My Reflection
I thought through how I was going to pen down my thoughts about this mission trip. Initially I thought it was going to be a breeze as there were so many wonderful things to say and to share with all my friends and family. Good things are easy to say, isn’t it? Not so. Then I found myself struck with inertia and speechlessness. Or perhaps I am still mired in awe of the miracles that took place and in adoration of the God I served. I am merely speechless.
The Devastation:
The devastation was evident in the eyes of the people. The sadness, grief and emptiness pierce deep into my heart and screams helplessly into my spirit. If I thought I had known what is pain and loss, check out these people who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their loved ones (some, their whole families) and face a life ahead of emptiness, loneliness and purposelessness.
The pictures of the dead, decomposed bodies, missing persons posters make one numb! That’s what it does to me…it sucks out the life of me, and leave me numb, lifeless and unbelieving. These bodies were black, bloated and beyond human form, most still had their clothes on, the beachgoers were still in their bikinis and trunks which became identification tools. Pictures of tattoos, watches, rings, and other accessories were quickly used to be identify the person. These people are devoid of human respect, reduced to no more than items to be identified, and short descriptions of ‘Foreigner, Thai, Male/Female or Child’. These were poignant scenes that will reside in my conscious mind forever, reminding me that eternal life is the most important thing in this earth, as our bodies will die and decompose one day, and be no more than items to be burnt.
Relief centres were set up at venues where villages were destroyed. In place of homes were identical small containers neatly built in rows. One for each family. There will also be a Temporary Health Care Unit to tend to the sick and ill. Babies were mostly naked (only saw 1 baby clothed) with no milk powder to drink. The men were usually not around, loitering around looking for work to do or chatting together with the other men. The women took care of the children, hung up laundry and chat with neighbours at their door-steps. Life was reduced to living by the day, waiting and nothing to look forward to. After the tsunami, the weather became intensely hot, dry and dirty. Children and even adults were seen sitting helplessly, hosing themselves down for long periods of time.
Human pride and stoical attitudes were prevalent in one or two villages. Perhaps it was due to the hardship they’ve been through, they were stoical in front of us, rejecting our help, receiving only our food donations. Their expressionless faces reveal their lives as it is, lifeless and meaningless, yet unwilling to embrace change and help. Grace and mercy to them.
The land was bare. One has to look at a pre-tsunami picture to know how a place used to be. Before us were stretches of bare lands with coconut trees standing tall that survived the storms. Resorts, houses and buildings were simply swept away wholesale. God showed me that what is man-made will not survive the storms of life, but what is of God will stand tall and live! How a great revelation this is to us who put priority on material things and trust in man. Such things will fade away but the Word of God will live forever.
The Restoration and Miracles:
The New Creation Mission Team visited the following 10 villages: Sankoo, Klong Dao, Nai Rai, Khao Lak, Putheao, Nan Kim 1, Nan Kim 2, Nan Kim 3, Bangniang and Ka Kat. If I could write the lessons learnt and revelations of God’s grace and love into books, the world would not be big enough to contain. The team penetrated the dark side with no prior knowledge of what we should not do and what is impossible. We were armed with 2 weapons- Gospel and the Anointing. The Gospel reached the depths of the hearts of the broken-hearted, lost, lonely and grieving. The Anointing pulled them out of the broken state and restored to them an overwhelming sense of peace and love. The miracles were both spectacular and supernatural.
When Wasana was slain in the spirit, man saw the spectacular presence and anointing of God. I was more touched and most awe-struck when the Love of God embraced Keaw so aggressively and yet so loving. Even my fellow Jouchae who laid her hands on Keaw behind her, was touched by the anointing love and was sobbing. I realized that indeed, at the end of the day, what truly matters and that which touches the deepest depth is the Love of God. The Love is the eternal and the permanent anointing that heals a person from the inside-out, not outside-in. This loving feeling will remain clear in my mind, especially in times when I feel lonely and empty.
