My son, Moses, painted this comc drawing which he entitled Do small things wi th great love and I shall share the experience and thoughts of our family of three after our first mask distribution night with OLMC last Friday.
Before I begin, I would like to thank the pastor and mask distribution team leaders of OLMC for their encouragement to write this sharing. I would also like to thank our good friends for their patience and tireless invitations to join this meaningful project.
Indeed, influence from social and environmental developments over the past 18 months have alienated us from our heavenly Father in many ways. Doubts filled our hearts–why our heavenly Father should make such arrangements. Why do I have to be separated from my beloved extended family and friends and my favourite places? Why should our lives be filled with uncertainties?
However, it is exactly during these difficult times that our good friends – the angels in our lives– invited us to join in the distribution of masks activity. They asked us to “try to seek God in the needy.” Indeed, this experience last Friday had shown us that our perspective on the situation was from a wrong angle. All along when providing volunteer service, we always thought that God is using us to help others but God’s will is beyond our understanding. He is now telling us, through the needy, that he will never give up on us.
On Friday, Moses was in the front, “taking the lead.” He began by talking to a granny who collected used cardboard cartons for resale. Then we reached a garbage depot and saw a very young child with his mother who was on duty there. There was no one at home to look after him so he had to go to the depot with his mother. When the garbage depot workers thanked Moses after receiving the masks, he responded by saying, “Don’t mention it. This is my duty.” You cannot imagine the impact this response made on the heart of a mother, the mother of a boy whose daily life has always depended on the service of others.
In Moses’ drawing, you can also see Father Law, in his send-out, asking the volunteers to spread “love”! At first, I suggested that Moses write: “Go and spread the good news!” However, Moses replied that Father Law said “love” not “good news.” I then realised that although Moses was walking around during Father Law’s briefing, he was taking in everything.
You will never know when God begins to work in you, or maybe he has always been working in you; never given up on you.
We then reached a park where a few grannies were cooling themselves in the shads. They asked Moses what grade he was in and what school he would be applying to. Moses said, “I am not good, only band 3 and 4 schools will have me.” A granny encouraged him and told him that he must have confidence in himself. It turned out that this granny’s comment deeply impressed Moses and “made his night.” This is seen in his drawing as an epiphany. This is a night of epiphany for a child of 12. After he reached home, Moses immediately started drawing scene after scene as they re-appeared in his mind.
I encourage parents to bring their children to participate in this mask distribution activity. As Father Law pointed out, this outreach will raise community awareness in us, as Hong Kongers. As we may not be able to help in great work, let us show our love for Hong Kong with these small deeds. What you and your children receive may well exceed your wildest imagination. Do give it a go!
