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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 />
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03/02/2018 12:53 PM