Tent Dweller

May 2008, the campus serving ones decided to pay a visit to the saints in Philippines. In 2 weeks time, we have all our flight ticket booked. About two months before our departure, we started to prepare some messages on Jubilee in which we can fellowship with the saints in Philippines, we also started to budget our gifts and peso.

As for me, I have my thesis proposal to be done before Jan 2009. On the 25thDec 2008 3am, I am still writing my thesis and emailed to my supervisor that I will not send her my thesis proposal until 8th Jan 2009. In fear and trembling, I sent the email. Early in the morning, I double checked my luggage and say good bye to my thesis…

In the 3.5 hour flight to the Philippines, I asked the Lord to make me just a flowing channel who is open to His dispensing and flowing Christ ONLY in these few days. Obviously, I am not ready for this trip. The messages on Jubilee helped me to see that if I am still under bondage (being bound by my thesis) I would not be able to declare Jubilee to others. Only those who are freed can free others.

Finally, we landed in Manila airport. In our 1.5 hour drive to FTTM (Malabon), I see people played at the road side, some doing nothing, some just wondering, having no God and no hope. I my heart sink. Then we reached Malabon, the totally different environment compared to what I saw. We stayed in a simple but neat room, enjoy ‘chinese food’, and heater bathroom.

— I will not illustrate our itinerary in detail —

After our delicious chinese food dinner, Malabon saints presented to us the history of Philippines propagation work. I was impressed with the saints’ faithfulness in asking the Lord to bless Philippines. From 7 churches, asked for 12 churches (one month one church), then, 52 churches (one week one church), then, 104 churches (two churches a week). Then, gospelized, churchized and truthized the WHOLE Philippines! Their cry to the Lord for the spreading of the gospel has ‘shake’ and awake me from myself. Honestly, from that night onward I never slept well. O the burning fire within me…

 Next morning, we headed to Dasmarinas. There I met my Lord. We sang a hymn,

 As a sojourner

I’m dwelling on the tent

Lord, I’m not settled, I’m ready to go

Wherever You lead me,

A charge that I must do

If I can gain You

I’m willing to do.

If loving You means

Giving up my future;

Lord, make me willing to love and let go:

With absolute will that is fully surrendered;

Oh my Lord Jesus

I love You, I love You!

I love You, I love You, Lord

 What I could testify to the saints is just God’s mercy. It’s His mercy that I can let go my thesis, it’s His mercy I can love Him, it’s His mercy I can be her in Philippine. Nothing in me is superior to anyone. It’s altogether His mercy.

 One day, we reached Santa Rosa. On our way back to our host house, I discovered that my host, bro Norma was in Penang back in 1997. I remembered this family. We fellowshipped on the propagation in Philippines, the testimonies of the saints, and the Lord’s move in Malaysia. We shed tears in joy when we testified the saints living in faith and the pouring of the saints offering.

I wondered how a person can sing praises in such a difficult situation. They have nothing, insufficient material support, walked for 2 days (no money to take bus), swim in river… they have NOTHING but the joy in the Lord! No one can take away their joy. Again, a sleepless night to me. I have what they don’t have and I don’t have what they have, the joy.

 On the last day of our trip, we were calculating our remaining Peso. Although we give away all our Peso in the offering box, deep within me I realized only the Lord can cover their need.

 In conclusion, I learned one thing from this trip, pray like the widow in Luke 18. A widow who has no husband and no children, but a developed faith. I subjectively see that the faith within me is a develop-ing faith. Outward environment may caused my heart to sink and to give up in the matter of gospelizing Malaysia. But here, there is a widow praying with a developed faith!

 Note: I never checked my email throughout my trip in Philippines. Upon my arrival in Malaysia, 40 emails. My supervisor insisted me to submit my proposal (40 pages) by 8 Jan 2009. Thesis writing took all my time but not my joy.