Absolutely Loving It

I just wanna say...... I AM ABSOLUTELY LOVING WAT I DO!!!! =D =D =D

Just a little update on Chapter Two.

The pre-school project, which is now unofficially called IPP - Inclusive Pre-School Project is already running and operating since August. We're starting small at the moment, only 6 children, and the best part is, inclusion is already in the picture! =) it’s great to see the children accepting one another, being patient, tolerating and yea, starting them young, instilling good values.

2 of the 6 have special needs.

I am just reflecting on the short 1 1/2 month, it’s..... it’s like a little dream come true. I mean, I had imagined or dreamt or thought of doing this, but never really thought it would happened. I mean, you know, it’s nice to dream, but sometimes you wonder if it would ever be realized, or can you ever make the dream a reality?

Anyway, I am just so blessed to be part of this project. And yea, the people that I am working with in this project. It really makes a whole lot of difference when people believe and willing to take the bold step of faith to try and change. I admire their boldness in facing the challenges that were coming their way and just their openness and willingness to learn and trying new things. Not many people would have this kind of courage, but yay, bravo to the principal and the teacher! =D

I am reflecting on what just happened over the two weeks....... =) It gives me so much encouragement, so much hope and yea, things are possible. Things are possible when people have the right principles and philosophies, things are possible when people are willing to try, things are possible when there is support, and things are possible when you start believing..... (sounding almost preachy, but it make sense and it works, doesn't it?) I see it happening before my very eyes.

1 of the 2 special needs have autism.

When I was working in an early intervention centre, I used to wonder how is it possible to include a young child with autism into a typical pre-school. I know how challenging that can be for the child, the children and the teacher, especially at that such young age. hehehe.... I remember lots of struggling (physically), lots of tantruming especially if the child is new, lots of persevering and yea... never give up!

Anyway, I knew it was gonna be challenging for the teachers to accept this boy with autism into the programme. Before I go on.... please do read up and do your own research on autism...... I wanna say, yes they can learn, yes they can talk, no not all of them are savant but i'm proud to say Malaysia have two fine autistic savant artist (go find out who), yes they do seem to be in their own world, but you'll be surprised to know actually they do know what is going on around them and yea, I find them very interesting. ;)

Back to the boy, I am just so impressed by his progress and how he had adapted and settled well into the programme. I am not saying that he got along well since the beginning, there were lots of tantruming, lots of restraining, lots of reinforcing of good behaviours, lots or observing and analysing, basically lots of hard work and sweat to make it work. And looking at the sweet results, it is worth every bit. I am just in awe.... Actually yea, I am just in awe that it took less than 3 weeks for him to settle into the programme and establish a routine.... Amazing, Praise God!

I am so loving what I am doing now! =D woohoo! Talk about making a change..... hehehe.....

I get to give input into the programme, I get to work with the children, I get to inspire and train the teacher, I get to advice and talk to the parents..... What a privilege! =D

So yea, are you willing to let the Potter mould you? A lump of clay, me, zero experience, zero skills when I started. Clay mashed, kneaded, stretched, moulding, me, trusting God that it was for my own good. Now a pot, me, ready to be used....... =)

I am reminded of breaking, at the moment not yet, but yea..... If the pot is no longer useful, it will be broken. I think a brand new pot should last a while..... 2-3 years can? When the time does come, allow the God to mould you again. =D

As for now, let me do what a pot does. Be useful! =D =D =D

Its A Beautiful Picture

The picture is beautiful. =) It looked like heaven to me.......


I had a great time at the camp. It was a wonderful experience, everyone and everybody accepted and embraced each one as how God has created them. It feels great! It feels "normal"!


Half of the campers had learning difficulties while the other half were the volunteer-helpers. I really loved the fellowship that we had at the camp. Its was amusing, fun and it blesses my heart seeing the campers enjoying themselves. They have such simple faith! Its beautiful!


While I was there, I was thinking..... would I really want inclusion? Would I really want the 10% of them included into our typical community? I'm afraid they might stick out so awkwardly like a sore thumb.....

What I saw at the camp, was such wonderful picture. Each of the campers seems so at home, each of them seemed to understand and seemed belonged, no one was left out, or no one seemed obliviously out of place. Hehehe.... Some behaviours were amusing tho... Others were plain attention seeking.... Aren't we all like that some times? =)


And each helpers.... They are all people with beautiful heart touched by God. Really, never to judge a book by its cover. I think two of the volunteers were prolly ex-drug addicts, its really great to see how God used their lives to touch the campers lives. Its amazing to see what God can do.


My experience with my camper? =)


Hehehe.... I had fun time with her, tho most of the time was spent as her shadow. =P she hardly gives any eye contact by the way! hmmm...... She amazes me by answering questions really well academically, and remembering and repeating facts well. She amuses me sometimes, when I forget she needs minor prompting with organizing her stuffs. She blesses me, when she said "pls come back..." when I had to go for volunteers de-brief while she had to go to bed. Its lovely to know that my presence is acknowledged. Hehehe.... and the fact that i'm not just a shadow that incessantly follows her around. =P


4 days 3 nights, I enjoyed every bit of it.


