Joshua’s Tree

December 22, 2007 make a history for Kuching Methodist Churches, when the held a carol parade in Kuching town. I’m proud to be part of the 3600 ~ 4000 participates involved in the near 2 hours parade. There are 7 parade cars from 6 main churches. The parade held candles while singing Christmas songs and bless the people around with wishes. Ballons is also given out. It told 2 hours for the whole parade to come to finish.

Before the parade day, Kuching undergo raining period for a few days. But by God’s grace, there is no rain during the parade day. After so long, I celebrate this year Christmas fruitfully. All praises to Almighty Lord!

The following short mission trip told place on 5th October, 07 to 6th October, 07. This time headed Rumah Maya at Ulu Roban … around half an hour drive from Saratok. The journey starts at 9.30 a.m. from TMC, with 2 four-wheels … where I’m one of the drivers. What a responsibility. As usual we stop at Lachau for lunch and nice timing too! From there off to Saratok to meet with the SIB pastor. Then, we proceed to Roban to join another four-wheel, before onward to the remote. All in all it took us around total traveling time 5 hours. Praise God we make good time to reach the rumah. Not mistaken we reach in between 3.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Unlike the June trip to Rumah Draup Kubal Batu at Betong, this trip took slightly longer route. This time around, most participate are lesser and mostly elders, who are zealous. Some of them are sick, yet they are determine to come out of their conform zone to serve. Wonderful … may God bless them! I have learned from them.

Once arrived, we are welcomed and waste no time. Children ministry and medical care were carried out to the children and the residents of the rumah. At the same time, the ladies start cooking for dinner. I was called to solve some household problem … engineer meh. After viewing the matter, it is decided to make the repair on our next trip. There are a few matters being discussed.

TASK 1: The door of the tuah rumah toilet is un-hinge, as I will put it! No proper hinge is in place, only pieces of rubber nail to door frame and the door held up the closing. Have to buy proper hinge to be installed. Not advice to replace the whole door, because the existing door frame is supporting a layer of brick on top.

TASK 2: Floor fall of the tuah rumah wet yard mentioned to pond water. From observation, the fall is okay, only the surface need to be clean because slippery due to algae growth. To re-screed the floor fall might raise the floor overall. Hence repair is suggested. But to clear off the algae growth can be done, if required.

TASK 3: The rumah often had problem with flooding into the ruai temu during heavy rainfall. This rumah is not on stilts. The permanent solution is to establish a cut-off drain along the fronting of the 20 doors rumah, because we observed there is no provision of any perimeter drain. Measurement and photos was taken, but the construction of such drain required material and man-power. Further planning and join affect with the rumah residents is required.

What a challenge for me, I thought. Me not much practical skill, but believe Almighty had prepared me before these to handle these task. Pray for me to have good constructive mind and communication skill. Most importantly is to have faith in God’s providence and entrust all thing in Him. This is my walk in faith!

The night service was blessed with energetic singspiration and inspiring sermon, even didn’t get much out of it because it’s in Iban dialect. The listeners were filled with joy. The After Call was something new for me! I felt the work of the Holy Spirit is strong in the SIB pastors. It’s like onward Christian soldier, full of confidence. How remarkable! I guess their faith is strong because of their daily walk with God under harsh and difficult circumstances with the ethnic people pagan background. The love they shown to the ethnic are like family. We had one new believer, Limak ak. Siba 77 year’s old female. Praise to the Lord!

We were also told that, the pastors had burned some charm from one of the door of a believer after the night service. This I meant by pagan background of the ethnic. They previous belief with the spirit of the forest, earth etc. had hidden and blinded them from the truth. From the 20 doors, only 4 or 5 doors had been saved. But this had being the centre for worship for the surrounding long houses. I think there are some residents from the surrounding long houses joining us for fellowship that night because the numbers present seen more that 5 doors, to me.

The next day after morning devotion and breakfast with the tuah rumah family, we start back to home. Another 5 hours of drive, with a break for lunch, we reach Kuching. Thank God for our safe journey!

It’s an amazing view to watch a Boeing 737 landed on a wet runway, after the rain. I was standing at the royal air force’s hangar during a visit to the base. This hangar, and among others, will be relocated because they are too new to the upgraded runway of the aerodrome. Yes … this is what I doing now … an airport engineer! I’m working in Jurutera Minsar Consult s/b, a civil and structure consultant firm, which originated from airport design. The founder, my manager director, is previously from airport division of Minconsult s/b, me ex-employer … small world! God had prepared for my return since 1995 when I joined minco. I thanked Him for that.

Even my civil works background come in place, still had to do a lot of reading on airport standard by ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization … civil aviation, got a fulfilling sound to it! All airports which required approval from this international organization had to comply with their aerodrome requirement. Current our country is a member of this organization and all current upgraded airports are to be accordance to this standard.

We are now supervising the design and construction of Kuching International Airport (KIA); Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA); and Labuan Airport (LA). There a few more airports under proposal … see how the federal fund goes. Don’t think Ipoh or Penang is under us. But a few royal air force required to relocate and realign … like the one I doing now in KIA. But this is just a job … to earn a living.

