Tag Archives: Provision

H1N1 influenza?

10 Mar

Visited the family doctor this morning for the blood test result. Thank God that it was positive without any flu virus so I can re-start my preparation for my 2nd mission in East Timor! I was suspected to have been infected with H1N1 influenza 2 weeks ago because of flu-like symptoms that improved but then returned with fever and worse cough.

 

As the incubation period of the flu can be between 1 to 7 days. I have been advised to watch out for persistent fever & cough after the 10-day anti-biotic. The persistent fever & cough are symptoms of penumonia which I must seek immediate medical treatment. In view of the inadequate medical resources in Timor, church leaders advised that I should delay my return to Timor, to go only when I have fully recovered. So I cancelled the flight & spent the next 2 weeks resting & fighting the virus with anti-biotic & loads of prayer (from many many faithful intercessors, thank YOU all!).

 

As I looked back, God showed me His grace & purpose in many ways:

  • I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to visit a family doctor whom I had avoided for a long time due to his criticism of my faith some years back. But God has opened his heart to share his struggles and I was able to share Jesus’ love with him during these 3 consultations. I pray God’s peace into this doctor’s heart so he can turn back to God for healing, restoration, hope & love;
  • I was able to attend the Love Timor’s District Anchors’ Consultation when I walked away greatly inspired & encouraged by what God is doing in Timor;
  • I was given divine appointment with my ex-staff to help her discern God’s direction for her career;
  • I was given more time to take care of logistics;
  • I was given time to be vaccinated against H1N1; and
  • I was able to spend more time with family & share my faith more!

 

And God has also enabled the airline to keep my ticket open. Once I produced the doctor’s letter that certified I was unfit to travel on Mar 1, I am now able to change the date of departure at no penalty cost! How awesome is that when the flight was cancelled less than 24 hours before take-off!!!

 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

                                                            - Jeremiah 29:11

 

In His Love,

Lydia

10 Mar 2011

Singapore

Zoro & Brinco

14 Jun

Zoro & Brinco - our security guards

 

“R, the floor is wet, stay inside for a little while longer please …..”, this is what I have been saying every morning for the past 3 days. I have just mopped the porch. It has been raining non-stop day & night since Friday and our dog, Zoro (the white, handsome male dog) has just dirtied the porch, again! 

 

Even though we use a piece of zinc sheet (those for roofing) as the gate to our porch, the agile Zoro is able to jump over to seek shelter from the rain, when we are asleep, of course! His wet paws left many muddy prints on the white-tiled porch every night. So I have to mop the porch every morning to make it clean & safe when the kids come in for classes later. It can be tiring doing this every morning followed by a long day of teaching, singing, cooking, washing but the delight I find in the Lord keeps me strong & focused on the reason why I am here. And the intercession by my prayer partners help to keep me going without being worn-out!

 

I also think of how these 2 lovely dogs are protecting us especially at night with their barking at anything (people or animals) that pass by our house. They will give chase if these people or animals refuse to move away.  The kids have been warning me not to get too near to Zoro who is always fighting with other dogs & very protective of his territory (which includes our house, the pig sty, the coffee & avocado trees behind our house)! I cannot thank God enough for providing these 2 dogs who are willing to stay with new owner (they actually belong to my landlord who is very kind to leave them with me)!

 

Brinco, the female dark-colored dog, is limping in her right hind leg. She is very wary of human as her leg was hit by stones threw at her by the kids. Dogs are everywhere here in Timor but they are not of the same class as those in Singapore. They are not kept as pets. They are kept as working animals, to guard the house, the crops & the valuable animals (like pigs & goats which are bred for sale).

 

I am cooking rice & vegetables for them everyday as they are now in my care. It’s quite nice that the rental of the house comes complete with security guards! And I hope in time to come, I will be able to get near to Zoro & Brinco to pat them, just like what I do with dogs in Singapore :) !

 

Love from Maubisse,

Lydia

14.6.2010

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

 

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