God's Heartbeat - Missions

Car laden with food provisions not money bags....

I must admit that it has been a long time since I was involved in any mission trip. The last mission trip was immensely heart-warming, good and left a lasting impression to my little heart. The lovely OA community there tugged at my heart and made me realised how fortunate I had been all these years and how humble they were. It made me humbled in so many ways and a better person, I guess. So, the opportunity for another mission trip was certainly a welcome soul nourisher. I just never imagine that it would be a really inspiring, humbling and a great nourisher to the soul experience. I am thankful for the opportunity to be of service once again and meeting up with so many wonderful people in the OA community and also the people in the mission team.

 

The wonderful mission team

I must admit that when I first heard the announcement that CCC Melaka would be working hand in hand with Capt Edwin Sim and his wife Sis.Lorna to support the OA community links for CCC Food Drive program, I was still contemplating whether to make a trip like this or not. Like I said, I ain’t no spring chicken and creaks plus tweaks in the bones does sound louder and crispier each time but somehow, the feeling for this one is different. I know, I know, “the heart is willing but the flesh is weak” quips does get to you from time to time, right? Somehow, I felt a different stirring inside and when that happens, it is usually for a good cause and I joined in.  I am also aware of my own volatile vocal thoughts and speech including my own shortcomings but somehow, I do love the Lord, I do love the outdoors, going back with the nature and loving the OA community in my own special way. That swayed my decision.

Our respected guide, Capt.Edwin Sim, Sis.Lorna and son, Ethan

So, as days goes by and with loads of work to finish at the office, I was really contemplating whether I am ready to shoulder the responsibility given and all that. Yes, I do questioned myself if I could help the team in any way I could. Finally two weeks before the trip, I signed up and I met up with Capt.Edwin Sim & Sis.Lorna, the dynamic & wonderful duo, in helping out the OA community. I must say, it has been a tremendous honour and privilege to be able to speak with them, shared their passion and ideas including their friendship and easy going ways. I am really amazed by such deep passion and commitment on their part which included their entire family in such a cause. I am truly and deeply humbled by what they have done, the passion to reach out and all they had gone through over the years helping out the OA community; moving on during tough times and pressing on despite difficulties and all alone in their quest at times.  Such dedication, commitment and passion are indeed rare these days and I have nothing but pure awe and respect for this wonderful couple.

Journey....

We started out as early at 7.30am on Saturday, 23/1/2016 and after a quick headcount and prayers, we were off. It was a tremendous feeling of satisfaction as I see basic daily provisions and love from the people who had contributed to this cause are on the 6 m/cars and a lorry. My heart cried out for joy as I know these provisions would go to the needy and in the hands of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

As I drove my team namely Joel, Shirley, Alex and J-Cyn ( there were 7 cars in a convoy and I was in the middle – the cars where laden with essential foodstuff and not money or bags of cash as claimed by some moronic leaders of our country! ) through the trunk roads leading the intended OA community, my heart was filled with gladness and thankfulness for the pioneering spirit of Capt.Edwin Sim & his family. They have done these acts of selflessness, good deeds and providing essential daily foodstuff for the OA community for the past 11 years! Such was the love of this couple to the people. What a spirit, really! People like the Panatua and the other people I meet in the OA settlement gave glowing tribute to this wonderful couple. 

River fun...

Their easy going way, friendly, ever smiling and good-heartedness had touched more lives than they will ever know. I am glad just to be on this journey with them and with the CCC mission team lead by Bro.Fook Meng. The CCC team comprises of a mixture of young and old but nevertheless efficiently and effectively carrying out our duties. There were the building team, the medical team, the children Sunday school team, food distribution team, music team, message team and drivers pool. It was good to see everyone working together for a good cause.

 

River fun..

