Assistance in Time of Derailed

All train ride will reach its destination be it quickly or slowly.  However, if it derails in the middle of the journey, then no matter how hard we try, we still cannot continue the journey.  Unless, there is someone willing to stop and extend a helping hand, to realign the locomotive back to its track, then the train may continue its journey. Otherwise, it might have stuck in the middle of the journey and got into big trouble.

Xiao Meng (Pseudonym) and her husband have 8 kids, they are staying at a rented small flat unit in JB. Xiao Meng’s husband was a construction worker, although he did not earn much, but with their complacent attitude they were not lacking. Although the house is small, everyone had to cramp and sleep together in a tiny place, but they felt happy with their simple lives. 

​Since year 2020, the on and off MCO had caused Xiao Meng’s husband to lose his job, the whole household was forced to live on their tiny saving. During this period of time, Xiao Meng found out that she was pregnant with their 8th child, this supposed to be a good news, but with the endless MCO and shrinking saving, she felt helpless, and kept thinking “adult can withstand hunger, but children cannot, in addition to the baby that is coming soon.”  
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During pandemic, non-perishable food supplies given by some kind hearted people have kept them from being hopeless.    

During this period of time, Xiao Meng received a phone call from a sister by the name of Daphne Wong from JB New Life Christian Fellowship, a 7979 Holistic Care Station’s volunteer. They intended to visit Xiao Meng, just to find out what are the assistance she require. When we are in plentiful, not many are willing to give us extra, it is even worst when we are in trouble. Xiao Meng and her family were very touched by Daphne and her team kind intention of extending a helping hand to them, but on the other hand, they were worried by the safety issue of so many strangers pay visit to them during this pandemic.  

After their first visitation, the church immediately applied 7979 Crisis Intervention Fund for them. A subsidy of RM300 per month and over a period of 4 months, although it is not a big sum, but it is still a drizzle in times of drought.   

In this period of time, Xiao Meng and her family relationship with the church were growing closer, especially the children, they always took initiative to talk to the church volunteers.  During Christmas, they attended church service and received some gifts too.  Every month, Sis. Daphne will bring her CG’s sisters to visit Xiao Meng, on every visit they brought along some formula milk, diapers, or some fresh vegetables for Xiao Meng. As time went by, church’s CG members and Xiao Meng had become friends, the things that they brought on every visitation was a prove of their genuine concern towards Xiao Meng and her family.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:4

​In the community that you live in, are you aware of what happen to your neighbours? When we have our own jobs and three meals a day on the table, it is difficult for us to notice the crisis that others are facing, we will also not notice that may be some had already accidentally “derailed”, they are in need of someone to pull them out of their predicament. When Xiao Meng and her family were hit by the sudden MCO, their livelihood immediately became critical, just like a derailed train. This is the time, that they need someone who are willing to stop and extend a helping hand to pull them out of their predicament. 

When a member of New Life Fellowship’s CG came to know of Xiao Meng and her family’s predicament, they acted immediately. Actually when the pandemic strikes, some CG’s members also lost their jobs, but when they heard of Xiao Meng’s stories, they felt thankful that they are still capable to care for others. Sister Daphne shared: “I felt very thankful that my CG’s members are willing to take initiative to care for others. In the process of helping others, they have gained a lot too, because their lives are being inspired!”   

​When we were talking about Xiao Meng and her family, Sis. Daphne shared that Xiao Meng’s husband did said something that comforted her, i.e. “Thank you very much for helping me, I believe you all are doing it without any condition, one day when I am capable, I am willing to join you to help others who are in need.” One simple sentence, that carries deep gratitude of Xiao Meng and her family, it is also symbolised that they are in agreement with the action that the church is doing. On the other hand, the church may also know that all they have done in the community had really impacted the community, they felt the love of the church and genuine intention to help. “Hopefully, in the end the church can share with them the gospel, so that they may know our true God, then they may experience the comfort and peace in Christ too!”   
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Now, Xiao Meng’s husband is back to work, their family livelihood is slowly regaining. Although, they cannot immediately go back to the condition they had before, but as long as they can continue to live peacefully and healthily, that is the biggest blessing of all!

A derailed train that return to its track will definitely reach its destination even when it is moving very slowly.