2011 Cell Blessing Elderly Home
Reach Out and Touch
Shushan Lau
Love sprang into action last Christmas for our cell group. We organised a simple party for the elderly residents, mostly dementia patients, and staff of the Econ Nursing Home at Buangkok.
Susan, our cell member, had wanted to reach out to the mostly Buddhist Myanmese nursing staff ever since her father became a resident a few years ago. So when it was time for the usual “open cell” where pre-believing friends are invited for food and fellowship and the Good News is shared, our cell decided it was time to reach out to our community.
It was also a good platform to invite pre-believing friends to be involved in the organising, and thus, build more intimate relationships with them. We discovered that many, whether believers or not, want to do “good”. So, we roped in our siblings, nephews and nieces, domestic helpers, and friends.
Together we sang carols, helped to serve food, distributed gift packs and tracts in the Myanmese language and shared the meaning of Christmas. The songs, accompanied by simple clappers, bells and castanets, and games brought much cheer and celebration-a welcome respite from the monotony of the daily institutional routine.
Chye tau kway, tau huay, muffins, and fruits were a "bonus" for the residents. We were told these were "hard to come by”. The fellowship gave us many opportunities for interaction. A few residents were moved to tears by our presence.
Receiving While Blessing
In bringing festive cheer to the elderly residents, our cell members felt blessed too, for truly “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
This event helped to forge the spirit of unity and renew a sense of purpose in the cell. It was also an opportunity for God to His gifting of talents in each cell member.
We discovered multi-lingual comperes with a flair for entertaining, music lovers who led in the carol singing, and creative sparks behind the preparation of invitation e-cards, Powerpoint slides with English and Chinese translations.
We learnt what it meant to be one in the body of Christ.
We were also encouraged when the Myanmese nurses invited their friends from other homes for the event. They taught us how to cook Myanmese dishes and asked that we start our meals with the Christian prayer!
Loving More and More
Since then, we have continued to visit during the Lunar New Year, Easter, and the dumpling festival to further foster relationships with the nurses and residents of the home. They are always receptive and look forward to our visits. Our cell members put in much effort for each visit.
It isn't always smooth sailing though. We had to overcome the initial fear of organising such a large scale event (30 residents, up to 10 nurses) with the necessary funds and logistics.
Language is an obstacle, especially in one-to-one conversation. Some residents doze off during the activities, and since they suffer from dementia, some aren't always aware of what is going on. The Myanmese nurses are often rotated and may leave the country, so it isn't easy to build lasting friendships. On one occasion, a Catholic Indian resident was upset as he perceived we were trying to convert him. Yet, we press on because these old folks need loving. They are not just “people waiting for their time to come”.
Recently, the nurses asked if we would be coming back. How could we not? God's love compels us.
Shushan Lau leads the 1 Vox cell group. Beginning as an all-ladies group, it has expanded to include husbands and couples as well.