Constellation of Se7en
When All the Stars Are On Their Rightful Place
8 days, 7 nights, 2 countries,1 mission trip, 1 team, 1 Lord over all
PART THREE
Click HERE to see Part One
Click HERE to see Part Two
Thursday, Nov 8th, 2012
Village 38 – Kindergarten Lak Taeng
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Day 3: Compassion in Serving
Read: Mark 8: 1-9 Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
Meditation: Have you felt like a servant today—a willing servant? Have you felt you were a blessing to anyone you had contact with. Important also, did you receive any blessings? The wonderful, nearly incomprehensible, marvelous thing about service and blessings given and received in the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is that they seem to multiply. The seven loaves of bread and the few fish fed a large crowd. Who would have thought? The church grew because of twelve rather ordinary people who lived out their belief in Jesus Christ as they told others of the Good News! The church continues to grow because of service and blessing that keep multiplying. Giving and receiving, serving and being served, blessing and being blessed are part of the Christian community. That is how the body of Christ continues to grow. You are a part of this!
Thinkpoint: Compassion. How do we see people? Through God's eyes? How can we be like Christ today?
As a team, in what ways do we need God's provision for today? Let's ask him boldly! He multiplies & provides in abundance.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for this day that you have allowed us to serve in your son’s name. Thank you for using us to witness to your great message of love by our work. Thank you for blessing us with this opportunity. Fill our hearts with compassion, and open our eyes to see people as you see them and to love them like you love them. Amen.
ba
I wake up early in the morning with a different feeling. After a good night rest (in 18-20 Celcius, inside a sleeping bag, on top of air matrass), I feel so REFRESH! Thank You Lord!
Thank You for my first real deep sleep after 3 nights in a row of sleep deprivation! \^^/
We begin our day with a morning devotion. We are reminded about “compassion in serving”.
In my mind, I wonder how can I do that. How can I surpass this language barrier?
Biasanya kami para dokter menunjukkan perhatian & compassion kami saat history taking, saat mengajukan pertanyaan2, saat physical examination, dan saat penjelasan (baik ttg penyakit, maupun terapi). Itu semua menggunakan bahasa yang bisa dipahami pasien. Makanya klo ngomong pk bhs daerah bs lebih nyampe lagi.
Tapi gimana ini? I can’t speak Thai or Chinese, and they can’t speak English or Indo. Must rely on the interpreters, whom besides Aunty F, only 1 man can speak a very limited English.
This is not only my struggle, but also Wx. We’re both hopeful, excited, eager to serve, but also frustrated.
©
The first clinic for that day is set up in a Christian’s house, not far from Lak Taeng. This family gave up part of their land for another family who had been sent out from their village because they became a believer. Tough life. It’s almost impossible to survive without a land. But thanks God for the generosity of this family.
When we arrive there, we are like “WHOA” coz the view of the mountain & rice field is totally awesome!
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@Village 38
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We set up 2 teams like yesterday. This time I’m partnering with Wx. We see pxs first then we do meds later, taking turn with Jo & Cx. Meanwhile Rx, Mx, & Ax stays faithfully in their posts of registration & BP counter.
And...it is just like a miracle.
God blesses us when we see pxs. Language somehow doesn’t get in our way again. We learn to show them care & compassion, walk another mile for them, find every possible way to show that we’re there to serve them. Well, still feel left out once in a while when the interpreter busy talking with the px in paragraphs in Shan & translate it to me in one English sentence (what?? Hahaha). But it’s not a big problem anymore. Somehow, it is not.
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| The doc’s room @Village 38 |
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| Courtesy of "The Se7en" - Aunty F health talk @Village 38 |
When lunch time comes, we’ve finished 25 pxs PLUS health education for pxs in the waiting room (done in Shan language by Aunty F with the help of flipchart from Mx) ;D
The second clinic is held in a kindergarten. Wahahaha....so excited to see the children. Not as a patient of course. Tapi sebagai teman main. Kami mengumpulkan mereka, lalu Rx memulai acara dengan doing flower craft. Rx menjelaskan menggunakan bhs Thai yang terbata-bata, dibantu 2 guru yang ada disana. Rx is sooo good with children, she’s like a natural!
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| @Kindergarten Lak Taeng |
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Very proud with their flowers! @Kindergarten Lak Taeng
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Selesai membuat flower craft yang ditulisi nama mrk masing2 (dlm huruf Thai), Rx dan Mx mengajak mereka main. Yippiii! Basically, it’s almost “sign & gesture” language when they try to show them how to play hahahaha.... So exciting!
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Playing @Kindergarten Lak Taeng
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Courtesy of “The Se7en” – playing @Kindergarten Lak Taeng
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| Courtesy of “The Se7en” – playing @Kindergarten Lak Taeng |
And after that, the adults come to the clinic.
