A HECTIC FEW DAYS WORKING WITH THE LEPERS OF CHINA
Fr Luis Ruiz SJ is well into his 90s but is still working hard for the people he loves. Here’s an extract from his diary.
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On April 20th we left by train from Macau bound for Guangzhou, arriving 15 hours later. Fortunately our friends were waiting for us, only to take us on a further journey of two hours, by car, to Hongjiang. After lunch we went to the official opening of the new AIDS Centre. Three Sisters have come from Beijing to take care of the centre and we were surprised to be greeted by three AIDS patients and a large group of newspaper reporters. After an evening Mass we met with officials and the Sisters, who told us of the frustrations and difficulties they had with the local administration. Fortunately they have an ally in Dr Zhang, the Vice Director of Hunan province, who helped them through the pitfalls.
On the following day we went to Huaihua, where we met Fr Kao, the parish priest, who sometimes says Mass for the Sisters. He is one of only four priests in the whole of the Hunan province and lives in a simple house attached to a modest Church, which hosts 80 Christians on a Sunday.
He needs a car to visit his vast area and is praying for a kindergarten and an old people’s home. He agreed to say Mass twice monthly for the Sisters. At 10.30pm we boarded a train for Hubei province - a mere ten hours away.
Arriving in Yue-Yang, the director and our friends at the Chang-Chau Leprosarium were waiting for us in their official car. We were taken to Jiang-Li over 300 kms away. Once we crossed the Yang-tze-Chiang river, we lost the road and, after several false leads, were guided to the city by a local bus. After lunch we started the journey to the leprosarium, which has 45 patients and for which we provided fresh water and paid for the repair of the buildings. As our car could not travel on the narrow roads, we walked to the local river to board a small motorboat for the 30 minute journey. After 20 minutes it started to rain so heavily that we had to turn back. On arrival at the landing place it was extremely difficult to walk up the bank because of the sliding mud. My friends arranged a portable chair for me and carried me through the mire to a waiting car. I have asked the director of the leprosarium to move to a more accessible place. Not surprisingly, he has agreed.
We then moved on the Jingzhou Leprosarium. The big surprise was that they were building a new, big, beautiful building for the 90 patients paid for by a group of Catholics in Korea. At present the patients - many with no hands - have to cook for themselves We managed to give them money for food. The following day we visited the Han Chuan Centre - once again an old building with plans for it to be replaced with a 60-patient building, run by a group of Sisters. In the afternoon it was on the road again to Da-Wu, another 300 kilometres away.
Da-Wu Leprosarium is in the mountains, two and a half hours from the town. There are no roads - not even for asses - and the whole way is marked by stepping stones, something which is very difficult to traverse in the rain. Once again the officials had prepared a chair for me carried by four strong men. When we arrived we found great misery. The main problem was the lack of money for food. The government give them only 60RMB (£5) per month per person. We promised to add an extra 50RMB to that amount. They also asked for a small boat to provide greater access to civilisation. I suggested that it might be better to move to a more accessible location. The Director is considering the idea.
Once again many thanks to the readers of Jesuits and Friends for all the help they have given our work in the past. You are remembered in our prayers.
On April 20th we left by train from Macau bound for Guangzhou, arriving 15 hours later. Fortunately our friends were waiting for us, only to take us on a further journey of two hours, by car, to Hongjiang. After lunch we went to the official opening of the new AIDS Centre. Three Sisters have come from Beijing to take care of the centre and we were surprised to be greeted by three AIDS patients and a large group of newspaper reporters. After an evening Mass we met with officials and the Sisters, who told us of the frustrations and difficulties they had with the local administration. Fortunately they have an ally in Dr Zhang, the Vice Director of Hunan province, who helped them through the pitfalls.
On the following day we went to Huaihua, where we met Fr Kao, the parish priest, who sometimes says Mass for the Sisters. He is one of only four priests in the whole of the Hunan province and lives in a simple house attached to a modest Church, which hosts 80 Christians on a Sunday.
He needs a car to visit his vast area and is praying for a kindergarten and an old people’s home. He agreed to say Mass twice monthly for the Sisters. At 10.30pm we boarded a train for Hubei province - a mere ten hours away.
Arriving in Yue-Yang, the director and our friends at the Chang-Chau Leprosarium were waiting for us in their official car. We were taken to Jiang-Li over 300 kms away. Once we crossed the Yang-tze-Chiang river, we lost the road and, after several false leads, were guided to the city by a local bus. After lunch we started the journey to the leprosarium, which has 45 patients and for which we provided fresh water and paid for the repair of the buildings. As our car could not travel on the narrow roads, we walked to the local river to board a small motorboat for the 30 minute journey. After 20 minutes it started to rain so heavily that we had to turn back. On arrival at the landing place it was extremely difficult to walk up the bank because of the sliding mud. My friends arranged a portable chair for me and carried me through the mire to a waiting car. I have asked the director of the leprosarium to move to a more accessible place. Not surprisingly, he has agreed.
We then moved on the Jingzhou Leprosarium. The big surprise was that they were building a new, big, beautiful building for the 90 patients paid for by a group of Catholics in Korea. At present the patients - many with no hands - have to cook for themselves We managed to give them money for food. The following day we visited the Han Chuan Centre - once again an old building with plans for it to be replaced with a 60-patient building, run by a group of Sisters. In the afternoon it was on the road again to Da-Wu, another 300 kilometres away.
Da-Wu Leprosarium is in the mountains, two and a half hours from the town. There are no roads - not even for asses - and the whole way is marked by stepping stones, something which is very difficult to traverse in the rain. Once again the officials had prepared a chair for me carried by four strong men. When we arrived we found great misery. The main problem was the lack of money for food. The government give them only 60RMB (£5) per month per person. We promised to add an extra 50RMB to that amount. They also asked for a small boat to provide greater access to civilisation. I suggested that it might be better to move to a more accessible location. The Director is considering the idea.
Once again many thanks to the readers of Jesuits and Friends for all the help they have given our work in the past. You are remembered in our prayers.