主啊！我在这里，请差遣我。by Carmen
曾经听到一位牧师证道时说：＂经上说，'要收的庄稼多，做工的人少。'可是通常人会说，'主啊！我在这里，请差遣他！'＂
砂拉越年会一直在推动「一人一生至少献一年」，感谢主，让我在参加「三邦走向万邦」时呼召了我。感谢主，让我的母亲愿意支持我回应神的呼召，也支持我参加 这次校园中心第一次的海外短宣。感谢主，让我在大学毕业前，参加了我第一次的海外短宣。感谢主，让我有勇气到印尼坤甸，以非母语（印尼语）进行短宣。感谢 主，让我是马来西亚人，是我从小学习马来语，虽然讲的不是很流利，但多少还是能够沟通，也听得明白当地人有些的对话（因为有些印尼语跟马来语还蛮相似 的）。
我们的短宣队大多数的成员都是大学生。起初，我们一直觉得还有很多时间预备各种东西，到最后才发现，我们的时间被大考给占据了。尤其 是负责节目的我跟另一位队员，我们又要准备大考，又要安排时间翻译剧本（从英语的圣诞剧本翻译成印尼语），练习戏剧，安排整个行程，准备各样的游戏，节目 等等。感谢主，到最后我们还是尽我们的努力把东西准备好。
神总是在我们的后面做我们的靠山。我真的没有想过只是一通电话，一段简单的问题， 就解决了我们的最大的烦恼。我们一直到出发前的最后一次讨论都很犹豫用四律传福音合不合适。就在出发前的崇拜后在我母堂的一位姐妹，从我母亲那里知道我们 要到印尼坤甸短宣后，问我将用什么材料传福音。当我说四律时，她建议我跟教会的另一位姐妹借用一个比较生动有趣的传福音材料，因为毕竟我们的队员也不太熟 悉马来语的四律。感谢主，我借到了，我们也用了那个材料。真的比较生动有趣，容易吸引小孩的目光，也能够跟当地的小孩有很好的互动。
我也感谢主，让我能够跟母堂借用许多的圣诞服装，帮助我们在当地与小朋友一起庆祝圣诞节时能够更好地发挥我们的角色。我们也借到十套小天使的服装让其中的一些小
孩能够跟我们一起演戏。当我们把这个想法告诉诗伶宣教士时，她说：＂恐怕有点困难，因为这里的小孩都还蛮怕上台的。＂但是感谢主，他们都愿意跟我们一起配搭。
这次的短宣让我得着很多。我并不觉得我有为主做了什么大事，反而透过与思伶宣教士的配搭，与弟兄姊妹的相处让我学习了很多。在那里的 弟兄姐妹总是热心服事神。我们在那里有机会到两个教会服事。其中一个教会正在建造新的礼拜堂，所以每个星期他们都会到不同的弟兄姊妹家里进行祷告会。 是神的恩典，让他们愿意开放他们的家来进行聚会。
他们也愿意带我们到另一个小教会去探访一些弟兄姊妹，让我们有机会更加了解他们。我们的短 宣队分成两个小队到不同的家进行探访。我们这一队到的其中一个家庭，他们最大的孩子是个小儿麻痹症的孩子。可是他们并没有埋怨神，反而还不停歇地参加聚 会。因为孩子需要人每天的照顾，所以每个星期天，母亲会到另一个有早场崇拜的教会参加崇拜，父亲则在家里照顾孩子；晚上就轮到父亲参加崇拜。他们那虔守主 日的态度是值得我们学习的地方。
最后，我要感谢主让我们这支短宣队能够平安地去，平安的回来。虽然当中经历了一些让人紧张的小插曲，主耶和华依然在当中掌权，引领我们。
God answered our prayers by Samuel
Initially did not plan to join the mission trip, felt
that I would not be able to contribute to the team. The information provided was
that the main activities was to teach mandarin tuition and for door to door
evangelism. I was held back by language barrier; I only took mandarin until
primary six and have returned all of it to my teachers. Encouraged by a sister
that there would also be the need for people to work and to help out on odd
jobs during tuition classes, I finally agreed to join.
