c.o.n.s.t.a.n.c.e.: Mission

Other than my mission trip to Surabaya during my school term in SOT, I’ve never been to any mission trip that is not lead by Shirley.

So this year, I decided to sign-up one with church and just go.

I have a confession.

I found out that Cindy will be leading the team and only realise that the other team members who are going are the other secretaries of the church.

These people are the ones who handle admin stuff and are very high C.

With my break-down last year triggered by administrative stuff, I was pretty scared to go with them.

But who knows it ended up to be one of the best mission trip that I’ve been to!

Unlike previous mission trips where most of us got to share testimony, offering or messages, this time around none of us got to all the above.

Cindy was in charge to share about our church administration and we were assigned to organise children program.

So the preparation I did for this mission trip was pretty different from the previous.

Instead of preparing all sort of messages, I prepared song chords and my ukulele.

At first, we did not plan to bring ukulele since Francis can play guitar, we leave it all to him.

But during our meeting before the trip, I just felt like I should bring ukulele and I did.

I almost wanted to not bring ukulele the day before we departed, but I glad I did because it was really a life saver!

I didn’t give much thought into this mission trip.

I was super chill and relax and just wanted to handle things at it is.

So whatever they wanted to do, I just go with it.

And whatever is needed at the moment, I just do it.

So at the end of the day, I did a lot of stuff that I never imagined myself doing.

I lead the children into singing and doing action for some children song.

I lead worship using ukulele in a girls home while the others ministered to the girls there.

I sang more than four songs using ukulele to some elderly and leaders while waiting for my other team members to come back.

I lead twenty to thirty of children who have no idea what I was doing in games.

All in all, I did whatever that was needed without planning much ahead and it was AWESOME!

I think because I didn’t set any expectation for this mission trip, that’s why whenever and whatever they asked from me I will just do it.

The fear that I used to have is no where to be found!

So free and liberating!

Totally enjoyed every moment of the mission trip!

One thing I regretted was I didn’t join the worship team during praise and worship.

J handed me the mic but I told him no.

By the time my decision was shaken, he took away the mic already. Haha.

Maybe he was just joking when he said that.

Oh! I regretted I didn't join not because I think my singing is very good.

But because their worship was so good that day I think the experience of it will be AWESOME!

When I first heard them rehears from far, I already have goosebumps!

And when they started to play the FIRST song, I’m already tearing!!!!!!

The presence of God there is SUPERB!!!!

Totally worth going there again! XD

Their hospitality was also super AWESOME!

J and LA were really very friendly and nice throughout the whole trip.

They provide us good food which I already miss and also bring us around.

The first few days were a bit quiet because we still don't know each other.

But at the end, we begin to grow closer and we were all joking around! #destiny

And one thing I’ve never expected to experience in this mission trip is the fellowship and relationship with my fellow mission mates.

As mentioned, when I found out is them, I freaked out a little.

I thought I will just be quiet all the time and just observe and listen to them.

But gosh! We had so much fun together!!!

Not only during our different sessions, but also the time that we just talk to each other!

We talked until 3:30 in the morning during our last night there!!!!

It’s amazing!!!!!

Thank God they can accept who I am as a person because sometimes I can be so weird! XD
#SheepWithoutWool

Didn’t regret going with them and thank God for having the chance to know them especially Cindy because she’s leaving KL soon.

But really, thank God for them.

Photo spamming time!

Below photos stolen from Francis

I also took this opportunity to play with my fake GoPro and here’s the video of our trip.

Behold! This is going to be a very very long post with pictures and everything!

I went to Myanmar for mission trip from 23/5 till 29/5. This prove how ~~lazy~~ busy I am for the past one month since I only updating my blog about this now. Hohoho. Better late than nothing right? XD

Let's get started! (Please forgive me of the low quality pictures. I'm too lazy to edit one by one! ><)

Day 1
We took an early flight to Yangon, is a 2 and a half hour flight and I slept like a pig.

This is where we stay!

Is surrounded with a lot of beautiful buildings.

We were glad that there is WIFI in the hostel for us to ~~post Instagram~~ keep in touch with our family members in Malaysia.

All of us were so tired after the flight so we decided to just take a nap before hunting for food!

Because we were too hot, they fan us! Hahaha!

The food here is cheap and DELICIOUS!!! I'm so in love with their food there. It wasn't as salty or sweet as described by my friends who came previously. It was just nice for me!

Since it was our first day there, is just free and easy. So we decided to go to a mall to have dinner.

We took taxi there, is around 20 minutes drive but it cost us very little but I forgotten how much already. Interesting fact about Myanmar, unlike Malaysia where we only have right hand drive, they have BOTH in Myanmar! Crazy right! And their traffic flow is exactly opposite from ours. We keep left, they keep right. We turn left in roundabouts they turn right. But for my one week stay in Myanmar, I don't see any car accident (Only one motorcycle accident which happened in the kampung area and not the main streets). I think because they drive pretty slow there.

Back to our dinner. We went to this restaurant and we LOVE the food there. But sadly none of us remember the name and we couldn't have it again before we go back Malaysia.

All of us were still hungry, so we decided to go to the restaurant next door. The waiters there were shocked and were laughing at us! LOL!

But the shops there close very early. So we only get to try one other restaurant that is kind enough to have us in.

Love the plum juice! Yummy!

Day 2
We had devotion before departing from the hostel. Love the word David shared with us! I suddenly got a revelation that going mission is not only about helping the people but what we really need to do is to empower them. Because the money we give can only do so much, sooner or later they have to be independent.

