Crystallizes my recent thoughts about short-term missions.
Read article.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Maya Angelou
Just came across an interview Oprah did with this amazing lady and this thing she said struck a chord with me:
Oprah: I'm sure that throughout your life, some have said of you, "Who does she think she is?" How do you respond?
Maya: Among other things, "I'm a child of God." That's amazing. And "I'm not only a child of God, but God loves me."
Oprah: The wonder of that.
Maya: It still knocks my socks off!
Oprah: Doesn't knowing that give you freedom?
Maya: Freedom and discipline. Freedom and responsibility. Freedom and a path. Freedom and a row to hoe (means: tough task to carry out). Freedom to do something, not freedom to be idle. And the hardest part for me is to realize that while God loves me, and I am a child of God, I have to see the bigot and the brute and the rapist, and whether he or she knows it or not, I have to know that that person is a child of God. That is part of the responsibility—and it's hard.
Whole interview here.
------------------------------
We've just finished with a bulk of busy-ness in HealthServe, an outing with the KT dormitory residents and the Health Carnival with MWC. I felt they both were relatively successful and for that I'm thankful. Thankful for the people who've let us run events for them, allowed us to catch a glimpse of their lives. I'll update with write-ups others have done soon :p Heh.
Oprah: I'm sure that throughout your life, some have said of you, "Who does she think she is?" How do you respond?
Maya: Among other things, "I'm a child of God." That's amazing. And "I'm not only a child of God, but God loves me."
Oprah: The wonder of that.
Maya: It still knocks my socks off!
Oprah: Doesn't knowing that give you freedom?
Maya: Freedom and discipline. Freedom and responsibility. Freedom and a path. Freedom and a row to hoe (means: tough task to carry out). Freedom to do something, not freedom to be idle. And the hardest part for me is to realize that while God loves me, and I am a child of God, I have to see the bigot and the brute and the rapist, and whether he or she knows it or not, I have to know that that person is a child of God. That is part of the responsibility—and it's hard.
Whole interview here.
------------------------------
We've just finished with a bulk of busy-ness in HealthServe, an outing with the KT dormitory residents and the Health Carnival with MWC. I felt they both were relatively successful and for that I'm thankful. Thankful for the people who've let us run events for them, allowed us to catch a glimpse of their lives. I'll update with write-ups others have done soon :p Heh.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
I recently had a conversation with someone
It began with a simple question,
“How many siblings do you have?”
“10”, she answered.
“Wow, so many?”
“Oh, but same father, same mother only 3.”
“I see.”
I didn’t press the issue and moved on a different line of questions. I couldn’t help but wonder about the life of someone who’s been through the things she’s been through. In that brief half hour I heard a story that seemed too bad to be true, a dramatic clichéd portrayal of someone who has it bad in life. But it is/was somebody’s life, not a bad movie script and apparently it’s not as uncommon as I previously thought. How does life get so bad? Why is it so difficult for some and so easy for others?
“It must have been difficult for you.”
“Yes, very.”
--------------------
Does your heart break too?
“How many siblings do you have?”
“10”, she answered.
“Wow, so many?”
“Oh, but same father, same mother only 3.”
“I see.”
I didn’t press the issue and moved on a different line of questions. I couldn’t help but wonder about the life of someone who’s been through the things she’s been through. In that brief half hour I heard a story that seemed too bad to be true, a dramatic clichéd portrayal of someone who has it bad in life. But it is/was somebody’s life, not a bad movie script and apparently it’s not as uncommon as I previously thought. How does life get so bad? Why is it so difficult for some and so easy for others?
“It must have been difficult for you.”
“Yes, very.”
--------------------
Does your heart break too?
Monday, April 26, 2010
HS Planning Retreat - 23-25 Apr 10
Just came back from our HealthServe annual planning retreat at a very nice chalet somewhere slightly off Melaka - El Sanctuary. Really loved the place. It had a nice rustic, back-to-nature feel to it, really helps people to slow down and peace out. It is run by a very hospitable and friendly family of 12 (in-laws and pets included) who really helped us feel at home. They keep the place nice and clean, and serve fabulous home-cooked meals.
