So it’s official, we have crossed the first half of the year. Things are picking up and I am excited. As I looked at my schedule, I must admit I had a great month of learning and discovery. It started with the youth visit to the OA villages, followed by the Bible Translation workshop, with a week in Ipoh full of activities, and the final week of June filled with meetings.
I had especially learned much from the translation workshop; especially, in rediscovering my Malaysian identity. I did not realized how much we’ve been influenced by Indonesian culture, even indirectly through our usage of the Indonesian Bible which is readily available as compared to the Malaysian version. It is a privilege to be a part of this project to embark on the effort to produce a new Bahasa Malaysia version of the Bible. Even with the little I can afford and offer, I feel very honored to contribute a little to this spectacular project. More so, when I hold in my hands the “stamped” Bible – stamped by KDN & serial-numbered. I believe for us who use English Bibles, this hold little significance. For me, as a missiologist taught to function in just about any version, what matters is contextualizing the message to the target audience in a manner most understood by them. But as I minister among the malay speaking churches (here I mean Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia) I realize, as Malaysian Christians, we really need a version to reflect our identity.
A week filled with meetings flows into the next month. I have many things to prepare. The Anglican Training Center will hold its first English class on 18th where I’ll be teaching on the Introduction to the OT. Then I also need to prepare for its official opening 13th Aug. Following that is a BM class in Ipoh in mid Aug where I’ll be teaching. The weekend after the week in Ipoh is a short period of rest before departing to Kampar for the Synod meeting. Looks like it’ll be 3 days of sleeping with my eyes open through the boring speeches and endless debates. I think I’ll bring my netbook or tablet pc along to work silently.
Enough of diocesan matters, I’m looking forward to another trip into the jungles next weekend with another youth group…on the weekend Bersih 2.0 is planned. I hope I don’t miss exciting news while dwelling among the trees…no, it’s not THAT bad. Preaching engagements are lined up. It’s another marathon-like schedule. Thought of accepting a “working holiday” speaking in a church camp in Lake Toba end of Aug, but it clashed with another engagement I had earlier committed. Aise…but do pray with me for:
1. The training center and its programs (endorsed by STM) in all 4 languages but I’m only dealing with English & BM
2. The fund-raising project (SAM Student Adoption Program) I just launched in an effort to raise funds to help the OA church pastors/leaders to be equipped theologically. Plz pray for the BM program and wisdom to do a better planning job next year for all centers (Gua Musang, Penang (island & mainland), Ipoh)
3. The speaking engagements in various churches
4. The OA visits and various teams/churches to partner our OA work
5. The Christmas speaking engagement – this, I’m praying. It came unexpectedly and being one attracted to challenge, I have sort of, agreed to it. It’ll be a 7-day speaking circuit through North Sumatra as a prelude to Christmas programs for the North Sumatra churches
6. The dissertation write-up. I’m starting this next phase for my study program. Kindly pray alongside me
7. Discipline – that in the midst of all busyness, I will always remember the reason for each task and be well-disciplined to put Him first and above all
Once again, I thank you for your partnership in ministry.
SB
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