Life-Changing Myanmar

My life has been tremendously transformed the past 6 days. I went for a Mission Trip in Myanmar for the past 6 days. To preach and minister in a Transformation Seminar it seems. I prayed and hoped that God will use me to minister to them. Instead, I have been ministered and blessed throughout the trip.

See, many of us didn't know what we were signing up for. We knew it wasn't an ordinary comfortable mission trip, but we never knew what to expect. All I can say is, where we are right now, we are 10,000 times more blessed and we should truly count our blessings.

Myanmar, in this place, the rich gets richer, the poor gets poorer. And what's heartbreaking is, MAJORITY of the population are in poverty. I went through a village sitting on a truck the other day. And all I could see are families, living right in the middle of a slump, families living in homes with just a roof....no walls, families whose kids have nothing to wear, but a torn T-shirt....but no pants. My heart sank. So many to do...but yet so little we can give.

Hearing stories from the medical team (I was in the seminar team), there were children who couldn't even afford shoes or clothes, or proper medication. Children were left on their own playing everywhere, while parents were working. Noone goes to school. Because none can afford it. In Myanmar, children has to pay about RM30 as entry fee to school. RM30.....and yet, none of their parents can afford it. So they were left in the slumps, in the mud, playing waiting for parents to come home, bring food for them. Some children brought their little brothers to see doctor in the medical booth. Upon getting the medication, tell the little brother, don't give your medicine to mama, or papa. Lest they take the medicine away, and sell them for money....:|

What do we have to go through here? Nothing near compare to that. Children haven't even seen BALLOONS, and wanted to chew it, thinking it was food....

At the seminar, we were told by the pastors there....these people who come for seminar, they have to think many many times through, before deciding to come. People in Myanmar live day to day. If you work today, you get money and you can put food on the table for your family. If you do not work, then you live with whatever you have. See, these people who come for the seminar, as they come, they will worry about their family. But many still came. And they came with burdens in their hearts...but HUNGER. True pure hunger....to receive a Word from us. When we shared, preached, we can feel them absorbing as much as they could from us. Truly, we have to give our best. These people sacrifice so much just to be there.

At the time of praise and worship. I teared....many times. Even though everything was in Burmese language, I can understand nothing....but I can feel such purity. Such pure hearts in worshipping God. The presence of God was so amazing.  Something that we often take for granted back here in Malaysia, where we are in our comfort zone. We often preach about inconvenience in pursuing God. Coming to church, find your own initiative to come etc. I know some people who wouldn't even think of coming to church if no cars were arranged for them.

In Myanmar.....people COME even knowing they wouldn't have money to survive for the day. Speaking about inconvenience? We are far from it. People worship, and continue worshipping with all their hearts, responded to altar call even when the electricity was cut off halfway through, the weather was scorching hot, everyone was sweating, there was no good sound system.....and yet sometimes, we complain even when we have all these. What does it cost us to worship God? This is true sacrifice of worship. These hearts....so pure....something that we ALL should really learn from.

They are those who would keep going in tough times. Every single altar call, people came running to the altar, crying, wanting God to use them to transform their nation, bring the nation out of poverty, wanting to continue to trust God and make things right with God....So humble, so  broken. But for some of us, we know sometimes that it is SO DIFFICULT to walk out to respond to an altar call. In fear of embarrassment, in fear of what others would think....I am so impacted. Young and old......aged and energetic people....noone was better than others. Everyone was that broken.....

See, I preached about "Dying to Self, Living for Christ" that seminar....coming to realize, where all of us are now, we need to die to our self even more than they do. These people are truly Mary...and not Martha

Overall, the whole trip....I have made amazing friends. Friends I have never knew, and great fellowship with people. The truck journey was amazing. Even though under the polluted air, but we realize, simple times like these, away from the hustle and bustle of lives, that is where we can build meaningful friendship. And I learn so much from others. From their preaching, their testimonies... I am just so blessed :)

Last Sunday, we all split to different churches. I went to a church in the slump areas. And during our service, there were some other animisme rituals going on outside. Villagers there are mostly believing in local animisme. They were worshipping a bull. So while we were running the service, the loud sound from outside was overpowering our voices. Nonetheless, the people continued worshipping. After that, I hear from the pastor, if the villagers are unhappy with the service or the Christians in that area (or even a Christian orphanage nearby), they have the rights to close down the service, even the church / orphanage, and drive the people out of the village. So we have to keep a low key....Again....how much does it cost us to stay in a church?

