Lissi's Project

Lissi's Project

WAFW Leadership Program

SIAS University

Henan Province, China

Spring 2015

The women in the WAFW must complete a community service project. The experience has been so rewarding for the women that they continue to go back and provide services above and beyond what is expected of them.  Providing planned community service is an uncommon activity in China.  So many people still live in rural China and it is just common practice to help one another.  But it is uncommon to seek out a need and then plan a solution.  Here is Lissi's story:

Lissi, one of my former students in our program, shared her experience with me.

This is my second time to go to Han village. It is a small village near SIAS.Taking 
advantage of the weekend and helping the villagers to do something, perhaps 
there will be unexpected harvest.

We tell the villagers how to properly brush their teeth and how to keep their mouth 
health.

When we arrived the Han village, We put away our bicycle and walk in the village. 
I saw the field, lane, the small courtyard and the peach blossom. It reminded me
of my own childhood. When I was very young, I swung under the cherry, flied a kite 
in the field, the lovely canola flower was everywhere. Gentle breeze blowed my 
forehead hair and perfect sunshine touched my every inch of skin. This familiar 
path evoked all my childhood memories.

The first family we visited was an extended family with three generations. Young 
parents were playing with their little daughter, while the grandmother was peeling 
peanuts at thedoor. From the bamboo basket, the peanuts and the little child, I 
seem to see a cycle of hope.

My team members and I told them the mouth health knowledge we got form Internet 
research ,books and other person. Grandma was so hospitable.Then we gave away 
the toothbrushes we brought to them and took a picture with them,the feeling of 
happiness filled in my heart and kept spreading over all my body.

We kept walking in a quite and peaceful lane, relaxed and at ease,when we saw 
several senior males were chatting together. Being ready to tell them about mouth 
health, we came up with the toothbrushes to do the demonstration. But initially, it 
seemed that they did not trust us. They thought we were selling these toothbrushes.
Perhaps they have been deceived many times, perhaps the fast-paced life changed 
their concepts of life. It seems that there was only utilitarian in their mind. But we 
must held back our helpless at that time, and repeated our purpose again and again. 
Finally we gained their trust and accepted our toothbrushes. Also they told us the 
history about their hometown. When facing the misunderstandings and difficulties, 
we can chose to give up or keep going,different choice will result in different results.

Apart with these kind seniors, We continued our trip. I thought of the old grandmother 
who I met last time sitting here enjoying the sunshine when I passed an old house 
again, but I did not see her this time. The house was very old, also it is too dark to see 
anything, I was wondering that whether the old grandmother felt lonely and helpless 
living in this old house alone.Actually, I wanted to chat with her, but I was afraid I might 
disturb her resting, I’d better leave it to next time. I will come back.

Without noticing that we have reached the end of the small village soon, two grandmas 
were stripping peanuts.It is not the busy time now, they do the same work like this 
everyday. We showd them two toothbrushes and repeated our topic, and they were 
very happy. The big smile on their face, at the time we were about to leave, they 
gave us lots of peanuts.It was so nice of them. We accepted their kindness, and the 
happiness filled in our heart one more time.

Times flies.We learned a lot from this trip to Han village. We made friend with the 
friendly villagers, and experienced what we have never done before. Also we built our 
team work with team members, and learned how to care about others. Like Jerrie 
said ,that is what makes us human, the capacity to care deeply for others.

I think it is worth to go to Han village, because we can share and pass our love .

Lissi