3rd Quarter Issue June – August 2016

PP 6833/08/2012(030482)

w w w. m a l a y s i a n c a re . o r g

GET INVOLVEDContact us to find out how you can make a change

+603 9058 2102

mail@malaysiancare.org

www.malaysiancare.org

Transforming liferestoring a right relationship with self

1-2 Transforming life: restoring a right relationship with self

3 Rumah Reconre a place to be with God

4-5 Belaga & back again

6 Uniting in a Cooperative

7 I taught & was taught!

8 Let go, let her be herself

9 Knocked down but not knocked out

10 Education for a ‘stateless’ person

11 A love story turns nightmare

12 They can work!

13 Shyness shy away

14 Expansion of Ladang Care

15 Super Human Touch/ Bridge2School

16-17 Biblical Reflection

CONTENTSMalaysian Christian Association for Relief(Malaysian Care) is a local, non-profit Christianorganisation set-up in 1979, committed to serving the poor and needy.

Care Contact is a publication of Malaysian Carecontaining stories about the activities of the organisation.It is published four times a year.

Publisher : Malaysian Christian Association for ReliefEditor : Joyce ThongLayout : Foo Kai SeongPrinter : Thumbprints Utd. Sdn Bhd Lot 24, Jalan RP 3, Rawang Perdana Industrial Estate, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Please direct enquiries regarding this newsletter to:Malaysian Care (Communications)P.O. Box 13230, GPO Kuala Lumpur,50804 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Tel: +603 9058 2102 Fax: +603 9058 4057Email: mail@malaysiancare.org

All donations to ‘Malaysian Care’ are tax-exempted.Donations can be made via GIRO internet banking, bank transfer or ATM to: Bank: Maybank BerhadAccount Name: Malaysian Care A/C No: 514057600134

Kindly log on to: www.malaysiancare.org and fill up the Donation Form so that we can send you an official tax exempt receipt.

iPay88 INTERNET PAYMENT SERVICEiPay88 is assisting Malaysian Care to accept donationsvia internet payment options such as CreditCard, Banking GIRO Transfers, Electronic AccountDebiting service (or E-Debit), Electronic Wallet (orE-Wallet), etc. to complete a transaction via internetsecurely. To make donations via iPay88, please log on to: www.malaysiancare.org

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There are some incidents that are etched in my memory of tragedies in the village.

One was when Pat and I had to attend the funeral of a village pastor’s son. The boy was in his late teens, had dropped out of school and was working on and off. Tragically one afternoon, the family came home and found that he had hung himself from the roof rafters. At the funeral, the pastor and his wife were so overcome with grief and the entire community was so bewildered by the tragedy that all we could do was to sit with them in silence and pray for them.

Another incident was while we were in a village and there was a commotion at one house. We were told that a young father had tried to kill himself and I immediately went over to see if any help was needed. He was sitting on the floor of the bathroom in a stupor with a blue-coloured foul-smelling liquid oozing out of his mouth. He had drunk the bottle of weed killer that was now lying on the floor next to him. We waited helplessly for the ambulance to arrive and heard later that at the hospital they tried to flush his stomach but it was too late to save his life.

What caused these young men to take such a desperate course of action? We may never know the final trigger that made them commit the act. What we do know is that in this fallen world man’s self-image is so deeply marred by sin that we sometimes do things that bring harm to ourselves and others.

Image and identityIn Genesis when God created man, he made us in his own image thus signifying that a unique relationship unlike that with the rest of creation had been born.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Having God’s image in us means we have an identity based on truth that shows us:1. We are God’s children (Rom 8:16-17)2. Our definite gendered identity of male or female (Gen

1:27)3. The social nature of our identity where we were

created to be in community (Gen 2:18)4. The intrinsic productive and stewardship role in our

identity (Gen 2:15)

Sadly, when man sinned and disobeyed God our self-image was forever marred and our identity distorted. Instead of living as his beloved children, we lost that identity and replaced it with notions of success, popularity and power that the world so readily promotes. Definitive gender identity is blurred and discarded in the name of desire and equality resulting in the distortion of identity and family. Hollow and illusionary, these notions inevitably lead to bad choices and some to self-harm. Increasingly, suicide and other forms of self-harming behaviour are happening in our communities as people substitute truth with fallacy.

Transforming life:

restoring a right relationship with self

by Wong Young Soon

June 2016 | Care C

ontact 2Young Soon has lived and worked with the Orang Asli community for over 20 years and loves to ‘drink tea and eat ubi’ with them.

Created to be in community, the Darwinian ethic has overturned that to where competition and ‘survival of the fittest’ trumps cooperation and caring for one another. Ironically, more and more people feel isolated, lonely and in despair in a world more connected than ever before. Family and community support dwindles in the face of the breakdown of these institutions and individuals are left to navigate trials and temptations with their own understanding. The effects of this are being felt even in indigenous communities long buffered against such ills because of their isolation.

Our productive role in work and our stewardship role to take care is intrinsic to our identity because this was how God created us.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15

When people lose access to work or when work becomes merely an economic means rather than being creative and caring as well, then we lose the productive and stewardship part of our identity. This is clearly evident in many of the indigenous communities Care works with. As traditional forms of work and social support disappear brought about by rapid modernisation and the loss of land and forest, young men in particular are left with little skills or opportunity to cope with the changes and succeed in the transition. From substance abuse to taking one’s own life, many young Orang Asli men face worrying challenges ahead. We observed a similar trend among the Penan community in Sarawak even as Care begins engaging with the Orang Asal there where resettlement and development have started to take a toll on their identity and social system.

Restoring a right relationship with selfSince our identity is derived from having God’s image in us, restoration requires reconciliation with him. Without such reconciliation, we will never realize that we are his children.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:13-16

Knowing this enables us to weather the deception that our self-worth is dependent on success, popularity or power. Knowing this gives us the assuredness to reject the distorted desires of blurred gender identity without fear of losing God’s love.

Although marred by sin, our social and cultural backgrounds are identities intended by God that are an integral part of a person’s way of understanding himself and forming relationships with the world around him. Restoring these identities under the scrutiny of God’s light rather than discarding them as backward affirms people’s uniqueness and gives them a sense of social stability in times of uncertainty.

