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Family<br />

Family<br />

WHAT IS NMM ABOUT?<br />

Wern Lu: It is a community<br />

of women, giving emotional<br />

support, sharing the joys<br />

and pains of motherhood<br />

and lending support in<br />

whatever way that is needed -<br />

emotionally, spiritually<br />

or even physically.<br />

WHO DO YOU LOOK<br />

OUT FOR, HOW DO<br />

YOU CONNECT WITH<br />

THEM?<br />

Jaime Solomon: Serving<br />

in NMM gives me many<br />

opportunities to connect with<br />

new mummies. Most of the<br />

new mummies are seated with<br />

their families at the ‘Stroller<br />

Section’ in the auditorium so<br />

a friendly smile and a simple<br />

introduction is not difficult.<br />

Because babies are just full of<br />

cuteness, so talking about them<br />

becomes a natural icebreaker.<br />

I also get to connect with the<br />

new mums and dads when<br />

serving at the ABC (Arrows<br />

and Bows Corner) counter<br />

over the weekend. It gives me<br />

the opportunity to meet old<br />

and new faces and remember<br />

parents’ and children’s names<br />

better and to do a bit of a<br />

follow-up with them. Our<br />

NMM activities like playdates<br />

and Family Day is also great<br />

ways to connect with young<br />

families - times when we are<br />

more relaxed and engaged in<br />

fun activities.<br />

WHAT DOES A<br />

COMMUNITY OF<br />

YOUNG MOTHERS DO<br />

TOGETHER? WHAT<br />

IS THE AGENDA OF<br />

A TYPICAL GET-<br />

TOGETHER?<br />

Anne Yeow: Sharing our<br />

good times and bad times, our<br />

experiences in bringing up our<br />

babies and children, just being<br />

our cheeky selves and being<br />

able to chat and connect. We<br />

also lend a listening ear, share,<br />

learn and pray for one another.<br />

Debbie Yeow: Many times<br />

new mummies face loneliness<br />

and difficulties in managing<br />

their new season of life. It is<br />

harder to connect with friends,<br />

sometimes even family, or to<br />

share and seek help in all new<br />

aspects of motherhood. These<br />

are often the major reasons<br />

why new mummies may<br />

struggle with depression and<br />

lack of self-worth.<br />

NMM provides a great<br />

platform for new friendships<br />

and great resources to help<br />

new mummies cope with<br />

motherhood. It is also a great<br />

ministry that shows care and<br />

understanding, and prays<br />

together. We also share tips<br />

on nursing as well as<br />

overcoming difficulties<br />

with postnatal syndromes.<br />

I personally feel that this<br />

ministry helps our church to<br />

come together in bringing up<br />

our next generation. After all,<br />

it is true that it takes a whole<br />

village to raise a child, what<br />

more an entire generation.<br />

I thank God and praise God<br />

for the wonderful opportunity<br />

to serve in the ABC ministry<br />

and the time spent with all<br />

these new mummies. It has<br />

been a wonderful experience<br />

for me and my family.<br />

Joyce Khong: We share<br />

our stories and experiences<br />

with one another. We laugh<br />

and we cry together. We learn<br />

from one another and are<br />

encouraged to know that we<br />

are not alone in this season<br />

of life that is super demanding.<br />

We pray with one another and<br />

connect with one another to<br />

exercise whatever gifts and<br />

talents God has given us to<br />

bless others.<br />

HOW HAS GOD MOVED<br />

IN THIS MINISTRY?<br />

HOW HAS SERVING<br />

YOUNG FAMILIES<br />

IMPACTED YOUR OWN<br />

FAMILY?<br />

Anne Patricia: Over the<br />

last year or so, we have seen<br />

young moms step up and serve<br />

because they have had similar<br />

struggles and understand<br />

these struggles are real. We<br />

see God move their hearts to<br />

serve other mums. We see our<br />

children having a natural love<br />

to serve and it has given us an<br />

opportunity to demonstrate to<br />

them that serving God is not<br />

just something we do but<br />

a way of our Christian life.<br />

Joyce Khong: God has<br />

shown me that when we are<br />

faithful in the little things,<br />

He will bless us with more.<br />

He has never failed to provide<br />

and show us that when we<br />

are willing to do His will,<br />

everything will work out for<br />

good.<br />

Serving in the Arrows and<br />

Bows Corner has changed my<br />

family routine for the better.<br />

Everyone is more cooperative<br />

and gets ready earlier in time<br />

for church vs always being<br />

late to church. I have the<br />

opportunity to serve with<br />

my 10-year-old daughter<br />

who always looks forward<br />

to being on duty. She feels<br />

important and is happy that<br />

she is contributing and using<br />

her talents. Everyone learns<br />

to be more patient too as they<br />

know that we can only leave<br />

after everything is locked up<br />

properly. So, my kids would<br />

have to endure their rumbling<br />

tummies until mummy is all<br />

done and ready to go for our<br />

meal.<br />

WHAT SPURS YOU ON?<br />

Jaime Solomon: The<br />

need is the call; this is what<br />

spurs me on. New mummies<br />

have many needs – needs for<br />

physical, emotional and/or<br />

spiritual support, or marriage<br />

and parenting advice. Having<br />

gone a little bit ahead of the<br />

new mummy stage, I believe<br />

that I can pass on some life<br />

experiences, be it failures<br />

or triumphs, to others just<br />

starting out on their journey.<br />

To me, having someone come<br />

alongside you through your<br />

journey is invaluable. Many<br />

times, strong friendships are<br />

forged and spiritual growth is<br />

fostered when there is honesty<br />

and vulnerability in<br />

a relationship. I am so blessed<br />

to be able to glean from others<br />

who have gone ahead of me for<br />

support and advice. Likewise,<br />

I strive to pass on life lessons<br />

to the younger generation<br />

Lyanne Sum: Three main<br />

things spur me on - God’s<br />

Word, my family and the<br />

people I meet. My young<br />

children have started being<br />

eager about serving at ABC<br />

and my husband has always<br />

been willing to support in<br />

every way. Sometimes, when<br />

things seem a bit dry and<br />

efforts seem futile, it is God’s<br />

Word that is able to bring<br />

life and to put things into<br />

perspective. His Word not<br />

only refreshes the soul but also<br />

challenges me in deciphering<br />

what His way is and what my<br />

own wants and desires are. The<br />

people I meet fill me with awe<br />

and amazement. They come<br />

from such different walks of<br />

life! The busiest of mummies<br />

somehow find time to help,<br />

whether personally or serving<br />

in the ministry. Even the<br />

daddies who are so involved<br />

in family life and the young<br />

adults who are brave enough<br />

to step into our world and<br />

share their lives with us.<br />

Joyce Khong: I want to be<br />

able to say the following when<br />

I return to be with Jesus :<br />

“I have fought the good fight,<br />

I have finished the race, I have<br />

kept the faith.” (2 Timothy<br />

4:7)<br />

Stay tuned for more<br />

exciting activities and<br />

events planned for 2018.<br />

Come join this dynamic<br />

community of young<br />

families.<br />

Find us at W2W@new<br />

mummies on Facebook<br />

and send us a request<br />

to join, or email us at<br />

w2wfornewmummies@<br />

gmail.com<br />

You can also get more<br />

information about us<br />

at the Arrows and Bows<br />

Corner in the Mother<br />

Infants Room during<br />

weekend celebrations.<br />

29<br />

Design.3.indd 28-29<br />

03/02/2018 12:53 PM

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