Ministry Update: October 2008

There seems to be something special about first loves. That was revealed to me during my first visit to the Land Below the Wind. I had so much fun in Sabah. Being an urban freak, my first kampong adventure was spectacular. It was perhaps what people call “love at first sight” experience. The hospitality was simply out of this world. I was treated so well, I felt so undeserving & unworthy. I’ve been to Sarawak several times. Perhaps I should begin exploring its vast interior. Instead, the teaching center was located in the very heart of the city itself. Regardless, it was also a week of mutual learning. I tasted python meat in Tawau, I tasted fox (musang) meat in Sarawak. What an adventure, right?!

When I landed in Kota Kinabalu, I met Michelle & we went to lunch with a few of her friends. I quickly discovered that food servings in East Malaysia come in XXL portions. I stayed with her a night & met her house mates. It’s comforting to know that this young lady who hails from the Eagles (Youth Ministry) in Christ Church, is today an active leader, probably a strong pillar of Hope Church in KK. I was brought to eat seafood & got the first taste of the famous Sabah seafood. The prawns were XL sized. The next day I flew to Tawau. Two of my students were planning to take me round town and they decided to take me to a special place – the jungle! So we visited Taman Bukit Tawau. Tawau must be real small because at every where we went someone knew them. So, we entered the park for free. Dinner was seafood in Tawau town. The prawns were XXL sized. We walked half the town of Tawau in a single night & at every destination, my host met a friend. Shows how popular a pastor is, in a small town & there’s no way you can have even a little privacy! The following day I preached at the BM congregation of Tawau Baptist Church. Then later in the day we went to the school in Kiulu Baru. It was about 40 minutes from town, in the midst of palm oil estates.

For over 30 years I live in big cities and it was my very first kampong adventure. Sunrise is at 5am and bedtime is easily after dinner at 7pm. Night life, as we know it in big cities, is non existence; except perhaps for church meetings. (Gives us an understanding why rural families are big!) It didn’t take long for me to blend in to the kampong way of life. I surprised myself greatly. After all, my only other kampong adventure is during mission trips into the interior but hardly stayed for more than a night or two in a kampong. But I easily adapted for a whole week. On top of that, I had such great fun. Roosters crow, playing the role of nature’s alarm clock. Only that we cannot reset its wake-up call, nor disable its chime function. On my first night in the kampong, I heard the rooster crow and thought it was already morning. But I looked at my watch & it was just 11.45pm. Apparently roosters crow at every hour! Our only option is to catch the rooster & slaughter it for barbeque! There’s even the luxury of a fish spa where little fishes nibble at your toes in the shallow rivers nearby.

One of the students from Kalabakan brought huge prawns. I was told Kalabakan is famous for its prawns. And it’s XXXL sized prawns that we had for almost everyday! I met with Carmilita after the week of class, back in Tawau. She treated me to dinner – seafood again. This time besides the prawns, were crabs! I met her aunt & cousin; her cousin is so, so funny…

I had to travel back to KK to catch a flight to Kuching & it was a 5-hour wait in KK airport. I lost count of my strolling up & down the small airport. Even kill time by watching Hindi movie! That was after grading one student’s assignment that seemed like a novel script! I reached Kuching & was met by Seria. Oh ya…both Daniel & Seria sent their regards to everyone in GBC & Christ Church (they still remember Su Theng & Uncle Charles). The first dish to indulge in Kuching – you guessed it! Sarawak laksa! I also had a good time in Kuching; especially discovering rojak kucei. Next visit, must go there!!! Well, it’s something like gado-gado/pasembur.

I learnt from the students as much as they learnt from me. While I can offer them intellectual/academic lessons, they taught me lessons in simplicity, love (for God/ministry), and inter-personal relations. I remember at one discussion when we brought up the issue of gender. Most of us are aware that eastern cultures are male-dominated. But in every culture, respect is earned. The Baptist churches in both Sabah/Sarawak have no problem accepting lady pastors/leaders. I shared with the students that I’ve baptized, conducted holy communion, preached at almost every church context but I’ve never stood behind the pulpit of the conservative Baptist church I belong to. The class (in Sabah & in Sarawak) was quick to invite me to move to East Malaysia! Maybe I should consider this?!

Several incidents brought deep impact upon my life & ministry. The significant incident in Sabah was in the context of discussion with a student regarding the students’ academic progress and this statement came. Its equivalent in English is something along the line of the student’s expression of gratitude that I have taken a serious concern and care for the development of their studies because no one had shown such previously. In Sarawak, we were visiting a village and the local host was showing me with much pride their facilities. There’s a church built on a piece of land with several buildings for hostel, kitchen, hall, etc and vege/fruit plants all over the compound, with a nearby waterfall & river. However, they expressed disappointedly that their facility will not match the standard of the “missionaries” because there’s no access to modern facility like internet & even network reception is inconsistent. But one student gave this remark. Its English equivalent is an expression of gratitude because to them they hardly have teachers who are willing to live like them, with them (in the kampong environment).

Those little moments touched me deeply. I thought I was just fulfilling some responsibility & hope to do the best at what that has been entrusted to me. Little that I realize my little gesture had impacted the students. Suddenly, the problems I have in ministry diminished to the size of the smallest ant. I thank the Lord for the privilege He gave me to visit both Sabah & Sarawak. Mostly, I thanked the Lord for revealing to me the vast potential of these two places: both spiritual & physical. I failed to understand why no one has noticed this before along the years (from 2002) since the BM department was birthed. I’m in the process of forwarding several proposals to the higher management here (MBTS). This is a huge opportunity. There will be sacrifices & hard work. But for the Kingdom of God, it’ll be worth every single effort. May God help me.

Thank you for your partnership in ministry. Last weekend (25-26Oct) the MBTS BM team went to Shalom Fellowship, Sri Petaling in KL. It is an urban OA church. We had a great time there. I suppose it’s true for every trip, it’s not the destination but the people you travel with. For our team, we enjoy each other’s company, though I had to endure some loud & long snoring! I have to admit that the more I spend time with the BM stream students/tribal people groups, the Lord open my heart bigger and bigger to embrace them and I’m finding myself more and more at home among them. This has deepen my passion to champion their cause & do all within my ability to realize their vast potentials.

I also have a preaching engagement at Jelutong Chinese Methodist Church on 9Nov. No, I’m not preaching in Chinese. I’m preaching at the English service. Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry.