Author: Zhang Yi-Ru 張逸茹
Mr. Zhang Pu (pseudonym) was born on May 30, 1931, in a mountainous area known as “Zhuzaoyuan Pit.” He was born into a farming family with fourteen siblings and was the tenth child in the household. Growing up working the fields alongside his father shaped him into a person who was simple, resilient, and not quick to complain about hardship. In addition, the Christian faith passed down by his elders led him to walk steadily on this path of belief throughout his life.
At the age of nineteen, because his father and older brothers were working away from home, he once considered leaving to seek work elsewhere. However, when his parents cried all night at the thought of his departure, he softened. After spending just one day away, he returned home. Upon his return, his father entrusted him with all the household responsibilities. One day, his father handed him two piglets and said, “Start your life with these two pigs.” From that moment on, through diligence and faith, he gradually transformed a struggling household into one that was warm and well provided for. To this day, he often says, “It all began with raising those two pigs. From nothing, things slowly grew and flourished. Along this journey, besides thanking my wife who endured hardship with me, I thank God even more for His protection and guidance.”
At the age of twenty-two, he worked for an elder in the mountains, Mr. Zhang Jinqiao (pseudonym). Mr. Zhang and his wife cared deeply for Zhang Pu, treating him like their own child. Through Mr. Zhang Jinqiao, he came to know Mr. Zhang’s adopted daughter, Zhang Baozhu (pseudonym). When Zhang Pu was twenty-five and Zhang Baozhu nineteen, the two were married. After marriage, they had two sons and four daughters. As the family grew, the burden on their shoulders became heavier, and there was always more work to be done in the mountains and fields. Fortunately, his wife was filial to elders and willing to endure hardship alongside him. With her support, the couple could still exchange smiles amid their busy days, supporting one another and building a happier, more complete family together.
In 1969, to make it easier for the children to attend school, the whole family moved from the mountains down to the lowlands and rented a traditional courtyard house. The family of eight began life in a new environment. His work later shifted to the interior renovation trade, and under the parents’ hard work, the children gradually grew up. Five years later, hoping to own a home of their own, the couple decided to purchase a house, and the family moved again to their current residence, settling down there permanently. During this period, Zhang Pu learned carpentry skills from his wife’s older brother and worked alongside him, taking on the responsibility of providing for the family.
After retirement, as the children gradually married and started their own families, he returned to his mountain hometown to fulfil a long-held dream, to open a tea house. He renovated and refurbished the old family home and named it “Spiritual Rest Stop.” His wife also retired, and the couple ran the tea house together for six years. They welcomed guests, prepared light refreshments, brewed tea, and chatted warmly. Visitors consistently praised their skills and hospitality.
Zhang Pu especially loved growing vegetables, and everything he planted thrived. Even after retiring and nearing seventy, he remained strong and energetic, growing all kinds of vegetables; pumpkins, yardlong beans, loofah, green beans, cabbages, bananas, and more. As the seasons changed, so did the garden, and its size continued to expand. Eventually, he even developed a bamboo shoot grove, patiently tending it until the shoots were ready to harvest and share with guests, his wife, children, and grandchildren. He said, “More important than letting guests eat the vegetables and wild greens I grow myself is making sure my sons, daughters-in-law, daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren can all eat pesticide-free vegetables grown with my love.”
Zhang Pu was a man who could do almost anything; carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, repairs, masonry, tiling, hair-cutting, sewing, and making traditional rice cakes. He even assisted in delivering his first and second children when they were born. There was almost nothing that could defeat him. From a young age, his children knew that as long as they called out “Dad,” the problem would be solved. He did not speak much, but his actions always brought reassurance. Broken items and cracked walls at home could all be fixed by him. He became the safest and strongest shelter in his children’s hearts.
He loved all beautiful things, especially traveling with family. Every time he went out with them to explore mountains and rivers, his smile shone as brightly as sunlight. That smile became the warmest image in his children’s memories.
In his later years, at the age of eighty-nine, his memory gradually began to fade. Roads became harder to recognize, and names grew unclear. Once, when he went out to find his daughter at the market, he could not find his way home. After medical evaluation, he was diagnosed with dementia. From that point on, his children brought him and his wife back to live in the lowlands, holding his hand and accompanying him step by step through every stage of dementia.
During this period, while his mobility was still good, he never forgot to attend church every Sunday. Later, when walking became more difficult, after long discussions with his children, he agreed to use a wheelchair to reach the church entrance, then stand up and slowly walk inside to worship. While resting at home, church friends would occasionally visit. On good days, he welcomed them with a full smile, singing hymns, praying, and chatting together. Church members said, “He is a deeply admirable elder. No one values faith as much as he does.”
In his nineties, as his bodily functions declined, he laid down the burdens of the world. Accompanied by his family and pastor, amid hymns and the reluctant tears of loved ones, he passed peacefully into the Lord’s embrace and returned to his heavenly home.
Throughout his life, he walked firmly on the ground, steady and warm like the earth itself, silently enduring and quietly giving. With his hands, he built up family, work, and church life piece by piece, making them joyful and full of warmth, and passing on the love God gave him to everyone around him.
