The Best is Yet to Be

Prayer Meeting for MHI

2010-09-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

15th Sept 2010. Wesley prayed for MHI on Wednesday meeting. A routine yearly affair. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness all these 19 years.
We prayed for direction of overseas Outreach.
Saturday will be MHI Committee retreat.

Deaf netWork

2010-06-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

Finally finished the MHI Summer Camp 2010. Our Malaysian friends came to join us for the 3 days in Salvation Army PraiseHaven, Bukit Timah Campus. There were a tota of 8 of them. 6 from Penang Wesley Methodist Church and 2 from Ipoh Canning Garden Baptist Church.
The final day sharing and closing on Sunday after Sunday Fellowship, I stood up to share the joy I have to see the dream coming into fruition.
2008, after the Outreach Trip to Laguna Deaf School, Philippines, Patrick and the whole team brought back the excitement to share what we have with the rest. The opportunity arose when Penang reseponded after they saw the Sign Language Dictionary.
I remember Joan from Penang came one Sunday to talk to us. As our conversation progress, we discussed the possibility of having a team from Singapore to go up to Penang to see if we can help them run a camp.
The discussion turned into reality and we went up together to run the first Deaf Bible Camp in Penang at the end of 2008. There we met Annie, the Ipoh HI leader. And when we returned, we talked about the possiblity also of going to Ipoh to help them them run a camp in Ipoh.
2009 was a busy year as we went to the Asia Deaf Christian Missions Conference in Kunming and after we returned, we got a new team and we proceeded to Ipoh.
Finally 2010 June, we managed to hold a camp in Singapore with both our Penang and Ipoh friends.

I encouraged all Deaf leaders, hearing volunteers from Penang, Ipoh and Singapore to continue this trend to less others in Malaysia and elsewhere around Southeast Asia. As there are the United Nations, ASEAN, NATO, G20, etc. We can also form our network in Southeast Asia. In 2011, is the Asia Pacific Deaf Christian Conference to be held in Luzon, Philippines. We hope to be able to see everybody there with more of our HI friends and volunteers sharing our vision and dream to touch lives of the Deaf Community in our own countries and beyond.

We need to continue to share the vision with our friends in our countries of what we have learnt and shared. Not just share, we need to help them catch the vision and mobilise them to do something about our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I did not have an opportunity of more time cos I wanted to share with the hearing volunteers that like the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land, our duty is to listen to God. To accept that we have the responsibility to move and go. Initiatially, there is alot of reluctance as Pharoah is not too happy with the idea of the new change. Moses had a tough time. Until finally the Israelites were released, but without regret and Pharoah had to chase them into the Red Sea.

Still God was faithful. I wanted next to share with the Deaf leaders present. In the story of the Exodus, Moses was not involved in the fighting subsequently. In one of the important events, Joshua was leading the Israelites to fight their enemies and Moses was watching on top of the mountain praying and with his hands raised. Victory had to be done by the Isralites. That means, in the end, the Deaf have to reach the Deaf. The best way for Deaf ministry is for Deaf to share the Gospel with the Deaf.

Therefore for the Deaf leaders, we can set up a network of Deaf leaders between the major cities. They must continue the ministry in their hometown. Train and encourage other Deaf people to hear the Gospel and share with others. Mobilise them and share the vision to continue more Deaf in the other cities, towns and villagers to be involved.

For the Hearing volunteers, we have a different problem. We have to fight for the vision on homeground. We have to continue to create awareness in our churches. Take up leadership roles in the ministry, in the Church committees and ensure that there is enough budget to support the Deaf. As much as we want the Deaf to be financially independent without having to borrow or ask for money, it is a known fact that most Deaf in the community will be financially and socially less well off. We should not allow the weakness in not being able to support them financially be a hinderance to the vision. We should also look after their welfare and social support eg spouse, children, etc.

Globalisation is going to be the catch word for the next 10 years. This concept needs to be on the lips of all the Deaf ministries who share this vision. We need to learn and support one another. Break new roads.

For the hearing volunteers we also have to avoid one last pitfall. Many ministries in the church encourage "new blood". This means that when we feel that we have done enough for the ministiry, we can just sit back and watch the new leadership and support them from the distance.
I beg to differ.
I feel that Deaf ministry is a unique ministry. This is because as long as we encourage Deaf leaders to give their whole life to the ministry, we need to be also "walk the talk". There is "no retirement" in the Deaf ministry; to borrow a phrase from our Singapore government. We need to continue to have the passion and give up the idea of "changing ministry" as most hearing volunteers in many of the churches are doing.
We have to continue until the day that we can no longer be useful for the ministry. Until that day come, we need to depend on God for strength.

Our theme for the Camp. Hope.....Faith and the greatest is Love.
So...."Are you cross enough?" =)

Something to think about

2010-02-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

2010-01-29T20:13:00.000-08:00

http://vick3394.blog.friendster.com/

Change Makers

2010-01-24T18:20:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking for the last few weeks. Who are the change makers for the deaf community in Singapore?
Perhaps I should get back to the question we have been asking many years ago: Is there a Deaf community in Singapore? Or are we just different kinds of Singaporeans (different races, language, religions) with diferent kinds of ability and (dis)abilities?
The fact that we are a Singaporeans, means our government is directly responsible for the well being of all of us. Our social freedom, our livelihood, our education, our families.

With that argument, if there is a Deaf community (Deaf, Hard of hearing, deafened, Families and friends of the above), who champions the Deaf Community in Singapore? Who takes the lead ? Who voices out the praises the community is achieving or warns of the wrong path the community is heading towards which may happen when a wrong or difficult decision is made?

Are the change makers of the Deaf Community the Deaf Associations (secular) or the Churches (religious). Or is it, along the way, policies of normal Singaporeans are implemented. The government with ministers, NMP, MP with some interest in the disabled community will make policies that may directly or indirectly benefit some members of the Deaf Community? Or we only survive as small groups with leaders of different interest group (eg sports, dance, art, hobbies, beliefs)? Like small herds of animals with a "white horse" that the rest will invariably follow. The only difference is that animals stay true to the group and rarely change group. They depend on one another for survival and will fight off any intruders who intends harm for the group. Whereas for all humans, we are blessed with the gift of "freewill". Thus we can change group, unlike the animals.

Won't such situations run a higher risk because the leader has no accountability to any organisation. Answers to no body. And thus the group members are at the mercy. Randomly awaiting the outcome or the decision of the leader. If the leader is passive, no change happens. If the leader is active, he or she moves and motivates the group. However such actions only benefit that particular group only and not the rest who are not in the group. The group also runs a risk depending on the moral upbringing of the leader. Sometimes evil intentions are not so clear and until it is too late, the group ends up engaging in destructive behaviour that may affect the rest of the community of how those outside the community can view them.

