Over The Past Decade, This Blind Man And His Armless Friend Planted 10,000+ Trees
By Mandy Froelich / Truth Theory
Although we, as a species, have more than previous generations could have ever dreamed of, the majority of us are quick to make excuses when it comes to doing work we are less than inspired by. Whether it’s walking the dog, planting a tree, or taking out the trash, most people are quick to offer excuses, rather than just do the work.
The fact that so many are quick to offer excuses is what makes the following story so inspiring. For over a decade, Jia Haixia and his friend, Jia Wengi (a double amputee with no arms) have planted 10,000+ trees to revive the once-barren environment around Yeli Village in northeast China.
Born blind in one eye and having lost the other in a 2000 work-related accident, Haixia depends upon the sight and kindness of others to help him accurately navigate the world. And having lost both his arms in an accident when he was only 3 years old, Wengi has developed incredible abilities to engage in the world around him with his lower limbs, but still lacks the ease others take for granted when it comes to carrying out simple, daily tasks. Together, however, the pair have leased 8 acres of land from the government and have begun replanting the land with trees to protect the village from flooding.
Every morning, the friends rise at 7 AM and then head out for a day’s work. With little money to buy saplings from the store, they rely on cuttings taken from grown trees and plant them to create new life.