For young men in particular, having work that is dignified and reviving a stewardship ethos will help people to live out their identity as creations of a creative and caring God. Dignified work brings fulfilment and stewardship helps us to become less self-absorbed as we focus more on caring for neighbour and the rest of his creation.

The truth sets us freeWould the outcome have been different had those two young men in the tragedies described earlier known the truth about their identity? I believe so because they would have known that God loves them in their most desperate hour of need and that they could always turn to a loving Father for help. A life in right relationship with self begins when we are able to live by the truth that sets us free and all of us can assuredly say, “I am a beloved child of God.” n

Rates: Full-time workers Non-full-time workers

RM40 RM70 per person/night

RM300 RM400 per night maximum of 17 persons (use of all facilities)

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ontact 3

Rumah Reconre a place to be alone with God

616, Jalan Layang-layang 20, Taman Layang Layang, 70100 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.GPS coordinate: 2.690770, 101.958541

On 16 January 2016, we dedicated Rumah Reconre with thanksgiving to God. This house was presented by Reconre Ministries to Malaysian Care and is located in the town of Seremban which is about an hour’s drive for the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur.

During the past month, Rumah Reconre has undergone a ‘face-lift’ — upgrading its facilities to be conducive for prayer retreats, committee meetings, team-building and staff retreats, as well as a perfect getaway for leisure. The venue is fully equipped with a fellowship hall, a meeting room with a large LCD TV, a dining area and ample open space for ‘Koinonia’. All rooms are fully air-conditioned with additional wash-room facilities to host up to 17 pax comfortably; and also built inclusively to be disabled friendly. Rumah Reconre will also continue to serve individual Christians as a place to retreat, pray and relax in unhurried quietness. For booking or more information, please visit www.malaysiancare.org/rumah-reconre/ or contact Geetha at +603 90582102 ext. 109 or geetha.maniam@malaysiancare.org

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Where?“Where is this Belaga?” was my first thought when Young Soon mentioned that we would be doing a survey in Sarawak. On the map it looked quite a distance from Miri where we would initially be based, and it turned out to be a seven to eight hour drive on a good day, with a couple of pit-stops along the way.

MiriOn the 29th of March, we flew to Miri, and stayed with a most hospitable friend, Ms. Bong, who ran a shelter for single mothers and others in need. She put us up for a couple of nights, as well as made arrangements for us to meet with representatives of Prison Fellowship Malaysia (Miri), the CEO of Luzhou (a youth at risk programme), and Rev. Jonathan Sia of Miri Gospel.

On the following night, we met up with pastors from Miri Evangelical Church (which is under the covering of SIB), who treated us to a wonderful meal of traditional food with Bario rice, and such delicacies were simply lovely. Our partners from the Tamil Methodist Church of Brickfields (TMCB) were also present. The collaborative work in Belaga was an arrangement between SIB, TMCB and Malaysian Care. The focus of this collaboration was to work amongst the Orang Asal who were displaced by the logging, as well as the building of two dams in the region i.e. the Murum and Bakun dams. The two villages we are

looking at initially were Long Wat (a resettlement of Penan people), and Long Anau (a farming village of the Kenyah people).

Into the interiorThursday, 31st March, was the day we set out to Belaga. We travelled in 2 vehicles packed with provisions, equipment and our luggage. Pr Peter and Pr Juliana, serving and living at Long Wat, were going to be our hosts. Pr Ibau and Pr Ibong were travelling together with us and would be bringing our TMCB friends to visit other villages. So, with 11 people in two 4WDs, we began our journey at 8.30am. Most of the roads were well maintained, until the final hour of the journey when we thanked God for a good suspension system and dry weather. On the way to Long Wat, we visited Long Peran (where a church building was being constructed) and Long Malim P (P for Penan). We arrived in the late afternoon at Long Wat. Long Wat is made up of 9 modern long houses built by Sarawak Energy, with 10 ‘pintu’ each. Almost 400 people live here. Electricity supply is consistent, and water is supplied from the mountain rivers via modern plumbing. 5 men slept in the living/dining room of Pr Peter and Juliana’s home, and you could imagine the cacophony of night sounds emerging from this group. Talking about cacophony of sounds, the night was made melodious by the various insects that abound. I have not seen cicadas in KL for many years now apart from what I have seen in museums and insectariums; but the various life forms were twice as large and as varied, including rhinoceros beetles, praying mantis etc.

Long Wat, a resettlement of the PenansOur first night was spent with the people of Long Wat, when Young Soon facilitated a session with the community i.e. community mapping. Around 30 people attended, including children, and quite a number of youth. After some encouragement, it was encouraging to see the people participating, especially the youth. The main issue or concern highlighted was the lack of employment or income generating opportunities.

Belaga& back again

by Kenneth Wong

June 2016 | Care C

ontact 5Kenneth is currently attached to the Policy, Advocacy & Research Department, after 12 years in Prison, Drugs & AIDS. He loves food and loves to cook.

Long Anau, a farm village of the KenyahsThe next morning saw the village enveloped in a mist for a short while. It reminded me of Cameron Highlands in the early years before the destruction of its environment. Later that morning we travelled to Long Anau, approximately 40 minutes away, to visit a Kenyah farming community. This farming community was somewhat unique as this place was only used on the weekdays to farm and to facilitate their children’s schooling, and the 10 or so families there would travel back to their main village via the river on the weekends. There was no school where their main village was located. They mainly farmed the land with padi, as well as a few fruit trees. Discussions with this community produced something a little more concrete, in that they seemed determined to try other crops and to generate better income. Together, we decided to explore the possibility of growing rubber trees. They had been badly affected by the drought and their padi yield was up to 90% less than the good years. Much more to learnAnother night at Long Wat with Pr Peter and Juliana, and we spent it discussing the findings, and trying to understand a little more about the Penan and Kenyah peoples. There is much to learn from each other, and as

Young Soon likes to say “much tea to be drunk” before we will find acceptance by the people.

