Sail Away

It is so nice to be in Hong Kong.
I mean... besides the eating, shopping and being lost in the big city...
I'm really enjoying the time because I got to meet some special people. New friends and old ones.

Last week, I met up with an old friend Ivan. We knew each other since we were teenagers 'cos we went to the same church and went for Sky camps too. It had been a long while since I last saw him... so it was really good to see him again, and to hear how he's doing now.

I don't know how to describe that kind of feeling to reunite with childhood friends... or to meet with people that you have not seen in a long time. It's a warm, comfortable feeling... a little nostalgic 'cos the memories will suddenly come back to mind. But also, 'cos everyone has grown up, and gone through different things in life... we are not really the same as before. In Japanese, I will just say "natsukashii!" :)

It's good to be back onboard Doulos.
I enjoy the time to be with international friends, and to be involved with the ship's ministry again.
The Hong Kong people are very excited about visiting the ship.
Last Sunday, the queue for the bookfair went on for hundreds of metres!
It was sooooooo busy onboard :) that's a great sign... we can be of service to the Hong Kong people.

For the next 2 weeks, I'm going to be sent off the ship to do ministry at a fishing village.
Will live at the village, and minister to the youths there.
I've been told to bring my sleeping bag, expect cold showers, and to ride bicycles for the next 2 weeks of ministry :)
My team-mates for this special mission are from Holland, Kenya and India :)
Looking forward to this time... please pray that my team will be able to build meaningful friendships with the villagers, and to have the wisdom to share the Gospel fully and effectively.

JiA

I am now at Pacific Coffee, in IFC Mall, HONG KONG!
So glad that this coffee place has 3 booths for users to log on to the internet...
am enjoying a cup of 'white dream chillino'... ice blended drink with white chocolate chips in it. yummy! I'm taking a break from walking non-stop for the past few days! :)

Mom and I spent the past 5 days in Hong Kong...
and it was great! Lots of mother-daughter bonding time... heh... enjoyed getting to know my mom's likes and dislikes... and to create new memories with her.

Took Mom to Disneyland 'cos she'd never been to one, and she really enjoyed it! Haha... I made her go on 'Space Mountain' with me, and she was brave enough to take on the challenge. But she didn't want to do it again :) We did a lot of other stuff though... like climbing the Tarzan tree house, watching the Disney musicals, a really cool 3-D show, and even learnt to draw Donald Duck at the Disney Drawing Academy. Fireworks at night was spectacular and magical... it was just beautiful...

We conquered Ladies' Street twice, visited Waterloo Street (where Mom used to stay 35 years ago!), did a lot of exploring along the narrow and hilly streets, and ate a lot of super delicious food!!! Dim sum, roast goose rice, beef noodles, chicken congee, and black sesame paste dessert... we didn't go to the expensive places... just checked out those by the streets... and wow! such good quality stuff :) I love Hong Kong food!

Well, the time with Mom had to end today...
This morning, I sent her off at the Hong Kong airport.
Mom's on her way back to Singapore, while I'm staying behind to rejoin Doulos tomorrow.
It was a teary goodbye.
Ahh... I hate sad goodbyes.

As Mom and I ate our last breakfast together at the airport, she prayed for me... and she started crying... then I started crying :)
But we were like "it's ok... I'll see you soon again... 8 months will pass by very fast".
Yup! 8 months. What's 8 months as compared with the 2.5 years that have gone by already?
God will watch over my family when I'm away :) He's always faithful.

I'm on my own for today... the ship is not here yet.
So I'll be exploring Hong Kong alone til tomorrow!
Doulos will sail into Ocean Terminal soon... and I'm looking forward to see the ship again!
To see my old friends (not many of them left on the ship)
And to welcome the new 80+ recruits joining our Doulos family soon - The Hong Kong Preship!

Bye for now! Hope to update this blog again when I get hold of the internet again :)

JiA

Tonight's the last night in Singapore.
I leave tomorrow... catching a plane to Hong Kong... to rejoin Doulos.

