Saturday, May 2, 2015

Ministry Update Apr/May 2015

April was a month of learning n discovery. Some of you may think I missed out last month’s entry but the truth is, after I posted it on my blog, I did not send to various individuals. I thought I wrote something that was only a personal assumption but I later discovered it was not – in fact, it has become a fact. I m disappointed, that a long-time friend could hv conducted so badly in class that several of my OA friends in Ipoh asked me to never, ever invite her back to teach.

On a brighter note, a new milestone was achieved for SAM when we officially signed the MoU to provide an opportunity for peninsular-based BM pastors to pursue a master degree. It was sometime mid of Apr n our team, 3 from Ipoh joined me in Penang n we travel Penang-Miri-Penang while another traveled from KL n met us in Miri. Representing us was our diocesan bishop who, despite his busy schedule, went to Miri. Well, it was a wonderful time – honestly, we were careful to carry ourselves when our bishop was around – but “let down our hair” when he left our team to attend to another official function. Fellowship was good with friends n partnership was strengthened with BEM Sarawak. I feel so at home in the indigenous community.

Immediately upon our return was the Eastern/UpperNorth leaders retreat in BJAC. I did not hv much time to mingle with the other pastors/leaders from the east coast. So happens, I hv to attend to ensuring things r in order. It was an event that passed by very quickly n I was preparing for the next engagement in Ipoh.

My car battery was a bit weak but I kept delaying replacing it. After all, it was still use-able n as long as I m in Penang, if the battery goes flat, the mechanic is just a phone call away. But then I hv an engagement in Ipoh for a weekend. I was planning to travel to Ipoh on Fri afternoon to accompany an Ipoh team to the OA village on Sat, then travel back on Sun. So, it was risky that if my car battery goes flat on Sun, I will be stranded in Ipoh till the next working day. I decided to go to the workshop to get a new battery. Arriving on Thurs afternoon, I asked the mechanic to also check everything to ensure it is in good shape for long distance drive. It was then that he discovered one of the back absorbers was leaking; n absorbers need to be changed in pair. Then the front absorbers were examined – they were not in good shape either. So, in order to hv a proper balance, the back pair of absorbers n the front pair of absorbers need to be replaced. But that was not all. While examining the back absorbers, the exhaust pipe was seen to be in an extremely bad shape – like a bad tooth half eaten by cavity. So, the back pair of absorbers, the front pair of absorbers, n the exhaust besides the battery needed replacement. It was abt 4pm n the mechanic assured me – in 3 hours, he can replaced all that n I can safely n comfortably drive to Ipoh the next day. The bill? RM1,113.10 (plus labor n GST) but I asked for a discount of 10sen la! Huge sum to pay unexpectedly for car maintenance.

The next morning I was in my office, still reeling from the shocking, sudden departure of hard-earned cash that I posted on my FB wall on this matter. I began my drive to Ipoh at abt 2pm n as usual driving alone I prayed n sang praises to God, not bothered that I sang off-key n wrong lyrics. I began by praying to God asking to send my “claim” to heaven for His consideration. And I told God that He may answer me quickly, slowly, or not answer me at all – yet I will still send my “claim” to heaven. Even if He does not entertain this “claim” I know I hv done the right thing as a good steward in spending such a huge sum to care for a car that rightfully belongs to Him. I reached Ipoh n checked in at YMCA, unpacked a bit, logged in to the internet awhile n dropped on the bed to rest awhile before my dinner appointment. It was then, slightly after 5pm that a Whatsapp message came n the sender asked me how much exactly was the car repair cost n wanted to pay the complete bill! Several minutes later, he sent a picture thru whatsapp the fund transfer slip. 3 hours – the mechanic needed to replace new parts for my car; 3 hours for heaven to “process my claim.” God is good – all the time; all the time – God is good!

May has no out-station travels but I needed time to seriously work on preparing lesson plans for SAM Penang class in June/July n SAM Ipoh class in July/Aug besides starting to chart course materials for SAM Ipoh class in October. June will start busy with the YWAM GoFest Missions Conference. There is already a planned weekend trip for a team to visit OA village in Gopeng; some OA participants may be staying in SNH hostel n some in my vicarage; n WEC Partners (Malaysia) reps will be in town – we hope to meet some pastors/mission leaders in some local church; then my guest lecturer n his wife (from MEC Miri) will be arriving towards the end of the conference n we will travel to Ipoh/Gopeng for a week-long class.

An update regarding my studies? I really don’t know how is my progress. It’s like wondering endlessly in an endless circle in the wilderness. As I complained n complained ceaselessly, the Lord rebuked me. Then I realized that I hv no right to judge nor compare my present thesis supervisor with the previous ones. God made her the way she is just as God made me the way I m. The reason God put us together to work in this season is so that I may learn what I need to. So, I don’t know if I can graduate this year but I hv surrendered to God who determines the times n the seasons.

Once again, thank you for your partnership in ministry

SB


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