Sr. Ines A. Tan, FMM
A Filipino Missionary in Macau

Continuing her story. Read on:

Ten Meters from China
One day, I went to visit one new immigrant families from China. They are forty families who live in an improvised building, built out over the sea along the coast of Macau, ten meters away from China.

Cheapest House
It is one-floor building roofed with galvanized iron. It is divided into small rooms (3x 3 meters). Each room has a window located high up. Part of the roof can be pushed up to brighten the room. They have the common kitchen and toilet. This is the cheapest kind of house that those newly arrived from China can afford to rent.

Her Husband Objected
While I was walking along the dark pathway, a door opened. I saw a woman in her late 30’s. She smiled and welcomed me. She then closed the door to make sure that nobody could hear what she was going to say. It took time before she started to tell me that she was two months pregnant and was contemplating an abortion, even though she was some what afraid of it, and her husband seemed to be objecting to the idea, silently.

“One More is Too Much”
She further explained ( after a deep breath) that it was not because she did not want the child, but because their house was too small to accommodate them, the couple and the three children they already have; to have one more child would be too much.

Deep Respect
Having three children they are already financially hard up. In Macau, children at the ages of three have to go to school and parents pay the tuition fees. Besides, it the woman’s desire to help her husband earn and also she got bored when she spent the whole day in the dark room. If she had another baby, she would have to stay in the house to take care of the two small ones. I listened to this woman, Leong Gam Fung, with deep respect for her sincerity in searching for good decision. 

I Will Accompany You!
On my second visit to Leong Gam Fung, I brought pictures of the stages of development of a fetus and I informed her that it has life at the moment of conception. Then I asked her one question, “Can you afford to kill your own child?” She immediately said, “No!” She is not a Christian but believes in the Powerful Being who created sea, earth, and sky. In Chinese it is called “TIN” [Christians Translate GOD as “Tin Jyu” which means literally means God of Heaven, (sky)] the one who is created the earth, the sky and the sea plan your life. I’ll be your friend who will accompany you.” Finally, Leong Gam Fung decided to go ahead with the pregnancy.

A Red Envelop
One day, after some months, I went to the hospital to visit one FMM (Franciscan Missionary of Mary) Sister who had an operation. Before I left the room, she gave me a red envelop with 200 Patacas in it (US $25), and asked me to give it to the poor that I know.

A Baby Boy
Now, while going down the stairs, to my surprise, I met the husband of Leong Gam Fung and he smilingly told me that his wife had given birth to a baby boy. I immediately went and visit her.

Afraid of the Future
The moment Leong Gam Fung saw me, she cried, her whole body was shaking as she sobbed. I though she was in pain until she spoke and asked her husband to leave the room for a while because she would like to talk to me. She said, “Sister, I am afraid for the future of my child. We are very poor and we may not be able to bring him up”. Then she continued crying. Amazingly, every time she cried, the newly –born baby also cried; when she stopped, the baby also stopped. She also noticed the same thing, that a baby seemingly knows when he is welcome or not. Again, I said to her, “Let the God of Heaven plan your life. Here is already a sign that God cares for you, I have just receive this money to give to someone in need and I am giving it to you”.

Baby Welcome
When the baby was three months old, I help Leong Gam Fung look for a nursery. Normally, it is very difficult to find a place in nursery especially in crowded area where Leong Gam Fung lives. But the baby was made welcome, and as well as that, the second from the youngest was also accepted in the day- care nursery. The administration helped her to get social welfare aid for the fees and for milk and medicine for the two

Good Meals Day
Leong Gam Fung was very joyful and grateful because she was able to go to work. Since then, the family has been able to eat good meals everyday, and not as before when the husband was out of job. Furthermore, starting this school year, when the youngest one will begin his study, all the schools in Leong Gam Fung’s area will be fully subsidized by the government.
At present, Leong Gam Fung is a Volunteer Natural Family Planning (NFP) promoter; she gives lectures and informs her fellow factory workers about the (NFP). She joyfully gives what she has received.

Let God of Heaven, the one who created the earth, the sky and the sea, plan your life.

…the baby knows when he is welcome or not.