Apart from the great place, it was a good time of getting to know my co-workers better and the work that they've been doing in the different components of HS. It was slightly different this year as we had the AEF brothers join us, got to talk more to a few of them and found out that they've been ministering to South Asian workers near dormitories in various parts of Singapore every Wednesday evening. They have few which is in Tamil and one in Telugu. It's really funny, the way they describe it. They said all they need for this is a large ground sheet and a light. If the weather is fine, they lay the sheet on the ground and sit at the open space. If it rains, they'll tie the ground sheet to poles and use it as shelter. Despite the simple set up, there are plenty of encouraging testimonies that the AEF brothers shared. Such exciting work! I resolve to go see it for myself one day.
One incident we would reminisce about in years to come, would be the jungle trek we decided to take one afternoon. With only the 4 dogs as guide, the whole group of us (apart from Vincent, Ruban and Vijay who conveniently disappeared) embarked on the trek. We were challenged by the inconsistent terrain, leaves, branches, cobwebs that blocked our path and hungry mosquitoes that saw us as a buffet spread. The most challenging obstacle however was a raging river (that came all the way up to my knees) where we had to navigate across by using 2 ropes tied to trees on either side. The more muscular used the ropes, while I decided to be brave, kicked off my slippers and waded across. We came out sweaty and triumphant after what couldn't be more than 30mins of walking with just 2 casualties of one bee sting and one with a leech on the foot. Glory Hallelujah! How proud we were. Haha... good times.
Few photos from the retreat
Apart from the great place, it was a good time of getting to know my co-workers better and the work that they've been doing in the different components of HS. It was slightly different this year as we had the AEF brothers join us, got to talk more to a few of them and found out that they've been ministering to South Asian workers near dormitories in various parts of Singapore every Wednesday evening. They have few which is in Tamil and one in Telugu. It's really funny, the way they describe it. They said all they need for this is a large ground sheet and a light. If the weather is fine, they lay the sheet on the ground and sit at the open space. If it rains, they'll tie the ground sheet to poles and use it as shelter. Despite the simple set up, there are plenty of encouraging testimonies that the AEF brothers shared. Such exciting work! I resolve to go see it for myself one day.
One incident we would reminisce about in years to come, would be the jungle trek we decided to take one afternoon. With only the 4 dogs as guide, the whole group of us (apart from Vincent, Ruban and Vijay who conveniently disappeared) embarked on the trek. We were challenged by the inconsistent terrain, leaves, branches, cobwebs that blocked our path and hungry mosquitoes that saw us as a buffet spread. The most challenging obstacle however was a raging river (that came all the way up to my knees) where we had to navigate across by using 2 ropes tied to trees on either side. The more muscular used the ropes, while I decided to be brave, kicked off my slippers and waded across. We came out sweaty and triumphant after what couldn't be more than 30mins of walking with just 2 casualties of one bee sting and one with a leech on the foot. Glory Hallelujah! How proud we were. Haha... good times.
Few photos from the retreatMonday, April 19, 2010
City on our Knees
Just love the words to this Toby Mac song...
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It’s all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Tonight could last forever
We are one choice from together
I just heard 2 lovely messages from 2 different people over the weekend, one was a gathering in appreciation of the staff and volunteers of both HealthServe and Karunya clinic at GWL's (check out the pictures below!), the other at service the next morning. They both touched on the passage about Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. But with 2 different emphasis. I think it's amazing how one story can be seen in such different light yet fit together so beautifully.
What is true religion?It is when we encounter God ourselves, be transformed into His likeness and start to feel and see what he feels and sees for His creation - a love that I still struggle to comprehend. That love then compels us to feed the hungry and thirsty, reach out to the unlovable, touch the untouchable and introduce salvation/hope to the hopeless. -- A tall order, I know, but with each step, with each success or failure, hopefully I'll get closer to how he sees me to be. I've heard these messages before, but I've only just barely begun to catch a glimpse and really understand what it means to live it out.
Celebration@Goh's Lodge
It was a celebration of imperfect people who've decided to lay themselves aside
and learn to live the preaching, I was honoured to be in their company.
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It’s all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees
A city on our knees
Tonight could last forever
We are one choice from together
I just heard 2 lovely messages from 2 different people over the weekend, one was a gathering in appreciation of the staff and volunteers of both HealthServe and Karunya clinic at GWL's (check out the pictures below!), the other at service the next morning. They both touched on the passage about Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. But with 2 different emphasis. I think it's amazing how one story can be seen in such different light yet fit together so beautifully.
