Written by Quay Cheow Leong • Jul 06, 2021
What seemed like a good partnership with a public corporation became a big challenge to the Klang cells. We were told that funds would be provided and we just had to distribute aid to the needy, the B40 group and those who were jobless. It seemed easy, so we thought, until the corporate organization pulled out of their obligation at the last moment. After all the ground work and connections that the cells did, we just could not be still and groan about it. We could not bear to see the huge disappointment on the faces of the various groups of needy people that we were in touch with within our community. So the cell leaders and zone leaders got together to discuss the fate of the project. We decided to continue with the project and face “the lion” ourselves. The cells decided to form a committee in order to move quickly. The target was to reach out to 150 families in Klang, a scaled-down number from the initial 200 families when the project was first mooted.
We set a one-month timeline to complete the project, knowing it would not be easy but fully trusting God to provide. It seemed like an uphill task to raise funds for food packs for about 150 families without further taxing cell members who had been doing so much in reaching out to neighbours, the elderly and small communities around them. Amazingly, after we decided to continue by faith, we began to see God touching many people to donate generously towards our plight and community. Within two weeks, we were able to raise close to RM10,000 but it was still short of the target. All of us put in our effort for one last push to reach the target of RM12,000. The final total in the third week was way beyond and above our expectations! Our God never ceases to amaze when we become His feet, His hands, His mouthpieces as willing partners in His work to feed the poor.
The committee decided to utilise the extra funds for Phase 2 or even Phase 3 to help those who need help for a longer period, and also for medical needs and to help pay rent and utility bills. Indeed our God is Jehovah Jireh who provides. After our list of recipients was finalised, we had 158 families to whom food packs would be distributed, each pack costing slightly above RM80. On the distribution weekend, we formed three teams according to the list of beneficiaries provided by the cells. The feedback from each distribution group was very touching. The plight of the needy is real, yet some are quite selfless. Some expressed their willingness to share the very little that they received from us with other families that did not receive the aid.
Even as the recipients were touched, we too were encouraged by the glow in their eyes as they received the food packages and the thankfulness and gratitude that shone from their hearts were just beyond words. We are sure they were all smiles beneath the masks they were wearing. All in all, Malaysians of various ethnicities and religions, and mi- grants received the Food Aid. The teams always ended up praying for them before leaving. There is hope for Malaysia as many came forward to donate generously to the project. Without their generosity, we would have to scale down the number of families we intended to reach out to. The care and concern of ordinary Malaysians for their neighbours, even aliens in their community, deserve special mention. Most of all, with Jesus Christ, there is hope for all.
Reported by Quay Cheow Leong (PJS3)