Following my first trip to Taiwan in the June of 2012, I
spent my June last year in Taiwan as well. This year, different from my usually
self-planned, action-packed schedule during holiday, I spent the whole month of
June in Miri, Sarawak, doing my internship with Grace Methodist Church. It was
my first time in Miri, although I was born in Sarawak and there are several
attractions near Miri, says Mulu Cave, Pinnacles, etc. Perhaps, my next trip to
Miri will be a visit to those places, which appear quite interesting to me. As
a Malaysian, I should frequent myself to these internationally well-known
places of interest in my homeland.
Introductory word aside, here I am, sharing with you in
summary what I have accomplished in the month of June 2014 during my
internship. Or rather, what I think are interesting to share with you. To start
off, I shall list down things that I first experienced/done in my life, in
Miri.
My first time experience:
1.
Sharing as an invited guest speaker in a
fellowship
2.
Cleaning work in church from Monday to Friday,
for four weeks.
3.
Conduct baptism class
4.
Liturgist of a service
5.
Addressed as “trainee pastor”, “pastor”, “Rev Dr
James’ son”…even “daddy” and “mummy” (by Lukas, a two years old baby in a
family whom I stayed with)
6.
Cooked a proper meal for a family (besides my
own family)
7.
Seen the biggest house I ever seen
8.
Drove the most mileage in a place I barely
stayed for a month
9.
“House moving” for four times in a month
10.
Met over hundred plus new friends in less than a
month
11.
Read through the New Testament plus a book
review in less than a month
12.
Stay alone in pastornage
13.
Attended Miri district Pastors’ meeting
The question that I answered the most during my stay here in
Miri is: “How do you find Miri?” So I guess I should answer that here as well,
and can refer someone to my blog the next time I get this question. To me, I
think Miri is very well structured compared to other areas of Sarawak. Coming
from a place like Sibu, which is smaller and buildings are more scattered, Miri
appeared to be better organized. Imagine someone like me, who lack expert
navigation skill, managed to drive without getting lost in Miri (with aid of
“Waze”, opps). Miri provides a wide selection of foods, from western to Indian
cuisine. It is pretty “international”… you know I am referring to the food.
Having said all these, the convenient way to travel in Miri city is by a car.
Bus is not frequent and I have no idea of where to align. Miri is also an
expensive place to live in. I am comparing the living standard of Miri with
Sibu, of course. Food in Miri is RM1-2 more compared to in Sibu. A normal meal
in kopitiam will usually cost me around RM7-8 (including drinks). That compared
to Singapore, of course, can be dirt cheap.
I am very thankful for the new friends that I met here in
Miri. New an “old” friends, as they are, demonstrate warm hospitality, helping
me to “sink” in the life in Miri. Countless of movie nights, supper nights,
dinner at the beach, laughter, whatsoever, they ease my days. I interacted with
people from different background, from humble cleaner to big boss of a company,
discovering new things in my conversation with them. I survived through my
internship! Praise God for His grace, every day, to me.
End of my words, here comes the pictures!
Looking outside from the place I stayed in GMC
i-youth on 15th June
Jacky, chair person for i-youth
Oliver, youth pastor
Jeremy Lee giving his sharing
skit on persecution
Oliver giving sermon
dance performance
group photo
selfie - ever popular among youths :p
Outing at Tanjong Lobang - Lucas & Me.
Oliver & family, whom I stayed with throughout my period of internship
By the beach of Tanjong Lobang, Miri
With SMCGC - short term mission trip. Pastor Tiong, my supervisor
Curtin students who spent their holiday on short term mission trip in Tudan Methodist Church.
My team members
Praying hand as we were doing prayer walk.
Tudan Methodist Church
Raining on the second day of short term mission trip. I was trapped in car.
The children we got in touch with.
Lovely sister who interacted with the children.
Last night of short term mission trip
