Tag Archives: Hospitality

Smelling the Roses

13 Jun

Flowers appear on the earth;
       the season of singing has come,
       the cooing of doves
       is heard in our land.

                                                                     - Song of Solomon 2:12 (NIV)

 

 

Attracted to the beautiful flowers at my neighbour’s garden, I lingered on. Then a lady came out of the house. She was smiling so I greeted her in Tetun. But she spoke English & asked if I am the Singaporean friend of M. She worked in the same hospital as M & heard about me. She then invited R & me into the house for coffee. I agreed readily & thanked God for the opportunity to know another friend in the neighbourhood.

 

Mdm L worked as a mid-wife & loved flowers (that explained the beautiful garden!). She spoke  fairly good English but was very humble to want to learn more. As we chat over the lovely local coffee (which I really like!), Dr G (who lived in the same house) joined us. When Dr G heard about our English class for kids , she immediately asked if we would help the hospital staff. Sensing God was showing us another way to reach out, I said ”yes” eagerly. We then exchanged telephone numbers. And Dr G promised to call me once she gets approval from the hospital director-general to proceed with the English class.

 

We chat about family, work, her home town & really enjoyed each other’s company. But my phone kept ringing, gentle reminders from another dear friend who had cooked lunch & was waiting to eat together before going for our outing later. So we had to take our leave.

 

I was trying really hard to contain my joy (by not dancing & screaming) as I left Dr G’s house. Little did I know that by taking time to smell the roses (which was a luxury when I was working in the corporate world), not only did I get to marvel at God’s hands at creation but He actually shows me the way to His plan! I have learnt to trust God by taking one step at a time as He never show us the whole book, only one page at a time …..

 

In the verse at the beginning of this post, even though flowers only give promises as the fruit is not ripe yet, King Solomon was singing & praising God for His promise of the advent of Jesus Christ. So I am praising God now for what He shows me today, the opportunity to build relationship with the hospital community, even though it may take some time for anything to happen. I know everything that happens today is only because of God’s grace and I am grateful.

 

Love from Maubisse,

Lydia

13.6.2010

Baucau

9 Jun Coastal drive between Dili & Baucau

Coastal drive between Dili & Baucau

As I was dozing off in the car, Jony our guide to Baucau called out to me to take photo of this beautiful island. My language proficiency was not good enough to understand the story behind this little island but I was simply blown over by the natural beauty of this land.

More than that, I have just returned from visiting fellow workers serving in this 2nd largest town in Timor-Leste. Baucau is 123 km east of Dili with about 16,000 inhabitants and sits at an altitude of 330 m above the sea, which makes it rather cool to live. Though it takes 3 hours to drive from Dili, the beautiful scenery along the coast is a welcome change from the winding mountain roads up to Maubisse.  

 

We were taking Andy & Eric (from WEFC) to Parlamento to begin their short term missions (6- & 3-weeks respectively). With the Prayer Summit starting today, everyone was away & so much was going on that communication broke down leaving 5 of us with no place to sleep last night initially. By God’s grace, we were able to reach a pastor at the Prayer Summit who  put us in touch with Mdm R in Baucau. 

 

Madam R called immediately & gave direction for us to go to her home before it got dark. Not only she gave us clean & safe rooms to rest, she & her team cooked dinner for the 5 of us! During dinner, I had the privilege to listen to her testimony in witnessing to the “hard-core” villagers who were hostile & violent before they were won over by her faith. After we helped to clean up after dinner, we went to bed so not to disrupt their daily devotiopn & prayer at 3 o’clock in the morning.

 

I enjoyed the morning worship with the kids who sang & danced joyously for the Lord. The kids sat still & listened intensely throughout the scripture reading that followed.  I thank God that Mdm R is blessed with local translator as she speaks only Bahasa.

 

As I said goodbye to Mdm R, her team & the kids, I know Andy & Eric are in good hands & will have a blessed time here in Baucau & beyond …..

 

With love from Maubisse, 

Lydia

9.6.2010

Art of Self-Invitation

7 Jun

Today is the 2nd day in Maubisse, am getting used to the cool weather & enjoying the fresh air, a world of difference from back home!

 

We visited Ibu L in her home this morning, using dictionary to converse & everyone had great fun trying to understand each other! I was so glad to be served the home-roasted coffee harvested from the tress in Maubisse. She and many others we met along the road and the market seemed really excited that we did not come back for short visit but to stay for the next 3 months.

 

In the afternoon, 2 of the students I taught from home last year, Lucia & Emilia came knocking on our door. Lucia saw us last night at the town’s restaurant & called out my name but I did not see her as it was pitch dark. So it was really a pleasant surprise that they asked around & located our home today!

 

As we all sat down to chat, I remembered a missionary once told me before I came to Timor that I must learn to invite myself into homes so to build relationships. As we are leaving for Dili tomorrow, we did not buy any ingredients to cook dinner so this thought of self-invitation came to mind.

 

Not sure how I did it but somehow Lucia understood that we would like to visit her family & have dinner at her home later in the evening!  Wow, I was really bold to ask to be fed!  But she was ecstatic at the suggestion as she considered a honour that we would want to eat “simple fare” when we foreigners were always seen to be rich & eating food beyond their reach in terms of costs & availability.

 

Our hospitable friend who fed us!

 

So she went home happily to ask her sister Mena to cook for us. When we went to her home later in the evening, her brother & nephew welcomed us warmly & we were served coffee & cookies before dinner (which was not common by their custom, but they were concerned that we might be hungry while dinner was being cooked). Then, shortly after, out came from the smokey kitchen rice, sausages, omelette, carrots, melons, fried noodles …. LAVISH by local standard when it’s normally just rice and vegetables!

 

We had a great evening eating, catching up, singing, playing guitar under the stars … just like old times … we went home really really late not realizing time passed by so quickly when we were enjoying each other’s company ….

 

My fear & worry that the community may not accept us due to our abrupt departure last year were now less burdensome on my mind. But I am not taking this for granted and am grateful that I have a faithful God who is always with me, guiding my steps and granting me favours with the community! 

 

With love from Maubisse,

Lydia

7.6.2010

 

Birthday Celebration in a Timorese’s home

6 Jun

Our faithful friend, M has been keeping in touch when we were back in Singapore. He came to the airport yesterday to welcome us & invited us to celebrate his niece’s birthday today. It was a simple celebration at home with his family over a delicious lunch. Even though we did not understand each other in words, his family’s hospitality was warmly felt the moment we stepped into the home.

 

We were served cans of Coke & Tiger beer, reserved only for honored guests. His brother fussed over the computer so it could play music. His sister then made every possible effort to play the “right” songs so we would be properly entertained. His mother kept bringing plates of food to us to eat more.

 

Happy Birthday, Babra!

 

There was no fancy icing on the cake. Nor was there any candle. Just birthday songs in Tetum then in Portuguese for the occasion but the little girl, Babra was ecstatic with so many people especially foreigners celebrating her birthday!

 

 When it’s photo time, M’s parent went to change into formal clothes before taking the family photo together with us. That’s how important they view us as their guests & I am truly honored to be part of the occasion!

 

Dressed up for the occassion!

 

With love from Timor,

Lydia              

6.6.2010

 

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