Watershed is a crucial turning point affecting action, opinion, direction and history. This word come to mind as I reflected on my recent trip back to East Timor (Dec 18th to Jan 1st 2011). This is the first visit since R & I returned home on Aug 31st. We have been invited by Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church (EEFC) to partner them in their 1st Youth team’s missions trip to East Timor. Unfortunately R was not able to join the team due to prior commitment.
I was ecstatic at the invitation for a number of reasons:
- This will be the 1st partnership within the EFCS circle for the “Love East Timor” movement;
- It will be a great opportunity to reconnect since I came home in Aug upon completing the “One Life One Year 2009/10” missions. At the same time, it will be timely to bring the good news of church leaders approving my 2nd year missions in East Timor;
- The 1st Christmas & New Year away from family & friends, excited for the different experience celebrating this wonderful occasion in a land that God puts in my heart & answered prayer to share the true meaning of Christmas in East Timor; and
- Most important of all, the expectancy to see & sense what God is going to do & how I can be part of His amazing work!
1st EEFC & WEFC Partnership for "LOVE EAST TIMOR" missions trip
God had bound the 11 of us in LOVE that we bonded & worked very well during the trip despite coming together within a very short time. It was 1st trip to East Timor for 8 of us but everyone did well to connect with people, friends or new acquaintances. Everyone took initiative to help one another & stepped out of their comfort zone to do many things for the very first time.
Carols at Malaysia FPU. Dili
On Christmas Day (2nd day after team arrival), we were invited to the Malaysian Federal Police Unit (FPU) Christmas dinner in Dili. Little did we expect to be asked to sing carols by the FPU commander. Team got their act together quickly & went back to the hotel to retrieve guitar & organ. R of EEFC was pleased to be able to use his piano skill to serve God as all the other entertainment for the evening was pop music. We were amazed how God had made this possible when half the contingent was Muslim & our carols were immediately after their evening prayers! Team also learnt the Sabah folk dance from the police officers & realized later that this dance session would serve them well in Maubisse.
We drove up to Maubisse on Dec 26th but it had not been easy for some, taking longer than usual with stops to rest from the winding mountainous road. As soon as we reached the junction leading to Fatubasse, mood in the cars was lifted with the cool & crisp mountain air! Everyone was in awe of the scenic Maubisse as well as friendly people who smiled & greeted us. Team (male) was able to settle in at the guest house quickly & help the 2 girls to move in with me in my house. We thank God for His protection & provision of safe lodging.
Balloons...part of the decorations at Maubisse Referral Hospital
The next morning, we visited the Maubisse Referral Hospital & helped with the decoration for the hospital 3rd Anniversary Celebration cum Christmas dinner party to be held later in the evening. Team split up in 2 groups: blowing up balloons & cutting out alphabets. Then team got together to paste every alphabet on the wall to form the words for the party theme. Hospital staff appreciated our dedication in completing the decoration before going for lunch.
Mass to celebrate MRH 3rd Anniversary
Team returned to the hospital in the evening where mass was held to celebrate the hospital’s 3rd anniversary. After the mass, Dr H accompanied us to give out Christmas gifts to the in-patients, mainly in the maternity wards. Team also prepared gifts for hospital staff & their children. We were then ushered to the beautifully decorated training room for the celebration over champagne & a big feast!
The Feast fit for Kings!
However, team did not enjoy much of wide spread of meat dish as they witnessed the roasting of dogs in the morning. Yes, my beloved pet is a delicacy in East Timor especially on special occasions; it’s the must-have to go with drinks after the fiesta! Without label for the dishes & not knowing what meat was served, team barely touched the meat dishes, ate mainly rice & vegetables, a big regret as we learnt later that dog meat would only be served after the main feast…….
After the feast came song & dance. Team presented the song “Angels we have heard on high” which everyone was familiar with the chorus “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” & joined in with great joy! At that moment, I felt surrounded by people who love Jesus & really want to praise God for the birth of Jesus. However sadness soon enveloped my heart as I realized they did not know Jesus at all. I thank God for the affirmation of His call for me to continue His work there as much still need to be done.
Though not able to converse in Tetun, team stepped out to connect with the children at the party with photo taking & soon included them in the dance. The kids not only danced well, they seemed to have endless energy to keep going. Team soon realized the dance session at the FPU party had prepared them to blend in with the kids and the fiesta, as most had never danced in their life. All of us had a great time celebrating Christmas with the hospital community! Sometime we cannot comprehend what God is putting us through at that moment but He always has a plan & will reveal to us at His perfect timing.
Another character God reveals is His faithfulness: when we faced opposition from the new priest in Maubisse Catholic Church, God raised up agent to help us. The priest did not allow us to join the community Christmas Celebration for the Kids on Dec 30th (held at the dining hall on church compound) nor to give out the 500 gifts we had brought for the children. We had been asked by the hospital Administrator to prepare a skit & bring gifts for this celebration.
But when our friend at the hospital, M went to discuss with him just a day before the team arrived on Dec 24th, the priest did not welcome us once he knew we were protestants. It was a big disappointment as team put in much effort in the script, rehearsal, visuals as well as the elaborate hand-made costumes. But team took everything in their stride & accepted it from God’s perspective that they would accomplish much simply by trusting God to do His work & not try to control the situation with their own strength.
Indeed, I have been greatly blessed & encouraged by these first-timers who came with the right spirit, with the right motive & respond in the right manner!
Catholic Church at Maubisse
When I met (in a casual & informal setting) this new priest the morning after the hospital dinner party, he was not very friendly & spoke harshly. He saw us (our team) as disturbing the peace by teaching a new religion just like the Brazilian protestants who gave him many problems in his previous village, Aileu. He even objected to me teaching English as he felt the people were confused by the different English taught by Americans, Australians, Brazilians and Singaporeans. Though I tried to understand & clarify what he said, I did not have much success.
I have since found out that there was a direct confrontation between some Brazilian missionaries and the catholic priest and the community in Aileu sometime ago. Though details of the confrontation are not available now, it is likely that the hurts from such encounter could have resulted in his over-reaction towards me and the team.
Senor T (my landlord as well as the man of peace in Maubisse) had offered to talk to the priest to explain my presence & mission. Senor T was very kind to ask me not to be sad over what the priest said. He appreciated our visit during this Christmas bringing cheers to the patients & kids at the hospital, as well as spending time with his family & other families in the community.
It is this act of a local Timorese stepping out to help a foreign missionary voluntarily that I see as a watershed in the Maubisse ministry. God has opened Senor T’s eyes to see what He is doing & touched his hearts to show compassion. It is during difficult time like this that gives rise to event for God to show His mighty power.
As I sat & listened to the sermon at EEFC last Sunday, Ps S quoted the incidents in Maubisse during this trip. Ps S took comfort & encouragement from Peter that opposition will come at some point when we are walking in the light, even though we may not have expected it to come so soon!
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- 1 Peter 4:12 (NIV)
The road ahead in the Maubisse ministry is long & treacherous but God is faithful & sovereign. It is on this belief that I will press ahead & not waver.
With love in Singapore,
Lydia
11.1.2011
