Hello! I’m back!:)
one month is gone again…
was it fruitful? Yes! I would say it was…
last month was a very different month for me..
I experienced a lot..
I was exposed to a lot of things..
I met with different people.. people with special needs… people whom I didn’t ever think would exist?
I didn’t leave home for such a long time before…
:)
Basically, I was sent to Bethany Home in Teluk Intan. It’s a home(school) for physically challenged kids. example: kids that are suffering from down’s syndrome, ADHD, slow learners, those mentally retarded and much more.. I didn’t go alone but was accompanied by Christina and Jasmine.:)
We started of our days with a 20 minutes morning devotion with the teachers at the Home. The morning devotions there were always very refreshing- a very appropriate way to start of the day. The first day itself I was reminded to always give my best in everything I do even till the very last minute. later after devotion, the kids will normally go for their morning walks and then exercise.
First time seeing and getting “in contact” with special kids was kind of scary cause my first impression of them was that they were “scary” people, they pull your hair and they shout out of a sudden. I was quite scared of them the first day I saw them but a teacher there explained to us some things about the kids that really comforted me.
I was asked to help out in a class the first day itself. After getting along with those kids for quite some time, my “fear level of them” decreased. They were not that scary as I thought they were at first. My perspective towards them changed. Hehe.. some were quite friendly.. they like to shake hands with you when they see you in the morning. Some will great you and even smile at you:). The little little things they do really encouraged me.
Basically, teaching the kids was the main thing we did there everyday except for weekends. Weekends there was a little boring. They don’t have sports, prayer meetings and yf there for us. We had the opportunity to join their CGs on Friday nights. I was and am very encouraged by the Christians there especially those who are in the Bethany ministry. Really encouraged to see how strong in faith they are. Their hunger and love for God is what I really need to learn from.We had Saturdays all for ourselves. As for Sundays, we joined two churches and help out at the worship service.
Looking and reflecting back.. there are some things I learned and was reminded of. The first thing I learned is that.. the kids in the Home are fearfully and wonderfully mad by God. They were made in His perfect image. It was not by mistake that God made them. It was not by accident. When God made them He said they were beautiful humans:). In God’s sight, their lives really matter to Him just like how our lives matter to His. I couldn’t believe at first when Psalm 139 stuck me just like that. Many a times, we “normal human” complain that we need to be taller, slimmer, cleverer, prettier.. etc.. etc.. but looking at these kids here.. what do they ask for? They hardly complain.. some cant even express themselves- all that comes out from their month are only words with “um..” “aa”. Pondering back, I really don’t deserve everything I have now. God could have just made the choice to make me into like one of those children. But He didn’t.. what more can I complain to Him about this and that in life?
I really salute the teachers in Bethany. spending and observing how they teach the kids for about 15 days really taught me a big lesson. The teachers have such GREAT patience and love for the kids. I can see that the teachers there have the heart for these kids. they don’t look down, abuse or even give up on the kids. they even laugh and have fun with them. Though some can be quite naughty and stubborn, I can see that the teacher and disciplining them with love in their heart:). I believe these teachers are really God’s blessing in the Home.
Going so far away from home for 15 days was really my first time. I missed home cooked food. I miss mummy’s, daddy’s and didi’s presence. I miss the yfers. I started to appreciated the little little things I always took for granted. Going so far took me out from my comfort zone. Attending a Methodist church was different. The way they conduct their worship service was different. Everything was different and new. I was not used to it at first. I stared to appreciate people here who have helped me in my spiritual life. It reminded me how important it is to be spiritually grounded in faith in a young age.
Another thing I learned there was I was there to serve and not.. to be served. It’s easy to think that when we’re at a “new” place, so we need others to serve us food, we need others to give us attention instead of we taking the initiative to ask and to serve others.
Phew.. I miss that place, the time I spent there with the kids. as I was on my journey back to kluang, I was kind of “bu she de” but in the same time I wanted to go back home cause I miss home. So.. I “posted” a question to God, I told Him: (I couldn’t express myself) how how?? What is this now? Is it going to end just like that? What about the kids there? How can I “contribute”(so called la) to them? The answer I got was: if you LOVE them, you can pray for them.” Whao! That comforted me so much la..!
To sum it all.. I enjoyed my journey this whole month. I really thank God for giving me this opportunity to join YMI 2010… I believe it was God’s plan.. cause I would have just ended up at some NS camp since I was selected. I’m truly thankful that God answered my prayer:). If I didn’t join YMI.. then.. I wouldn’t have met sweet people like Tirzah:P.. blur friend like choon khai.. batman jun hao.. jasmine tai tai.. wakaka Christina..quiet people like yi chiun and xin pei.. and most importantly the things that God wanted me to learn this one whole month… I was worried at first how things would work out this year… I thank God for seeing me through part of it.