Awalnya hanya datang satu demi satu pasien. Tapi makin sore, makin banyak orang yang datang. Mayoritas dari mereka hipertensi dan sudah pernah berobat ke dokter. Ada yang masih minum obat, ada yang tidak. In the beginning only me & Wx who see pxs. Tapi ketika jumlah mereka membludak, even Cx & Jo have to see patients in their pharmacy table. Ax dan Mx datang untuk membantu menuliskan dan memberikan obat2an. Para interpreters juga bekerja keras. Pii Jay bisa bolak-balik menerjemahkan untuk 3 orang sekaligus, for Jo & Cx, & juga untuk farmasi. Semua anggota tim turun ke lapangan, memaksimalkan waktu & kesempatan yang ada untuk melayani setiap orang yang datang.
It’s another miracle that we can finish clinic that afternoon. Mulai dari terang benderang hareudang, sampe sunset nyaris gelap gulita & gemeletuk kedinginan. 76 pxs. Praise the Lord!
Oyeah, sangat terhibur waktu ada seorang ibu datang berobat. She can speak English!! Woo hoo!! Hahahahaha.... Dulunya dia tinggal di CM, sering menerima tamu dari Malaysia, sekarang pindah untuk melayani di desa. I’m so excited to hear English from a patient hahaha ;D
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| Courtesy of "The Se7en" - Aunty F in action! @Kindergarten Lak Taeng |
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| Courtesy of "The Se7en" - Registration & BP counter @Kindergarten Lak Taeng |
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Courtesy of “The Se7en” – Docs & the interpreters in the middle of pharmacy @Kindergarten Lak Taeng
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Courtesy of “The Se7en” – Clinic @Kindergarten Lak Taeng
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Makan malam kami hari itu sangat spesial. They call it “Yunnannese Steamboat”, but I personally call it “Shan Giant Steamboat”. It’s an eat-til-u-drop scheme wkwkwkwk....
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The Shan
Giant Steamboat (CARBON powered) @Lak Taeng
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The Shan
Giant Steamboat (eat-til-u-drop) @Lak Taeng
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Yang keliatan di gambar itu baru dagingnya. Ada ayam kampung rebus (yg warna item ngapung itu), ada babi 3 lapis (daging-lemak-daging haha). Belum termasuk 3 kantong kresek sayur mayur segar!! Yang satu mirip dedaunan doang, yang satu mirip selada air. And Jo is keep on putting the veggies over and over and over and over again! ;D
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Courtesy of
“The Se7en” - Steamboat
party! Yaayyy!! @Lak Taeng
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Setelah di-recharge dengan energi steamboat, kami menghitung pil dan mengepak obat untuk klinik besok. Klinik di TK tadi benar2 menguras persediaan obat.
Dan hari yang sangat exciting itu, ditutup dengan menonton bintang.
Dimulai dengan Mx yang mau melihat bintang dan mengukur suhu udara diluar saat malam. Akhirnya kami mengambil bangku dan duduk menengadah ke langit. It’s a very vast sky, very dark and clear, with gazillions stars shining!! It’s even much more than what I see in Serukam. Dulu di Serukam, kami (house of 235) pernah bermimpi baring2 nonton bintang (tapi takut semut api hihihihi). Akhirnya sekarang kesampean. Nonton planetarium alami, real live show, somewhere in the foreign mountain.
And again, God showcase His majesty. 11 shooting stars in 1 or so hour sitting in the dark! Yang g liat sih 5, secara kolektif 11 haha....
In awe & reference, lagu “Indescribable” diputar....
©
Today is a very special day. When I reminisce, I am amazed by God. We sincerely asks God to help us to have compassion, and He gives it abundantly. Not perfect, but we can all feel His power & mercy & joy flowing through us & over us. Waw...so overwhelmed by God that day. Termasuk juga dengan shooting stars & starry, starry night milik-Nya. (Isaiah 40 lift up your eyes high and see)
Overall the team performs better today, maybe at its peak performances. Cx & Wx mau tidak mau harus attend adult pxs coz there are so many of them & they do so. Mx and Ax have to help with pharmacy when the docs examine the pxs. But our team is a wonderful match made in heaven (for this trip). 1 banker who can speak a lil Thai, so good w/ children + 1 dietician who is super happy all the time, so good in explaining things combined with 2 GPs & 2 peds residents plus a Peds ICU nurse. What mixture can be better than this?
Don’t forget Aunty F with all her energy, enthusiasm, and faith. Selalu berusaha berbagi kesaksian/pergumulan ttg tantangan/berkat2 di ladang pelayanan.
The body of Christ in action. Masing2 dengan keunikannya sendiri2, bekerjasama untuk 1 passion & goal yang sama.
We have so much fun when we are serving together.
Things with Jo also better today. I ask her to forgive my mood swings over the last 2 days. But she’s so Phlegm & also so sweet, “Hmm, I don’t realize u’re being cranky & mood swing.” She smiles. And later that night she asks me when we’re packing meds, “Are u the kind of people who exploding or the one who just keep it to urself?” ^^ haha..
