- Two boards outside volunteer room had been decorated with new photos through a series of our past outings/celebrations.

- Thanks to XinXin for initiating and printing out those photos, and Willit, Raymond and Susan for the colourful decorations.

ESN Overseas (Chiang Mai) Volunteering Expedition Banner

- Banner was successfully completed within 1 hr 46 min 23 sec.

- Managed to engage 3 elderlys to participate in the painting.

Outing to Sentosa Maritime Museum on 21 Apr 2012

- Briefing was conducted by our organisers (Uncle Sam + Uncle Song)

- Reporting time to Moral Home: 1200H

- Attire: Moral Angels T-Shirt / Any Yellow Top

First stop, BEDOK NTUC FAIRPRICE SUPERMARKET!

The advance party enthusiastically scrambled for some snacks and drinks. “不可以跟女人一起走supermarket的!” Despite the intolerable noise level that Nickson had made, we managed to accomplish our shopping mission without being chased away by the security guards there. Thank GOD!  Nonetheless, the F&B girls were really responsible in ensuring all items are prepared.

The pre-retreat activity didn’t just stop there. Upon reaching the chalet, while I was finalising the slides and preparing materials for the next day, Golden Bear continued to work on his wonderful video at super wee hours. Willit showcased her hidden talent with posters design while Jojo, Shu Hua, Nickson, Jennifer and Alex lent their help in all sorts of preparation.

How about Ah Chuan? As usual, he went around cracking his ‘GAY’ jokes and finally, he gave up and decided to read his story book. LOL! How about Ah Guan? Also, as usual, be a 24/7 workaholic, even in the toilet. Muahahahaha!

RISE AND SHINE!!! Welcome the unexpected early arrival of the registration girls, Ah Yen & Ah Xian…with our sumptuous breakfasts in their hands. Guess I had delegated the right tasks to the right angels. Efficient and responsible. Hohoho!! Soon after, a simple but heart-warming registration booth was set up to welcome the rest of the angels.

While waiting for other angels’ arrival, Andrea appeared out of nowhere! With more people, our balloons decorations and cute signage were up within an hour!

It was worrying to see no one else reaching when the time is up. 1pm…130pm…230pm… Beads of perspiration started to drip down my back and armpit, and the attendance was far from what I expected. We are at least 1.5 hrs behind time (which means that we might need to eliminate some programme!) Even Jennifer (F&B IC) and Nickson went missing suddenly and failed to come back on time. Tsktsk!

Disappointed initially, but not any more when Gary and Jasmine turned up at the doorsteps. Slowly, Uncle Song arrived with his new video camera like some paparazzi. Forever ‘lost’ S.T.E.L.L.A and Xin Xin who have spent 2 hours circling around Changi Bungalows also arrived shortly after. Followed by Ping Sing, Desment and their cute little baby girl ‘Yu Ai’, and much noises and laughters started to overwhelm the place.

Without any further delay, the retreat commenced with adequate angels in the house. Following my opening speech, we welcomed our new volunteers in joining the Moral Angels Family – Xin Xin, S.T.E.L.L.A and Jasmine. Jing Yi and Rachael were unavailable. Nonetheless, we would like to welcome them aboard too!

The retreat kicked off with an energetic and fun-fulfiling ice-breaking game called ‘2 Truths and 1 Lie’. I am glad that EVERYBODY participated actively and enjoyed themselves throughout the entire game. KUDOS to GAMES IC (Andrea & Alex) for conducting the game. Now we know each others’ little secrets.. some clean.. and some ‘not so’ clean.. Whahahahaha!

This year, I had invited 2 of the most experienced volunteers, Uncle Yeo and Uncle James, to give an inspirational speech for the angels. It was a fruitful talk and served as an encouragement and motivation for us through their real-life anecdotes and enriching experiences as a volunteer!