Going to church more often, even it’s not Sunday … to listen to various sermons and talks with a few of my cell group friend. Read and dwell in His words more often … seek more of Him! I guess this is what I should had done long time ago … ironic, finally back to my root. I was surprised a big majority of my colleague is Christian, and we can share among us His providence. Guess I not ashamed of the gospel anymore. One things make me feel conform of home when one of my directors actually gives grace before we start during our mederka lunch … wonderful! Currently attending a course called the cleansing stream … to cleanse myself of all the unclean things that impose on me from the city of sin.

Well … it’s a different scope of work, different life style, different circle of friends and different purpose in life … but among all these, still the same number!

Will remember you all in my prayer and God bless.

This is an account of my first mission trip to longhouse on twenty second to twenty third of the month June.

A three and a half hours drive to Betong before attending half an hour off-road to Rumah Draup Kubal Batu, an Ibanese longhouse.  It consist only five family length house with folk and young children residents … I think total not more that ten.  All the youth had migrated to town for work prosper or studied in hostel school.  That’s the trade around most longhouse nowadays … as I was told.

We, me and church members, started our journey in three four-wheel drives. Sarawak federal road is not as smooth as west Malaysia … very bumping ride.  There is much uneven surface due to poor subgrade formation.  Well, at least it better that few year ago … where it is just gravel and lateral road.

The mission trip is one of the scheduled trips under the conduct of my church.  Objective of this particular mission is to follow-up and have fellowship with the Ibanese residents.  At the same time to host a baptism certificate ceremony for them.  They had being baptized end of last year.  I was told that the Ibanese take great honor in this ceremony … similar to our convocation.  One of their daughters, who work in town, followed us back to her kampung just to see her mother receive her certificate … because they had known the truth, and the truth had set them free. (John 8:32)

Previously, this rumah is longer, with more family, until a few years back the initial longhouse was burned down.  After the fire, there is segregation among the families because some of them don’t favor the longhouse chief, or tuai rumah.  During those times, they were all pagans, until churches with different denomination start to come in to preach to them.  That’s why we see a few other rumah around.  I don’t think they are friendly among each other … talk about Survivor series!

Anyway, we manage to invited one of their previous household to join us for fellowship and children ministry together after dinner … with coincide from their tuai rumah, off course!  There were song singings, a small plot by us, pastor preaching … in Iban some more, which I don’t understand, and then only the certificate ceremony.  We also prayed for the sick.  After all that, it’s tea time and berandau di ruai session … which mean chit chat at living hall.  The longhouse resident treated us to their traditional nasi buluh and ayam pasuh.  Nasi buluh is mountain-growth rice, while ayam pasuh is marinated chicken … which both is cook in bamboo.  Better then the food we prepared for them … two thumbs up! The longhouse run on generator power … which shut off at midnight … when the humid and insects come!  They have pipe water … luckily.  But there a river near by … which got crocodiles … don’t think they are friends of Irvin.

The next morning, it’s bible devotion time with the rumah resident before breakfast. After breakfast, a health talk on smoking is presented to the resident.  This is because most of them smoke and it is to the ministry best interests to make them aware of the danger.  The talk was end with prayer for those decided to quit smoking.  Finally we pack and travel back … another three and a half hours road trip … uneven surface some more … aduhhhh^~!  Even though it’s tiring, it’s bring back some memories when I was young and my mum brought us back to our grand-parents kampung house.  I give thanks to Almighty God for watch and guard us during our journey and ministry … for what is done is for His grace and glory. Amen.

Oh yeah … what’s the truth you may ask.  Well as it is written … for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Finally made it … not an easy transaction, but reach destination in one piece … both me and wka_4487, plus itineraries.  Among all, eighth boxes of knowledge and a lonely guitar … howling to be inspired.  Flashing back the exodus flight, where my heart sang a chorus deeply in-script in mind during the month - I going home … to the place where I belong … doughty me-self.

May’s weekend was for farewell dinner or yum cha gathering … with each night retired in feeling of departing.  Until the end, the anxiety become numb … for goodbye sound less better than see u around! Old comrades to farewell reminded me of how we met the first time.  Young and clueless what destines for us, yet keen to take on life.  How we had growth since then.  I witness each of you blessed with your serenity and crib … now is my turn.  Seek and I shall find … the promised land Almighty had given me. As the plane prepared to take a bow, I try to take an aerial view of home … a glimpse of my promised land.

Up to now I still believe all of you, and your family, are blessing from God to me during this 10 years.  With this, I dedicated to all my peers in the peninsular.

By the way, all streets of Kuching shall learn how to fear wka_4487!

After 10 years away from a place I long time never called home, I’m back to where I belong … Kuching. First 4 years of apprentice in someway not found on map and next 6 years of survivor in a mazes … seen to be enough. I ended my search … family and home is all it matters. God had shine the way back for this lost sheep … and a tough lesson, i must said.

To all the peers I met, i send my thanks. It’s had being a good ride and I will treasure our time … in this wooden heart. Damn memorable decade for me. Now as i gonna start a new chapter in my life, unknowing what to expected, let what you had taught me, show in me. By the way, Home Sweet Home!