Does it matter if the world rushes on and the community makes no attempts to better itself. Or it is not important at all and we should just continue with our own lives?
Perhaps this question is not fair because as a community of individuals, we view the world from our own individual perspective. Generally, most of us will say "It can be better, HOWEVER I am NOT complaining. Since there are many of us who are worse off than the rest." There would be the few on the both extremes....."LG....Life is GREAT!".......or "Life sucks...I want to migrate".

So, is there a need for constant change? Has the Singapore Deaf Community "arrived"? Is there any way we have to actively change for the better or should it be left to random chance?
If there is no need for constant change, then we know that Deaf Associations and religious organisations catering for the deaf have done a great job to meet the general everyday needs of the community. Fun activities, activties catered more to personal development is the focus. Singapore Deaf Association works with the media and other volunteers to create Deaf Awareness daily to inform the rest of the Singaporeans about deaf people. Singapore education is world reknown. As long as a Deaf person wants to study, they will be given that opportunity to acheive the best that they can be. The healthcare in Singapore is also another good point. All Deaf people have the right to access good healthcare. State of the art hearing aids and cochlear implants are also readily available. Post surgical support like speech therapy is also readily available. It is up to the families to motivate the patient to go for further training.

What are the areas I feel still need improvement?
1) Deaf Livelihood. Those with parents who are not well off. Compared with the average normal Singaporean, are they still being marginalised? Within acceptable risk and considering the level of education they have achieved, are capable and trained individuals still deprived of getting the jobs they want?
2) We all accept that there are differential employment. For the same position, different people get different salaries. We know compared with those who didn't go to NS (national service) salaries are lower. We know that all women are entitled 3 months of paid maternity leave. Many family friendly companies are also giving paid paternity leave. Foreigners may be paid lower than the citizens for the same job that is offered to us. Are Deaf paid lower?
3) Deaf helping Deaf. Generally a Deaf person in need approaches another hearing person to help. The concept of Deaf helping Deaf is still a rarity. As a normal Singaporean would help another Singaporean in need. Would a deaf adult go out of his way to be genuinely concerned about another deaf child who is not related to the adult?
4) Is there a need to improve sign language? Many years ago, there was a group in SADeaf who is very keen to make sure sign language becomes the media of communication amongst the Deaf Community. Thus alot of effort is put in training the interpreters, bringing in foreign consultants to improve the language in the Deaf school and the country. Lately because of the growth of Cochlear Implant, there seems to be lukewarm response to the language. For any language, there is a constant need to improve itself so the generation of people can better communicate with one another. Furthermore, there are those who feel that CI is not suitable for those who are older or those who cannot follow a strict regime of post surgery speech therapy. These are the ones who still depend on sign language. That means for the last 15 years, apart from written language they are unable to express their feelings better since there are few new signs invented?

