Still Singing Joyfully
Just a few hours bus ride from the bustling city of Kunming is a rehabilitation center in NR, a small town nestled between tall, terraced mountains, and home to Chaoyi (朝義), one of the patients supported by Go and Love. Due to the poor water quality in his village, Chaoyi contracted a disease about 5 years ago, which blackened and severely distorted his hands and feet. Yet, he still has a joyful heart and a willingness to serve.
We met Chaoyi and the rest of the rehabilitation community in August 2017. He grew up in a Christian family and developed a passion for singing at an early age.
At the time when I was going to school, both my father and my older brother passed away within the same year. I was unable to continue my education, so I then returned back home where I joined the church choir and learned many hymns. Those brothers and sisters had an immense impact on my Christian life,” Chaoyi said.
Chaoyi soon learned to conduct the choir from his brother. He went on to conduct for his Miao ethnic minority church for many years and wrote songs for the choir to sing. As his condition got worse, he found it more difficult to serve within the church.
“My hands and feet are actually pretty bad compared to other brothers and sisters. I feel very embarrassed, these people have good hands, but when I am in church, I look down and see my hands are no good and my feet are no good,” Chaoyi said. “When I serve at church, I have to serve with my hands, which is especially obvious for people to see them, so feel a lot of pressure.”
Chaoyi resides at the rehabilitation center and he still wants to serve others within his community. He relearned how to write and continues to develop new songs by writing out the lyrics and scoring the music by hand.
“When I share the songs I write with brothers and sisters, I also share my life with them,” Chaoyi said. “I really enjoy doing this, even though it’s not much. A year ago, when I was still lying down in my bed, I prayed to God and asked if I could continue to serve. Now that my physical condition is getting better, I just want to serve more. I pray that God will grant me strength and faith to continue to serve.”
Chaoyi’s skin color is getting better as therapy continues. In addition to daily treatments and exercises like walking, climbing stairs and muscle relaxation therapy, Chaoyi and the other patients also encourage each other spiritually. Every morning at 7 a.m., they have a devotional together. They also gather to sing worship songs and pray for each other three times a week.
While our visit in that community was short, we’re thankful to see such faithfulness and love between these brothers and sisters. Even though patients like Chaoyi have been diagnosed with a chronic disease, it is so encouraging to see their willingness to serve others. Praise God for their joyful attitudes!