Amin told me a couple of weeks ago that he had applied for a visa to work in Germany after completing his studies here in Malaysia.
Last night (21st April), he advised that his visa had been approved and that he would be leaving Malaysia on Monday night to fly home to Iran, sort out a few issues, and then fly into his new life in Germany shortly after.
Why is this important?
Well to me it is because Amin is a true Reach Out Street Warrior.
He never missed a Saturday Midnight Run in three years. He came and helped out on other days as well.
Amin was part of the transition from Reach Org to Reach Out.
He participated in our revolution. He supported our revolution. He was part of our revolution.
On festivals such as Christmas and New Year when I was at the Al Wira alone for the Midnight Run, Amin came.
In fact last Christmas and New Year there was myself, Amin, two other Iranian friends, and a lady from Khazakstan as the team.
When he had things to do, he would still come down and meet us, have a smoke and a cup of teh tarik, deliver some packets of food, and then go do what he needed to.
We rode together first in my car, then in my companies Hilux (which Amin particularly liked as it had roof lights and a siren which we used to blast at rampits who used to annoy us on our rounds), and recently in our White Machine (the Reach Out van).
We have a common friend, Benson and Hedges cigarettes which we would share as we watched the world pass by. Amin never forgot to leave Pak Cik Jamal, one of our old street friends, two cigarettes on his pillow wherever he slept on the streets as Jamal liked a smoke when he woke up and had his food that we had delivered.
We chatted as we went round, on life, religion, politics, our homes, our lives, the street folks, and what needed to be done. We shared the same vision on many things.
Amin's first words of Bahasa Melayu were 'makan, makan'! Shortly thereafter came 'teh tarik dua'!
He made me laugh when things were tough, or just because he thought something was amusing.
I never saw him angry or frustrated and he showed a level of compassion to the street folks that amazed me. Time after time after time.
Those of us who had the privilege to work with him have benefited from his kindness, his care, his amazing ability to keep running even at 5am.
He is and will always be a true inspiration.
I will miss his companionship and his friendship on the streets with us.
Amin said to me just once the following..." if you want to ask God for something, do it whilst you are working in Reach Out. Do it while you are on the streets, because God sees you and knows you during this time".
That shows you who he really is.
We will meet again. We will work together again. Of that I am sure.
Amin we wish you a safe journey to your loved ones back in Iran.
We wish you a successful career and may God grant you everything you wish.
You will never be forgotten by those into whose life you came and by those poor and needy that you served with such care and kindness.
We wish you a successful career and may God grant you everything you wish.
You will never be forgotten by those into whose life you came and by those poor and needy that you served with such care and kindness.
Thank you from all of us in Reach Out, and thank you my brother for showing the world that pure humanity does exist.
