Friendship House

A group of close friends and I have started a Friendship house, a semi-D house which we are renting from a couple in the group at a very rate. The aim of the house is to provide housing and food for patients and their relatives at Sarawak General Hospital who are from other towns or cities in Borneo. Many of them are cancer patients who need very long-term treatment, often months at a time. The hospital is going through renovations presently causing the wards to be very cramped, both male and female patients share what used to be the male ward. Those who have spent time in the Friendship House are very appreciative of the provision of this place where they can have proper sleep, wash and hang their laundry properly, cook their meals and watch television when they are free.

We just started this project last month and we are still learning how to run this place well. The hard work of cleaning the place and furnishing it is done. We are trying to work out a system to make sure there is enough food for the occupants to cook with. Some stay for a few days, some for a much longer period of time. At one time, all four rooms were full and food was running out fast. Food will probably be the major expense in running this place. Most of those who come to stay here do not have the means to buy their own food. In the hospital, if there is remainder food after giving out to the patients, the parents who are looking after their sick children will receive a share as requested by their doctors. If there are no left-overs, they have to share their children's food or go hungry. In the past, when they run out of money completely, after a long stay, they asked for discharge from the hospital, to go home, even though the treatment is not yet completed. Hopefully, with this place to go to, the cancer patients can receive the full treatment and stand a better chance for a cure. May God bless this project in such a way that many will know of His love and goodness through what they receive in this Friendship House.