I respect and give credits to their family members who takes care of them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I don't know how they do it, but yea, respect!


Oh, the testimony! =D God bless their child like faith! Almost all of them want Jesus in their life! ;D Let's follow up!

GIFT* Camp

I am looking forward to the camp tomorrow. I wanna see God move and witness real testimonies of God touching lives. =D I wonder how is He going to do it? I wonder if they understand. I am believing for God to move in His own special ways among the campers, among the volunteers.

I'll be a buddy to an 18 years old girl. According to my colleagues, she's really routined like clock work. =P I won't have to worry about being late, hehehe....

It will be fun and life enriching! Just imagine spending 4 days, 3 nights with young adults with learning difficulties, it will certainly be interesting. =D I'm gonna enjoy hanging out with my buddy! That is if she allows me into her world! I think she would...... =)

Elie Is A Young Man Now

I recently received the Annual Progress Report from World Vision Lebanon. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much Elie has grown. He has grown into a young man now. =) There is a certain pride that swells up within me looking at his picture.... Maybe like how a parent would feel at their child's graduation, you know what i mean? Its like seeing your child grow up into a young adult, and I beam with pride seeing him all well and healthy. =D

Elie.

Its been almost five years now. He was only 10 when I started sponsoring his community. I've shared in previous posts about him, and how he changed my life in some ways. I've never imagined that time fly by so fast, that he's now maturing into a young man. In a few more years he's gonna graduate, find a job and settled down. =) sigh~ that makes me happy~~ its always been my prayer that he's safe, healthy, growing and receiving education and of course, that he'll grow up into a responsible purposeful young adult. I guess that would be every parent's dream for their child. And I have this privilege to dream and pray for Elie, as a "parent" to "son". =D

Elie, Elie, Elie.

Yea, time do pass by so fast. I am still hoping, dreaming and looking forward to the day where WV M'sia would organize a sponsors' trip to Lebanon. Would love to have meet Elie in person. =) That would have been awesome!

I was trying to calculate, the past five year, rm50 a month, rm600 a year, rm3000 was invested. What is RM 3K to you? Hmm....... To me, RM 3K is a big sum, I don't even have that kinda amount once in my bank! No denying that fact (for someone who doesn't earn much)*Ahem!*Cough!* =P But, when i see where, how some young adults would rather invest that money, ie:- IPhone, some ridiculously priced bag and clothes, actually..... yea, I am really happy where my 3K went!! =D I know one precious life was changed. =D

Tell Me More

"What in the world?! @#%*&@**?:@!!*$", Was what came through my mind when I read the following three articles (also listed below in this blog) in The Star newspaper today. Sorry, for my undignified manner, I hardly or normally don't use crude language, but yea.... that's what I felt when I read the headline in the paper today.

I really don't know how to or what to, I'm trying to find the right word........ I really do feel that our country is still uneducated, uncivilized, untrained, uninformed, un-whatever about people with special needs, to have this kind of thing happening in our own backyard...... The shelter was tucked away behind a hospital right next the a golf course! Goodness sake! Why are these people kept in such undignified ways?! Aren't they human like you and me?

So why then are 30 men kept naked, some chained up, caged and covered in their feaces and urine? Why are there not even blankets to keep them warm on cold rainy nights? Why do the residents liked to hit themselves repeatedly? Why? You tell me why?.... I would like to know.......

If you have the answer, I would like to ask somemore..... Why is there claim of children in the shelter being fed with cough syrup so that they would be sleepy and docile? Why? Why is it that most of them are admitted into the centre because they were abandoned by their family members? Why? Why is it that they tried to apply to Government to provide with the necessary allocation but to no avail? Why? You have the answer?.... I would like to know..... Tell me why......

Its not about pointing fingers.... Its not about who is at wrong.... Its not about finding out who is at fault..... Its not about all those.....

I am really glad the newspaper carried about this investigation and to report this story boldly. I am sure tommorrow's paper will have some knee-jerk effect on this topic. People will express their outburst of fighting for human rights, calling the centre inhumane, wanting justice prevail and whatever not. ( I really do hope the newspaper article made some impact )

What I wanna say is.... Please let this not be a "one-time" get all emotional and fiery and passionate of the topic. Please be educated or at least be informed on special needs and see that they are human like you and me. Please ask yourself, what can you do or should I do anything about it.

Please..... Only when people care, things can change for better. Do you care?

A govt-run shelter for the disabled has, instead, become their jail

A govt-run shelter for the disabled has, instead, become their jail

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Ray of hope that turned out to be a nightmare

‘Ray of hope’ that turned out to be a nightmare

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