She
walked into the room with a walker, wobbly n unstable. She was 99 years old.
Slowly, she helped herself to the nearest chair at the nearest table. Later, I
saw her holding a big mug walking wobbly back to her chair. I rushed to her,
asking if I could offer any help. “No,” she answered, “I can manage,” sporting
a wide grin that seemed to speak her mind that said, “kid, life had been good –
I m living to the fullest!” For the first time, I was glad that the blind
congregants in BJAC were excited at the prospect of bringing Christmas out from
the church confine into a community that we can extend a blessing. When I
suggested to them to visit this home for retired Catholic nuns, everyone was
excited. Someone said, “wow, I’m sure that’s much we can learn from these who
had served God all their lives!” It was meant to be a visit where we serve the
nuns who had been serving all their lives – it ended up that they complemented
our serving by serving us! Many times I told the nuns, “Sister, please go back
to your seat. Let us serve you today.” One of them leaned forward to me n said
in a low whisper, “but I’m not yet 80!” And I was thinking, “What? You need to
be 80 to be served? My mother should hear this!” It was a wonderful visit.
Every
visit to a senior’s home, I leave with the thought – please don’t let me live
so long and ended up like them. However, this visit was different. I left with
this thought – do I hv the privilege to arrive at where they are? At 93, one
nun shared of her joy in serving God, watching the children she cared grew up,
got married, have families of their own with children n grand-children. There
was joy – despite the apparent lack of material items – there was true joy.
This is a community of Godly servants in their twilight years n still bearing
the joy that the Light shone n still shines through each one of them. I hope
that as you read this, you will share my burden to bring regular blessings to
this community – they are little known n quietly tucked in a small corner in
Balik Pulau, just a short walk away from the busy laksa stall. And I believe
many of us are also “products” of this mission – the Infant Jesus mission
(convent schools, la!).
SAM
(Northern Centers) reports are sent n I hv till end of the year before
beginning a busy schedule to kick-start the “new” year. Yes, I m eagerly
anticipating greater things that God will do in our midst. SAM Penang is moving
to Prai; SAM Ipoh will begin offering MMin program in partnership with MEC. I’m
excited at the prospects of this ministry. The pool of partners is still small
n I invite you to come aboard.
A
partner suddenly discovered his schedule is too tight n not able to teach a
class next year which means I hv an additional load to prepare another course
material. And why do I hv to be so ambitious as to partner with another
seminary to offer a master program? It only add heavier load on the already
small pool of partners in this ministry. Well, the OA ministry is progressing
so fast that we as the church in Malaysia cannot possibly sit back n watch their
stunted growth. The other language congregations hv advanced to produce
doctoral scholars but our (peninsula) OA congregations hv yet to produce even
one master graduate. Ok, I admit I’m a bit selfish too bcoz I aim to retire
from this ministry n move elsewhere after the OA church can raise their first
doctoral scholar. Yet, I’m uncertain if the Lord will grant me this privilege.
I’m only a servant, ba…But I’m thrilled to observe how God open opportunities
for SAM to develop (in partnership) the BM theological education in Malaysia.
Now partnering STM for certificate n diploma and partnering MEC for a master
program, SAM is achieving (n maintaining) a standard acceptable to both
accreditation bodies (ATESEA n ATA) in Asia. I hv always stressed to my OA
friends that we shld not offer any training programs that end with an award of
a paper only good to wrap kacang putih.
It shld be a paper that represent recognized n accredited training.
Looks
like I’m not able to complete my studies by this year. Someone decided to take
a break n it’s not me. Anyway, it’s final touches n by the Lord’s grace I will
complete it early next year. After all, He determines the times n the seasons n
make all things beautiful in its own time. I’m exploring n preparing for the
next step n believe that if God so plans to take me further (academically)
events will unfold favorable. So, right now, I’m preparing to sit for MAT which
is a requirement for admission in a graduate program in US. (Will greatly
appreciate advises from anyone of you who have experience sitting for this –
the Miller Analogies Test). The final “decision” will be whether I m granted
full scholarship, without which I cannot proceed. If God leads me there, He
will have to provide every need, sufficiently.
January:
a trip to historic Malacca for an orientation abt WEC n hopefully learn where/how
I can contribute to this ministry; n a visit to the jungles with an American
family. It’s strange how God knits things together. In exploring
options/requirements for study in US, I went to MACEE for advice n met the
coordinator who had been longing to visit the indigenous community since coming
to Malaysia.
Will
greatly appreciate your continuous prayers n partnership. I realized this
ministry places me in the “high risk” group as BM is the medium of
instruction/conversation with the indigenous community. Then again, we are
living in dangerous yet exciting times in Malaysia! Air travel that supposedly
is the safest form of travel is apparently not so if it is associated to
Malaysia. We need prayers more than ever before for a country that is
experiencing one disaster after another with practically no chance to get up on
its feet. The blows just come one after another as if to totally knock us out
completely…
A
very Merry Christmas n blessed New Year to all of you…I’m not sure how 2014 had
been for you. Someone may hv offended you n u were upset; well, I learnt this
from a wise pastor – certain battles r not worth the fight. Let it go – as how
Demi Lovato sang for Frozen theme, let it go…Someone may hv blessed you n u r
extremely grateful, pass it on. As the old chorus sang, “I’ll shout it from the
mountaintop, the Lord of love has come to me and I want to pass it on…” There
probably are some ups n some downs but we can be assured this – God makes all
things beautiful in its own time (Ecc 3:11)
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