G-STOMP 2009: The God who provides!

I know it's a little way overdue, but as promised, I'd like to share my experience on my third trip into the interiors of Sarawak.

I hope you're blessed.

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Going back to the same mission field for the third time, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Why go back to the same place for the third time?

Let’s take a few steps backwards.

In 2007, I had my first taste of mission work amongst the Iban community through FES’s inaugural S.T.O.M.P. It was my first cross-cultural short-term mission trip. In hindsight, I can honestly say that that very experience was a ‘life changing’ one for me.

S.T.O.M.P. 2007

Then came S.T.O.M.P. 2008, in which, I had the desire to participate once more with the purpose of revisiting and to see the seeds that has been sowed by the previous STOMP team. Again, it was significant in more ways than one.

S.T.O.M.P. 2008

Upon returning from STOMP 2008, I was encouraged and challenged by friends to organize my own mission trip back to this particular community again for the third time. Although it was a challenge that stirred something within me, I hesitated at the thought of it simply because it seemed a little out of my capabilities. I waited for a ‘sign’ just to be sure. After finding out and confirming from FES that they won’t be organizing STOMP 2009, it was as if God himself was challenging me to go for it!

The task ahead seemed daunting.
And it was.

In October 2008, I kicked start this mission by first getting a core group of people whom I knew have a heart for mission, people who have participated in STOMP either in 2007 or 2008. Thank God for these people as they played integral roles to see this mission trip through. Truly, it was inspiring and moving to know that although we were all from different parts of Malaysia (the core group consisted of people from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh and even in Sarawak!) and from different backgrounds (work, churches, race, etc) we still had one heart to serve this community and ultimately, to serve Him.

God’s hand was just beginning to move things for us. From there, we began to network with people from Sarawak and God once again proved to be a great provider as two graduates from Sarawak confirmed with us to be part of the team! The Semenanjung team had our first meeting in December 2008 in KL while our two graduates from Sarawak met up in Kuching to get things going. In February 2009, we had our first “online chat” meeting via MSN! It was quite an experience! :)

After much planning, we finally came up with a name -

Graduates Serving Together on Mission Partnership 2009 (G-S.T.O.M.P. 2009)!

Since S.T.O.M.P. was something that FES initiated in the first place and since we were working alongside them, we decided to maintain the original abbreviation of ‘S.T.O.M.P.’ in respect of representing as well as continuing the mission that they first started, while at the same time, projecting a new beginning for us as Graduates.

9th May 2009 - we finally took off from LCCT, Kuala Lumpur to Kuching International Airport! The day has finally arrived for us to meet together for the first time as a team! Being back in Sarawak meant different things. For many of us, it was reliving certain experiences and it was both sentimental and special.

Arrived at the Kuching International Airport.


Team G-S.T.O.M.P. 2009!

We spent the first 2 days in Kuching for a short training and briefing session together as a team. We focused on a few aspects such as team building, perspective towards mission, learning Iban and its culture, sharing and commissioning.

Sharing, training and briefing sessions!


Our welcoming banner :)

It was good to spend the first two days together just as a team as we lacked that opportunity prior to the trip. I personally learnt so much from my fellow comrades.

Last thorough check before we took off from Kuching.

11th May 2009 – 13th May 2009

After getting ourselves prepared as a team and made ready all our supplies, we finally departed from Kuching on an early Monday morning to Pekan Pantu. Our first longhouse was Rumah Panjai Enchiap...

Entering Rumah Panjai Enchiap.

Most of the people at this longhouse have already received Christ. However, being in the interior, they often lack the fellowship of visitors, especially young adults like us. I spoke to the Pastor who accompanied us about these people and he said that they lack encouragement in their relationship with God as life in the interior can be rather mundane. So, at this longhouse, we focussed on building relationships with the people there as much as we can. The ladies on our team spent almost every minute of the day with the ‘ibuk’ (aunties) and kids while the guys helped out with the rest of the men in a ‘spring cleaning’ session.

Kids whom the ladies from our team just adore.


Our ladies spending time with the aunties at the longhouse.


The guys helped out in the 'gotong-royong'.

During one of the services we had, we invited those who were sick and needed prayer to come forth and almost everyone stepped forward! As I prayed for some of them, I could hear them praying alongside with me. There I was, realizing how I'm a man of little faith! I realized the reality of how easy it is for us to go through the motion of praying for others and yet not believing in the prayer.

So often, prayer becomes 'second nature' to many of us who are 'long time Christians', so much so we don't realize that we have lost that child-like faith, giving in to worldly doubts. As I sat there and continued to pray for them, God rebuked me through this people - people with such humility that put me to shame in every way, people who's lives are lived with simplicity and people who's faith stood firm like a child believing in his father.
Instead of me giving something to this people, they gave me something in return.

The 'Kebaktian' (service) we had at Rumah Panjai Enchiap.

After spending two days with this people, it was time for us to move on to our next longhouse. We had to say our goodbyes. The people cried when we left. It's not something I've not seen before in previous mission trips but somehow, this time around it was different. I could feel a sense of intimacy and bond that has been forged between us and them. It's just... different.

The people we shared our lives with at Rumah Panjai Enchiap.

13th May 2009 - 15th May 2009

We proceeded to our next and final longhouse, Rumah Panjai Semawa.

Entering Rumah Panjai Semawa.

I visited this longhouse two years back on my first mission trip. Hence, I was pretty excited to see this people again. Upon arrival, my team mates and I felt a certain sense of sadness, almost as if it lacked joy. We all agreed to pray for God's overflowing joy to be upon this people and made it a point to just spend time talking and have fun with this people.

