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

9-9-9

Anybody guess what I was doing on 9-09-09 9:09am? Hint: It was my birthday. – anwer right at the bottom

Thinking of it, I had a time of my life in my 20s. Praise the Lord, that I don’t have anything to regret when I look back those years. Few mistakes and all, but after all I became who I am. Main thing is, that I am happy at who I’m seeing in the mirror.

some pictures for your pleasure..

This was what happened when I came to work. So sweet!

And I’ve received the most beautiful flower bunch ever! My Goodness. However I’m not the real flower person, because it’s sad to see it fading away too quickly. Like our lives hey.

This is what I’ve done in my mobile, and transferred into computer. I look happy!!

Above mic is from Josh and mystery contributors. Thank you, although I don’t know who you all are. Great gift.

This hilarious candy ring is from Andrew,  it’s so very….andrew. 

Brother David actually cooked this and put it in the flask to bring it over. It’s a special korean soup made with seaweed which is a tranditional food for the birthday person. I haven’t eaten that dish for almost 7 years.

I had some quality time with Josh at a ‘quality’ restaurant. I realised I am still for the generous quantity and compromised quality rather than blob of cash in the centre of huge white plate kind, thank you.

And of course, I was almost screamed when I received a box of migorang from Jos. It was by far the biggest present and took me the longest time to unwrap it. because it was wrapped with million layers of newspaper!

There were some more good news around this time. My unpaid leave for the mission trip has been granted. I was ready to resign from the job if they wouldn’t allow me take the leave. But God said, if I am ready to lose it, I will gain it. And again, he proved himself right in this. Praise the Lord. Also, I have completed and successfully graduated from the Cert 4 of training and assessment course. My qualification certificate is on the way!! Yeepeee!!!

I can’t even mention all the gifts and sms I’ve received, thank you everyone for being part of my wonderful life!! I am eternally grateful for everyone God has placed around me. I wouldn’ be me without all of you. Thank you and I love you all dearly in Christ.

The answer to the question on top:  working. (What else?)

On letting go

Job said, ‘the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be glorified.’

Job had everything, and he lost everything, literally. But he was still concerned about glorifying Lord’s name. How true, we came to the earth empty handed and naked, and will be leaving empty handed and naked. But we concern very much that we may loose what we seem to have in our hands. Job (source of income), family and friends, positions and reputations, posessions like car and house, our comfort zone, skills and knowledge, literally everything that has been added unto us.

The more we have the greater fear of losing them. And this truly can hinder our focus and service unto the Lord.

But the season is coming, that the heart of each ones will be tested once again by the Lord. Am I willing to give up what seems to be so dear to me for the sake of the kingdom? If anything other than kingdom has became more precious to us, we have lost the kingdom already. Fix your eyes beyond what you can see only in physical realm. If God allows something to be so dear to me just to take away, just to teach me the lesson of giving up for the Lord, I have no right to blame him. Rather, I should thank the Lord for the privilage of experience the pain of Jesus.

Isn’t he the one who gave up his throne up in his kingdom ( comfort ), and became a servant down on earth ( position ) , from having everything to having nothing (source of power, posession), and willing to bear the momentary seperation from The Father whom he has never been seperated from the creation of the universe (family). Not only that, he’s suffered a humiliation, betrayer, even an innocent death.

I am his follower.

I pray it be not only with my lips but with my life and action.