It's about a year since I've first heard about such an organization. A place that tries to fill a small bit of the gap where society has otherwise overlooked. Think we don't claim to come close to solving society's problem, but whatever/whenever we can we strive to try to help/hear those whose voices have been ignored. It's a humbling place to be in. The more the organization tries to help, the more I see that there's so little we can do.
The anniversary was a time of celebration (more about the event here), where all the different groups came together for a meal and the directors once again cast the vision of where we're headed in the coming year. For me I felt, it was also a time of reflection to see how much/little I've come along the way. The things overwhelm me at times. The problems, the plight of the people I meet. It always reminds me of this prayer that we put into the orientation for new people who'd like to work with us.
May God bless us with discomfort…
at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that we may live deep within our hearts.
May God bless us with anger...
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless us with tears...
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war,
so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them, and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless us with enough foolishness...
to believe that we can make a difference in this world,
so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Migrant Voices Exhibition
In my time here, I've had the privilege of meeting some very artistic, socially aware people. People who have been challenging the norms of society, voicing the issues of injustice in the governing system in place. It's opened my eyes to what social activists actually do to change the face of society. I don't know if I'll ever learn to attain that kind of guts and influence, but I am motivated to be more involved and concern about the world on the social front.
Story of a girl
One of the installation pieces
Poetry by Xu Yue Ming, read by a doctor friend of ours
Short write-up about it from HS newsletter:
HealthServe’s Chinese migrant friends were part of arts group Migrant Voices’ Migrant Tales: Life Stories of Migrant Workers In Contemporary Singapore, an exhibition featuring installation art, photos and audio interviews done with male migrant workers from India, Bangladesh, China and Thailand, and female migrant workers from Indonesia and the Philippines. Migrant Tales, which opened on Dec 11 and had a 10-day run, was held in line with International Migrants’ Day on December 18.
Some of the displayed works include Yuan Yixin’s photos, each with a story to tell of the various stages of his life and Xu Yue Ming’s self-penned poem about his work and life in Singapore. ~Jacqueline Tan~
I visited the exhibition they held in Little India - talking about the lives of different migrant workers and what they faced during their time in our country. There was installation art, poetry, videos etc. really good exhibition. Insightful and intimate.
Story of a girl
One of the installation pieces
Poetry by Xu Yue Ming, read by a doctor friend of oursShort write-up about it from HS newsletter:
HealthServe’s Chinese migrant friends were part of arts group Migrant Voices’ Migrant Tales: Life Stories of Migrant Workers In Contemporary Singapore, an exhibition featuring installation art, photos and audio interviews done with male migrant workers from India, Bangladesh, China and Thailand, and female migrant workers from Indonesia and the Philippines. Migrant Tales, which opened on Dec 11 and had a 10-day run, was held in line with International Migrants’ Day on December 18.
Some of the displayed works include Yuan Yixin’s photos, each with a story to tell of the various stages of his life and Xu Yue Ming’s self-penned poem about his work and life in Singapore. ~Jacqueline Tan~
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Banquet of Honour
A group of organizations - churches, vwos etc. decided to have a banquet to honour the people who have come to work and help build Singapore to what it is today. It was held over a period of 3 days for different groups of people of different nationalities - Chinese, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indonesians, Indians, Myanmese(?), Thais. Apart from food, there were programs planned to suit their different tastes.
It was nice time, think about 100k+ people attended over the few days. I even heard from a lady that attended that this was the first time she's felt like a guest in this country and not a second class citizen. Think we've a long way to go in being a gracious and giving society, but no matter, one step at a time.
It was nice time, think about 100k+ people attended over the few days. I even heard from a lady that attended that this was the first time she's felt like a guest in this country and not a second class citizen. Think we've a long way to go in being a gracious and giving society, but no matter, one step at a time.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Mid-Autumn Festival Event
At HealthServe’s Mid-Autumn celebration on Sep 27, close to 500 Chinese migrant workers and volunteers celebrated the festival with much tradition and fanfare. For the first time, the group of volunteers comprised of some 20 students from China – they had joined in to celebrate the festival and serve their fellow countrymen at the same time. There were lantern riddles and traditional Mid-Autumn Festival songs blasting throughout the night. Our staff member, Feng Guang even hammed up the evening with a cross-talk item that he scripted himself and co-performed with a Chinese migrant worker, Li Xiang Dong.
Under the guidance of Dramabox directors, Kok Heng Leun and Rei Poh, a small group of workers also staged a short skit with Heng's drama students from Singapore Polytechnic. The students had spent about a month collaborating with the workers on the script. Calligrapher Yu Chun Qiang from Shandong also had a little corner exhibiting some of his works. For those of us whose Mid-Autumn Festival has always been about mooncakes and more mooncakes, the celebration gave us a glimpse of the richness of Chinese culture and music. ~Jackie Tan~
Under the guidance of Dramabox directors, Kok Heng Leun and Rei Poh, a small group of workers also staged a short skit with Heng's drama students from Singapore Polytechnic. The students had spent about a month collaborating with the workers on the script. Calligrapher Yu Chun Qiang from Shandong also had a little corner exhibiting some of his works. For those of us whose Mid-Autumn Festival has always been about mooncakes and more mooncakes, the celebration gave us a glimpse of the richness of Chinese culture and music. ~Jackie Tan~
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
YEP Medan - Power Up Serdang!
I accompanied a group of NUS Nursing undergrads to a village slightly off Medan for a community involvement project - my first with Healthserve. The main objective (for me at least) of this project would be to research the actual needs of the place/people to see if more work could be done at that place. The rest went there to conduct Health Camps for the village children and paint murals depicting basic education.
I'll just try to write out some of the highlights here.
16th July 09
We arrived at Medan by Silkair, then continued on a 3 hour bus ride to Serdang where we were housed by a lovely couple - Pst Anton and his wife who ran an orphanage, at the office of the Orphanage. It was cleaner and more comfortable than I expected. The first few days were quite relaxing, we got orientated, went to the market for groceries, etc. It was also relaxing because we were prevented from doing the work that was initially planned, by the 'authorities' and 'legal issues' but we managed to carry out the work anyway in other forms in the days to come.