We will be back!Upon returning to KL, I realised that this was only the first of many journeys to Miri and Belaga, and to wherever God desires to send us. It would probably take a number of years, many mistakes to be made, many lessons to be learnt, and many relationships to be built; but we believe we see God’s glory in Sarawak in the midst of the poverty. We see this in the desire and willingness of His servants to give of themselves: Pr Peter and Juliana, Pr Ibau and Ibong; Augustus and Jason of TMCB, to see His Kingdom come and His will be done. God is doing a marvellous thing in Sarawak, and He has redeemed us to do a good work which He has prepared for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10) n

Rumah Kebun of Long Anau

Villagers of Long Wat mapping out their community

With our partners from Miri Evangelical Church and Tamil Methodist Church Brickfields

With farmers of Long Anau

6 June 2016 | C

are Contact

Indigenous but among the poorestThe Orang Asli are the indigenous minority peoples of Peninsular Malaysia. They are made of 3 main tribes i.e. Sengoi (or Senoi), Proto-Malay and Negrito which are divided into 18 sub-ethnic groups.

The Orang Asli are among the poorest and most disadvantaged communities in Peninsular Malaysia, with half living below the poverty line in 2009 compared to only 0.5% of the general population in urban areas, and 2.7% in rural areas. Despite the spending of RM259 million from 2010 to 2014 by Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa), 20% or 7,300 Orang Asli households are still hardcore poor with household income of less than RM490 per month (source: The Star, 23 March 2015).

Malaysian Care’s rural workMalaysian Care’s community development work with the Orang Asli began in 1991 following a strategic planning exercise which identified that it was not reaching out to the poorest communities in the country. A rural poor unit was then formed to focus on working with the Orang Asli community. The first project embarked on was to fund the setup of a number of ‘tadika’ (kindergartens) in the villages and to facilitate pre-school teachers’ training. In 1992, Wong Young Soon joined the unit as its first fulltime staff and was posted to Kampar to build relationships with the grassroots community.

Cooperative, cooperationOne of the main fruits of this work besides Ladang Care was the establishment of Koperasi Sengoi Pribumi Perak

Berhad (KSPP) in 2008. KSPP is a Cooperative of the Sengoi people, envisioned to increase awareness and economic capacity of its members.

In 2011, the Cooperative employed its first fulltime staff, Alang Shana. Today, it has 3 fulltime staff; over 1,000 members from 31 villages; its own a bank account and, owns a craft and secondhand goods shop, and a rubber marketing arm.

To Alang who has journeyed with KSPP for 6 years (first year as a volunteer), Malaysian Care is an NGO that helps the Orang Asli in many aspects — economic, education, social and land rights. It is likened to a family member and a close friend. “Malaysian Care is close to us because its top men and women come down to grassroots (‘turun padang’)”, she said.

“It has been tough but God is with us and Malaysian Care encourages us in times of wanting to give up. There have been a lot of ups and downs, people come and go. What is most important is cooperation. Don’t give up. Our Lord Jesus will help us continue on the journey,” Alang reflected on KSPP’s journey. n

Joyce Thong, our Communications Director is passionate to engage Christians and others in building a just society that reflects the Kingdom of God where everyone is given the opportunity to flourish.

Uniting in a

Cooperative

“There have been a lot of ups and downs, people come and go. What is most important is cooperation. Don’t give up. Our Lord Jesus will help us continue on the journey.”– Alang Shana a/p Ngah Achin,

staff of Koperasi Sengoi Pribumi Perak

TRANSFORMATION STORIES

by Joyce Thong

June 2016 | Care C

ontact 7

Volunteer teacher?!Of all things to volunteer in, I admit I never thought of teaching. However, I felt it was the most feasible thing to do consistently during the weekends (the only time I could volunteer). Hence, I signed up as a volunteer teacher for Razak Mansion community tuition. Two secondary boys, Lian Wah and Soon Fatt were assigned to me for English lessons. After assessing them, I realised that I had to start from basics. I had no idea how as I was not a teacher by profession but comforted as teaching the basics was probably the easiest. I told them not to think about tuition solely to pass exams but for life application. If you have the foundation, you will know how to apply it in all life’s situations.

It’s for me too!As months went by, I began to realise that volunteering was not just about helping them; it had an effect on me too. I was not a very confident person; let alone making a difference. I tended to perceive success in people who are lauded with medals and a long list of achievements in diverse areas, people who have no problems instantly engaging a crowd. I was the opposite and many times I felt I never measured up. However, they made me feel

appreciated and I started to accept that I fare better behind-the-scenes and there is a place for me in the world. It was heartwarming to also know that they asked if I would resume teaching them after the break last year.

More than teacher-studentWe joked, talked about general things and even life philosophies. I won’t forget what Lian Wah said which I summarise here “the process is more important than the destination”, “win or lose (he plays basketball) doesn’t matter. What do you do with the experience?” and “you can’t have everything. I might be better in sports but poor in studies. I just have to try harder”. They also requested to play basketball near my house and swim at my apartment’s pool. Which they “dared” try to bribe their way out of lessons for the excursion! Obviously we have moved past teacher-student to a friendship and I feel blessed to have this opportunity to know them; and have imparted some English knowledge and some life lessons. Above all, this stint has also opened my eyes to the many needs within our community and I’d like to say that no matter how small our contribution may be; you can make a difference. And when we take the step to help; you’ll have a change of perspective. n

Say “food” and Yune’s eyes sparkle. Passionate for cooking and a writer by profession, Yune’s other interests are sports, do-it-yourself projects and solo traveling.

I taught & was

taught!

by Lee Yune Yee

TRANSFORMATION STORIES

June 2016 | Care C

ontact 8

A 24-year-old able to take public transport to her workplace is not a big deal for many but it is for Peggy Wang.

“When she was small, she was very quiet and only used gestures to communicate with us. Peggy only started to talk when she was six,” said her mother Mr and Mrs Wang soon realised that Peggy was different from other children and slow in learning.

FrustrationTheir real nightmare came after Peggy entered primary school. There were endless complaints from her teachers. With limited resources for children with special needs that time, the family felt helpless. They tried hard looking for a suitable school and Peggy had been to four different schools in one academic year. In all her primary school days, Peggy always sat among students younger than her age. “Why is her developmental growth so different from her sisters and other children?” — was the question that nagged Mrs Wang. Frustration often overwhelmed her heart when Peggy was not able to cope with her studies. She cried and tried all sorts of ways including sensory integration therapy, physiotherapy and tonics that brought some negative effects on Peggy, until it got too stressful to carry on.

