Tag Archives: hope

God’s Invitation

5 May

 

 God has invited me to go back to Timor-Leste!!!

 

It has been 6 months now since my pre-mature return and today, the Church Board has given their blessings for R and me to go back to Maubisse to wrap up the one year short term mission.

 

The waiting period has not been easy. But I know God is teaching me patience. Many are surprised I could actually hang on until now without getting angry or bitter with God or the Church. I am surprised too. I could never do it without the grace of God. I am thankful God has been very generous to take time to mould me, to shape me and to prepare me for His kingdom works.

 

Jesus has said in John 4:34 that “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” As Jesus has obeyed God to go to the cross, I am fulfilling my promise to God that I will go wherever He wants me and to join Him in whatever He is doing.

 

God is already doing the work as evidenced in the English class for kids when God brought the kids to the door. The Holy Spirit has been working among the people that they have been very friendly and helpful.  God has even sent a culture helper whom I met at the hospital when I fractured my right foot! There are so much more to thank God and I am just grateful that He has called me back to Timor after this much needed period of rest and restoration.

 

Because of His grace,

Lydia 

Closure

1 May

Today marks the end of the One Life One Year East Timor 2009 team.

One Body. One Spirit (Eph 4:4)

 

Scripture passage from Acts 15 on disagreement between Paul and Barnabas set the tone for the closure meeting. In verse 39,

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.

 

From this passage, we have been encouraged not to feel that we have failed because the team missions has to be terminated prematurely and now the team no longer exists. As careful as we can be in making intentional choices about communication & process, conflicts happnes. More so in a  diverse team with different gender, age, maturity and experience.  The stress levels go sky high when the team has to work & live together 24/7, in a foreign land with significantly different culture & living conditions.

 

I have learnt that the risk of sharing personal stories & struggles has created much conflict, misunderstandings and hindrance to team bonding & growth. Cultural fluency (not just of  Timor-Leste’s but our very own) can be improved through self-awareness.  There is much learning from the richness of diversity as well as team conflicts.

 

However, we need not despair that reconciliation will never happen under such circumstances. For we continue to explore Paul’s journey in Galatians 2:1 where his relationship with Barnabas has been rebuilt to a comfortable level to travel to Jerusalem together. But this took 14 long years!

 

So what can I say? God is in control. Throughout the whole ordeal, God did not leave me nor forsake me. When I was in deep anguish & confusion, I cried out to Him & He delivered me (Psalm 59). When I was hurting, He sent angels to comfort me, to encourage me, to support me and to help me in very tangible ways. I can never thank Him enough for His faithfulness (Psalm 91).

 

Yes, reconciliation is definitely possible when we place our hope in God. It’s only when we surrender to God’s will which includes His timing, He will bring to pass what He promises (Mark 13). But we must be patient. We cannot rush God. We cannot try to take over the driver’s seat with our secret plans. We must keep close to God to hear His heartbeat, to sense what He is doing and then to join Him in whatever He is doing. This is my prayer to the one true living God. Amen.

 

Because of His Grace,

Lydia

 

 

 

 

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