Long Road to Home ---Story of A-lu

Long Road to Home --- Story of A-lu
(the name/s of the persons involved were changed to protect their identity)

Finding A-lu

In 2003, one day during an outreach, I and the social worker went inside an old compound. The place used to be a flea market. Under a huge tree, a dilapidated sofa lay a person, her filthy hair tangled in grease and dust. Upon talking to her, we found out she is a woman. She can only utter a phrase, “Wo bu zi dao!” (I don’t know!). We offered her boxed lunch and a drink which she accepted and immediately left us. There were men around, selling their second hand wares, so we asked them if they know her. The men told us her name is “A-lu.” From then on, we visited and followed up on her case for about two years.

Helping A-lu

A-lu became very familiar with us and eventually began trust us. One day she came with us to the center. Took a bath, and I gave her a haircut, off with the grease and dirty tangled hair. The social worker immediately made appointment with the Taichung Hospital Mental Health Department. A-lu was admitted for treatment for a month. The process of searching her identity began. Our center, the hospital and the Taichung government worked together on her identity and eventually. We found her relatives.

Finding Her Relatives

She has a son adopted by an old soldier who earned living selling old books and magazine in another flea market. The two lived in a roach infested place filled with very old books and magazine. Tragedy struck one day, the book place burned down, and the son had no place to go. We took the son temporarily at the center, allowed him to live in the basement, until the Taichung City child welfare department found a place for him. Meanwhile, A-lu’s daughter’s information was also found. The daughter lives in a Catholic-run institution for the mentally handicapped. Her story eventually became clear to us through the son. He was able to tell us what he could remember about her mother when he was very young. His memory of A-lu goes back to when he was about three years old. Her mental condition began early, and her daughter was taken into custody by the city government. A-lu and the son, lived with the old soldier, until one day she had a terrible car accident which made her mental condition worse and she ended up wandering in the streets until we found her. The son grew up with the old soldier but never attended school, by this time he was already 15 years old. His case was taken over by the Taichung City child welfare department and put him to school to finish primary. He is now in junior middle school.

Reconciliation

Finding A-lu and her family was a beautiful story of reunion and reconciliation. A-lu now lives in a supervised facility for people with mental disability, for life. Her son also lives in a supervised facility for young people until he can find work and a place of his own. He hopes to study social work someday. On special occasion, we invite the whole family for get-together and to be reunited. Many other stories of reconciliation are waiting to be told at Good Samaritan Women Center.

September 25, 2009

PEITA - A Mother's Sorrow

PIETA – A Mother’s Sorrow

September 17th Thursday, very early in the morning we received a call that one of our resident woman’s daughter died in a car accident in Chungli, a city in the north. Three of us staff sat down with her and gave the news. We witnessed a string of tragedy in one person’s life. Later that morning, I along with two Taichung county social welfare officials, accompanied her to the police station to know more of the details and file the police report. She was crying all the time. After police report was taken, we were asked to wait at the lobby. I witnessed how the Taiwanese people deal with tragedy.
A woman we saw coming in to the police station approached her this time, along with two teen aged girls. The woman is the Director of the children village where her daughter was temporarily living in custody after the two of them was found living in the streets for about a week. She was brought to Good Samaritan Women Center. The Director along with two girls and made a low bow saying sorry “tui bu chi” to her. She sobbed even more. Then there was quiet and calm for a long time.
We moved to another corner of the lobby to wait for the investigator. We sat there for quite a while she cried non-stop. All of a sudden, two men came up to us. It was the driver of the 16 wheeler-truck who killed the daughter. He was inside the interrogation room. He was allowed to come out to kneel in front of the mother. He was crying asking for forgiveness. She sobbed with so much grief when he saw him. We were all feeling the deep sadness. All I could do was held her hand and offered her water to drink. The driver and the mother exchanged some questions and answers. Later on, she asked him to stand up and uttered a forgiving word, “stand up, being mad at you will not help, my daughter is already dead.” I looked at her with admiration, she is a woman with a lot of inner strength.
The investigator was taking a long time to arrive, so we decided to go ahead and went to the morgue. We waited in a smaller investigation room next to the coroner’s room. She was to identify the daughter’s body in the presence of investigator. All but me, were telling her not to see the daughter’s body until she prepared and made up. The others doesn’t even realize what they are saying. All the talking and suggestions from others in the room made her confused. The point is we were there to identify the body, so she has no choice but to look at the mangled little body of her daughter, no matter how hard this will be. It was past 8 p.m. when the investigators came, she and I were the only ones allowed to get inside the morgue. When we all gathered, the police opened the body bag. I held the mother as she sobbed in muffled sounds. Everyone stood still, waiting for her to calm down. The police asked one question, “Is she your daughter?” and she responded positively. Then the investigation process began. It took about two hours questioning all the parties.
Since it was too late to go back to Taichung, we decided to stay with the children’s village. That night, all the children in the orphanage hugged her and told her how her daughter was before the accident. She was very calm during this time. I stayed overnight also to be with her. The next day, I went back to the women center, and she decided she liked to stay behind and rest. The director promised me that they will watch and support her. As of this writing, she was still at the children village, wants to stay near her daughter’s remains and arranged the funeral. She chose to have a Christian funeral for her daughter, even though she is a Buddhist. We await for her return at the women center.