The wet market was quite an experience (a good one) for me. When we got there the sight that greeted us was a lady selling live chickens weighing them out for her patrons using an old school weighing device that requires you to balance weights with the item (here being a live chicken) on a metal rod. The girls got quite excited about seeing it and forgetting themselves assaulted the chicken seller lady with their cameras, she (the chicken lady) of course was not pleased and scolded them. I was giggling at the sight, which I thought was quite funny... cos for a moment the chicken lady was like a celebrity surrounded by paparazzi. The rest of the market was equally interesting and new to us, plenty of sights, sounds and colours. We got quite a buzz from that experience.
17th July 09
We visited the 2 schools we were supposed to give health camps and paint murals at. Looked at the size of the walls, see the classrooms and toilet conditions (haha). There beside one of the school compounds, we got to meet 2 families that escaped the Aceh tsunami and relocated to the village. It was good to hear the stories behind the faces and understand the workings of the place we were trying to do work in. We hear that that these people seem to have fallen through the cracks, the aid they were promised never reached them and they were still waiting for the new beginning that till now seems so elusive. I wonder what happened to the millions that were donated to help?
We got news today that we will not be able to paint or conduct health camps in the schools as planned. The camat (head of several villages), said we needed some legal document to be able to do work in the 'government sectors', this paper will take a week to process, but of course the process could speed up if we were willing to pay a fee. It was quite a bummer, but after several phone calls by Pst Anton he said that we would be able to paint the community hall instead of the school. What we also heard from the Pst was, he has a friend in the government who told him that the document wasn't really an issue and we didn't really need it. We were really mad initially, but then again, I thought about it and decided that it is all part of our learning in working with the people there.
We could make our lives easier by just giving in and paying up, but I think the team knows that they were there to make a positive long-term change. If we gave in this time, the future teams will also have to pay and it would become a habit and reinforce the existing system. So we/they decided to go ahead with painting the community hall and come to worst hold the health camp in the church.
18th July 09 - Village: Serdang - Barus Jahe
Finally we begin actual work! Got up bright and early, loaded paints, brushes and ourselves onto the buses, got to the village all excited only to be greeted with the news that the camat heard about our painting the community hall plans and said that we're not allowed to do that too. The disappointment in the air was palpable. I think the pastor sensed our disappointment, so he said that we should paint the church. So off we trekked with our paints and stuff to the church about 5 mins away. The moment we got to the church, pst received a call, the village head said to go on with the work.. so we turned around and trekked back to the community hall.. and finally started work. Despite the many false starts, the painting itself was fun. The village kids came round and started helping us paint using their fingers! We felt the interaction was good, perhaps with the involvement the people in the village will feel a sense of ownership of the place?
19th July 2009 - Church Service, Health Camp & On Air!
20th July 2009 - Ajibata: Tomok
Went to Tomok as a form of R&R after a week of "hard" work (though the hardness of the work was not dependant on whether we wanted to work or not). It was a long ride 4hr bus-ride from Barus Jahe to Ajibata. The ride was a good way to have our fill of the landscape and the country, looking into homes along the way gave us a glimpse into the lives of the people in the land. Then it was a 45min ferry ride on the magnificent Lake Toba to Tomok. It was hard to imagine that the beautiful lake was once a fiery couldron of volcanic lava. The size of it and the destruction that happened when it erupted was, to me, unimaginable. Before the fun, we visited the hospital there to 'present' them with a first-aid kit which they were not impressed with. For they were expecting us Singaporeans to provide them with equipment & such, we felt sorry we couldn't do more but they had to find out some way or other the project was a student initiative.
Tomok itself was quite unimpressive as a cultural heritage site/sight (in my humble opinion). True, it's earliest natives were cannibals before Christian missionaries went and won them over, so the only evidence left behind were a few stone statues, tombs and 'altars' where they sacrificed their victims - all bereft of any trace of blood. Apart from lack of physical cultural heritage monuments, there were plenty of tourist shops we could browse & be touted. We spent an hour walking around and made our long way back again. It was all in all a rather relaxing day.
21st July 2009 - Village: Serdang - Barus Jahe
I'll just try to write out some of the highlights here.
16th July 09
We arrived at Medan by Silkair, then continued on a 3 hour bus ride to Serdang where we were housed by a lovely couple - Pst Anton and his wife who ran an orphanage, at the office of the Orphanage. It was cleaner and more comfortable than I expected. The first few days were quite relaxing, we got orientated, went to the market for groceries, etc. It was also relaxing because we were prevented from doing the work that was initially planned, by the 'authorities' and 'legal issues' but we managed to carry out the work anyway in other forms in the days to come.
The wet market was quite an experience (a good one) for me. When we got there the sight that greeted us was a lady selling live chickens weighing them out for her patrons using an old school weighing device that requires you to balance weights with the item (here being a live chicken) on a metal rod. The girls got quite excited about seeing it and forgetting themselves assaulted the chicken seller lady with their cameras, she (the chicken lady) of course was not pleased and scolded them. I was giggling at the sight, which I thought was quite funny... cos for a moment the chicken lady was like a celebrity surrounded by paparazzi. The rest of the market was equally interesting and new to us, plenty of sights, sounds and colours. We got quite a buzz from that experience.
17th July 09
We visited the 2 schools we were supposed to give health camps and paint murals at. Looked at the size of the walls, see the classrooms and toilet conditions (haha). There beside one of the school compounds, we got to meet 2 families that escaped the Aceh tsunami and relocated to the village. It was good to hear the stories behind the faces and understand the workings of the place we were trying to do work in. We hear that that these people seem to have fallen through the cracks, the aid they were promised never reached them and they were still waiting for the new beginning that till now seems so elusive. I wonder what happened to the millions that were donated to help?
We got news today that we will not be able to paint or conduct health camps in the schools as planned. The camat (head of several villages), said we needed some legal document to be able to do work in the 'government sectors', this paper will take a week to process, but of course the process could speed up if we were willing to pay a fee. It was quite a bummer, but after several phone calls by Pst Anton he said that we would be able to paint the community hall instead of the school. What we also heard from the Pst was, he has a friend in the government who told him that the document wasn't really an issue and we didn't really need it. We were really mad initially, but then again, I thought about it and decided that it is all part of our learning in working with the people there.