2009-12-29T19:33:00.000-08:00

Reflections of The Year 2009 in MHI
The Year 2009 is a special year for MHI as we continue fulfilling our Vision to create a unique and dynamic community of Deaf, hard of hearing (HH) and hearing people. It has already been 3 years since we recognise that the HH will become an important group to serve in MHI. During the retreat, we remind ourselves that ours is a unique community because we will treat everybody equal whether they are Deaf, hard of hearing or hearing. No body is superior and no body is inferior. Everybody has a responsibility to build the community in MHI, to reach out to the Deaf Community of Singapore and to be the light for the Deaf Community in a foreign country. It is not the hearing serving the Deaf, nor do we want to Deaf to be a welfare group which we have to constantly look after. Everybody is a individual who can contribute, participate, empower others so that we will maximise our fullest potential. We all can be the best that we can be.
For the last 3 years, MHI has been going overseas to help run camps in Laguna, Philippines in the Deaf College for Deaf Evangelistc Alliance Foundation Inc. It has shaped the way we handle our activities and we strive to constantly achieve to be a light outside Singapore. This has led, I believe, to a new idea emerging and will further enhance our direction to reachout beyond the shores of Singapore.
Back home, the Sunday Fellowship has encountered God in many different ways. With the introduction of Alpha Course in our Sunday curriculum, this has enabled many of us to experience God in a unique and special way. This help us realise that He is still our Lord and God and in control of our lives, our family and our ministry MHI.
I cannot begin describing the year 2009 without mentioning about Penang at the end of 2008 in October (24th to 26th October 2008). The launch of our Sign Dictionary has enabled us to reach far beyond the shores of Singapore. We sent some dictionaries to Penang Wesley Church and it was really remarkable timing to know that though for years, Penang Wesley has Deaf people going to the church to worship, they have yet to start a Deaf ministry. This time, when the people saw the dictionary, they were curious and excited to learn how MHI is able to do it for the last 18 years. A series of meeting led to the formation of a team to go to Penang Wesley to help them organise a Discipleship camp for the Deaf.
Armed with the 2nd Philippines trip experience on the topic of “Carrying the Cross and following Jesus”, our team trained and helped our Penang brothers and sisters understand God in a different way. A way that encourages us to give our all to Him. The presenting team was made entirely of Deaf and HH, though the hearing volunteers went as training and supporting roles. It is the start of training of our very own MHI Deaf Evangelists.
The year 2009 started with 2 HH accepting the responsibilities of going beyond what is usual for them. Joey and Zhou Meng agreed, both having finished their O levels to organise the Chinese New Year Party for MHI. Even though it was their first time to take on the responsibilities of such magnitude, they humbly accepted their role and organised the program with the help of some of the senior people. The party went smoothly and the experience they acquired through this activity has enabled them to go further later part of the year in more challenging responsibilities. The Chinese new year was held on 7th February 2009.
Later that same month in February, our long time couple Clement and Ellen tied the knot and got married on 28th February. Their wedding was held in Hortpark and many friends and relatives attended the wonderful ceremony and high tea buffet.
Sometime in January, prior to the 3rd Philippine Missions Outreach Trip, I made a recce trip to Ipoh (16th to 19th January 2009). This is because during the Penang trip, a group of Malaysians from Ipoh came along for the camp. They told us about Canning Garden Baptist Church and how there is a group of Christians who are actively sharing the Word of God there. I met up with Lydia, the hearing leader from the church who has a passion for the Deaf. There we discussed organising an Evangelistic Camp in Ipoh during the later part of the year 2009.
Our trip to Laguna (14th to 18th March 2009) was unusual because the monsoon has come earlier than usual. The trip to the top of the mountain was very eventful as the rain has caused the path to be extremely muddy, difficult and dangerous. Our theme for the camp this year was “Alignment with God”. We brought along HH teenagers this time. Still, it was an experience for them as the immigration officer almost did not allow them to enter Philippines because they were underage. A lot of the activities were held in the rain. As we left Laguna, we knew things would be different next year as we have already completed our 3 year plan of what we want to in the Philippines. We have to consider what this will lead us to.
The Easter Cup (11th April 2009) went smoothly as Adrian organised the whole competition himself for the first time. A lot of teams were made up of mixture of HH and Deaf students from St Anthony’s Convent, Balestier Hill Secondary School and Boon Lay Secondary School.
We attempted to reach out to the HI who graduated from the secondary school and started enrolling in the different polytechnics in Singapore. We tried working together with Youth for Christ and even went to their headquarters to discuss possible ways of reaching the HI through their project Poly Reach. Unfortunately it only resulted in a few meetings and ended with the Play max on 13th June 2009 on Saturday. After the event, our attempts were always met with lukewarm responses.
During the June holidays (21st to 24th June 2009) , the Ignyte team organised their first Leadership Training Camp. It was held for almost a week as the youths learnt about the skills of leadership and management.
Sunday Fellowship camp (27th to 28th June 2009) was held at the Salvation Army for the 2nd time. This time, the topic of “Spiritual gifts” was touched on. Sunday Fellowship has been going on in MHI since we started in 1993. We spent many Sundays sharing with the Deaf Bible stories, teaching them the songs in worship, to pray, read the bible, etc. We even have 2 large groups of Deaf who gave their lives to the Lord and went for baptism classes and they were baptised sometime in 2002. I have to admit that I have not yet seen the day that the Holy Spirit can touch Deaf people strongly to enable them to feel and experience the things that Hearing people experienced when the Holy Spirit touches them. Little did I realise within the year, God will show my unbelieving heart the miracle of the work of Spirit.
Another team led by Chairman Patrick Ong went back to Penang during June to help the Penang Wesley Church Deaf Ministry volunteers in sign language interpretation.
Seeds of the new idea as started to be sown since we needed to review our program of going to Laguna, Philippines. A series of coincidences landed us at the doorstep of Methodist Missions Society (MMS). As the doors keep opening for us in the direction of Cambodia, we did our research and made our inquiries. We started alerting the others and reminding ourselves to continue praying for the future revelations of what God is about to reveal to us.
24th July to 28th July 2009 was the Asia Deaf Christian Missions Conference in Kunming. We met up with the HI Christians in China and many from another organisation called DMI.
Before we go to Ipoh, a group of us visited Ms Coryell who had a stroke in Cavinti City, Manila. Another group attended the Methodist TRAC Young Methodist Leadership Camp 2009 in Johore Bahru. Anthony, Lynette, Joey, Adrian and Joe Eng went.
In September 2009 (19th to 21st September 2009) , we flew to Ipoh via Penang to help them with the evangelistic camp. This time the sharing team comprises of Adrian, Joe Eng, Yap, Zhou Meng and Pauline. Many observers followed to lend assistance to the camp. This camp opened our eyes as for the first time, we saw the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of the Deaf. I realise that a camp can cater to the many needs of the HI within a short time. It was different from the Penang Camp because that camp only focused on discipleship. However the camp in Ipoh included a short segment with the youths who used BSL (Baharsa Sign language) and also an Evangelistic dinner for the non Christians. Many commented how they experienced their hearts strangely warmed. More than 19 of them who came to the evangelistic dinner that night opened their hearts to the Gospel and we are sure many more lives were touched as Canning Garden Baptist Church continue to harvest the lost after the camp is over. However in my sceptical heart, I asked God, how come nothing happened to our group? Perhaps it is not our lot. From that camp, Lynette opened the opportunity for the participants to come to Singapore in 2010 for the Sunday Fellowship camp.
In October 2009(15th to 17th October), a small team of 6 comprising of 2 hearing, 2 Deaf, 2 Hard of hearing flew into Phnom Penh for the first time. Our mission is to see for ourselves the possibilities of setting up a Deaf school there. Prior to flying to Phnom Penh and after the experience in Ipoh, God convinced me that the future of MHI lies in the theme “Mobilising the Deaf to reach the Deaf”. This year has been like that. As many of the hearing volunteers have to temporarily leave MHI in order to look after their family, the Deaf have to stand firm and hold the ground. In Phnom Penh, we met the 2 organisations who are serving the Deaf. We brought back our information to Singapore and shared it with the rest.
As we approach the end of the year, the Ignyte team revived by Shifeng and led by Vanessa started planning for the MHI Christmas Party 2009. This time, we managed to hold it in Rendevous Hotel. It was entirely organised by the Ignyte team with no intervention from any hearing.
Before the Christmas party, Alpha Course ended with a weekend Away at Changi Village(14th to 15th November 2009). It was a powerful weekend. This time for sure, the Holy Spirit washes over all the participants at the camp. It was a spiritual experience for all. There is no question about it. This is the way the Holy Spirit can touch the Deaf. They start to see visions and dream dreams.
The Christmas Party was on 12th December 198 participants attended the party. Lynette and Steven were the two Masters of ceremony. On 23rd December the traditional Carols by Candlelight. It was very well attended. On 27th December, we ended the last Sunday of the year 2009 saying farewell and to a gathering to watch “Faith of Potatoes”.
Looking back in 2009, our direction for the next 3 years is slowly changing again if all goes well. As we change the ministry to include a large group of Hard of Hearing people (with or without cochlear implant) a huge potential to reach out to the Deaf Community is opened. We have started training Deaf Evangelists and also at the same time stress the importance of looking beyond Singapore to bless the others. As our plans for Laguna, Philippines come to a close, another opportunity is opened to explore the possibility of looking into opening MHI Cambodia in the next 3 years. I see that there will be a difficulty in increasing the number of hearing volunteers to serve in MHI as Wesley Church still has a problem of lack of young and vibrant hearing volunteers keen to be in the Deaf Ministry. Yet, we can shift our focus to include more Deaf and Hard of Hearing to become our co workers.
As MHI moves into the 18th year we have been in Wesley Church, we can learnt from our experiences and our mistakes. These lessons learnt are valuable for our friends around the region. As I review the structure of MHI, I realise we are based on 3 points of the triangle. The tip of the triangle is the Gospel which is important in MHI based on the Word of God. We do this by emphasizing the importance of Sunday Fellowship, the weekly Sunday Service and monthly prayer meetings. The other two tips are Academic and Livelihood. We encourage our members to emphasize the importance of studying hard and doing well. A culture of continuous learning is encouraged. We do this through regular tuition sessions as well as having courses and camps that will enable us to learn more. The 3rd tip is rather weak in MHI. Unfortunately, perhaps it is the environment of Singapore and our culture, we are still unable to ensure or help our HI and HH get a good job when they graduate.
Perhaps this 3rd tip can be done in another country setting up another MHI in a completely different background and culture. Then it would be the ideal situation for MHI. To be grounded in the Word of God, do well in our academic levels and be equipped ultimately to have a good livelihood.

