An overseas trip for Dialect Church members proves to be a hit.
Contributed By Cindy Koh
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| CN PHOTO: Tan Song Kow | |
On Saturday, April 10, the Dialect Church in CHC organized a short excursion to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, for some of its members. Maria Tok, the zone supervisor of the Dialect Church, said, “More than just promoting a sense of active aging among our elderly members, we hope that through such outings, we can befriend more elderly and get them to be part of our family.”
That morning saw many eager members converging at the meeting point earlier than expected. Once everyone had reached—a total of 46 people, including the volunteers—a short briefing was given before they began their journey for the day.
The wet weather threatened to spoil their fun, but the rain did not dampen the spirit of this tour group. In fact, many were having fun on the bus, singing songs of praise to God and fellowshiping with one another. By the time the bus reached its first destination, the weather had cleared up, and the trip went on as planned.
The first stop was Zenxin Organic Farm. The group got to see how organic farm produce, such as dragonfruit, were grown and harvested.
Next, they enjoyed a sumptuous lunch at the Yong Peng district, followed by a spot of shopping in the main street where popular items such as green tea, coffee and high fiber beverages were being sold.
The group then proceeded to a small noodle factory and a Fuzhou cake shop. That was followed by the Un Keng Farming Sdn Bhd goat farm where everyone was treated to goat’s milk ice-cream. The tour ended at the Summit in Batu Pahat, the largest shopping center in the area, much to everyone’s delight.
The trip was a fruitful one, judging by the sight on the bus as the group trundled home. Many of the elderly thoroughly enjoyed themselves, clutching loads of shopping bags and smiling broadly all the way home.
Shaik Siew Eng, 73, said, “This is the first time that I have been to these places and it was an eye-opening experience for me.”
One of the volunteers, Alvin Chong, was thankful to God for the good weather and the efficient tour guides who were able to anticipate their every need.
One of the group’s leaders, Lee Mei Juan, shared, “It’s all worthwhile when we see that all the members enjoyed themselves, coming back with a smile on their face.”
Most importantly, the trip fostered greater bonding among the members of the Dialect Church— a fitting end to a wonderful day.
