Compassion Walk... heard of it? No..? Well, neither did I, till the adviser of the Klang District Youth Council (KDYC) was approached. It was first started last year and was the baby idea of the Archdiocesen Single Adults and Youths (ASAYO) guided by Fr. Michael Raymond. The main objective - to Be Different from the rest. It was held at Church of St. Anthony, KL and the mission - located at Bintang Walk and it was dubbed the Hug Me campaign. All those who participated wore shirts bearing words such as "If I had Aids, would you Hug Me?" and similar to most that the normal homosapien with logical thinking skills would ostracize and shut out like lepers. At that time the participants' rate was at a controlled number of 200++.
2012, Compassion Walk - joint effort of both KDYC and ASAYO with the guiding hands of Frs. Lawrence Andrew and Michael Raymond - was held on 10th March at the Church of St. Anne, Port Klang, and the number of participants.. 741! The theme was in line with the lenten theme which was Listen to that voice and it was printed on t-shirts with our role-model, Mother Mary as she was the first person to humbly bow down and listen and thanks to her listening, we had Jesus. Prior to the day itself, ASAYO made an effort to conduct a formation for all facilitators from the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese. It was done in order to prepare them and allow them to experience what was to happen in the following week. They were nurtured on how to conduct group sharings using the 7-steps and later on were led onto the streets of Port Klang. Most of those who attended this formation were touched by a testimony related by Fr. Lawrence. It talked of how a couple, who on an errand, and the wife noticed an elderly woman walking naked on the streets. When she meant naked, she meant that the elderly was walking without a single thread on her. People who saw this elderly, began to ridicule her and this wife feeling for this elderly and with one glance realized that the elderly was not in the right state of mind. Quickly she called in for help from the police and kept in touch with them to keep to date on the elderly's situation but alas, she found out that the hospital had discharged as they couldn't keep her in for long. The woman was overwhelmed with emotions that she eventually related this to Father himself. Father then questioned all who present with a single sentence that made us ponder our actions - Jesus asked, "Where were you when I was naked on the streets? What did you do for me?"
Similarly, on the day itself, the facilitators conducted the similar methods but were broken of into three different areas - the main town which was not far from the Church itself; the housing area around the Church; and, the flats opposite the nearby railway station. Many had a variety of experience, particularly myself. Who was I? I was a facilitator too, and my group was sent to the flats. Initially, I wasn't confident with myself leading a group but there was this constant nagging at the back of my mind saying, "If not now, when will you ever?" My experience? I have met a variety of characters but personally, have not come across an elderly, who was not only a non-Christian but an old lonely Muslim woman, who could not stop praising God for landing at her door-step a few simple youths who wanted nothing to do but to drop a 'hello' and talk to her. You see, she had been living alone for quite some time but nobody had ever bother to come visit her on a whim. So when a couple of youths from the Church, especially from THE Church comes knocking at her doorstep, it is a blessing or in her words, "Rezeki dari Allah" and continually thanking God, she stepped forward and hugged us all and gave us her well-wishes and blessings. This reminded me of once an old reminder from my parents wherein, when you and I receive a gratitude blessing from an elder, it is the most sincere of sincerer. And I will constantly remind myself to be good to all those around me, no matter good or bad, young or old, stupid or wise, pretty or ugly cause in God's eyes we are equal.
Alas, all went back to the Church for Way of the Cross and for testimonies. But I ain't gonna talk bout testimonies instead I will just say... Compassion Walk is not your usual Life in the Spirit Seminar or Youth Rally where it is a one-off event, Compassion Walk is an experience and as ASAYO themes it - Be Different, Listen to that Voice.