When we asked Amber, the American missionary stationed in Chiangmai, why she is in missions for so many years. She said that when she sees lives changed and hearts healed, she knows it’s all worth it. Well said, what price can we put to healing for the sick/injured, love to the lonely, joy to the grieving, a smile to the sad, a sense of purpose and destiny to the lost and prosperity to the poor? At what price? The life of Jesus Christ! God paid the ultimate price with His Son so that we can be heirs with Him and receive all the blessings. How great and how awesome is His love.
Fellow missionaries:
Fellow missionaries just like you and me, salaried workers who live in decent urban comfort but who complain about stress and everything-not-enough. The mission trip made angels out of the worst ‘devils’ in us. Praise God that He is Lord and is Boss. ‘Room-mate’, as Samantha is called, is a funny girl who doesn’t know she is funny. Real, sincere and unaware of who she is, stumble along life with joy and simple pleasures. From Day 1, I felt led to tell her that she must receive the gift of tongues and learn to speak the heavenly language. This will help her to move in the spirit and all those things. For nights, I also took it upon myself to urge and encourage her to rise up beyond where she is, to fly with the eagles and not walk with the turkeys. That she must realize the potential God has placed in her, and to discover the destiny and calling God has placed in her. We talked till 2-3am on most nights. When I am not around, she takes care of my Snoopy and talks to him as I had instructed. Snoopy is my soft toy who comes along as my surrogate husband for hugging purposes when I sleep. Room-mate would turn on the TV for Snoopy to watch while we go out on missions. She does a great job of practising the Thai massage on Snoopy without accepting a baht. Thanks Room-mate, future Daughter-in-law, as she says she is now Snoopy’s girlfriend. *faint* That’s Room-mate for you. Last night, we had sms-Beach-talk. She sms-ed to ask if Snoopy misses her. Yeah, he did.
A pretty version of ‘Golliwog’ is Jacquelyn, with ‘lyn’, not ‘line’, as she specifically tells me. Ok, noted, Jac. Golliwog has strange curly hair at the ends, and jet black hair which God must have accidentally poured black ink on her hair when He was creating her. I shall ask God when we all go to Heaven one day. Golliwog is my age and half my size. She likes bright green panties, oops! Golliwog is really nice, and quite a confidante I am sure. We could share many chapters of our lives, and thoroughly understanding how we feel, without pretending to (which some people do). You know what I’m talking about?! She’s gonna be one gal I’m hanging out with.
June, not May or July…is the spunky lady who went scuba diving in Phuket 2 weeks before our mission trip. She asked me head and tail about skydiving in New Zealand, windsurfing, kitesurfing and other exciting stuff. My deepest conversation with June was when we were indulging in the 2 hours Thai Massage. I told her I would call her out for golf one fine day. It was funny that her golf club is near my home (east) and mine near her home (west).
Deacon Raj, better known as the interesting guy who has hair in his ears. He is so cool and secure in the Lord that stares from people don’t bother him one feather. He is anointed, real sweet and who else had waited up for me and Room-mate (and also James but Deacon didn’t really care about the guys haha) till 1:30am in the morning as we hung out late at night without telling anyone? I’m touched!
Many wonderful new friends I made but I just don’t have the time to do a description of. Forgive me.
I am Changed!
I am just so changed, inside-out and outside-in! My perspective of life, God, family and everything is now saturated with a purposeful touch! No, I’m not talking about objectifying the poor and making myself feel fortunate and blessed, at their expense. No. I am now so sure of myself, my calling and my destiny. I am so sure of my place in this world, and what I can do to make the world a better place, knowing that God will back me up and indeed, God WILL SHOW UP! I was surprised my husband could still recognize me as I am indeed changed! Ok, cut that out, corny. I endeavour to live each day with the intimate consciousness of His love and grace upon my life. All of Jesus, None of me.
Testimonies:
Below are testimonies of the ladies I had the privilege of praying for and laying hands on. All glory to Jesus that they experienced healing almost instantly and more importantly, knew that Jesus loved them and received Christ into their hearts.
Testimony 1: Maliya, 30 years old, has the condition of suddenly slipping into a coma and unconsciousness, and in the process, hurt herself quite badly. She showed wounds of her injuries which included stitches from the falls. Her eyes also cannot see properly. She has been having this condition since she was 14 years old. After prayer, she testified that she felt light and her burdens removed. She felt a transfer of faith that she is no longer worried and is confident that this condition will not come back again.