We could make our lives easier by just giving in and paying up, but I think the team knows that they were there to make a positive long-term change. If we gave in this time, the future teams will also have to pay and it would become a habit and reinforce the existing system. So we/they decided to go ahead with painting the community hall and come to worst hold the health camp in the church.
18th July 09 - Village: Serdang - Barus Jahe
Finally we begin actual work! Got up bright and early, loaded paints, brushes and ourselves onto the buses, got to the village all excited only to be greeted with the news that the camat heard about our painting the community hall plans and said that we're not allowed to do that too. The disappointment in the air was palpable. I think the pastor sensed our disappointment, so he said that we should paint the church. So off we trekked with our paints and stuff to the church about 5 mins away. The moment we got to the church, pst received a call, the village head said to go on with the work.. so we turned around and trekked back to the community hall.. and finally started work. Despite the many false starts, the painting itself was fun. The village kids came round and started helping us paint using their fingers! We felt the interaction was good, perhaps with the involvement the people in the village will feel a sense of ownership of the place?
19th July 2009 - Church Service, Health Camp & On Air!
20th July 2009 - Ajibata: Tomok
Went to Tomok as a form of R&R after a week of "hard" work (though the hardness of the work was not dependant on whether we wanted to work or not). It was a long ride 4hr bus-ride from Barus Jahe to Ajibata. The ride was a good way to have our fill of the landscape and the country, looking into homes along the way gave us a glimpse into the lives of the people in the land. Then it was a 45min ferry ride on the magnificent Lake Toba to Tomok. It was hard to imagine that the beautiful lake was once a fiery couldron of volcanic lava. The size of it and the destruction that happened when it erupted was, to me, unimaginable. Before the fun, we visited the hospital there to 'present' them with a first-aid kit which they were not impressed with. For they were expecting us Singaporeans to provide them with equipment & such, we felt sorry we couldn't do more but they had to find out some way or other the project was a student initiative.
Tomok itself was quite unimpressive as a cultural heritage site/sight (in my humble opinion). True, it's earliest natives were cannibals before Christian missionaries went and won them over, so the only evidence left behind were a few stone statues, tombs and 'altars' where they sacrificed their victims - all bereft of any trace of blood. Apart from lack of physical cultural heritage monuments, there were plenty of tourist shops we could browse & be touted. We spent an hour walking around and made our long way back again. It was all in all a rather relaxing day.
21st July 2009 - Village: Serdang - Barus Jahe
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Freshly-baked Naan In Geylang!!
Jackie found this fantastic North Indian food stall just at the street beside my workplace.. just thinking about the rich butter aroma from the butter naan is making me drool. The chef used to work at Fullerton Hotel curry buffet! Great food at coffee shop prices, how cool is that. Come visit me.. then I have an excuse to eat rich indian food. See the full review here.
But I've just heard he might close due to poor business.. sigh. Just the wrong kind of crowd here I guess.
Monday, June 22, 2009
HS Staff Retreat . 20 - 21 Jun 09 .
"He who loves community destroys community; he who loves the brethren builds community." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer-
I had a great time at the the HS staff retreat, though it was supposed to be a working retreat.. it was lots of fun anyway. Can't be helped :) the bosses themselves love to have fun.. we work and play hard. We discussed/shared all that the organization has been through and saw where the Lord was taking us in the days ahead, it's gonna be exciting times. Then again, life with the Lord is always exciting.
One thing that struck me through all the sharing and reminiscing was that, yes, we've something great going on here... and it's tempting to keep it as it is, to 'protect' things so they remain the way they are - to the exclusion of others. But it's never God's way... people will come and go, people we love, people who 'fit' in the community and whom we are comfortable with. But I am reminded that the moment I start to love the community more than the people, that's when the community starts to die. God's way is always - Love God, love His people.
So yes, I am thankful for the wisdom, knowledge and love of my earthly bosses - daily I am humbled and inspired to know our Lord more.. there is so much I haven't learnt, so little I truly know.
I had a great time at the the HS staff retreat, though it was supposed to be a working retreat.. it was lots of fun anyway. Can't be helped :) the bosses themselves love to have fun.. we work and play hard. We discussed/shared all that the organization has been through and saw where the Lord was taking us in the days ahead, it's gonna be exciting times. Then again, life with the Lord is always exciting.
One thing that struck me through all the sharing and reminiscing was that, yes, we've something great going on here... and it's tempting to keep it as it is, to 'protect' things so they remain the way they are - to the exclusion of others. But it's never God's way... people will come and go, people we love, people who 'fit' in the community and whom we are comfortable with. But I am reminded that the moment I start to love the community more than the people, that's when the community starts to die. God's way is always - Love God, love His people.
So yes, I am thankful for the wisdom, knowledge and love of my earthly bosses - daily I am humbled and inspired to know our Lord more.. there is so much I haven't learnt, so little I truly know.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Bye... Mr Yin
Farewells are always bitter sweet times for the people at HealthServe. Mr Yin has gotten his work compensation and have just gone home on the 8 am flight this morning. I'll miss having him around, though I sometimes complain that he bugs me to find him pictures from the internet for his phone. Will miss all the dumplings and lame jokes he makes. It's really like seeing a good/familiar friend go. From having him around everyday to not knowing when we will meet again. It's hard.
I think it's especially hard for those that minister directly to him, guys from the Mens' Migrant Ministry where emotional bonds have been built. There were quite a few tears shed last night as Mr Yin said his farewells and a prayer was said. This is a job hazard I guess.. we give little pieces of our hearts to many different people who come and go in such short spaces of time. Think the only way we can go on without being hardened or start putting up defences would be to constantly receive God's amazing love for ourselves that we may in turn share that love with those who come by.
The time we have with these friends are not long, hopefully the little pieces of hearts that have been sown will grow and continue long after the time here has gone.
I think it's especially hard for those that minister directly to him, guys from the Mens' Migrant Ministry where emotional bonds have been built. There were quite a few tears shed last night as Mr Yin said his farewells and a prayer was said. This is a job hazard I guess.. we give little pieces of our hearts to many different people who come and go in such short spaces of time. Think the only way we can go on without being hardened or start putting up defences would be to constantly receive God's amazing love for ourselves that we may in turn share that love with those who come by.
