I couldn’t find the words to describe my feelings when I witnessed the baptism of three clients from The Lighthouse. Client is a name to call the people who go to this soup kitchen to have their meals every weekday. The Lighthouse is part of the Penang Office of Human Development under the Catholic church social service.
When I heard through Lucia that they are having a baptism, I immediately phoned Vincent who is the welfare officer there. Vincent is also my civil marriage witness and my children’s godfather. So, we went way back 22 years ago. Actually, Vincent himself is already a big testimony of God’s grace. Like I told my citizen journalist coursemates, our dear Vincent who took us to the streets to get to know the homeless people is none other than a well-to-do guy once but he chose to serve the Lord. They were amazed with Vincent’s dedication to live humbly and work tirelessly and were doubly amazed when I told them about our taukey Vincent.
James was baptised as a Catholic last week. It never occurred to me that I would be the witness of this beautiful baptism when I was sitting there on the steps of the five foot way in Prangin Mall. It never occurred to me that this man whom had lost almost everything, would still have the faith to trust in the Lord.
If I had allowed myself to cry that afternoon in Church of St. Francis Xavier, I would be sobbing there, with all the burdens I felt lifted off. But I dare not embarrassed myself so much, so I merely wiped away all the tears that gathered at the corner of my eyes. Lucky no one knows what was going through my heart when I see the downtrodden, tired, sad, frustrated man left his baggages behind and asked the Lord to hold his hand and led him through this hard journey. The hymn was sung in Hokkien and it was so much more harder to hold back tears, knowing that 50% of the people in the church that afternoon are in the same situation as Jame, before he turned to the Lord.
I overheard that this is the first baptism of the clients in six years since Lighthouse started. I am not sure if this is true but if it is, I am so lucky to see grace of God unfolding in my eyes.
My faith has been strengthened a 100 fold the day I see James become part of us. I thank and praise God for the dedicated people from Lighthouse and also the Chinese apostolate of Our Lady of Sorrows church for guiding James and his friends who were baptised that afternoon.
Now I know why God has given me that desire to pursue my citizen journalism course. Without it, I would still be living in the comfort zone and never notice people like James who are homeless and sleeping on the streets.
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