Ministry Update Apr/May 2013

I walked into a friend’s house n there before me was a woman sitting on the sofa wearing a spaghetti-strap tank top revealing tattoos across her back. She turned n smiled widely, as if she saw an old friend she was eagerly waiting to see. I was stunned. Do I know her? But she knew me. We were school-mates n hv not met each other for almost 30 years. Next to her was her son, a very grown-up young man.

What’s going on? I asked myself. I cannot recall many friends from school; I cannot remember part of my childhood days, growing up in a convent school while playing childish games. Did I really never bother about people around me? Or could it be that I hv “burnt the bridge” n forgotten I m still “in this world.” Honestly in my mind I asked myself how I can be acquainted to this woman who speaks foul language while casually lit a cigarette after a meal in a crowded restaurant.

But it “hit” me when she asked about my “job” n honestly inquired, “do u get a salary?” It was then I realized I’ve “lost touched” with the reality in this world. Money matters n the objective of most people is to accumulate as many “toys” as possible. It must hv sounded extremely absurd to my friends that this SB, whom to them, was (supposedly) a smarter n more promising candidate to “make it” in the world; but she seemed to hv “given up” on all that. For awhile, which seemed like eternity, these two friends stared at me in such disbelief when I explained to them I don’t get paid a lot but what I hv has always been enough.

It will be a lie if I say it never bothered me when I see the “toys” my friends r enjoying now. Sometimes I wonder if I hv made the right decision to forsake everything in the world to follow Jesus. Those were the times when I was spiritually low n wondered how “foolish” of me to believe in an “un-win-able” cause on this end of heaven. Yet I know for sure I will never be satisfied until n unless I obey the divine calling. Certain things have just been ordained the way it should n this is how the good will triumph over evil at the end of it all.

It was a whole week of partial-solitude spiritual retreat in Seremban with (mostly) my OA friends. At the end of the retreat, we returned home with a few opting to stop by Subang to visit some friends. I took the opportunity to drop by visiting my nephews too. It was in Subang that I met some old friends. I must confess that I was pretty “irritated” by the discipline of solitude – no internet n I cannot “reach” the world. Tried to “steal” one unsecured network nearby but connection was slow n intermittent. So, I resorted to working off-line – drafting sermons. What I learnt from the retreat was a reminder of who I am, as one being ordained by God to be just as I am – a person who is simply defined by the “work” I do, a person consumed with “work,” n a person who needs “work” to be energized.

Election fever is everywhere n like most Malaysians, I hv decided n only waiting for 505 to cast my votes. When I was traveling from Penang to Ipoh by bus n then from Ipoh to Seremban by train, flags were everywhere. People on the street r all very excited n waiting for the day to cast their votes. Their tone of excitement is easy to decipher who they r waiting to vote for. Thus, I could feel the air of change, a sweeping wave of a wind that is approaching. I m as excited as everyone else n cyber space further fuel our excitement. I’ve not attended any ceramah this time round. The exciting ones seem to clash with my planned activities. But this does not matter bcoz I can watch it online in the cool of an air-con room away from hot, sweaty crowds of people. Actually not much fun bcoz it is no fun screaming alone!

The excitement is for the first OA candidate running for election in the Perak state assembly against MHS! *All my 2^nd RC friends – let’s watch this constituency*

May is a month to stay put n prepare for the months ahead. I did not realize that the SAM Penang class will be ending bcoz someone else is teaching. We r encountering a little hiccup in Ipoh as the coordinator there seems to be moving slowing than the first gear. Nothing is being done n I hv to intervene. That is taking up a lot of time as I contemplate the best way to “rebuke” in the most gracious of approach. Plz pray for us as we move forward to progress in this ministry n as the OA church in Malaysia.