And I realize that she is exceptional. With a big E. Honestly, I barely knew her. We only met that one time in 2010 & only keep in touch once a while through FB. Now I see that she is a good manager. She manages all our clinics, thinks about meds, does many things in one time if needed during clinic. She is so sweet, take a good care of other team members, always wanna help & has a servant heart. She is the example of a willing servant whom the devotion described this morning. She is also a good & knowledgable doctor. She has grown so much. I thank God for giving me this rare opportunity to learn from her, to work with her, & to see how God works in her life.
God, You are an amazing God ^^ How great Thou art!
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Courtesy of
“The Se7en” - The Docs @Village 38
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Friday, Nov 9th, 2012
Mong
Jok – The Borders – Weng Hiang
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Day 4: Living on Mission
Read: Matthew 9: 18-38. Jesus the Healer: 4
stories of healing.
Meditation: Jesus' ministry is in full
swing. It's interesting how He both proclaimed the new Good News of God's
Kingdom and forgiveness, but also spent a substantial amount of time healing
the sick and speaking to those He healed. What was the role of healing and
miracles in Jesus' ministry? What does this passage tell us? Were they just
attention-grabbing acts, like publicity for Jesus' ministry? Or was it part of
God bringing wholeness and restoration to His broken people?
Today we may be running just simple medical clinics. But
let us remember Jesus' example as He preached to the crowds, yet also took the
time to speak to individual persons. He met them where they were. Who might God
bring across our path today? We are reminded that all restorative power is from
God. He knows the Shan better than we do, and He can bring healing (both
spiritual and physical) to this people group.
Thinkpoint: What is God's call to you
in his harvest field? For today, and for the long-term?
Prayer: God, we thank you for
Jesus' example. We don't know who you will bring across our paths today, but we
pray our eyes & ears be sensitive to your work, that we might share your
love and gospel in sensitive ways. We pray for healing for all the patients we
will encounter today. May they receive the good news of salvation too! God
please continue to send workers into your harvest field, (and pray for Aunty F)
and send us forth today too! Amen.
ba
The
sunrise in Lak Taeng is beautiful.
Every
morning, when we open the door & walk out, the sun is there welcoming us
with its bright & warm rays. Langit yang hitam penuh bintang2 berganti
menjadi langit biru cerah tanpa awan. Beautiful, beautiful blue sky =))
*missing the Borneo sky
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Sunrise @Lak Taeng
basecamp
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@Lak Taeng basecamp
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One family opens up their home in Mong Jok for us to do clinic. Their house is located in a slope with a magnificent background ^^ Aku berkomentar, uda 2 hari ini kami dapet lokasi klinik yang have beautiful scenery *thumbs up!
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@Mong Jok
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@Mong Jok
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Tapi
ternyata ada hal lain yang mau Tuhan ajarkan hari itu.
©
My
interpreter comes up late, so Cx & Jo do clinic with the Chinese spoken
interpreter. But we don’t have many patients. Less than 20 people come that
morning.
Yang
menjadi pusat perhatian kami justru lelaki pemilik rumah tersebut. 1 thn yang
lalu ia mengalami semacam bowel obstruction (high one) dan dioperasi. Tapi
sejak operasi tersebut, ia masih tetap sulit makan padat dan selalu merasa
nyeri di bagian perut atas. Ketika kami mempelajari barium enema pre-op nya, it
seemed that he had a gastric/duodenal tumor. When I checked on him, I can feel
mass in his epigastric region, near the previous op site. Not good.
They
have no resources to come back to hospital. And we have nothing to offer. Ya,
kami berusaha mengatur obat2an untuk dia, symptomatic only. Mx tries to
calculate his nutritional needs & langsung diantar pergi ke toko terdekat
untuk beli susu dan telur.
But
we have nothing more to offer. Beside Jesus.
What
he needs the most in this dire condition is Jesus.
Surprisingly,
when Pii Nong Kam ask him, he’s already a believer! =)) But his wife can’t
profess her faith openly, otherwise they will be kicked out from their land
& village. Difficult circumstance for them. We gather to pray for him, to
lift him & his family in prayer. We pray for healing & ask for miracle
for the man. If this man healed, surely it will be a great testimony for
everyone in the village. But the most important thing is he already knew &
accepted Jesus in his heart ^^
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The Man @Mong Jok
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The Man @Mong Jok
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Myanmar military camp
@Thai–Myanmar border
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Hor Kham Museum
@Thai–Myanmar border
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| Hor Kham Museum @Thai–Myanmar border |
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The Old World map @Hor
Kham Museum
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Setelah itu kami pergi ke refugee camp, perkampungan orang2 Shan yang dulunya lari dari Myanmar ke Thailand untuk menghindari opresi dari pihak Myanmar. Basically, it’s a village. Sangat teratur dan terawat, dibangun diatas tanah merah, lengkap dengan solar panel di atap rumah. My friends said it’s like a small English cottage with fence.
