牧者心聲

每年九月，香港就會迎來許多來港求學的內地生，教會也不例外。面對這些初來香港的年輕人，作為基督徒，我們可以如何本著基督的愛來接待他們呢？ 

我想，最首要也是最重要的，就是我們需要帶著一份關愛與開放的心懷，接觸這些內地生。有了這樣的心意，我們便有動力、帶著真誠去認識他們，跟他們來往、互動。回顧自己曾認識的內地生，大多顯得青澀靦腆，常感到不知該說些甚麼。我們可以學習藉著提問打開話閘子。我常問的問題是 ：「在香港生活，有甚麼是你喜歡的地方？又有甚麼是你覺得仍在適應中的呢？」就像大多數年輕人一樣，內地生也有他們生命的志趣和學習生活的體驗，因此當我們願意關心和聆聽，就能幫助他們梳理自己，真誠的關係也自然地建立起來。 

對於甫到香港的學子，我們可學習回應並協助他們生活上的需要，例如：帶他們熟悉居住地方的周圍環境，陪伴他們到超市購買個人日用品；分享出行、通訊和醫療等的資訊；幫助他們適應香港天氣、生活節奏和環境等。這些對我們已再熟悉不過的事，對人生地不熟的內地生來說，卻是切身需要知道的。 

內地生通常渴望融入香港社會，因此他們大多願意學習廣東話，這也是我們可提供協助的地方，讓他們掌握生活常用會話，在港生活的日子也更自在。教會開辦廣東話班，就是為了回應這需要，也歡迎以廣東話為母語的弟兄姊妹，按感動一同回應。另外，教會也參與了兩所大學主辦的「親善家庭」和「亦師亦友」計劃，是為了幫助內地生更好地適應在港的生活，透過不時邀請他們一起吃飯、為他們慶祝生日、共度節日、帶他們遊覽不同景點，以及在考試週到宿舍送上湯水等實質關懷，成為這班內地生的接待者，並建立如家人般的關係。 

走筆至此，我想起自己也是被接待的「果子」。記得大學一年級的時候，一位弟兄主動到宿舍來接觸學生，然後每週他都會和我們這些離鄉求學的遊子一起吃飯，關心我們的生活，甚至回應我們的需要。印象最深刻的是，他在我生病時的照顧，以及得知我信主乃至後來蒙召時，在他臉上流露的那份喜悅。此刻，憶起這些片段，再一次體悟到：接待其實是以愛還愛，對基督的愛最深的回應！ 

蒙愛的您，也願以愛接待，成為愛的流通管子嗎？ 

  Every September, Hong Kong welcomes many students from mainland China who come here to study, and our church does too. As Christians, how can we welcome these young people who are new to Hong Kong with the love of Christ?

  I believe the first and most important thing is to reach out to these mainland students with caring, open hearts. With this willingness, we will be motivated to get to know them sincerely, spend time with them, and engage with them. Looking back on the mainland students I have known, most seemed young and shy, often unsure of what to say. We can learn to open up conversations by asking questions. Some questions I often ask are, “What do you like about living in Hong Kong? And what are you still adjusting to?” Like most young people, mainland students have their own interests and aspirations, as well as experiences of studying and daily life to share. When we are willing to care and listen, we can help them make sense of their thoughts and experiences. Genuine relationships will naturally begin to grow.

  For students who have just arrived in Hong Kong, we can learn to respond to their everyday needs and offer practical help. For example, we can show them around their neighborhoods and accompany them to the supermarket to buy everyday necessities; share information about transportation, communication services, and medical care; and help them adjust to Hong Kong’s weather, pace of life, and environment. These things may be thoroughly familiar to us, but for mainland students in an unfamiliar place where they know few people, they are matters of immediate, practical concern.

  Mainland students are usually eager to become part of Hong Kong society, so most are willing to learn Cantonese. This is another area in which we can help, enabling them to learn everyday conversational Cantonese and feel more at ease living here. Our church offers Cantonese classes to meet this need, and we welcome brothers and sisters who are native Cantonese speakers to take part as they feel led. Our church also participates in the “Host Families” and “Mentors and Friends” programs organized by two universities to help mainland students adjust to life in Hong Kong. By occasionally inviting them to share a meal, celebrating their birthdays, spending holidays together, taking them to visit different sights, and bringing soup to their dormitories during exam week, we can offer practical care, welcome these students, and build relationships that feel like family.

  As I write these words, I am reminded that I, too, am a “fruit” of the welcome I once received. I remember that during my first year at university, a brother took the initiative to visit the dormitory and reach out to students. After that, he shared a meal every week with those of us who had left home to study, taking an interest in our lives and even responding to our needs. What I remember most vividly is the care he gave me when I was sick, and the joy on his face when he learned that I had come to faith in the Lord and, later, that I had received God’s call. As I recall these moments now, I realize once again that welcoming others is truly a way of returning love with love, the deepest response to the love of Christ!

  Having been loved, are you also willing to welcome others with love and become a channel through which love flows?