Ikan Bilis among Big Fish

Never felt more inadequate in a mission trip. After all, this trip consisted of bible college students, some of whom have been in the ministry for years, and of course, everyone else has had more salt than I had rice ...

What has a first year bible student like me got to offer to final year Masters students, Bachelor of Theology graduates etc ? Indeed one lady commented that I looked like her nephew ... Usually I would take that as a compliment, but in this case, I wished I had a beard and moustache to boot.

Anyway, I went ahead, feeling like a tour guide, since I was the only one in the group who had been to Bataan.

There are lessons to be learnt at every mission trip. "I wonder what I can possibly learn in this trip." I thought.

A basketful of surprises awaited me...

Prologue Two - More than butterflies in the stomach

Right after I decided to take on the speaking engagement in Nov, I came down with terrible food poisoning.

I was puking and purging the whole night and the following day. I lost my appetite and strength. And faith ...

I remember coming to the church office on Wednesday (2 days before we were to leave for Philippines), looking pale and feeling terrible. I had to go to Jurong with Bro. Chua to pick up some medical donations. The 45 min ride to and fro were rather traumatic as visions of me puking into the van and road and Bro. Chua, purging by the "long kang" passed incessantly through my mind.

The thought of foregoing the Philippines trip with AGBC students became very real and inviting. What's more I would have more time to prepare for Pastor Mary's youth camp ! What a great excuse !

I came back to the church office for the final training session and meeting with the AGBC group. They prayed for a supernatural healing for me. In my mind, I was thinking, how was I to get fully well by Friday ? How was I going to adjust to the food there after a bout of severe food poisoning ?

"They shall walk, and not faint ..." I had forgotten fast.

That night was terrible. I spiked a temperature and developed chills and rigours. I could hardly hold my spoon to drink soup, as I was shivering so hard the spoon kept spilling... "Bacteremia" I thought. (translated as "bacteria in the blood") My kind brother suggested a visit to the friendly GP to get antibiotics. My increasingly worried aunt suggested hospital ...

My tired body cried "panadol..." So I took 2 panadol and tried to sleep. And I finally did.

The following morning was a miracle.

The shivering had disappeared. The diarrhoea and nausea miraculously disappeared. And my appetite miraculously appeared ! So much so I could even meet my cell group that night for dinner !

"Lord, there must be a purpose for me to go on this trip."

I sought forgiveness, gave thanks, and gingerly took the next step into the following few days in the mission field.

Pre-Whirlwind Storm - Prologue One

It will take me some time to write about all the lessons that the Lord taught me in the last 4 weeks.

As with all good plays, there should be a prologue. But in my long-winded case, I have 2 prologues. I shall start on the first.

I was getting ready to go on the AGBC mission trip when Pastor Mary from WRPF called me on 13 Nov to ask me if I could be the speaker for her youth camp from 26-28 Nov. (The topics were Recharged through the Word, and Staying Recharged.)
Well to be honest, I both freaked out and was excited. Freaked out because I would have minimal time to prepare (I would only be back on 24 Nov !) and I still had our own ZGM Youth Camp from 2-5 Dec to prepare for. Excited because I saw this as another open door for ministry.

I asked for time to pray about it - well ... it seemed the most spiritual thing to do then... hehe

I also seeked advice from some people who cautioned me about burn-out. It will be an almost continuous 4 weeks...

The next day, I skipped lunch during work and went to the hospital park to pray. I had one hour. I wanted to know what God felt and needed to know if He wanted me to take this up.

I remember as I sat on the park bench and prayed, the ideas just came to my mind on what I should share and somehow my spirit was stirred and excited. Still I prayed that the Lord would show me if this was what I should do.

I ended my time with the Lord at 1.15 pm - still not knowing, and went back to work.

I had switched off my handphone earlier and did not read my messages until 2 plus in the afternoon. When I finally did, I saw this sms from a friend with whom I hadn't shared about what I had been praying for.

It said,
"But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

It was sent at 1.13 pm.

My hair stood on end as I realised what the Lord was telling me.
Wait on Him. He will renew my strength.
This was His promise and answer to me. And it had come right on time.

I wrote back to Pastor Mary immediately, telling her I was free for any sessions she felt led to put me in ...

This marked the start of a series of lessons about trusting in the Lord ...

A whirlwind month !

The last 4 weeks must have been the most hectic but most spiritually fulfilling episode of my life thus far ... In 28 days, I went for 2 mission trips and 2 youth camps, plus prepared 5 sermons ... in between frantic attempts to finish my bible school assignments.

Just so that I would remember this episode :

18-24 Nov Mission Trip to Philippines with AGBC students
26, 28 Nov Speaker for WRPF Youth Camp
2-5 Dec Speaker/BBQ-er/Odd-Jobber/Sabo-ee for ZGM Youth Camp
8-17 Dec Mission Trip to Philippines with ZGM

One verse that saw me through these 4 weeks :

"But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

All Glory to the Lord !

In Him, Through Him, For Him.