Di
bawah sinar matahari bolong, kami berjalan2 sambil foto2 bayangan kami,
membentuk kata Shan & Mission. It is so much fun!! Haha...looking at our
behaviours, maybe Pii Nong Kam thinks we’re a bunch of weird alien – who
delight in taking their own shadows pics ;D
Then
we buy some shawls & handmade pouches from the Shan Handicraft Centre to
support them.
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@Shan Refugee Camp
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@Shan Handicraft Center
Courtesy of "The Se7en" @Shan Refugee Camp
Setelah
jalan2, kami berangkat ke Light of Love Church, Weng Hiang. Salah satu gereja
terbesar di area itu yang menjadi gereja induk untuk pos2 PI lainnya, tmsk di
Lak Taeng. Tapi lagi2 tidak banyak pasien. Kami mengisi waktu dengan another
photo session, kali ini “the jumping pose”. We did like 7-10 jumpings for that
with Pii Jay tried to capture the moments!! Even Aunty F is jumping with us.
What
an exercise ahaha....
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The jumping pose @Weng
Hiang
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The view outside the
church @Weng Hiang
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Milk,
Ai, Nom, and Mee. Mereka berumur sekitar 10-12 tahunan, anak SD, masih dalam
seragam sekolah mereka. Mereka bisa ngomong Chinese (walo gak semua fasih) and
the team are talking with them in Chinese. Aku mengikuti dari jauh aja karena
ga da subtitle untuk pembicaraan mereka (haha). From what Jo tells me, mereka
mengajukan pertanyaan2 sederhana untuk anak2 tersebut. Tapi kepolosan dan
keterbukaan mereka begitu mengejutkan. One girl says that her father is in jail
and her mother goes to find her another dad. Another girl reads her Bible but
her parents don’t approve her going to church. The other one’s father has
passed away. The most memorable moment untuk Jo adalah saat mereka bertanya
siapa yang sudah percaya Yesus. Anak2 itu dengan sangat bersemangat dan
antusias segera mengacungkan tangan mereka tinggi2 and answer “Me!! Me!!”. So
proud and delight.
What
a precious moment spend with them. They giggle, laugh, eat snacks, & have a
good time with the team. I am reminded
of the time when Jesus attended to the children & showed them His love
& caress.
A
simple encounter with a profound impact for the future – I believe that this is
it.
We
pray for each one of them in Chinese, for their faith to grow, for their
everyday struggles, for their families. Momen yang sangat menyentuh, mengingat
suatu hari mungkin kami akan menemukan mereka sebagai pelayan2 Tuhan yang setia
& bersemangat di tengah2 suku Shan ini.
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The 4 girls @Weng Hiang
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We
end that day with singing praise & worship, ranging from hymns to
contemporary songs, with Pii Jay’s skillful hands playing string guitar.
Several of us come to see shooting stars again later that night. Awe in His
presence through His creation.
We name Lak Taeng basecamp : the multi billion stars hotel ;D
We name Lak Taeng basecamp : the multi billion stars hotel ;D
©
Hari
ini kami tidak bertemu banyak pasien. Bisa dibilang relaxation day, compared to
our previous days. But we have so much fun, mostly over simple things. Misalnya,
foto2 dengan sayuran yg baru dicabut dari ladang (hahaha....sebelum tu sayur
dipotong2 dan dimasak). Main2 dengan bayangan kami di tanah merah, & come
up with a great idea untuk bikin tulisan “Shan Mission” (another teamwork
effort ^^). Jangan lupa jumping session di depan gereja saat berusaha untuk
membuat foto dengan pose terbaik. Crazy but sooo fun ;D
Just
like in Serukam. We enjoy our simple life. We rejoice over simple meals/simple
treats. Simplicity & contentment – elemen2 penting dalam “Living in Mission”.
Selain
itu kami belajar aspek lain. Di dalam masa pelayanannya di dunia, Tuhan Yesus
melayani begitu banyak orang, menyembuhkan mereka, mengajar, dan membuat
mujizat2. Tapi di tengah2 segala kesibukannya, Ia selalu punya waktu to touch
people individually.
The
woman with the chronic bleeding. The woman at the well. The blind man. The
paraplegic man. And many more.
Setelah
1 hari yang penuh dengan pasien2, Tuhan memberi kami kesempatan to touch on
people individually today. The man with the stomach pain & the 4 little
girls. Bahkan ada kesempatan Mx untuk konseling gizi bagi para interpreters
kami.
May
God continue His great works in their hearts. I believe its no coincidence that
He let us to meet & attend to their needs today.
While
thinking about the topic “Living in Mission” I also learn that we don’t get to
choose whom we serve. But we have to be ready at anytime when He brings people
to us to attend to. Coz every person is precious & valuable in His eyes.
Whether in Thai, Sing, or Indo. Whether they are hundreds or even only one
person.
©
Saturday, Nov 10th, 2012
Lak
Taeng – CM
Our
last day in the mountain.
