M Eating Disorders ission? I have never thought of it before. I have always wanted to serve in Sarawak, a safe haven. Due to new thoughts, the vision of mission seeded itself in me but I wanted to go to some underdeveloped countries. However, going to England, to a big cultured city, was never on my list.
In 2010, the second year in ministry, I deeply felt for the interior Penan people. I never managed to go there but my passion for mission was ignited since then. I joined an overseas mission team that year and enjoyed serving in this cross-cultural mission. At that time, a German missionary couple who have been working in missions for 20 years, approached us and encouraged us to take up overseas mission. It was the first time that God, through others, called us to overseas mission.
From 2011 to 2013, I joined Murum Dam ministry in Bintulu. There were more than six thousand Chinese workers from Mainland China. When I first met them, I realized that there are so many Chinese people who have not heard the gospel. During these two and a half years serving them, my passion to spread the gospel was burning fervently and my heart for mission sprouted and grew. I then understood the importance of overseas mission.
In 2015, my wife and I decided to become overseas missionaries and we left for England the following year. Six years have gone by; from nonmission vision to dedication, from full self-confidence to break down, from comforting environment to breakthrough, from emotional struggle to full reliance of God, from impossibility to reality.
Do I really not know why?
Looking back the way I have come, I have to give thanks to the Lord for choosing a lowly vessel like me. Stepping into the fourth year serving in England, every step take is still very vivid while reading through my dairy.
On 31 March 2016, I marched to the boarding gate at 7:50 pm. It was raining outside; gazing at the rain moistening the dry earth and filling up the empty drains, my teary eyes flowed as the rain. Stress, anxiety and fear gripped me.
On 28 August 2016, five hours after I arrived in England, I found myself at the church I was to serve, Epsom Methodist Church. I was in a daze but I told myself that I had to really give up the familiar faces, the environment, and the language. I had no time to get used to the new environment but had to start afresh in fear and trembling with this new community who were of Cantonese, Mandarin and English speaking backgrounds. I started to panic as I was bad in Cantonese and English. While they were enthusiastically welcoming me, their new pastor (they had had no pastor for three years), my heart was lead heavy. I started wondering again, “Why do I travel so far to come to England for missions? Isn’t it better to stay on in Sarawak? Why? Why? Why?”
The many Whys made me ponder “Do I really not know why?” Actually, I do know. I had to go to England, an unfamiliar place, with a high dignified society of different languages who needed to hear the Lord’s good news. Some people heard that I was coming to England, they said, “Fantastic! You could earn English Pounds!” and I was speechless
Life was full of God’s grace along the way. If God had not shouldered me, wouldn’t have walked thus far. Paul : “For I resolved to know nothing… Jesus Christ and Him .” (1 Corinthians 2:2) Thanks God for His grace and the Cross is source of strength to move forward.
By Nguang Ung Soon
(SCAC missionary to UK)
Translated by Christina