply makeup."
"So I borrowed a few wedding dresses from a sister in Christ who ran a studio and made preparations. I invited the lady over on Mother's Day. After applying makeup to her, I took pictures. The lady was very happy and touched. In August of the same year, she rested in peace."
"This might be an ordinary event, but I felt that what I did at the time could make up for some people's regrets." Thereafter, Mr. Peanut and his partners started a new "business" - makeup and photography training. Every Double Ninth Festival and Mother's Day from then on, they organize photo shoots for marrying couples with disabilities and for families with single parents or children with cerebral palsy. In 2019, we started to offer ID photo shoots for the elderly, including memorial photos. Some elderly indicated that they would like to have a decent portrait for memory after they passed away.
"Most people we serve experience real difficulties. We have the financial pressure and need to find support from the corporations that care. We also seek support from the government and other non-profit organizations. Various fundraising events are another way to raise money. But there is still a great financial need."
The financial situation has caused pressure in Mr. Peanut’s life. He admitted frankly, "I have wavered indeed. Financial stress is inevitable when it comes social services. However, I am attached to my work emotionally. When things got tough, a voice in my mind told me not to give up. Whenever I wanted to quit, there were good reasons for me to keep going. Sometimes my volunteers made me stay. Sometimes it was the touching moments in the process of serving that kept me going. Other times, I stayed because there was a breakthrough or a new direction at work at the time when I wanted to give up. "
"There was always something that kept me moving forward when I wanted to quit. Definitely, I am grateful to my family, who supports me, especially my wife. She also worked full-time for three years and takes care of our children at home currently. Without her support, I cannot move on with peace of mind," he added.
"A sense of insufficiency in what we could do prompted us to involve more people through training programs. We have organized three rounds of volunteer training and found that it is feasible this way. Training volunteers has expanded the scope of our services, from which more people have benefited. Many who received our services have become volunteers. Lots of volunteers have involved their families to serve alongside the team," stated Mr. Peanut. "Today, there are volunteers who have completed our training program in the community we serve. Through the training mechanism, we hope to make our community more heart-warming."
"Volunteers cannot take their services lightly. We guide them to experience with their heart and to serve authentically. For example, we take the trainees to experience tactile paths, wheelchairs, and more in the training. These experiences help them walk into the world of the people they are going to serve. They are not just helpers anymore. Rather, they are able to empathize and put themselves in the shoes of those receiving services. "
"Serving is actually a process of learning." Mr. Peanut spoke from experience, "I have gained more than what I have given in these services. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I believe that we build each other up in love."
- Translated by June I. Chen
Story: Christian Barber's Decade of Social Service