We were separated into 2 groups. Shirley, Jan and Hazel went to buy medication and the rest went to the National Children Conference.

The children at the conference were amazing! They do performance, lead praise and worship, pray for the 7 pillars of the society and preach the word of God! I felt like a backslider compared to them.

Later that night, we went to a church where the Global Outreach Day Conference will be held the next day. We were there to practice the dance and I was doing decoration with Yunn Yuan and the other girls.

We did not have any scissors so Leonard and I went to the streets to look for scissors. Thank God there are shops just opposite the church and the owner speaks English!!! TT

We stayed back until very late and we had dinner somewhere near by. The food was superbly nice! Is like Malaysian Chinese style but cheaper and better! hahaha

Me, Anthony and Yunn Yuan passed by a bakery and we bought some food back! Man! The bread there is CHEAP!!!! We bought A LOT!

Day 3

We went for the conference and David preached, Kevin Khoo shared testimonies and some other members performed dances and A Capella.

After that we were split into two groups again whereby one went to another location for the conference and the other went to minister in a church.

I was in the second group. We took cab to the church and by the time we reached there is already late. But the culture in Myanmar is very good. They don't mind waiting for the preacher, that's how flexible they are. Leonard preached in this service and Angie shared her powerful and amazing testimony. (I don't have any picture because my phone had some problem)

After the service, we didn't have much time to rest. Instead I have to prepare my sermon for a CG meeting later that night. So me and Jan were walking around looking for a shop that could help us print out our sermon. Thank God that the typing school we went the other day were kind enough to help us for free.

For the night session, we were split into 2 groups again whereby each group will be ministering to a CG.

To go to our CG location, we had to take bus. The buses there are open air and there isn't any air-condition in it.

On the way to the CG, I actually stepped on a rat! I could feel the rat struggling to run away and it was screaming. And so were me. ><

During the CG meeting, we see children memorizing scriptures, young people doing some simple performance, testimony sharing and they also prayed for one another. I preached on dreams that night. I can't say for myself that it was good, I felt I can do better. But I thank God that the pastor was blessed. And that means a lot to me.

Day 4
We were separated into teams to minister in different churches. I was in the same team with Andrew, Debbie and Anna. It took us hours before reaching the church! The church is actually a orphanage home. There were a lot of children there.

We did a short performance for them and then I shared my testimony and Debbie preached.

The kids were super cute! They LOVE to take photos!

They are very discipline too! They sing praises to God and memorize scripture before having their meal. Man! What have I been doing in my life?!

Life is simple there. There isn't any TV or computer. But they have their own entertainment.

And I love the environment there!

We then went back to the church that we went yesterday as Shirley they all were ministering there. Our team lead the praise and worship, did special performance, share testimony and preached! And the present of God was super strong! Love it!

Later that night after dinner, a few of us went to Pagoda. The famous temple of Myanmar where they will deposit one thin layer of gold every year. So the gold should be very very thick right now.

Day 5
Today is our first medical booth day. We were separated into 2 teams again to 2 different location. I was in charged of entertaining the kids with Pooi Yan and Mark Poh. My job was pretty simple, I just need to distribute candies to those kids who won the games.

Mark showing off his dance move and teach the kids how to dance.

The kids there are very poor. They grew up in an environment where they need to be independent. You will see young girls taking care of their little brother and little sister. Life is tough there. But in their lack, they have the purest and most generous heart I ever seen. One of the kid who won a candy did not keep it to herself, instead she gave it to a younger kid who was too shy to play the game. I was touched. In their lack, they showed generosity. Yet in our abundance we can be so self-centered sometimes.

I also prayed for a kid whose fingers are joined together. (But no picture, cause I was praying!)

I was super hyper that day! I don't know why! I even volunteered myself to go buy medicines! And I was super thick face to ask for discount even though I don't speak their language! But it was a great experience!

The same night we went to have dinner and it was a very special dinner because one of the team member "secretly" plan with us to propose to his girl friend. Long story cut short, I was the laughingstock that night because when the whole proposal was going on, I was busy eating. LOL! I did cheer for a while when Richard was singing his love song to Grace. But when he knelled down and say his proposal speech, I started to lose my concentration and started eating! Hahaha! I wanted to stop, but I couldn't helped it. So all of them laughed at me. Until now. ><

Day 6
Our second day for medical booth was at this very isolated but nice place. I love the houses there and there was a well there too!

My job is still the same! Accompany some kids to play and give them candy.

I wasn't feeling well that day. I think I laughed too much while eating during the proposal the day before.

After that we went to the venue where the stationary donation will be held the next day.

Shirley brought us to a emporium where we bought coffee back. Apparently the coffee in Myanmar is really good. I'm not very sure because I don't drink coffee, I just buy for the sake of buying them for my sister! >< Spotted a few ~~Hong Hong~~ Eeyore there too!

Day 7
The last day of our trip. We went to this flee market to get some souvenirs but I didn't get anything other than a ready made face cream which is surprisingly good! Even though Myanmar is dusty, but the people there have NO pimples! Why?! All because of this!!

Is actually a tree trunk and you just grind (mill?) it with water on that stone and then you will get some sort of paste. Just put that on your face will do. I cannot buy this back, so I bought the ready made ones. And was super cheap also!

Then we went to the Stationary Donation Ceremony where I with some other member need to lead the kids in dance and we did some balloons for the kids too! Well, not some, but A LOT!

After that, we head back to the airport and we fly off back to Malaysia.

You see the clouds? There were a storm right after we left Myanmar! Thank God for good weather for the past week!

Some other pictures

Our daily breakfast provided by YMCA: