Date:
27th August – 1st September 2017
Area:
Ulu Julau
Theme:
Prayerful Living
Longhouses visited:
15 Longhouses – Rh Akun, Rh Nuang, Rh Jelian, Rh John Okin, Rh Budit, Rh Uchi, Rh Seli, Rh Bani, Rh Agil, Rh Engkulau, Rh Peter,Rh Runggul, Rh Langgan, Rh Nyambong, Rh Gerifin
Team:
1 team with 10 teachers —
Nicholas Tan (Ching Kwong MC)
Jeremy Ting (Ching Kwong MC)
Jason Siew (Nyelong Park MC)
Shirley Siaw (Nyelong Park MC)
Wong Lee Yau (Nyelong Park MC)
Angel Kiew (Sarikei Town Church)
Ling Siew Kiong (Lawas MC)
Amelle Chee (Julau MC)
Diana Gani (Ng. Matop)
Rachel Mandang (Ng. Matop)
Area Of Ministry:
Adult worship, Sunday School, Youth fellowship, Family fellowship, Intercessory prayers, Room blessing.
Attendance:
Adult – 246
Youth – 16
Children – 149
(Most youths were confined to their school activities at this time)
A trip was initiated by Nicholas Tan just after the usual June Ulu Julau mission trip and received the blessing from Raymond Lee of Ching Kwong Methodist Church to move on. A team consisting of ten members who are all school teachers was just perfect for this special holiday mission trip. Most of us have participated in the Ulu Julau mission trips before, but this was the first time we all got together. It was a small team with a big vision because we all have a ‘big heart’ towards the longhouse residents.
To cover 15 longhouses within a week was not only tiring but challenging as we had* to move from one longhouse to another. Thank God for the good weather throughout our visits.
Our theme was “Prayerful Living” – to teach and encourage the longhouse believers to pray in all circumstances. The importance of prayers in life was delivered to them through messages on being “reborn” and how to become a new creation with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Through continuous fervent prayers we can abide in Christ and enjoy eternal life with Him. Prayer booklets containing Doa Bapa Kami, Doa Ampun, Doa Ketakutan, Doa Kesakitan, Doa Puji Tuhan, Doa Tidur, Doa memberikan, Doa Memberikan Kebijaksanaan, Doa Kasih, and Doa Makan were taught and distributed to each of them. They were also encouraged to remember the Sepuluh Hukum Tuhan.
Each worship session was filled with the joys of singing praises by old and young in the longhouse. It was so touching to hear them singing ‘Besai Pengerindu Nuan Tuhan’ and ‘Meruan Ku Ngenang’ telling us God’s love and how He suffered for us to die on the cross. While the adults were listening to the teaching of God’s words, the children were enjoying the Sunday school activities such as storytelling, games, singing, praying and doing craftworks. In every longhouse a member from our team would share and testify his life as a Christian. We then prayed for the needy and students sitting for UPSR, PT3, and SPM examinations. Upon requests, we also did some “sembiang bilik” to cleanse their rooms.
The longhouse folks need the Lord. More mission trips should visit them more frequently. The adults need to learn the words of God more often to keep their faith glowing. The youths and the children need the correct nourishment to uphold them in building their faith and character. The old and the weak need sympathy, love and care. Our presence means a lot to them.
It was a surprise mission trip to the longhouses as they usually did not expect any team to come during this holiday. So our team was an ‘extraordinary’ one. We just met and worked as a TEAM- Together We Achieve More! We woke up early for our morning devotions. We discussed what we had done and prayed for our weaknesses and strength for our next encounters before going to rest near midnight. However we all enjoyed the peace, joy and jokes we shared together.
Meanwhile keep praying for our indigenous brothers and sisters. Pray for their faith to uphold their beliefs. Keep sowing seeds even though we are not the one to reap the harvest!