The past 6 weeks of furlough was great!
Met up with loads of people... family, relatives, friends...
it was just so nice to catch up with everyone.
We updated one another, and shared stories about what's been happening in our lives.
It was a very meaningful time of connecting.

Many changes have taken place...
especially among my peers, whose lives have gone through big transitions in the past 2 years.
New jobs, switching of jobs, getting attached, engaged and getting married...
haha, I was pleasantly surprised when 2 of my good friends showed me their sparkling rings on their fingers... :) congrats girls!

My time at church has been wonderful...
made it a point to get involved with the ministries I used to serve at :)
Went back to Youth Choir, and enjoyed singing with the younger ones...

Also went to teach the kiddies (5 & 6 year-olds) at Sunday School :) They were so adorable. Showed them a video clip of Doulos... and the boys just went 'WOW..................' Asked them to pray for different countries that Doulos had sailed to. So they picked up colour pencils to start drawing a picture of the ship, and wrote the countries' names on the paper...

So now, I'm packing my suitcase...
Mixed feelings really.
I had a great time at home... and the reunion with Mom, Zhiyong and Limin was precious.
The thought of having to leave them again... is really sad.
I wish I could just stay on and get to be a part of their lives again.
But...

It is time to return to Doulos to run the last lap.
8 more months of commitment.
And I will finish it with joy and conviction :)
Gonna give my talents back to the Master, through serving on the ship.

Thank you Singapore Friends and Family,
for allowing me to be a part of your lives...
It was great to see you again.
Bye and I'll miss you very much....

The next time I update this blog...
I'll be back onboard my favourite ship... the MV DOULOS!
All aboard?

Love,
Jia

JiA

Yesterday was a very meaningful Sunday.

Had a time of sharing at my home church, Kay Poh...

during the 3 services, and also the Japanese service at IJCS.

Actually... while preparing for the sharing, my heart was heavy and burdened.

Church has been going through some tough times...

and I wanted to share something that was going to encourage them...

something that would be personal, and would make a difference in their lives.

"God, what do you want me to say?

What message do you want me to share with the church?"

Heh... I really had a sleepless night over this.

And there were times, when I suddenly felt so down and did not feel like sharing anymore.

But thank You Lord, for strengthening me...

for restoring my broken heart...

for sending friends and family, that became pillars of strength and comfort.

And the sharing at church could happen :)

So yesterday, standing up on stage...

It was so good to see all the familiar faces...

the uncles, aunties that watched me grow up...

the friends that I knew from young...

and the kids that I used to teach during Sunday School.

Shared about my time in Cebu, Philippines...

where God let me reunite with Grace and Ann, the 2 girls I shared the Gospel with after a 6-year gap! :)

The 'before and after' photos of the 3 of us on Doulos, were so cool!

After the short bursts of laughter, in amazement and wonder that God did such a thing...

I continued with a message that was so heavy on my heart...

something that I'm still struggling to live out,

but really desiring to do - to live a life that is totally given over to God.

Serving God fulltime on Doulos seems like a big deal.

Is it really?

To give up time, money, relationships, career, and security about the future.

Is it such a sacrifice?

I have cried myself silly over such calculations...

to weigh the pros and cons of serving God fulltime...

and thinking how much I have to let go, to obey God's call on my life.

But what was I thinking?

I had missed out the REAL THING!

In the words of Bill Bright (founder of CCC),

"Some may call it sacrifice

But they do not understand

That walking with You

Makes me the richest man."

GOD is my Portion!

He is my RICHEST Reward :)

I have not lost anything, but have gained EVERYTHING!

Instead of clinging onto things that will satisfy me for a little while, and later be no more...

I'd better start storing up treasures in heaven :)

The song 'No Sacrifice' by Jason Upton, means a lot to me.

I first heard it during the Doulos training... where I learnt my first mime.

The lyrics of the song convicted me to check myself...

what was my relationship with God like?

Is He really my Lord, whom I trust entirely?

Or am I withholding things and areas of my life to Him?

As the song goes, my desire is to say...

Lord, I can never outgive you.

I owe you everything.

You are so good.

