“We
harvested a special kind of bamboo shoots n r keeping it for ur visit to our village bcoz u usually visit
us end of the year.” Those words warmed my heart n I cld feel it melting like
wax next to a fire. Indeed those words warmed my heart deeply n made every
“sacrifice” worthwhile.
It was
a long drive from Gopeng to Seremban as 15 of us made our way through the wet
weather to attend the 31st Convocation service of STM. Another 3
joined us at Dengkil RnR. Four of our OA friends graduated with their Diploma
in Christian Ministry. In conferring their
certificates, the Academic Dean rightly announced that it was a historic moment
as it was the first time that SAM-STM partnership yielded the first BM
graduates. In fact, more than this is that SAM is the first BM Bible School
endorsed by an accredited seminary while practicing a contextualized curriculum
specializing in indigenous holistic Christian training in Asia.
Perhaps, also the only BM Bible School to consider applying the orality
approaches into our teaching/learning experience.
I’m
just glad that our good Lord called me to this ministry n I hv both the honor n
privilege to play a small little role in raising the indigenous leaders in such
a time as now. The OA church is very excited at the spiritual awakening that is
rippling among the various indigenous people groups, especially what happened
during the recent Perhimpunan Anak Negeri (PAN) conference. I had originally
planned to attend the conference but due to the back-to-back travels, I decided
to give it a miss. I was told there were participants representing 16 nations.
Worship was just 3 songs n everyone was led to “free worship.” One particular
session, worship was led by a group of OA orphans between 7-9 years old.
Apparently everyone wept tears of worship when they observed the innocence of
sincere worship; more buckets of tears when the participants were told the
children fasted 40 days in preparing to lead worship for that very session. I
was also told YB Teresa Kok attended the conference too.
SAM
academic year had ended for both certificate n diploma modules, in both Ipoh n Penang. I’m in the
process of drawing up the schedule for next year as some invited teachers can
only confirm their availability after Oct. I’m glad to hv the opportunity to
teach the certificate class in Ipoh
at the last week of Oct. They r really a fun batch. I’m also glad that we hv
sufficient sponsors for all students: both certificate n diploma modules.
Praise the Lord! Next year, if all progress well, we will hv 4 certificate
graduates n 4 diploma graduates at STM Convocation.
Thank
you all for ur
partnership in ministry. Ur
support in prayer n finance is what made all these possible. One OA student
mooted the idea of “meet the sponsor” meeting. I’ll be discussing this with the
other coordinators. The students want to express their gratitude to the
sponsors who had made it possible for them to pursue their studies. It may also
be an opportunity for u, sponsors, to meet the students u only know by name. Do
send me ur
suggestions.
October
closed with much stress. For a few nights I lie wide awake not knowing what to
do. Usually, crisis happens to others not us but I cannot deny the reality that
it happened to my family. My nephew had a mental break-down. Is probably bcoz
being the only child he was “super n over pampered” n was given too much
freedom. Both parents r too occupied with their jobs n paid little attention to
him. Eventually he got addicted to online games, mostly RPG, n played thru the
night till early hours of the morning n cannot wake up on time to attend
school. So, the school expelled him n the parents got angry n took away his
hphone n computer. That’s when he “snapped.” The incident “woke” the parents to
the need to spend more time with him n though he’s at home now, he still needs
to go to the hospital for follow-up psychiatric treatment.
I
suppose in every crisis, there is a learning opportunity there. I’m sure God
has a purpose in allowing things to happen the way it did. I’m also glad I hv
to delay graduation to next year. Looks like God, in His fore-knowledge knew
this incident would happen at this time of the year. My delayed graduation
“frees” me to quickly pack up n travel down south to help with the situation. I
hv nothing to offer, in fact, I too felt lost. However, prayer helped n God led
me to individuals who offered help. I feel so blessed to be in the family of
God. We decided to keep this from our aging mother so she need not worry abt
her much favored daughter n much more favored grandson. Thus, it was very upsetting
when someone who heard from a secondary source called me up n weaved her way
into ask abt my nephew. I told her my mother was in the room where the
land-line is located but she even had the nerve to ask me to tell her “the
story” in code-language! Extremely tactless n insensitive to the core!
I also
had the opportunity to spend a few days with my other nephews in BU. I really
don’t know y I hv no nieces…but it’s cool. My youngest nephew always “cooks”
for me n always wants to “fatten” me at my every visit to their home. This
time, he “cooked” his special hotdog. Strangely, he does not even like sausages
n I thought all children like sausages…anyway, his favorite is chicken rice; y?
in his own word, “bcoz I’m a Malaysian boy!”
SB
PHP 1:3 I thank my God every
time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always
pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the
first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a
good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
