Joshua’s Tree

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)