7979爱走动一个希望与帮助 A HOPE AND ASSISTANCE

12/15/2021

7979爱走动一个希望与帮助 A HOPE AND ASSISTANCE

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一个希望与帮助
7979爱走动·文/蔡欣仪

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A Hope and Assistance
7979 Let’s Love Move . Word / CSG

“Thank you very much! When my child was diagnosed with COVID–19, even my family ignored us, only you and your friends were willing to take us in.” Ai Ying (pseudonym) shared with crying tone in the phone to our team leader. Later, our team leader shared with us the content of their conversation. Bukit Mertajam Baptist Church, HISTEAM 7979 Care Station’s volunteer Sis. Mei Foong felt relieved and comforted by what she heard, once again she managed to help another family.

Ai Ying and her family of seven stay in a small house. When her youngest son was unfortunately diagnosed with COVID – 19, the family became high-risk close contacts. Therefore, the landlord stopped renting to them and told them to leave immediately. Their relatives were also reluctant to deal with them for fear of getting in trouble.

Ai Ying, who has nowhere to go, felt very helpless and in despair, she sat in her car all by herself and cried.

As it happened, some brothers and sisters in our church cell group know Ai Ying, they decided to extend assistance to her when they came to know of her situation. In this way, while her youngest son who had diagnosed with COVID – 19 was sent to the government quarantine centre; Ai Ying’s family stayed in the church quarantine house under the arrangement of the church. All of a sudden, Ai Ying's family went from being displaced to finding a place to stay, finally able to go through quarantine period with peace of mind.

At the same time, after the church received Ai Ying and her family into the quarantine house, the CG leader also began to pray together with Ai Ying for her house renting issue. Ai Ying also actively discussed with her the landlord, hoping that he would rent the house to them again. One day, when the CG leader met Ai Ying's landlord, she also talked with the landlord about renting the house. Finally, the landlord agreed to rent the house to Ai Ying’s family again.

During the quarantine period, the church often invited Ai Ying and her family to participate in church worships or cell group meetings, which made them felt the genuine care of church brothers and sisters. “In the past, I had been exposed to the Gospel, although I have not accepted Christ, but now I feel that only Christian will help me unconditionally, regardless of the cost.” Ai Ying said at last.

Apart from Ai Ying's family, there were many disadvantaged and poor families in Penang Bukit Mertajam’s community who also face various difficulties. Because of the pandemic, their lives became worse than ever, and some have even lost their jobs, making life quite difficult. When the pandemic worsened, they, who are at grassroots level have no choice but to go out to work in order to make a living. Compare with those who works from home, they are at higher risk of contracting Covid-19 and belong to the high-risk group.

This September, the church started “7979, Love Quarantine House” ministry, set up 6 quarantine rooms in 3 houses. Since the establishment of quarantine house, the church had hosted 22 occupants*, most of them were church’s brothers and sisters. Majority of those church members were aid recipients who had been benefited from Church programs, they were those disadvantaged and poor families who were attending church worship after they accepted Christ. Their living environment were often small dwellings, with large families living together. If a family member was unfortunately diagnosed, it would be difficult to quarantine at home. When the quarantine houses were established, church brothers and sisters were given priority to stay in the quarantine house.

Facilities in quarantine house

Besides this, operating a quarantine house need a lot of manpower, cleaning and sanitizing alone already required a lot of manpower. For this matter, the church hired some people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Although the wages were not high, but they can at least have a job and make a living. Not only that, the church also bought a lot of pandemic prevention supplies, such as mask and oximeter. If anyone needs supplies, the church will give them away free of charge in response to the needs of the pandemic.

Some people could get nervous and scare whenever they heard the word “quarantine”. The church came out with the idea of using “food delicacy” to tackle this issue. Every day, the church’s kitchen team would prepare delicious meals, although it may not be sumptuous, yet this well thought and carefully prepared food could ease some of the anxiety during quarantine. Meanwhile, the church also arranged two groups of counsellors to minister to these occupants.

“Under privilege poor community need special attention and care. We are very thankful for the emergence of quarantine house ministry, it allows people who needed quarantine to have a safe place for quarantine.” Sis. Ruo Qi shared, that she herself was also one of the residents in quarantine house who came into contact with a diagnosed patient because of her ministry. She was very grateful for the church started the quarantine house ministry, because the quarantine house not only allows people who need quarantine to have a proper place to go, but also let people experience God’s love during quarantine.