What is true religion?It is when we encounter God ourselves, be transformed into His likeness and start to feel and see what he feels and sees for His creation - a love that I still struggle to comprehend. That love then compels us to feed the hungry and thirsty, reach out to the unlovable, touch the untouchable and introduce salvation/hope to the hopeless. -- A tall order, I know, but with each step, with each success or failure, hopefully I'll get closer to how he sees me to be. I've heard these messages before, but I've only just barely begun to catch a glimpse and really understand what it means to live it out.
Celebration@Goh's LodgeIt was a celebration of imperfect people who've decided to lay themselves aside
and learn to live the preaching, I was honoured to be in their company.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Assumption Pathway School - Reflections
(An article I wrote for the upcoming HS newsletter, which will be summarized to fit the 200 word limit... here's the article in all its glory. Haha..)
Many of us in Singapore take education for granted, assuming that our children like us, would go through kindergarten, primary school and up till secondary school at least. What happens when a child’s grades do not qualify him/her to get into a secondary school even after several tries?
Healthserve has recently finished conducting a course of 10 weeks that teaches basic life-skills to students in Assumption Pathway School (APS). APS is vocational school that takes in students that have not gotten placements in the secondary schools and trains them in practical skills such as hair-dressing and pastry making, skills that will hopefully prove useful in providing future employment. The team goes there twice a week, each session employing a group of five or more volunteers led by Fong Lin, an active volunteer and certified life-skills trainer, to a class of approximately thirty students. The volunteer to student ratio is deliberately kept high to complement the curriculum that seeks to instill positive mindsets and values through good role-modelling and mentorship.
Initially I was a little weary about helping out in such a school, getting an impression from the teachers themselves about how the students can be such ruffians, streetwise and merciless to those who are weak or gullible. However, within the first few sessions I found them to be like any other group of young people, forthcoming and lively – as prone to breaking out in laughter as to flaring up in temper over slight teasing. Behind the come-what-may attitude many of them adopt, they are simply young people trying to deal with their circumstances the best way they know how. Issues like broken homes, dysfunctional families, autistic disorders and poverty are just some of the range of problems these youths face on a daily basis. Hearing such dramatic/unimaginable stories being told and brushed off by students as a fact of life can be disconcerting, and a sense of hopelessness sometimes follows as I am faced with the littleness of what I can do to help.
Nonetheless, the response of the students has been very encouraging. Relatively attentive and participative in the weekly lessons, their readiness to engage in relationships with the volunteers and even organized a celebration for all the volunteers at the end of the term. At the celebration, all of them mustered their culinary and hospitality skills to serve us a delicious treat of spaghetti and pastry desserts. Seeing their enthusiasm in setting up the celebration for us helped me see that even through something as small as offering an empathetic ear, those few minutes of listening will go the distance. As a clichéd but true saying goes “people don’t care how much you know, till they know how much you care”.
Looking forward, the principal of the school – Mr Wee Tat Chuen, has agreed to let us continue running this course till the end of the year with this same group of students. Hopefully, the relationships that have been fostered will continue to grow and make a lasting impact.
Many of us in Singapore take education for granted, assuming that our children like us, would go through kindergarten, primary school and up till secondary school at least. What happens when a child’s grades do not qualify him/her to get into a secondary school even after several tries?
Healthserve has recently finished conducting a course of 10 weeks that teaches basic life-skills to students in Assumption Pathway School (APS). APS is vocational school that takes in students that have not gotten placements in the secondary schools and trains them in practical skills such as hair-dressing and pastry making, skills that will hopefully prove useful in providing future employment. The team goes there twice a week, each session employing a group of five or more volunteers led by Fong Lin, an active volunteer and certified life-skills trainer, to a class of approximately thirty students. The volunteer to student ratio is deliberately kept high to complement the curriculum that seeks to instill positive mindsets and values through good role-modelling and mentorship.
Initially I was a little weary about helping out in such a school, getting an impression from the teachers themselves about how the students can be such ruffians, streetwise and merciless to those who are weak or gullible. However, within the first few sessions I found them to be like any other group of young people, forthcoming and lively – as prone to breaking out in laughter as to flaring up in temper over slight teasing. Behind the come-what-may attitude many of them adopt, they are simply young people trying to deal with their circumstances the best way they know how. Issues like broken homes, dysfunctional families, autistic disorders and poverty are just some of the range of problems these youths face on a daily basis. Hearing such dramatic/unimaginable stories being told and brushed off by students as a fact of life can be disconcerting, and a sense of hopelessness sometimes follows as I am faced with the littleness of what I can do to help.