A new beginning

2009-11-13T18:22:00.001-08:00

9th November perhaps marks the start of a new chapter for MHI. We embark on a journey no Deaf ministry has gone before. Like the starship Enterprise, we are exploring the edges of the frontiers.

Though the model we have adopted differs very much from the original idea, I do believe God has a hand in this modification. Still the aim is to preach the Gospel to the Deaf to the ends of the earth. To empower the Deaf and to equip them. Steven puts it nicely "Be brave and courageous".

It is a step of faith. Rather than depend on the hearing solely to do it, it is a partnership we make with one another to fulfil the Commission....."Mobilise the Deaf to reach the Deaf".

I like this quote.

It reminds me that we have a responsbility to pass it on. I have a responsbility to enable them to pass it on to their friends. Not to force anybody, but to allow the Good News to be shared. It has a continuous action to the meaning. An infinity ring to it.

They do it for others. Empowering others and equipping others.

We have come a long way. Now is to remember this partnership. That we are not alone. We do it together, one for all and all for one.

There is much to be accomplished to make sure this vision is fulfilled.

Many more will have to come onboard to share the vision before the "bus" can move.

The new idea also involves people not in MHI. It involves our fellow friends. Those in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and our new found friends in Cambodia.

We cannot do it alone. But with our friendship and our united faith in the same God, we can do it.

The walls have to come down. Our masks have to be taken off.

It is a journey of faith. Where it will lead us, we do not know. How we go, we can only trust our leaders to make the right decisions. Each of us will have to do our part, no matter how difficult it is. Our journey will NOT be take us down familiar roads. Instead, it will bring us to unknown places, unknown circumstances, villages of different language, dialects, sign language. We have to step out of our comfortable houses, our loving families, our strong friendships and take that route. We know we are not going to do it alone. But our harvest will be sweet. Abdundance. Different from those who decided they want to walk down familiar roads instead.

This will be our motivation. I believe that God will not let us down. Instead if we obey His will, it is a more exciting life that we will live.

2009-09-07T21:50:00.001-07:00

The goal of the Back to Jerusalem project is for Chinese Christians to evangelize all the nations between China and Jerusalem. The proponents of the movement understand that Christianity spread westward from Jerusalem and eventually to Britain and America. The faith then traveled from these two countries to China. The Chinese Church now feels it has both a call and a mandate from God to take the gospel message all the way back to its origin. In a geographical sense, the good news will have spread around the world.

The vision for Back to Jerusalem actually was birthed back in the 1920’s, but due to the ever-shifting nature of Chinese politics during the first half of the 20th Century, the movement fell off the radar for a number of years, only to resurface with great passion as the century drew to a close. God first told a group called the "Jesus Family" to take the Gospel on foot all the way from China to Jerusalem.

After God renewed the Chinese people vision for Back to Jerusalem, they came to the realization that practically all of the remaining unevangelized and unreached areas in the world that have never been penetrated by the Gospel are situated west and south of China. They believe God has given them a solemn responsibility to take the fire from his altar and complete the Great Commission by establishing God’s Kingdom in all of the remaining countries and people groups in Asia, the Middle East, and Islamic North Africa. When this happens, the Scripture says the Lord Jesus Christ will return for His bride. “…We who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

The furthermost point in the world the Gospel can travel from Jerusalem, therefore, is to circle the entire globe and come all the way back to where it all started – Jerusalem! When the fire of the Gospel completes its circuit of the whole globe the Lord Jesus will return! “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14

Roll of Honour MHI

2009-08-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

MHI ROLL OF HONOUROct 30, '08 4:25 AMby Victor for everyone
vick3394
Introducing
Our Past Chairman of MHI

Current Chairman 2010-2011 Ms Joey Chen

Chairman 2006-2010 Mr Patrick Ong
ice Chairman 2006-2009 Mr Jeremy Lee

Chairman 2003 - 2006Ms Evelyn Yong

Chairman 2001 - 2003Ms Mabel Wong

Chairman 1999 - 2001Mr Steven Quek

Chairman 1996 -1998 Ms Janet Foo

Chairman 1992 - 1995 Mr Victor Keng

Introducing
Our Past Honorary Secretary

Current Honorary Secretary (2010 - ) Ms Christina Tan
Honorary Secretary (2008 - 2009) Ms Lui Yanzhen
Honorary Secretary (2006 - 2008) Mr Koo Wei - Tjin
Honorary Secretary (2003/2005) Ms Melody Lim
Honorary Secretary (2001 - 2002) Mr David Lee
Honorary Secretary (1999 - 2001) Mrs Kao Soh Wai
Honorary Secretary (1996- 1998) Ms Marieta Chan
Honorary Secretary (1994 - 1995) Ms Christina Tan
Honorary Secretary (1992 - 1993) Ms Evelyn Yong

Introducing
Our Full Time Program Coordinator

Current Program Coordinator 2007/2010 Mr Anthony Phua
Current Assistant Program Coordinator 2006/2010 Ms Pauline Ong (1st HI staff)
Program Coordinator 2003/2007 Ms Hannah Ng
Program Coordinator 2000/2002 Ms Anne Chua
Program Coordinator 1999/2000 Ms Cindy Choo
Program Coordinator 1998/1999 Mr Yip Kiong
Program Coordinator 1997/1998 Ms Evelyn Yong

Migration from the old MHI blog Site

2009-08-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

Wesley Milestone of grace
Nov 2, '08 7:40 PMby Victor for everyone
vick3394
1981 Kim Seng Community Clinic opens for consultation.
1982 May: Wednesday Intercession is launched.
1983 March: First Family Camp with Marriage Enrichment theme held in Port Dickson. Boys' Brigade celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
1984 New "Strangely Warmed" logo is introduced. Victory 5 evangelistic meetings take place.Wesley Lay Training Institute is established.Wesley's first missionary intern, Miss Milia Kan is commissioned with the Asian Outreach International in Hong Kong.

1985 Wesley celebrates its 100th Anniversary with a service at the World Trade Centre.Small Group Ministry starts up with 8 small groups.CareForce is established under the banner of the WSCS."Camp 100", the first combined church camp for the youth ministry is held. 10:30 am Prayer and Praise Service is launched in the Hall.The Centennial Consultation of Asian Methodist Leaders and the Centennial Evangelistic Festival are held at Wesley.

