"My grace is enough for you; my great strength is revealed in weakness"

My Mission Trip Experience To Sabah
By Crisabel T. Tiu, Lifeline STM

When I heard that Potter and Clay program was having a mission trip to Sabah, I was really excited. I was excited because it was my hometown, the experience I could learn, the people we’ll be meeting and I had this feeling of satisfaction of finally being able to do something good for others and for the redemption of my soul!! Harrharr… Anyway beforehand, Anne Yong and I went out for short briefing on the mission trip, Stacie was able to join bit later, and while we were having lunch at a restaurant, we bumped into Sandy and she joined us in our discussion where Anne asked her to help translate some prayers etc. into malay and following that, she mentioned to Stacie and I that going for missions we have to be open to whom God sends and especially what God wants to give or do in ourselves. I understood what she said but took it lightly and subconsciously thought that there’s nothing much I need to receive, I was keen on my ability to give and help out.

During most of the days in mission trip though I really enjoyed it and had fun, sometimes I would seem ok or happy on the outside but deep inside I felt terribly depressed and heavy, it really brought my whole being down and I felt anger and rejection in my heart. I felt lonely because of the struggle I had to go through alone, feeling no one could understand what I was going through. I asked God again and again why I was feeling this way, for Him to take it away and was really disappointed and ashamed of the weaknesses in me that really surfaced to my knowledge during the trip. Before going for the mission trip, we gathered together for briefing and prayer, as we took turns to pray in a circle, I closed my eyes and saw a shadow-defined heart shape with light seeming to radiate from behind, along the prayers I felt warmth on my forehead and tears couldn't help but flow. I didn’t really understand why the reaction for it was only normal prayers we were having.

During the trip, memories also eventually resurfaced which brought a sense of regret of what could have been done but wasn’t, occasions I didn’t appreciate and hurtful memories. Along the trip I felt useless for not being able to give much and at some point of these feelings bundled up together which gave a lot of pain in my heart I tried to suppress which was really torturing emotionally and spiritually for me. After a while I realised that even before the trip I was already feeling burdened inside firstly because of certain hurts from situations in my family, relationships and other little things along my life that built up feelings of rejection, envy and hurt. In the Divine Office prayers we did with the villagers and with much reflection, it struck me that God was trying to tell me that there was much I was lacking, that inside I still needed a lot of work and healing. His words seemed so alive to me, coming to my sense what Living Word was all about, He didn’t have to talk to me in that booming voice I wanted to hear but He spoke so gently through the Divine Office, Divine Mercy prayers and ultimately through the mass we attended. I noted specially the Gospel on that day, 2 Corinthians12:7-10….Lest I become proud after so many extraordinary revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a true messenger of Satan, 3 times I prayed to the Lord that it leave me, but He answered, “My grace is enough for you; my great strength is revealed in weakness.”…..So I rejoice when I suffer infirmities, humiliations…persecution: all for Christ! For when I am weak, then I am strong. Receiving The Eucharist truly gave me so much peace and joy knowing that He’s always there for me, that my tears couldn’t stop flowing. I felt so renewed.

I was also caught up in my pride subconsciously thinking that I was more worthy in doing God’s work when instead I needed to have humility to be able to admit these weaknesses and I needed to receive help, healing and His graces before I can be able to serve in love. It’s true that no one can give what he does not have. These were the things I was ignorant towards and that I had to fully surrender, He brought it to my attention all what I was oblivious towards. It reminded me that it has been a while I’ve been praying for God to change my heart, called to mind the heart I saw in the beginning, suddenly it made sense to me, in His great love and mercy, He heard my prayers and wanted to change my heart and His shining rays wanting to bring what is hidden to light and thus being able to surrender what’s unknown for cleansing. I’m truly amazed by how much He wants to give us but what we often are unaware of, how much He wants to speak to us but often we are so insensitive towards. There are many weaknesses and struggles faced and I pray that always I can always change to become a better person, if not more Christ-like even in sorrow and hardships, to be able to receive and give humbly.

MIssion 101 - They are back and ready to rock the house!

