The Difference Between Strength and Courage

Went to SJMC yesterday with my hubby for a routine medical check-up. My heart was throbbing when the Imaging Department doctor called me in again for an "unscheduled" Ultra Sound scan while waiting for the result of the mammogram which was done just a while earlier... in my mind was like, is there something they have discovered in the mammogram that needed further probing? Although it is just a few minutes of waiting for my turn, I felt like time has stopped, my heart dropped, my body numbed and my mind went astray. Those horrible imaginations came crushing in...

Then this strong arm came hugging me tightly and gave me the words of comfort, he is the pillar of strength and courage, he is the shelter of storm and thunder, he is my husband. Babe, thank you for being there.

The moment Dr. Rohaya came out from the examination room, she showed a thumb up sign to my hubby. At this moment, a relief hug was all I needed. I felt that I was given a new lease of life!

God, please accept my eternal gratefulness for taking care of me.

Not forgetting those in the stormy sea, you have my unreserved supports and courages.

It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard,
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pains,
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.

~ Author Unknown

Catch up at Caring Old Folks Home

I managed to catch up with Wendy Yap, the Founder of Caring Old Folks Home in Kajang last week when I dropped by to visit the seniors there.

Wendy is truly a devoted Social Worker with 12 years experience in helping the needy. It is undoubtedly that the blood flowing inside her is filled with kindness and compassion, many people who received her help would agree to it.

On and off you can pick up some articles in our local newspapers that carry write ups on how she helped people that were on the verge of collapse; including single mothers, senior citizens, orphans, drug addicts and abused women. Here are some of her recent works; testimonies of her Godly work http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2007/12/10/central/19708064&sec=central
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2007/5/12/central/17683955&sec=central

I had also featured her in my blog last year http://sanctuaryofhope.blogspot.com/2007/02/mother-theresa-of-malaysia.html. She is truly a Saviour to the helpless. Our society is indeed lucky to have someone as devoted as her who dedicate most of her time serving the needy.

It was a nice catching up session and she had asked me to help source from kind donors like you who are reading my blog, to donate things that she needs for both of her homes, namely Caring Old Folks Home and Rumah Love and Care which are located not far away from each other in Kajang.

If you wish to donate the following items, please donate them to Wendy's homes directly or you can contact me and I can help channel the items to her.

The contact is as follows:

Caring Old Folks Home
11, Jalan Muhibah 7
Taman Muhibah
Kajang
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel: 03-87377680
Handphone:012-2380043 (Wendy)

Things Needed:
1. Van
2. Computer set with printer
3. Fax machine
4. CD / Radio Player / VCD Player
5. Sponsor for the old van's repair
6. Sponsor for Electricity and Water bill
7. Sponsor for repair the underground and roof leakage
8. Mosquito screens for both homes
9. Refrigerator
10. Plastic chairs/ stools
11. Non stick wok, pots, pans and cutleries
12. Plants pruning scissors
13. Dustpan & Brooms (soft and hard)
14. Bedsheets, towels and pillows

Food
1. Rice, cooking oil, milo, anlene milk powder
2. Kicap
3. Barli and rock sugar
4. Yee Mee, Meehoon, Maggie Mee, Ikan Bilis
5. Both big and small onions, garlic, potatoes

Household Items
1. Floor tiles cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, toilet paper
2. Washing powder, dish wash detergent, shower cream & soap, soap dish
3. Tooth paste, soft and medium tooth brush
4. Black garbage bag

Nursing Care
1. Adult diapers
2. Dettol antiseptic
3. Gloves
4. Medicated patch

Others
1. Garden planting soil
2. Spades

This world needs a lot more people like you, because I know that you are a kind person, because your

Kindness in words creates confidence
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.

~Lao Tzu

Shepherd's Centre Foundation

If you see Ah Seng eating an apple, pls tell him to stop.



He is in no condition to consume anything without prior approval from his guardian, David.

Today when we dropped by to visit Shepherd's Centre, Ah Seng was caught "red-handed". He was given half a piece of apple by an old aunt and was then immediately told by Mr Clement, the Centre's Supervisor to check on his glucose level.