AcceptanceThe turning point came when Peggy was 18. Her mother came across a gathering of parents with special needs children and through it she came to know about Malaysian Care. “I was reluctant to send Peggy to Malaysian Care at the first as we were not Christians but I had nowhere else to turn to,” said Mrs Wang. Peggy

showed significant improvement while being trained at Malaysian Care’s Workbase. At the same time, her mother learnt how to communicate with Peggy and other trainees. Mrs Wang learned that the key to Peggy’s improvement was ACCEPTANCE. “I learn to accept Peggy as who she is and do not compare her with other children. I see Peggy as an individual whom I should just guide but not to hold on. When I let go, I see her unique talents,” she said.

InclusionThe reserved girl is no longer the same! Peggy now works at a 7-11 store and is able to take public transport on her own. Peggy has a good working environment where she is treated well by her supervisor and colleagues. She has endless stories from her workplace to share with her family every day. One thing that makes Peggy proud is that she is the only staff who is able to communicate with Chinese tourists who come to the store.

Special thanks“I want to especially to thank Jecyrina who trained Peggy; Yvonne, her job coach who got her the job and is still guiding her now. I see the mother’s love in you; you trusted Peggy’s ability more than I did. With your mother’s love, Peggy’s life is never the same!” Mrs Wang said with gratefulness. n

Wendy is a staff with our Communication Department. She is currently handling church relations.

Let go, let her

be herself

by Wendy Chin

TRANSFORMATION STORIES

Mrs WangPeggy

1. Pray for our prison volunteers that they will be able to have access to the inmates and the Holy Spirit will continue to work in the lives of these people.

2. We are having weekly sessions with a Remove class in a school in KL. Pray for God’s wisdom upon the team and more volunteers to help out.

3. As Bumblebee continues to work with different partners, resident associations and communities on a regular basis, pray for these relationships to be strengthened.

4. The recent heat wave has affected Bumblebee operations. Pray that God will protect and preserve the health of staff, volunteers & communities involved.

5. There is a new partnership for Bumblebee in Klang. As the volunteers’ training is in progress, pray that the residents will accept our presence as we begin in July.

6. Pray for discernment of spiritual strongholds in each urban poor community that we are engaged in and break-down these strongholds in Jesus’ name.

Prison Ministry & Bumblebee

WEEK 3 June 13-19, 2016

JUNE – AUGUST 2016Prayer Points

1. Pray for Mr X who has been in Kajang Prison for the last 27 years, for a royal pardon.

2. Pray for those sentenced to death row in Kajang Prison. Pray that they will be ministered to by our volunteers and know God.

3. Pray that the inmates in Kajang & Sg. Buloh Prison will have easy access to bibles, devotional materials and the prison authorities will speed up the screening process.

4. Pray for the students in Juvenile Prison as our staff and volunteers minister to them through character development, resilience building and pre-release counselling.

5. Pray for our clients who are already working, that they may excel at work and cope with the changes.

Clients — Breakthroughs & Needs

WEEK 1 June 1-5, 2016

1. Pray for National Prison & Addiction Conference to be held from 18th to 21st Aug 2016. Pray that the participants and speakers will benefit and provide a platform for networking and resource building.

2. Pray for ISAAC (International Substance Abuse & Addiction Coalition) Conference in Yangon, Myammar in which Malaysian Care is co-hosting from 10-14 Oct, 2016. May God’s glory and purpose to set the captives free be fulfilled in this conference. We pray that the coalition of Christians from 80 countries working together will form long lasting partnerships and friendships in this conference.

3. Youth Junction will be organising a Cultural Day Celebration in conjunction with this year’s World Refugee Day in the month of July. Pray for wisdom and smooth planning for the team.

4. Pray for Chinese Care Conference which will be held on 16 July 2016 at Bible College Malaysia. Uphold the organising committee, co-organisers and pray that God will prepare the target of the hearts of the participants.

5. Pray for the Local Planning Committee of the National Early Childhood Intervention Conference as they finalise the details for the conference in November. Pray for parents, educators, therapists, service providers, civil servants and others to register for the conference.

Seminars, Conferences & Events

WEEK 2 June 6-12, 2016

JUNPullout

Group session in progress.

1. Pray for our Community Development Team as they plan and run programmes for young adults with special needs in 2016 and to ensure that it is in line with Malaysian Care’s transition plan.

2. Thank God for supportive employers who are willing to make adjustments to work conditions for our young adults with special needs. Pray for more employers to be open to offer employment to people with special needs.

3. Pray for the current job coach team to expand and be more equipped in serving more people with special needs in open employment.

4. Thank God for the smooth implementation of Fast Track Employment Transition Programme (Pilot project) for students with learning difficulties. Pray that this group of students will be able to secure meaningful employment under Malaysian Care’s job coach support.

5. Bloomers Training House is a centre which provides training and employment opportunities for People with Learning Difficulties. They will be having a fundraising dinner on 30 July 2016. Pray for smooth planning and a successful event.

6. Pray for God’s favor to be upon young working adults with learning difficulties to continue to do well at work. Pray that their employers, supervisors and co-workers will be understanding and supportive towards them.

Services for Young Adults with Special Needs

WEEK 4 June 20-26, 2016

1. Pray for the educational course with the teachers at Kg. Bertang and Kg. Kabang, Pahang for their hearts to continue to be touched by God to serve wholeheartedly in their community despite circumstances that might arise.

2. Pray for parents and children that we are reaching out to through the Eng Hot Panei programme. Pray that they will be impacted and be aware of the importance of education and strive for positive growth.

3. Pray for the construction of new buildings at Ladang Care. Pray for good health and safety for the construction workers and our staff.

4. Pray that the Orang Asli communities will continue rise up to protect their land through their respective cooperatives, and take ownership of it.

Community Development – Orang Asli

WEEK 5 June 27-30, 2016

1. Pray for unity and emotional & financial support for our staff so that we may continue to serve in God’s will and love.

