已经两年了...Two years has passed …

（For English please scroll down）

已经两年了...

文/Ashton

“辘辘……辘辘……辘辘……”

有两辆车, 经过在一排排的屋子, 然后在一间不起眼的屋子前停了下来。
红泥山信义会7979全人关怀站（以下简称“关怀站”）的牧师和志工来到门口。

“叮咚。。。。。， 叮咚。。。。。”
“ 阿凤，在家吗？”

牧师和两位志工每两个月都会来到这里，载着吗哪物资来探望阿凤。
阿凤每次就会很紧张的跑出来，迎接牧师和志工的到来。接着，就一起把吗哪的物资拿进家中，摆好点算。然后聊聊天，关心阿凤的生活。

今天阿凤像平常很紧张的跑出来的时候，“Aunty, 我来拿” ，一句稚气的声音传到牧师和志工的耳中。一个孩子随着妈妈跑了出来，一起帮忙把吗哪物资搬进家中。

“阿凤，这是你的大儿子吗？”
“没有啦， 这是小的，就是上次你看到的那一个啊。”
“ 哇，这么高了, 真的好像哥哥这么高了 。”

原来这个小孩很少见到牧师和志工，因为平时星期一至五，孩子在学校上课。今天正逢学校假期，碰上了他们带吗哪物资来探访。

之后他们就继续的聊天， 彼此关心。
聊着聊着, 牧师和志工眼睛渐渐的就湿润了，泪水也静悄悄的落了下来，他们被一股欣慰，一股感动，逐渐的充满了心里。

回想起2年前,  那时还是MCO期间, 阿凤的丈夫因为癌症,刚刚过世, 家里的存款,也已经花光在丈夫的治病上了, 剩下阿凤独自一人带着两个孩子, 非常的彷徨和无助。  那时还是小学生的小儿子，个子矮矮的，因为失去了爸爸，看了让人心碎。见阿凤一家遇到的困境，关怀站便为他们向7979申请“吗哪食物银行方案”援助，使他们每两个月可获得由志工派送的吗哪包。吗哪包的内容丰富，除了粮食（白米、食油），亦涵盖日常用品和卫浴用品。有了这些食物和用品，阿凤一家暂时不必担忧缺乏食物或基本所需用品，大大减轻家庭生活负担。

不知不觉，牧师透过吗哪食物银行支持了这个家庭两年，阿凤的家庭情况得到改善，孩子也正在长大。生活难免遇到困境，这有时会让人感到痛苦、无助或迷茫。当爱和关怀及时出现，便可以阻止这些感受让我们的生活失去平衡。阿凤的丈夫病逝，孩子失去父亲，这样的冲击如同乌云笼罩在阿凤一家头上。然而，牧师和志工的出现，慢慢拨开了他们心头的阴霾，给予他们一些继续前行的勇气。​

Two Years Has Passed...

Written by Ashton

There were sounds of water splashing as the cars ran over the water puddles.
Two cars passed by rows of houses and then stopped in front of a simple house.

Pastor and volunteers from Bukit Merah Lutheran Church 7979 Holistic Care Station (Hereafter, refer as “Care Station”) reached the door.

“Ding dong ……， Ding dong……”
“ Ah Feng, are you at home？”
 
Every two months, the pastor and two volunteers would visit the family and pass them a Manna Food Bag.
​
Each time she would welcome them eagerly. Then, they would take all the items out of the bag and count it together. When all were done, they would chitchat, showing care and concern towards her.

Today, everything was as usual, Ah Feng rushed out to welcome them. A child’s voice said: “Aunty, let me take it.” The pastor and volunteers could hear it. Then, a small boy appeared before them with his mum and helped to take the Manna Bag.

“Is this your eldest son, Ah Feng?”

“No, this is my younger son, the one you saw last time.”
“Wow, he has grown so tall, just like his brother.”

Usually, they can hardly see this child, as he would be in school. Today is a school holiday, so they get to meet him. They chatted happily, catching up with the aid recipient’s latest condition.

As they chatted, the pastor and the volunteers' eyes gradually became moist, and tears rolled down quietly. They were gradually filled with a sense of relief and emotion.

Looking back two years ago, when MCO was still enforced, Ah Feng's husband had just passed away due to cancer. The family's savings had been used up on her husband's medical treatment, leaving Ah Feng alone with two children, feeling very confused and helpless. The youngest son, who was still a primary school student at that time, was so short and heartbroken because he had lost his father. Seeing the difficulties Ah Feng's family encountered, the Care Station applied for the "Manna Food Bank Aid" from 7979 on their behalf; so they could receive Manna Food bags delivered by volunteers every two months. The contents of the manna bags were abundant, in addition to food (rice and cooking oil), it also had daily necessities and bathroom supplies. With these foods and supplies, Ah Feng's family did not have to worry about food or necessities for a while, for those supplies had greatly reduced their household’s burden.

Unconsciously, the pastor has supported this family through the Manna Food Bank program for two years. Ah Feng's family situation has improved and her children are growing up. We will inevitably encounter difficulties in life, which could be painful, and sometimes cause us to be helpless or confused. When love and care appear in time, we can prevent these feelings from making our lives imbalanced. The shocking incident such as Ah Feng's husband's sudden death and her children's sudden loss of their father was like a dark cloud hanging over their family. However, the existence of the pastor and volunteers slowly lifted the haze in their hearts and gave them some courage to move forward.