New Challenges for Homeless People: Election Induced Enforcement

New Challenges for Homeless People: Election Induced Enforcement

It was almost 9:30 p.m. yet we were still preparing the boxed noodles, soup and oranges. We are going to distribute them during our outreach that night. The temperature had drastically dropped and the wind added to the bitter cold.

When we finally took to the streets, it was past 10 p.m., we were a bit late than usual. We decided to go Tungkuang Road Park on the east, however, there was not a single homeless person. Next destination was the Tzu-you park, amazingly, it was clear of the usual people we serve at night. We went to the Taichung Park, we saw a group of men and a woman, when we approached them, the group was not very friendly. I have seen the women hanging around the park few days ago. We walked inside the Taichung Park and its vicinity, again, there was no one around, by this time we begin to wonder where were the homeless folks who used to rest in those areas gone. We went to the Taichung Station, walked around checking, again, there was not a single soul. Instead, a policeman approached us, asking who we were looking for. We told him that we are visiting some clients who sleep inside the station. He said, “There is no more homeless people here”. We asked, “Why not? Where are they?” He said, “They are not allowed around the Station and main thoroughfare, Mayor Hu, have given us orders to clean up the Station of the homeless people, they look dirty and pedestrians/passersby are afraid of them.” So, that explained the absence of all the homeless people in the vicinity. After realizing this situation, we started to think where they might be. Thus, we went out of the central area, and there we found most of the folks, sleeping out in the cold. We found most of them towards the northern section near the railroad tracks. We spotted a middle-aged man sleeping in one of the bench at Tungkuang Park, we gave him some food and sleeping bag. He was drunk, he barely responded to us. While we were talking to him, a group of policemen stopped by and came to check on us. They immediately asked the man to get out of the park, even he could not stand. One of the police officer told him to go to the Men’s temporary shelter in Da-kong Street. I asked the police officer if he knows whether the shelter is open at that hour and will accept the man. He said he does not know for sure. The police said they want the street sleepers to go to the shelter because they could die of cold.

It was already past midnight, so we decided to end our night outreach. I wondered where that man went to sleep, after the police asked him to leave the park.

Although, it is true that some homeless men are drinking around the area of train and bus stations, it is not true of all the homeless population. The well-lighted train and bus stations are places of safety for them, from cold and other hate crimes against homeless. Homelessness is a delicate public issue. Election is coming and politicians will use them to measure how the incumbent government served its population. Mayor Hu of Taichung City has done so much to ease the suffering of homeless people in Taichung by encouraging homeless service providers to exchange views and experience through Social Welfare Department meetings. We hope that he will continue to support them and their service providers and not crackdown on homeless.

December 3, 2009

Outing in Tao-Mi and Nantou Mountains

Outing in Tao-Mi Village and Nan-Tou Mountains

The staff and Board members of Good Samaritan Women Concerns Association had a weekend outing in Nan-Tou county. We arrived at Sun Moon Lake just before 3 p.m. and decided to take a boat ride around the lake. Our boat docked at various tourist spots inside and around the lake. Our first stop was a floating garden, of what used to be a small island in the middle of Sun Moon Lake but submerged during the 921 earthquake 10 years ago. The floating boardwalk and planters provided a 360 degree angle to see the surrounding hill around the lake. The next stop was the Suen Kuang Temple, from the dock we climb uphill for about 15-20 minutes to reach the temple. There were so many tourists from China, eager to take pictures and pay respect to the statues at the temple. From the temple, we went to the aborigines’ village. There was a group of aborigines, belonging to Taya tribe singing. One of them invited me to dance and some in our group also joined in. It was so much fun to dance with aborigine dancers and their music. We walked around and bought some food like grilled sausage, a beverage with rice wine, sliced guava and fried little fishes from the lake. We came back to the port just in time to go to our destination for the night. We rented a private bed and breakfast place in Tao-Mi, Puli district. We got there just before dark. The owner Mr. Liu, welcomed and showed us our rooms. The rooms are built next to the owner’s house, has a rustic flavor to it. The rooms resembled a Japanese style accommodations with wooden floors, the beds are thin foam sprawled on the wooden floor. At the back of the main house, is a huge refectory where they serve the meals for their guests. That night, we enjoyed a sumptuous meal prepared by Mrs. Liu. After dinner, Mr. Liu invited us to go frog watching at around 7 pm. Before going to the river he took us to the famous “Paper Church” or “Paper Dome”. A beautifully engineered open building made of paper columns. It was impressive. The design and paper columns were a donation from Japan, to commemorate the 921 earthquake. After the 921 earthquake, the residents of this little village Tao-Mi did not have much left and rehabilitation was needed. The New Homeland Foundation in cooperation with the government trained the residence of this village into eco-tourism. Tao-Mi is home to Taiwan swamplands. The village changed their mindset into environmentally concerned citizens. Each year, the residents have two training on how to be eco-tour guides. We went down to the river wearing our rubber booths and flashlights looking for different kinds of frogs. Later that night, after we came back, Mr. Liu prepared tea for our group. The theme of the whole village is frog. Even the restrooms are designed like sitting frogs!