For
a while, me & Jo sit in front of the house. We enjoy our coffee, feel the
morning breeze & catch the warmness of sun. I wonder, will I ever be back
again, to this mountain or even to Thai. We think about a several learning points
we’ve gotten so far.
And realize that we are truly grateful for coming to this
trip in the first place ^^
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Courtesy of "The Se7en" - Early sunrise @Lak
Taeng basecamp
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Day 5: Renewing our strength
Read: Isaiah 40:28-31
Meditation: These beautiful words of scripture were written to bring hope to a people who were in exile, far from home. God promised to lift them up and carry them. God promised them strength for their journey, so they could run with energy and walk with perseverance. As you prepare to start a new day, are you rested and filled with energy, or still stiff and sore from a tough week? Does part of you feel “in exile,” far from home and anxious to return? Remember that God is with you today, lifting you up, encouraging you, renewing your strength. Walk on. Be strong. Soar like an eagle.
Thinkpoint!: Sometimes we're so busy in Singapore, it's hard to breathe. What is God speaking to you today in the quietness of the Thai mountain air? In what way do you need refreshment? What is one thing you can change to help remain in a renewed state in the Lord, even as we return to SG?
Prayer: Lift me up on eagle’s wings, O Lord. Let my spirit be ever aware of your support and presence. Help us depend on You today. Amen.
ba
All is coming to an end
so fast.
We go to the local
market. See here & there, buy a few things to cook for lunch.
Local market @Lak Taeng
Then we go for house visit nearby to 2 houses. One is a young man with CP (cerebral palsy dystonic type) who live with his father’s 1st wife (he is the son of the 2nd wife). What an unconditional love from a woman. Then we go to another man’s house, a former stroke pxs. He is the father of the 3rd wife of that young man's father. In short, their social & family background are very complicated. We pray for both families. It reminds us that these are real people, with real life struggle. Dan di ladang pelayanan, masalah2 seperti inilah yang dihadapi oleh Aunty F & Shan's team day by day.
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The young man & the
old woman
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The old man
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About 20-30 people
come. Some of them are our patients from previous clinics who come to get their
reading spectacles. We take turn examining the pxs & Rx is helping with the
pharmacy (new experience for the banker hehe...).
We have our last lunch and then say goodbye to all the interpreters & local pastors, including Pii Jay, his wife & cute baby Hannah. Pii Jay’s wife is a Karen (another tribe in Thai).
We have our last lunch and then say goodbye to all the interpreters & local pastors, including Pii Jay, his wife & cute baby Hannah. Pii Jay’s wife is a Karen (another tribe in Thai).
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Trying out spectacles
@Lak Taeng basecamp
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Last clinic @Lak Taeng basecamp
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Last lunch @Lak Taeng basecamp
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Pii Jay, his wife,
& baby Hannah @Lak Taeng basecamp
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We are so dozed off
that noon we barely open our eyes. Just some murmurs of “No need” when Aunty F
offers the last chance to take pics of the mountain. And another dizzy eyes
when she tells us to enjoy the great mountainview di kiri kanan jalan. We are
stopped in one checkpoint, but they release us in no time.
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Thai military
checkpoint @OTW back to CM
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The mountainview &
the winding road @OTW back to CM
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©
Back in CM, we get the chance to visit Mekong Center (the OMF Chiangmai office, a few blocks away from Aunty F’s house). Suasananya mirip banget sama BPLB (OMF) Jakarta =) Teduh, rindang, sunyi, dan cozy banget. Mungkin bedanya yang ini gak kena banjir :P (yeah, inget banget banjir di OMF thn 2008 pas MMC 3 mo berangkat ke Borneo ^^"""). Kami beli bbrp oleh2 hasil kerajinan suku2 setempat seperti selai (homemade jam), teh (udah dipak rapi bgt), kartu ucapan (hsl karya penderita kusta). After visiting Mekong Center, we go to the “well” to fill up water jugs & bottles.
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The Mekong Center, OMF
CM office @CM
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Courtesy of "The Se7en" - The “well” outside
Aunty F’s house @CM
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Courtesy of “The Se7en”
– Tambourine class @CM
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Saking sunyinya,
sampai2 ada yang melontarkan ide untuk do devotion while waiting for the
English teachers (a native speaker couple) to come to teach the children.
©
Our last devotion in CM....
Tiap orang sharing ttg apa yang mereka dapatkan selama mission trip ini. Ada beberapa points yang kucatat (dari sekian banyak hal yang dilontarkan) :
Tiap orang sharing ttg apa yang mereka dapatkan selama mission trip ini. Ada beberapa points yang kucatat (dari sekian banyak hal yang dilontarkan) :
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Teamwork
à
the body of Christ in action
·
Nothing
is impossible with God
·
To
express God’s love in and every way à
reaching out to others in every possible ways
·
Availability
For myself, the last point held a deep meaning. Seringkali kita merasa gamang dan takut saat diminta untuk melakukan sesuatu/pergi ke suatu tempat. Kita mengkhawatirkan ketidakmampuan kita, keterbatasan kita, penghalang ini itu yang mungkin muncul, dan sederet kekhawatiran lainnya.
