When Hunger is Beyond Food (on Urban Food Sharing)
June 27, 2009/
Food line-up for the day - Curry Chicken and Broccoli
I remember once my mom told me one thing that my grandparents found it hard to stand during the second world war and Japan invasion was hunger for food. She told me some of the neighbors willing to let go of daughters and sons or even important information in exchange of food.
Today, I witnessed the importance of feeding the hunger in the Full Gospel Assembly’s Urban Food Sharing (UFS). UFS, started in 1999 with the objective of servanthood around the community. The ministry identified Pudu and its vicinity as a start. This ministry is now entering its 10th anniversary by October.
Prior to Cinnamon Home Fellowship, we have been to Urban Food Sharing twice in the past five years. However, after much depressing moment encountered while serving, we decided to focus on some other ministry. However, God will not let go of one until He has done the work. Again, He has called me to Urban Food Sharing as Cinnamon Home Fellowship has been scheduled for duty this Saturday.
Lor and I went there without the children as we would not have enough “eyes” to observe them while there.
So who are the people who came or being served in this ministry? They are elderly and in need of friendship, many are jobless and homeless, some are drug users, some street workers but all are desperately in need of love. We arrived there at 1pm and proceeded to a quick lunch – vert thick curry wan tan mee. Tasted good and portion was rather big for both Lor and I.
The food began to serve at 2:45pm and everything completed in less than 15 minutes.
We also served VeGood, courtesy of Ayam Brand. The packet drink was a hit as this was the first time such drink was being distributed.
Lor and I came back refreshed at 3:45pm. The rest of the event story will be shared in the following pictorial.
May the Good Lord impressed all those who came today will be blessed. Amen.
The back lane of Jalan Pudu, just opposite Pudu Plaza. This is before the tents and tables being setup This is how the venue looks like. Quite in contrast with the great development around but poverty very much exists
Lor (centre) shared and had light moment with regular recipients of Urban Food Sharing
Youth volunteers putting up the tents while the others waited for the food to be ready
Drink, plain water was served to quench the thirst prior to having the lunch
Ministry volunteers busy preparing the food
Chairs are very important commodity in Urban Food Sharing as not many likes to stand and eat. The elder man told the younger lady, "Get your own chair!"
This gentlemen waited patiently for the food
Waited in line for the food
Lady waited for the food. Medical attention is no longer offered to the ministryHappy to see you! Certainly still have enough money to spend on two packets of cigarettes This gent enjoying his fruity juice Enjoy your drink brother Although he does not look like he needs assistance from Urban Food Sharing, however in the servanthood spirit, no one would be rejected in the food distribution Week after week the Urban Food Sharing team brought the food here (behind shop lots where trash cans are) to serve those in need of a simple meal and companion From the table filled with food to now - empty. Late comers were a bit disappointed This lady came earlier than others and suffered the heat, standing under the sun This gentlemen managed to get hold of the glasses of water before the food being distributed My dear company of the day - Lor stood under the sun to serve in the ministry. Both of us were almost completely wet in sweet 🙂 Uncle is enjoying the VeGood juice after a meal She plans to keep the drink to later, perhaps can have it for dinner This uncle is chilling with his VeGood drink 🙂 He is not letting go of every bits available on the plateGlad he enjoys the drink
I’m glad that you went instead of me. Urban Food Sharing is too depressing for me because you get to see the best and the worst of human nature, and usually it is the bad that leaves an impression. The last times I was there, people who obviously could afford to feed themselves were among the first to line up for food, although they knew it was for the hardcore poor. It’s sad that they would deprive those who really need help.
For those who have not been to Urban Food Sharing, if you have a sensitive nose, the smell from the drains can be overwhelming.
If you haven’t been close to homeless people before, it can be shocking.
I know that as a Christian, I should love all people and care for them, but I’ve spent most of my life being comfortable and insulated that dealing with so much poverty, sadness, loneliness, anger and bleakness is too much.
If you are up to this, perhaps the Urban Food Sharing ministry is for you. You don’t have to be a member of FGA to offer your help.
The overwhelming goodness of this Urban Food Sharing work on Saturday is it strips you down of all pretenses and makes you think like a generic human being; factors like race, wealth, breed etc disappears.
As a fellow Christian involved in this ministry, I see God’s love reaching out to everyone over there. No one is excluded. My mind also floats back to that day when Jesus fed the multitude. Same crowd? Perhaps. His disciples lovingly distributed the fish and the bread.
Everyone tasted the goodness of the LORD. God’s goodness. Yes! I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living (Ps27:13). Pass God’s goodness on and all shall see that God is Love.
Join us at Urban Food Sharing and extend God’s love to this group of people who need reassurances.
6 Comments
KT
Another good and meaningful day!
retna
I’m glad that you went instead of me. Urban Food Sharing is too depressing for me because you get to see the best and the worst of human nature, and usually it is the bad that leaves an impression. The last times I was there, people who obviously could afford to feed themselves were among the first to line up for food, although they knew it was for the hardcore poor. It’s sad that they would deprive those who really need help.
For those who have not been to Urban Food Sharing, if you have a sensitive nose, the smell from the drains can be overwhelming.
If you haven’t been close to homeless people before, it can be shocking.
I know that as a Christian, I should love all people and care for them, but I’ve spent most of my life being comfortable and insulated that dealing with so much poverty, sadness, loneliness, anger and bleakness is too much.
If you are up to this, perhaps the Urban Food Sharing ministry is for you. You don’t have to be a member of FGA to offer your help.
Sam 思量
It was hot but both Lor and I enjoyed the servanthood time there! 🙂
Kasey
The overwhelming goodness of this Urban Food Sharing work on Saturday is it strips you down of all pretenses and makes you think like a generic human being; factors like race, wealth, breed etc disappears.
As a fellow Christian involved in this ministry, I see God’s love reaching out to everyone over there. No one is excluded. My mind also floats back to that day when Jesus fed the multitude. Same crowd? Perhaps. His disciples lovingly distributed the fish and the bread.
Everyone tasted the goodness of the LORD. God’s goodness. Yes! I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living (Ps27:13). Pass God’s goodness on and all shall see that God is Love.
Join us at Urban Food Sharing and extend God’s love to this group of people who need reassurances.
Sam 思量
Hi Kasey,
Thanks for the information shared on Urban Food Sharing.
May God bless the good work that you and your team are doing, Amen.
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