Nonetheless, the response of the students has been very encouraging. Relatively attentive and participative in the weekly lessons, their readiness to engage in relationships with the volunteers and even organized a celebration for all the volunteers at the end of the term. At the celebration, all of them mustered their culinary and hospitality skills to serve us a delicious treat of spaghetti and pastry desserts. Seeing their enthusiasm in setting up the celebration for us helped me see that even through something as small as offering an empathetic ear, those few minutes of listening will go the distance. As a clichéd but true saying goes “people don’t care how much you know, till they know how much you care”.
Looking forward, the principal of the school – Mr Wee Tat Chuen, has agreed to let us continue running this course till the end of the year with this same group of students. Hopefully, the relationships that have been fostered will continue to grow and make a lasting impact.
Monday, March 29, 2010
New people with us
Feels like not long ago that I had to orientate 2 fresh/young people to HealthServe... now they've made their impressions and gone on to the next level. Just like the migrant friends we meet, even the volunteers, interns, colleagues are so transient. It's sad some times, you make a connection, share a part of yourself with the person and not too long after they move on. Not saying that I'm losing in anyway, on the contrary these people add to me by sharing their lives, laughter and love. I've been really blessed.
I now welcome our latest additions - Dave, Intern from NP & Vina who's taken over May's role in the accounts department. May the Lord bless both your time here and bring you to a deeper understanding of yourself and the people we meet.
Dave
I now welcome our latest additions - Dave, Intern from NP & Vina who's taken over May's role in the accounts department. May the Lord bless both your time here and bring you to a deeper understanding of yourself and the people we meet.
DaveWednesday, March 3, 2010
Feathery Fun - 28 Feb 10
Just after coming back from a holiday in Perth, I went to join Bee Ngoh (person now in charge of the work in the boon lay work) in taking some Chinese ladies from the KT Dorms to the Singapore Bird Park! It was a good time of making friends and behaving like a tourist.
This is a simple first step we're taking to start the work in KT, going out together with the residents as friends, having a meal, chatting - simply building relationships. If HS has taught me anything, it has to be that all of life and work in HS centers around relationships. I was surprised how easy it was to interact with some of them. Was expecting them to be more reserved and weary of us, but they were forthcoming and chatty after the initial awkwardness when you meet people for the first time. Hopefully I'll get to know some of them even better in time to come.
Us being tourists
Me feeding the Lorys
This is a simple first step we're taking to start the work in KT, going out together with the residents as friends, having a meal, chatting - simply building relationships. If HS has taught me anything, it has to be that all of life and work in HS centers around relationships. I was surprised how easy it was to interact with some of them. Was expecting them to be more reserved and weary of us, but they were forthcoming and chatty after the initial awkwardness when you meet people for the first time. Hopefully I'll get to know some of them even better in time to come.
Us being tourists
Me feeding the LorysMonday, March 1, 2010
Man Hong's back...
Man Hong's signed her life to us... mwahahaha... Well, for the next month at least. I'm glad for the company and extra pair of hands. :) Welcome back MH!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Chandeliers in Geylang
Dr Goh (Chairman/ one of the founders of HealthServe) just celebrated his 50 years on earth in, where else but, colourful Geylang. Honestly it felt more like an event than a personal Birthday celebration. Dr Goh really went all out and spruced up the place till it was beyond recognition. You'd think we were somewhere at the Fullerton, white billowy tents, red chandeliers, a live jazz band. The food: Sushi, kebabs, 4 cheese tortellini with cream sauce, Peking duck wraps, desserts that were simply heavenly and the list goes on. And that's not to mention the guest list! From ministers (of the country and church), doctors and directors to ex-pimps, NGO workers and migrants. I could say that we were one eclectic (eccentric) bunch. It was really nice. Felt a bit like a wedding. Haha... Everyone joked that they secretly suspected that Dr Goh was inviting them to his wedding, for who sent out birthday invites nowadays?