1986 An All-Night Prayer, following a Day of Prayer & Fasting, is held at Wesley inconjunction with the Luis Palau Crusade.In additional Prayer & Praise Service is introduced at 9 am to cope with the growth.Crisis Counselling Centre is set up by the CareForce. Church School now has almost 1000 students.A Care for the Unemployed Committee is started up in response to the recession.

1987 A Youth Council is established. The Small Group Ministry now has 41 small groups, and the first Small Group Leaders Convention is held. Church membership now stands at almost 3000.
1988 The Wesley Guys & Gals is launched.A Festival of Praise is organised by the Small Group Ministry, which now numbers 46 groups with a full-time Coordinator.Mission work on the home front is focused on Tampines.The first Wesley Child Development Centre (WCDC) is opened at Neil Road with 91 students.

1989 Wednesday Intercession is replaced with a Mid-Week Service.The Victory 6 celebrations are held.Wesley Centre, housing the Youth Centre, Wesley Child Development Centre and the home of the Boys Brigade, is officially opened by Dr. Seet Ai Mee.Church extension is completed and dedicated by Bishop Ho Chee Sin, Bishop Emeritus TR Doraisamy and Bishop Emeritus Kao Jih Chung.
1990 3000 copies of the United Methodist Hymnals are donated and dedicated on Aldersgate Sunday in May.The Cradle Roll Ministry is launched.Wesley celebrates its 105th anniversary, and donates $25,000 to the nation's 25th Anniversary Charity Fund.The Administrative Block is renovated.The first School of Music Ministry takes place.

1991 "Towards 2000" vision paper is introducted. 8th Assembly of the World Federation Methodist Women held at Wesley.For the first time, worship services are conducted daily during Holy Week.
1992 The Ministry to the Hearing Impaired is launched.
Two other Ministries are launched: Wesley Haven and the Legal Ministry

A New Dream

2009-08-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

5th July 2009 will be considered the start of a new dream for me. It has been 1 year since the production of the Sign language Dictionary. It took 3 years since Patrick came up with that idea one Volunteer gathering where he suggested a dictionary that volunteers can use as a reference guide. I took the challenge up.
Now, the dictionary is all over the world and it is starting to be a blessing for many of the Deaf ministries. It is not the end yet. I will hear more about it in the future.

MHI has been going to the Ph for the last 3 years consecutively. We started to reach out to our sister Pg Church last year to encourage them. However in my heart, such trips are just "separate trips". We go in to help and then leave our friends to return back to our lives. We cannot really say we have a "continuity" to the countries we visited. We leave a space to the help we give.
I asked myself how then do we proceed from here? Patrick asked me to find out more about M Deaf schools which I did the beginning of the year after we return from the Ph. All thanks once again to the publicity created when one of our dictionaries landed in Y. However no matter how much I try to contact further, there seemed to be a block to my inquiries. In short, all I have is BLACK.
5th July 2009 was MHI monthly Prayer meeting. I was in the group where WN was sharing about his trip to C. After the meeting, C remained in my mind all the time. I was wondering why until when the weekday came, I felt the prompting to just send an email to the Methodist Mission Society.
I knew it is over my head. But I have to do it to find out if i am going to get any response from the pastor in charge. Within a short 2 hours, I have a reply and was surprised I was referred to T who has been working as a coordinator in C.
I received a call from T who promptly wanted to see me and discuss about my ideas. The appointment was made and I found myself in her office with a small group, listening to her describe the new country of C and what was already done there by the Missions Society.
For the last few weeks, alot of thoughts ran through my mind. Can it be done? 18 years ago, MHI was started with just a small handful of volunteers. There were no hearing impaired then. We made the mistake of appproaching the adult HI. We lost our way for a few months before we realise our direction was towards the students and younger HI. As we changed direction and started looking for them, we were affirmed when God gave us many of them coming to our ministry. That is our direction. That is our target group. We were to make sure they are educated and to grow in strength and stature, to be grounded in the Holy Spirit. To know the importance to read the Bible and because valuable citizens when they grow up and to go back to the Deaf Community to help other youths.

This year as I saw many of the youths agree with the importance of education, to be the best that they can be, I see that many have made it or will be making their way to a tertiary education center be it Polytechnic or University. My concern is whether our society in Singapore when they graduate, do we recognise our youths to be the same as any graduates from the school? Will they have the same employment opportunities? Same salary scale?

Or will they still face the same economic difficulty with or without their higher education?

My thoughts were: Can we address both these issues of 1) MHI helping our friends from other countries and 2) economic issues of our graduating youths? Can we still hold on to the things we taught and shared with them like "Education builds the character of a person" and "A person of integrity gives back to the society" and finally "We will glorify God with our heart, mind and body"?

Forgiving

2009-07-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

What is forgiving?

Forgiving someone who did us wrong does not mean that we tolerate the wrong he did.

Forgiving does not mean we want to forget what happened.

Forgiving does not mean we excuse the person who did it.

Forgiving does not mean we take the edge off the evil of what was done to us.

Forgiving does not mean we surrender our right to justice.

Forgiving does not mean we invite someone who hurt us once to hurt us again.

Many people call forgiving a miracle and that is what it really is. Because when we forgive, we set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner we set free is ourselves.

2009-03-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Is that the peace? Daily praise and worship to my God?

I am covered with mud and rain and difficulty to get fresh water ...yet...there is the simple satisfaction. Longing for fulfilment...

Back here in Singapore, my mud is the big responsibility, the daily stress and complaints I face. To think about it, sometimes my mud covered my eyes till my head and I can't see. Can't wipe it off. There, the mud is only on my feet.....my pants...

2009??!!!

2009-02-15T17:38:00.000-08:00

It is the middle of February....CNY is over...and we just finished St Valentine's Day. Looking back at 2008, I recall a sentence from Tale of Two cities by Charles Dickens......"It was the best of times and it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom and it was the age of foolishness,....it was a season of Light and it was a season of darkness...." It depicts the plight of the French people under the brutal oppression of the rich and aristocrat in the years leading up to the revolution, and the corresponding savage brutality demonstrated by the revolutionaries toward the former in the early years of the revolution. It was the time the gullotine was invented, a very brutal way of punishing those who "deserved it".

To me, it was the first 2 phrases that attracted me. My country went through the best in the beginning (celebrating on the rights to host the Youth Olympics to be held in 2010, celebrated with the rest of the world to watch our motherland China hold the 2008 Olympics, the F1, the first night race in Singapore) then something happened in another country far away in September. Then suddenly everything just went down hill. The politicians were frightened, the businesses suddenly shut down, families tightened their belts, etc. For most of the year, the streets in Singapore were packed with people from all over the world, Caucasians, Africans, Europeans, etc, it was hard even to walk on the streets. Now, they are gone.....instead the public transport is packed with all of us, all trying to save our money for the rainy day.