And I am grateful.

So as you call me to serve you fulltime on Doulos...

"This is no sacrifice.

Here's my life".

Presented the mime "No Sacrifice" for my church...

and there were some that cried...

how did God speak to the hearts of my people?

How would God speak to yours?

No Sacrifice

To you I give my life,

not just the parts I want to

To you I sacrifice

these dreams that I hold on to

Your thoughts are higher than mine

Your words are deeper than mine

Your love is stronger than mine

This is no sacrifice

Here's my life

To you I give the gifts

Your love has given me

How can I hoard the treasures

that you've designed for free?

Because Your thoughts are higher than mine

Your words are deeper than mine

Your love is staronger than mine

This is no sacrifice

Here's my life

To you I give my future

As long as it may last

To you I give my present

To you I give my past

Because Your thoughts are higher than mine

Your words are deeper than mine

Your love is stronger than mine

Your thoughts are higher than mine

Your words are deeper than mine

Your love is stronger than mine

This is no sacrifice

Here's my life

Labels: No Sacrifice

JiA

Guess who I met after 1 1/2 year?
My dearest Mommy!

On 11 May 2006, she came from Singapore to visit me for 3 days. Thanks to Aunty Caylie and Judith, who accompanied my mom on the long bus ride, I could see my mom again... finally!

The reunion was just great... I never knew I missed my mom so much until I saw her that night... the depth of a mother's love is amazing. When she first saw me, she just hugged me so tight. First she smiled. Then she cried. And then I cried. It's so good to be united with Mom!

JiA

What my life is...

It is but a breath.
It is but a shifting shadow.
It is but a mist.

So temporal.
So vulnerable.
So quick to fade away.

Yet there is worth.
There is meaning.
And there is hope.

All because of my Saviour.
Jesus who died on my behalf.
His sacrifice on the Cross I cannot understand.

What made the Son of God humble Himself to such a state?
He lived 33 years, in a world corrupted and hostile.
Befriended the lowest of the lowest, and loved even His enemies.

The good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep.
He was wounded, so that we would be healed.
He gave His life, so that we would live.

Today is Good Friday... a day to remember the greatest act of love.
Thank You God, for the ultimate gift of love - Your only Son, Jesus.
Thank You for saving me, for showing me so much grace... for loving unworthy me.

Thank You for the dreams You've put on my heart.
Thank You for fulfilling them in Your perfect timing.
I am overwhelmed by how things work out for my good after all!

Sailing the seas is something I never dared dream of.
Yet here I am, catching a glimpse of the world You created.
The people I met, bear Your image.
The nature around me, shouts aloud the creativity of their Maker.

Thank You, my dear Lord, for faithfully taking care of my family.
Mom, Zhiyong and Limin are all doing so well.
What can I say, except to say from my heart... God, I owe You so much.
I can never do anything to repay You.
But here's my life, O God.
I lay it all down again, at Your throne.
Take it, use it, and make me Your instrument of peace and love.
With a heart of thanksgiving on this special day,
Jia...
14 April 2006
- Klang -

JiA

International Night... 24 Feb 2006.
It was the most beautiful International Night since I joined Doulos.
We had it in an open park, and many Arab families came to watch the performances.
Looking at the sea of women veiled in black, and their husbands robed in white, I was really touched to see the great turnout! A few hundred people sat on the concrete seats... others sat on the grass... and the Douloids danced, and sang. The Doulos drama team made the crowd laugh too!
Met Dalia, a Sudanese girl, who was watching I-night. After chatting for a while, she wanted me to meet her family! So I walked with her, and ended up at a picnic mat on the grass... her mother, uncle and 3 siblings were there. They were surprised to see me, of course! Who was this Chinese-looking girl?!
Introduced myself in broken Arabic "Marhaba. Esme Jiamin..." ("Hello! My name is Jiamin) and sat down to have tea with the family :) They came to watch I-night later on, and I'm very thankful everyone had a good time! The Arabs were so happy with the performances, that they were clapping to the beat during our finale :) Praise God for everything!

JiA