'I'm an American, but I have a Chinese heart'

(Ecns.cn)--"I'm an American, but I have a Chinese heart," said Eunice Moe Brock, probably better known for her Chinese name Mu Lin'ai, a 94-year-old American woman, who has been devoting her love and energy to Chinese philanthropy and the development of an impoverished village for over a decade.

She hopes to be a Chinese farmer in her afterlife and has made a will donating her organs to Chinese patients after her death.

Brock developed a liking for the country when she was very little. In the early 20th century her parents came to Liaocheng, Shandong Province where she was born and lived until she was 13 years old.

Her childhood in a chaotic old China driven by wars and poverty made a deep impression on her, pointed out the China Radio International (CRI).

"I had a very happy life in my family, but I was very distressed by then China. I lived during a period of turmoil in China, when lots of wars were constantly going on. There was scarcity when I didn't hear gunfire," said Brock in an interview with CRI.

She left China at the end of 1930, carrying China in her heart. The little girl made a decision then that she would come back one day to help the poor and the miserable in her birthplace.

"I saw dead bodies in the street. There was a massive famine for three years in which it was estimated that eight million people died of these and other problems. I saw things like a man selling a child because he didn't have food for him. I saw a crowd of young teenagers crying very loudly. I asked why they were crying and I was told that they were being sold into prostitution," Brock recalled.

Speaking of her feelings, Brock added that "I was very distressed because I couldn't help. I lived in a warm home and people froze in the temple next to where I lived. I felt very badly about this, so I decided as a child that I would go back to China and live a simple life in a poor home like the Chinese and I would try to help them. I always kept this dream alive in my heart."

Leading a happy life in the U.S., Brock still paid attention to updates about China. Following her husband's death in 1998, she sold her villa, car, and other properties in the States and moved to China.

She settled down in Liumiao Village, Liaocheng in September 1999 and began realizing her dream of helping the poor. According to CRI, Brock had asked the Chinese government to send her to one of the most underdeveloped areas. However, due to her age, the authorities found her a home in Liumiao Village, a city not as hard-off as she had expected.

In the past few years, Brock has dipped into her own pocket to build a computer room for a primary school, and donated desks, chairs, and books. She also set up an English Corner to teach local kids English for free.

With a nursing background, Brock has been trying her best to mobilize her resources to improve the medical care facilities in a number of villages. Up to now, she has donated more than 300,000 yuan, reported the China Daily.

"I am very much interested in a new hospital for the mentally ill that our hospital is building. This is my specialty and I want to train people to use biofeedback drugs to help those who are mentally ill. I have many projects. I belong to five scientific organizations and I write to them to keep up with information and I hope to use the information to help the Chinese people overcome suicide and social pressures," Brock told CRI.

Already as busy as a bee, she always finds new chances to help others. Right now, Brock is writing a book for her beloved Chinese people, learned CRI.

"I am trying to write a book for my Chinese friends. The big problem I see in China is that everybody is interested in being wealthy; they think wealth is the way to solve all problems. What we really need is to develop spiritual values in our life. We need to know that it is not wealth, but love that is important. Most of my book will be with non-ordinary states of consciousness," Brock added.

Her selfless contributions have not only touched Shandong, but also the whole nation. She was named China's Philanthropy Ambassador in 2003 and elected in 2008 as one of the "10 People Who Touched Shandong."

Brock received her Permanent Residence Card in 2009 and has moved out of Liumiao Village due to her health conditions. She is living with her interpreter Wang Yuqing in Yanggu Township now.

According to Wang, Brock loves to spend time with others, and used to go shopping in rural markets of Liumiao Village very often.

Brock celebrated her 94th birthday in August this year and had a really jolly time with several parties held for her by villagers of Liumiao, residents of other villages, and the Liaocheng International Peace Hospital where she has been engaged as honorary president since 2002.

She told CRI that she is happy living in China, as she can feel the dynamic changes here brought about by rapid economic development.