張埔(化名)先生在1931年5月30日出生於「苧仔園坑」這個山間地區。
他生於一個務農之家，家中有十四個兄弟姊妹，在家排行第十。從小跟著父親務農的日
子，讓他養成一個樸實、堅韌、不輕言苦的個性，也因著家裡長輩的傳承-基督信仰，讓他
一路都在這條信仰道路上。
19 歲時，因父親及哥哥們都在外打拼工作，他也曾想過離開家到外闖蕩工作。可當父
母因著他要離開家而不捨的哭了整晚，最終他在外待了一天後心軟，又回到了家中。回到家
後父親將家裡的大小事都交給他，而後有天父親將兩隻小豬交給他，說：「從這兩隻小豬開
始自己的人生吧。」從那之後，他靠著勤勞與信心，一步步將困苦的家變成溫飽的家園。直
到今日他常說：「就是從養這兩頭小豬開始，讓他從零到後來的開支散葉。這一路上除了感
謝陪伴他吃苦的太太，更感謝神這一路來的保守帶領。」
22 歲時，他曾受雇於山間的一位長輩-張金橋(化名)，張金夫妻倆都很疼愛張埔，視如
己出。也因著張金橋，他認識了張金橋的養女-張寶珠(化名)，兩人在25歲(張埔)及19歲
(張寶珠)時結為連理(1995年)。婚後，兩人育有二個兒子與四個女兒，因著家庭人數增加肩
上的責任則更顯沉重，山裡、田裡的活總是做不完。所幸因著太太孝順長輩又願與他同甘共
苦，這樣的協助下夫妻倆總能在忙碌之中相視一笑，互相扶持使家庭更幸福、更美滿。
1969 年時，為了讓孩子上學方便，舉家從山上搬到山下，租了一間四合院，一家八口
就一起在新的環境生活。而後他工作也轉至裝潢業，就這樣孩子們在父母辛勤的工作下逐漸
成長。五年後因著夫妻兩人希望能有屬於自己的房子，討論後決定買了新家，舉家就又搬到
現在住的地方，從這之後就安定在這裡生活。這段時間張埔跟著太太的哥哥學習木工的技
術，跟著大舅子到處工作負起養家責任。
退休以後，孩子們也陸續成家，他又回到山上老家，實踐他多年的夢想——開一間茶
藝館。於是他將老家重新整理、裝潢，命名為「心靈驛站」。而後太太也退修，夫妻兩人就
共同經營六年的時光，兩人一起接待客人、準備小點心、泡茶及跟客人閒聊，來到此的客人
都對他倆的手藝讚不絕口。
張埔特別愛種菜且種出來的菜也都養得很好，儘管退休後已經要七十歲，但身體仍是很
硬朗，種起了各種蔬菜，舉凡南瓜、楊桃豆、絲瓜、菜豆、高麗菜、芭蕉等……隨著季節輪
替，菜園也跟著變化，而種菜的範圍也越種越大。最後還開始整理竹筍園，耐心照顧，直到
竹筍長出將其挖起來給客人跟妻兒女吃。他說：「除了讓客人可以吃到他親手栽種的蔬果、
野菜外，更重要是他要讓他的兒子、媳婦、女兒、女婿還有孫子們都可以吃到他滿滿愛心的
無農藥蔬菜。」
張埔是一個什麼都會的人——木工、水電、修理、打石、舖磚、剪髮、縫補、做傳統
粿等等，連當初老大跟老二孩子出生時，都是他接生的。沒有什麼能難倒他。孩子們從小就
老人學作業-書寫老人生命故事
姓名：張逸茹 學號：N114010405
知道，只要喊「爸爸」，問題就會被解決。他不多話，但行動總讓人安心。家裡壞了的東
西、破了的牆，他都能修好。成為兒女們心中最安全也最有力的避風港。
他喜歡一切美的事物，尤其喜歡與家人出遊。每次跟家人出門走走、到處遊山玩水，他
的笑容總是像陽光一樣明亮。那笑容，成為兒女心裡最溫暖的畫面。
在晚年89歲時，他的記憶漸漸模糊。路變得難認，名字也開始模糊。有次出門要到市
場找女兒時，發現找不到路回家，經過診斷後才得知患了失智症。從那時開始兒女們就帶著
他跟太太回到山下的家，開始牽著他的手，一步步陪他走過失智的每一段路程。
在失智的這段時間，他行動還方便的時候到週日也都不曾忘記要到教會聚會，而後行動
有點不方便後，經過兒女長期的溝通下，他才同意坐輪椅到教會門口，然後再起身慢慢走進
教會做禮拜。在家休養的時候，偶而會有教會的朋友到家中探視，狀態好的時候會滿臉笑容
的接待，一起唱詩、禱告、聊天。教會的人說：「他是一位讓人敬佩的長輩，他對信仰的看
重是無人能比擬的。」
在90多歲時，因著身體機能的老化，他卸下了世上的重擔，在家人及牧師的陪伴下，
於詩歌及眾人不捨的淚水中安息主懷，回到天家。
他一生腳踏實地，凡事也如土地般厚重而溫暖，默默的承受，也默默的付出。用雙手把
家庭、工作、教會生活等一點一滴的構築起來，使其開心又溫暖，將神帶給他的愛也傳承給
他身邊的人。