Throughout my presentation, I was bombarded with outrages comments on the photos used on my slides despite having to explain that it was unintentional but coincidence. Most importantly is that important messages are brought across to the angels such as reiterating of our Angels’ Mission – To bring joy, laughter and happiness to the elderly in Moral Home.

Even though Golden Bear was seen to be doing some last minute editing even on the actual day, the video was of great quality and the product was a great success in bringing much enjoyment to the viewers with weird lion dances and funny bloopers. It is just soooooo him! Tak boleh tahan! Anyway, he had brought us through the series of happening events and fond memories that were worth reminiscing. Despite his hectic work schedule, Golden Bear remained focus and responsible for his video. HUAT AHHHHHH!!

Looking forward, we have our new committee 2012 with new appointments created, such as Chief Eating Officer (CEO), Volunteer Mentor, Emeritus Senior Volunteer and Spokesperson for Moral Home. Due to positive response and feedback received, we decided to carry on with Activity-Based Programme, which was implemented last year by our previous VL, Ms Jojo!!! Deepavali is also incorporated as part of our annual event.

Unfortunately, due to time constraint, we decided to call off the Teambuilding Activities (Sorry Alex!) but FORTUNATELY, the threatening dark clouds hovering above us went off immediately after the group discussions. HUAT AHHHHHH!! BBQ proceeded smoothly thereafter.

This year’s retreat was a great success, filled with loads of fun, laughter and joy. Our friendships which we have fostered over many years will continue to forge stronger bonds as one knitted family. Your presence, your contribution, your dedication and your participation had made this retreat possible. I look forward to work with every Moral Angels with many opportunities to learn from.

IN LINE WITH OUR MISSION, let us work together to bring greater joy, laughter and happiness to the elderlys in Moral Home. HUAT AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Moral Home funpack song, "Majulah lalala... 爱拼才会赢..."

BOOM!! AHHH!!! BOOM BOOM BOOM!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Balloon sculptor master, Chin Soon, showing what he knows best

What’s going on in the room at Moral Home at such early hours of 11am?! What’s the din about? These are the sounds of courageous and curious angels learning and doing balloon sculpturing. With every burst of a balloon, came a series of high pitch ahh-ing.. heehee… but after a few rounds of BOOM-AHHH session, the balloons pillars were up and ready!

The pillars of strength

Of course must give some noise credit to Poh Yan who constantly captured exciting and beautiful moments of angels in actions.

Our dedicated and selfless photographer, Poh Yan, doing instant prints for the elderlys

How can we have such a magnificent Stage design without Chin Soon? And………how can he do it alone? With Wilit, Chin Ling, Kiat, Quan, Babi, Susan, Yen, jinxiong’s miracle hands and Chin Soon’s magical touch…all the rubber tubes came alive!!! WOW!!!

Trust fall

Moral Home's one-day-of-fame

“Cheng-tng hot or cold?” “chicken rice!” “Hokkien mee!”

Lunch time was here and uncle song and kiat just couldn’t bear let the angels’ stomach go growling non stop and off they went on a mission to fill up everybody’s stomach!

Angels having quick lunch before program

Soon enough…everyone’s taken their lunch and the drum rolling of programme became faster and faster…. Xin Xin and Jingyi were already scurrying around for the auction items, making sure and double-comfirming everything is in place so that things will run smoothly..how fast learner they are isn’t it… from newcomers to a now…experienced and confident pair..good job!

Gift models for the day, Xin Xin and Jingyi

Then the MOST important people came… who are they? The singers of the ge-tai of course!! VGC gang lead by Andrea and Honey came, Sk..whose homeland is the yellow soil high hill…JinXiong who chi dao, Susan whose flowers happen to be on the roadside, Stuart who came with a big big wind and Uncle Loi who came asking the sky and Jojo (hat queen) started to stroll in…

The all-or-nothing performers

VGC members entertaining the crowd

More and more angels wings spreading….one by one flew in with grace…. like Stella who is our new volunteer but has already blended in with us so well…nickson the big boss advertisement man…

Jennifer who brought along two bubbly young angels along… Kacy and Chelsea…with the trio around..the volume of laughter escalated!

