Friday, July 18, 2003


Dad bought lunch for me today... When I opened up the packet and the delicious, savory smell of curried veggies and prawns dripping with the most delightful gravy hit me, don't know why but I immediately thought of Chiangrai and wished fervently that I could share my lunch with the children of the Samaritan Hostel...

Well. It's been 3 plus days since I've returned from a most wonderful and insightful time in Chiangrai, Thailand. As most would already know, went as part of a mission team; we had 2 weeks exactly to plan everything from scratch (logistics, programme, appointing roles); ONE week to raise funds (as we had to wait for the approval of the prayer letter first); our ministry being the youth and children of the Samaritan Hostel.

Think I forgot to mention this to those I've talked to abt the trip thus far, and I might as well blog it since it was one of the pinnacles of the trip. Was plagued by doubt and a seemingly lack of purpose on the second night of the trip. Until one of my team leaders told the team this: She had a talk with one of the overseers of the Samaritan Hostel, and well, a mission team from Hong Kong had long been slated to come down in July. Ever since March. But everything was cancelled with the advent of Sars. Yet all this while, with the HK-Chiangrai events unknown to us but also having been affected by Sars (doors everywhere were closed), the team (esp the leaders) was praying for a door somewhere to open in July, before the uni term started and some of the guys on the team had to enlist. And so it was (after a few enquiries here and there) that our team leader Kelly recieved an email from the Samaritan Hostel expressing great interest in hosting the team from Faith Methodist Church, Singapore. And the mad rush of preparation began. Literally 2 weeks notice, hehehe. There was a strong conviction after we learnt about this switch in teams and timing, that yes. This was the answer, the reason behind all that insanity, all that rush of getting ready in 2 weeks. God had a plan all along. For what exact reason we knew not. No one could say for sure. But we were in Chiangrai. All 13 of us. Through His provision and the support of well-wishers, we were there.

Up till now, back from Chiangrai and all, I still can't pinpoint for what reason did God choose to send this team (and not the HK one nor any other) over. All I know is that although things started off slow (we were initially perturbed at how little we seemed to be doing), by the end of our 6 days there, which culminated in a 2 day camp programme, we were touched in some way or another by these youth and kids. Something most couldn't have imagined given the relatively little time we had spent with them (2 odd hrs for 3 days and 2 full days) AND the problem with language - what possible depth of connection or bonding could have been cultivated? But we left with hearts burdened for them.

Which is why I was rather startled to find myself assimilating back to life in Singapore so easily. Too fast, too soon. Afraid to find myself slipping back into the humdrum of home life and reliving Chiangrai as a pleasant dream. (When I got back, Chiangrai had seemed like the REAL world and S'pore a dream, so vivid were the images of their faces in my mind, in addition to other factors)

So.. what was God's purpose for sending us there? It's really one thing to gush and prattle on about the trip experiences, and another to actually shut up, sit down, and LISTEN to what it's really all about. Aftermath...

Yvonne | 3:10 PM |
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