Working at MSCS

The article below is my write up for the MSCS yearbook for AY 2008-09. Hope you enjoy reading. :)

“What is there to enjoy in Surabaya?”

I was asked this seemingly unimportant question that brought me to realize this very important morsel of truth: we were created to enjoy our relationships. When I was asked this question, my instant answer was “The people, my friends.” It was then that I realized how important our relationships are and that we were created to enjoy each and every relationship that we have.

Relationship with God.

Our most important relationship is our relationship with God. We were created to have fellowship with Him each and every moment of our lives. We find wisdom and strength only in His presence. I was so blessed to have been part of a school where we corporately worship God and pray to Him for our needs daily. It is just right to make Him first in everything that we do.

Relationship with others.

When one of the teachers said that MSCS has a very good working environment, I just couldn’t agree more. When I first came to this school, I immediately felt the warmth of the people working here; it was as if I was part of a very intimate family. Every one was so accommodating that I did not find it difficult to adjust to my new environment. It became very easy for me to do well in my job because all of the people here were so kind and helpful. Even the students were so adorable and loving. I truly treasure my relationships with my bosses, my colleagues and my students. Though years may pass, I will always have my MSCS family in my heart.

I consider working for Mawar Sharon Christian School or MSCS as it is more commonly known, to be one of my most rewarding experiences. That is why it was very hard for me to say goodbye after working here for two years.

 

What Kind of Learner Are You?

Nakigaya kay Chique...

You Are a Visual Learner

You tend to remember what you see, and you have a good eye for aesthetics. You excel at art, design, and computer programming. You would be an excellent film director - or the next Bill Gates!

What's Your Learning Style?

A Train Ride to Jakarta (A Lesson on Compassion)

 I heard their cries... I was annoyed...

I was in a 12-hour train ride to Jakarta a few days before Hari Raya. I knew from the beginning that choosing to ride the train instead of riding a plane was a big mistake. Why? Because I can't sleep unless I'm lying down comfortably with my arms wrapped around a bolster pillow. But the adventurous side of me won over my practical side. I convinced myself that riding a train would be more challenging. I told myself that this train ride would be special. God knew that it couldn't have been closer to the truth.

The first two hours were not so hard. I left Surabaya at about 5pm so it was hours before my "bedtime". I tried to keep myself busy by reading a book on child-rearing. As it neared the hour for sleeping, I started to feel uneasy. I didn't know how to position myself. I turned to the left, I turned to the right but nothing seemed perfect. Fortunately, the seat beside me was empty. So I could stretch my legs as far as I could. But then, it was not the same as "lying down" so I still couldn't sleep. The constant shaking and "chugging" of the train added to my discomfort. 

Around 2 AM, I started to drift off to sleep. It was not the deep, restful sleep that I longed for but still it was sleep. So I was thankful. But about an hour later, it felt like I was dreaming. I heard people shouting and crying... I woke up. It turns out that the train has stopped at one of the stations in Java Island and the voices that I heard were the voices of the vendors peddling their goods. 

I heard their cries... I was annoyed...

These people woke me up from the precious sleep that I've been longing for. I was complaining in my heart, thinking terrible things about these people... But then I heard God's still, small voice saying to me, "Listen closely, my daughter". I didn't know what God meant so I just kept quiet. I couldn't figure out what God wanted me to see. I felt deeply bothered in my spirit. After a few minutes, it all became clear...

The cries that I heard were not just the cries of ordinary people peddling their goods. They were the cries of people hungry for life. People who were lost but had no one to guide them. People who were thirsty but had no one to tell them where the fountain of life is. I felt deep conviction in my heart. I felt really convicted...Big time.

I was on my way to Jakarta  to visit Mahanaim Foundation. I wanted to learn how to "minister" to people, to learn how to reach out to the lost. But when God put me face to face with the "harvest", my automatic reaction was annoyance, not compassion. I was more concerned about my sleep than I was of these people who were "dying". I felt so ashamed of myself. There was nothing else to do but cry. My heart cried out to God for forgiveness. I asked him to forgive me for being so superficial in my motive to serve. I only chose opportunities of service that were convenient for me. I know that God deliberately woke me up from my sleep to show me that I am daily surrounded with people who are in need of Jesus' love. But most of the time, I don't even give them my attention.

Why are we doing the things that we're doing? Is it because of our love for God or is it because doing them makes us feel better? That simple encounter with the "common people" made me realize that my motives were not always pure. A part of me was serving God not because of my love for Him,  but because of my selfish motives. Every day I pray for opportunities to serve Him, and every day He answers my prayer. He daily surrounds me with opportunities to show compassion to people who are in desperate need of the truth... I just don't see them 'cause I am so busy looking out for the seemingly "better" opportunities.