I must add that in my 19 years of work travelling through the highways, byways, trunk roads, plantation roads, red earth road and sometimes difficult terrains, the journey to these places were truly challenging but made easier and accessible through the haphazardly built asphalt roads. I really could imagine roads those days when Capt Edwin Sim and his family first started out. Really salute them for roughing it out there! What a pioneering spirit – thank you for that invaluable lesson of pioneering!

Sis.Lorna, Ethan, J-Cyn,Jenny,Sophia Joy & Joo Li....

Anyway, I was assigned to the building team a.k.a the jamban team. We had a good laugh about it but the job needed to be done and it was done. Johnson, Dau Lim, Zachary, Uncle Thomas and myself made up the jamban team. What riot did we make! It was a light-hearted, full of joy & laughter including happy working bunch of bananas! Though our working condition is like a hole dug to accommodate our eventual lying place on the ground, it was hilarious working spirit that helped us complete our task. We were focused on our task to provide the very best we could though we ain’t no engineer nor specialist but we each have a heart to serve our Father above the best that we could. I must admit that I was really encouraged by my jamban team members who are fun filled people and the best part, we got the job done nicely. Though the physical body was pained, tired and exhausted by the back breaking work, it was worth every sweat broken and every energy spent in that wonderful pit.  

 

The jamban team members - Johnson, Dau Lim, Zachary, Thomas and myself.

Stopping for breather once in a while, it was heart-warming and joy in my heart seeing the essential food stuff being given out to help the families who are in dire need of them.  I do know a thing or two of how it felt to go to bed on an empty stomach when times are difficult. It was a life I once felt before but never with a grudge but hope for a better tomorrow. So, I am so glad that we can be a part of the team to help out in every way we could by giving out the essential provisions, spiritual togetherness in the love for Jesus and caring for one another despite our geographical differences. No families were missed and all that required assistance were given one. No obligations, no buts and no questions asked - If there was a need in that family, they would get the food provision bag without an aorta of hesitation or apprehension. I guess, the joy of being able to give and to be a part of that blessing was just fantastic.

 

Baung in nice kicap sauce....Yuuuummmmmmmyyy!

The Praise & Worship session, testimonies, youth service, children church service and finally, the sermon preached were beautiful, apt and tender. To stand up there and to speak a message or to give a testimony can be quite daunting at times but to speak in BM doubled up the daunting task but Hepzibah Ho, Gilbert, Shirley Kwon, Loreen, Capt Edwin, Aaron Liu and Bro.Wong Fook Meng made it all sound good. All the while, Daniel Teo and Robin together with the young people were out on their rounds handing out the goodies of provisions with the local leaders. It is a real joy seeing the younger people passionately moving about and doing their best for the Lord!

The tasty and lovely wild boar fare....yum yum yum...

I also managed to meet up with Pst.One (not his real name for safety reasons - for you may never know who & when the envious, devious and the fanatics including parang wielding thugs will retaliate ! It is serious people, serious! ) and his wife, Sis.Two ( not her real name either for safety reasons ) who had diligently and passionately served amongst the OA community for the past 11 years. In fact,for many years Capt Edwin had been working along side Pst.One and another leader, Pst. Three ( not his real name - for safety reasons ) in serving various OA communities diligently. I am even more thankful knowing that where Pst.One & Sis.Two were from and it was good to connect with them. The ever smiling, Sis.Two helped made the fishes ( baung, sebarau and lampan Jawa ) I caught tasted so much better through the banana leaf wrapping which she recognised immediately as our won shared way. I felt very blessed indeed.  Felt so at home with the open fire pit to the shelter of the night right through the river ways.  What a blessing indeed! I felt right at home…….actually…..

 

My midnight fishing crew.....Johnson, Dau Lim & myself

Another blessing which I felt worth mentioning was spending time at the river. Against the backdrop of a beautiful secondary jungle setting and mountainous view, slight breeze and rustling cooling waters, it was a welcome sight and sound when the jamban team arrived later at our intended shelter for the night. The rest of the team members had moved on earlier to Kg.Two as the jamban team had to finish up work at Kg.One that day. 

