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Aug 25, 2009

Life is like...

Life is like a box of chocolate - Forest Gump
I know some beg to differ.
A friend says, "Life is like a box of assorted chocolates"
While some others say "Life is like a stage of play, and we are all actors and actresses"

As for me, I would say...Life is like "cherry-looking chili".
You'll never know how hot and spicy the chili is until you actually tried it.
The same goes for life.
We'll never know how hot and exciting life is until we truly live it out!
And I mean LIVE IT OUT LOUD!
Live life to the fullest, live it right, live it well, make the most of every opportunity, make our lives count...ultimately Making God Famous!



The guys were tricked by Pr. Seria to try out the the home grown 'cherry' on the very last day of our mission trip at Sarawak. I was told...it's VERY SPICY!! *I still couldn't believe they actually fall for it...haha*

Aug 17, 2009

My First Mission Trip

Something I came across while preparing for the recent mission trip. A report/ testimony that I wrote and submitted to the church I was attending back then. This is an entry of my very first mission trip back in 2001. It brings back good memory, and most importantly the impact it had upon me!


SARAWAK MISION TRIP 2001 – Penny Khoo

I joined the mission trip for a basic purpose, that I will grow and move to higher heights in my walk with the Lord. I do not want to remain stagnant in my spiritual life. Praise God! He answered my prayer by shaking me off my comfort zone. He brought me to the place where I had to be totally dependent upon Him. God had been very real even when I started preparing for the trip.

I have always viewed mission trip as a trip whereby the team minister to the unreached through skits and songs. The task of performing through skits and songs is not hard, as I had experienced such things in youth groups. However, the preparation period became stressful when we were given assignments to prepare specific topic for teaching sessions at the longhouses and youth seminar. The assignment is something that I was not familiar with and at the same time, incapable to do so. The task became heavier when we had to prepare and preach in Bahasa Malaysia. During the preparation, I had sleepless nights figuring what to teach and how to teach the people. At one point of time, I wanted to give up. I questioned myself, “Why did I sign up for this trip in the first place and go through the stress when I could enjoy the comfort of each day that passes by?” I felt so far apart from God. I did not know where God was leading me and whether I had made the right choice to go for the trip. But it was at that time that I realised that I needed God more than I thought I needed Him. I realised that is in my weakness that His strength is made perfect. A lot of times, God gave us the “impossible” task so that we will learn to trust in Him and not lean on our own understanding. He wants us to be totally dependent upon Him.

During the trip, my fearful nature was challenged to do things that I would not normally do. God literally shook me off my comfort zone again. I experienced a total different culture and simplicity of life – bathing in the river, Iban food, limited supply of water and electricity and being sensitive to God in order to pray for people. I knew very well that it was not me that overcame the fear. God gave me the strength and the boldness to do so. In the trip, I also learned that I have put God in a box without realising it. I expected Him to move according to my will. He is much bigger and able to accomplish more than I could imagine or ask for. God is able to work in me and through me if I allow Him to do so. I have learnt to be dependent upon Him in every circumstance from living in the longhouses to ministering to His people. I believe God is not just interested in my ministry and how I could pray for His people. He is very much interested in my personal being.

A question was posed to me when the trip was about to come to an end, “Did you survive the trip?” Well, I could safely declare that I did not just survive the trip. I lived through and enjoyed every minute of the trip by the empowerment and the grace of God. It is indeed not by my might nor by my power but by the Spirit of God. God has been very faithful to His promise that He will always be with me, giving me strength and helping me to go through my everyday circumstances. I will continue to hold dearly to my baptismal text in Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismay for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. I really want to thank God and the team for such a fruitful and enriching mission trip.