The next day, we were served a hearty breakfast after everyone came back from morning walk in the surrounding villages. We had a short morning prayer together. Just before 9 am, we all left the Tao-mi and went into the walking trail in the swampland area. All 7 of us tried the pulling trolley that takes us to the other side of the swamp filled with lilies…it was a great idea! Afterwards, we drove around the valley and mountain roads until we reached the top of the Second Mountain of 9 Mountains. On top of this mountain is a one-story house tipped into a sliding position by the 921 earthquake. Apparently, the mountain which was 2 km away from the house became their backyard after it moved forward to where the house is. This
place was the memorial site of the 921 earthquake. Further up, we went to the place where they called “mountain explosion”.
The entire side of the mountain rolled down to the valleys. It was quite, very few onlookers were there. Truly, it was a powerful reminder of the continuing movement and change of earth’s surface which is catastrophic to those who inhabit the mountainside. The residents had a change of heart, they know they have to live harmoniously with their environment.
We went home and enjoyed “huo-guo” for lunch at Kao A-yi’s restaurant. Nowadays, the little bamboo plant from Tao-mi is beginning to adopt in our little garden in front of the center.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Celebration

Taiwan Jia You! (Taiwan Rise Up!) The balloons with our PEACE PRAYER went up to the sky.
Peace is the theme of our Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Celebration this year. We asked the women to remember the flood victims in southern Taiwan. They wrote the prayer in a dove shaped paper and tied it up to the balloons. Around 20 women showed up to participate. We had Karaoke singing contest and barbecue. Some men who are friends of the women also came and they assigned themselves to the barbecue pit! Soon as we put the food out, everybody grab their barbecue sticks and put it in the fire! Everyone went home so happy taking “yue bing” (moon cakes) and pomelo.
After the party, the moon was shining so intense in the peaceful and calm sky. 2 October 2009

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…

Will You Let Me Wash Your Feet?

Will you let Me wash your feet?

Jesus, I cannot understand you.
Understanding comes from experiencing.
Have you experienced Me?
Yes, Jesus, I thought I did.
Then, why do you still not understand?
Now, will you let Me wash your feet?
Please tell me, what will entails this of me?
I am setting before you a new law of love,
That I am calling you friends and we are equals.
That I wash your feet because I love you and will give my life for you.
Jesus, does this entails me to wash others’ feet?
This is how you experienced me
This is how you experienced the One who sent me
This is also how others will experience you being one with Me.
Jesus, please wash my feet.
Please help me find humility within,
that I may wash others’ feet and not count the cost or reward.
Come then, follow me.
By marvie 7-2001

你讓我洗你的腳嗎？
耶穌，我不明白你。
了解來自經歷 你有沒有經驗的我嗎？
是的，耶穌，我想我做到了。
那麼，為什麼你還不明白？
現在，你讓我洗你的腳？
請告訴我，這將意味著什麼的我嗎？
我之前，先制定一項新的法律的愛，
我招呼你我的朋友和我們是平等的。
我洗你的腳，因為我愛你，並為我的生命為你。
耶穌，這是否意味著需要我洗別人的腳？
這是你經歷了我這是你經歷了一個誰給我寄來
這也是別人的經驗，你會跟我在一起。
耶穌，請洗我的腳。 請幫我找到謙卑內，
這樣我可以洗腳他人，但不能指望成本。
來吧，然後跟我來
由marvie

The Jesus Code

耶穌 The Jesus Code

Mission Talk – 17th Sun Reading 2 Kings 4:42-44; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15