Appointed as the event coordinator together with
sister Carmen, we had to plan out the details for each event we were asked to
carry out in Pontianak. Upon starting the preparation for the mission trip I
realized that it was not only focused on mandarin tuition classes, there were 3
sessions of house to house evangelism planned along with evangelistic meetings
and youth fellowships. Given the short period of time to prepare, we were
blessed that sister Alvina sacrificed her time to go home during the semester
break to help in the preparations. God’s grace was upon our preparations. He
sent people to help us out when we do not know where to locate drama props. At
the last minute, someone was sent to introduce and lend us the “Kids EE Gospel
Cubes” which aided a lot in our preparation for the house to house evangelism.
All members of the mission team were not proficient in Indonesian language thus
the simple pictures and visual aid that the “Kids EE Gospel Cube” provided was
of great help during the mission trip.
When we reached Pontianak, we had a hard time getting
through the custom because she required us to show her return flight tickets
which we did not have (we did not need to have it printed to board the plane).
After a lengthy discussion, she allowed one of our members accompanied by an
airport security to print the proof for purchase of return tickets. From the
beginning of the journey God was already reminding me that no matter how much
preparation I had made, I would never be in control of everything but instead I
needed to constantly pray and rely on Him. After getting through the custom
check, we were brought to a mall where we could buy daily necessities such as
drinking water, fruits, and biscuits. To be able to call between the team, some
of us tried to buy cellphone sim cards from a mobile shop but we were totally
unable to communicate with the shop owner. Malay language seemed to be very foreign
and they could not understand it. This made us very worried because we had
house to house evangelism later in the week.
Thankfully, God answered our prayers. We were able to communicate well with nearly everyone (kids,
adults and old people) we met throughout the week using our Bahasa Melayu mixed
with Bahasa Indonesia picked up along the way. The house to house evangelism
was not as scary as I thought it would be because the people were very open and
receptive to our visitations. There were also houses where we were blessed by
the testimonies that they shared to us. For families that were already
Christians, we taught them how to share the gospel by giving them a “five
colored book”; for families that were not yet Christians, we shared the gospel;
for families that were sick, we prayed for them. It was a very enjoyable and
heartwarming experience to see how God was working in the life of people in
this place.
Throughout the whole mission trip I had seen God
working through each of us (mission team members) and also people surrounding
us! Even the only thing holding me back from joining the mission trip (teaching
mandarin tuition class) was canceled. God has blessed the team with so much
talent, enthusiasm and most of all, love for Him and His work. The biggest
comfort I got from one of the members of the team was when we were faced with a
sudden change of events due to unforeseen circumstances; a brother said with a
grin: “God made last minute guys for a reason!” then I realized that God has
put different people in this team to complement the weakness of each and every
member. To God be the Glory.
Him giving authority to His disciples by Irene
I felt privilege to be able to join the Pontianak
Our trip various activities, which are the
focus of this testimony, included roving prayers, home visitations and
evangelism, Christmas celebration fellowships and many more. A great thank to
Belle the missionary who chaperoned us around during our whole time in Pontianak
During the roving prayers, Belle droved us
around town and stopped at places where she would tell of them and we would
pray. I enjoyed this moving prayer meeting as we got to do some sight-seeing
and pray at the same time. I remember that besides praying for the new church
building funding and construction to be successful, I learned about the trend
that for every church that was set up there, the government would plant a
mosque nearby, saw two huge Buddhist temples and became aware that not only the
churches realize that they can provide Mandarin Tuitions for the Indonesia
people as an opportunity to share the good news but pagan worshippers too are
working hard on this method to share their own beliefs rapidly. I hope you see
the urgency in these matters like what I feel right now.
