人生不设限·账户空空，但心是满的

I'd gone to South Africa as a young man full of himself, sure that I could make a difference in this vast land. But it was South Africa that made a difference in me.

当你不再只想到自己，跨出去接触他人时，你将会改变。你会变得谦卑、会受到激励，更重要的是，你会感受到自己是世界的一部分，这种感觉将大大地震动你。不仅如此，你还会了解到自己可以有所贡献。你为了让别人的生命变得更美好所做的一切，会让你的人生更有意义。

When you step outside of yourself and your own concerns to reach out for others, it will change you. You will be humbled. You will be inspired. More than anything and more than ever, you will be overwhelmed with the feeling that you are part of something much bigger than yourself. Not only that, you will also realize that you can make a contribution. Everything you do to make someone else's life better makes your life more meaningful.

在南非的头几天，我就明白为什么约翰·品格要花时间帮助我在他的国家传达希望与信心的信息。他看见的远超过我所曾见过的。我了解到，我非常的自我中心，这个没手没脚、要求很多的家伙总认为世上没有人像他一样受那么多苦。

After our first few days in South Africa, I came to understand why John Pingo was so dedicated and driven to help me deliver my message of hope and faith around his country. He had seen more than I'd ever seen. I'd led a very self-centered and selfi sh existence, I realized; the demanding boy with no arms or legs could not conceive that anyone suffered as much as he.

到过南非之后，我连去杂货店的感受都不同了。我们家附近的杂货店里的东西之多、之丰富，是南非孤儿院和贫民窟那些人想都没想过的。一直到现在，当我舒舒服服地待在有空调的办公室，或是喝上一杯冷饮时，就会想到那次的南非之旅。这种程度的舒适，在那里都算奢侈。

Since that trip I've never felt the same in a grocery store. The abundance of food even in my neighborhood grocery is beyond the imagination of the orphans and slum dwellers I met in South Africa. Even today I reflect on that trip when I'm feeling pampered in an air-conditioned office, or when I'm given a cool drink; such simple comforts are rarities in that part of the world.

亚伦目前在澳大利亚的高中教数学及科学，他还常常谈到南非之行，觉得那次的旅程点醒了我们。有些景象让我们觉得哀伤，但也有许多惊奇之遇。我俩都同意，那是我们一生中最棒的旅行。回家之后，我和亚伦都在想：“我们能做些什么来减轻别人的痛苦?贡献一己之力最好的方式是什么?一旦知道世上竟有人如此受苦，我们又怎能继续过着和往常一样的生活?”

Aaron, who is now a high school math and science teacher in Australia, still talks about what a reality check that trip was. We were saddened at some sights, but amazed by so much else. We agree that it was the best trip of our lives. We both came home wondering, What can we do to ease the suffering of others? What is the best way to contribute? How could I ever live the same way, knowing that people are suffering so much?

你不必到遥远的地方去寻找需要帮助的人，事实上，那次的南非之旅让我们更容易察觉到自己的社区和国家有哪些人需要帮助。你可以在附近的教会、养老院、红十字会、救世军、游民收容所、食物供应站等地方找到奉献时间、才华和金钱的机会。无论你分享的是时间、金钱、各种资源还是人脉，都一定会带来改变。

You don't have to travel far to find someone in need of help. In fact, our trip to South Africa made us more aware of the needy people in our own community and our own country. You can easily find places to give of your time, your talents, or your money at your local churches, nursing homes, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, homeless shelters, food banks, and soup kitchens. Whatever you can share will make a difference; whether it is money, your time, your resources, or your network of friends and co-workers.

第一次去南非时，我对于可以展开服务他人的使命感到很兴奋，便捐献了我存款中的两万美元。在当地时，我们又另外募了两万美元，也捐了出去!我们花了好几天买礼物送给孤儿，给他们食物，为他们添购图书、毯子和床。我们还买了电视和DVD播放机送给孤儿院，并通过几个慈善机构捐钱。

That first trip to South Africa made me so excited about kicking off my mission that I gave away a good portion of my savings, $20,000; while we were there we raised another $20,000 and gave that away too! We spent entire days buying presents for orphans, feeding them, and stocking up on books and blankets and beds. We gave the orphanages television sets and DVD players, donating funds through a half-dozen charitable networks.

对我来说，两万美元始终不是一笔小数目，但回头想想，我真希望自己有更多钱可捐。光是可以在一些地方影响一些人的生命，就给了我前所未有的满足感。当我从南非回家时，账户里面居然“什么都没有”，妈妈是有点不开心，但她也看得出来那次旅行丰富了我的生命，收获其实是无法计量的。

Twenty thousand dollars is still a considerable amount of money in my book, but looking back, I wish I'd had more to give. Just being able to affect a few lives in a few places gave me a greater sense of fulfillment than I'd ever known. My mum wasn't too happy when I returned from South Africa with "nothing" in my savings account, but she saw that my life was enriched beyond measure on that journey.