Instructors' Voices
Thoughts from Teaching Singalong during the Pandemic
Bernard Ho - Sing Along Class
You can say that the year 2020 is the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no more group gatherings after mid-March. Singalong activities could not be held. All the activities had to be done online. After several trials, we figured out that we can still share music videos online and can sing along with them at the same time. We are now able to continue teaching the singing class and many of our participants are excited about this.
I found a new job in August; the work hours do not conflict with any of my singing class. All the students prayed for my new job and gave me masks to use. I hope the pandemic will be over soon, so that we can return to the classroom to meet everyone in person.
Weaving and Weaving
Grace Wong – Knitting Club
Since the snowstorm on February 27 this year, followed by the COVID-19 global pandemic, the weekly meetings of the Knitting Club at the church had ceased. With the weekly contact and occasional sharing of photos of completed works via emails, we continued the fun of knitting. But a few months later, we began to consider whether we could try to use Zoom to increase interaction with our members. I am very grateful to the church for providing the software. With the assistance of many people from Community Services, the Knitting Club started a bi-weekly online gathering in late July. I still remember the excitement when over 30 of us met at the first Zoom meeting after not seeing each other for a few months.
Using the network technology, we can use needles and yarn to demonstrate. We can even ask and answer questions immediately. However, we still prefer physical gatherings, where we can touch the yarn with our hands, try on the finished projects, and chat with each other. I look forward to a day when everything will return to normal. I really don’t want to see online gatherings and learning become the new normal!
Back to School!
Karen Wong – ESL Class
The long stay at home is over, and the kids are back to school. It should be a happy and exciting moment for the kids and parents. However, it is different this year because of COVID-19. Parents and teachers are concerned and have no confidence that the kids will be safe.
Even though our government has tried its best within its budgets and abilities to make the schools as safe as possible, can we really fight a successful battle based on our own wisdom and strength?
A story from the Bible came vividly to my mind. Jesus’s disciples were in a boat when they were surprised by a big storm. They tried everything they could to keep the water out of the boat, but they failed. They finally woke up Jesus only when they thought the boat was going to sink and they all would die. They forgot who Jesus was! Jesus calmed the storm. Yes, He could, and He did!
We need to have faith in Jesus. Let us all pray and reach out to God.
Let GO and let GOD！
What has happened during this Pandemic?
Flora Lee – ESL Class Teacher
It was on a normal Wednesday afternoon when I was preparing my material for teaching ESL. A few hours later I received an email from the Community Service Committee that all CS activities would be suspended due to COVID-19, until further notice. Our church was following the Government’s regulations and such action was deemed necessary. I felt a bit lost because there was no opportunity for me to say farewell to the students and to each other.
For the next few months, we kept contact with our students and showed our care and love for them. Praise the Lord, Jesus knows our needs. ESL has reopened three classes in August and September, and students were enthusiastic to learn how to use Zoom to attend classes. Some involved their sons and daughters to help them. During class, they all showed eagerness for it was something new to them. There is nothing that can stop God’s plan to bring us together, no matter what situation we are in. This pandemic will be defeated and when it is over, we will meet again.