Valentines' Day is celebrated on February 14 in Western countries; but, China has its own Valentines' Day on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. However, even though the Chinese are much more affluent than before, deep down, they long for love even more. For this reason and because the Chinese pronounciation for the 5-2-1 sound similar to the Chinese pronunciation for I-love-you, a national love confession day has arisen on May 20, becoming a new favorite holiday.
Interestingly, May 21, 2017 was the 34th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day. For this reason, the Fund for Caring AIDS Patients of the Shanghai Charity Foundation "Love & Life" (hereafter referred to as Shanghai AIDS Care) held its first Chinese candlelight prayer & vigil.
A volunteer team from the Shanghai AIDS Care led everyone in drawing a map of China titled "Heaven of Love" and donated the artwork to the United Nations. They also read poems to music to remember those who had died or parents who lost their only children. Meanwhile, they lit candles and kept vigil from the evening of the 20th until the next morning to comfort the deceased souls and raise awareness regarding AIDS for further prevention.
The foundation's founder, Bian Bingbin, once said that he was enlightened by looking at how Jesus treated those with leprosy. In Jesus' time, leprosy was still untreatable and would rot off people's limbs, noses, eyes, and more until they died. Also, patients didn't know how to protect themselves since they didn't feel the pain. Instead, people with this chronic and infectious disease were avoided like a plague, and others did not dare touch them. However, Jesus went among lepers with love. "In my opinion, AIDS is the leprosy of the modern age. The most severe leprosy that China is facing is AIDS, and if Christ could heal it, why shouldn't we pay attention and pursue a cure too?" asked Bian.
The foundation hopes that relevant departments can help in disseminating informating regarding "Caring and Prevention of AIDS," keep society, especially the post 90s generation, up to date, strengthen a positive consciousness of citizenship and social responsibility, provide a platform for dissemination and education, and create a platform for entrepreneurs and charity personages from all walks of life to participate in public charity and spread love.
Translated by Grace Hubl
