The spirit of Christmas came early and bright for the residents of Dayspring by HCSA, thanks to a deeply committed group of 16 volunteers from the Wesley AGAPE Pickleball Ministry.
On the early evening of 21 November 2025, the group turned their weekly commitment into the first memorable year-end celebration by AGAPE for the 11 girls residing at the home for respite and recuperation.
Connecting Beyond the Courts
The Christmas gathering was a powerful testament to how a humble sport like pickleball can be channelled to bring the light, hope and joy of Christ into the lives of others.
The evening began with the volunteers driving everyone to the Original Botak Jones eatery at Kampong Ampat for an early Christmas dinner. This change of scenery helped kick off the festive excitement. The dinner hour opened with a warm welcome and a short thanksgiving sharing from Gabrielle Pek, who thanked the girls for their time and reminded everyone of the small blessings and little wins in life, no matter how hard things can be, before they enjoyed the meal together.
The celebration continued when the group returned to the Dayspring residence. Volunteers and girls immediately gathered for one of the evening’s most meaningful activities: dressing the Christmas tree.
Musical Moments for a Pickleball Group
For the AGAPE group, this was more than just hanging repurposed pickleballs and fairy lights. It was a visible symbol of their year-long dedication and friendship with the girls.
As Linda Ong and Michelle Lim led the decorating session of the tree gifted by Michelle, the girls dressed it with repurposed pickleballs they had painted during earlier volunteer sessions.
“Seeing their own artwork become part of the festive décor brought immense joy and ownership among the girls,” said Linda Ong. “It is also a good reminder for us that cracked pickleballs, with some embellishment, can be transformed into something beautiful and useful, even if they cannot be used for games anymore.”
The merriment continued with a lively game session hosted by Mandy and Audrey Phua, featuring a fun and inclusive round of This or That that brought peals of laughter. Playing Find a Friend Bingo added a burst of energy and connection as everyone raced around the room, laughing and chatting while matching squares on their cards with people who fit the clues.
The mood then shifted to a joyful one as the girls led the group in singing Christmas carols, filling the room with festive cheer.
Blessed to Give: Sponsorship of Writing Instruments
No Christmas party – always associated with a spirit of giving – is complete without blessing others.
This Christmas at Dayspring, Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Pte Ltd (Uni-ball) sponsored beautiful writing instruments as gifts for the girls.
“At Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Pte Ltd (Uni-ball), we believe that every person’s story and creativity are uniquely beautiful. This Christmas, we are honoured to support the girls at Dayspring with writing instruments that encourage them to express themselves through journaling and art. Our hope is that these tools become more than gifts. They become a way for the girls to discover their individuality, embrace their dreams and find joy in creating a future full of colour and possibility,” said Risa Leong, General Manager of Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Pte Ltd (Uni-ball).
The evening culminated with the distribution of gifts, a simple yet powerful gesture of love and recognition that will hopefully help the girls feel cherished and seen.
A Call to Compassionate, Consistent Serving
“More than gifts and eating, it is a blessing for us to spend time with these girls whom we hold dearly in our hearts,” said Regina Lim, another volunteer.
The celebration by AGAPE Pickleball Ministry at Dayspring underscores the small yet impactful work of this outreach group.
“Authentic service is consistent, personal and driven by love,” said Gabrielle Pek. “Our simple gestures show us how we can all serve in different, small ways to share God’s love with others.”
Authentic service is consistent, personal and driven by love.
Echoing Gabrielle’s sentiments, Patricia shared that she has not played pickleball with the girls for several months due to an ankle injury. “However, I continue to drop by Dayspring to chit chat, paint or play board games with the girls. The volunteers’ commitment to Dayspring is ongoing and all year round, whether through an outdoor activity like pickleball or planning a holiday event like a Christmas party.”
“It is about our availability, not just our abilities,” added Lynette Phay. “We just need to show up for those we serve.”
This Christmas, are you inspired to serve others who need it most?
Photos courtesy of AGAPE Pickleball Ministry