But here, 7 of us, in
foreign place in Thailand.
A banker makes herself
available and it turns out her leadership helps the team, her eloquent ways
with children helps the children ministry, her limited Thai helps the
registration counter.
A dietician makes herself available and it turns out she can help counting calories & plan diet for the man with the stomach pain, she brings joy to the team, she also helps with the children too.
Two peds residents make themselves available and it turns out every children can be examined thoroughly & they are having good times with the children & they are very important for the team.
A peds ICU nurse makes herself available, and it turns out she can make out crafts for children, help in BP counter, help in pharmacy, & be another important team member.
A GP makes herself available, and it turns out her servant leadership directs the whole mobile clinics & the team along the way, her sweetness is like a fresh wadi in the desert, her limited Thai can be used to communicate with pxs & children.
Another GP makes herself available and it turns out – even though can’t speak Thai or Chinese, not good with children – God can still use her to be part of the team while doing ministry together. Everybody held an important role in this team, in our own uniqueness & talents.
A dietician makes herself available and it turns out she can help counting calories & plan diet for the man with the stomach pain, she brings joy to the team, she also helps with the children too.
Two peds residents make themselves available and it turns out every children can be examined thoroughly & they are having good times with the children & they are very important for the team.
A peds ICU nurse makes herself available, and it turns out she can make out crafts for children, help in BP counter, help in pharmacy, & be another important team member.
A GP makes herself available, and it turns out her servant leadership directs the whole mobile clinics & the team along the way, her sweetness is like a fresh wadi in the desert, her limited Thai can be used to communicate with pxs & children.
Another GP makes herself available and it turns out – even though can’t speak Thai or Chinese, not good with children – God can still use her to be part of the team while doing ministry together. Everybody held an important role in this team, in our own uniqueness & talents.
Dan semua hal itu tidak
mungkin bisa terjadi kalau bukan Tuhan yang bekerja dan mengizinkan di dalam
kedaulatan dan kasih-Nya for the Shan people.
©
Finally, we spend the
whole evening eating, shopping, & having fun in the CM (famous) night bazaar ;D
til midnight yoo!!
We meet again with
RenTze & her Thai friend, walk around with them half the journey, meanwhile
Aunty F sits in McD & rests & reads her Bible. We eat mango sticky
rice, drinks strawberry & dragon fruit & orange juice; beli dried
longan, kacang mede, kotak makeup ½ lusin bergambar lucu2, binder dgn sampul yg
lucu, jam dinding dgn ornamen spices & dried vegetables, Chai tea, tapi teuteup cold
Coke from McD juga menyegarkan kok ("I want to try every McD in every country I visit", demikian
seorang foreigner yg prone terhadap metabolic syndrome berkata, ck ck ck)
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@CM Night Bazaar
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@CM Night Bazaar
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@CM Night Bazaar
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@CM Night Bazaar
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Going back with song
tiauw (finally..!) @CM at midnight
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Sunday, Nov
11th, 2012
CM – BKK – SING
cd
Day 6 : Finishing strong, Going Home
Read: Psalm 145
Meditation: Are you wondering why you are singing a hymn about the closing of the day this early in the morning? It is chosen because of the wonderful message of the Reign (kingdom) of God that it portrays. The Psalm for today is a tribute to all that God has done and God’s wonderful attributes. Because of all this, people will tell of God’s kingdom (reign). God’s kingdom (reign) takes place because of the many Christians who act in love, trying to follow in their heavenly Father’s footsteps, and the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Today as you end your work here, keep in mind that you are still a part of serving in God’s kingdom everywhere and anywhere He places you!
Read: Psalm 145
Meditation: Are you wondering why you are singing a hymn about the closing of the day this early in the morning? It is chosen because of the wonderful message of the Reign (kingdom) of God that it portrays. The Psalm for today is a tribute to all that God has done and God’s wonderful attributes. Because of all this, people will tell of God’s kingdom (reign). God’s kingdom (reign) takes place because of the many Christians who act in love, trying to follow in their heavenly Father’s footsteps, and the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Today as you end your work here, keep in mind that you are still a part of serving in God’s kingdom everywhere and anywhere He places you!
Prayer: Thank you for the opportunity and strength you have given us to serve on this trip, and the blessings we have received as we have served. Amen
ba
Another sleepless
night.
Maybe we were too
tired, or maybe because of the caffeine effect of last night Chai tea. Jo
pretended to sleep haha...(good pose Jo), meanwhile I was asleep for awhile
then awoke & couldn’t get back to sleep again.
When I hear the rooster
next door crows, I figure it must be around 6 AM. So I wake up ^^
When Mx hears my
theory, she laughs in disbelief. Hehe, why, it’s a good common sense, &
proved itself to be accurate (well, kec.untuk ayam2 gak tau diri yg suka
berkokok tengah malem di Serukam ~.~””” akibat salah asuhan).
