Go and Do Likewise

Hannah Ramsamy Xavier, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hannah is a faithful sister living in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, and is part of the Central Christian Church of Malaysia there. She was part of the original mission team to Ipoh, another city in Malaysia, in 2011. A mother, wife, daughter and entrepreneur, Hannah does not let the busyness of life stop her from serving. We interviewed her to find out more about her life and motivation to serve. 

Hi Hannah! Before we start, perhaps you could tell us a little more about yourself.

H: I come from a small family; it’s just me and my mom. I lost my brother 19 years ago so it’s just me and mom. But I’m grateful, I’m married with two kids, aged 8 and 2 and a half. My husband is from India, the Delhi Church of Christ, and we got married 9 years ago. I’m an entrepreneur and I run my own training company. This is my 20^th year as a disciple; I was baptised in 2001.

We heard that you adopted a project to serve your community recently. Could you tell us more about it?

H: This actually started as a response to my many friends in India who were struggling because of the pandemic. Every day, I would get an influx of messages about their challenges, such as not having enough money to get an oxygen tank, and I was moved. I wanted to do something to support them. I couldn’t support them physically, but I decided that the least I could do was to raise funds for them. So, I started a fundraiser and raised about RM8000 to send over. God gave me small opportunities like this to help.

After this, whenever I went out, I started paying more attention to the people around me, asking them if they were okay, if they needed help. We live in a neighbourhood with low- and middle-income families that were hit severely during the pandemic. Many of them were not able to make ends meet because they could not go out and work. These were people close to us, our neighbours, members of our community. I spoke to my husband about it and while our business was also severely affected by the pandemic, God still sustained us. However, not everyone was as fortunate.

Then, a sister in my group told me that her sister wanted to sponsor groceries for about 40 families. You know how sometimes you want to do great things but don’t have the resources? Someone else might, and when you work together with them, you can make great things happen. So, I got my whole family together, my mom, my kids and we all packed the groceries together. It was a beautiful process, being able to educate them and show them that we can do a little bit to put a smile on someone else’s face, put a meal on their tables. We have reached more than 40 families as well! My husband decided that whenever we came across a needy family, we should continue to give in this way, so we are still doing this daily. 

That’s really inspiring, thank you for sharing that! I love how you got your whole family involved; that’s really important in helping them build their own convictions on serving as well. You had the heart to serve so God gave you an avenue and resources.   

What’s been the impact of this project?

H: Sometimes it makes me want to cry. From young children to elderly people, their faces when they receive the groceries really moved me. Personally, it’s been very sobering to be able to help those in need and uplift families. While it’s not a lot in the long-run considering some of these families have 7-8 members, being able to lift that burden in that moment, is enough.

Definitely. Every little bit counts, and in that moment, I’m sure you gave them hope.

Tell me a little more about why you joined the Ipoh mission team back in 2011?

H: I really wanted to be like Paul, to feel what it’s like to give up everything and live for God. I grew up in an orphanage and I’ve always been on the receiving end of giving. People gave us gifts, they visited us and tried to make us happy. That same spirit of giving has always been in me as a result.

 And I hear that while you are no longer in Ipoh, you and your husband still find ways to support the mission team there. Could you tell me more about that?

H: Before the pandemic, we would try and visit the church there, my husband would preach and we would help out with the Kids Kingdom. When going on vacations, we choose to visit Ipoh so we can be with the disciples there and encourage them. Yet beyond being physically present, we have tried to continue being a part of their lives, especially for those in the Indian community. Being minorities, they sometimes just need to know that there are other Indian disciples. We try to be there for them and strengthen them. If they come over to Kuala Lumpur, we would host them and have them stay at our place.

You really have such a big heart for the disciples there! It’s really inspiring. Hannah, you seem like someone with so much to do, and yet you find time to give to those around you. If someone is thinking of serving more, but is busy with work and family, what advice would you give them?

H: When you’re married with kids, your plate can be so full, and it’s easy to become inward-focused. The fact is, we will always be busy. There is no perfect time to give. We have to just make the decision to give and make it a part of your life. I decided that whenever and wherever I am, if I see a need, I will give, because I know the joy that comes from giving, being able to make someone feel loved, validated, taken care of.  

I love that it’s become a part of your lifestyle! I have to ask, have you ever gotten tired of giving?

H: Sometimes life just crushes you and you can’t think of anyone else. I have two kids with severe eczema, and sometimes they have sleepless nights and that takes a lot from me. There’s a lot of frustration and it becomes all about me in those moments. Yet what helps me is being real and vulnerable with my group of friends and allowing them to give to me emotionally. Of course, running to God always helps in those moments as well, to get me back on track.

Thank you so much Hannah for inspiring me with your wisdom and heart!