Birthday songs were sang for Singapore as well as to elderly, volunteers’ august birthday! Soon the yummy National Day cake and ‘Shou tao’ were served by our delicate food handlers.. Rico, Doris, Yen, Babi, Chin Soon, Stuart, Nickson and many more angels who helped to distribute…

Birthday girls

Volunteers helping to serve the treats

With the help of each and every angel’s dust… the dinning area of moral home brightens up! The event was then ready to be kickstarted!! Sam and James were the emcees and they are definitely professionals! The normally noisy atmosphere became noisier and everybody got a taste of real auctioning! One by one items are being auctioned out and finally the highlight came when ge-tai started… all singers put in their best to impress and sure enough…all are over-qualified to be singapre idols!! we even have a world class pianist..kiat! who mesmerize everyone with his talent in piano!!! “Chen Ping Jie” also came to grace our event and the songs she put up for the elderly….can indeed be felt by our hearts and needless to say the elderly…

Forever young Uncle Sam

The effervescent Uncle James

“Xuan wo, xuan wo!! 15!! 18!! 20!! Huat ahhhh” With all their might, people like Honey, Mona, and many more hardcore volunteers like Rico who took special leave to shout their hearts out just so that our dear elderly get a prize!! How can we do without these volunteers? =)

"I only have $10, but heck... three-zero!"

"choose us!"

All good things must come to an end…but that day had another beginning!! we were treated a yummilicious buffet dinner by moral home management! All volunteers and nurses and staffs had a good treat and bonding and re-bonding time!

A treat from the staff for everyone

Three cheers and three cheers and three cheers to Moral Angels!! Hip Hip Hoooray!!!!!!!!!

Josephine

And so there was a downpour that almost threatened to change plans, but it did not last for long! By the time we got the volunteers registered, paired them to their respective elderlys, and did the briefing for they day’s itinerary and wheelchair handling, the sky was all ready for us to set off!

You never really know how much the senior volunteers (in terms of experience) does until the day you work with them. The things they do without claiming credit, helping in every way they can, providing not only mental but physical strength as well. All these for nothing in return but only a comforting smile on the elderly’s face.

Upon arrival at RWS, we had to walk quite a distance from the bus bay to the building. Fortunately there were many traffic wardens to hold the traffic while we wheel the elderlys. When we were helping the elderlys to alight the bus, there was this ah ma who was waiting for her turn to get off, she spotted another elderly on her wheelchair. Immediately she told us (many of us) that was hers and she can’t share the wheelchair because she has sensitive skin.

Ah ma: 喂！那个是我的轮椅！(hey! That’s my wheelchair!)
Volunteer: 我知道，我们只是要借用一下然后推回来。。(I know, we just need for awhile, after that we will return you)
Ah ma: 没有，那个是人家送给我的， 我有皮肤敏感不可以给别人坐。(no, that is a gift from someone, and I have sensitive skin, so I can’t let anyone else on it)

Tried to pacify her, but she repeated the same thing about her sensitive skin in a very shrilling and high pitch voice. I almost died laughing.

Then it was off for some light snack (min jiang kueh) and drinks before photoshoot. Oh yes, moral home has some world reknown photographers and videographers that never fail to produce award winning/stunning pictures of the volunteers and elderlys. After which they were dispersed for free and easy roaming before heading back to Moral Home.

It was a beautiful and breezy Saturday, all the elderlys were happy and so were the volunteers. On top of that, the sky blessed us with excellent weather throughout the day, and was paid with utmost gratitude with the infamous ‘我问天’ on the journey back to Moral Home; kudos to Gary.

