Land of the Hornbill, Land of His people.

About 7 years ago, I embarked on my first cross-cultural mission trip through Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES)'s STOMP (Students Together On Mission Partnership) into the interior of Sarawak, visiting and ministering to the Iban people. Ever since that experience, I believe God deposited in me a certain passion for this people group.

Ah, the beautiful land of Sarawak, Land of the Hornbill :)

Some may say that among other local tribes, the Iban are by far the most civilized in infrastructure and lifestyle. Moreover, over the years the gospel has penetrated into the Iban people and many have come to know the Lord. As such, some may hold to the belief that perhaps the Iban should not be the prime focus for evangelism and ministry as they've been reached and they are somewhat developed in their lifestyle. However, the more I made trips into the interiors of the Iban people, the more I'm convicted that they are still very much in need of evangelism and ministry as much as other unreached ethnic groups.

Upon arrival at Kuching Airport, we were transported to Lubok Antu, about 4 hours drive south east of Kuching.

Past by Pantu! The place where I first had my Iban mission trip 7 years ago!

"Lachau", Iban language for lizard, a small town for our rest stop.
Been here almost all of my Iban mission trip thus far.

I had the opportunity to once again revisit the Iban people sometime this month. Lubok Antu, located in the district of Sri Aman division, is a small town populated by the Iban people along with other local races. It was quite fascinating to me because even the chinese looked like Iban and spoke flawless Iban as well! My team and I spent 7 days within the area of Lubok Antu and visited in total 5 different "rumah panjai" (Iban longhouses).

We visited two longhouses, Rumah Panjai Ukom and Rumah Panjai Bara, which were accessible by land, approximately 20-30 minutes drive from our base. Many of the longhouses in Sarawak (not all) that are accessible by land are more developed as compared to those which are accessible by water. Both these longhouses are comparatively modernistic in nature. Unfortunately, we didn't had the chance to stay over at both these longhouses. We only spent an evening there sharing, encouraging and ministering the word to them.

Harvest Baptist Church, Lubok Antu.

Lubok Antu town, a small cozy town where everyone knows everyone. They don't even lock their car doors! 

One of the many pleasures of Sarawak. Sarawak Laksa... Personally, it's nicer than Penang Laksa :P

Ukom Longhouse. The Iban are a beautiful group of people. Conducting our first service.

My fellow brother praying for one of the "ibu"/aunty.

It was a joy to witnessed baptism of 12 fellow brothers and sisters! What more, baptism in a river, biblical sound! ;)

However, we also had the chance to stay overnight and spend good quality amount of time with three other longhouses which were accessible by boat. Our first longhouse, Rumah Panjai Menyiling, took us about 45 minutes by boat. The family who hosted us was really hospitable and lovely. Although the longhouse had about 30+ rooms, it was a sad sight to see that many of the rooms are vacant. It was devastating to hear that many families had already left the longhouse due to unresolved family dispute. There was a great burden for family reconciliation in this longhouse.

At the jetty waiting for our boat ride.

Behind me is actually a damp. So we were riding through a lake. Beautiful nonetheless. I enjoy boat rides during mission trips because it gives me time to reflect and really soak in the awesomeness of who He is. Just the mere sight of His creation around me overwhelms me!

Our first interior longhouse, Rumah Panjai Menyiling. 

A good assurance from God that sports truly is a powerful mediator. Every evening, the boys in this village
plays "sepak takraw". Got me thinking of buying my own "takraw" ball.

Amazed by His creation.

Our next stop the following day was Rumah Panjai Mengka, approximately 20 minutes boat ride from Menyiling. Mengka longhouse is quite exotic, traditional in its physical structure yet well decorated and maintained in the interior. Reason being, Mengka is one of the few longhouses in Lubok Antu that is a primary pit stop for tourist. There are organizations that bring tourists to visit Mengka on quite a regular basis. Unlike Menyiling, Mengka longhouse is filled with families. Although there isn't family dispute, there is still a certain division between the families due to religious denomination. When we held the night meeting there, not all the families in the longhouse joined us. Only a handful who were of our "denomination" attended. Again, disunity is a pitfall.

Another boat ride into our next longhouse.

Many of the Iban longhouses are located next to streams of water.

Mengka Longhouse is a beautifully maintained longhouse. Exotic and an eye-catcher to tourists.

This is what we call "berandau", Iban language. Equivalent to "fellowship" or in more youthful term, chilling out ;)

The following day we moved on to Rumah Panjai Spaya. Somewhat similar to Rumah Panjai Mengka, Spaya is also well maintained as it is also quite a hub for tourists to visit. One of the things that stood out in this longhouse is the leadership and caliber of the well respected head man. The headman, also known as "Tuai" in the Iban lingo, is involved in the development of the longhouses in that area and he is also involved politically in the development of the Iban people as well. Their longhouse uses micro-hydro to generate electric supply. It was encouraging to see many that the people in this longhouse were opened to come for ministry service. Many needed prayer of healing and blessing.

Spaya Longhouse

The use of micro-hydro to generate electric supply into longhouses is really a positive development for the Iban community. Many organizations are helping to "reinvent" cost-effective micro-hydro in hope of helping the Iban community. Praise God for that.

Another highlight of my trip there was to meet up with an old friend. He was my Iban "teacher" during my first mission trip in Sarawak (STOMP 2007!). We then had the opportunity to serve and go on a mission trip together in 2009. Although we only met for about 45 minutes or so, it was truly a blessing to me to just hear his passion for God. His humble and servitude spirit always stands out to me and it's something that I really look up to him for. Keep the passion burning, bro!

Joshua Pandong, my Iban teacher, and I at Kuching Airport catching up.

Looking back, God orchestrates many different experiences in our lives to make it a defining moment of who we are and will become. For me, friends like Joshua and the people in Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) really ingrained in me this passion for the Sarawakians'. Likewise, I do hope that in my many trips into the interior, God would orchestrate my life to be a defining moment to others through what I say, pray and do.

All glory to Him.