Strangers in our land.

In October 2005, a group of China students came to our church. It was a English learning visit for them. Celine was the person I greeted that Sunday morning, & you could feel her enthusiasm. It didn't take long to identify Jack as the class clown / representative. He's tiny in size, but we would know him as someone with a big heart. Angel deceived us all (me, at least) by dressing all white - a lovely blouse & a skirt - something I've not seen her wear since. Windy was the most confident of all & her walk up to the front to introduce herself to the crowd proved that. And Zizi - she always had a sweet smile.

Throughout the year we have bonded. We would house them weekly & take them church. We would cook for one another & eat together. They even joined us for Christmas carolling. We became like family. We loved them & they loved us right back.

In less than 4 weeks' time, they will all be heading back to our motherland, China. We decided to visit them at the place they are carrying out their training on Merdeka Day. My dad is away in US & there's a chance that they would not meet again. I didn't know why, but I did bring along the video camera & thought of a great idea - recording down what their "parting words" to my dad. There were tears - both of joy and of sorrow.

I saw the video several times as I showed it to May, my mom, my cell group... And I just marvel at what God has done. Each one of them had been touched by our little acts of kindness - both intentional & unintentional ones. God gave us the heart to love them, these strangers in our land, and they have professed to have felt the love of Jesus. I know 2 of them who has placed their hope and trust in this God of ours.

I hope they delay their departure. They have been a bundle of joy.

Fly Away

There's a saying that "if you can't beat them, join them". I say "if you can't beat them, run away and start a revolution. Make them join you". Never settle for the ordinary or the mundane or the acceptable or the norm... Never accept "Life's like that" or "whatever's like that"...

 

Life is short. Time is precious. More & more I am convinced that all that matters is loving people, receiving others' love for us, & giving our best in our circle of influence... So go on holidays with your family. Voice out when something isn't right, & don't let anyone silence you until change comes about. Learn to love. Care for people. Don't waste your time worrying or doing things that don't matter. 

 

It's time to fly. FLY.

 

_ joash.

 

Good News

Mom brought back a message similiar to what God is saying here to a bunch of us. That is God wants to love us. He wants to be with us, speak to us, enjoy us, care for us, laugh with us. It's as simple as that. Everything begins and ends in His love. Call it whatever you want - WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, EVANGELISM - all these we do in response and as a consequence of knowing that love.

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.

 

There's more to come.

 

 

a gist of an update

I want to pen down my thougths and everything in my heart, but at this present time my mind is bombarded with too many things. Went for Youth Pastors' School at Awana, Genting, last week. Being able to get out of work and enjoy good food, good fellowship, and good times is such a wonderful thing. I intend to give myself more holidays in the future. Throughout that time God has reaffirmed His direction for me & now my confidence is boosted. I'm not alone in this, and that's another thing I'm grateful for.

 

So many things are going wrong in work right now. I'm so glad & relieved that I don't have to part of this world system for long.

 

Mom is back from US. Thinking about my family and May as well, I cry. I cry because I know I am loved.

 

2 weeks of youth programmes have been interrupted & maybe it's a good thing. I have so much in my heart now & it's only right to have more time seeking God first.

 

Uphold me in prayer. I'll try to write again soon.