Special thanks to comm. Members:
Chin ling/Jennifer/ping sing for rallying volunteers and grouping them.
Shu hua/yen/ah xian/susan for the food and drinks.
Stuart/sk/xing jian for the photo and videography.
Desmond/uncle song/poh yan for transport.
Adeline/nickson/gary for being the group i/c.
Gary/jojo/susan for providing entertainment during the journey back and forth.

And of course the other volunteers (whom I do not know by name) who has helped out during the event. Thanks a lot!

In Moral Home, we terrorize the elderly’s with our horrible singing, feed them stuff that looks unappetizing, bring them to places where other homes will never bring them, and make them do things against their will. So, DON’T VOLUNTEER AT MORAL HOME.

Love
Andrea

More photos here

It was a pretty threatening weather when I first reached the home as dark clouds were all over the sky. But guess what, the weather turned out to be otherwise and the wonderful weather had definitely contributed to the cheerful spirit of the volunteers and the elderly!! (: Ti Kong Bor Bi (天空保佑）… I’m sure other angels had also helped to pray that it wouldn’t rain… (:

I thought I was the most enthusiastic angel to first reach the home, but there were even more passionate angels who had arrived even earlier than me. They are none other than Christina, Jasmine, Susan, Jennifer and Mr Mok, busy preparing for the stage decoration with many heart-shaped, Swensen’s Happy Mother’s Day balloons all over the table in the room and preparing for the event. HAHA! Anyway, the stage was really beautiful. AWESOME!

Oh no! It was 1pm already but everything was not prepared and the event was supposed to start at 1.30pm. No decoration, no PA system being set-up, songs were not ready. Worst still, I forgot to bring the wire that was needed to play the national songs through my laptop! BUT luckily, thanks to my quick-witted mind (Whahahahahaha), I managed to find a wire and immediately, the lovely national songs were played and the ‘feel’ for national day started to build up. Soon after, Nickson and friends had arrived, and some other ad-hoc volunteers came as well. We were really grateful for their help to get all the games being set-up quickly. 谢谢大家的帮忙！

We invited a very special guest for the event, and he was the most adorable character of the day and that was WINNIE-THE-POOH!! THANK YOU BROTHER SAM FOR SACRIFICING YOURSELF AND GOT DRENCHED BY YOUR OWN PERSPIRATION INSIDE THE CUTE AND CHARMING ‘NAKED’ WINNIE-THE-POOH MASCOT! Bro Sam was trapped inside the mascot for about 2 hours, posing on the stage and taking pictures with the elderly. But don’t worry brother Sam, every drop of water coming out from your body was definitely worth it for you had brought us and the elderly with many laughter and smiles… Your determination is indeed laudable!! (:

Of course, not forgetting Poh Yan and Xing Jian, who had brought all their heavy equipments needed for the photoshoot and took many wonderful photos for the elderlys to keep as memento. The booth was so popular that many elderly wanted to go up stage to take photo with the pooh bear! Business was so good such that the price of a photo dropped from $1 to $0… Hahahaha!! It’s free and it’s instant printing for the elderly. Good job to our efficient PPT (Professional Photography Team) and thank you Desmond for lending us your muscles in pushing the elderly up the stage.

Thanks to our beloved SK, Nickson and Ah kiat =p (The Games Committee), for coming out with 5 FUN, INTERACTIVE, WONDERFUL, EXHILARATING games for the elderly… see.. I wasn’t kidding in the email… and of course, the most popular game is still the betting game (BIG SMALL – 大小)… Ah Mas and Ah Gongs just simply love this game, crowding around the table, refusing to leave for other games. Besides, Ping Sing did a great job in making the ambience lively by shouting and being super enthusiastic. She made Ah Gong Ah Ma really excited while playing those games. FAST EYE seems to be the easiest game of all. Although HAMTAM BOLA, HOOK ON FISH and SHOOT ME DOWN are more challenging, I believed Nickson had helped them to win LOTS OF COUPONS for them to buy many things at the MAMA SHOP… Haha! Oh yea, the artistic and lovely posters were drawn by the games committee and Jasmine (who spent 3 hrs drawing out the poster)

