Aihua Home for the Aged is situated in Henan's Puyang County,
a county adjoining Shandong and Hebei Provinces. It was
founded in 2000 by sister Wang Zhenfeng and brother Li Chongmin
for the poor and the elderly, especially those suffering
from bad health. Sister Wang is over 70 years old and brother
Li is an employee in an oil extraction factory, earning
not more than 1,000 RMB per month. It was the faith in God
that drew them together to help the old and the weak without
any subsidy from other organizations.
To meet the needs of the elderly, the Home boasts a chapel,
TV room, computer room, meeting room, dining room and other
facilities, which together form a comfortable home for its
inhabitants. God's grace and blessings are also omnipresent.
In order to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants
the home emphasizes healthy nutrition. Some of the inhabitants,
a number of elderly and a group of blind people, have formed
a band for their entertainment.
In an interview, brother Li told us about the past six
hard years. Observing the principle of autonomy, he and
sister Wang had to make best use of every single cent donated.
Sister Wang walks to the Home twice a day despite the long
distance of two kilometers. And brother Li quit his job
to become a committed full-time manager of the Home.
Many locals donate the money, clothes and food for the
elderly without even leaving their names. A villager living
nearby once brought a loudspeaker to play traditional dramas,
comic dialogues and sketches, leaving the elderly glowing
with delight.
“Like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but
to serve.”(Matthew 20:28)
Presently in China, the social service of the Church is
not isolated. When Christians contribute to society, their
actions will be recognized in return. Only love can produce
love. Although social service ministries are difficult to
implement, with faith in God they can go a long way.
May God’s love and grace be with the churches in China!
