This month, our team gets the amazing privilege to work with the elderly of Bangkok alongside YWAM's Ruth Center. Ruth Center is a ministry that focuses on the elderly in the slums of Bangkok. In Thailand, the elderly are often overlooked, forgotten, and considered a burden. Ruth Center seeks relationships with the elderly and works to meet their needs.
Several of our teammates enjoy working with children, but there is something about holding an elderly woman's hand as she grieves the loss of her daughter.
Yesterday, we began our day by walking to the Ruth Center. When we arrived, we were greeted by several of the elderly women sewing. These women sew handbags, coin purses, t shirts, etc. This is their source of income. I just sat and observed as these women were sewing, laughing, and enjoying one another's company.
Then we headed out to the slums. The first home we came to belonged to a woman whose daughter had passed away the previous week. Grief and sorrow had overtaken her. As we sat and talked with her, I couldn't help but begin to grieve with her. There was just hurt and sorrow in her eyes. Not only had she lost her daughter, but she has a newborn baby and a toddler to take care of. This hinders her from going to Bible study at the Ruth Center.
So what did we do? We volunteered to watch the children while so she can attend Bible study.
I held her soft delicate hand as our team prayed and spoke life into her. We then asked her if there was anything we could do to help. She requested that we sing her a song. She explained that she has only been a believer for three months and she missed going to Bible study.
We sang several songs such as "Amazing Grace." While singing, I felt the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. There was joy in the midst of pain and sorrow!
Then I heard the Lord say to me, " Assure her that I am still here with her. I haven't abandoned her. My presence is with you."
The next house we came to was the home of a partially deaf man. He walked out to greet us with powder all over his face and arms. He looked precious! You see, Thai people put powder on their bodies after showering because it is so hot. He must have forgotten to rub his in. 🙂
As we sit with this man, we realize that he is lonely. No one comes to visit him because he is deaf. We made him smile several times, which seemed to be a huge accomplishment. We sat for several minutes in silence. Sometimes words are necessary. In this case, he just needed our presence to know we care. He just wanted someone to sit with him, and that's exactly what we did.
We continued our way through the neighborhood greeting people and checking their blood pressure.
One thing stuck out to me as I was walking through the slums. I began to think about where we were. We were in the middle of Bangkok walking through such poor conditions. These people have so little, and there are people driving down the road in front of the slums driving Ferraris. Something doesn't seem right about that.
These people are definitely overlooked and forgotten. We ARE making a difference. Holding one elderly lady's hand is making an impact. Rubbing a lady's back as she worries about making ends meet is making a difference. That's what this is all about. I am so excited to see what the Lord does in and through us this month.
I encourage you to watch the video below. This will help you get a better understanding of what the Ruth Center is all about.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words, thoughts, prayers, and financial support.