Finally, let’s keep praying for our nation till we see the fulfillment n beyond of what the Lord has ordained for us as a nation. UBAH, UBAH, UBAH…

Ministry Update Mar/Apr 2013

The Holy Week r the days leading to a holy weekend which traditional churches observe by holding commemorative services like Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, n finally, the very core of the Christian observance, Easter Sunday. For me, it began with a fully traditional service in a high (in tradition) church where the clergymen/deaconesses renewed their ordination n commission vows. I sat n observed every bit of every procedure. It was interesting but I’m not sure what most of it meant – did it hv biblical implications or was it merely a tradition? Half the hymns belonged to the previous, previous century. A few churches proceeded to observe the traditional Maundy Thursday Service at night but minus the significant washing of feet ritual. Then came the Good Friday mid-day devotional service. Bcoz I was asked to share on one of the seven last words on the cross, I attended yet another (super) high (in tradition) service. Starting from 12 noon till 3pm, to commemorate the time Jesus hung on the cross till He breathed His last, seven speakers shared a short devotion from each “seven last words.” Again, the hymns were from the previous, previous century. It was a bit “eerie” with the organ (maybe it was a piped organ) playing those ancient hymns in a church with super high ceiling. It felt like as if the saints of old were watching us from “up there.”

I had a “break” from the traditional setting when I delivered an Easter day message at the Sahabat Orang Sakit (SOS) service on Saturday. On Easter Sunday I was in a Methodist church n faced the challenging task to interpret “live” for a funny Japanese-American speaker. I was in the annex building with a group of Indonesians. I think there were about 70-80 of them. It was a challenge bcoz at the main sanctuary, the speaker spoke in English n there was an interpreter to interpret into hokkien while I interpreted into Bahasa Malaysia (not Indonesia) in a different location. Yet the most challenging part was during the altar call. About 80-90% of the Indonesians responded n they proceeded to the main sanctuary. That was when I was called in. In a moment, I “panicked” for awhile bcoz coming from a “traditional” setting, I’m not used to this, what’s more, the call came from this anointed speaker n I’ve always tried to avoid “praying in BM” bcoz my BM prayer language has extremely limited vocabulary! But the moment I stepped on the “stage” I felt a strong anointing n I felt extremely calmed. Surprisingly, I prayed n did the altar call (almost) flawlessly! After the service, several church members came up to me to express how impressed they were with the interpreted “altar call.” I can only respond, “praise the Lord!” but one day the opportunity will come when I can tell them the truth – it was not I but the Lord who enabled.

April is just the “next page.” There’s a Regional Women’s Conference I’m obligated to attend in Sungai Petani. It is a dread for me bcoz most participants r “from the previous generation” n the program does not look interesting at all with reports after reports. There’s a tentative trip to the OA village the following weekend. Then I’ll be accompanying the OA pastors to Seremban to attend a week-long class in Spiritual Retreat. No rest for me here as I’ll be interpreting for the facilitator throughout the retreat. I hope there is some time I can meet up with an old friend who is in Seremban. He needs help as he’s in n out of depression n is on heavy medication – my course-mate in varsity. When we first “met up” thru facebook, he sounded extremely frustrated with life n quickly shared with me that he’s gay n expecting me to stop “friending” him. Right now, he sounds pretty in control n on the road to recovery. From Seremban after the retreat, part of the class intends to stop by KL to visit our pastor friend who has been transferred to Subang Jaya. I’m joining this visit n later drop by my sister’s place to see my nephews who wanted me to “see what they’ve got from HK Disneyland.” GE13 better not suddenly be on last Sat of April so we can proceed with our plans. The uncertainty of when GE13 will be is really driving me crazy especially when it comes to planning my travels. I know I’m not alone in this. Most of us r as frustrated.

So the next few days I will need to translate student notes into BM for the retreat n to edit/read thru chps 3 n 4 of my proof-read (2^nd time) dissertation. It’ a bit behind schedule here bcoz my proof-reader in Singapore was overwhelmed by his teaching commitments n the demise of his mother. The final chapter should come in soon. Plz pray for me. I know I’ve never been a good student in school n I hv my report book to prove it. And I know that on my own I can never ever come close to even half of what I hv reached academically. I’m anxious, excited, overwhelmed by God’s goodness. This is truly my testimony of God’s faithfulness n goodness in my life. Therefore I so look forward to completing this (academic) program n anxiously waiting for new challenges ahead.

Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry.