Mission Trip to Gopeng

It’s been a good two weeks since I last written (and in the process lost my blog count to Scott. This guy seems to have lots of time to write doesn’t he?) After my trip to Penang couple of weeks back, my work load has backlogged to the size of King Kong + Godzilla combined. By God’s grace and Redbull the big monsters have been defeated and shrink into the size of Stuart Little. This explains the time availed to me for this post. 

Last weekend I joined Grace’s church to a short term mission work in Gopeng (though the area is more towards Cameron). Her church (Hope of Glory Center, or HGC) is always at the forefront of mission, and every month there will be some mission trip somewhere for different levels of congregation in the church.

Initially I thought that I do not need to drive, but turn out that the amount of young people was overwhelming (close to 30 ppl!) that I need to drag my Kancil from the confines of the city to the inner sanctum of the hill. Just like what Shyong siad, yup I think God really pulled my car through. How can you explain the Iswara stalled at the slope whereas my Kancil just breezed through the slope easily?

I first went for my mission trip in Tapah (incidently that’s where i knew Malida) when I was in Form 4. I still can remember the various discomforts and complains when I complete my metamorph from a city boy to a kampung dweller. No electricity lah, toilet dirty lah, fly so big lah, eew eat with hand lah…and other complains of the youthful boy.

  

Which is why I was quite impressed that these youngsters (damn i feel so old saying that!) do not complain at all! Of course the only thing that they feel squemish about is the lack of basic toilet (not that i need any, bushes and rivers do just fine for me

After being to several mission trip, one thing that I noticed among the natives is they tend to and will prepare the best dishes for guests. This dish of chicken that they are preparing, I was told it is only reserved by really big occasion such as wedding or homecoming of faraway family members.

No qualms about the food. Though the guys have to eat a little bit more careful, since they are sleeping there! Wouldn’t want any unwanted guests crawling up parts where the sun don’t shine when you are sucking your thumbs with your eyes close! Somehow bathing is always a highlight when I go for mission trip. In Sabah I experienced bathing in deep river. In Dumai its red water in open air with the buffalos watching you. Here in Cameron its a freezing waterfall. That doesn’t seems to stop the guys from whipping their tops though:)

The girls bath at a different part of the river. Wouldn’t want them to fall into temptation. Especially facing with guys with such muscular bodies.

With such a big group, doing projects are pretty easy. I was assigned to the kids ministry along with Grace. Somehow at every mission trip sure got some cute babies around

We didn’t prepare exactly well for the kids ministry (either that or my expectations were too high) But whatever that we do, the kids lapped it up enthusiastically. Simple gifts of pencils and sweets are like gold to them. Every game is played like the Olympics. If only the kids I see in church are that easily satisfied.

It’s a wonder what little creativity can do with a toilet roll, 5 pieces of paper and some plants!

The people of old have named these indigenous aptly. Orang asli. Why asli? Not because they are native, but because they are genuine. And it shined so brightly in their faith. Thanks for teaching me that.

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