So you guys have been following their journey throughout the past week and I'm sure you'd be anxious to hear what they have to say. And since this is the first time or rather in a very long time mission trip, it would be a great exposure as they come together in fellowship to share testimonies and exchanges of laughter!

We're heading over to St. Francis Xavier's Church along Jalan Gasing, PJ this Friday (17th July 2009). The "Missionary Experience" will be held at the Gonzaga Youth Ministry (GYM) at 8.00pm (to end approximately at 10.. It's going to be fun because Revolutionary Youth Ministry (RYM) & Junior Youth Ministry from SIC and Lifeteen SFX will also be there to come listen! It's almost like a district gathering but not really. Great time to mix and mingle around with our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Just give your CG Leaders a twinkle if you're interested to go!

*p/s: there is no central gathering or bible study this friday.

Mission 101 - Day 5

Sorry guys, the update is slightly lagging. Must be the "time-zone" in Sabah. The pace there is way slower than KL. :p

They had a debriefing guided by Sr. Imelda which was awesome! They shared about how God spoke to each one of them in their experience throughout the mission trip. They gave their individual feedback on areas to improve in the program in future. They left Tuaran for Martin's parents' house to stay, wash clothes and rest. Evening came, they met up with the KK Lifeline crowd where Alex shared about Saints while Crisabel, Jennifer and Stacie gave testimonies. The session was Spirit filled which called for supper after that :p

MIssion 101 - Day 4

Started the morning with a prayer in the open (outside the chapel) with the youths. Proceeded a gotong-royong at the chapel. Had some fun rolling under the sun whilst singing. Some took time to do a one-on-one (personal ministering) as well. Some even prayed spontaneously and felt God's presence in the chapel.

They travelled back to Tuaran and by evening, had a pot bless. They shared their experiences with the youths as well as church elders. Followed by fellowship of which one of the team members taught all of them to dance ROCK! Awesome fun! At night, some of the team members stayed up late to chat and ended up having a very moving sharing. God's Holy Spirit is truly present. Praise God!

MISSION TRIP!!

We are going on MISSIONS! Yes, you read it correctly. There are 8 Lifeliners from St. Francis Xavier’s Church and St Thomas More Church, who will be going to Sabah for missions from 29th June till 5th July. We also have a fellow missionary from France who will be joining us.

Who are we?

• Alex Chan
• Anne Yong
• Jennifer Lau
• Martin Koh
• Lei Sunn, Cheong
• Stacie Ng
• Crisabel Tiu
• Ee Lynn, Yap
• Buu-Vi
  

Why do we go on missions?
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you….
We are all commissioned to preach to Good News of Christ, and going on missions is just 1 way of doing what God is commanding us J (note: we also have to carry this out in our daily lives too) There is a time and season for missions, and now is the time!

1 Timothy 2:3-4 – This is good and pleasing to God our saviour, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. “This is the Father’s will”
As we share the knowledge of the truth, and to help deepen their knowledge by our testimony, our faith in turn will increase.

What are we doing there?
We’ll be sharing our personal testimonies on how God is real in our lives, giving the people we meet the encouragement to continue to follow Christ and live a lifestyle that is pleasing to HIM through talks & sharings.
We want to also connect with the youths from Sabah who are coming to KL to work or to study, so that they know that there is a Catholic community in KL whom they can connect with.

Where are we going?
We will be meeting with a group of youths from St. John’s Tuaran parish on Monday, and will be journeying with them into Kiulu area for the next 4 days to live with the local folks and to share with them. On Friday, we’ll be travelling back to Kota Kinabalu and will be meeting with the KK Lifeliners and sharing there.

How can you be involved?
PRAY FOR US. Yes.. please pray for us. Going into the mission field, does not merely involve the people who are travelling there, but those who are from the church. Your prayers are important to us. Please pray for our safety, unity, openness to receive and to give of ourselves to the communities whom we will be meeting.
Your prayers are important to us!

THANK YOU all for being part of the BODY of Christ, for your support and prayers.

See you when we get back! God bless!

In Christ Love:
Missionary team