For MHI, it was also the best, having a chance to do 2 mission trips in 2008 (one in Laguna, Philippines and another in Penang). The number of new students who made MHI its new home increased. They are also responding and acknowledging that God has been good to them. They have put God in their lives, in their studies, supporting one another, praying for one another.

However the down side was a gradual realisation that there was no new adult Christian volunteer who came to volunteer in our minsitry for almost a year. Instead, some of the adults have indicated that they would like to step down and move on. MHI has been a wonderful experience for them and they would like to look at other ministries.

We just finished our Chinese New Year party in February. The event was wonderful and it left many of the guests a good memorable experience with their friends. Having gone through the event with the organisers, I discovered a few things that I must try to sort out.

I discovered 3 groups of people in MHI. As I help with the invitation for the event, the 1st group of people responded in this way:

"Sorry I am not interested. Please don't bother me"

the 2nd group of people responded this way :

"I am glad you invited ME. Thanks for remembering ME. But let ME see FIRST. I will tell you if I am free to support you."

the last group and a very rare group I discovered:

"Thank YOU for your invitation. I will make sure not only me, but my friends come along to support YOU. Do you need my help?"

Of course as in any organisation, we have no right to force anybody to come. Therefore as a old member of MHI, I have faced many rejections. I shrug it off as "It is alright".

For the other 2 groups, I should be happy with their positive responses.

Both groups responded positively.

However I find the last group as treasures at the bottom of the barrel.

The 2nd group though they are happy to come, indicates a very selfish focus on themselves. Like foreigners who have no attachment to the country they visit. When things are bad, they will have no hesitation to leave.

The 3rd group did not see the invitation just towards themselves. They see MHI as a place that every body has the right to be in. They are quite confident that when they think about ours, they themselves would not loose out.

Sometimes I wonder if the world teaches us these values that we should always think about ourselves? Are we going to loose out?

What is there for me?

How can I benefit?

Perhaps we can start encouraging the students to think that way. Not about themselves only, but also about others. After all, MHI encourages volunteers and students to look after one another, make it their second home, change our lives for the better. Be a good influence and make an impact on the lives of others.

I wonder the year 2009 will be a evaluation of what MHI is imparting to our volunteers and students. Will the message of not only good will, but encouraging one another to be more caring and sharing be a part of our lives.

We don't need to be in good times to make our lives happier, heaven can be a place on earth where we bother about one another. A home can be anywhere we find love and where there is love.

In the Beginning was the Word

2008-11-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

Since I came back from my trip to Penang, I wanted to write about some of the things that has made me review my life and the world around me. It has been 16 years since I got to know my first friend who is HI. Since then, it is like a roller coaster in the Deaf community. The ups and downs, the highs and lows, the excitement of anticipation and the fear of depression....
My entry will be something about The Word.
The situation began, after the whole day of sharing about Denying Myself and Following Jesus. Sunday was the debrief and feedback. A volunteer stood up to encourage our HI friends in Penang to continue to read the Bible and keep His words in their hearts, so that they may remember God and follow Him in a deeper relationship. A HI volunteer from Ipoh stood up and she commented How Difficult it is for her HI friends to do that because they are illiterate. She has been accompanying her friends to Penang to attend the camp as an interpreter (using Deaf gestures) for them.
This got me thinking. My 16 years in MHI, part of the ministry was the emphasis on education of the HI. In fact, the majority of Outreach Department is all about Tuition, how to improve the academic standards of the HI. When we first started in 1992, many of the HI hardly even pass O Levels. By secondary 2, they are already working part time and preparing themselves to work for a living. I remember going to KFC after work just to be see them and talk to them and encourage them to study hard and change their lives.
MHI has successfully done that, to instil the importance of education for the HI. I know of my students who are now studying in NUS and those who have gone overseas for a degree in an overseas university.
As much as the Deaf community in Singapore has progressed in leaps and bounds, there are those who are left behind. Those who for some reason or other have difficulty in catching up with the system. Those who have poor parents support and education is not an important part in the family. Those whose friends have preferred to adopt a less hectic life and to take life easy. Those who have financial difficulty in coping with the school fees. I remember many years ago when I talk to a group of HI, there will always be a few who cannot understand me and the rest has to help him/her understand what the conversation is all about.

This is also the problem we will face when MHI moves beyond our shores and provides assistance to the Deaf outside Singapore in our neighbouring countries. Communication that we take for granted in Singapore remains a big task for the visiting team. A simple message can take hours for the illiterate HI to grasp.

This comes to the next point about God. When I first came to an awareness of God, I realise God is there. That was simple enough, until somebody tells me I must communicate with Him. Oh, my Sunday School teacher taught me I must pray. Ok..I opened my mouth and talk to Him. It became second nature to me as I got to know God more. Simple enough........then I start to forget Him....troubles that I face, the temptations that I face......I needed Him to answer.....
For some people listening to God is like having Singtel......clarity.
Not for me.....usually.....silence. I thought.....ok.....God is an answering machine....."At the tone, leave a message.....we will get back to you...."

Then somebody says.....God talks through His word.....The bible...."Thy Word is a lamp on my feet".....ok....I got an uncle who is a Christian and asked him to pass me a Bible which he does not need since most Christians own more than one Bible....

Then I realised that it is more like a dam that has broken...on me...everything is just confusing....I am drowning !! There is the King James Version, the New American Standard, the NIV, The Good News Bible....slowly...but steadily, I struggle with my Christian friends, go to church....I still don't understand some of the verses...(even though I am 43) ...I read the Good News Bible..it was then the easiest to read as a teenager. Then settle with NIV and recently the New Living Translation has been an eye opener for some of the passages.

Of course now the bomb is ....my wife and Pastor in church request...memorise these verses....I still struggle. Put those verses in your head and then to the heart. So...you will not forget. And I realise my cycle of my journey so far has come back to where I started "in case you forget".

For a doctor who has gone to university and gone through many post graduate examinations, who have read so many books, my journey with God, I realise, besides all the worship, the giving, the going to church, the fellowship,etc etc.....I struggle to understand and keep His word in my hard.."in case I forget".

What about the illiterate?
Comes to the next question....is God a God of words? It is like is words important to Him? Many religions do not have a religious book. It is spread by culture....parents tell their children...do this and that...go to the temple, participate in this festival, etc. Some has a religious book, but it is written by the believers.
Christianity surprisingly is not only written by leaders who believe, God wrote to us !!
We know that Moses go to Mount Sinai and God appeared to him and he came down with 2 tablets written by the hands of God himself the 10 commandments.