Hep and her boyz, Aaron, Joel & Alex....

With one of the elder in our car, Johnson, Uncle Thomas and myself had a riot of a time with him. We laughed, joked and there was even time for seriousness as we spoke of the plight of the OA community. The lines on his face, the roughness of his hands, visible scars and the deep tanned skin does show a seasoned man in his element of persecution, difficulties and harshness of life. I can’t imagine the difficulties and persecutions they had to go through daily especially with the local authorities and some of the hostile locals. My heart bled that day as we spoke to the elder of the persecution, cruelty and of the atrocities carried out on the OA Christian community. But I marvelled at their tenacity, patience and endurance to put firmly their faith in the Christ Jesus. I am really humbled by the experience and I know, God is a miracle working God and all Glory to Him!

Fun loving young women, J-Cyn & Loreen......

Upon arrival at Kg.Two, the sound of the river awakened my soul immediately. I immediately went for a dip as that was the most logical thing to do after sweating it out at the pit and you wouldn’t want anyone to smell your “aroma” at that time!! The water massage through the fast flowing water was the simple luxury at that beautiful place. What a great rest indeed! I felt at home and I shouted out loud in my heart,”I am at home, Lord!” I could have caught 40 winks had it not been the water splashing by the playful mission team members. Young and old alike enjoyed the time out there in the river. Dark clouds started to gather successfully signalling the imminent heavy down and we had to get ourselves out of the waters. I wished I could spent more hours there and I eventually did something which was unthinkable for a 51 year old bloke!

Simple fishes for breakfast....

At about 12.00 midnight and as I was still very much awake, I laid out the fishing net I brought for night fishing together with Johnson & Dau Lim hoping that we would catch some tasty fishes for breakfast tomorrow morning. I tell you, some of the team members were pleasantly horrified and there were genuinely concerned people about doing such a thing. in the middle of the night. With a mischievous tint in my eyes, I told myself that I am here on God’s mission and to enjoy myself – If I get to see my Lord earlier than I should, it would have been a perfect gift for me. If not, I would have some pretty nice size fishes for breakfast! Well, I guess, I could actually scare some people or make people uncomfortable when I do spontaneous things like that. To me, how often does a city dweller like me get an opportunity to do things like this which is dear to my heart as a young child then? I guess, the opportunity to re-live that day and enjoying it was just simply too much for me to resist!

Hardworking fella, Daniel Teo.....

Sleep was hard to come by as the body exhausted itself of its energy not because of the place of shelter which I would consider a very good shelter for rest, actually. I woke up early that morning and enjoyed the morning breeze as Capt Edwin told me that the mornings are marvelous times. The crisp, dew filled and clean fresh air filled my lungs that lovely morning. It was such a change and such a clean feeling. The lovely environment together with the great morning breeze helped in some many ways to beautify the surrounding landscape and perked up that early morning. The thought comes to my mind, “ Why should anyone in their sane mind wants to deprive/take over/robbed or even drive the OA community off their lands and space? “ The answer is a simple one – PURE GREED, WICKED & CORRUPTED HEARTS!  Big bullies - only in numbers that you are daring enough to do such nonsense!

 

Two young lovebirds, Robin & Jaclyn...

Anyway, I must be honest to admit that I was praying very hard to the Lord for the baung fish and when I saw a baung in the net, I was ecstatic indeed. Then when a sebarau fish appeared together with a lampan Jawa, I was more than happy. I am thankful to the Lord for providing to the wishes of an old bloke like me. What a great feeling inside! Now, everyone could have a small sample of what nature could provide if we truly maintain the beauty and eco-balance of Mother Nature. My heartfelt thanks to Johnson and Dau Lim ( OMG, he was shirtless some more! My hero,man! ) for being crazy enough to join me for the midnight, early morning and mid-day fish netting activity. 

