Poverty and illness had forced a couple to live on the streets. Bearing the wounds of rejection by his own family and society, who will care for them? – Ms Wong’s story
Rejected by his family, a homeless man dies in the care of the church.
An unmarried couple, Mr Tan, 60, and Ms Wong, 45, had been wandering the streets for more than six months. Before they became homeless, Ms Wong worked as a housekeeper at a budget hotel and Mr Tan worked as a security guard in the same hotel. One day Mr Tan caught an infection that caused him to lose his ability to walk, and this cost him his job. Ms Wong had to resign to take care of Mr Tan.
Mr Tan received RM500 in monthly welfare aid from the government but the money was insufficient to pay for their rent and daily expenses. Soon, they had to move out from their rented place and live on the streets. With the money they received from welfare aid, they began to sell tissues and snacks at the bus stop for a living. At night, they slept outside a convenience store.
Mr Tan’s condition became worse: both of his infected legs were covered with wounds and he was in great pain. The couple was treated badly by members of the public, but some kind people took pity on them and offered to clean his wounds. Mr Tan refused to go to the hospital because he was afraid of dying in the hospital bed. Somehow, a few Christians saw and consoled and persuaded him, and finally he agreed to go to the hospital. The doctors amputated both of his legs and he was in hospital for two months because he was very weak.
The Christians prayed for him when he was hospitalized. They overcame many challenges for Mr Tan. As the government hospital had limited beds, he could not stay longer and was asked to leave. When the time came for him to be discharged, they found him a room to rent. With the help of a few benefactors, Ms Wong was able to pay the rental. Mr Tan stayed two weeks in the rented room and then passed away.
In the beginning, his family was reluctant to accept his deceased body but through the power of prayer, he received a decent funeral and his ashes were interred in the temple.
People are pushed to be homeless by unforeseen circumstances – sickness, poverty, addictions, family issues, etc. We are not to judge them. When someone is hungry, our Christian role is to feed them. At times, our help may be limited but we can bring people lots of hope, joy and dignity when we serve them like our own brothers and sisters. By helping others, our own wounds will be also be healed. If no one was willing to help Mr Tan, he would have passed away on the streets, sorrowfully and without dignity.
Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. “Then my favour will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. – Isaiah 58:7-11