It’s a beautiful
morning in CM. I pack my things & get ready to go home. Then Wx wake up
& we involve in an interesting conversation, mostly about our everyday
works & our struggles (haha...no other topics huh?). I wonder why I can
speak longer with them than with Jo. Just curious. And then one by one arise
from their bed.
Time to go home.
©
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| @CM local market |
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| @CM local market |
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| Breakfast @CM local market |
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| Kayak yg dijual di Kartika Sari hehehe @CM local market |
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| Thai Fruits @CM local market |
Then we say goodbye to
Aunty F in front of her house & ride song tiauw to the airport. We hardly
can’t imagine what it’d be like if we ride any of that to the mountain. Our 170
kgs baggages upstairs, the 8 of us, melewati jalan yang setengah mati berkelok-kelok
menuju Lak Taeng. Somehow, the white van adalah God’s providence for us.
Di jalan tol menuju
bandara, song tiauw kami berjalan full speed. Tidak pernah Pii Chan, supir van
kami menjalankan mobil secepat ini hahaha... Paling pol di 80 km/jam kayaknya.
Klo aku yang nyetir si pokoke gak betah deh berlama-lama. Tapi salut banget
sama si van driver. He’s so good, very patient, & drive safely.
Lama juga kami menunggu
di CM airport lounge. Semua uda pada mencar jalan2 dan balik lagi. Ngobrolnya
udah ngaler ngidul. Mulai dari Jo tanya tips perawatan wajah sama Mx [yg
menjelaskan dengan detail & mudah dipahami – she’s a great PR (humas)],
sampe Ax nanya ke aku & Jo, are we seeing someone. Dari kami bertujuh, Rx
is already married w/ 2 cute children. Mx is planning to get married soon (stl
cowonya dapet PR Sing). Ax is seeing someone. I’m not sure ‘bout Cx.
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@CM Airport Lounge
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| Various dried fruits @CM Airport Lounge |
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@Subvarnabhumi
Airport - BKK
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Thai Airways @Subvarnabhumi
Airport - BKK
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WOW! @Subvarnabhumi
Airport - BKK
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©
Nyampe di Sing agak
telat. Di Changi, Cx yang pertama berpisah dgn kami, kemudian Wx. Lalu Mx, Ax
dan Jo belanja liquor dulu di DFS. Jo beliin DOM buat nyokapnya, it helos her
to sleep katanya. Hmm, botol2 yang menggiurkan. But I never really gotten into
drinks...mungkin karena keluargaku gak biasa minum kali ya (even for social
event only).
It’s a long drive home.
Kami pulang ke flat naik bus. Harus berdiri di sepanjang perjalanan karena jagain
koper2. Dudulnya aku gak bawa MRT card-nya. Dua2nya gak dibawa, baik yang dari
MH maupun yang dipinjemin nyokapnya Jo.
Aku udah bilang sejak
di CM bhw aku lupa bawa kartu. Ax memberi “sedekah” koin Sing, tapi masih
kurang. Alhasil, Jo nuker koin 5 SGD di bus sama penumpang lain. Aarrrghh, so
sorry Jo sudah menyusahkan dirimu ~.~”” (tp dia bilang gapapa, udah terbiasa
smile & beg everyday hahahaha....)
In the bus, we’re
talking about her take-away points & her plan, & then my plan. Dia
terpanggil untuk kembali lagi ke CM, untuk mendukung pelayanan Aunty F. Saat
ini mereka belum punya dr.tetap untuk klinik sebulan sekali. Dokter lamanya
udah pensiun & belum ada ganti. Aku sendiri masih belum memutuskan apakah
akan kembali lagi ke CM/tidak – perlu waktu untuk mencerna ini semua. I won’t
make a promise I can’t keep & I shouldn’t decide anything while in euphoria.
Malam itu diakhiri
dengan dinner with Jo’s parents (thank u so much for cooking dinner, Aunty!).
Aku sampe lupa foto bareng mereka (duh!). Trus upload foto2 ke Dropbox. Koleksi
foto kami akhirnya banyak banget karena berasal dari 6 kamera, baik di Dropbox
maupun FB, baik smartphone maupun digital camera.
Lalu Jo harus cepet
tidur krn masuk gawe lagi besok pagi.
©
Monday, Nov
12th, 2012
SING – BDG
She wake up early in
the morning to go to work, then we say goodbye.
Another surreal moment.
One moment she’s there,
and then she’s gone. Don’t know when I can see her again (even though it’s “only”
2 hrs/less by plane haha).
Sebelum berangkat ke
airport siang itu, I have a solitary time on her desk, in her room. Thinking
about post trip debrief. Precious time.
Then her mom make me
lunch – delicious wonton noodle. Aku suka banget tekstur mienya, kecil2 licin
kenyal. Yums! Mienya bikinan Malay. Off I go by bus to the airport. Sing
kelihatan lengang. Pake bus ke bandara pun ibarat sightseeing. Bisa lihat Sing
dari sisi yang lain.