Next, I like to talk about home visitations
and evangelism. We split into two teams to go door-to-door to share the gospel
using gospel cubes. I realized that my problem was language barrier. I tried my
best to speak in Bahasa and Hakka in conversations and in spreading the gospel
but somehow I felt so limited in words. The funny thing was they understood my
Hakka but I couldn’t completely comprehend theirs. In addition, Bahasa Malaysia
Lastly, I wish to briefly share an incident
that I never thought I would encountered in my whole life. After the Christmas
celebration fellowship, a teenage girl became demon-possessed. It was the first
time the church there ever experienced it too. We prayed for her few times
because it kept coming back. It was a very brain and physically draining for
me, not to mention scary too. When we returned to our hotel, we always have
devotions and sharing together before sleep. That night, coincidently, the bible
passage (Matthew 9:25-10:4) that we read consisted the incident of Jesus casing
out a mute demon-possessed man and Him giving authority to His disciples to drive
out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Is our faith not
strong enough that we could not cast it out once and for all, like Jesus? Also,
have we been taking this trip very care freely that we forgot to put on the
whole armor of God and totally forgot that we are in spiritually warfare daily?
I think this incident has awakened me to see that spiritual warfare is indeed
very real in life. My routine and complacence life at comfortable ‘home sweet home’
may have clouded this realization long time ago.
To put it all in a nutshell, it was a great
experience. I challenge those who have read my testimony to go and personally
experience the love and warm welcome that the Pontianak church given us and to
taste the delicious local delicacies there.
Trust in the power of God by Jonah
When it comes to
missionary works, most of us may hesitate to participate. This is because we
may think that it takes up our time and hinder us from other activities in
life. However, I am glad that I did not hesitate when I was given the
opportunity to go to Pontianak, Indonesia for missionary works. In fact, I
personally have past experiences in reaching out to people overseas before.
Therefore, I immediately complied and signed up for this mission trip because I
felt that we as Christians must fulfill the Great Commission given by Jesus
Christ that is to proclaim the good news to all nations (Matthew 28). Praise
the Lord as I have learned a lot from this mission trip. Not only that I got
acquainted to many cheerful Indonesians over there but I also drew even closer
to God and my relationship with God was strengthened as I learned to trust in
the power of God and not my own abilities when it comes to evangelistic works.
Altogether there were eight of
us in the team. I learned that commitment in our responsibilities is very
important. In a team, each of us was assigned a role in preparing for the trip.
Therefore, all of us really did our utmost in practicing, preparing and praying
for the trip. Even though each of us was preoccupied with exams and assignments
in university, by God’s
grace and guidance, eventually we got all the programs well planned and
prepared before the trip. Besides, in spite of fellowshipping joyously in
church, whenever it comes to sharing the gospel to non-believers, we must pray
fervently for God’s
presence to be with us at all times so that the Holy Spirit is at work and lost
souls can be saved. During the days in Pontianak, I really did pray for every
event that was arranged. Indeed I felt the presence of God because I believed
that He is at work at all times. By being committed in serving the Lord, all of
our efforts that we have put for God will surely not be in vain rather be
pleasing testimonies to God.
Life has never been like a bed of
roses. At times there are ups and downs that entangle us from complete
happiness. After this trip I realized that I have to have faith and confidence
in God at all times. In my life, I often encounter temptations and oppressions
by evil spirits. I felt sad and sometimes emptiness in life. In such situation,
I tend to blame God and complain to Him every time. I would question God, why
are You inflicting me with so much pain where I did so much to serve you in
church? All of these negative thoughts in my mind made my life meaningless and
dull. I started to doubt that whether does God even exist and listen to my
prayer. Truly, this has a huge impact in my life. After this trip, I learned
something very important. First, I learned that God always listens to our
prayers. He is always there when we quiet down our hearts and look to Him
contritely. Whether He answers or not that is up to God. Secondly, I learned
that believing and having faith in what you pray for is also very important.
