Volunteering at the dementia center was incredible; it was also very, very interesting. The people at the center were quite unique and memorable. When we first arrived at the center we were introduced to the clients, all of them are 70+ years old and are suffering from memory loss. Some of them act quite normal act first, but once you get to know them you truly get to see the sad effects of memory loss.
Every day we would go into the center and simply hang out with the clients. Some mornings began with short walks around their circular driveway, where 3 laps were enough to tire most of them. Other mornings we sat outside and blew bubbles at each other. After our morning activities, they would eat a morning snack and move into the common room. In the common room we played Pictionary, sang old Malay and Chinese songs, and played catch with small rubber balls. All of the clients are Malaysian citizens, but one of the men’s parents migrated from China and was very proud of that fact. If we asked him where he was from, he would quickly saw China and begin to sing the China national song, which we were told is a communist song. This man was the most active client the center had and would constantly ask us to throw the ball at him, so yes the blog title is true I played catch with a communist.
It was sad to see these men and women with failing memories, yet it was also one of the more fun and memorable ministries I have served with. While the seniors at the dementia center might not remember me, I will remember them. I will remember the smiles on their faces when we played catch. Several of them would try to sleep while playing catch and those who sleep usually got the ball thrown at their heads. Some would smile like they got caught, others got upset that we would interrupt their nap. They would be so happy when they caught or ball or when they threw it to the person they wanted. Playing catch with them was so much fun.
Another activity that they loved was singing. The church we were staying at made the center a song booklet of popular nursery rhymes, folk songs, old hymns, and old Malaysians and Chinese songs. We would go from singing ‘It’s a Small World’ to ‘Do-Re-Mi’ to Chinese and Malaysian songs to ‘Amazing Grace’. They would all sing along.
While serving at the dementia center we didn’t try to preach or share our faith to the seniors. We loved on them. We took a moment to be with people of any society and cultural that tend to be forgotten. We sat down and invested time into being with them. We served the least of these because that is what Jesus did. Jesus loved on the sick and outcast of society; he went out of his way to spend time with them, because he loved them.
This month I choose to love on a Communist, to love on people who won’t remember me tomorrow, because God loves me.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ —Matthew 25:40
