A visible expression of God's love
It was an exceptionally wet season and after the rain had poured down non-stop for 24 hours, seven districts in Johor were deluged. The result was the worst flood in 60 years a few days before Christmas. MCCC staff members from its Johor office, led by Coverage Ministry director Richard Koh, went to Kota Tinggi right after the floods. They were there to help with the relief work and to distribute lunch boxes to the flood victims.
Unfortunately, just as the situation was returning to normal, a second flood hit the state. The staff held an emergency meeting and decided to go to Kota Tinggi again. The next morning, on Jan 19, 2007, Richard went to Kampung Laut in Skudai with a relief team comprising pastors from several Chinese churches in Johor. When they discovered that the village had been neglected by the government and the public in relief operations, they changed their mind on the trip to Kota Tinggi. They chose to help the flood victims in Skudai instead.
Kampung Laut is near Sungai Skudai. When the waters covered the village, only the roofs of the houses could be seen. About 110 families, mainly Malays and Indians, were affected by the flood. A group of volunteers went to help the villagers, most of whom were elderly and staying on their own. Besides MCCC staff members, the volunteers comprised Christians from various churches and inmates of a rehabilitation center. On the afternoon of Jan 21, 2007, about 180 brothers and sisters went to help after Sunday service.
Everyone worked together to help the inhabitants of 15 houses from Jan 20 to 23. The men shovelled up the mud in the houses, which was 4 inches to 1 foot thick, and carted it away in wheelbarrows. The women washed the furniture and crockery. There were stacks of mud-encrusted plates to be cleaned in some houses. These plates and kitchen utensils used to be rented out to the kampung folk for kenduri. It was hard work but the volunteers felt rewarded by the smiles and gratitude of the villagers.
The flood relief team distributed various items including rice, mattresses and school uniforms. They were touched by the kindness of various people. An Indian family in the kampung agreed to cook for the villagers and volunteers. This family made sure the volunteers were served first when the food was ready. This was their way of appreciating them. Every morning, MCCC staff Callie and Set Foon would go and get supplies from the market for the meals. When Encik Din, a vegetable seller, found out that the greens they were selecting were for the villagers of Kampung Laut, he refused to accept money from Callie.
The members of the flood relief team wore red T-shirts so that they could be easily identified. They received a warm welcome everywhere they went. The villagers would wave to them even from afar. Relationships were built during the process. The kampung folks said, "We felt abandoned by the authorities. No one came to help us. We are glad that Christians offered their help regardless of race." Some of them were so thankful they had tears in their eyes.
Many volunteers shared, "We realize how blessed we are. The flood could have happened to us but God protected us. By God's grace, we had the opportunity to serve people of different races here."
The waters destroyed the homes and belongings of the villagers but God showed his love for them by sending people to comfort and help them.
