give up. Only God could help. It took 10 long years of crying out to Him before He answered her prayers.“ I do not know what I would be now if not for God in my life,” she confesses.
When things took a turn for the better on the home front, Mummy Chia shifted gear in her Christian journey. She was finally baptized at the age of 46. She sent the children to Sunday School, prayed and read her Bible diligently. Precious to her to this day are Psalm 23 and Psalm 112, by which she determined to live.“ I only began to serve the Lord when I was old,” she shares with a tinge of regret. With an empty nest now, she became more active in the church and continues to go on mission trips.
TO SARAWAK, CAMBODIA WITH LOVE Matron Chia has rendered her skills on various trips when the church sent medical mission teams to Sarawak and Cambodia. She has a special soft spot for Cambodia, having visited and ministered at His Child International nine times, a record for anyone in the church. She is the unofficial leader of teams there. Even when her knees were weak, she continues to visit each year, bringing loads of precious cargo for the children at the homes. She also goes with her grandchildren, who have invariably caught her vision and mission. What a heritage! Even a spinal operation on a pinched nerve did not stop her for long as she was soon up and about again.
Gifted with a passion for sewing from a young age, Mummy’ s quilts are a sight to behold. Months before each mission outing, she would garner support in cash and kind, books, clothes, sandals and whatever could be donated for poor children.
Mummy Chia has raised a class of ladies, teaching them to knit, sew and craft. Friday afternoons see these ladies at her home happily learning new sewing skills. What a wonderful way to pass on a beautiful heritage to the next generation! Together with the class, she would spend time sewing handicrafts for sale to raise support. Her finely crafted bags and dolls would be snapped up very quickly. Asked what inspires her to visit again and again, Mummy replies,“ Seeing these poor children in Cambodia reminds me of the times in health service when I had to visit local kampongs to render aid. It gives me great joy.”
NURSING THE AGED After her retirement from nursing, her husband William, fell ill and passed on several years later. It was during this time of nursing her sick husband and also during her stint of working in the geriatric ward in a private hospital that she saw her mission field in nursing the aged. This has become a staple ministry since. She has volunteered for many years now at nursing homes, where her skills and caring service are well-received.
It is this burning compassion for the weak and helpless that still sends her zipping
across the town in her little car, even at 85, to volunteer twice a week at the geriatric home.“ It gives me joy to help the patients, some of whom lack family love even in their twilight years,” says Mummy Chia.“ I even have to persuade them to eat their meals.”
She remembers a special moment when she was called to the bedside of a dying elder.
“ I was proud and privileged that I could pray a simple prayer to calm his restlessness just two hours before he passed on. He was the elder who interviewed me before my baptism,” she muses.
OPEN HEART, OPEN HOUSE Mummy has such a big heart she even opens her house to people recuperating from operations or anything that invalidates them. Be it a major operation, or a broken arm, she lovingly nurses friends back to health.
Mummy’ s house is regularly a hive of activities as she warmly hosts outstation speakers or missionaries. It is often the venue for meetings for the senior fellowship. A regular group of younger friends gather readily for meals at her home on the slightest excuse – a birthday, a festival, anything at all! She is the‘ hostess with the mostest’ to many.
I remember the days before our mission trip. The floor of her living room and kitchen was strewn with boxes and boxes of books, clothing and whatever we were bringing to Cambodia. It was messy. But it did not seem to trouble her. Her active and hardworking lifestyle, even when not in the best of health, puts many of us to shame. She even has time to grow( and give away) her own vegetables and raise a bright and beautiful garden.
I tasted Aunty Chia’ s caring and sharing
BY ALICE KOH
A WEEK AFTER MY HYSTERECTOMY OPERATION in July 2009, I went to Batu Pahat to recuperate. A church sister, Susan Lau, introduced my husband, Aaron, and me to Aunty Chia. Though I was a stranger to her, she welcomed me with open arms and showered me with tender loving care. Together with Susan, she nursed me back to health. She personally went to the market and cooked nourishing‘ confinement’ food for me.
During my month-long stay, I found that she was indeed a very gifted lady. With sharp eyesight and nimble fingers at 79, she was still doing all kinds of sewing and handicrafts. Some days she would just sit and chat, sharing all her life experiences. Indeed, her life story was more interesting than a Korean drama! I felt really blessed and privileged to have come into fellowship with Aunty Chia. She is gentle, kind and very generous. She truly reflects the love of Jesus Christ, and genuinely loves and cares for the welfare of those in need.
In November 2013, when I fractured my left clavicle, I again came“ home” to recuperate. Aaron and I call her home the“ TLC Home” –“ Tender Loving Care Home”. I want to thank and praise God for this beautiful and wonderful lady, a true reflection of God’ s love.
WHAT KEEPS HER GOING?“ The joy of spreading God’ s love and seeing people happy,” was the simple answer of this grand old lady – a mummy indeed to many. Mummy’ s full life is a shining example of simple faith with good works, an epitome of Christian womanhood. She is a blessing to all, and someone to emulate.
Alice and Aaron worship and serve in a Presbyterian church in Melaka. Goh Bee Lee finds joy in good books, true friends and the great outdoors. Much blessed by God with three children and six grandchildren( and counting) she glories in being a beloved of the Lord’ s. First published in www. deargoldie. com March # 14 2016. Used with permission.
ASIAN BEACON 48 # 1 December 2016- January 2017 15