Bandaged Soul...so I can open my heart to you again.

I'm still very much yearning for a chance to be in the Philippines again, in particularly, Santiago, where our mission team was at for the first 6 days of our trip in the middle of this month. The whole experience of being there and being involved together with these great people who embraced God's purpose to reach out to the community just stirred up this longing within me. My heart is telling me I want to do more than what we put our hands into for that week. God has opened my eyes wide and what I saw and experienced have made, and are still making, a deep impact in me. And plus they're celebrating the Cornerstone Church's 5th anniversary with Pst Yang and 'gang' going over just makes my heart itch with the desire to be there. During the trip, for a few hours after the Sunday Service where I preached at, I had a chance to sit down with Cristina, DaBen and JoBoy from the worship team. We were working on the harmony parts for a song that they're going to tea...

My thoughts are still slowly settling with the experiences from a mission (exposure) trip which I got back from a couple of days ago. Touched down Singapore at about 1.30am, followed by a series of events scheduled over the weekends. Attending a wake tonight. Haven't had time to blog about it. Like I said, I'll need more time to organise my thoughts. But just a little prelude... The 9 days spent at the Philippines (Santiago and Manila) were meaningful ones filled with thought-provoking moments and self-challenges blessed with God's grace. After 19 years of being with my Church, this is the first time I stepped into the mission field. I'd never really felt compelled to go for one. This might sound a little superficial - I always thought that going for an overseas mission trip is like a 'rite of passage' for every believer. In simple words, I feel kinda lousy when I hear of the exciting stories of Church friends returning, but somehow, I was never convicted to joi...

Strangely, I'm feeling a little morbid. I'm just going to be away for 9 days to The Philippines but while I'm packing and settling things at work, bills, travel insurance, it feels as if I won't be coming back again. In less than 8 hours, I'll be on Cebu Pacific to Manila, and then a 8-hour bus ride to Santiago. Yeah, I know, it's going to be a bum-numbing journey. Seriously, I don't know what to expect. Our schedule is not by the hour, not like Church Camp. In a more positive tone, I'm trusting God for His provision and protection. On a not so faith-full sentiment, I feel like I'm a fat lamb on the way to the slaughter house. A death of the unwanted stuff in me. Pride, self-confidence (not that I have much to start with), self-sufficiency. Self. Period. Suddenly, what you think you have, you're kinda losing it. And what you think you don't have, of all days, you're right. It's a test of simple faith that doesn't feel so simple. I...

Sang at Ben and Jaslyn's wedding this morning. Was part of the worship team. It was quite different from usual service worship session. Most of the people just stood there. But God was there to grace the event so I had a good time. You know you've done well when the Guest of Honour enjoys the 'performance'. That's all that mattered, and it would be more than enough.