So we finally visited our friends-in-need or FINs these two days to distribute some long-delayed hygiene packs. There were cookies that were added and croissants that were freshly packed and added to the soaps and masks. These items were donated two months ago, at the start of the Covid circuit-breaker or Singapore style ‘lock-down’, and now, we had finally been given permission to distribute our gift packs to 3000 families living across Singapore.

We arrived at the locations assigned to me, and with my son A. we started to distribute the packs accordingly. The rental-block flats in our location at BUK were airy and not too unpleasant. The dense belukar (Malay word for ‘secondary forest’) that surrounds the neighbourhood precinct had given way to yet more housing precincts and roads. Away from the sculptured landscaping and empty benches strewn with ‘COVID-tapes’ prohibiting their use, we seek to encounter the inner belly and the quiet steps leading to our FINs’ front-door,s bearing gifts that may open a window to both our hearts, and theirs for a shared moment.

For was it not St Vincent de Paul who said, “ Love is Inventive, even onto Infinity”. How utterly profound! Our creativity, which has its roots in our Creator, lives and manifest itself forever through the medium of Love, from Whom we are created in the image of, that infinite well-spring.

All our FINs received their supplies gratefully.

Mdm S’s daughter received the gift pack quietly on her mother’s behalf. Ms A. was also grateful. She had not been working, and it’s not so easy to find work now.

M. declined the cookies etc – I had called earlier – she was still grieving the passing of her roommate J. She was not eating well. A fellow well-wisher had promised to change to a single bed for her. The queen-bed they shared was forlorn and bare. She expressed uncertainty for the future. The loss had been too abrupt. We offered God’s comfort. She accepted our generous cash assistance this month. She was disappointed we could not stay longer – there seemed much to unburden. We mentioned that we’ll visit her soon and help her with her dirty fan blades – they needed cleaning soon.

R. was grateful too. Her granddaughter starred shyly through the gate. She had been eagerly awaiting her regular carer D, R said.

We could not reach M. – his number had been given up to another user by the telco, and the flat looks strangely unlived for some time. No one was at home. No sign of his cat either.

W .was at the lift landing. He had torn aside the tape surrounding the bench. He was pleased to acknowledge our gift. We greet each other a couple of times as we wondered up and down the lifts.

T. was not at home and her father who was having a quiet smoke at home he put down his cigarette carefully and received the package quietly and with a bit of gravitas yet nonchalance.

Y. was at home. He moved awkwardly with a frame and from his bed – he had spent over 50 days in hospital after surgery. He asked us to leave our offerings near the door – he’d look at that later. The flat was dim. He looked like he may need more help soon.

G. and her husband were at home – she said her daughter was expecting their third grandchild soon – another son! They had wished for a granddaughter this time. Home was very cluttered – there were lots of things stacked up on the floor.

J. was having breakfast in his home. He too had been in hospital recently and was now on blood-thinner medicines. He winced, “very powerful”. He was pensive and reflective as usual. “What to do?” he asked. The Willing Hearts food package (charity that distributes food daily) hung outside his gate. It had been delivered in the morning. It laid there forlorned awaiting its reception. J asked after our well-being and I was grateful. We wished each other well.

A received her package gratefully. Her house was bright and things at home looks clean and tidy.

N’s family of 5 was still sound asleep at about 11 am – we must have woken them up. The curtains were drawn and mattresses strewn in the dark sitting-room floor had children strewn on them, stirring to the bright intrusion. She and her husband received the package gratefully.

C. received the package cheerfully. She is fond of giving tiny gifts and sure enough, disappeared into the kitchen and emerged with a chocolate bar which she promptly pushed to my son, A – our food gift for the day! She shook our hands through the open door, which we did not refused. Her hands felt moist . We decided to sanitize our hands before we visit the next flat.

Z. and her husband were about to set off but we intruded thankfully and we left the package before their day’s outing began

Mdm G’s male relative said she was not in – but she promptly emerged from the kitchen and thanks us for the package!

Mrs P’s and her son were at home. We chatted a bit and she was happy to be better after her recent fall. She still needs to take a cab to her medical treatment. We chatted about her grand-children. They are doing well and source of great comfort.

A. was not contactable except through his regular carer H. I delivered the package to H. We were happy to see each other – it’s been so long since the Church was open.

D. was not in as she had sustained some allergic reaction and was getting treatment. Her relative took our package graciously on her behalf.

C. was downstairs, and the father-in-law’s caregiver took the package on her behalf. Her father-in-law with advanced dementia was sitting on the living-room sofa wearing a mask – he was in for a few hours this weekend. She called me back a short while later when I was on the road, to talk about her conflicted emotions and challenges which her cheerful carers D. and G. had been good listeners all along. As a widow of 15 years, she had taken care of her father-in-law at her home. She understood him well. However she faced constant criticisms and medication restrictions from her sibling-in-laws. This had made titrating his medications and managing his condition difficult. The recent lock-down also meant that he could not go to day-care and this had worsened his behaviour at home. While the caregiver was paid for by the sibling-in-laws, she was new and unable to manage well. C’s health had been weak and she was at risk of another relapse. Her son finally grew tired of the constant adverse comments and after another physically dangerous incident, and he told his uncles and aunties to take care of his grandfather themselves. In anger they packed up all his belongings and left in a huff recently. This weekend, the son has asked for C. to look after the father for a few hours as his wife could not cope with the constant care and needed to see a doctor. The siblings are finally coming to terms with the burden faced by C. to care for their father all these years. But she was heartbroken that her mother-in-law has not forgiven her. We ended our call and promised to catch-up another time. Bless her soul. Love is indeed infinite.

E’s wife, J. received our package gratefully. She was sitting for lunch with her brother-in-law’s family while he is away for the next few months and will not get to see his new-born delivered. She was grateful for the prompt presence of the Conference. “Where do I sign, she said”? The family looked worried and solemn at the dining table. Through the bright open windows, we offered some cheerful greetings.

We ended our weekend of giving the same way it sharted, On a hint of hope and on a promise of an encounter with Infinity. And so it was – we received more than we gave.

Lumix G85, M Zuiko 75-300 mm June 2020