After playing a few games and winning some coupons, our Ah Mas and Ah Gongs were getting tired and guess where they were heading to? It was the CHEAPEST MAMA SHOP you could ever find in the world – which was manned by our dear Shu Hua and Eisa! Many elderlys were surrounding the MAMA SHOP CORNER, some buying shirts for $4, some buying drinks and snacks for only $1… and other basic necessities as well at a really low price. Ah Gong Ah Ma really 赚到了！Thanks Uncle Song and Uncle Sam for purchasing the stuffs for the elderlys, and thanks for the help from the MAMAs at the shop… =p

After shopping, Ah Gong Ah Ma must be really really hungry! But don’t worry… We also have the CHEAPEST FOOD FAIR just outside the kitchen! A set of snacks for just only $1… Can you believe it? And it has Chwee kueh, siew mai, together with a cup of soya bean milk! Thanks to the food committee for preparing the food (Ah Yen, Susan and Jennifer), with the help from Joy and Alex in distributing the food! The elderlys had commented that the food was really delicious!! 好吃!

Last but not least, we ended the celebration with a medley of national songs and thanks to many volunteers who sang their heart out on stage with the lyrics and being so patriotic for that half an hour! Oops =X To sum it up, it was an extremely enjoyable and fun-fulfilling event for both the volunteers and the elderly. Most importantly, we have met our objective, which is to experience great fun and bringing smiles to our Ah Gong Ah Ma. It was a great success with the help from all the volunteers, in a way or another. Thank you everyone for your valuable contribution to this event.

Anyway, Hui Quan was the one who got the mascot and poor Ah kiat had to return it back on his behalf! =X

Cheers,
Ah kiat
Co-Co-Cordinator

Dearest Brother Sam,

After planning so hard for weeks with brother Song, we are very glad and delighted to let you know that both your effort didn’t go to waste!!! It was a very blessed and relaxing outing with our ah kongs and ah mas! Thank you!!!

On this beautiful 5th of June Saturday, the Snacks Gang (Song, Susan, Shuhua, Yen & Gary) all met up before noon to go collect the yummy yamy-pumpkiny cake for the elderly and volunteers. Having the wonderful ladies there, the snacks were all nicely and ‘cleanly’ (hopefully ;p) packed for the outing!! At the same time, some angels and helpers started to stroll in…hey!

Where’s the registration counter? There!! Jojo and Kiat were carefully doing the not-at-all-easy registration job. While some volunteers were registering and waiting patiently for the outing, we’ve Mr Mok practicing his guitar skills in the room and the ‘Nick & Kiap Logistics Company’ making sure all items are checked for the outing!

Now ah kongs ah mas were ready, bus was here, where were the volunteers? Oh…they were having a serious program & safety briefing and wheelchair handling ‘course’ by VL Xiongxiong and nurse Kiapkiap. Ok, let’s go Hortpark now!

During our journey, as usual, our entertainers Mok Susan & Jojo never failed us by singing their organs out (especially lungs & HEARTS)! In addition, some ‘not-so-clear’ city tour info was provided by Jojo! hehe So, how’s over at the HWA bus Uncle Song?

We reached Hortpark after a nice short 20-30mins bus ride. The elderly were happily settling at the shelter area and all lined up to take nice group photos with the volunteers and most importantly, with the beautifully done-up banner. Then they had their snacks, drinks and little rest before a nice stroll down the park! Wow! They truly enjoyed the flowers and the scenery there!

Happy moments always passed by rapidly and it’s time for home sweet Moral Home…
With the extremely nice weather given and the actively participative volunteers, it was indeed a very blissful successful outing. A BIG thank you to all volunteers, especially to Uncle Song & Bro Sam!

More photos at http://moralangels.com/gallery/photo/2010-Hort-Park/

Smile always,
R