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.

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Face Your Fear

Remember that old school classic brand "No Fear"? I remember liking that brand for its awesome tagline that goes "Face Your Fears, Live Your Dreams". Just uttering that phrase kinda gives you this extra boost of courage and "ooopmh" to push yourself further. 

So, I've been actively involved in sport climbing for the past 7 months or so and coming from one who is afraid of heights, 7 months isn't too bad of a stint. I recall the very first time I had to climb the wall at Belia, I couldn't even get past the fifth panel! 

The first time is always the scariest. You feel most vulnerable and insecure. Will the rope hold my weight? Is the harness strong enough? What if I fall? Fear storms in like a hurricane and cripples you. And I was reminded that it's really okay if I didn't make it all the way up the first time. 

We're designed and made uniquely different. Some can climb all the way up on their first try, some can climb perhaps three panels. Yet, the thing I learnt most out of the 7 months of climbing is the power of decision making and pushing yourself at your own pace. 

IF I would've given up climbing just because I couldn't complete the route on my first try or because I was afraid of heights, I would have never improved and push myself mentally to where I am today. Just yesterday I tried something I never thought I was able to do. I climbed from the back of the wall through the scaffolding, setup up from the back and then repelled myself down! To me, it was a significant moment. To me, it was a milestone as I finally did something I never thought I could :) 

So long as our feet are on the ground of this earth, fears reside amongst us. It's what we choose to do with those fears that will ultimately push us upward and downward. God created us in such a way that we ought to rely on Him. Mental strength is one thing, faith is something else. Faith defies the realities of our world. It puts wings on our back which no common eye can see. Faith gave David victory over Goliath and Moses to part the sea. Faith allows us to face our fears, and to see through His eyes, the dreams that He so desires us to live out and live in. 

Face your fears, Live HIS dreams.

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Psalms 17: 8

"Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me." 

Psalms 17: 8

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Let Go, Let God.

In the past weeks, a lot has been said and shared in church regarding letting go of past bitterness. We all desire to move on from our bitter past into a better future. Easier said than done.

This week has taken quite a toll on me emotionally and mentally. Just praying and processing through things of the past which I really need to learn to let go totally drained me. I know for a fact that there are things in my past - things said and unsaid, done and undone - that I've been carrying, thinking and have crystallized over the years into a ball of bitterness. I just never really dealt with them over the years, just shelved them somewhere out of sight and hopefully out of mind.    

I'm not perfect. 

That is the first thing I really need to learn to deal with if I am to let go of my past. I'm not perfect. It's not an excuse nor a reason, but a reality of who we are in our very humanistic form and the very reason why we need God who is perfect in every way; I need God. Every time I try to deal with my past bitterness, I can't help but to blame myself and put myself into a pothole of condemnation and self-pity. Hence, I quickly shelve those things into a corner without ever dealing with them really. 

I'm not perfect. Yes, I've made many crucial and perhaps to me, life changing mistakes in the past. I have my regrets. That's the reality of what has happened in my life and who I am. But God in His perfect being, carves us into His perfect plan even through the past mistakes we've made if only we learn to admit that we're not perfect and we need Him to make us right. We begin our walk from bitterness to a better today and tomorrow by first allowing Him to hold our hand and walk side by side together on that journey.  

Letting go is terribly difficult. Just as my Pastor preached, sometimes we don't even realize it but we end up taking pleasure in looking back at the bitterness of our past mistakes because of its sentiments to us. All those precious "what if" moments that we cling on to. I know it will not take over night for me to lay everything down. But it begins somewhere. Today, it begins with a posture of humility to say I'm not perfect but You are Lord. 

Help me, Lord, to let go and let You in.

It's so difficult but teach me and grant me a humble heart.

Amen.

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The Tune

Jack's fingers gently ran through the white and black keys of the old dusty piano at the corner of the room. He wrestled for a moment, fighting the thought of actually playing the tune on the piano. He hesitantly pulled the piano chair and sat down, his fingers lay still on the keys.

This was the very same room years ago where he played the tune in the company of a dear friend. This was the very same room Jack's heart palpitated to the presence of Lucy. This was the very same room they would sit across one another without saying a word and yet felt comfortable and secure. This was the very same room in which he contemplated to confront her. He earnestly wanted to.. but he never did. He didn't know how. He didn't see how it could be. He couldn't risk it. Lucy's presence has since dissipated. Both have taken different paths in life. None knew what could have been. 

As Jack's fingers played the last note of the tune, he hears the shattering echo of the tune resounding in the empty room. 

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His Promises Stand Unshakable

I just came back from a blessed dinner given by friends to celebrate my belated birthday. As we had fellowship over dinner, one of them asked "What is the one main thing you've learnt in your spiritual walk this year?". As I chewed my dinner I thought about it. 

If there's one main thing I've learnt this year, it would be to rely on Him and him alone.

"Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God". 

Little by little, God has been breaking my threshold in learning to be dependent on him for daily and basic necessities. I've been encouraged by many who have and are walking similar path as I am, people who are sold-out for Him and are dependent on Him on a day to day basis. But truth be told, I still get cold feet when I see how empty I am, how limited I am in every aspect. It has been a humbling season for me. I know I'm running back back to the very basic of my Christian faith, to that place of total surrender, to that posture of telling God "Here I am, send me!". 

On my own, I will not be able to go on. I must learn to remain in His steadfast love which cease not. His promises stand unshakable. I need only to learn to lay back and rest in it. 

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"Frontliners" or "Sideliners"?

“We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess 

to know a Power the Twentieth Century does not reckon with. 

But we are "harmless," and therefore unharmed. 

We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors 

in this battle-to-the-death with principalities and powers in high places. 

Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brass, outspoken 

boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. 

We are "sideliners" -- coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers 

while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. 

The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. 

Oh that God would make us dangerous!”
- Jim Elliot -

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