Testimony 2: After the first prayer, Yupen, 48 years old, felt that the pain in her leg had eased a great deal. Upon a translation of her testimony, we prayed a second time for complete healing and she testified that she felt heat went through her leg and the pain was completely gone.
Testimony 3: A few days before the tsunami, Wasana, 34 years old, experienced seizures and had many problems which she never had before. It was suspected that she may be spirit-possessed. She also does not know how to handle such attacks whenever she has them. She had received Christ when she was 7 years old but did not further her christian journey and growth as her husband (who left her for another woman, did not allow her to go to church). After the first prayer, she said she felt her hands shivering, suddenly cold and felt the presence of God. She was tearing and wanted more prayer. A second prayer was administered and specifically, casting out demons or spirits in her. She was slain in the spirit for about 5 minutes. When she came to, she said she felt weak and still shivering, but a big burden lifted off. She later invited us to her home to pray over her mother and son, as well as over her home. We advised her to rid the idols in her home and anointing oil was used on the doorposts and windows in her house.
Testimony 4: During the tsunami, On (44 yrs old) was pushed into a phone booth and she injured her back. After prayer, she testified that the pain is all gone and she is healed.
Testimony 5: Arirat (39 yrs old) had headache for a couple of years which comes suddenly. This could be due to worry. Peace, clarity of mind and freedom from worry was prayed on her and after the prayer, she testified that she had the faith that the headache will not come back again. She was joyful upon feeling the peace and had faith that she is healed.
Testimony 6: Noosent (39 yrs old) experienced headache, possibly migraine, which was very painful and all over the head. After the prayer, she said the headache was completely gone.
Testimony 7: During the prayer, a strong anointing of the love of God was prayed on Keaw (28 yrs old) and a tangible love anointing broke her into sobbing for almost 10 minutes. She did not respond physically to a hug but cried uncontrollably and remained hugged, and releasing all the grief she felt inside. Later, she testified that she lost her elder sister in the tsunami and she revealed that she really missed her. She now feels peaceful in her heart and feels the love of God. This lady showed the suicide wounds on her wrist. This lady was greatly ministered to by the love of God and that healed her broken heart.
Testimony 8: Jamya (50 yrs old) had pain in her legs (operation wounds) from a motorbike accident 4 years ago and her body was also aching. After the prayer, she felt much better.
Testimony 9: Bem (52 yrs old) has asthma and breathing difficulties which gets worse due to cough. Her lungs would be in discomfort and her symptoms appeared to be Pneumonia. After prayer, she testified that she felt much better and just as the team was leaving the village, she testified that she has easy and clear breathing. She started to smile and looked visibly joyous and relaxed.
Testimony 10: This elderly lady, Lun, 65 yrs old was sitting in a corner with a walking stick by her side and a friend beside her. She was invited from the next Muslim village which was presumably not receptive to the gospel and non-Thai speaking. We had not known these facts. We felt led to ask her if we could pray for her. We prayed for the joy and peace of the Lord to come on her. She had tears in her eyes and she testified that even the pain in her knees were healed. She felt much better during the prayer and her friend testified that she is visibly changed after the prayer in all these years. She had also, in the past, rejected 2 local pastors' prayers. She had, however, allowed us to pray for her, revealing that indeed, the favour of God was on the NCC mission team.
Testimony 11: Before prayer, the elderly lady's eyes were hurting, she was feeling nausea and dizzy all the time. Her knees also hurt. She had these conditions for many years and after prayer, all the pain and discomfort were gone.
Praise God and all Glory to Jesus!
Interesting animals including Exotic breeds. He loves this Big Bird!
We headed to Resorts World to check out the possibilty of going Universal Studios. Wow! It was indeed a different scene there. We did not feel like we're in Singapore! There were more tourists than locals there and the buzz is indeed 'happening'. They made great 'shelters' and mist fans everywhere-we did not even perspire. We did not manage to get into Universal Studios as tickets were sold out by 1pm. Muz be the Tour groups. Duh.
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