The time we have with these friends are not long, hopefully the little pieces of hearts that have been sown will grow and continue long after the time here has gone.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Migrants' Games Day
Day for friends all over to have fun... compete as equals and learn to integrate and work together in love. I wasn't there :( I was in the ocean :) No matter, the stories I hear made me wish I could be in 2 places at one time. I think the lessons from this event were mostly for those who organized and hosted... Heard it wasn't easy for a 'normal' Singaporean to work foreigners style, where programs had to be changed on the spot, times had to be adjusted, deal with the rain etc.
People had fun I believe :)
Think God helps us remember that it's really not about the program, how efficient we are, how fun/lame the games actually are. But more of the spirit of playing together in love and unity.. just having fun and letting the program flow... leaving God in control. Think we (Singaporeans) are especially prone to being program focused, we often measure success based on efficiency and clockwork precision. But I have been and am still learning that despite the best plans, we have to let go and let God. Think this applies (maybe even more) to life in general too don't you think?
People had fun I believe :)Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
How do I feel about being made redundant?
I’m talking about ministry of course, as I’m a little too young and my organization too new to be redundant in my work place. I’ve been helping to officially or unofficially co-lead or lead a cell group for as long as I can remember now. If I had to guess/make a conservative estimate, I would have been serving in such a ‘position’ for 10 years now.
The situation is such, my youth group just commissioned a relatively large group of young and promising cell group leaders. It made it such that each cell group has an average of 3-4 cell leaders. Considering that average group size is approximately 10 people, the member to leader ratio went up to 1:2, which in my opinion, is that there are just too many leaders. Not that it is a bad thing in itself, cos it’s good for the sheep now they have so much attention, but it’s a bad thing when it comes to giving the new leaders a chance to rise up and take their place.
Looking at the situation now… it might seem that I am out of a job. A year ago, or maybe even few months ago I might have been threatened, insecure and even afraid that I might be losing favor with God or that others might be taking over MY cell group or jealous about the work that I HAVE put into the group. But today I look at it and am genuinely am pleased that there are new leaders rising up to take their place, pleased that there are ones better than myself to take the work to another level. I marvel at my own maturity… Seriously! It’s a marvel because if I am totally honest I would never have had such a response.
The Lord has taught me much in the past few months, it didn’t come without tears, it didn’t come without having to go through the place of doubting my worth to know that I am a servant of the Lord no matter the position. I am only beginning to understand the kind of humility it took Paul when he wrote,
I pray that He’ll reveal the place He has for me now that this phase of my life is closing… I can’t wait for where He’ll take me to next.
The situation is such, my youth group just commissioned a relatively large group of young and promising cell group leaders. It made it such that each cell group has an average of 3-4 cell leaders. Considering that average group size is approximately 10 people, the member to leader ratio went up to 1:2, which in my opinion, is that there are just too many leaders. Not that it is a bad thing in itself, cos it’s good for the sheep now they have so much attention, but it’s a bad thing when it comes to giving the new leaders a chance to rise up and take their place.
Looking at the situation now… it might seem that I am out of a job. A year ago, or maybe even few months ago I might have been threatened, insecure and even afraid that I might be losing favor with God or that others might be taking over MY cell group or jealous about the work that I HAVE put into the group. But today I look at it and am genuinely am pleased that there are new leaders rising up to take their place, pleased that there are ones better than myself to take the work to another level. I marvel at my own maturity… Seriously! It’s a marvel because if I am totally honest I would never have had such a response.
The Lord has taught me much in the past few months, it didn’t come without tears, it didn’t come without having to go through the place of doubting my worth to know that I am a servant of the Lord no matter the position. I am only beginning to understand the kind of humility it took Paul when he wrote,
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." 1 Cor 3:6
I pray that He’ll reveal the place He has for me now that this phase of my life is closing… I can’t wait for where He’ll take me to next.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Cheng Cunliang
I keep talking about Mr. Yin... cos he's become my friend I guess :) But here's the story of Mr Cheng, another of our migrant friends who have passed through the doors of HS. He is deep and contemplative, even wrote/adapted poems about his experience here. He's gotten his compensation and has gone home last month.
left to right: Joyce, SY & Cheng Cunliang
程存粮弟兄的心声
流浪脚步遍天涯
耶稣伴我走天下
试问人间真情在
舍身取义尤不怕
圣经里面叹圣经
一生尘世雨打萍
人生自古谁无死
留取丹心照万灵
HS's newsletter editor wrote the following.. credit goes to her.
He came to Singapore in Aug 2007 to eke out a living for his family back home. Jiangsu native Cheng Cunliang was prepared for the hard work, the long hours and even working without rest days. What he wasn't prepared for was for a concrete slab to come crashing down his head causing the safety helmet he was wearing to crack and break.
The mishap left him unconscious for three hours. "I survived but felt like the world had come crashing down on me at the same time. I’d all these worries reeling in my head, like how was I going back to work in my state, how was my family going to cope and survive," says the soft-spoken 40-year-old. "The worries gave me many sleepless nights." Uppermost on his mind were his wife and two school-going children, aged 19 and 15, who all depended on him financially. He was lost, confused and didn't know what to do.
But just when he thought he lost all hope, a visit to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for a checkup led him to Dr Chan Lai Gwen, a HealthServe volunteer. Dr Chan told him about HealthServe and he found his way to Lorong 23 Geylang. "I found a second chance to live again when I stepped into HealthServe," he recalls with a shy, quiet smile. "I remember visiting the Tuesday clinic and nurse Fong Ling who was on duty that night said a prayer for me after hearing my story. I felt so comforted and a sense of peace enveloped me. It was something I've never experienced before."
On March 21, Mr Cheng flew home to Jiangsu to be reunited with his wife and children after more than a year of not seeing each other. He plans to come back to Singapore ("I need to continue working to support my family") and when he does, he said he will continue to serve and bless others in his own little ways – like he’s been doing quietly since he became a part of the HealthServe community. Having been a recipient of kindness, Mr Cheng has blessed many others through HealthServe’s Chinese Ministry by extending friendship and great support to his fellow migrant friends who are in need.
left to right: Joyce, SY & Cheng Cunliang程存粮弟兄的心声
流浪脚步遍天涯
耶稣伴我走天下
试问人间真情在
舍身取义尤不怕
圣经里面叹圣经
一生尘世雨打萍
人生自古谁无死
留取丹心照万灵
HS's newsletter editor wrote the following.. credit goes to her.