Let's examine our hearts and answer this question every time we do ministry ... 

"Why am I doing what I'm doing?" 

Wanted: High School English Teacher

Tuban, a township in the island of Java, is in need of an English teacher who will teach in several Secondary Schools within the area. Tuban is about a 3-hour drive from Surabaya, the capital city of East Java. The residents of this area are predominantly muslims so applicants must have a "big heart" to serve the muslims. Applicants should be available to start immediately.

Applications should be sent to . Please include expected salary.

Please forward to anyone who might be interested. Thanks! 

Being a Winner!

I guess winning has been quite a usual thing for me lately...heehee...well, actually that's an overstatement. I've won in two contests this month, actually one was a raffle. But the reason why I'm making such a big deal out of this is that all my life, I've only won a prize in a contest once, a general admission ticket for a Gary V concert in Zamboanga, and that was when I was still in high school. But then this month, all of a sudden I was a winner in not just one but in two contests... It really feels great to be a winner. 

I was in a Cebu Pacific flight two weeks ago. As usual, there was a "Bring Me" game on board the flight. I usually don't participate in these games coz I am always seated in one of the back rows. And I noticed that people in the back rows don't really get to win any prize. But in this particular flight, I was seated in the second row. So when the game started, I wasn't really excited.  But since there was nothing else to do I told myself that I will participate in the game. When the flight attendant asked for the inflight magazine, I raised up my copy not really expecting to win. After scanning the crowd for the winner, the flight attendant motioned to his colleague to give the prize to me. My eyes grew big not being able to believe that I was the winner. (I guess being a teacher, I acquired this habit of exaggerating for dramatic effects.) I was on cloud 9 the whole duration of the flight. I was a winner!

Then, just today on my way to class,one of the school's security guards told me that I had a package. I was confused because I wasn't expecting to receive any package. So I immediately tore the box open and read the cover letter. It turns out that I was one of the winners in Reader's Digests' annual sweepstakes. I vaguely remember joining the sweepstakes 'cause it was last year's raffle. I thought they had the raffle draw several months ago. It turns out that they just had it this July and I was one of the minor winners. I really couldn't believe that I was a winner, maybe not the grand prize winner, but I was still a winner. I was ecstatic. I was a winner!

Well, I've been declaring much about being a winner lately. And God has shown me that I am indeed a winner. These two incidents are just foretastes of what being a winner really is. I am indeed a winner. No matter what people say, no matter what happens, I am still a winner. God has already prepared into my future everything that I need to be a winner. I just have to keep on expecting for the "breakthroughs" to come. Now, I will keep on believing 'cause faith will keep me going. I am a winner! I am a winner!

Prophetic Word for the Philippines

Last weekend, I attended the International Prophetic Conference at the Supermall Convention Center. It was a 3-day event but I only got to attend the last 2 days. On the 3rd day of the conference, Pastor Benaiah of Malaysia gave a prophetic word for the Philippines. There were three points to the word he gave:

1. People should pray for the upcoming Vice-president of the Philippines. He will be like Joseph. We all need to pray for wisdom for him.

2. The Lord will move within the military in a new way. Fellowships will arise in the military. God will do a great thing in the military, something that He has never done before.

3. The construction and service industries will be 2 of the most booming industries in the country. New constructions will arise. 

During the night service of the 2nd day, Cindy Jacobs said that a prayer tower will arise in Bora-Bora that will open a gate to the Philippines. She didn't elaborate on the "Philippines part" 'cause she was concentrating on Bora-Bora but I believe that the Philippines will play a great part in bringing revival to this region... to Southeast Asia, to all the countries in Asia. Let's rise up to our destiny! Let's decree all that God has promised for our country.

The Ants

A week before the classes were to end, I got a very special surprise from one of my kindergarten students. One morning, Gavin came up to me very excited. He said, "I have something for you! I have something for you!" Thinking that he's discovered my "addiction", I was hoping to get a bag of chocolates from him. While he was getting that "something" from his bag, I looked at his class teacher and raised my eyebrows silently asking her if she knew what it was. She just giggled and said, "Yes, he has something for you!" Gavin finally came back and gave me that "special something" - ants.

I laughed out loud and lovingly said "thank you" to Gavin. It was so funny, there I was expecting a bag of chocolates but what I got was a plastic of ants, 2 big black ants to be exact. I hugged Gavin and proudly showed the plastic of ants to his classmates. I saw how proud he was of himself. He even offered to explain that those ants were "guard ants". For me it didn't matter what his gift was, the thing that mattered was "his heart" when he gave it to me. I will always treasure Gavin's gift to me.

