Angel Network Update: Relocation in Progess

Dear Friends,
Acts29 is assisting several elderly living in Blk 3 and 4 Hougang to shift house over the next few months. The blocks will be torn down this year.
The elderly we are helping are on govt. financial assistance (no family) or have been abandoned by their children. Most of the old men/women we’ve adopted have pretty sad/heartbreaking stories. They’re between 75 years old – 89 years old.

Being relocated is a difficult experience for them. It’s like having to start all over again - making friends, finding their way around and settling down to the new environment. Yes they have many fears and insecurities.
A few who have been collecting and selling drink cans will no longer be able to continue this as contacts would be lost. They will be relocated all over the island. Some will be moving to AMK, Toa Payoh, Bukit Merah, Bedok and so on.

The elderly have shown us perseverance, courage, strength and resilience. They are not a helpless group of old people waiting for daily handouts. Weeks before they begin shifting out, they have found ways to get hold of cardboard boxes in good condish. I admire that.. Note to self: ask them to help us get more boxes for our FAST. They are all packed and ready to go. When we step into any elderly's flat now, we can see the boxes all ready: packed and taped up. Some have even manager to get contacts for lorries. However many need help with changing of letterbox keys, changing home address on the IC. Many don't know how to fix the new lights in their new flat or how to reinstall the water heater. Most have told us they want their new home to look exactly like the one they have now. the furniturs goes into the same corners and places. We took photos so we know where the bed was in the old flat and the sofa and the table, etc... The Catholics are requesting for us to arrange house blessing, holy communion and so on.

Sure they all have a past. Perhaps one left the family, another a compulsive gambler, another an alcoholic and another an ex-con. Perhaps their relatives have given up hope on them and stay away from them. For those who have been abandoned by their children, perhaps they didn't show love to their kids enough when they were young. Whatever wrong they did in the past should not be punishment for them to be isolated in their 1room cell. Angel Network has revealed to us the large numbers of elderly living alone, estranged from families. No one visits them, not even for CNY. Some old ladies are actually are afraid to be alone at night. Some times they can't sleep. They are also wary of being robbed. The old men tell us how nice it would be to have home-cooked meals and to have their meals with friends or family. Every 1 room flat we pass by is a block of many elderly living in loneliness and even despair. They are not the easiest people to get along with. They would have a hard time coping in an elderly day-care or old folks' home. They have a different way of thinking from the elderly in centres and homes. Despite their loneliness, they still want their independence and freedom.

You can be part of Angel Network by helping us in these ways:
1. request to be on angel network email list
2. help in the move by carrying stuff from old place to new place
3. contribute lorry/transport to help the elderly shift
4. painting their new home
5. fixing lights/nails/etc
6. donate a water heater to those who need one
7. help us get hold of fridge, sofa, wardrobe etc
8. help us monthly to pay visits as we expand Angel Network to AMK and Toa Payoh this 2008.

Some elderly do not have fridge, tv, radio, sofa, a table to eat at, a stove, water heater. One elderly man's home is bare except for a bed, a foldable table and 2 chairs. His wall is decorated with photo frame of Jesus, palm leaf and a little picture of our Archbishop pasted up!!! :)