The reason I am where I am!!
Praise God for answering prayer and allowing me to return to these children just 4 days after I had previously visited them. Feelings of helplessness, guilt, unworthy, and shame filled my heart as I left the cancer ward of Sarawak children’s hospital with a bag full of pins and a few of my trusty Doulos co- workers.
Annointed Hankerchief's
A happy child at the hospital
This visit however was different, I pushed open the doors with confidence that our God reigns in Sovereignty and His will be done, even amongst that terrible suffering.
The difference between the two visits was prayer. The first visit we were told not to pray but instead put on a show i.e., Drama, video, and secular Christmas carols. While this proved to be entertaining to the children, they desperately needed the power of Jesus in their lives. They received that in our second visit however as two fellow deckhands, Jeremy McCleery (USA) and Jack Piaget (French Swiss) fervently anointed each child with oil and prayer in the cancer section. The Holy Spirit delivered the powerful words as I poured out God’s heart for each one of these cancer ridden children and pleaded for the Lord to show His mercy and heal them. Praying in faith is awesome while allowing the spirit to intercede for us. I demonstrated what God had shown me in a sermon 3 weeks earlier, to always use scripture in your prayer towards God, For these prayers while receive automatic Yes answers!!! Many times I don’t feel God’s presence when I first start praying, But asking the Holy Spirit for encouragement through this each day guarantees Gods presence with us.
God's beautiful child with Eye cancer
I have been praying for the Lord to change my heart and make it more like His the past months, specifically to make me a bold vessel of Christ’s Love and Strip away my selfish, hedonistic, ways. He answered that pray for me tonight and showed me that through preserving prayer (praying with passion, power, boldness, and faith every single time one prays) His will and my prayers are heavily intertwined. This night was one of the best nights I’ve had since joining the Doulos 4 months ago. I will continue to pray and lift up each one of those precious souls to God, longing to share the gospel with one of the children’s mother when I returned yet again in God’s will.
Before leaving this second time we wrapped candy in donated handkerchiefs and prayed over them, anointing each one of them with Jesus’ blood and the will of the Holy Spirit. We mainly did this because before going we weren’t sure if it would be allowed to publicly pray over the children during this visit.
Wrapping candy in Christs Love
The Muslim population here in Kuching is a vast majority totaling 65 percent of the native Malaysian population; while Chinese make up 35 percent of the total population they are divided between Atheism and Buddhism. When I first Saw the Kuching Mosque, the thought that first sprung to mind was, “what a massive, glorious structure, many people must worship there”. When I ventured closer and even took a walk inside I was dumbfounded to find the place was almost empty. Apart from the handful of random worshipers situated around the 10,000 person main hall the open air auditorium was bare.
Malaysia's oldest Mosque
After viewing movies and the news and seeing images of Mosques packed with people, and the violent perspective of Islam as a whole, it came as a surprise to see people smiling and nodding to me, welcoming me in even with my camera, much to my predetermined thoughts I was surprise I did not have any problems or incidents at all. In attendance was a large golden chandelier positioned perfectly in the middle of the main worship room, stacks of shoes out front were visitors were instructed to place upon entrance, and foot washing stalls used to clean “the least dignified part of one’s body”.
On a random Monday a few days before Christmas I experienced the Nature that God created like never before in my life. My new found friend Jeremy McCleery and I set out into the East Malaysian humidity in search of an adventure, we found one nestled high in the clouds of the Sarawak Mountains. We stepped onto a dusty, crammed bus heading north and we both closed our eyes for what seemed like only a few seconds, in actuality being and hour and a half. The bus ride costs 20 ringets (6 U.S. dollars) and dropped us off at a jungle trial raw with adventure ahead. We began following a stream that carved its way up a mountain filled with waterfalls, lush jungle, and animal life, virgin to the pollution that suffocated cities below. Shirtless wading waist high in the river, about an hour up the trek we stopped to be still and praise God for the opportunity to be part of God’s Awesomeness. As I sang praises and Thanked God for bringing me to this place, he reminded me that he has known my heart and delights in me appreciating His tremendous creativity in Nature. I sat in the clear, cold, water and felt complete in His presence, “Why don’t I enjoy life like this more often? I muttered to myself. We continued up the river until we found a waterfall perfect for us to slide down, the stones were well worn and the slide was perfect for our bodily contours as we took turns zipping into the cold pool below. Following the jungle trail, we proceeded 2 miles through heavy trees and bush. What a wonderful peaceful time the Lord knew I needed, especially during such a hectic port where 7,000 visitors walk through your house daily.
Relaxing in God's beauty
Relaxation, ahhhhh!!!
A time of relaxation, renewed focus, and listening to Gods voice to strengthen my walk with our Majestic Creator. I felt as if I now know what David was feeling as he wrote numerous Psalms about Nature and being in God’s restful grip. Coming out of the Jungle we stepped foot right onto Damai, beach and what a sight for sore eyes that beach was for me. Surrounded by 5 star resorts sitting in the cliffs overlooking the South China Sea, I took a short nap and watched waves roll over Rock reef breaks at Low tide. I jumped in the Sea and felt like I was right back home. Water rushed in all around me, I felt God’s peace as my heart and mind was calm. Praise God for this Day!!!!!
Self explanatory
Beachside sunset
Malaysian road side fruit seller
Hey bro, i’ve been so blessed to see how you have grown! I remember that day when we sat and you shared that you felt like you’ve hit the roof with God… but clearly things have turned around.
Keep moving forward, God will lead the way.
By: marnus on January 30, 2009
at 7:01 pm
My heart ached for that little child with eye cancer, and for a second I lost my breathe, seeing the smile on their face though, I could breathe again. What you guys did for them is not something that they will forget, they will remember that day as the one where someone came in just to love them. The prayers that you prayed over their lives have also become my own for them. In so many ways I wished I had been there to hold them in my arms and love them like there was no tomorrow.
You know in years to come…it won’t be the candy they remember, it will be your face and your heart, a heart that wasn’t selfish and a face that showed more love on it then the candy would have.
You guys are always in my prayers.
By: Emma on February 11, 2009
at 12:09 pm