2. Uphold S for recovery of health. Pray that she will be able to find strength in God and may God’s healing power be upon her.

3. Pray for staff who are currently pursuing their further studies: Young Soon, Elaine, Hap Choy, Tina, Martin and Kai Seong. May the Lord grant them strength and good time management as they juggle between various roles.

4. Pray for Telishiah as she takes over and manages the payroll system and other HR functions efficiently.

5. Pray for Nancy and Geetha in their administrative duties which include building and vehicle maintenance. Pray that all our resources will be properly and efficiently utilised.

Staff Welfare

July 1-10, 2016WEEK 1

1. Pray for wisdom and strength in lesson planning for the teachers and volunteers involved in Setapak. Pray for English Club (a community-based English club for children, that the lessons will be able to impact the children wholistically.

2. Pray for strength for staff conducting Needs Assessment survey throughout this year. Pray for wisdom in analysing the data and drawing conclusions.

3. Pray for more open doors for Malaysian Care in a community in Setapak as staff approach the residents and the Residents’ Association. Pray for hindrances and bearers to be removed.

4. Youth Junction is launching its very own baking programme soon and we need volunteers. Pray for committed and experienced volunteers to help us develop a suitable curriculum and conduct baking training.

5. We give thanks to God for providing Youth Junction with a ping pong table. Play session is every Thursday and Saturday. Pray that through this we can reach out to more youths around the Prima area.

Community Development – Setapak

July 11-17, 2016WEEK 2

JULPullout 5. Pray that we will be able to secure sponsorship/funding for

the remaining RM500,000 that is needed for Ladang Care

expansion which is scheduled to be completed in October

2016.

6. Pray for discernment of spiritual strongholds in each Orang

Asli village that we are engaged with and break-down these

strongholds in Jesus’ name.

August 1-7, 2016

Donors & Church Relations

Clients – Breakthroughs & Needs

1. Pray that the young generation will have a sense of calling in giving towards building God’s kingdom.

2. Pray for fear and doubt to be removed from donors that they will trust in God’s provision and protection during this economic downturn and continue to give towards building God’s kingdom.

3. Pray that the hearts and minds of God’s people, believers & non-believers, are softened to receive His touch and presence through the works of giving.

4. Pray for the updating our church relations database/directory (English and Chinese churches) that we will be able to identify the sources and the process will be smooth.

5. Pray for more open doors into churches or Christian groups to seek for partnership, support and participation. Pray that the team is able to present the vision clearly so that long term bridges can be built.

1. Pray for C (baby of a teenage client who has no family) to be adopted by a good family.

2. Continue to uphold C’s application for a Malaysian IC. Pray for favour and a smooth and prompt process as our staff deal with various government agencies.

3. Pray for K’s mental and emotional stability for recovery so that he is able to cope with his issues.

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

July 18-24, 2016

July 25-31, 2016

AUGPullout

Students in PPR Seri Semarak having an exciting time learning English during a regular session of Seri Semarak English Club through an unconventional method: Games!

Preschool teachers who completed training.

1. Sabah unit has an opening for community staff with a calling towards children’s education for our sub-regional office. Please pray for suitable Sabahan candidates to apply.

2. We are looking for office space in Kota Kinabalu and Kota Marudu. Pray for like-minded people to respond to this call for an office or house at minimal rental.

3. Pray for the Sabah unit staff and their families for good health and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit: Matthew, Hui-En, Joanna, Edmuston and Hepzibah.

4. Pray for God to bring individuals and families in the same community to come together in heart and mind. Pray that as a unit, they can overcome the spiritual and structural obstacles, and achieve what they aim for.

5. Pray for the Protestant Church of Sabah (PCS), as they continue to trust in the Lord and guide their congregation in supporting their full time workers such as pastors and kindergarten teachers. Pray for financial support and good stewardship with the resources that they have. We are thankful for the recent teachers training organised by them.

6. Pray for our staff as they go to the interior where resources are lacking. Pray especially for families of people with special needs that they will be ministered to by their local church and we will be creative in working with them even with contraints.

Sabah Unit

WEEK 1

6. Pray for discernment of spiritual strongholds in the Setapak

communities where we work with and break-down these

strongholds in Jesus’ name.

4. Pray for U that she will know God’s direction for her future and

for reconciliation with her husband and sons.

5. Pray for A’s healing and recovery from mental illness. Pray also

for her children that God will continue to provide for their studies

and health.

6. Pray for D, that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in her life

and soften her heart so that she will return back to God and her

family.

Interested candidates can email CV and cover letter to: huresources@malaysiancare.org

Community Development – Setapak

Staff – Operations

Networking & Partnership

1. We pray for wisdom and unity for the team formed to undertake various tasks in developing community development initiatives for the Setapak community. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be at the center of their work and plans.

2. Currently there are 11 students enrolled in the Conversational English Class at Youth Junction. Pray that each student will gain much improvement from the classes and have better confidence conversing in English.

3. Pray for the formation of Youth Junction Sports Club. Through sports, we aim to bring wholistic development in the lives of many young people. For this we will need many outgoing people who are keen on sports activities to join us.

4. The team from Youth Junction had the opportunity to attend and meet many young people at a recent community youth service in Setapak. Pray for the refugee young adults that their hearts will continue to trust and yearn for Christ in all circumstances.

5. Pray for wisdom for the churches in being creative and persevere in engaging and promoting events & programmes to the community. Pray that more church members will be empowered to volunteer, serve and journey with the community.

1. Pray for boldness to be upon the R&D team as they embrace the upcoming transition. Pray that the team will be challenged to learn new things and continue to support one another.

2. Pray for accuracy and speed as our staff proofreads the Chinese version of “A Curriculum Guide for Teaching Young Children with Developmental Delays” by Robert Deller.

3. Pray for God’s protection for Admin and Finance staff travelling out to post office and banks. Pray that they will be alert and vigilant while travelling to various places.

1. Client A (mother) left Sabah with E (child) to come to KL to get services for E as he is believed to have autism. Pray for strength, guidance and wisdom from the Lord for A as she is the main caregiver and for her husband who is working in Sabah as the sole breadwinner of the family. Pray that E will get the help that he needs to develop to his full potential.

