Taiwan trip

Haha, most of you will probably heard many praises and comments from people who has been to Taiwan, like, how good is the trip, the fellowship, the hostel etc... so i will probably just touch on them but not gonna go in depth...

Taiwan is a land of natural beauty... Just look at the Toroko gorge and the pebble beaches and you will get the idea... It is also has one of the world tallest buildings. The food is nice and cheap, the clothes are also cheap and nice.... The people are usually nice except the bus uncles (at least most of those that we met)... The bus uncles are somehow unusually grouchy... May be it is because their job is too mundane that they just want to let off some steam. The tour coach uncle however, is very nice to us and also bring us to many places....

Really loved the hostel and the madam who runs the place... Haha, the room reminds me of a army bunk... except that this is fully air conditioned and much cleaner. Well, nice rooms and nice environment doesn't make the place nice though it does help somewhat... You can be in some wonderful place but still feel lonely... The companionship of your friends, esp bro-and sis-in-Christ can make a nice place a hundred times nicer....

Well, if one wishes to know how nice taiwan is, then i think it is better to talk to those people who went there. I don't think a blog post will do justice to the beauty of this trip.... I would rather share what I have learned from the Taiwan trip

I was reminded of my insensitivity to people's needs. There were many times when the girls needed help on the trail or carrying of bags etc. There are times when i failed to notice the needs esp when I am not conscious of it. It took me so long to improve in this area, and yet there are still so many times that i failed in what seems to be a minor thing to some but an important thing that I have to learn to be more Christ-like. Thanks for the brothers' prompting when I failed to notice these areas, they have been a great help and reminder. That is what a fellowship is for, and I thank God for it although there were times where it seems tempting to switch church just because there are cultural difference (somewhat) between the main bulk of the church people and me. Well, I believe that Satan or my sinful self wants me to believe that I am unable to fit in and wants me to go another church. However, thank God when I talk with Ming Yang and also other brothers that I come to a conclusion that there is not where God wants me to go. God also given me the strength to overcome such thoughts and also the strength to move forward although I must say that there were times whether it feel just so tempting to just give up instead of moving forward because it can be quite tiring. However, when did God ever say that running the race is suppose to be a walk in a park? It was not, is not, and will not be a walk in a park. So may God have mercy on us to have the strength to finish the race He had set for us to run.

Although was quite sick through the whole trip, but God brought me through it. Wasn't really enjoying the first few days because was having such a headache and sore throat, but the concern from the brothers and sisters and also God's providence, managed to go through the whole thing and even manage to enjoy myself.

Another thing that i learned from the trip is that when I serve I really need to have the right motive and mindset. Actually there were times when I dread leading the songs because I wasn't used to it and also feel that like that I cannot enjoy myself thoroughly. There was a fierce internal struggle within me because part of me want to grab every opportunity to serve and part of me wants to drop it because it seems the easier way. Thank God that i put everything to the Lord's hand. Prepared for it during the flight there and leave it to God. Thank God I didn't feel much pressure from it. However, the internal struggle was still there.... sometimes it seem to be winning and sometimes it seems to be overcomed. In the end my turn came. Well, I didn't expect it to rain so heavily and everything had to be cancelled. Well, really thanks for the support that the people gave afterwards. Was I really disappointed? Yes and no. Yes, because I already prepared for it. No because I believed that it is part of God's plan. haha, anyway, if God really want me to serve in that area, I believe He will not let me off.

Well, another thing that I have been reminded of is that God will intervene in the plans that we have made. Well, the plan was to sing in the fisherman's wharf and then Uncle James will share. God intervene by making it rain heavily and also gave Uncle James a migraine. I was like oh no.... However, I was somehow assured that the plans that we had was not the best (may be for the seekers-it seems so, or in other areas). I was reminded that when we come to the end of our plans or when it is ruined, there is a big possibility that God will be in it to move us in a different direction ( ren2 de4 jing4 tou2 jiu4 shi4 shen2 de4 kai1 tou2). I shared that with the brothers around me. Well, heard that the two groups esp winnie's group had a great sharing in the restaurant. Well, if we have stayed on in fisherman's wharf, the effects may not be as good and the sharing at the restaurant may not be as long and as fruitful. What we have planned may seem to be the best but God knows better. Haha, by the way for everyone's info on why I think the whole thing is like God special guidance? The rain become smaller and eventually stop once we board the ship... (it stop after we reached the other bank) and Uncle James migraine become stabilized soon after and got better soon after...

Again all I can say is To God be the Glory