It’s been a month as I slowly settle down in my new office, picking up the pieces and finding my way around. Last month was eventful with travels and adventures. This month, it’ll be a bit more “localized.” Good Friday/Easter weekend is just round the corner with services to attend. Besides the night classes in Prai on Monday nights and Thursday nights, and speaking engagements on almost all Saturdays, I have the weekdays to attend to all the necessary preparations besides putting things in place in my office. I’m a bit slow in getting the necessary office equipment, wanting to explore options for a good bargain.
The Bible School in Ipoh is taking shape slowly and sturdily. I’m glad of the progress. I am excited at how things are taking shape. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the Lord is shaping the School. We have both teaching approaches of night classes and intensive classes taught by local and out-station teachers. We also have in our teaching team a few Orang Asli pastors. The first class of the year kicked off last month in Gopeng with ten registered students. I was teaching the class and stayed in the rural church. Little did I know that the church was infested with rats almost the size of a cat! The other option I have was to stay with the local OA pastor in the kampong. But I was not prepared for a kampong stay. There’s no electricity at night and water supply was inconsistent. And I needed to prepare the next day’s sessions, thus, I opted to stay in the rural church, a double story shop lot located within a row of shops in the old Gopeng town. The first night I could hardly sleep as there were strange noises almost everywhere. They were probably noises made by the rats. Well, I just believed them to be rats. The second night was pretty similar. I knew I had to catch some good night’s sleep to function well teaching the class the next day, so the smart me took a dose of piriton and I slept through the night soundly, disregarding the funny noises around. I was “rescued” from the church the following two nights where I stayed with some good friends in Ipoh. Good thing I brought my GPS. Helped me navigate my way around. But even with that, I took several wrong turns…
Do pray along side me for the Bible School. This is an exciting ministry. We are planning to offer certificate, diploma, and bachelor programs in two tracks: Christian Studies and Theology. Our team of teachers is mainly local teachers, including the OA pastors. We are planning two venues: night classes at YMCA Ipoh and intensive one week classes at a local church which has a complete education block. A fund from a foreign mission organization is available to enable us to run this ministry. God truly supply all our needs. Now we are waiting for better/more participation from other local churches around the nation once we publicize the school and its branches/extension centers. From the pastoral angle, I’m still surviving. Praise God for that.
PS: to some of my friends who are a bit confused – I AM still staying in Green Lane. It is my office that is in town. I moved into the office which is a room in a single story bungalow that will serve as a mission house for visiting pastors/missionaries