2. Pray that God will provide for H and her family, comfort them and use the local church in Sabah to minister to their needs. All three of her children have cerebral palsy and one of them passed away last year. Her husband has a neurodegenerative disorder and is unable to work. H stays at home to take care of her family.

3. Pray for Client W’s reconciliation with her son who is rejecting her and refusing to complete secondary school. Pray that W will be able to communicate with him as he has hearing impairment and that she will find hope and comfort in the Lord. Pray for God to bring healing into the relationship and the family.

4. Pray for placement adjustment for WF, one of our young adults who works at our Toy Library. There is a new implementation of placement routine from April onwards, pray that WF can follow the schedule well with minimal reminders.

5. Pray for LS, a Toy Library member who is often admitted to hospital for numerous operations that affects her mobility. Pray for job opportunity as LS looks for a flexible job, preferably home-based while supporting a child with special needs.

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 3

August 8-14, 2016

August 15-21, 2016

August 22-31, 2016

AUGPullout

Weekly Conversational English Class @ Youth Junction.

The curriculum in English and Malay. Mandarin version coming soon.

4. We seek God’s guidance for training needs to be identified,

planned and implemented in line with the organisation

restructing.

5. Pray for the three week induction that new staff undergo to help

them get a good overview of Care’s work before they settle into

their respective roles.

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A sexual assault charge landed an 18-year old boy in Sekolah Integriti Kajang (SIK, Juvenile Prison) for 2 years and 6 months and crushed

his dream to be a lawyer.

Young loveHafizi had always enjoyed studies. He studied hard and was already taking steps to apply for a scholarship. Unfortunately, he fell in love after finishing secondary school and this young love proved to be more than a distraction. There was strong rejection from the girl’s parents, followed by threats and finally a sexual assault charge.

While other inmates were lazing around, chit-chatting and playing games, Hafizi spent his free time studying and preparing for STPM examinations. “I want to have a life when I leave here” was the motivation that kept him going. However, as time went on his strength started to weaken.

Friends from Malaysian Care That was when he met Sam and Fred from Malaysian Care. Fred and Sam along with their team conducts programmes in SIK on a monthly basis. Their presence eventually caught Hafizi’s eyes and he was drawn to them.

“Fred and Sam became my close friends, like family to me. They are brothers whom I can talk to about anything and they have always been very supportive of me”. Hafizi bonded closely and quickly with the two of them as they spent time with each other during activities and counselling sessions. “I really appreciate all the help and encouragement that they gave me when I was in SIK and even now. They still keep in touch with me and I always visit them whenever I am in Kuala Lumpur”.

Give backNow Hafizi is in the midst of completing a Bachelor’s degree in International Financial Economics. Apart from his studies he is actively engaged in social activities and event organising. “I want to give back to society because I have been truly blessed. I want to be an inspiration to many, and I have a passion to help those in need”. He has become a role model in his college and community, taking leadership positions in fundraising events for charities. “I thank Malaysian Care for being with me on my journey, even now. I believe I can truly accomplish anything I set my mind to do no matter what stands in my way”. n

Nicholas is a staff with our Communications Department. His current role is handling donor relations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, involved in fund raising campaigns as well as community work.

Knocked down

but not knocked out

by Nicholas Perera

TRANSFORMATION STORIES

Hafizi, 22 years old, is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Financial Economics.

TRANSFORMATION STORIES

In the countryside of the Chin State of Myanmar where there is snow during winter, where various crops grow, where water is taken from the well and

twinkling stars fill the vast sky at night, was the place Dim Saan called home.

Learning EnglishDim Saan arrived in Malaysia in 2010. She recalls not knowing a single word in English then, “I didn’t even know how to answer when people asked ‘How are you?’” Like many of the refugees from her tribe, she went to the Zomi Education Centre to study. She was among the 20 chosen to further studies at Ruth Education Centre (REC).

Her English improved tremendously in REC. “I learned how to speak better and pray in English. I remember copying phrases my teachers spoke and then writing the meaning down in Burmese or Zomi. For example, if they ask ‘How is your day?’ I will write it down with the meaning. My books are filled with definitions and the dictionary was my best friend.”

Forum TheatreBeing in REC, Dim Saan has participated in the various activities held there. One of which was the Forum Theatre conducted by Malaysian Care. “I really enjoyed the Forum Theatre. I learned to be focused and think critically. My favourite issue is bad peer influence among refugee youth. I learned a lot from the facilitators’ feedback. They would comment on our presentation in

terms of our acting and speaking. They would correct us where we went wrong. They identified our strengths and weaknesses and gave us advice on how to improve. The Forum Theatre has inspired me to help my people.”

Education to achieve ambitionDim Saan is currently teaching at her former community and has this ambition: “I have a vision in life. Once I have resettled in America, achieved a higher education, I want to be a teacher so that I can go back to my village to teach.” Parents in her village do not see the importance of education. Farming is their top priority and children as young as seven would start to do heavy house chores such as cooking and washing.

“The adults think this way because they are not educated. So they don’t really know what it means to be educated. Even though we ask the government for a school, they ignore us. The nearest school is 30 miles away. That is why I want to go back and help my village because my brothers and I are the only ones from our village who are still studying until today”, Dim Saan added.

Her advice to her fellow refugees: “Even if people look down on you, you should never look down on yourself. Everything has a purpose and it is all for our good. God has already designed our future. You shouldn’t simply lose hope or feel down because of what other people say and do.” n

Education for a ‘stateless’ person

by Joanna Thinn Mar

Joanna interned with Malaysian Care (Rural & Urban Community Development) from November to December 2015. She is currently pursuing a degree in English Language & Communications at UCSI University.

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TRANSFORMATION STORIES

Run awayIn 1999, I fell in love with a man and ran away with him when my mother objected to the relationship. Barely 3 years later when I was carrying my second child, I realised that I should have listened to her. My husband started mixing with the wrong company, hardly came home and eventually stopped bringing money home. I had to take his verbal and physical abuses, shoulder all the responsibilities by myself and I was only a clerk then. Life was miserable but still I didn’t want to ask for help from my mom. Then in 2003, my husband was caught by the police and I had to borrow money from my aunty to bail him out.

