waht missions mean to me?

I think it was in Missionettes that I first learnt the word “missions” and became aware of missions, missionaries and tent making. My childhood and youth days in church were packed with many exciting events and activities on mission awareness.

We had Missions Convention annually then as well. To a thirteen to fourteen year old girl, Missions Conventions only meant that we could win the long awaited trophy that sat high up on a shelf in Pastor Ong’s office. We learnt and performed skits and songs on missions. Two of the songs that still ring in my mind till today are, “A Heart to Change the World” and “My Hands and the Hands that God will Use”. These two songs taught me that God wants to use every part of me to change the world– my hands, feet, voice and heart. There are many people all over the world who does not know God and will never know Him unless I go to show them His love. I believe God planted a seed of missions in my heart during that time.

As part of the Missionettes requirement, we were supposed to research on foreign countries. We prayed for the missionaries that were stationed there and also had fun cooking the intriguing dishes from their recipes. Thus, we learnt the culture and interesting facts about many countries unheard of. Years later, I discovered most of these countries belong to the Unreached People Groups (UPGs). The seed has grown into a seedling – “Here am I, send me.”

In Sunday School, I learnt about Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys and admired this brave man. I started to wonder if I could be like him venturing to so many new grounds and territories to share God’s love and joy to the people whose hearts were hopeless and broken. My heart began to yearn and long for a people not my own to worship the Almighty God I love.

Simultaneously, opportunities were opened for me to learn evangelistic tools. I picked up the Evangelism Explosion (EE) technique with a few friends from church and we went street witnessing weekly with our mentors and pastors. The learning process was tedious as we had to memorise so many scripture verses and illustrations to support our points. However, the result was rewarding. I believe those who have learnt EE like me will never ever forget the two diagnostic questions too. Wahahaha!

Once, I had a dream. This happened before my first missions trip to the Philippines in 1999. I was at the Cell Leaders Retreat in Malaysia. I was a cell intern then. The dream was so vivid that I could still remember it now. I woke up crying because I felt my heart tugged a little. In the dream, I was in a village and the villagers had a skin tone darker than mine. A mother and her child came forward to me and offered me tomatoes. I knelt down to accept them and wept. In the dream, I could feel their gratefulness and sincerity. It was as if I have done something good for them. I prayed and asked God for an interpretation immediately. After that, I sensed His compassion and love for the world and the UPGs. Flowers have grown on this seedling.

My first mission trip was an eye-opener indeed. Our daily schedules were packed and tight. Even though we were prepared beforehand by our team leader, Pastor Grace, who was a fresh graduate from bible school then, we could not help but felt overwhelmed by the Filipinos’ generosity and hospitality. We traveled from island to island and sat in motor-carts, jeepneys, boats and ships. One of the lessons learnt was God wanted to use me just as I am to bless the people. I didn’t have to be someone else to be used by him. I was humbled by the Filipino pastors who were so dedicated to reach out to church members or neighbours that lived mountains and padi fields away from their homes.

The rest are just pages of more mission trips. My ministry involvement increased from giving testimonies to leading worship to preaching. I led teams too. Eventually, I went alone to teach English and We Build People 401 to the bible school students in Cebu. Of course there were difficulties and hurdles to cross. I learnt to trust God to convince my protective mother to release me to the missions field in the first trip. I learnt to trust God in raising money. I learnt to love and partnership with every leader and member I was with. With every obstacle and difficulty that arose, God deepened the little mustard seed of faith within me. I was sharpened and re-shaped, broken and molded many times.

What does missions mean to me?
“How will the people know?
How will the people know?
How will the people know?
Unless we show them.”

~ Taken from “A Heart to Change the World”, Kid’s Praise 6

My dearest and deceased uncle Simon Loh once said this to me before I became a deaconess in charge of foreign missions in 2003, “Make sure you are not tied down by the administrative work for missions that you can’t go for any missions trip at all.”

I made sure, and went.

Therefore, let us go!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!