Happy Helping Hands

Yu-Qian and Yu-He were excited. It was time to celebrate the Lunar New Year! They had waited all year for this special day.

That night, their whole family would gather for a big party. There would be delicious food and beautiful fireworks in the sky. And both Yu-Qian and Yu-He would get a red envelope with lucky money.

But not everyone would get to celebrate tonight like they did. There were many people who didn’t have a home or even a family. This made Yu-Qian and Yu-He sad. They wanted to help. So they had decided to make food for people who needed it. They watched eagerly for Mama to come home with the supplies.

Finally, Mama and her friend Mavis arrived with groceries. Yu-Qian ran to help them carry the bags.

“You’re back!” said Yu-He. “Did you get everything?”

“Yes!” said Mama. “We will cook lots of taro porridge and egg tarts to share.”

For the next few hours, Yu-Qian, Yu-He, Mama, and Mavis worked hard to make the food. When they were done, they had 20 containers of taro porridge and 30 egg tarts! They also had lots of kits with tissues, bandages, hand wipes, and socks.

“Can we help deliver everything?” asked Yu-He.

“We’re just dropping them off at the train station,” Mavis said. “A charity group will hand everything out to the people who need them.”

“That’s OK,” said Yu-Qian. “We still want to come!”

Mama smiled. “I’m proud of you girls for giving your time on the holiday to do this.”

After they dropped off the supplies, Mavis said goodbye and left to go home.

“Time for us to go home too,” Mama said.

“Wait,” said Yu-He. “Can we wait and watch them give out the food?”

Mama thought about it. “All right, we still have some time. Let’s watch from over here.”

The girls and Mama waited outside the train station. They watched as members of the charity gave food and kits to the people who had gathered outside. The people looked so happy!

Yu-Qian pointed. “Look! There are our egg tarts!”

“And our supply kits!” Yu-He said.

The girls grew quiet. A familiar feeling washed over them, making their hearts feel warm inside. They knew it was from the Holy Ghost.

On the way home, Yu-Qian and Yu-He weren’t thinking about the food, gifts, fireworks, and games that were waiting for them. They were thinking about the people they helped.

“Mama, what’s the scripture you always like to say?” Yu-Qian asked. “The one where Jesus says, ‘the least of these’?”

“‘Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,’” Mama recited.

Yu-Qian and Yu-He smiled at each other. They were happy they could do something special for Jesus Christ on this special night.

Illustrations by Valentina Fontana