Living a Wholesome Life – from Missions to Fitness
by Sharon Poon, edited by Kylie Chia, translated by David Wang
I was called to Senegal for missions, a French-speaking nation in Africa, as I studied 2 years in a missionary training college. I obeyed since God assured me that He would provide for me where I was going.
And so from 1989-1997, I learned to live alone and be independent but to also work in tandem with those who were posted there, sharing the gospel to the locals. It trained me to be resilient because the environment was dry and parched; we travelled via horse and cart to get to the market, and I lived in a small house made of bricks with a zinc roof. Nonetheless I was contented with simple living.
WEC found a school for missionary kids and I had the opportunity to teach about the Chinese culture and language there. My main ministry was with the ladies of the church and in the community teaching literacy and Bible Study.
In 1997 when I came back to Singapore, I felt broken and bruised. I was given a chance to recover and heal, before I was called to another country. I took a year to study in Singapore Bible College and also trained as an English teacher this time. With the opportunity to outreach in Vietnam, I lived there from 2001 to 2007, teaching English, helping underprivileged children and conducting student exchange trips by bringing them to Singapore to learn our culture.
There is no greater joy than seeing God continue to give growth to that which was sown often in tears, loneliness, hard work and on our knees.
My father was getting on in years and so I had to return to be his caregiver. I sensed God had brought me back to also help my father along in his spiritual journey, and ultimately usher him into God’s glory. It was an arduous 4-year period. The day after he went home, I felt heartbroken but at the same time there was a sense of God’s pleasure, and it was healing for me.
I continued serving in the WEC Singapore home base the whole time, caring for the welfare of missionaries and training new ones for the mission field. I was also part of the missions committee in my Covenant Presbyterian Church, where we hosted English classes for seniors as a means of outreach to our neighbours. Up until it was time for my retirement in 2015.
Retirement felt strange because it meant I would no longer have a secure income from church or donors. I had some discussions with God about this. Eventually I was directed towards attaining an NCSF Personal Trainer certification so I could learn to stay fit and help other seniors in their own health journey. I also completed a SportSG fitness instructor course to become a part time instructor with them.
Thus began the next phase of my life. I now work three days a week in the ActiveSG gyms. For seniors, 150 mins of exercise weekly with two days of strength training (or working out in the gym) is essential because those over 60 will lose 30% of their muscle mass. The body is God’s temple so I believe I need to keep it strong; even if we don’t do it for ourselves, let’s do it for God.
WICAS (Women in Church and Society) is an LCS Sisters’ Fellowship arm. It aims to help women in the Lutheran church grow in faith, be active in service and be passionate in mission. It organised “Living a Wholesome Life” on 12 August 2023, presented by and with some exercises demonstrated by Sharon Poon.
Neck stretches while in an upright posture. 保持直立姿势时颈部伸展。
Arm and waist stretch, which can be done seated or standing. 手臂和腰部伸展，可以坐着或站着进行。
Hamstring stretch, seated or standing. 腿筋拉伸，坐着或站着。
Seated knee raises to work hip flexors, and calf raises where the toes remain on the floor to work the calves. 坐姿提膝以锻炼髋屈肌，小腿抬高则脚趾保持在地板上以锻炼小腿。
Lunges to work the thighs, holding a chair for support. 弓步锻炼大腿，握住椅子作为支撑。
Hip abductors to work the outer thigh, holding a chair for support. 髋部外展肌锻炼大腿外侧，握住椅子作为支撑。
Deadlifts using stretch bands, from a bent-forward position to upright position to work the glutes. 使用弹力带进行硬拉，从向前弯曲的位置到直立的位置，以锻炼臀肌。
Planks for up to 1 minute to engage the abdominal and lower back muscles. 平板支撑长达 1 分钟，以锻炼腹部和下背部肌肉。
Jogging a few rounds in the hall to work the cardio-respiratory system. 在大厅里慢跑几圈，锻炼心肺系统。
过健康的生活 – 从宣教到健身
潘玉娇，编辑者谢凯莉，翻译者王大卫
我因上帝的呼召来到塞内加尔，这是非洲的一个法语国家，因为我曾在一个宣教训练学院学习了两年。而 上帝也向我保证他会在我前往的地方供应我，所以我顺服了这个呼召。
于是从1989年到1997年，我学会了独自独立的生活，但也学会了与那些被派到那里的人一起工作，向当地人分享福音。这锻炼了我的坚韧，因为那里的环境干燥而干旱；我们乘马车去市场，我住在一间由砖砌成、铁皮屋顶的小屋里。尽管如此，我对简单的生活感到满足。
世界福音宣明会为传教士的子女设立了一所学校，我有机会在那里教授中国文化和语言。我的主要事工是与教会的姐妹们和社区里的人一起，教授读写和圣经学习。
1997年我回到新加坡时，我感到破碎和受伤。我得到了一个恢复和疗愈的机会，然后被呼召到另一个国家。我花了一年时间在新加坡神学院学习，同时我还接受了英语教师的培训。在有机会在越南进行外展的情况下，我从2001年到2007年住在那里，教英语，帮助弱势儿童，并且通过带他们来新加坡进行学生交流的项目，让他们学习我们的文化。
看到 上帝在眼泪、孤独、辛劳和祷告中，不断赐予成长，没有比这得到更大的喜悦。
我父亲年纪渐长，所以我必须回去照顾他。我感觉到 上帝带领我回来，也是为了帮助我父亲走上属灵的旅程，最终引领他进入 上帝的荣耀里。那是一个艰难的四年，当他回天家的时候，我感到心碎，但同时又有 上帝的喜悦，对我来说这是治愈性的。
我一直在世界福音宣明会在新加坡的基地里继续服务，关心传教士的福祉，并为前往宣教领域的新人提供培训。我也是我所属的联合长老会教会宣教委员会的一员，在那里我们为年长者举办英语课程，作为向邻居传播福音的方式。直到2015年退休为止。
退休让我感到陌生，因为这意味着我将不再从教会或捐助者那里获得稳定的收入。我与 上帝就此事进行了一些讨论。最终，我被引导去考获一張NCSF个人健身教练证书，以便我可以学会保持健康，并帮助其他老年人走上健康之旅。我还完成了一个SportSG健身教练课程，成为了他们的兼职教练。
于是，我人生的下一阶段开始了。我现在一周在ActiveSG健身房工作三天。对于老年人来说，每周需要进行150分钟的锻炼，其中包括两天的力量训练（或在健身房锻炼），因为超过60岁的人会流失30%的肌肉质量。身体是 上帝的殿，所以我相信我需要保持它的强壮；即使我们不是为自己做，也要为了 上帝而做。
WICAS（教会和社会中的妇女）是信义会姐妹团契的一个分支。它旨在帮助信义教会中的妇女在信仰中成长，积极参与服务，并在宣教事工中充满激情。它于2023年8月12日举办了“过上健康的生活”活动，由潘玉娇主讲，并演示了一些锻炼。