My Sunshine

Friday, June 02, 2006

In all wonder and awe, I proclaim that God, is amazing. He stitched the lives of 12 people, of so diverse characters, backgrounds, denominations, together through the course of a mission trip.

Each of us represents a unique colour and are sewn together like a tapestry and through the grace of God, forms a fuller picture, serving each other through our different portfolios in love and unity.

Just like how Pei Xin puts it, there are snippets of lessons that we learnt along the way.

Firstly, We would like to thank the supporters who have supported us financially and through prayer. Our hearts can't express our gratefulness for your prayers.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms - Ephesians 6:12

Before I started on this mission trip, I set 2 goals for myself. The first being – To have a closer walk with Him and see Him work in the midst of us. And the second is to learn from my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. God has been more than good to me. He has taught me beyond what I could imagine.

Let me walk you through the beginning few sessions of training for the trip, the lessons I have learnt from specific individuals until now.

Lesson on Love
Firstly, that I find in myself the incapacity to love others the way I want to and to be the person God wants for me to be. Ivan’s sharing on the greatest commandment: Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself” - Matthew 22:37-38 really spoke to me. He was saying that though the verse is simple, to love God and to love others really is difficult. And they way I look at it, I really fall short of the glory of God and yet He loves me so dearly. I learnt that it is from the abundance of God’s love that overflows in us, then can we love one another. And like how Joshua puts it – Freedom is the power to do the things you ought to do. And during the whole trip I really felt the love from God and through my teammates. During the distribution at the pier and during Lobby ministry, I could feel the presence of God moving in the midst :) Especially before we ventured to the slums, I really feel for the people. My teammates are really a bunch of thoughtful people. Besides the numerous encouragement cards given to us throughout the course of the training and during the trip, we were also treated to Ginseng tea (from the long hours of brewing by Su Fung’s mother) and even services such as cut fruits served to us to our hotel doors – it does show a lot.

Lesson on Boldness in Expression and Deed
I am glad I have got Jane as my roommate. We had a long conversation on the first night and I think we both have this thing holding us from expressing ourselves. Take worship for example, dancing is an expression unto the Lord. And we confided in each other how conscious we were how others would view us that we do not really express our joy unto the Lord. But throughout the trip, I think through mutual encouragement by my roommate, I learn to express freedom in worship.

Let’s begin from the training lessons. I always felt that my Chinese was not really good and singing Chinese songs, especially high notes is just not my forte. But really through the many practices, I could see myself grow in confidence. I remembered vividly the 3rd night at the pier. There was this bunch of Chinese tourists, a Christian in the midst of them. Su Fung was the translator between M (who spoke English) and the Chinese tourist. They started to videotape us when we begun singing the Chinese songs. Because of the fullness of joy that overflows from within, I sang the Chinese songs much more loudly. That, I noticed about myself. And the simple comment made by David - he guessed that I sang Soprano 2 in choir did make me question - that all along my thinking that I cant really sing high notes has been a lie? I think not only did I learn about lies and deceptions from the evil one. My roommate learnt that too.

I led the first devotion. If you were wondering why the devotion ended so shortly, the reason was because I was so nervous! Ha ha …

Come to thing of it, I worry for no reason. Firstly, in worship, singing and dancing is an expression of praise unto the Lord. Beside the fact that I shouldn't distract others, it is solely unto Him and Him alone. I think the dancing at the pier by even people older then my age really posted to me my sense of freedom of expression unto the Lord.

And secondly, sharing is to edify the body of Christ. And if it is what that truly speak to me, the fear of God should supercede whatever fear of men. As long as my heart is right with God.

I think that us having a break through in Lobby Evangelism also make me take a different approach in my view of breaking the ice with the Chinese tourist. Now what goes through my brain whenever I start conversations is:
1) We are sharing the good news with others and why should one be afraid of it.

2) I would recall how God worked when I took the first step of faith to share to my colleague a year ago and then I felt the presence of God. (Faith without deeds is dead – James 2: 26b)

3) Like how Jane puts it, the Chinese tourists most likely will forget what we say and so it is better to try then not to try at all.

Lesson on the Importance of reading God’s word daily
I think that the door-to-door prayer, where we were put into groups of 2 to pray really tested my knowledge of the bible. I was with this prayer warrior (makes a funny face) who claimed on scriptures and even though my prayer was led by the Spirit, I recognized the importance of knowing the bible well and memorizing essential verses. They are of much help when we reached the dark portion of the row of rooms where there was insufficient light to allow us to read from our bibles.

Verse that summarized this trip for me
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline – 2 Timothy 1:7

Verse given to me by my roommate
I pray that, “God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints” – Ephesians 1:17-18

What we took back with us
I believe that in one way or another, be it learning how to claim on verses and pray, in fanning our flame for the lost, in growing towards an even deeper walk with the Lord and even in learning how to love each other and resolving conflicts through the love of God, we all have gained valuable lessons through this trip. But we also recognize that these are not enough. It is in applying these lessons to our daily lives that is of outmost importance.

Short term mission trip with a long term change in our lives. That’s how I would like to put it. Some of us have graduated and are venturing soon into the working world, others have just completed the first year of their University; some are young Christians in the faith and others, Christians for many years; and not forgetting those in-between. It is my prayer and I also believe that it is yours too, that we go back yearning to have a deeper passion and closer walk with Him. That when trials and temptations come, May this mission trip be another milestone of how God has been faithful to us. And may we continue to abide in Him and live a life worth of His calling!

And I thank You Lord, for the trials I feel inside,
That You’re there to help lead and guide me away from wrong.
And I thank You Lord, for the patience those trials bring;
In that process of growing, I can learn to care.
But it goes against the way I am to put my human nature down
And let the Spirit take control of all I do.
Cause when those trials come by human nature
Shouts the things to do
And God’s soft prompting can be easily ignored.

And I thank You Lord, for the trials that come my way
In that way I can grow each day as I let You lead
Cause You promised Lord, that with every testing
That Your way of escaping is easier to bear.
And I thank You Lord, for the victory that growing brings,
In surrender of everything, life is so worthwhile.
And I thank You Lord, that when everything’s put in place,
Out in front I can see Your face and it’s there You belong.

My Sunshine @| 9:10 PM

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