How come God did not just shout from the mountain to His people? Probably more awesome and maybe they will be so frightened they will definitely obey...
Is it because He is a God of words? He created language...we know we listen to his words and repeat in our mouth his words. I realise....written words are His too. Perhaps like my experience...He is saying "In case (lest) they forget"

For the illiterate, how is this going to be part of the experience of God?
Love the Lord our God with all our heart, our soul and all our mind.

I believe it is a challenge for MHI as we embark on a new chapter of our journey overseas.
Our church forefathers probably have the same problems. 1000 years ago, the world was a harder place to live in. Education was for the elite, the rich. Only the rich and the priviledged can read and write. Most of the rest of the people are poor and going to school is never part of the lives of the children or teenager.
How did the early church reach out to God?
How did they manage the part I have mentioned? Read the Bible and memorise it in your heart..

I think the old church fathers tried using pictures. Beautiful pictures painted on the walls of the church. Beautiful pictures painted on scrolls. (however printing of books did not happen until the invention of the printing press) Statutes.....these objects convey calm, peace and joy. A reminder of our Christian faith.
In the old testament, Joshua wanted the people to remember God and he asked the people write verses and keep them and tie them around their head, their wrists, etc.

It will be a challenge for us to think of other things as the teams we send to other countries not on plan for a spiritual encounter with God through worship, sharing of His word, fellowship and sharing of testimony, we should also think about how we can allow the illiterate to bring a part of the experience home that they can remember God. To them, reading the Bible has as much meaning as just holding the Bible and looking at its colour of the cover.

Our trip to Penang, a member of the team prepared more than a hundred bookmarks with verses written in them. She did that continuously for 3 days before the trip(a labour of her love for God). I was touched when I saw one of our HI friends from Malaysia proudly displaying all 3 different bookmarks round his neck walking around in Penang church. I know he cannot read. I know he cannot remember the words written on them, yet I know, he brings back to his town, a part of the experience he had with God that weekend and hopefully it will remind him to continue to search God and live according to His way that he has learnt.

Last Days

2008-05-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

Recently as I opened the newspapers and read about the disasters, it prompted me to think. The youths in MHI were having their exams. To all of them, their aim is to study and do the best they can so that they will make their parents pleased with them. For a few weeks, time stopped for them as they mugged and tried to remember all the Laws of Physics, Accounts, formulae, etc.
However, the earth continues to revolve and last week, a powerful cyclone struck the coast of Myanmar. As the country reeled after the cyclone passed and the damage was assessed, it was devastating. When I looked at the satellite images of the lower reaches of the Irrawady delta, I thought about Acheh and true enough, the journalist mentioned the disaster as an equivalent severity as the tsunami. (Tsunami is sea water. Cyclone is rain and strong wind)
The death toll and the missing numbers rise each day as government, officials, foreign help attempt to salvage the damage.
Before we can recover from the massive loss of lives, another disaster struck. This time Szechuan. A massive earthquake big enough for the whole of China including outside China (eg Vietnam) to be able to feel the quake. As I write this blog, many are still stuck under the rubble of the collapsed buildings. Students, office workers, housewives, elderly, all who were within the buildings when the quake occur are not exempt.
More disasters happen as in the USA, 8 gigantic twisters tore through the land in the mid West. Houses are flattened, people are missing.

The book of Luke 21:8....Jesus was telling his disciples " Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming. "I am he" and "The time is near". Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolution, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Then he said to them:"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven."

What about wars? Lebanon is now in civil war. Lebanon is north of Israel. The foreigners living in that land, like the Europeans, Japaneses, etc are all leaving the country hastily so that they will not be caught up in the violence.
Somalia in Africa continues to experience war. Pakistan continues to fight the insurgence of the Taleban. Afganistan struggles to set up their country as they reject the resistance of their former leaders the Talebans.

What about Singapore? It is true that we hardly experience any natural disasters. However I was sharing with a fellow sister in church that all my 40 years, I have never experienced earthquake in Singapore. Yet for the last 4 years, we frequently experience tremors from our neighbours. Is Singapore becoming vulnerable? We experience bad flooding recently despite our government's best efforts to keep Singapore flood free. Is our new construction of storm drains and other drainage methods no longer able to stand the changes in the weather?
We don't experience war visibly. Yet, we are constantly reminding ourselves of the war against terrorism. This is once again evident with the escape of Mat Salamat. Now, all over Singapore, we see pictures of him everywhere. Bus stops, toilets, hotels, shopping centers.

What we will experience that we need to be aware are the rising food prices and oil prices. You would already as a student know that the same pocket money that was given to you by your parents no longer seem to be enough. Transport through the EZ link card needs to be topped up more frequently as transport fees increases. To eat at the nearby foodcourt, means that we either have to pay a little bit more or we will have to accept a downgrading of the quality of the food we used to like if the friendly hawkers prefer to keep their prices the same.
When you read the papers, like me, you will wonder about "WHO IS TO BLAME?"
The countries all play a blame game. My teacher used to say for every finger you point at some body, 3 of your own is pointing back at you.
Awareness of the global situation is important for everybody now. No longer is it just reading the newspapers or watching Channelnewsasia or 930pm News at 5, etc. The issues and the happenings will reach our shores tomorrow or even now, it has already affected us.
What shall we do? Be prepared.

Be prepared physically and mentally. School helps you to think. Books and newspapers help you to understand. TV and internet is a good media of communication. But watch it with discretion. There are lots of information which are false and unnecessary. Exercise because it keeps your mind sharp and alert. You don't fall sick easily.
Be prepared financially. To want something expensive, think "Do I want it or do I need it?"

Many things we want. But how many times after struggling to save up, begging our parents for money or working overtime to get that few hundred dollars, we buy the thing, only to become disinterested in it after a few weeks?!!

3. Be prepared spiritually. I think these troubled days, we need to search for God more.

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3: 1=5 .....But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

When we read the above, aren't we becoming like that ourselves? Most of the time, we rationalise, since everybody is doing that, why shouldn't I? The world tells us "IT IS ALL ABOUT ME." Save yourself. Help yourself.
If we feel we are guilty of some of the above, then it is time we think how we should stop doing this (repent). Why do we bother to be good?
Because when we are bad, there is no peace in our heart. Our heart is constantly troubled, restless, unhappy, fearful. It is definitely an uncomfortable feeling. When we have a ulcer in the mouth, don't we feel uncomfortable to eat or drink? Imagine when we have no peace in our heart, it is like an unhealing ulcer in the mouth (except it is in my heart!)

We should want peace. From whom?
Jesus said in John 14: 27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Therefore. I urge you to read the papers and the Bible daily. Help one another to be prepared.

