Ministry Update JanFeb18

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.