He came to Singapore in Aug 2007 to eke out a living for his family back home. Jiangsu native Cheng Cunliang was prepared for the hard work, the long hours and even working without rest days. What he wasn't prepared for was for a concrete slab to come crashing down his head causing the safety helmet he was wearing to crack and break.
The mishap left him unconscious for three hours. "I survived but felt like the world had come crashing down on me at the same time. I’d all these worries reeling in my head, like how was I going back to work in my state, how was my family going to cope and survive," says the soft-spoken 40-year-old. "The worries gave me many sleepless nights." Uppermost on his mind were his wife and two school-going children, aged 19 and 15, who all depended on him financially. He was lost, confused and didn't know what to do.
But just when he thought he lost all hope, a visit to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for a checkup led him to Dr Chan Lai Gwen, a HealthServe volunteer. Dr Chan told him about HealthServe and he found his way to Lorong 23 Geylang. "I found a second chance to live again when I stepped into HealthServe," he recalls with a shy, quiet smile. "I remember visiting the Tuesday clinic and nurse Fong Ling who was on duty that night said a prayer for me after hearing my story. I felt so comforted and a sense of peace enveloped me. It was something I've never experienced before."
On March 21, Mr Cheng flew home to Jiangsu to be reunited with his wife and children after more than a year of not seeing each other. He plans to come back to Singapore ("I need to continue working to support my family") and when he does, he said he will continue to serve and bless others in his own little ways – like he’s been doing quietly since he became a part of the HealthServe community. Having been a recipient of kindness, Mr Cheng has blessed many others through HealthServe’s Chinese Ministry by extending friendship and great support to his fellow migrant friends who are in need.
~ Jacqueline Tan ~
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Dumpling Community
Yummy Dumplings
The men pitching in :)Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Dim Sum Lunch with the fellas
Am not kidding when I say we like our meals. Went to the Dim Sum restaurant at The Cathay with my colleagues. Food was good and there was a 30% discount for lunch on weekdays. Loved the fried yam balls.. they made them to look like little birdies... so cute I almost couldn't bear to eat them.
The Spread
Too full to be true
The Spread
Too full to be trueMonday, April 20, 2009
Repent and Be Baptised!
Hallelujah! 3 migrant friends just got baptised last Friday - 17th Apr 09. Such joy indeed to see my friends boldly proclaiming to the world that they belong to the Lord.
Mr Xu (top left), HS Family (top middle) Mr Smiley a.k.a. Mr Xu (bottom left), Mr Yin (bottom right)
Mr Xu (top left), HS Family (top middle) Mr Smiley a.k.a. Mr Xu (bottom left), Mr Yin (bottom right)You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. - Gal 3:26-29 -
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Dinner last night
A large part of what I do has to do with food.. as you might be able to tell from the numerous posts about it. But more than just food, it's simply an act of being in a community. There's nothing more familiar and inclusive than sharing a meal together. Jesus spent his time & even defied the Pharisees by sharing meals with sinners & common people - fishermen, the tax-collectors, tax-collector's friends & prostitutes. What would you think/how would you feel if you saw your pastor - Ps Mark in Geylang eating at a table with ladies in skimpy tops and gangster-ish looking men? Would you honour him and think that he was hanging with the Jesus crowd, or would you give him the evil eye and wonder what he's up to?
I don't blame the Pharisees.. what is a teacher of righteousness.. a pastor.. a righteous man doing eating with such people in such a seedy place? Just few months back I would have reacted like the Pharisees.. now.. I don't know.. it's not happened yet.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sarah's Good Friday Event Article - 12th April 09
Update on the event.. came out in the news :) what wasn't reported was that about 70 people gave their lives to the Lord that evening.What a wonderful testimony!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Chicken ala Carte
View this movie at cultureunplugged.com
The waste of affluence, of consumerism. Do we jump onto the bandwagon? Dare we create our own culture?
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Choon Ming Bao Dian
This bao-shop is started by this Malaysian lady - Sarah. Food is quite good... the yam cake is yummy and they have a 'kong-long' (dinosaur) bao which is about the size of an A5 sheet of paper.. it's more meat than flour.. enough for a whole day's meal I think.. lol. What she does... she employs Chinese migrants in need to run the shop, she takes care of their lodging, meals everything. In a really short time she already has 8 shops up and running.
Sarah, top left hand corner
Found out that she's coordinating a Good Friday program for tomorrow.. the amazing thing is that a school principal called her up and wanted to organize the event with her, the community centre RC wanted to partner with her and they are allowing them to share the gospel!! John 3:16 and everything.. up till now, 500 coming to 600 people are said to turn up.. people from the schools, needy families that are taking hand-outs from the RC. She's extended the shop premise to the carpark (the space is allowed rent-free by the RC.. normally one parking lot costs about $50-90.. she's taking like 20 lots?) with a tent & 2 stages set-up (1 for adults, 1 for children) Ps Kong's nephew is coming to do the magic show, there's a balloon sculptor coming.. the works!! What's even more amazing about this lady is that she's paying for it all out of her own pocket.. $11k (cost at the moment).
I am in awe of the heart of this lady... I see her testimony, her business, the doors that have been opened for this event to take place.. and know that God is behind all of this. He will not fail to bless her and her business. For her heart is after God's own heart.. the aliens in the land, the poor and oppressed. There is no reason why God will not bless.
Support this work!
