The Pioneer Generation

I've been hoping to do a post about the elderly because I've been exposed to them very much recently. The last memory I had, of intimately interacting with an elderly, would be when I was 4 years old. My grandmother was my bestfriend, but in her last days I 'turned my back' on her because I was scared :( I remembered vividly how in her last days, she would call out for my name... But because she was very sickly, I didn't dare to go near her, I didn't know how to treat her normally. Woah, so conflicting. And then she passed away. And when she passed away, all my family members said that she was just sleeping, but I knew she would never wake up...

I got to be the emcee of a CNY event for the elderly at Renci Hospital last week, and it was kind of interesting having to entertain a crowd of elderly. Most of them spoke dialect or Bahasa Melayu, and I wished I could speak the languages. Haha. Nama saya Jasmin. Selamat Pagi. That's all I know! Haha. And the next day, I decided to join the YAYP in their Home Visitation Outreach to the elderly staying at 1-room flats. Just yesterday, together with G, we went to louhei with a cobbler uncle who does not have a family.

I guess the most impactful event that caused my heart to stir with compassion was the home visitation to the elderly who were living in 1-room flats. It was overwhelming for me, because we visited quite a few homes, and managed to enter 4 homes to chat with them. 

The most memorable encounter was the last house that we visited. There lived a 72-year old Chinese man. As compared to the other houses, I would consider him the most well-to-do considering he had an iPad, foot massager etc. He was very open about sharing his life with us, though I know he just wants someone to talk to. We got to know he has 3 filial sons who would provide for him and occasionally goes to visit him. While the other young adults were interacting with him, I was prepared to pass him a tract, but I kept it when he said he underwent a cataract operation. Also his legs are very very weak and he finds it a great difficulty to even stand up and walk.

He went on to share about his life, how his wife had an affair and how eventually he left his old house to avoid the conflict at home as things were getting out of control. It was clear that he was betrayed by his wife, but as he was sharing, I could only sense hurt but no hatred. 

After that, we prayed for him and he started tearing. He told us he suddenly thought about all his late siblings. One by one, leaving the world before him... He was so lonely... At that point, my heart ached. I was very moved and my heart started to break for him. 

I am very humbled to have experienced all these and I'm not only driven to continue in this outreach, but to also show love and concern for the elderly in my extended family. Many of them are getting old and are facing health issues, and all I really wanna do is to love them and let the love of God shine into their lives.