A Day at the Women Center

A Day at the Women Center - September 15, 2009

When I arrived this morning, everyone has arrived, we said good morning. I haven't put my bag down, I noticed a new woman came down from second floor. Su-u came down with bread. She welcomed me with a big hug. I commented on her red lipstick and she looked good. She said she missed me. Su-u used to live with us, but now she has her small apartment on top of the restaurant she works for. She often visits back. Weiyin, the social worker, got my attention that we have a new woman who came yesterday. Then A-ngo came down rushing, her hair rumpled and she seemed disoriented. I asked how is she, but she doesn't seem to comprehend. Fangxue, briefed me that she took her to the hospital last night, upon checking her with 40 degrees fever. Luckily, she is free from the HIN1 virus. She took the morning medication, I asked Fangxue to take her to the 4th floor to rest and be isolated from other women. Meijing, our Korean lay missioner volunteer was already busy cleaning around. Another resident was busy calling a prospective employer for interview. Lucky, the dog, was lying under my office table.

I prepared the drinks for the morning outreach. Fangxue came down with 4 'piandangs' (box lunches), and some day fresh bread. We both left on our motorcycle to visit and take food to the women in the park and around trainand bus stations. We parked at First Square, and saw 2 homeless men sitting in on of the bench, filthy, already drinking 'gin'. I started a conversation with them, and asked if they saw Shuzhong, one of the women we regularly visits. They said she hasn't showed up. We went to the train station, we did not find a single woman, but talked to two groups of homeless. A couple, the husbad is eating noodle, he sits in front of the train station in one of the posts, while the woman stood around him not too far away. They all sleep inside the train station. We gave a box to one of the eldely who earns his leaving collecting recylables.

We drove to the Taichung Park and met four homeless women. We talk with them for a little while. We distributed all the food so we decided to go home. It was already 11 a.m. and the sun is so hot.

We came back to the center, A-yi was there, she used to live at the center but left without saying goodbye. Now she wants to come back. She went out to smoke. Then lunch was served. After lunch, everyone seemed to find a little corner to rest. They will come down later to the cool first floor to sit down and talk with each other. Another woman came up just when we were finishing the dishes, A-chiu, huge, one-eyed, filthy and doesn't wear slippers! She gave me a big hug! Asked where was I. She ate by herself. She promised me to take a shower afterwards!

Meanwhile, I have to do some office work. Weiyin is asking me about the budgets. I barely finished my first paper work, Rick Hsih came, he is a reformed alcoholic and very active with AA and Alanon. He came for a visit. Meijing and I sat with him and asked about the details of the women seminar on alcoholism held last August 21st. He and I planned the workshop before I left for the U.S. He was very happy with the results. We talked about the follow-up seminar for next year and talked about the feedbacks. A-chiu came down, joined us for a hot coffee, she looked very nice and clean, wearing her jewelries! Rick said goodbye. I went back to paper work.

Heavy rain began, and so I checked outside and found out the plants were all dried up. So I asked one of the women to help me water them. Two of them take over to water the plant.
The rained did not show any sign that it will stop. It was already past 5 pm, all of us staff can't go home. Li-zhen, came back from her new work. Talked to Weiyin a little bit about her health insurance. Fangxue was cooking soup in the kitchen. Meijing and I were talking about the volunteer seminar. Finally, it was decision making time...go home and brave the rain. Meijing left and afterwards, I followed. Weiyin and Fangxue also started to get ready to go home.
Ms Jie, the night supervisor has not showed up yet. I got home safe, in between flashes of lightning and thunder and the heavy pouring rain. Thanking God for the day and its grace!

Maryknoll Taiwan: Being and Doing Collaboration

Maryknoll Taiwan: Being and Doing Collaboration

There were times in the beginning of my ministry with homeless people when I felt alone. One day, a Maryknoll priest came to me and told me that he is praying for me and my work. That meant a lot to me. At the opening of the Good Samaritan Center, he was there and visited many times with us staff and the women. One day, he went back to the Center but kept his connection with me and the women center. God bless him in his resting place in heaven.
Other times, when I am around the Fathers/Brothers center, some would hand me some “ang pau” for my ministry. Still more surprises came, one day the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Taipei called, saying they would like to donate to the Good Samaritan Center upon the request by one of the Maryknoll Fathers. Thank you all for the generosity, you know who you are!
For my part, when Fr. Joy ask me to give retreats at least twice a year to the Filipino Migrants workers , I felt it is always a privilege to say yes.
Beginning July 2009, our little Maryknoll Sisters Regional office is moved to the “upper room” of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers compound in San Min Road, they not charging a single cent for rent. And of course, most of us Sisters are product of the excellent Maryknoll Language Institute, enjoying discount with tuition!
But the most important part of all collaborations are the gatherings of Maryknoll Sisters and Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers ~ ~~we love to party and share stories old and new!!! And for what else that I forgot to mention…