It’s
been a month since I moved south to Seremban. Friends here keep telling me that
this is a small town but I’m still exploring the place…very slowly, especially
with the new ministry n schedule to juggle – I hardly hv time to go out of
campus, actually.
I
recalled 30 years ago (yes, it’s THAT long ago) when I first left home for
tertiary studies in UM. It was a similar feeling…well, I’m back in campus.
There’s a lot of getting used to n the one tough challenge is the food which is
way below a Penangite’s expectation.
The
past two years I’ve been a “deaconess” with the Anglican DWM, I have never worn
my deaconess robe more than I have worn them in two weeks here! Thus, begins my
process of being “Anglicanized.” A first year student told me that her friend “complained”
of having to attend chapel services twice a week in the seminary she is
studying at. But guess how many times of chapel services we have to attend here
– 6! Three seminary chapel services n three Anglican chapel services!
So
what’s going to happen in SAM Penang (SP n Prai) n SAM Ipoh? Well, this year’s
schedule has reduced classes. To be on the safe side, I’ve scheduled my classes
during semester breaks while I observe the “culture” of this new place. I hope
by next year SAM can get back on its feet. There was a reduction of student
participation in classes in 2017, especially from Gopeng/Ipoh. Well, there was
a little “crisis” there for awhile…Please pray for us. Classes begin end of Jan
in SP; after CNY in Prai; early March in Ipoh. Apart from that, some one or two
days of popping up to ensure things proceed as planned is in the plan
throughout the year.
Besides
in campus classes, I will also teach at off campus extension classes. So, it’s
really not THAT boring being confined solely to the small campus in a small
town. I’m following the first year students to visit various churches of
various denominations. Thus far, there’s the two extremes of super traditional
n super free n easy.
In
the meantime, I’m continuing the task of establishing urban-rural partnership n
exploring possible visits with teams into the OA villages. Will appreciate your
continuous support n prayer for:
1.
Adjusting/juggling
of new schedule/ministry commitments
a.
New
work culture/environment
b.
Getting
acquainted to the Christian community in campus n off campus
2.
SAM
(Penang n Ipoh) centers (teachers n students)
a.
God
will enable those coordinating n will raise an individual to co-oversee the
ministry – eventually take over
b.
Students
n teachers are focussed n teachable
Php 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance
of you,
Php 1:4 always in every prayer of mine for
you all making my prayer with joy,
Php 1:5 because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now.
Php 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who
began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus
Christ.
