D-1

Yes, I’m ready to go.

I will be departing tomorrow 6am. Some of you will receive my email on the first opportunity that I have the internet access somehow. Please be aware not to use any believer’s jargons in the email for the safety reason. I will use the different email address christine.lee@gbaships.org  Pls don’t throw it in the spam box.

I’d like to thank everyone who supported and encouraged me for this trip. My lovely sheeps, you were my joy and fruits of my labor, may the Lord multiply you and bless many lives through you. Sisi my dear friend, I still owe you a birthday meal when you come back. We won’t say “thank you Lord for the Dinner we are about to drink”.  Mr Mong, your caring and genuine heart is second to none, give your life for the Lord and be all you can be! err, and Safe driving. Ray who supported me all the way, thank you, I am deeply impressed at how phenomenal men of God you are! Joy my dear shepherd, I thank God for your patience and understanding. Wenan, You are the best pastor ever! yes I will try to behave myself better next year. Ps WL and LL, thank you for an encouraging card, without you I’m not here.

Daniels, Daniels.. So many cards and pictures, encouraging words and prayers- you are my inspiration. Many of you have financially supported this trip as well, how precious are your loving heart!I’ve always received more than what I could give.  D2 JGs what a wonderful and joyous bunch, u r my favorite people. Daniels has been the best part of my life, and My heart will go on and on for you all.  And last but not least, Lord Jesus you are my King, all I could ever sacrifice is worth for you.

Think of it, it’s like a miracle how the deemest idea has came into shape, and finally come to pass as a reality. What a worthwhile journey of the preperation! I have no regeret no matter what may happen during the trip.

Now, Farewell, my sweet.

From the master bedroom to the floor

It’s my 3rd night Iwill be sleeping on the couch in the living room. You may wonder, what on earth has happened to the owner of this apartment? Here is the story..

At the beginning of this year, someone asked whether I would be willing to share my master bedroom with someone. Without hesitation I answered then, ” NO WAY!! I am the only one who pays for this house. And after the long days work, I want a place where I can just unwind and be by myself. I think at least I DESERVE that much! Sharing my room would be the last thing on my head!”

Towards the middle of the year when the idea of mission trip has popped up, things were begin to change. I realised, with only by spending less I won’t be able to save up the amount of fund I needed. I had to CREATE more income. – SHARING ROOM. I sighed. Anything for you Lord..  I headed to the Ikea and got a desk and a bunk bed. Within couple of months, I had three different roommates in my room. Sunny, Sara, then finally Apple moved in.  

As Josh is planning to move out with Judah friends next year, I planned to move in to Josh’s room next year. So I advertised a room for someone who would share the master bedroom with Apple. Soon I got a lovely korean girl name Mi-ha. She had to move in right away due to her contract ending, and I had to vacant my space for her. Now, my bro’s room has his stuff and my stuff literally E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E! And of course I get to sleep outside because Josh usually sleeps late thus gets up late. We doesn’t want a half naked man lying on the floor in the morning!

Last night, curled up in the sleeping bag, I thought of what I said when someone asked about the idea of sharing a room. Did I shouted that I DESERVE what? I’ve just wrote to a sister in Singapore and said I am happy if someone could just provide me a piece of floor and a roof to sleep under. And I meant it.

 God is an expert in humbling me. Jesus never had a place to rest his head anyway. And he sure is sharing a taste of it with me, and I am greatful for that. I am learning more about the beauty of living a simple life. Truth is, the more we have, the harder it gets to let go. Psalmist surely knew the secret of the contentment.

   Give me neither poverty nor riches,
       but give me only my daily bread.

   Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
       and say, ‘Who is the LORD ?’
       Or I may become poor and steal,
       and so dishonor the name of my God.

Psalm 30:8-9

10/40 Window

While preparing for this mission, Lord has opened my eyes to the needs of the world out there, the people who have nothing to do with me personally. I don’t know what happened but the urgency and sense of responsibility is almost overwhelming.

I’ve shared about the 10/40 window during the group shepherding with my sheeps. This is something always mentioned during mission presentation.

10/40 window

This is the regions of the eastern hemisphere located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator. These area eye popping factors about this boxed area.

• Center of population: Two-thirds of the world’s population — more than 3.2 billion people — live in the 10/40 Window.
• Unreached and unevangelized: 95% of the people living in the 10/40 Window have never heard the Gospel message even once. There are either no Christians or a Christian movement to do any kind of evangelism. Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are centered within the 10/40 Window.
• Poverty: 85% percent of those living in the 10/40 window are the poorest of the world.

When I was applying for this mission trip, I didn’t know that we would go to the Middle East. Initially the itinerary was to be around the Thailand, Indonesia and India. But apparently we will sail for 15 days straight to go towards the Middle East.

This is the place christians are being killed for admitting they are christian. Their friends will disown them and even attack their own family members for claim the christianity. Jokingly I said ‘I hope I will come back in one piece’ , but there are people who lives there to share the gospel in simple obedience to the Lord!

How much should one love the Lord wto be ready to throw one’s own lives for the sake of the people they have nothing to do with? It’s  basic desires of the human to be safe, accepted, comfortable and entertained. Yet they forsake all, in sure hope of Heaven and love for the lost soul!