Ang Mo Kio
Blk 443, Ave 10 #01-1259
Blk 339, Ave 1
Blk 122, Ave 3
Blk 233, Ave 3
Blk 159, Ave 4
Blk 721, Ave 8
Blk 632, Ave 6
Ghim Moh Road
Blk 10, #01-78
Sarah, top left hand cornerFound out that she's coordinating a Good Friday program for tomorrow.. the amazing thing is that a school principal called her up and wanted to organize the event with her, the community centre RC wanted to partner with her and they are allowing them to share the gospel!! John 3:16 and everything.. up till now, 500 coming to 600 people are said to turn up.. people from the schools, needy families that are taking hand-outs from the RC. She's extended the shop premise to the carpark (the space is allowed rent-free by the RC.. normally one parking lot costs about $50-90.. she's taking like 20 lots?) with a tent & 2 stages set-up (1 for adults, 1 for children) Ps Kong's nephew is coming to do the magic show, there's a balloon sculptor coming.. the works!! What's even more amazing about this lady is that she's paying for it all out of her own pocket.. $11k (cost at the moment).
I am in awe of the heart of this lady... I see her testimony, her business, the doors that have been opened for this event to take place.. and know that God is behind all of this. He will not fail to bless her and her business. For her heart is after God's own heart.. the aliens in the land, the poor and oppressed. There is no reason why God will not bless.
Support this work!
Ang Mo Kio
Blk 443, Ave 10 #01-1259
Blk 339, Ave 1
Blk 122, Ave 3
Blk 233, Ave 3
Blk 159, Ave 4
Blk 721, Ave 8
Blk 632, Ave 6
Ghim Moh Road
Blk 10, #01-78
Monday, April 6, 2009
SAJC Booth 3 Apr 09
Had a booth set up at SAJC today. It's the initiative of one of our volunteers - Brandon. He's just finished his A levels and aspiring to be a doctor. Really has a heart for the community in Geylang and passionate about telling others about this work. I'm always encouraged when I see young'uns passionate about doing God's work..
Booth run fully by ex-Saints: Vanessa (also aspiring doctor) & Brandon in action
Booth run fully by ex-Saints: Vanessa (also aspiring doctor) & Brandon in actionTuesday, March 31, 2009
Everest Kitchen
Thank God for fantastic new friends/colleagues :) This is my first time in a Nepalese restaurant in Singapore.. To be honest even after having been to Nepal, I never knew what the food was like (apart from the momos) until now.. haha. Mushroom tempura like thing was great, but the roasted san-chen-rou was the clincher.. oh-so-mindnumbingly-even-now-saliva-inducingly-good!! So good that it was half gone before I could whip out the camera-phone.
Thanks Jackie!! Here's to many more lunches/dinners/suppers to come!
Thanks Jackie!! Here's to many more lunches/dinners/suppers to come!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
HIV Talk - CME
Went through a talk about HIV today.. A doctor talked to us about the technicalities of the disease and a lady who runs the HIV patient care centre at TTSH spoke to us about the psychological impact the disease has on a person. And there were all sorts of interesting facts like - you need to drink 3 - 5l of a HIV infected person's saliva before there's a chance that you're infected, so getting HIV from an infected person is not as easy as some might believe. And there's a rapid HIV testing kit, where testing for HIV is as easy as using a home testing-kit for pregnancy.
About the effectiveness about the home-testing kit, which is 99.9% accurate, I found it interesting that.. the professionals are not so concerned about the people taking the test and finding out they are not HIV positive when they actually are (because numbers are so small comparatively).. they are more concerned about people taking the test and thinking that they are positive when they are not.. because the disease has such a stigma and many take it as a pronouncement of a death sentence, they'll rather kill themselves than fight through and live. I can't imagine the kind of trauma that a person goes through.. there's still so little information/advocacy about this, though this can have the potential to become an epidemic in the world today. Research funds are still being poured into medication/cures for cancer or heart problems (basically the rich people's diseases) cos that's where the money is.
Why should we be interested in such a small minority of people suffering from this? Don't they deserve the disease because of their lifestyles or sins?
That's what the people in Jesus' time thought about the lepers.. they were sinful therefore God struck them with the disease.. but what did Jesus do?
About the effectiveness about the home-testing kit, which is 99.9% accurate, I found it interesting that.. the professionals are not so concerned about the people taking the test and finding out they are not HIV positive when they actually are (because numbers are so small comparatively).. they are more concerned about people taking the test and thinking that they are positive when they are not.. because the disease has such a stigma and many take it as a pronouncement of a death sentence, they'll rather kill themselves than fight through and live. I can't imagine the kind of trauma that a person goes through.. there's still so little information/advocacy about this, though this can have the potential to become an epidemic in the world today. Research funds are still being poured into medication/cures for cancer or heart problems (basically the rich people's diseases) cos that's where the money is.
Why should we be interested in such a small minority of people suffering from this? Don't they deserve the disease because of their lifestyles or sins?
That's what the people in Jesus' time thought about the lepers.. they were sinful therefore God struck them with the disease.. but what did Jesus do?
"While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him." Luke 5:12-13
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Amazed
The people in Geylang amaze me everyday... I was at a coffee shop today having my lunch of some handmade noodles with beef (not bad by the way, thanks for the intro ed!). When I saw this rough-looking; cratered face coffee shop stall holder guy come out with a container of cat food and fed the cat. Leftovers and rubbish for the cat I understand.. but proper cat food? Perhaps someone else bought the cat food.. perhaps it's expired.. but nonetheless the man cared enough to feed it.
Cat eating cat food..
For me, in such a place where people fend for themselves and often cannot be concerned about things other than themselves.. I am bowled over that there is more than kindness. Perhaps I am stereotyping and being narrow minded.. but people surprise me sometimes.
Cat eating cat food..For me, in such a place where people fend for themselves and often cannot be concerned about things other than themselves.. I am bowled over that there is more than kindness. Perhaps I am stereotyping and being narrow minded.. but people surprise me sometimes.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
SLearning Conference 17 - 18 Mar 09
A big part of my work is linked to schools and educational institutions. The cliche, youths are the leaders of the future.. over-used but true. If nobody told me about HS, I would not know, so if I do not tell them, how would they know? True, we do not have the structures to absorb the many students who have to fulfill their CIP hours.. but then again, we don't want them to come and go through the motions. We want to invest in the lives of those that come, to share God's heart for the people.. share what he sees. So we had a booth at this conference to tell the teachers and principals who came about what we did. It was the first time many of them heard about us, think that in itself is a success :)
There were many speakers who came and spoke about giving back to the community. The one I went for was very good, by this guy Antonio 'tony' Meloto who heads the Gawad Kalinga movement. They get land from huge land owners in Philippines, build houses, get running water, give each family that moves there farmland and develop a communal farm so the proceeds can go back into that community... these people are relocated mostly from the slums. So through this, the people get a new lease of life & chance to escape the poverty trap. By developing just 2 acres of land, they can house up to 100 families. He didn't say if it was difficult in the beginning, but I believe it couldn't have been easy. Especially to convince the landlords to give the land.. but now it's been proven that these communities increase the value of the land for, the land is developed and crime reduces in the other parts.. he testifies that now, they are up to their ears in land.