Ah Seng was born an acute diabetic that requires six insulin jabs a day. He can't do exercise like any other kids, he passes out whenever the sugar level escalates and exceeds the permitted limit. He is kept on guard by a senior boy at the Centre, David, who conducts jabs, medication and checks on his daily food intake.

He was abandoned by his parents from since young and was 'picked up' by Pastor Jacob David, the Chairman of Shepherd's Centre Foundation from a very far away village in Pahang. There were no visits from family members since.

After throwing away the half eaten apple to the bin, he quickly took out the medical kit and started poking into one of his fingers for a small drop of blood to test for sugar level in his body.

So, the reading was 6.6 and he was ecstatic. I asked him why was he so relief? His answer was so saddening that he said he will not be able to eat rice or do anything but to stand and wait for the sugar level drop back to normal if the reading is high. We were silent for a while...tell me why life is so unfair to such a small and innocent little boy?

This is my third visit to Shepherd's Centre. Along with Vivian and Villi, we delivered some CNY cookies and also contributed Ang Pow money to the Centre.

This is also one of the ways Vivian celebrated her 21st birthday by visiting the Orphanage and Old Folks Home

Sharing with you here are some of the latest development at the Centre:


This is Ah Seng's milk powder। One of the reasons why the Centre is facing financial difficulties...can you imagine the maintenance cost of having eight terminally ill children on board?

From left- Mr Clement, one of the residents of the old folks home, Vivian and Villi, foreground- Ah Seng

David is seen here applying lotion to Jabez, who is suffering from skin irritation and has a hole in his heart. The Centre had nurtured him from bedridden condition when he came until today that he walks freely, do you consider him a miracle boy?

Workshop for the Industrial Arts Program

Boys are seen washing the Centre's vehicles

Place of worship

Shepherd's Centre currently shelters 91 children comprising 18 girls and 73 boys out of which 8 children are terminally ill.
They also have in their care 13 homeless senior citizens.

By way of giving your kind donation in any form, you have brought

...hope to the hopeless
... vision to the blind
... mobility to the lame
... strength to the weak and
... health to the sickly

Contact:

Pastor Jacob David
Tel: 03-87231213
H/P: 019-2662525


Donation in cheque please make payable to:


"Shepherd's Centre Foundation"
Office: 20, Taman Aik Ann, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Foster Home: No:23, Jalan Besar, Taman Hiew Piew, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel: 03-87231212/1214
Fax: 03-8723 4243
email:shepherd@tm.net.my

Love is all around!

We were treated to a sweet surprise after coming home from shopping on Valentine's day last week.

Both Vivian and Villi had "conspired" to put up these flowers, chocolate and card in our bedroom to give us a surprise. Villi cycled all the way to a nearby shop at Taipan to buy those roses before we arrived home; At top dollars, for sure. Although I felt that they shouldn't spent so much on a day that is mainly celebrated by young couples, but deep inside us, we were truly touched by their thoughtfulness and the creativity on the handmade card. We love you, kiddos.

Our message to:
Vivian, wishing you a smooth journey back to uni and a successful year ahead in your studies.
Villi, wishing you a fruitful SPM this year with flying colours. Bear with the tight schedules, we know you can make it!

Mummy, how to spend my 21st birthday?

Vivian will be leaving soon to continue her studies. In fact, she can't wait to go back to Uni as most of her local friends have started school by now. Her plan to stay back till end of the month is mainly to celebrate her up-coming 21st birthday at home rather than spending time alone in her rented room at the Uni. I can understand that...

So, she asked me what is the most meaningful way to celebrate her birthday besides blowing birthday cake and receiving key pendants from the parents and friends?

Well, since it is another few weeks away, I did not put too much thought into it but deep inside me, I have this in mind...



what is your suggestion?

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

To all of you who celebrate Chinese New Year, I would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Chinese New Year and may the year of Golden Rat showers you with good health, prosperity, longevity and happiness.