Hanging out with this people.
As they'd call it 'berandau' time.
:)

Two years ago, while I was at this longhouse, I remember helping them in building this church. And being back at this place and seeing that this church now stands tall, it's quite something.

Two years ago, I was toiling at this site!


2007: In the process of constructing the church.

However, we found out later from the pastor that they don't actually use this church simply because they don't have electricity and also due to the fact that they rarely receive visitors like us around. We knew that this people need a strong word of encouragement.

2008!
It's standing tall.

Another great thing happened while we were at this longhouse. You see, while we were in Sarawak, it was the draught season in most part. And trust me, it was hot. We were practically sweating 24 hours a day! At this particular longhouse, some of the people are dependent on rain water for daily usage. We all prayed earnestly for rain to pour down at this longhouse and its surrounding areas.

But guess what?

God provided the rain!!!

It's amazing how He works sometimes. What I treasured most about this longhouse in particular was my time spent with this one aunty. It's amazing how much you can learn from this people. The girls stayed at this aunty's 'bilik' (room) while we were at this longhouse.

I could remember this particular aunty from my previous trip and I realized that she spend most of her time alone in the kitchen. So, I decided to make a point to be there and do what I can to help her out in the kitchen. I had the privilege of getting to know her, her family and her life through our conversations in the kitchen. And just by understanding how this people live their lives is really something beyond us city kids. I remember this one time she offered me some of her food to eat even though there were so little left and food that she had to get by walking quite a distance for, yet she so generously offered them to me. Being one who grew up in the city and a middle class family, humility isn't the easiest thing to learn. Humility once again spoke loud and clear to me.

It was also an encouragement to us when one of their young adults there took up the challenge to play the guitar for us during one of our service! Praise God! Even better, after our service, he asked us for some of the lyrics and chords for the songs we sang during worship and at night, while our team were debriefing, we could hear them singing those songs at the other end of the longhouse. I remember all of us were busy talking and suddenly everyone just went silent for a few seconds, appreciating what God is doing with this people. God truly is working amongst this community.

Service at Rumah Panjai Semawa.


'Sekolah Minggu' (Sunday School) with the kids at Rumah Panjai Semawa.

In spite of the initial feeling of the lack of joy in this longhouse, we left this place with a renewed spirit and we pray that this people feel the same way too.

Saying goodbye to Rumah Panjai Semawa!

Difficulties:

In terms of the trip itself, my main concern was the safety and security of my team members. Being the coordinator this time around, it was a weighing worry for me whenever we got into the boat, whenever we had to 'mandi sungai', or whenever someone fell sick. But thank God, we are all in good health! :)

On a deeper level, my personal struggle was my confidence in myself and God, whether or not I am capable enough to see through this mission trip. Being confident has never been my strength. Moreover, I'm not a natural leader and never thought I'd be one but since God placed this burden in my heart, I knew it was something I had to do. And it wasn't easy coordinating everything through the means of internet but I guess God provided in the end. He always does. ;)

What I have learnt:

You know, during my first mission trip, the one thing that struck me the most was humility. And going back for the third time, it's as if I've come full circle and God reminded me something I've forgotten - and humility stood out for me in this trip. I guess amid the planning and organizing, I got lost in my purpose and it became more of 'accomplishing' something rather than giving glory to Him.
It's so easy for us to get entangled by events, programmes and activities that we forget the purpose behind it all - Giving glory back to Him...
Making Him famous.

Honestly, I've also learnt so much from my team members. I can't thank them enough for being so encouraging and united to see this mission through. Their passion for Christ is something that has fuelled me even more to burn!

I must say though, the one person that I have truly learnt and grew respect for would be Joshua, our counterpart from Sarawak. I've met him before in STOMP 2007 but never had the chance to really get acquainted. Having the opportunity and the privilege to work with him this time around was truly a blessing. His sincerity, humbleness and passion for Christ is something I respect and look up too.

Thanks bro' for being a great friend, brother and teacher to me! :)

My God who provides!

During our debriefing sessions in Kuching, we had a time dedicated to celebrate God's goodness to us and we personally are asked to name our God. For me, I didn't have to think for a second...

The God who provides!

Looking back at every step along the way, it's unbelievable how God has immeasurably provided me with people, good weather, safety, funds and so on. It's just one of those things that makes you go "WOW, You are AWESOME!".

What's ahead?

G-STOMP 2009 definitely kicked off something special for most of us. Word has it, another G-STOMP member has taken up the baton to organize the next G-STOMP trip next year! :) Will I be going back for the fourth time? If He calls, why not? ;)

When we started off, we decided on G-STOMP's objectives and we came up with three;

1. To continue to spirit of fellowship with the people in Pantu longhouses.
2. To witness the impact of STOMP for the past 2 years.
3. A time for personal spiritual growth and re-focus on relationship with God

I personally had a fourth one, which is, to inspire and to encourage believers (especially those city kids :P) to have a heart for mission. G-STOMP primary focus was on graduates who are already in the working world.

Until today, if you'd asks me, I would still be unsure if I'm actually cut out for mission work. But what I know is this, - if you do decide to go, then go with an open heart and trust that God will teach you something out of the ordinary and even if it seems ordinary to everyone else, it will be something special and personal to you.
And that, my friend, is Priceless.

From G-STOMPers to you people -
Thanks for all the prayers and support~!
Join us next year maybe?
;)