Ever creative, Joo Li & daughter Sophia Joy

Truly I am an outdoor person and it was good to ignite those feelings again as it had been ages since I have been with Nature. Love that feeling a lot…..miss it too…perhaps missed it too much. Now, cham liao, it was difficult to answer to SLing what I was doing on a mission trip like this when I should be doing something else! Sure kena query kau-kau! Hahahahahahaaaaaaa...........

Johnson,Thomas,Dau Lim, Alex & Gilbert.....

I guess, my personal most satisfied feeling was getting everyone that was around to taste the fishes. To me, that’s God’s creation and how good it is to sample the very simple things of life out here. We take so much for granted each day and yet the simple things in life such as these fishes were overlooked for other luxuries but out here in the woods, it is the simple that is best. To see smiling, amazed and lighted up faces made it all such a worthwhile feeling. I am thankful to the Lord for providing the fishes that morning and together with Sis.Two's wonderful fish steaming skills. By the way, the wild boar cooked in kicap sauce made by Sis.Two, her daughters and other womenfolk, BEST IN THE WORLD!!! Double thumbs up!

Gentle giant, Zachary....

I am truly blessed by being a part of this team and I am blessed that somehow, all the dots of links, contacts, occurrences, conversations, meetings, services and good will somehow be connected in one way or another. That is God’s link and server, I guess. The congregation at both the kampongs were not only courteous, respectful and warm, but happy as well. The medical team were there to administer whatever they could for the good of the people and it was their first experience serving the OA community. I could see that the young people were truly inspired and full of zeal serving the cause. I guess, simplicity is their way of life and a great reminder to urbanites like us to continuously thank our blessings, be grateful and help out in whatever way we could.

 

Yeah, we complete it.....the jamban team...

Lastly, all these inroads and opportunity to contribute, serve and be of service are made possible for people like me and the team because of one man’s passion, Capt Edwin Sim, alongside with his equally loving & courageous wife, Sis.Lorna and his children, Charmain, Lara and Ethan who believed firmly in what they were doing and working alongside our Father in Heaven to fulfill the Word of the Lord , “ If you love me, feed my lambs.”. They did not literally just fed the people - their hearts, their zeal, their countenance of love, compassion, mercy and grace lighted up the entire community horizon bridging man to God and changing the spiritual landscape of the indigenous people of our nation; one person at a time, one family at a time, one village at a time and one tribe at a time. No trickery, no promises of lucrative deals,no usage of cash incentives, no arms twisting with rough house tactics, no intimidation with use of violence, no robbing of lands and what not. Just the bearing of a simple heart of God, sacrifice and trusting God for the right thing to do. Compassion equals passion. 

Beautiful rays from the sun ....approval from the One above.......

We can all do something for the OA community – you and me.  We need to stand up and offer any help we can to ensure that they do not get oppressed, suppressed and neglected just because they seemed different from us. In fact, they are not different from us. They are our brothers, our sisters and our friends living in this land just like you and me. Trying to eke out a living and trying to bring up their families to live in their own special ways.  They too deserved to have a life of their own, see their children grow up, be successful and eke out a life they can call their own. Lest not allow people to steal their lands all for name sake of developments or trickery by the use of money or even robbed their lands for namesake of agricultural cultivation. I pray that justice will prevail for the OA community and God’s restoration & favour upon their lives. Let us not just throw a fistful of ringgit and allow others to do our work. We all can contribute more than that fistful of ringgit because God had enabled each and everyone of us. The talents granted to us have been enormous. It is not about money or an excuse to give when you have a surplus in your church, your bank account, your storehouses or your coffers. It is about reaching out to lives, giving from the heart and caring like Jesus does.

I constantly reminded of this quotation and I leave this quote to your heart :

“When you have no helpers, see your helpers in God. When you have many helpers, see God in all your helpers. When you have nothing but God, see all in God. When you have everything, see God in everything. Under all conditions, stay thy heart only to the Lord.” – Charles Spurgeon

** This article is specially dedicated  to Capt Edwin Sim, Sis.Lorna & their children **