The pastor of this small little church I went to, was from Arakan, West of Myanmar....where people are rather violent over there. Currently seemingly in a war with a neighbouring country. His dad was a milliary Sergeant.

He spoke of a story how he came to Christ. How a Korean Missionary tried reaching out to his people, and almost got stoned and killed. And how the same Korean missionary went to a pagoda to reach out, and the people who recognized him quickly informed the religious leader there. He was caught, dragged down the stairs of the pagoda. While he was being dragged...the same word he kept repeating "Brother, Jesus loves You....Jesus loves You"

I almost teared listening to this. Such dedication of this Korean missionary. When this pastor accepted Christ, his dad beat him up and almost killed him. He vowed never to be a normal christian, but one who will proclaim the good news, the gospel....He really did that. Currently...five churches are about to be established in a dangerous place, where he came from...where people don't receive the gospel easily : Arakan...Such amazing faith.

Myanmar changed my life...strengthen my faith. I never want to live life normally ever again. If there is another chance, I want to go back there. I am so thankful that God put us in the centre of all that He is doing in Myanmar. The pastor who host us, was the pastor who is rallying the nation's pastor to come together to pray and change the nation together. We are so so blessed.

The one thing that hit me in Myanmar was, the moment that I was preaching. I remember many years ago, when I was a baby Christian, I just accepted Jesus....I was in my room...worshipping for hours...and as I was worshipping, I saw myself preaching to 100s of people. That very vision....came to past in Myanmar...as I was preaching to 100s of people. That very moment, God reminded me.....keep walking....I am in His plan crafted for the destiny He has prepared for me. :)

One thing I hope I will always remember. To never take for granted all that we have, never take for granted the presence of God...never doubt that God can use us even here in KL! A lot of time, there is a special grace of God when people go to missions...and they began to realize God can use them to do different thing. That was the same exact feeling I had...when I preached, people were in tears, many came running to the altar, when I prayed, someone cried and sobbed, when I prayed and ministered, someone slain....I felt truly empowered and blessed. But I must always remember the same God that was with me in Myanmar can use me like that too in where I am right now... :)

Most importantly, this trip draw me really much more closer to God. God dealt with some things in my life, and I know God will bring me through more...One significance is, my courage grew....so so much...and my prayer is, I will not just be a Martha....doing so many things for God...but above all...I want to be a Mary...one who walks so so closely with God, that I am sensitive to His move every single day...in my life and the life of others. I yearn for that privilege. And I thank God for this privilege. This honor...

Come to think of it, I was worried financially when I signed up for this trip. i signed up by faith. Coming back, I know I have made the right choice. My faith was ENLARGED. I know this trip will be my best trip for a long long time. Even though I will be going for vacation in Dec to Korea and China....I know, it will never beat this mission trip. I am looking forward to more of what God will be doing in my life for my coming season....

This is something I never want to forget.....never :)

Character

Many things I often discuss with my buddy. Sharon.

One of which is about how sometimes a character of a person can outshine the outlook. Whether a good character outshine a plain look, or a bad character outshine a good look.

Whatever it is, character is most important. It is amazing how both of us find that people can actually "sense" or "read" one's character merely by just speaking to him / her.

His/ her words....how much do they weigh? How deep do they go? How far can it hit? How long do they stay? One word defines it all. Substance.

Too many a times, the world is too busy building the many petty things. Career, money, good looks, branded clothes, swift / smooth talking, being prominent. I am not trying to say all these are not important. But truly, all these means nothing....without a good character to sustain them.

Yes, it may be impressive. But never last for long. 

A good character always surpass other things. 

One way a Christian can build good, attractive, substantial character...is by walking really close to God. :)

Success is not everything, because without character, success is nothing.

Character is one that will sustain every success in every area of your life.

Build the right things today. Build character. Build substance. Most importantly....walk really closely with God. Character should never be compromised over anything at all.