Many times we look at others and see them as second class citizens - Filipinos, Bangladeshis, Indians, Chinese... that they begin to believe that they are second class citizens.. But the fact is we are all made the same, in the image of God. When we strip them of dignity and place a yoke on them and use them for our own means... aren't we like the head servant who beat the other servants and took advantage of his position? What really hit me from what he shared was the dignity and hope that was returned to these people. The yoke of poverty and chains of injustice that were lifted.
I believe there are many in our region that are in similar situations... we can choose to look the other way or we can choose to pray and see what 'doors of opportunities to help' the Lord can open to us.
There were many speakers who came and spoke about giving back to the community. The one I went for was very good, by this guy Antonio 'tony' Meloto who heads the Gawad Kalinga movement. They get land from huge land owners in Philippines, build houses, get running water, give each family that moves there farmland and develop a communal farm so the proceeds can go back into that community... these people are relocated mostly from the slums. So through this, the people get a new lease of life & chance to escape the poverty trap. By developing just 2 acres of land, they can house up to 100 families. He didn't say if it was difficult in the beginning, but I believe it couldn't have been easy. Especially to convince the landlords to give the land.. but now it's been proven that these communities increase the value of the land for, the land is developed and crime reduces in the other parts.. he testifies that now, they are up to their ears in land.
Many times we look at others and see them as second class citizens - Filipinos, Bangladeshis, Indians, Chinese... that they begin to believe that they are second class citizens.. But the fact is we are all made the same, in the image of God. When we strip them of dignity and place a yoke on them and use them for our own means... aren't we like the head servant who beat the other servants and took advantage of his position? What really hit me from what he shared was the dignity and hope that was returned to these people. The yoke of poverty and chains of injustice that were lifted.
I believe there are many in our region that are in similar situations... we can choose to look the other way or we can choose to pray and see what 'doors of opportunities to help' the Lord can open to us.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Job Interview
Today I went to Capella (hotel in Sentosa, opening Apr 09) for a job interview. :) No not for me.. but we (Marilyn, Brandon & I) accompanied Mr. Yin (a Chinese migrant) for his interview. I decided to go as 1) I felt it would be good to lend moral support 2) go to Sentosa as I've not been there for some time 3) it's a good excuse to come in to work late.. haha..
While we were there funny incident :: We were getting directions to the HR office from one of the security guards and she said, "Just go straight and turn left, you can wait at the foyer for your father" she thought we were a family.. hahaa.. Hilarious!! Guess in a way we were family... bros & sis in Christ what!
Anyway, it didn't turn out well.. the interview I mean. A little more about Mr. Yin.
Mr. Yin is a migrant from China, he came as a construction worker. But while working in an enclosed space with a pneumatic drill, he lost his hearing completely in one ear and only has 30% hearing ability in the other. After he lost his hearing, his employer decided to terminate his contract without any form of worker's compensation. For days he wandered the streets of Geylang at a loss, without money for food or shelter. Till through a friend, got introduced to us. We tried to help him as best we can. Clothes, food, shelter was easy... but I believe it was the Lord that helped him pull through such an ordeal.
While we were there funny incident :: We were getting directions to the HR office from one of the security guards and she said, "Just go straight and turn left, you can wait at the foyer for your father" she thought we were a family.. hahaa.. Hilarious!! Guess in a way we were family... bros & sis in Christ what!
Anyway, it didn't turn out well.. the interview I mean. A little more about Mr. Yin.
Mr. Yin is a migrant from China, he came as a construction worker. But while working in an enclosed space with a pneumatic drill, he lost his hearing completely in one ear and only has 30% hearing ability in the other. After he lost his hearing, his employer decided to terminate his contract without any form of worker's compensation. For days he wandered the streets of Geylang at a loss, without money for food or shelter. Till through a friend, got introduced to us. We tried to help him as best we can. Clothes, food, shelter was easy... but I believe it was the Lord that helped him pull through such an ordeal.
Mr. Yin
He's such a delightful person, always helpful, always smiley. He got to know the Lord while one of the volunteers shared the good news with him... though he can't hear, I believe it's the Holy Spirit that has been teaching him for he sometimes comes to us to tell us about what he learnt from reading the Word and we are amazed. Through his testimony, many were moved to help and alleviate the plight of these workers that have been dealt with injustly. A man even pledged an amount every month to help support him in this time of joblessness.
The reason he's still here is that he's still trying to fight this case with the employer to get compensation. The doctor from MOM had just examined him and the work site and concluded that the work situation was not enough to make him go deaf. But we believe that the study was not the exact conditions he was under, a lawyer heard about this and decided that he can fight this case for him.. pro bono (hallelujah!). But this is also the reason why he didn't get the job.. they needed someone immediately.
Throughout this time, true, Mr. Yin got a little depressed after the whole series of things that happened, I still admire his faith. He has all the reason to be angry, to feel that the world owes him, feel bitter, blame God.. but he doesn't. He brushed himself off and said, "will I take the good things but not the bad God has allowed? Don't worry, God will see me through".
I believe his faith is not unfounded... Our God is the defender of the weak, and will lose the chains of injustice. Isa 58:5-14.
Love mercy?
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. Micah 6:8
Mercy
Was just wondering... why did the Lord not say BE merciful, but LOVE mercy?
I guess it was because we can choose to show mercy without actually being merciful. But the bar is set high. We've a saviour who loves to be merciful, loves mercy itself.
Grace = getting something you do not deserve
Mercy = not getting something you deserve
Mercy requires an acknowledgement of our wrong, because it is something we deserve.
