in and out

As I sit here at my computer waiting to type the words that enter my mind, I find that it is as quiet as the morning, save the soft humming of my laptop and the occasional screech of passing seagulls. The past month has gone by in the blink of an eye, although I could not have asked for a better one. I had a wonderful albeit slow time in Puerto, but also went around Singapore with my friends from Myanmar and the Philippines, which was down to God's perfect timing and blessing.

But my time in Puerto has always been much more than a holiday for me and once again, God had a message in store for me, one which perhaps I was reluctant to hear. Last year, my godma asked me to speak to some youths in a church about my missions experiences and although I accepted, my plans to return to Puerto this July left no space for it. Nonetheless, I had thought of what I might say. More often than not, people refer to going on missions as going out of their comfort zone. I've never liked that term because it seems to portray the image of rich people coming down from their pedestal to help the poor. In fact, it gives some the impression that they deserve to behave as though they are better than the people they help, and so they do. Too often, the mission field is tainted with people such as these. God made us all equal and so He gives others more resources, so that we can reach equality together. For a long time now, I've believed that if you want to do missions, you should feel like you're going INTO your comfort zone, not out of it.

The Philippines has been my comfort zone for the past 2 years or so. Each time I go, I have in my mind a good idea of when I'd go back, but this time things are not quite so clear. It's possibly the fact that getting leave for a long spell just isn't as easy, but deep within me, I know it's more than that. During our sharing time one night, one of my friends shared about how she had gotten too comfortable in her job and God was pushing her to move on. At that moment, I knew that that was what God was trying to say to me too. I've gotten too comfortable in the Philippines. As a medical student, there were many other things I could concentrate on. But now as a doctor, things are different. My role in medical missions has totally changed and I have to be serious about it. Where will God bring me next? I honestly have no idea, but he's brought so many opportunities to my door. At least now that I've finally graduated, I can finally fulfil the promises to all those I promised to serve when I became a doctor.

To God Be The Glory.

the basin and the towel

It feels like ages since I last posted a blog entry but time has not been my own and life has been a little more crazy than usual. Graduation is finally over and it's nice to finally chat about things past medical school. It's odd sometimes explaining why I'm not going back to Singapore but I know that in my heart it's not time yet.

But for now, I need to find the silence in my heart and just enjoy that, before the days of working nights and carrying the arrest bleep run me down. I've had good mentors through the years. Mentors who remind me that sometimes all you need is to be true to yourself and to what you believe in. A couple of weeks ago I bought a Michael Card CD and heard this amazing song which I knew I would be singing each day for the rest of my life as a doctor..

"And the call is to community,
The impoverished power that sets the soul free.
In humility, to take the vow,
That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel.

In any ordinary place,on any ordinary day,
The parable can live again
When one will kneel and one will yield.
Our Saviour Servant must show us how
Through the will of the water and the tenderness of the towel."

-The Basin and the Towel, Michael Card

May God grant me the humility to take up the basin and towel every day.