Later on, Pr. Lily who also happened to stay in the church’s quarantine house before, shared: “If we are believers of Christ, isn’t it good that we can spend more time with God during quarantine? This is another form of blessing.” She believed the establishment of quarantine house gave hope and assistance to those who don’t have space for quarantine.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; ….
Psalms 91:4

(*The total number of occupants shown was up till our interview in October)

“谢谢你们！在我孩子确诊、甚至连家人都不理会我们的时候，只有你们还愿意收留我们。” 爱莹（化名）带着哭腔，在电话里头对小组组长说道。随后，组长把这段内容分享出去。大山脚浸信会7979全人关怀站的志工美凤姐妹听到这段话后，感到十分欣慰，自己又帮助了一个家庭。

爱莹一家几口住在一间小房子。小儿子不幸确诊新冠肺炎后，一家人就成了高风险的近距离接触者。因此，房东不再出租房子给他们，让他们立即搬走；亲戚也怕惹上麻烦，不愿理会他们。

无处可去的爱莹感到彷徨无助，独自坐在车上哭泣。

恰好，教会小组有弟兄姐妹认识爱莹，在了解他们的情况后，决定施以援手。就这样，确诊的小儿子被送往政府隔离中心，而爱莹一家在教会的安排下，入住了教会设立的隔离屋。一时间，爱莹一家从经历流离失所，到找到了落脚处，终于能安心度过隔离期。

与此同时，教会在接待了爱莹一家入住隔离屋后，组长也开始与爱莹一同为租房的事祷告。爱莹也积极跟房东商量，希望他再把房子出租给他们。某天，组长在偶遇爱莹的房东时，也再次与房东谈起租房事宜。最后，房东终于答应再将房子出租给爱莹一家。

在隔离期间，教会经常邀请爱莹一家参与教会崇拜与小组活动，令他们一直感到教会弟兄姐妹的关怀。“我早前曾接触过福音，虽然仍没信主，但现在我觉得只有基督徒会不计成本、无条件地帮助我。” 爱莹最后说到。

槟城大山脚社区，除了爱莹一家，这里还有着许多同样面对各种困境的弱势贫穷家庭。因为疫情，他们的生活雪上加霜，有的甚至失去工作，生活相当拮据。疫情变得严峻后，处在基层打拼的他们，为了生计不得不出外工作。相比可以居家上班的人，他们感染新冠肺炎的风险更大，属于高风险人群。

今年9月，教会开始进行“7979爱隔离屋”事工，设立了3间住宅，共6间隔离房间。自开办隔离屋以来，教会共接待了22位入住者*，当中以教会会友居多。这些会友当中，多数是以往教会服侍社区的个案，在信主后到教会参加崇拜的弱势贫穷家庭。他们的居住环境往往是小住处，一大家庭住在一起。若不幸有一位家人确诊，将难以在家里进行隔离。教会开设隔离屋后，首先开放给教会会友，而他们当中有需要隔离的，就成为了优先的受惠者。

隔离屋环境与设施

此外，开设隔离屋需要大量人手，单单是清洁、打扫与消毒，就需要许多人的帮忙。教会在这方面，聘请了一些因疫情而失业的人，虽然工钱不多，但至少能让他们有份工作，至少能糊口。不仅如此，教会也购买了大批防疫用品，如口罩、血氧仪等。若有人需要物资，教会将免费派送，以此回应疫情的需要。

有些人一听到“隔离”这二个字，就会感到莫名紧张及害怕。对此，教会使出妙招，以“美食”来缓解他们的忧虑。每一天，教会的膳食组都预备佳肴。虽不是什么山珍海味，但这些用心准备的美食，能缓解人们在隔离时的焦虑情绪。另外，教会也安排了两支心理辅导团队，服事这群隔离中的人们。

“弱势贫穷群体，是特别需要看重与照顾的。非常感恩隔离屋这项事工的出现，让他们在疫情中，能在一个安全空间进行隔离。” 教会同工若琪姐妹分享道，她本身也是隔离屋的其中一位入住者，因为服事而接触了确诊者。对于教会开始隔离屋事工，她十分感恩。因为隔离屋不仅让需要隔离的人有个合适的去处，更让他们在隔离时感受到上帝的爱。

尔后，同样也曾入住教会隔离屋的莉莉传道也分享到，“如果我们是信主的，在隔离期间可以有更多时间跟神在一起，不好吗？这也是一种祝福。”她相信，隔离屋的设立，为那些没有足够空间进行隔离的人，带来了希望与帮助。

祂必用自己的翎毛遮蔽你，你要投靠在祂的翅膀底下。
-诗篇91篇4节

（*接待入住者人数截至10月采访时）