Cuz1:
Did u know the victim who was buried alive in the lightning arrestor incident
along Macalister Road
last year was our cousin’s bro-in-law?
Cuz2:
Really? He was from Chew Jetty?
SB: No, la…from Lim Jetty
Cuz1:
Apparently the story was that there was a big crab that kept entering his house
n he chased it away but one day he just decided to catch it, cooked it, n ate
it. He won a lottery n on the day he went to collect his winning, it was the
day he was buried alive in the incident n the body is not found till today
SB: I
think he “transferred” to another dimension
Cuz2:
You shld know better what happened. You are a Christian…you people know abt
these things…
SB:
(thinking) ???
That
was a conversation I had earlier today with some cousins. An aunt passed away n
it is a time to meet up with relatives. So, I was at this table with some
cousins in Batu Gantong Funeral Parlor n we were catching up with events in the
family. I was surprised at my cousin’s assumption regarding Christians. I made
the remark abt being “transferred to another dimension” merely as a “joke”
after all, we r used to watching supernatural shows/movies like X-files n the
like; so, maybe there is such a possibility. But do non-Christians really view
Christians as “experts” in knowing things of the “after life?” However, this
incident tells me one important truth – how important it is for us, as
Christians, to be a good testimony/witness for our unbelieving family members.
Most of my relatives know I’m a Christian n a few of them know I’m a “pastor;”
but I’m not sure how closely I’ve been “watched” as an “ambassador of faith” in
my family.
Lately,
the Lord is opening ways for me to “share my faith in action” within my family.
One such way is my nephew’s case. This is a short update on his progress: he is
adapting well in OneWay Home in his “quest” to kick the internet addiction. He
has learnt to ride a bicycle, bring the dog out for walk…it’s a German
Shepherd. He’s attending follow-up sessions with the psy in HUKM on a monthly
basis. The last session, the psychologist found him able to “open up” a bit.
There’s little progress; nevertheless, I’m grateful to God n to all of u who
pray n support us in this. In the midst of this “family crisis” I was hoping
God had created a “re-set” button in us so that the wrong can be undone
promptly with just a push of a button. With what we hv available, we can only
progress in baby steps, one step at a time – cautiously – n observing his
progress/response at each baby step. Will greatly appreciate ur continuous prayer support.
The SAM
academic year began with Ipoh certificate module starting their first class in
January; SAM Ipoh diploma class starting in mid Feb; SAM Penang class starting
in end Feb. We r expected to graduate another 4 diploma students this year – 3
OA n 1 Chinese. The Ipoh
certificate track initially told me they hv as many as 7 candidates ready for
graduation this year but I only received 4 transcripts. And that too, were
incomplete n do not fulfill basic requirements. So, I really do not know if we
hv any candidates to graduate with their certificate this year.
There r
4 course materials for me to prepare this year, with the first due in April
after Easter. It’s an intensive one-week modular course in youth ministry from
a missiological perspective in a SIB
Bible College
in Miri. The 2nd was proposed in May for the SAM Ipoh certificate
class in Homiletics but there’s still no confirmation to the date n I’m also
hoping for a change in the course schedule so the students who r planning to
graduate this year will hv a chance to sit for the classes missing in their
requirements. After June, I hv 2 more courses to teach – Theology 2 n Animism.
I’m looking forward to these classes as I’m planning to apply orality methods
in the teaching approach, for the first time. In fact, SAM is the only Bible
Sch recognized by an accredited Seminary in Malaysia targeting students from
rural/rural ministry, therefore, it is appropriate to consider applying orality
approaches as a feature of this School.
I
attended the MI-CPE (Malaysian Indigenous Clinical Pastoral Education)
orientation recently n will be in this program for abt 7 months, meeting for
group sessions every fortnightly. Me, pastoral? Yea, I know I hv no pastoral
calling but it’s an opportunity to learn n to improve – so, y not? Still in the
midst of editing my doctoral dissertation. Targeting to complete all requirements
by June as ministry often picks up at the second half of the year but this year
it looks like there’s an exception. I suppose I just need to get back to
momentum…after all, the humankind was created to work.
The
first “jungle trip” for the year will be at the end of March with the AIMC team
to Sg Poh/Kepayang. The team will split to two with one team to build/repair
drains beside the church in Sg Poh n another team climbing up to Kepayang for
ministry. Plz pray for us.
Once
again, as always…thank you for ur
partnership in ministry.
2march2014