God takes care of his people. That is the message coming across loud and clear in today’s readings. He feeds them not only with material food ("not on bread alone…") but with everything they need for a fully human life lived in close union with God, the Source and Goal of all life. Eleven years ago, I was sent to Taiwan for my first overseas mission. After two years of Taiwanese language studies, I began to journey with women and men who ended up living in the streets of Taichung City. Just like Jesus asked when he saw so many people following him, tired and hungry, “where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”, I also asked, “what could possibly done to help the homeless women out of the streets? Where will I get the resources to start a safe place/refuge for them?”
Six years ago, with an initial funding from the United States, the establishment of Good Samaritan Women Center in Taichung, the only all women homeless shelter in Taiwan. During these years the center served more than 200 women. Women came and received services ranging from day shelter where they can come have a shower, do laundry, served meals, and rest for the day. At night, it serves as a 10-bed temporary residency for women who join our 3-month program which help them be reintegrated to a more humane life. Find a regular work and eventually move to her living space. We help one homeless woman at a time. The women are helped to design their own plan of action to change their lives. The task is not easy for the women, neither with our staff and volunteers but we do our best to help each other. I am here to thank you for supporting Maryknoll Sisters and our ministry overseas. Please know that every cent you give goes a long way to improve the lives of those whom we choose to journey on the edge of our societies.
Just like the boy who was found with five small barley loaves and two small fish, who shared what he had so that the crowd was able to eat. I also would like to ask you to help us Maryknoll Sisters, so we can continue serving our brothers and sisters who are in need.
(Alternate ending)When I learned the Chinese characters, the first thing I asked my teacher is to teach me how to write Jesus in Chinese. She showed me and then I found myself asking her to explain to me what is the meaning of the characters. She was surprised and told me, “no one have ever asked me this question”. The next day, she explained to me,
[耶 ] Ye – is composed of 2 characters for ears , for listening;
[穌] Su – is composed of 2 characters for “grains” and “fish” – food – bread, rice, bean and fish.
God, Jesus symbolizes a God who listens and a God who comes in the form of the bread of life, one who extinguishes our hunger. Many homeless people experiences hunger…for food, but for most, hunger to love and be loved, a hunger to be live a more humane life. Someday we can all sit down on the grass and everyone will have their fill. The choice depends to us. Thank you.

A Tribute to Le Hua

A Tribute to Le Hua ~~~God’s Beautiful Flower by
Sr. Marvie L. Misolas, MM July 24, 2009 Maryknoll NY
More than one month ago, the Social Work department referred Le Hua to live temporarily at the center after a week from the hospital; the family does not want her back. She committed suicide by drinking strong cleaning liquid. She has depression. The frail, emaciated and pale looking Le Hua sat with us as we discussed her arrangement of her stay at the center. What was agreed for a week at the center lasted for about a month, the social worker who worked on her case, did not follow up with us. Meanwhile, we were getting so concerned that her situation was not improving. She tried to eat the little she can take, but she vomits everything afterwards. She was clearly in depression sleeping most of the day. I would get her up to take a bath or get her down to sit in the dining area, and even encourage her to walk around. Her vomiting was becoming serious we took her to the hospital, and the doctors eventually determined the cause of her vomiting. Part of her intestine closed during healing because of the wound from the cleaning liquid she drank. She was admitted for operation. I instructed our social worker to call Le Hua’s social worker to no avail, and told her to call the supervisor. The next day, the social worker called and promised she will visit her. She never showed up to check with Le Hua, so we continued to visit Le Hua in the hospital. After the operation, she was doing so well. But one day, the hospital called the center to tell us she was rushed to the ICU because her pulse was very low. She stayed at ICU for almost three weeks and her condition grew worse. One day, we came to visit her, and found she took out all her oxygen and monitor tubes. When we asked her why she did that, she just smiled a bitter smile. I asked her if she is afraid to die, she shook her head. When we said goodbye, she was crying. We told her to have courage and fight for her life. She died early this week. Le-Hua is free now, from her depression, from the pain of being alone, from the hurt of being discarded by her family, from being ignored. She is now with her Creator, celebrating her name ~ Le Hua, beautiful flower just as she is.
I feel a stabbing pain when I heard the news of her death, while here in NY. I feel anger about what happened to her. However, we have no control over her situation. Her story is another example how women are treated so unfairly in our society. Our help was too late.