During the trip, I constantly prayed for every event and I told myself that God
is always with us wherever we go. One night after a youth fellowship, we
experienced a young girl got disturbed by the evil spirit. At that moment all
of us, including the pastors and leaders there prayed for the young girl loudly
to God. Frankly, I felt the power of God and after that I realized that I have
to have faith and be ready for every challenge that I would face along the way
because everything we do for God is a spiritual warfare. Hence, I always remind
myself that God is with me at all times!
As a closing, I want to take this
opportunity to thank Pastor Tiong Huong Ong and SMCGC for giving me the chance
to participate in this mission trip. This trip has improved my relationship
with God and strengthened my spiritual life. I hereby encourage all Christians
to take part in missionary works because I figured that this is a good way to
lay a firm foundation in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Hence, by the grace of God, I
am looking forward to experience further changes in life owing to be closer to
God. I hope to walk this journey of faith with God intimately until the end.
May the Lord bless all those who serve Him.
Signs from
Pontianak, Indonesia by Adam
Pontianak =
Vampires.
Well that was a cold joke. Huh. But
all kidding aside, conflicted is a word I would use to describe how I felt as I
was approached to join our church’s (SMCGC Miri) first overseas mission trip to
Pontianak, Indonesia. Remembering back, I felt rather daunted by the fact that
I would be venturing into a place similar yet so alien from my own home.I
turned the offer down.
But as time passed, this weighed
down on me more and more, and I finally decided to take up the challenge. I
told the person –in- charge I changed my mind and would like to join the
mission trip.
Imagine my disappointment when she
told me all the spots were taken! After all the struggling I went through to
come to my decision. But God, being ever faithful, provided a way for me to go
as right before the closing date one of the members dropped out leaving a spot
open for me.
So given the 6 days that we had
there, 3 things in particular got my attention, and I would like to think that
these are what the Lord has guided me to Pontianak to learn.
I came to these realizations when
trying to write this testimony, so my sequence of events will not be in
chronological order.
First of all, I remembered Pastor Tiong’s
sermon when he preached in Pontianak on the Sunday that we were there. We
arrived in Pontianak on Wednesday, making Sunday the second to the last day of
our mission trip. It touched on the signs that God had given to the shepherds
regarding the birth of Christ and how we can look for these signs from God in
our own lives. This made me think of the numerous occasions that God has shown
to me throughout the mission trip of how He uses signs to point the direction
to him.
Knowing that we went to Pontianak
with the intention for mission work, it is understood that what we did could be
considered small when compared to the overall work of the missionaries
currently serving there. Therefore going on this mission trip served a 2 way
purpose, namely trying to touch lives there, no matter how small our efforts
may seem, and at the same time looking to see if the Lord has any message or
designs during the mission trip that may change our own lives. During this trip
I would like to think that the Lord has brought into both these things to pass.
Siaga Church
It is hard to gauge how our mission
work there would have touched the lives of those we were fortunate enough to
meet and work with through our activities as we were only at Pontianak for a
short period of time. But during our 3rd night at Pontianak, whilst
conducting a Youth Night for the youths of Siaga, Pontianak, one of the girls
there was struck down after the program. Different members of our mission team
have different explanations for what exactly happened, but one thing was for
sure was that that girl began to struggle with some demons from within her,
either literally or figuratively. As she collapsed, we all began to pray for
her for the Lord to expunge whatever may be troubling her inside. From what we
gathered after the intervention, the girl had many unresolved issues in her
life that may have been brought to light by our program that night. Some of the
things we did may have been a sign as to bring out these issues inside her and
so caused her to become vulnerable at that particular time. Regardless of any
other fruits of our mission work there, I was glad to know that at least we had
touched the life of this one particular girl.
From this experience it showed me
that as an individual, mission work does not necessarily involves working head
on. Every little thing that we do has the potential to resound and impact the
lives of people around us, either in a positive or a negative way. Being
Christians especially strengthens this possibility to bring people closer or
further away from our Lord Jesus Christ. It is hard sometimes to always account
for every little thing that we do, which is why it is good to always take time
out of every day to do our devotion and meditate on whether or not our actions
for the day reflects what Jesus would
have done. As throughout this mission trip every night we did our devotion
together and discussed what we did for the day, I felt this helped me especially
to keep me grounded in our mission work and to keep me focused on the next
day’s work.