Puji Tuhan
perjalanannya lancar. Bingung2 dikit di Changi, tp gak nyasar karena banyak
petunjuk jalan. Di lounge telingaku menangkap nada2 familiar. Nada orang
Bandung, orang Padang, pokoke orang Indo dah. Green passport bearer. Tidak lupa
“beri hitam”. Gak kerasa udah seminggu puasa liat “beri hitam”
wkwkwkwk...banyaknya “apel putih” berserakan.
Waktu nyampe di Husein,
hujan gede dong. Kebayang MH wkt dateng Sept lalu dan disambut hujan macam gini
~.~”” Karena tak ada belalai, all passengers must walk (quick walk) to the
arrival building, pake payung. Ternyata
sore itu hujan juga di Sing. Providencia Allah – baru hujan ketika semuanya
sudah selesai. Kebayang betapa beceknya tanah merah di pegunungan/reportnya klo
ujan di Sing.
Aku juga baru nyadar
betapa kecil dan hecticnya Husein, almost like a room hahaha... (yah daripada
gak ada wkwkwkwk) Bahkan lebih kecil dari Supadio yang sudah termasuk kecil.
Dad picks me up.
Home sweet home.
©
Thinkpoint!: Post-trip Debrief
Most
short-term mission trips leave team members overwhelmed by the wide range of
new experiences. The hectic schedule and flurry of activity make it difficult
to sort through the events that God is using to initiate lasting spiritual
change within us. No matter how many times one has been involved in
cross-cultural ministry, careful evaluation and meditation is necessary to
fully process the events experienced.
cd
Thinkpoint!: Post-trip Debrief
The
following outline is a step by-step process that has proven effective for many
short-termers.
Step 1: List all the main events during
this trip that had a significant impact on your life.
Significant Moments:
Step 2: Review your list and star the
top four of these experiences. Prioritize them, starting with the most
significant one. Then, think about the basic lesson God taught you through each
of these top four experiences (by asking, "How
should I BE different or what should I DO differently because of this
experience?")
Key
Lesson or Significance ("What God is teaching me...")
#1
#2
#3
#4
Step 3: Summarise! What is your main take-away point from this
trip?
ba
What
is God teaching me (4 moments of significance & its lessons) :
1) Availability
(7 persons from different backgrounds, Aunty F, & Shan’s preachers – all make themselves available)
To make myself available for
Him to use me in anyway I can serve. There is no role too big/small in the
kingdom of God. But it comes with discipline, to make small commitment that
will lead to bigger one.
2)
Not a one man’s show (the Se7en & the
Shan’s team)
The body of Christ in action
is a powerful testimony to the world. The unity of mind, heart, passion to
serve God can overcome many obstacles (of course by relying to the grace of
God, not power of men)
3) Have nothing to offer you but Christ (the man
with the stomach Ca)
Dr.Steve’s remark is still
in my head “Medical help is only temporary therapy, the definite therapy is
spiritual therapy à
need Christ as Savior”. Men greatest need is Christ, in the village, in the
city, everywhere. Medicine is just the front gate, Christ is the main thing.
4)
Every stars is in their own place where they
are supposed to be (starry, starry night – the multibillion stars hotel)
Different roles, different
places, no coincidence. God knows us by names, has plan for each of us, no need
to worry about the future. Bloom where u are planted.
Main
take away points :
I
came to confirm & asked for guidance. Gak langsung dapet sih, masalah2
& pergumulanku juga gak langsung selesai instantly. But
I come back with a strong belief :
1) I am
made to serve, especially the Indonesians, but also other nations too.
2) The
need to go for further education whatever that means. To equip myself for God’s
works is my responsibility so that I can be more useful for Him in every way.
3) I
need to support missions, either abroad/in Indonesia.
Practical
things :
EPSS
Encourage (encourage people to go for
mission/support mission – med student in cell group, the XSerukamers; go for
mission myself & support mission every month),
Practice (English, music),
Study (Bible, meds – go for further
education outside Bandung),
Serve (be available for
God, look for the hand of God in every circumstances, the importance of
addressing individuals e.g 4 Shan girls, man w/ stomach Ca)
©
- Full photo album : check out my FB wall for "CM Mission Trip", "CM Medical Missions", "All Things Are Beautiful In Your Name" albums. All rights reserved.
- Accompanying photo album : check out my FB albums "8 Days 7 Nights" Part ONE, TWO, THREE, & FOUR. All rights reserved
Video courtesy of "Serve Shan Ministry"
Udah beres baca semua constellation series nya. And the 1st thing that came to my mind was, "How can anyone not be inspired after reading your story?"
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and I won't be tired of saying this, "Thank you, so very much, for sharing your missions!"
Bloom anywhere you are planted, indeed!!
@Pheo : Many, many thanks for the encouragement pal ^^ Thanks for being "a loyalist" all these years wkwk....
It's all God's grace.