After the Alpha session, I sat on the bench at our church foyer, had a rest before going upstair for the Mandarin service which will be started at 3.00p.m.. There were 2 or 3 male members hanging around there chatting about the planned activity either walking, hiking or cycling which would be held one Saturday on the particular date. I did not grasp the exact message, as we usually would share all kind related stuffs from the planning to our own experience or regular activity, our knowledge about how other people do such activity, to our view on such activity, besides the considering factors, when we are talking about something. However, having a walk was sounded nice to me.
I had few experiences of going for a walk either morning walk or evening walk. Just a few which can be counted by fingers. I think just two times in the morning, and it should be less than five times for evening walk for the past 20 years, probably throughout my whole life, except joining the huge event where our CPAP was invited. I had the walks mostly 3-4 years ago when I was staying independently in a nursing home. I went with 2-3 friends. I felt relax when I had the walks especially walking independently by pushing the four-wheels rollator which I bought it in year 2022.
12th June 2026 (Friday)
Pastor Karen sent a reminder message to our Greenhouse’s whatsapp group at 3.31p.m.. She reminded us the Greenhouse students that there was a prayer walk tomorrow, in conjunction of the end of term 2. She encouraged as many of us to join the walk. Oh I see.. the walk would be on the 13th and it is the walk that I had heard earlier from the guys conversation. I thought the walk would be held on the following Saturday. And I had overlooked the first message with poster announcing the walk which posted by Pastor Karen on the 7th June morning.
I looked at the poster. There would be four groups which two in the morning and the other two in the evening. Each would be held at the different locations around Penang Island. Karpal Singh Drive which is the 4th group at 6.00p.m. seem would be suitable for me.
After dinner, I lay down on the bed, resting and thinking whether to join or not. I missed to have a walk. But it would be troubling those would be joining if I come along, as I required assistance here and there. Besides, I did feel lazy to go out too.
As going out for any activity, we are not just required effort in participating the activity itself such walking from the starting point to the end point, or just sit at a cafe having a meal and chatting. It requires effort and of course time for getting ourselves ready to go for the activity, walking from our house or any place to the car, driving to the meeting place and looking for available parking space (if we drive), walking from the car to the meeting point. And it is the same after the activity.
Then I sent whatsapp message to the contact person for the 4th group Joel Chu.
‘Hi Joel, I do think to join the prayer walk. Wish to have a walk outside. I think Karpal Singh drive will be on pavement or flat road. My rollactor walker can become a wheelchair too where I sit and someone push me. I may walk bit or half and half be pushed.
Want to ask you if I can join. I will be okay if you advise me not to join.
You can think about it first, maybe ask others if they can help assist me’
Within 15 minutes, I received Joel’s reply written ‘Hi Chin Chin sure. Would love to have you.’
Yes, yes, I would be going for the walk.
13th June 2025 (Saturday)
In the morning, I looked through the poster again to check the meeting point and time. I googled what the place ‘CBTL’ stands for. Then I searched the place at the Grab apps on my phone.
Around 4.50p.m., I got ready and then booked Grab car. The grab guy drove me until the front of the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. I reached there about 5.35p.m.. There were members sitting at the table outside the shop.. I waved and call them as there is very high (I think it’s as high as my knee) kerb to be climbed up to the row of shops. Joel got down the kerb to the roadside, took my rollactor from the driver who had taken out from his car boot, opened, placed and held it for me.
Aunty Siew Lian suggested walking up the roadside until the point where the kerb is lower enough for me to step up. Then we walked back to CBTL. We sat there chatting while waiting other members arrived. If I am not mistaken, we all together were 11 persons and I was told we were the largest group, compared the other 3 groups.
After Joel shared the prayer point and we had the starting prayer, we started walking and praying. We walked together, and they helped me got up and down the kerbs. When the kerb is too high for me to wheel up or wheel down, a member would help take my rollactor up/ down while another two members holding my hand assist me stepped up/down the kerb. They stopped the cars while waiting me walking crossed the road.
As we were required lots stepping up and down kerbs plus there are obstructions along walkway, they decided to have slight changes of our route plan. So we just crossed the main road to the Karpal Singh Drive walkway beside the sea. I did feel sorry as they had to change the initial plan just because of me. Our initial plan was making a big round of the buildings before crossing the main road and continued walking along the long walkway beside the sea. Anyway it was okay.
We all walked and individually praying over the places, over Penang. There were members walked beside me, assisted me whenever needed. There was member took out tissue passing to me as I sweating lots. There were members reminded me to slow down and do not strain myself too much.
After walking for quite long distance, we decided making U-turn and walking up along the walkway. There I decided to stop walking. I turned over the back rest of my rollactor to make it into a pushed-chair. I sat on it and there was another member volunteered herself pushing me. We walked up the walkway at much longer distance than earlier, before we made another U-turn. I asked her several times was she okay pushing me as I worried would it be hard or heavy to push me in this rollator-pushed chair, compare wheelchair. Darren who was walking beside us most of the time did offer to help her. She was okay and instead enjoyed pushing me. She was even thanked me for the opportunity pushing me as she felt sleepy earlier when she was just walking. Few minutes after making the U-turn, she finally gave Darren chance to push me. Wow, Darren pushed me at greater speed. I enjoyed it. Just for a while, then we decided to end our walk as we had walked about one hour. We ended our walk with the closing prayer.
Aunty Siew Lian offered to send me home. Her husband asked us to just wait at where we were, while he went to take his car, He had to make a big round to come pick us. Thanks all of them by letting me joining even through I was not a prayer warrior or even good at prayer.
14 June 2026 (Sunday)
I went to church as usual, be there by 12.30pm. for attending the Alpha course. Before going for the walk, I had trusted myself to be in the church on the Sunday even through I would be tired and my body would be aching after the walk.
As I had walked down the stair after the 3.00pm Mandarin service, I bumped into JJ another church member who is friendly and supportive. He thanked and praised me for joining the walk as I would stir the hearts of many more members to join such prayer. He reframed part of the message that I had sent to Joel which was I would come and if I could not walk, you guys pushed me. What? Really? Asking to join the walk where those were coming had to slow down and also help me, instead of enjoying themselves is an inspiration to others?
I frankly told JJ that my actual motive of joining the walk. He said it was awesome, I know to grab the opportunity to go for a walk. And then he said that is exactly what the community is all about.
“Wait... I really need you guys as a group of people with various skills and knowledge come together helping me for a big big task in the future.” I speak in my heart. I thank for having the KingdomCity community. I feel much relief when I realise of having this community which I believe and hope would be supportive and would able to help me when the time that I am afraid has come.
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