Red Chandelier
Apart from it's apparent show of affluence, I felt it was for a noble cause. Instead of gifts he made his guests write a cheque to one of five causes that he championed - HealthServe being one of them of course. Some might not think much of this since Dr Goh being who he is and his economic status, what are gifts to him anyway? Some might even think that it is his 'duty' to give back to society since he already has so much. Perhaps, perhaps not. It's his birthday; people usually want the focus to be on them. He could have made it such that he could showcase his accomplishments. Or just have a party with his friends and celebrate 'him'. But he didn't, even as he thought about where he was headed next, he thought about the people who didn't have the privileges he's had. I think it takes humility and generosity. In a world where we think about 'what's in it for me', it's refreshing and inspirational to be around people who think 'what about them'. It made me think about this whole idea of amassing 'stuff', already I have all that I need to live comfortably. So I don't really need more... I just want more. So yes, I've been inspired to be more selfless. This year I shall make all my friends help a cause instead of wasting money on more stuff for me.
Red ChandelierApart from it's apparent show of affluence, I felt it was for a noble cause. Instead of gifts he made his guests write a cheque to one of five causes that he championed - HealthServe being one of them of course. Some might not think much of this since Dr Goh being who he is and his economic status, what are gifts to him anyway? Some might even think that it is his 'duty' to give back to society since he already has so much. Perhaps, perhaps not. It's his birthday; people usually want the focus to be on them. He could have made it such that he could showcase his accomplishments. Or just have a party with his friends and celebrate 'him'. But he didn't, even as he thought about where he was headed next, he thought about the people who didn't have the privileges he's had. I think it takes humility and generosity. In a world where we think about 'what's in it for me', it's refreshing and inspirational to be around people who think 'what about them'. It made me think about this whole idea of amassing 'stuff', already I have all that I need to live comfortably. So I don't really need more... I just want more. So yes, I've been inspired to be more selfless. This year I shall make all my friends help a cause instead of wasting money on more stuff for me.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Kseniya Simonova
This video shows the winner of "Ukraine’s Got Talent," Kseniya Simonova, 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Interns from NP
We've recently had two interns from NP with us. Their 'term' with us was four months, but it ended a week ago on 14th Jan. It was a good, I always enjoy being around young people. They make me rethink notions that I've established over the (almost) three decades of my life, to open my mind to the possibilities that I saw and have dismissed as impossible. The fact of the matter is, nothing is impossible with our God of the infinite. It's never too late to strive for the things we hope to accomplish in life. While there's still breath in me, I am still living out the fulfillment of my purpose here in this part of eternity.
In the light of life never-ending, how can I say that it's to late to study to become a marine biologist? or an explorer? But I digress. My intention of this post was to remember the contributions the interns gave to HealthServe. They took our intention and made it reality.
Manhong has designed a nice orientation package to start off young people finding out more about the plight of migrants and their lives, it might be up to me to bring it to the next level of getting them involved in doing after knowing. Choo Min has started us off in helping us remake a curriculum for life skills we can take and train youths. We've already begun to implement the program for a group of troubled youths. More about that when I've finished my 'stint' with them.
Manhong & Choo Min
In the light of life never-ending, how can I say that it's to late to study to become a marine biologist? or an explorer? But I digress. My intention of this post was to remember the contributions the interns gave to HealthServe. They took our intention and made it reality.
Manhong has designed a nice orientation package to start off young people finding out more about the plight of migrants and their lives, it might be up to me to bring it to the next level of getting them involved in doing after knowing. Choo Min has started us off in helping us remake a curriculum for life skills we can take and train youths. We've already begun to implement the program for a group of troubled youths. More about that when I've finished my 'stint' with them.
Manhong & Choo MinSunday, January 17, 2010
Homeless in Singapore?
There's been a recent spate about the callous treatment of the homeless in Singapore. Many of us will be shocked to learn that we have people who are homeless. This squeaky clean, pristine, professional image of ours, place where we're taught that those that govern put 'Singaporeans first'. Well... there are matters that are simply swept under the carpet.
See article here & here.