Home-comingFinally, after the arrival of my 4th child, I had to come back to my mother’s house as I really couldn’t manage on my own. My husband also stayed here and by then he was taking and selling drugs. In 2011, he was caught by the police again and the fine was RM10,000 which was way beyond my ability and too much to borrow from relatives. So, I decided to leave him. He uttered very abusive words to me but I didn’t care as my mind was all about my 5 children.

I had to fend for myself and provide for my 5 children. It was so hard that my children only had 1 meal a day and there were days when I didn’t eat at all in order to feed them.

Provision, shelter, protectionThen in 2012, Malaysian Care staff visited me with food provisions after being referred by a volunteer who met my husband in prison. They provided for my family, sheltered me and protected me. Whenever I’m sad or in trouble, I can call Sister Carol who will pray for me. They support and help me much more than my own relatives. I feel safe in their arms and I know I have brothers and sisters in Malaysian Care.

My children are mentored by Malaysian Care’s staff and attend their camps once or twice a year. To show their appreciation, my children saved money and bought Christmas gifts for Malaysian Care’s staff - Carol, Shela, Santhi and Frederick to show their appreciation for the love and care received.

I overcameGod gave me a test and he wanted me to be an overcomer. No matter what problem I face, I know I can overcome with God’s help. I will not give up. I know who I am in God and I know He is always with me. n

Joyce Thong, our Communications Director is passionate to engage Christians and others in building a just society that reflects the Kingdom of God where everyone is given the opportunity to flourish.

A Love Story Turns

NightmareJacqueline’s story of restoration

by Joyce Thong

“It was so hard that my children only had one meal a day and there were days when I didn’t eat at all in order to feed them.” – Jacqueline, community client of Malaysian Care —

Prison, Drugs & HIV/AIDS Service since 2012

They can work!

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TRANSFORMATION STORIES

by Grace Gan

As a Job Coach for people with learning difficulties, I am often asked these questions:

“Who are people with learning difficulties? Are they very slow? Can they really work?”

I believe with all my heart that they CAN work and here are just 2 stories to prove it….

The Bubbly DavidDavid was born with Williams Syndrome. He is now 31 years old. Most people thought David could not work because of his short attention span and distractibility. David has been working part-time in an international retail company since July 2015! His parents commented that David is now more responsible and teachable. Another significant milestone for David is that he is now able to travel independently. David takes a train from Taman Jaya LRT station to Masjid Jamek station and catches another train to Hang Tuah station.

A few years ago, David got lost once when taking the train and he told his parents that he would never take public transport again. After training at Malaysian Care and months of training by his father, he overcame his fear and told his father: “You don’t have to follow me anymore. I can take the train on my own.”

David brings much joy to his workplace and neighborhood. I have seen customers looking for him and initiate conversations with him. At lunch time, the food stall owner always gives him extra soup. When he walks past other shops, the staff would greet him. David is always cheerful and when customers walk in, he greets them with “Hi boss, how are you?” and a big smile and sometimes, even hugs for regular customers.

Philip, from unaware to relationalPhilip, 28, with Autism, had challenges in anger management, social interaction and communication,

and understanding others’ perspectives. After training, he learned to self-regulate his feelings, “I need to stay calm and take a deep breath”. He commutes by train to watch movies at the cinemas. He has good money skills and is able to monitor his own spending. It has always been his desire to work. “I want to work and earn money, so that I can go to Japan and buy some DVDs”.

After working part-time in the same company with David since September 2015, Philip’s parents shared that he is more stable and confident. Once he had to travel to a new place, he planned his route confidently and told his parents: “Don’t worry, I can handle it”. He now speaks assertively yet would let others finish their sentences first. From being unaware of others, he has even bought a drink for his co-worker as a token of appreciation.

Understanding, support & mutual learningThese transformational stories could not have been possible without the understanding and support from employers and colleagues. While Philip and David experience positive changes, they are teaching others about love, kindness and patience. n

Grace, Coordinator with our People with Special Needs Service, develops services for young adults with special needs and is a job coach supporting those in open employment.

David

Philip

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TRANSFORMATION STORIES

“Tak mahu”, “Tak tahu” were the only words that Aishah (not her real name) could ever utter every time she was asked to answer or participate in activities held in Seri Semarak English Club (SSEC).

SSEC is an educational programme which focuses on English language proficiency as well as character development. It was first started by Hope EFC and currently in collaboration with Malaysian Care. It is held every Saturday from 3.30pm-5.00pm.

Shy and disenggagedAishah seemed to be a very shy girl. She always sat alone, scribbling away in her exercise book whenever the teacher was teaching in front of the class. Nodding or shaking her head and moving her shoulders up and down were her responses to the teacher’s questions. Other students were always very eager and on the go when it came to playing games but not Aishah. She would just smile and shake her head as an indication that she wasn’t interested to participate. This continued for about six months.

It was very discouraging and disheartening to have such a student in the class and there were many times that I felt like giving up and just shift my attention to other students who responded better.

But in spite of her reticent personality, her attendance was one of the best among the students. I remembered

being away for two weeks during my Chinese New Year break and noticed the change in Aishah when I returned.

The changeI remember asking questions in one of the sessions and I was dumbfounded when she was the first to lift up her hand, eagerly wanting to answer my question. I was in disbelief of the change and improvement that she displayed. She spoke more words that day than in the past six months. It was indeed astonishing to witness something like that.

Perserverance and faithfulnessI felt very encouraged as a teacher. I would have never imagined that such a withdrawn and timid girl could become so responsive. It then dawned upon me that if I had thrown in the towel on her during that 6-month period, I would have lost her completely. If I were to sow bad seeds, I would reap bad fruits.

Serving in the community is like sowing in the wide open field. If you sow faithfully, you will reap good crops. “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field”. – Matthew 13:24

She is still a little shy but now she is way more active and lively than she was six months ago. Her self-confidence is evident and apparent. Aishah now sits with two friends. Sitting alone no longer exists in her vocabulary. All glory to God. n

Nicholas Goh, a community staff who has been journeying with children in PPR Seri Semarak as an SSEC teacher for almost a year now.