This made me realize how God must feel for us. He must feel much love for us when we try to do things for Him. He treasures everything that we do even if these things may be very feeble. Most of the time we fail in our endeavors, but I know that He still lovingly looks at us and tells us that He appreciates our efforts. 'Cause He doesn't look at the whats of our efforts but He looks at the whys of our efforts. The only thing that He wants from us is a relationship with Him not our ministry, not our accomplishments, not our worldly successes. He wants all of our heart, not just a part of it but ALL of it. So the next time that we go to God and try to do things for Him, we have to remember that it doesn't matter what we do or whether we succeed or fail 'cause He will always be like a father to us. He will always be proud of us 'cause He knows our hearts.

Completely (from Facing the Giants)

The secret of life is letting go
The secret of love is letting it show
In all that I do
In all that I say
Right here in this moment

The power of prayer is in a humble cry
The power of change is in giving my life
And laying it down
Down at your feet
Right here in this moment

chorus:
Take my heart
Take my soul
I surrender everything to your control
And let all that is within me lift up to you and say
I am yours and yours alone
Completely

This journey of life is a search for truth
This journey of faith is following you
Every step of the way
Through the joy and the pain
Right here in this moment

Right here, right now, and for the rest of my life
Hear me say

I am yours and yours alone
Completely

Prince Caspian

(with Irene and Yola at TP Mall)

I've waited for this movie since last year. I finally got to watch it for free last Wednesday, thanks to my school. There were about 200 of us from Mawar Sharon (church and school). Anyway, the movie wasn't what I expected. I expected it to be "grander". But then, it doesn't matter, I still loved it cause it's Narnia. I'm a die-hard Narnia fan. Go, Narnia!!!

I just hated the part where Prince Caspian and Susan kissed. I didn't think it was necessary. The movie would've been better off without it. But then, it's Hollywood, what could we expect. :-(

Anyways, I got three things from the movie:

1. I have to be passionate about what I do. (Reepicheep and his troop)
2. Be proud of my work.(Again, Reepicheep and his troop)
3. Anything that I do, I do it for God! (When they finally figured out what they were fighting for. That it was all for Aslan.)

Hurray for Narnia! Hope they make another Narnia movie. :-)

Abiding...Not Striving (James Hudson Taylor)

Last week, I was reading a book about Hudson Taylor and his wife Maria and a chapter in the book struck me as something so true...and so liberating.


From Chapter 20 of the book "Hudson and Maria, Pioneers of China" by John Pollock.

He (J.H. Taylor) opened and skimmed through letter after letter from the stations, from home, from Shanghai.

He came upon one from John McCarthy, written a day or two after Hudson had left. It was a long letter. He read on and on, attention riveted. "I seem," McCarthy wrote, "as if the first glimmer of the dawn of a glorious day has risen upon me... I seem to have sipped only of that which can fully satisfy." McCarthy had found the secret they sought. Hudson looked at the letter again. "To let my loving Saviour work in me His will...Abiding, not striving or struggling..."

Hudson came to the last paragraph. "Not a striving to have faith, or to increase our faith but a looking at the beautiful one seems all we need. A resting in the loved one entirely, for time, for eternity. It does not appear to me as anything new, only formerly misunderstood."

Hudson was amazed at his own blindness. His eyes opened wide. As in Barnsley twenty years before, as at Brighton four years before, a long inward struggle resolved in a split second. "As I read it, I saw it all. If we believeth not, He abideth faithful. And I looked to Jesus and saw (and when I saw, oh, how joy flowed) that He had said, "I will never leave you." In shorter time than it took to describe afterwards, Hudson grasped that e must not struggle to have the strengthand peach of Christ. "I have striven in vain to abide in Him. I'll strive no more. For has not he promised to abide with me - never to leave me, never to fail me? The effort to 'get it out' was a mistake.

"I am one with Christ," he cried as he explained the glorious discovery to the whole Chinkiang household, hastily gathering them together and reading McCarthy's letter. "It was all a mistake to try and get the fullness out of Him, I am part of Him. Each of us is a limb of His body, a branch of the vine. Oh, think what a wonderful thing it is to be really one with a risen Saviour." And in some such words as he wrote a few weeks later to his sister Amelia in England, he expounded the truth he had missed so long: "Think what it involves! Can Christ be rich and I poor? Can your right hand be rich and your left poor? or you head well fed while your body starves?"

Wow! It's just so amazing to know that God is always there ready to guide us, ready to help us. We just have to abide in Him. He promised never to leave us nor forsake us. It just gets so tiring when we struggle to abide in Him thinking that He abandons us when we are unfaithful, but then we don't have to struggle 'cause He is always there... He will never leave our side. :-) Life in Him is always bountiful 'cause everything that is His is ours too. We have everything that we need to fulfill our destiny, we just need to abide in Him.