Yesterday, one of the women came up to me and said, "When I die I will leave you my apartment!" I looked up to her and she was really serious, showing me a piece of paper she wrote stating she wills the entire property to me. I smiled.

August 2009 Newsletter Article

Reflection on the Samaritan Woman at the Well
by Marvie L. Misolas, MM

Last June 10th, I was invited to a radio interview by Da Jian Radio Station, 99.1 FM in Central Taiwan. Before the actual interview, Wan-ru, our radio host, asked me to comment on the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the well. She wanted me to reflect on the narrative in relation to my/our work with homeless women at Good Samaritan Women Center.

Three points I would like to reflect on:
1. Jesus approach and initiate the conversation with the Samaritan woman.
2. Jesus and the woman talked about her past.
3. Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah, the Samaritan woman believed, asked Jesus for the living water.

1. The Samaritan woman in the story reflects the present day homeless men and women. They have their shadowed past. Society looked down on them, and most times avoid them. The Samaritan woman comes to the well at the time when nobody or not many people fetch water, avoiding the crowd. Most homeless are like this, they avoid the crowd, except some who do panhandle. Homeless come to Taichung Station late at night, when not many waiting passengers are around, so they can sit and rest for the night. Jesus initiates the conversation with the Samaritan woman, asking a drink of water. He sought her despite her trying to avoid crowd. Our work with homeless men/women entails us to seek them and initiate the conversation, trying to be a friend to them. It takes many tries before we get a smile and response. It is important to see the nobodies of our society and make them feel that someone cares. In purposeful encounter like this, two strangers get to know each other. Like Jesus, passing no judgment to the Samaritan woman and breaking the stereotypes and taboos of his day, we too are called to do the same to the Samaritan women of our times.

2. In dealing with women in the streets, we initiate the conversation, even if they don’t trust us. “What do you care, if I am homeless?” “Nobody talk to us, we are nobody, people don’t see us; they only think we are criminal and lazy people!” After a long period of visiting, the women begin to tell their story, their past. The women begin to trust others. Forgiveness comes with trusting ourselves and others. Revisiting the past, no matter how hurting it was, helps the women face the present situation and make decisions that may change their lives for the better.

The Samaritan woman’s experience with Jesus led her to see deeply who she is. She is able to accept her truth when Jesus told her that she has indeed no husband and that the man whom she is with is her partner. Trusting someone whom we can talk about the truth within us, we are freed from our illusions, safe spaces within and around us are created. The dark secrets of our being are exposed to light. We are no longer afraid and ashamed of the past.

One day, this young woman was brought to us by the police. According to the police officer, she is homeless, her family does not want anything to do with her. She told the police officer she is recuperating from a major surgery. On this account, she was admitted to the center for the three-month temporary residency. She insisted that she needed to rest until she is fully recovered from the surgery, before she can work. After about two weeks we found out that everything she told us were not true and that there was never an operation. The confrontation brought her shadows to light. She was given another chance to stay at the center and eventually find a job.


3. The Samaritan woman asked Jesus to give her living water. She believed that Jesus is the Messiah. She became the first evangelizer when she went home to her town and announced that she had found the messiah and many Samarians believed in Jesus.

In 2006, A-ti and I met at the bus station. She was leaning in one of the posts, near 7-11, quite heavy, hands and legs filled with blackish wound and with shaved hair. I noticed her angelic face with sad eyes. Parked nearby is her three-wheeled bicycle cart she used to collect recyclables. I said hello and smiled. She was delighted and looked at me with a wonderful smile, her teeth all brownish chewing the betel nut. I offered her some food and she ate. Afterwards, I invited her to come to the center and asked if she wants to rest or take a shower. She came to the center and slept the whole afternoon. She came regularly until she asked if she could live at the center. We began processing her case, found her family and eventually enrolled her to a mentally challenged training program. She now lives in a supervised living program run by Catholic Church. She works as a cleaning staff in one of the university. Last year, she started to learn the doctrine and was baptized at Easter this year. She came to visit with us recently and told us that she is already baptized. She also told me that she came to the hospital at the time of my operation and prayed for me. Her wholeness and wonderful self came out. It is truly a beautiful witness to us and other women. She has found Jesus and drank of the living water.