Recalling the trip I made to Europe, I particularly remember how amazed I was by the grandeur of the Buckingham Palace and the spectacular Changing of the Guard hour.
What a difference when I mentally compared it with the dilapidated homes of the people at BA’LAI in Sarawak. When I saw the few thin and hairless dogs patrolling the village grounds, showing the poverty I was so saddened.
I was thinking of the comfort of my church, furnished with air-conditioners and comparing it with a longhouse scene – two ceiling fans twirling round and I had to fan myself off the heat and insects swarming about. I was scared that one might drop into my shirt.
Each morning in the longhouse, I was woken by the cock crows instead of the hooting of the BMW 5 which belongs to my neighbour.
In the longhouse, I saw joyous smiles from people when they received our simple gifts : a bag of cooking oil and a bag of salt with both hands as if they had struck a Jackpot! In the city on the other hand, we ponder hard on what to eat for lunch, BBQ chicken rice or beef noodles?
The long house folks clapped happily when receiving the used clothes, as if they were getting something precious, while people in the city would be constantly making online purchases, pursuing the fashion of the season.
Now that I am back and thinking of the time I was at the long house, I deeply feel the differences of these two worlds. My heart is uneasy. My five-day stay in BA’LAI was like having a complete different life.
Living in perseverance
During the short term mission, I was assigned to do home visit, to encourage and to pray over their needs. I remember one incident, after our prayers, the lady was in tears of gratitude while shaking my hands to bid farewell. At that moment I could relate to her needs and emotions. I could also see toughness in her teary eyes. To me, everyone there was so much stronger than me.
On our last night there, we climbed up to the helipad(prepared for emergency helicopter landing), to watch the starry night. It was my first ever to see so many stars. They were truly beautiful. And the long house folks were as beautiful as the twinkling stars, simple and innocent. With a simple gift of cooking oil and salt, they were brightened with smiles. As for us, with buckets of fried chicken, we still feel that our life is dull and tasteless. Why couldn’t we be like them, to be contented with little? We need to learn how to be grateful with less complains.
There is HOPE
These were the needy people I had seen with my own eyes which were just a little tip of an iceberg; there are more to uncover.
The longhouse experience overwhelmed me with mixed feelings as I didn’t realize there was so much poverty. What we had done was so little, but I know there is a greater strength which will assist them, that is our prayer, so that the Creator of the universe, who can move mountains and seas will be there for them.
I also believe that their perseverance comes from prayers. Owing to daily prayers, they experience the power of Christ. As long as they have Jesus Christ dwelling in them, there is always hope.
How I wish I could be ‘stronger’, how my arms were bigger in size, so that I could carry more packets of oil to them. How I wish my brain could work faster, thinking of more possible ways to help them. I wish my mouth could utter more comforting words. I really wish that I could go back there with more strength. I wish that those who are reading this sharing would be strengthened as well.
Let us not be in despair, with God there is hope. I pray that our life and their lives will be brightened up with glorious hope, and may we too light up for others.
The way the long house folks live has enlightened me to be more grateful and to learn how to slow down so that I could be of help to others.
Giving is more blessed indeed. I received a lot of blessing from this mission trip and all these experiences will not only be deeply embedded in my memories but will also serve as the light to my growth.
Peng Wei Lun
Christian Grace Church, KL