人生不設限·容光煥發(fā)的地震孤兒

2008年的中國行，讓我更相信希望擁有戰(zhàn)勝絕望的力量。那次旅行，我看到了長城，并且對這個世界奇景的宏偉壯觀深感驚奇。但我最感震撼的時刻，是我見到一個年輕的中國女孩眼中那愉悅的微光。那時她正和其他孩子共同演出一場可說是奧運等級的表演，而這女孩喜悅的表情引起我的注意，讓我無法移開目光。在精確地與其他人一起舞動的同時，她還得平衡頭上的轉盤，盡管必須非常專注地思考每個步驟，她的臉上仍流露出強烈的快樂，讓我感動得落淚。

My belief in the power of hope over despair was reinforced on my first visit to China in 2008. I saw the Great Wall and marveled at the grandeur of one of the world's most incredible wonders. But the most powerful moment of this trip for me came when I saw the joyful glimmer in the eyes of a young Chinese girl. She was performing with other children who'd put together a show worthy of an Olympic spectacle. This girl's jubilant expression caught my attention, and I could not look away. While she moved in precision with the other dancers, she simultaneously balanced a spinning plate overhead. She was concentrating so, so hard, yet despite everything she had to think about, she still had this look of intense happiness that moved me to tears.

你知道，這個女孩和其他一同表演的孩子都來自一所超過4000人的孤兒院。2008年5月，中國發(fā)生了一場嚴重的地震，這所孤兒院就收容了眾多因地震成為孤兒的孩子。我和我的看護及協(xié)調這次行程的人帶來一些物資，想送給這些孤兒，并且我應邀演講，鼓勵這些孩子。

You see, this girl and all the children in the show were among more than four thousand young people orphaned by a massive earthquake that had hit the region just a few months earlier. My caregiver, our travel coordinator, and I had come to this orphanage with supplies for them, and I'd been asked to speak to them to raise their spirits.

前往孤兒院的途中，看到地震造成的傷害與苦難，讓我心神震撼。面對如此慘狀，我有點擔心不知要跟這些孤兒說什么。大地裂開，吞噬了他們所愛、所認識的一切——我從未承受過如此可怕的事，我能對他們說些什么?我們帶來一些保暖的衣物，但我要如何給他們希望?

As we traveled to the orphanage, I was overwhelmed by the damage and suffering that had been caused by the earthquake. In the face of such devastation I worried that I would not know what to tell these orphans. The earth had opened up and swallowed everything they'd loved and known. I had never endured anything so terrible. What could I say to them? We'd brought warm coats and other clothing for them, but how could I give them hope?

抵達之后，我被一群人簇擁著進入孤兒院，孩子們一個接一個擁抱我。我們語言不通，但不要緊，他們的神情已說明一切。在這樣的環(huán)境中，他們依然容光煥發(fā)，我根本不必擔心該說些什么來幫助他們。不是我鼓舞了這些孩子，那天，是他們通過表演中那昂揚的精神激勵了我。這些孩子失去雙親、失去家、失去一切，但他們依然表達了喜悅。

When I arrived at the orphanage, I was mobbed. One child after another embraced me. I didn't speak their language, but it didn't matter. Their faces said it all. Despite their circumstances, they were radiant. I should not have worried about what words to say to help them. I didn't have to inspire these children. Instead, they inspired me with the soaring spirit of their performance that day. They'd lost their parents, their homes, and all their belongings, yet they were expressing joy.

我告訴這些孩子，我很敬佩他們勇敢的精神，也鼓勵他們繼續(xù)向前看，大膽期盼有一個更美好的人生，盡全力追求自己的夢想。

I told them I admired their courageous spirits and urged them to keep looking forward, to dare to wish for better lives, and to pursue their dreams with all their power.