Humility
Have I grown too spiritually 'mature' for those I serve? Exasperation at some of the things that younger brothers and sisters do?
One minute Jesus was discussing theology with the teachers of the law, the next he was calling the little children to him.
Mercy
Was just wondering... why did the Lord not say BE merciful, but LOVE mercy?
I guess it was because we can choose to show mercy without actually being merciful. But the bar is set high. We've a saviour who loves to be merciful, loves mercy itself.
Grace = getting something you do not deserve
Mercy = not getting something you deserve
Mercy requires an acknowledgement of our wrong, because it is something we deserve.
Humility
Have I grown too spiritually 'mature' for those I serve? Exasperation at some of the things that younger brothers and sisters do?
One minute Jesus was discussing theology with the teachers of the law, the next he was calling the little children to him.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Bye Frank...
We said good-bye to Frank today.. will definitely miss having him around.
Frank & Fei Feng @ JB Coffeeshop
Frank's a student from Amsterdam, here to do his project/report about the red-light district in Geylang. The politics, sociological issues.. etc. He found us through google, cool right.
Frank & Fei Feng @ JB CoffeeshopThursday, February 19, 2009
Saved by grace
How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
Ps 82:2-4
Talking to people about what I do, I find myself sometimes defending, even selling my cause, trying to incite pity. Then I realized, I didn't have to justify what I was doing...
It's not my job to incite pity, to excite sympathy nor defend.. the Lord himself will do that. The fact is that we're all saved by grace, shown mercy through the sacrifice that was for all. Who am I to judge the whys and hows of any person? If I pride myself in my moral uprightness in comparison with a street walker, how different am I from the pharisee who thanked God that he wasn't like a tax-collector?
None are righteous.. none deserve to be spared, but all have been redeemed.
Friday, February 13, 2009
It's so easy to judge
Romans 5:8 - ... While we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us. (emphasis my own) In a demonstration of His love, Christ did just that.
Do I understand what this little line, used time and time again in Christian speech, actually means?
The lust-ladened eyes that sweeps over a scantily clad lady, foxy grin on his face. Written plain on his face what he has in mind. Can the Lord who knows the hearts of men look on that and decide to demonstrate his love?
Sex workers - the victims of circumstance, victims I understand.
The poor, theives, hunger drives them - also victims perhaps.
But men/people who have the power to choose and chooses to victimize. That I cannot, sometimes will not. However the fact remains. God demonstrated His love for "whoever" believes in Him. Yes, even that lusty old man in Victoria coffeeshop. So who am I to judge?
Do I understand what this little line, used time and time again in Christian speech, actually means?
The lust-ladened eyes that sweeps over a scantily clad lady, foxy grin on his face. Written plain on his face what he has in mind. Can the Lord who knows the hearts of men look on that and decide to demonstrate his love?
Sex workers - the victims of circumstance, victims I understand.
The poor, theives, hunger drives them - also victims perhaps.
But men/people who have the power to choose and chooses to victimize. That I cannot, sometimes will not. However the fact remains. God demonstrated His love for "whoever" believes in Him. Yes, even that lusty old man in Victoria coffeeshop. So who am I to judge?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
YEP Recce 17 - 19 Jan 09
There's a YEP trip to Indonesia coming up in July (which I think I have to be there.. for the whole thing!), it's organized by the 3 NUS nursing society students. These 3 gals are amazing.. due to the different schedule of the nursing students they often cannot make the other YEP projects, so these gals out of their own time and pockets decided to create a project so people of their course can go and experience such an endeavor. I think it takes great initiative and guts!
Project is going to be them (the would be nurses) going to a village in Indonesia to give the children there basic health education. Sounds simple enough, but I don't think it's gonna be easy. It's quite an ulu place with no toilets/bathrooms/running water.. and we'll be staying in an orphanage.. no beds or mattresses. And this is for 2 whole weeks!! Part of me revel in the idea of roughing it out.. truly learning what it means to live in such conditions, reminding me not to take for granted what I have. The other part of me is telling me that it's going to be uncomfortable and a challenge.. which makes me wish I can escape it.. anyhow.. training for the mission field? Perhaps..
Project is going to be them (the would be nurses) going to a village in Indonesia to give the children there basic health education. Sounds simple enough, but I don't think it's gonna be easy. It's quite an ulu place with no toilets/bathrooms/running water.. and we'll be staying in an orphanage.. no beds or mattresses. And this is for 2 whole weeks!! Part of me revel in the idea of roughing it out.. truly learning what it means to live in such conditions, reminding me not to take for granted what I have. The other part of me is telling me that it's going to be uncomfortable and a challenge.. which makes me wish I can escape it.. anyhow.. training for the mission field? Perhaps..
Friday, January 2, 2009
HealthServe...
Is a community development organization that reaches out to the vulnerable, needy and communities that have fallen through the cracks of society. It has a low-cost clinic situated in the middle of Geylang.. Lorong 23 to be exact. So by nature of our location, we seek to help people in this area. "Who's there to help in Geylang?" some might ask.. "isn't it a flourishing 'entertainment' area? Plenty of good food?"
Like many, I've never ventured beyond the main streets, never even been here more than 5 times? I've heard about the shady business that went on, heard about its reputation as a redlight district. But what it actually is, was quite beyond me.
After being here for about half a year.. I find that I'm learning about and from this place everyday. The different sights, sounds and mostly the different players in this community. From the low-wage foreign workers, commercial sex workers, their customers, their agents to the community development partners - the passionate selfless people who give themselves to the work here to make/see change in this place. It is a place of great pain but also of great inspiration. Perhaps one day I'll truly understand how God's heart beats for this place and the people here.
Like many, I've never ventured beyond the main streets, never even been here more than 5 times? I've heard about the shady business that went on, heard about its reputation as a redlight district. But what it actually is, was quite beyond me.
After being here for about half a year.. I find that I'm learning about and from this place everyday. The different sights, sounds and mostly the different players in this community. From the low-wage foreign workers, commercial sex workers, their customers, their agents to the community development partners - the passionate selfless people who give themselves to the work here to make/see change in this place. It is a place of great pain but also of great inspiration. Perhaps one day I'll truly understand how God's heart beats for this place and the people here.
