Abi

Years ago, Abi was hit by a bus and her left leg was badly injured. Though she now has limited mobility, she can still take care of herself. She spends most of her time watching television or listening to the radio. Sunday is probably the happiest day of her week — the church across the street sends someone to wheel her to worship.

Every day Abi goes downstairs for a walk — really just from one building to the next, less than thirty meters. Once, when she had a fever and went to see a doctor, the taxi driver on the way home was rude to her, and she never dared take a taxi again — she insisted on walking the two hours home from the hospital instead. She said, "I kept telling Jesus my leg hurt so much, and asked Him to take away the pain so I could keep walking home."

I asked Abi if she ever felt lonely. She has resigned herself to her situation: "What good would it do to feel lonely?" Honestly, I admire her resilience and perseverance.

She used to tell the tragedies of her life over and over — why was her fate so bitter? Why did the bus have to run over her foot? She still mentions these things now, but not with the same pain as before. She says, "I just follow Jesus — wherever He leads, I go."

According to official statistics, Taipei City has 4,700 elderly people living alone; the real number is likely higher. We pray that more churches and organizations would be willing to serve these elderly neighbors who are sick, have limited mobility, are poor, and are lonely.