I am totally ashamed for my selfish christian life, wanting all the blessing and protection only for my sake. I don’t know what the Lord would have for me through this trip. Honestly I’m afraid to know.

But, I know of this one thing.

I will never be the same.

 

Buffering..(2) provision

More details of the mission trip has been released to Daniels through the presentation and mission card distributions. Couple of weeks ago during the sub-D prayer, Daniels has prayed for the mission trip. It was about 30 seconds of very brief sharing. And most surprising thing has happened!!

One of the sister in Daniels and her family has generously given a love offering to both myself and David. This sister hasn’t even seen the presentation pictures yet, and the family has never known us. Where has such generosity came from?

Later I heard brother David has spent hours in worshippping God in thanksgiving. As I thank the Lord for the provision the voice inside softly spoke to me.

“Don’t be joyful because of the money you’ve received.

Be joyful that you know the Lord is with you.”

God humbled me through this love offering. It was not my eloquent speech or pursuation, or some impressive pictures of mission work that moved the heart of a giver. It was just a whisper from the Holy Spirit that does all the work. No longer I feel stressed or guilty to squeeze the already-thin- pocket out of people, but just pray and see God works his awesom wonders.

And I’m glad I have chosen somewhat challenging object so that I am desperate for him more, thus experience God more!!  I feel SO ALIVE!!

Buffering..(1) dream

May 2009, mom called me to say “I saw you in my dream.”

God laid within me the passion for the mission and I was considering over many options. I researched through every mission agencies accessible on the web, their vision and methodologies and focus areas, and consulting to my shepherd.

Mom’s prophetic dream confirmed me that I will be going away to overseas for the will of God. Come to think of it, God has already prepared the way for my parents to allow me for such a venture. Otherwise there is no way they would easily let me go with such a itinerary.

While preparing and sharing to few people, God has touched brother David’s heart towards this trip. After praying and conslting to his leaders and parents, evenually he has decided to join me for the trip. When I shared about this to my mom, she answered indifferently.

“You were disappearing beyond the horison of the sea, and there was a men who were following behind. I didn’t tell you?”

“No! You didn’t!!”

“Didn’t I?”

“No!!!”

“Well, Now you know.”

Like that, things were coming to the shape more and more. By now it’s the time to crack up the piggy bank and begin to prepare some real stuff..

..Thanks to Pethuel Ng for creating this awesome mission card..

‘The Servant’ – preperation

Maybe I am little too used to giving a theme/ title to everything..sermon, worship session, conference, Advance, OC…So, here I am came up with the theme for my mission trip end of this year, is called ‘THE SERVANT’.

From November till January 2010, I will be travelling with the mission ship ‘Doulos’ from Operation Mobilisation Australia (OM) to do a mission work. The picture on the heading of this website is the ship, vising Hong Kong. I will take on the ship from Thailand and we will travel through to the Middle East.

At the beginning everything was unclear how I can get such a long leave from work, how am I going to continue pay the mortgage when I am the only one paying the mortgage, how am I going to tell my parents about it, etc.

Since the beginning, it was a journey of faith each step of the way. While I was praying for the confirmation of this trip, God gave my mom a dream, and she saw me swaped away by the wave of the sea. She tried to stop me but couldn’t. Her leader spoke to her that whatever is going to happen to your daughter, she is in God’s plan so no need to worry. As my mom shares this to me, I realised that God gives me a green sign!

Few weeks later, I spoken to Mom about my plan. Initially she expressed many concerns but when the dream was reminded, eventually she blessed me  and even said “Don’t worry about dad, I will tell him (I will take care of him!)”

Next issue was my Job, I didn’t have enough leave to cover the trip period, so after praying I decided to quit the job if they don’t allow me to take the leave without payment. To cut the long story short, after discussion with others, company manager decided that I can still come back to my job after the leave. This is quite a favor, and I don’t think anyone has taken such a leave for the ‘holiday’ and still kpet the job.

Then comes the Money issue. My mortgage should be paid upfront for few months even while I don’t get paid. That’s when I decided to share my room with someone else. I changed my single bed to the bunk bed, and invested on a new desk and chair, and found a roommate. Also I saved up portion of tax return, and sold many household items through ebay and korean websites to make some extra cash.

Let’s face it. We all have a heart for the great commission, everyone loves God and wants to serve him. Sadly, only portion of these people can actually put their thinking into the action. Job, Mortgage, Family, Relationship, Health etc comes on the way to block them from going forth for the dream. The truth is, that there will be no such time as you have no barrier to mission, everything is arranged and prepared. There will always be some kind of difficulty. Don’t we know that?

I am not saying this as if I’m a super saint just because I am going for an extended mission trip. But I wanted to prove that when our heart is for God, he can make a way THROUGH it.

Don’t tell God how big your storm is.

Tell the storm how Big your God is.

flowers God created

last weekend, I’ve visited toowoomba for the annual flower festival. Since first visit on last year, I’ve been checking the date to make sure I go back again.

Some guys didn’t seem to feel musculin about going all the way for the ‘flower’ festival, actually I wonder why. They are beautiful creation by God, and I believe guys appreciate beautiful things!

this is an interesting picture. We didn’t realised that japanese ladies were taking picture of their own next to us!

jelly belly performance..:D

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these! If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:25-34