See article here & here.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Yu Chun Qiang 于春强
A story that seems to have come out of a drama. I took this from a guy who walked the journey with Chun Qiang. I'm to lazy to translate it. But in short, he's a calligrapher who came to Singapore as a construction worker with his cousin. His cousin got a stroke, so to take care of his cousin he lost his job, and finally resolved the issue somewhat and gone home. Haha. Enjoy :)
Yu Chun Qiang
今天下午送走了于春强，这一次特别的送行，心里也很特别！他是一位非常具有潜质的书法家，但以建筑工人的身份于2008年12月31日来到新加坡打工，为的是“赚够钱”继续深造并包装自己，以期能够大展身手！但他很“不幸”，因为同来的堂哥工作三天就中暑瘫痪，至今不能走路不能说话. 亲情、责任让他不得不奔走于工地、医院、人力部、律师楼. 不仅耽误了挣钱，还为此耽误了自己的工作. 而老板居然于2009年7月初要他签署一张“假如他出工伤，公司免责”的耻辱合约，他是男人，也是当代文人，岂受此之辱？愤然提出回国！遇此处境，他堂兄的家人要求老板为他们办理手续来新，以照顾其堂兄. 而此刻老板“聪明至极”，又不让于春强回国了，呵呵，说是其堂兄家人要求其留新，照顾尚住在老人院等待工伤赔偿的堂兄. 他很为难，自己也上有老下有小，需要它挣钱养家，何况还有自己的梦想要圆！
但他最终还是选择留了下来，可他的老板仅从欠他的工资中拿出150元生活费给他，仅此一次而已，谁能想象他支撑到如今的日子是怎样度过的吗？感谢上帝的怜爱与眷顾，他于2009年9月份来到康侍诊所，这里为其提供了必要的吃住帮助，此后也时常去教会，并于在2009年10月份洗礼，成为一名基督徒。FCBC教会每月给其提供300元，以让其为堂兄定期买些营养品及必要的通讯、交通花费等。如今他的工作准证到期，其老板无法再继续无情的留他在新加坡“照顾其堂兄”了，呵呵，回想他来新加坡的一年旅程，也许是给他开了个极大的玩笑，但对于春强本人，也许更多的是无奈与牵挂！他回国了，留下了堂兄仍然在老人院等待他应该得到的赔偿.
我问过春强，回国后有何打算？他告诉我继续他的书法梦！期望能够想办法还清来新时借的债，并筹措人民币20000元（折新币4000多元）去北京中国美院深造. 愿亲爱的阿爸父神降恩与他，成就他的心愿与梦想，也赐其堂兄得到公正的工伤赔偿并尽快康复，奉主耶稣基督的名求，阿门！
-丰广-
Yu Chun Qiang今天下午送走了于春强，这一次特别的送行，心里也很特别！他是一位非常具有潜质的书法家，但以建筑工人的身份于2008年12月31日来到新加坡打工，为的是“赚够钱”继续深造并包装自己，以期能够大展身手！但他很“不幸”，因为同来的堂哥工作三天就中暑瘫痪，至今不能走路不能说话. 亲情、责任让他不得不奔走于工地、医院、人力部、律师楼. 不仅耽误了挣钱，还为此耽误了自己的工作. 而老板居然于2009年7月初要他签署一张“假如他出工伤，公司免责”的耻辱合约，他是男人，也是当代文人，岂受此之辱？愤然提出回国！遇此处境，他堂兄的家人要求老板为他们办理手续来新，以照顾其堂兄. 而此刻老板“聪明至极”，又不让于春强回国了，呵呵，说是其堂兄家人要求其留新，照顾尚住在老人院等待工伤赔偿的堂兄. 他很为难，自己也上有老下有小，需要它挣钱养家，何况还有自己的梦想要圆！
但他最终还是选择留了下来，可他的老板仅从欠他的工资中拿出150元生活费给他，仅此一次而已，谁能想象他支撑到如今的日子是怎样度过的吗？感谢上帝的怜爱与眷顾，他于2009年9月份来到康侍诊所，这里为其提供了必要的吃住帮助，此后也时常去教会，并于在2009年10月份洗礼，成为一名基督徒。FCBC教会每月给其提供300元，以让其为堂兄定期买些营养品及必要的通讯、交通花费等。如今他的工作准证到期，其老板无法再继续无情的留他在新加坡“照顾其堂兄”了，呵呵，回想他来新加坡的一年旅程，也许是给他开了个极大的玩笑，但对于春强本人，也许更多的是无奈与牵挂！他回国了，留下了堂兄仍然在老人院等待他应该得到的赔偿.
我问过春强，回国后有何打算？他告诉我继续他的书法梦！期望能够想办法还清来新时借的债，并筹措人民币20000元（折新币4000多元）去北京中国美院深造. 愿亲爱的阿爸父神降恩与他，成就他的心愿与梦想，也赐其堂兄得到公正的工伤赔偿并尽快康复，奉主耶稣基督的名求，阿门！
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