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As we drove
around Pontianak for our mission, I couldn’t help but notice that the roads
were constantly getting flooded by inadequate drainage systems. Given that
Pontianak could be considered an advanced enough ‘town’ or ‘city’ I was
surprised that the drainage system could not be constructed better. As I was
studying to be a chemical engineer, drainage systems are not really my area of
expertise, however, I felt that God was opening my eyes to the fact that even
in my work I could do something to help other people. If I was a civil
engineer, I could do my best to construct things that would last and not cause
even more problems in the future like the drainage systems in Pontianak. Ever
since I decided to choose chemical engineering as my major, I must confess that
I didn’t really know what to do with it. The furthest aim I ever created was
the thought of working at Shell or some other oil and gas companies as those
seems to be the ‘crown’ achievement of becoming a chemical engineer. However
through this trip I realized that perhaps it didn’t always have to be about the
material route and that other routes could also render a sense of achievement, and
could also play a part in furthering God’s plan for my life. For my part, I began to think that this could
be my sign from God to start thinking about working with the other areas of
chemical engineering that could help society such as wastewater management or
biodiesel engineering. Before this trip, I saw these options, wrongly as I now
know, as second-rate backup plans if unable to secure a job at the oil and gas
companies. Now, I began to realize that these options could indeed be opportunities
to serve something bigger than myself. Being a realist, I
do not know how far these ideas of mine would take me, but I am grateful to the
Lord for guiding me a little through this mission trip to realize the numerous
options I have to make a difference, no matter how small, in my career later.
To sum up this testimony, I would
like to share someone else’s testimony, a testimony I heard during our
visitations in Pontianak. One of the last houses we visited in Siaga, Pontianak
on the 3rd day we were there belonged to an old man whom we called
‘Bapa Ah Kong’. As we sat down in his
living room, he began to share to us how he was assimilated into the Christian
faith. Having a lousy command of the Indonesian language, I was only able to
catch bits and pieces of his testimony, but with the help from my teammates I
gathered the gist of it went something like this.
This man had no contact with his
daughter for almost 10 years after she got married and went to Taiwan. Being a
worshipper of a certain folk religion, he prayed to the god of that religion
for those 10 years, asking for some kind of sign that his daughter was okay. He
did not receive any news from her. Finally he gave up on his belief and went
‘religion-less’ for a few years. After this period of time, a friend of his
invited him to come and visit the local church. He was very reluctant to go as
he was convinced that there was no religion that was true with a god that could
hear his prayers. However, his wife wanted to join the church and encouraged
him to attend services. After a while he began to mellow and decided to try to
believe again. He made a promise to God that if his daughter came back, he
would become a true believer of Christ. He asked for a sign from God.
3 months after he attended the local
church his daughter called back from Taiwan. As of today, he is making plans
with his daughter to come visit him in Indonesia. He will wait for his daughter
to arrive in Pontianak to see him being baptized in person.
Sometimes God sends us signs, not in
hidden messages or through winding pathways that we need to decipherlike some kind
of Sherlock Holmes detective. Sometimes God sends us signs that are so big and
so real and direct, that it’s hard to believe it actually is from God. Our
trained scientific minds crave a logical explanation for things and the crux of
the matter is that not everything that God does needs to be mysterious and
indecipherable. God sometimes work through very ordinary and normal ways that we
take for granted and so we discount those signs as an act from God. This was
how I used to think until I realized that God is actually in everything,
affecting everything. And it is through the grace of God that we can have faith
in the Lord that He will lead us and guide us through this life, using the most
common and everyday signs to show us the plans He has for us. So as I wind down
here to the end, I thank the Lord that He has led me through this mission trip,
provided me with wonderful teammates (including our own Pastor TiongHuongOng
and local missionary Belle Ting) and taught me to look around every day, and
see His work in every, single, little thing in our lives.
