Saturday, December 20, 2008
The one week mission trip to Chiangmai was a totally new experience, one that I enjoyed very much. We visited two schools and a few churches that Pastor Timothy, who drove us around every day during the whole of this trip, had planted. Something really interesting in one of the schools was how the Buddhist students and Christian students would be seated in the same hall, but facing opposite directions. Both groups would then be worshipping in their own ways. Talk about religious harmony? hmmm...On Sunday, there was this Christmas event at Pastor Tim's church, where about four hundred people turned up. It was fun watching the various performances and seeing the faces of those who won in the lucky draw beaming so happily. I really pray that God spoke to the non-christians present on that day, that they will set aside time from their work, especially in the fields, on Sundays and go to church just to worship God.
At the start of the trip, I was hoping that the people whom we reach out to would immediately turn to Jesus,but I realised that God's timing is not our timing, and most importantly, His timing is perfect. I believe that the seeds we have sown would definitely bear many fruits in time to come. =)
There is this poem that I read, which seems so meaningful. Hope it will speak to you too!
What We Want and What They Need
Why worry about things we don't have
Things that we are unable to get
Is not life more than earthly treasures
And our faith more than mounting debt?
God has given us something more precious
Of more value than priceless stone
Nothing that the world can produce
Compares to worshipping at His throne
We can't take earthly treasures with us
What we have now will remain
So why struggle so hard to possess
What is temporal and subject to change
The Kingdom of God is what matters
And the souls left to die alone
The lost and the lonely living in despair
Those that have no place to call home
Just look around at the hopelessness
The state our society is in
A world untouched by God's generous love
Drowning in the darkness of sin
It gives us something to focus on
As we open our eyes and see
For God is screaming out for the lost
With tears saying ' come unto me'
And we His messengers must go to them
And show them His love and grace
For nothing will ever change in our world
If we don't put action to our faith
Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.
And the greatest of these is Love =) 1:17 PM