Pilgrim in Chiangmai [part 1]

Day 1

Flight got delayed. Got an express haircut from mom who noticed my super long fringe. Departed 10pm with Jasmine, super excited that this is our first trip together to the Land of Smiles.

Met Bro Nat at the airport. Met a family that was there for holiday too. Uncle Alfred and family were very nice to talk to, and they hopped on to the van with us as Bro Nat kindly offered to bring them to their hotel. Told them our plans to go to an orphanage that same week and they were interested to come along with us. While driving, noticed the nightlife around the city area. wasn't a pleasant sight when we passed the clubs and pubs, and Bro Nat commented that this is just part of the Sodom and Gomorrah of Chiangmai. Reached Bro Nat's home at 1am thailand time. Weather was super cooling and we couldn't wait to rest. Jas and I slept like logs.



Day 2


Bro Nat fetched us to Payap University. He told us it's the holiday cum study week period, so we wouldn't really expect to see many souls wandering around. Initial arrangement was to stay together with 2 girls, and Jas and I would be separated. However, plans changed and Jas and I had our own room, just next door to the girls we planned to befriend and assist them in their English Exams. I remember thinking about how more challenging it would be to make friends with them during this exam period, but God has His ways, and just decided to trust Him in building of new friendships with acquaintances.

Went for treasure hunt the moment we stepped into ERC. Got my new SIM card to travel around with 3G (of which i hopelessly spent all of its credits in that week, oops). Hardly used the phone to help because P'Apple came along and we exploited her tackily for directional service.


Experienced the first few moments of embarrassment in and outside Payap- consequences of my lack of practise of thai in singapore- while ordering food. Language barrier was such a pain, but over time thank God it got better. Laughed at myself almost every time the vendors give me their puzzled look- and then the look of realisation that "chan phuut phasaa thay may day" (i can't speak thai).  


Devotions for today: What to do? (article from ODJ) - note: if interested in the devotional, you can find the article on the website.

Proverbs 3 (NASB. copied from www.biblegateway.com)

The Rewards of Wisdom

 ¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
² For length of days and years of life
And peace they will add to you.
³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
⁹ Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;


favourite verses in bold italics.


lesson from the author: I should always ask myself if i'm applying God's word to my situation and steps. Asking myself the good questions would help me identify my heart's true desires and my confidence. Make plans with conviction and without wavering no matter the circumstance.






(to be continued)

His Kingdom first

thank God for a wonderful time in Chiangmai! first week was spent with Jasmine and second week was with the galilee team- David, Shirlyn and Arina. i haven't really gotten the time to sit and reflect on everything that has happened systematically, and i've had pains trying to answer questions my friends ask about what i've done and what i've learnt there. in the next few posts, i'll slowly recount the blessings and lessons as the days go by- from Day 1 all the way till Day 16. time there seemed to have passed by both slow and fast at different times, and there were moments where time just seemed to stop moving. but all in all, God allowed me to open my eyes to a bigger place that had needs that needed to be met, and problems of their own that came up in the most subtle ways. agreed with Bro Nat that 16 days is nothing compared to 365 days of what the Korean missionarys would call a "short term" mission trip.

redpants called yesterday! i'm so glad to hear from her! one thing i'm really thankful for is for how God has sustained our friendship since we were 16. she told me something that i completely agree with. yesterday was great cuz i managed to spend time with rosemary too.. God's placed different close friends in my life to be of support to me whenever i'm down and out... and redpants said that very often we just need a friend that believes in us and the things that we're doing. no matter what others may say- we stick with each other and our decisions, and keep each other close to God. though we're all at different phases, i'm so thankful for all of you... and you know who you are, especially redpants, rosemary and sugar who's now in langkawi...

going to analyse a long thick article that Bro Nat gave to me on what to do after graduation. i know i need to be especially prayerful about 2012. just filed for graduation yesterday, and i can't wait to do my very best for the final sem of my uni life. i'll be taking numerical analysis 2, advanced ordinary differential equations, gender studies, physical questions of everyday life, and intro to media writing. sounds very daunting and yet it's super exciting! mixture of everything i love to do. it's so unbelieveable that i've already gone through 2.5 years of studying in the uni that i remember my friends and i were dreaming of entering together since sec school. now, i'm only a few steps closer to the day that i step out of the convocation hall, wearing my graduation gown. time really really flies....

my personal commitment is that i'm going to keep even closer to God for this coming 2012... it's going to be a year of added commitments, with sunday school being one other responsibility, and a desire to continue discipleship in crusade and in church. sounds very very crazy now that i think about it.. but I know God will help me.. and now He reminds me that if i fail to plan, i plan to fail...

in a country that we can find so many things we love and can find so many alternative idols to put our faith in, i pray that this simple verse and song will continually ring in my head till He comes again.

i know that He will supply all my needs,
and the glory of Heaven is far greater
than the struggles that i have to put up with
on this temporary place on Earth... 

Matt 6:33 - seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

milestone

counting down to sunday!!!

because this truly marks the answer to my prayer since almost 3 years ago! it'll be really great to get to know the needs of a foreign land such as thailand, and to meet new people of a language i only studied about a year ago, which i desperately need to review...

i still can't believe i'm going! and how fast time has flown since the day i remember writing in my journal that it is my desire to go somewhere and experience a different place with a different people. it'll be one experience i'll never forget, i'm most sure :)

downloading all the thai songs now to memorise and study the lyrics...

okay.. before that, sunday school camp's coming!!! i'm very thankful for the dedicated committtee members who have put in their heart and soul to the preparation of the programme. pray that the camp masters and camp comm will continue to rely on God for the upcoming 5 days! it'll be a good time of getting to know more children and youth... and i pray that we'll all take ownership of the tasks we've been assigned, and that we'll do our best for Him!

living in the end times should be one of the strongest motivations for us to live a life of gratitude to the One who has loved us and called us to salvation, and a life of meaning and purpose. there's so much that we need to do, yet we don't do them because of the many things we feel like we should do instead to live a life that's of a certain face value to the world.

just read a quote on a friend's facebook. "We are only what we are in the dark; all the rest is reputation. What God looks at is what we are in the dark—the imaginations of our minds; the thoughts of our heart; the habits of our bodies; these are the things that mark us in God’s sight." (The Love of God—The Ministry of the Unnoticed, 669 L)

it is good to remember that we reveal our true selves when no one is looking. and the choice is ours to continue or not, and this will determine how much God really means to us.

till i update on the camp and trip, adios readers!