Shyness

shy away

By Nicholas Goh

Will you support us on this journey?Ladang Care is a core part of our long-term community development work with the Orang Asli and Orang Asal who are among the poorest in Malaysia. Started in 2007, Ladang Care is a 15-acre farm where we research, demonstrate and conduct training sustainable agriculture. Our staff also support OA farmers in agriculture projects in their villages. We are currently work with 31 villages in Perak and Pahang, and 3 villages in Sabah.

We also run a supplementary and indigenous education programme for the Orang Asli children.

We are constructing 5 buildings i.e. 2 family blocks, 1 male dormitory, 1 female dormitory and 1 community block to increase classroom and lodging facilities so that we can train more people. The expansion includes a new community education development centre.

We are short of RM500,000 for the construction work and another RM20,000 for furniture and equipment.

We welcome contributions in cash or kind: • Metalroofingwithinsulation,aluminiumrooftruss• Sanitaryfittings• Double-deckbeds• Classroomtablesandchairs• ComputersandLCDprojectors

For more information or to make a donation, visit malaysiancare.org/care-projects/ladang-mcare/ or contact Joyce Thong Tel: 03-90582102 ext 501 or email: joyce@malaysiancare.org

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Expansion ofLadang Care

Panoramic View (Left-right): Ladies’ Dorm, Men’s Dorm, Family Block A, Family Block B and Community Block.

One of the Family Blocks

Foundation of the Community Block has been laid

Progress Report6 May 2016

The construction of new facilities which began on 18 January 2016 is now 30% completed.

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We thank The Edge Education Foundation for selecting Malaysian Care as one of the

beneficiaries of The Edge Kuala Lumpur Rat Race 2015. The grant of RM60,000 will help fund our 2-year project to establish a service model of inclusive preschool programme in rural Kudat and Pitas, Sabah. We have already trained the first batch of preschool teachers under this project in March 2016.

Ever wondered what’s it like to be a superhero? Yes or no? Yes?? Today, you’ve got a chance to be Superhuman! Want to know how? Log on to www.malaysiancare.org/superhumantouch

Bridge2SchoolService Model of Inclusive Preschool Programme

Dorothy Teoh, CEO of The Edge Education Foundation presenting the cheque to Pauline Wong, Director of Community Development of Malaysian Care.

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Biblical Reflection

by Dr. Lee Bee Teik

Bee Teik is the Founding Director of ‘Reconre’.

as sinners saved by grace, we often hide or deny the truth about ourselves though others may see our faults more. Let me illustrate with an example:

(Names and details changed to protect the privacy of

individuals.)

One day, a church cell group leader, Y, made an emergency call to his pastor. He had hurt his faithful wife badly by committing adultery with a neighbour when she was taking the children to school. It was too much to take calmly. To protect their children and keep herself sane, she wanted a divorce in order to rebuild her life. They were a loving family till then, with loving and caring parents. What had happened? Why was Y so easily tempted when his relationship with his wife was good? He was also serving in the church.

Knowing that he has sinned against his family, Y repented to his shocked, wounded and angry wife. The couple was reconciled with the help of their pastor. All went well for a while.

IntroductionThere is no perfect human being in this world. The Bible makes it clear that holiness is imparted to us as a gift from God. Holiness cannot be attained or bought by unholy people and all of us are unholy by God’s standards. Only the incarnated Jesus was holy and perfect through complete obedience to the Father’s will.

Therefore it is important to remind ourselves that the result of reconciliation with God is gradual reconciliation with self, with others and with the environment. However, many of us start with the last two factors rather than with ourselves since it is so personal. For this reason, we shall talk about ourselves in this short article.

Reconciliation within myselfGod sees a person as having body, soul and spirit. We, however, view a man from mainly his verbal and visible interactions with other people. If a man keeps silent, we cannot understand much about him except through his behavior and relationship with his environment. We get into trouble in our interaction and relationship with others as we are subconscious in about 80% of ourselves. Yet,

Reconciliation within the Person

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After about 3 years, he wanted to see me, then a pastoral councellor. Together with the lay leader of his church, we discovered that his loving parents died without telling him the facts of his adoption which was revealed by their old housemaid. As a result, he felt more grieved than he should over the death of his adopted mother and father. He had a prolonged depressive mood which was affecting their primary school children. He then looked for help again.

Recognising the signs of emotional dependency and pathological grief in him, I proceeded to find the primary cause. If the latter was solved, the former would take care of itself.

After taking a detailed history of events, it was discovered that when Y was born, his biological mother could not bring him up by herself due to extreme poverty in early widowhood. However, she lovingly breastfed her baby for a few months and then left him at the doorstep of a church. He was saved by the pastor of the church and was later adopted by a childless couple longing to be parents. She never tried to claim her son back. It was an old housemaid of the adopted parents who later revealed Y’s history to his cousin, who revealed the secret to him.

Tears flowed as Y talked about the adopted parents who loved him so much. He also related his futile attempt to trace his biological mother. After forgiving his unknown mother on his part and praying for Jesus to heal the little baby in him on our part, he was released from his past and was relieved to return to his family with joy! His forgiveness and repentance formed part of his reconciliation between his body, soul (mind, emotions and will) and spirit. I then explained to him that his uncontrolled longing for women was actually

a transference of his longing for his own mother (who breastfed him) to the woman next door. Infatuation is a weakness but when it is uncontrolled, it may lead to adultery, which is a sin. Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Y’s submission to the Lord’s discipline glorifies God who created and saved us to be considerate, harmonious, loving and humble.

To help others, we have to be gentle with those who are looking for answers to their dilemma. Harshness may turn them away. Further, the lowly, poor and humble seekers are also more likely to see Christ. “Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8

“Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society” – Francis of Assisi

Reflection1. Have I been reconciled to God?2. Is there conflict with others? Why?3. What is my part in the conflict that I need to resolve?

Is the hindrance my sin, my weakness and/or my wrong theology? What am I going to do about it?

4. When do I begin to open the door of realisation…admission…and action?

Go open your heart’s door to Jesus and He will set you free! n

We get into trouble in our interaction and relationship with others as we are subconscious in about 80% ourselves. Yet, as sinners saved by grace, we often hide or deny the truth about ourselves though others may see our faults more.

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