12.15.07

Two Girls

Posted in Life at 6:49 pm by Bily Xiao

Knock knock knock.

Two girls. They showed up at my apartment today. They were making rounds fundraising for school. Soon to graduate, they want to study at a state university but face financial difficulties. They are part of low income families. As students with 3.4+ GPA wanting to attend a state university, there was a program for them to obtain a $10,000 scholarship, if only they could get a certain number of people to sign up to a local newspaper free 30-day trial. Before they explained much more, I told them how I would like to help if I could, but had to turn down the offer–I’d be leaving the Valley within a week and wouldn’t be around. They asked if I could support by way of donation. I hesitated and stuttered for a moment, but decided I would, returning a moment later with some cash. They accepted it gratefully, smiled, and turned to leave. As I closed the door to resume my day I felt a strong desire to help them. But I really didn’t know how…

Knock knock knock, again.

No they weren’t being annoying and relentless coming back to me. They were knocking at the door for the apartment opposite mine. I opened my door and informed them that it was vacant. Advised them that many residents here are interns finishing up the term this week preparing to leave. Could have been kind of discouraging but I thought it good to give them a heads up to prepare for it. Again, wanting to help but knowing not how, I just smiled and sincerely wished them off well.

I returned to my seat in front of the computer and again sighed that I couldn’t help them. They were earnest, smart girls with potential but lacking the opportunity. I thought to myself how blessed I am to have the education I have–though I complain of it like everyone does. Though I was indeed of a low income family as well, we progressed through and by highschool we had the financial means to get me started.

I stared at my laptop for a moment and had an internal ‘what the hell am I doing?!’ moment. Somehow despite the busyness and all my responsibilities I still got sucked into half an hour of trying to fix some plugin on my blog–both of which I hardly ever touch. What does it matter?

It is without doubt that I–and you–have a great calling in life. To be men and women of influence. To change people and things for Good. It has been impressed upon my heart many times–convictions from God–and today again I am reminded of it again with the deep wish to help those girls.

Sympathy and love I have for those two girls, as I have for others. It is not down-facing pity for ‘the poor’ that they arouse in people.

They are today for me a source of inspiration. Truly, we are the poor if we do not strive in life with at least the direction and earnesty as they have.

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I knew the best I could do in my position, and truly the best anyone could do in any position, is to pray for them. And so I did and from there continued to pray of personal refocusing. To prioritize the real, meaningful things in life.

Already in a spirit of prayer but wanting to head outside to devos, I found myself in a neat dialogue with God saying very casually “let’s go for a walk” as I would with a friend. haha. So I di. Again great joy as I took in the sunshine the day, reflected on blessings and the quiet time with God.

On my way home I saw the two girls again. They were resting and I stopped by to chat. Apparently they didn’t even know where they were haha. Just dropped off by someone part of the scholarship program to roam around before calling for a pickup later. Found out one was gr. 12 another was a gr. 11 shadowing to see what it would be like for her next year when raising money. The gr. 12 girl wanted to go into Law. The gr. 11 girl expressed her desire to go to a culinary school or something about beauty/cosmetics, and then found herself being admonished by the older girl to do something more. Hehe. Good for them.

In all it was a blessing and a joy to make my day.

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