Fear God

2008-04-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

MHI has been encouraging the participation of Family Life Worship since end of last year. Wesley Church recognise the need of Family life as each generation grows up, new needs arise especially when we get older, start a family and have children. Family Life Worship seeks to create an environment of worship for the family with children. Most of the time, in the traditional service or the Prayer and Praise every Sunday, we may have frown upon families who bring their children along at the P&P and they disrupt the service with their cries, their fidgeting, etc.

Most of us wonder how come the children did not go to Sunday School? Why didn't the parents bring the toddlers to the cry room?
Family Life Worship seems to combine the needs of the family in a relax and condusive manner so that families, parents, grandparents, children, toddlers and babies in arms can worship together.

As MHI matures, we have more volunteers and Deaf who have settled down and begin their family. Sometimes it is very hard to come to Prayer and Praise and still be able to interact in the MHI family. So far, Family Life Worship is held every 5th Sunday of the month in the months that have 5 weekends. That means, only 4 of such special services are held a year.

Last week was one of the few Family Life Service we had in YWCA Ballroom. We had the speaker Mr David Leong from Scripture Union. Amazingly he knows sign language and is very interactive not only with the hearing families, but also with our MHI people.
The theme was "As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD" Joshua 24:15. He talked about how to serve the Lord as a family. Not just the adults. But also the children.
What stood out during the sermon was "fear God".

In the middle of the sermon, David suddenly told the audience....sit up. Sit straight. Don't slouch.
The reason is because many times as parents, we have forgotten to teach our children to respect the people. It is even worst if we have forgotten how we should respect God. When we worship and pray, God is in our presence. Yet, most of the time, we behave as if he is not there. And worst, we don't even have respect in our hearts. If the prime minister or the president of Singapore is in the Hall...would we talk to one another loudly, ignore the VIP or slouch? No....we will sit up, pay attention. Stay silent.

If we treat a VIP who is human like that, what about God? Our creator? As I sat and thought about it. Yes...even I have failed to teach my own students....RESPECT. All the time, I told myself..nevermind, they will learn themself or somebody else will tell them. Not nice to say. Let somebody else be the bad guy. Well..thanks to Mr David, he was not shameful or worried like me. He told us in a nice way...God is present. RESPECT HIM. FEAR HIM.
I am glad all the people present understood what he says. Indeed God is an awesome God. The more we learn about Him, the more we should respect Him. This respect must grow within us not just head knowledge, but heart too.

My Insight on Buses

2007-12-29T22:24:00.000-08:00

Last night someone special asked me about MHI. She was not very old. In fact I was surprised when I tried explaining about MHI, she understood the analogy clearly.
She was asking me when she will be coming to visit MHI again because she really had a great time this holidays.
Suddenly as I was trying to explain MHI to her, I thought of a perfect yet simple way of clarifying what MHI is.
MHI is not a bus stop. It is the bus itself. I was quite surprised I used this example out of the blue, but as I talked and she understood me perfectly well. Many of us feel and will always wonder if MHI is a bus stop. Why a bus stop? I guess it is a common sight in Singapore
. We use the buses to get from one place to another. Our bus stops are clean, friendly. Some are even eco friendly, meaning we use solar energy to power the advertisements, sign boards there. Surely MHI is a bus stop? Since, YWCA is where our Drop In Center (DIC) is with the friendly faces of our full time staff, Anthony Phua and Pauline Ong. Always to welcome anybody who drops in with a smile, with advice, a listening ear, always a shoulder for others to cry on.
Yet, I would say, it is not exactly the best way of describing MHI as the bus stop itself, but rather the Bus! The experience when one comes to MHI is not the building itself. But the people. Just like a school bus or any public transport. It is the bus itself and the people on the bus that makes our experience fulfilling. The bus that brings us where we want to go. The mobile shelter when outside is hot burning sun or raining cats and dogs. We ride the bus with our best friends, with our other friends, with our family members and even sometimes we have to take the same bus as our enemies.
I would suggest, our experience with MHI is really the ride itself rather than the bus. Sometime ago, somebody complains to me. Why do HI people have no loyalty? Is it because of the past experience? Does it come with the disability being unable to hear? Actually again I can use the example of the bus stop and the bus. I feel that perhaps some HI people do not understand the experience of the bus ride. Instead, they prefer the comfort of the bus stop. For them, their life is series of getting onto and getting off different buses. Moving from school to school, moving from organization to organization, moving from church to church. Nothing makes them remain loyal. To them, their comfort is remaining at the same bus stop.
When HI decide they don’t want to remain in the bus stop and when they have decided, “Yes I want to get on bus number 174 and I want to follow this bus until I reach my destiny.” Then the commitment and dedication to stay focused makes the trip a pleasant journey.
My next question is are all trips pleasant? What makes a bus ride enjoyable? Is it the aircon? The mobile TV? The clean bus, the driver, the conductor? Or is it the people onboard the bus who is with you? I feel that it is all the above. How do we apply this idea to MHI?
Passengers. That makes the majority of the people sitting on the bus. Are they good or bad? I saw a boy give up his seat for the elderly or the disabled one day. Though he is not their son, yet he believes in giving and sharing his seat. I also saw a thief onboard the bus and he was trying to snatch a student’s handphone. They look like you and me. Our trip is made different by the passengers we have on board.
Sometimes our trip is not so much of what others do for us, but what we do for others. Rather than wait for others to stand and give up their seat for us, let us be the one that will give up the seat to the elderly and the disabled. Rather than standing around the entrance or the exit, let us be the ones who will move backwards so that others can get onboard the bus. Rather than putting our earphones to listen to the IPOD and shutting ourselves from the world, let us be the first to smile at others. Let us look around to those who are feeling sad, feeling lonely.
Before we go about thinking that all trips are safe, we need to ask God for wisdom. Wisdom to know the difference. Bus rides that are not safe includes those whom I mentioned as "passengers". They are those who "get on and then get off". They have no feelings for the people who are onboard. They are those who will talk loudly on their handphone, play their radio loudly, spit and litter. They are the people who feel that the whole world owes them a living and their existence deserves a certain honour as if they are a king or a queen. Our experience on board the bus is definitely not going to be a pleasant one. These are the relationships that we need to watch out for.
As I say farewell to 2007 and hello to 2008, I want to encourage my fellow passengers. Their age range from primary school all the way to the adults who are single and those who are married and some already with children. I want to encourage them to keep their faith and not give up the good fight. The MHI Bus is a family. Unlike other volunteers who give instructions from the Bus stop. I want to say to them I am on the same bus as they are. Though people may say I have "Been there. Done that." I still continue to grow with them. I always say, whatever happens to you also happens to me. Therefore I will not do anything that will jeopardize the trip. I want more people to climb onboard this Bus as we enter the new 2008.