Sunday, February 17, 2013

Pre-Mission Trip Reflections! (TRACkers 2013)


It's been about 6 weeks since TRACkers 2013 have begun, and it all started with youths from different methodist churches gathering together for the first time at a 3 days boot camp at PLMC on 9 Jan 2013. And although i'm one of the new mentors for this batch, I've never been through TRACkers myself, and walking through this past 6 weeks with this group of passionate youths almost every single day have made this such an amazing Journey of Faith for me thus far and i've no regrets agreeing to come on board this team!
  
 10 Jan 2013 (Day 2) of Boot Camp

Just like the rest of the trackers, the mentors were told to go through the listening process to God's heart for the nation that we are led to go out of this 6 different places. And as we were looking at this World map, somehow an impression of mountains first hit me.

In that process was led to 2 particular countries. So I decided to just pen down what ever thoughts that came. I prayed for a word for each of this 6 nations, and Isaiah 40 was the first that came to me for Nepal.  

Isaiah 40:3-5, 9-10
New International Version (NIV)
A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 
You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout,lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is you God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

Day 3
The mentors came together to each share the countries they were led too, and after much shuffling around both for the Trackers and mentors, I was finally allocated to Nepal. Where the mountainous image that first came to me came was confirmed. 

The following week our team came together for the first time and spend some time praying and listening to God, where after a while we decided on this scripture text below as our theme verse...

Psalm 43:3
New International Version (NIV)
"Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell."

The preparation stage towards our Mission Trip! (5 weeks) 

Fund Raising! 
Thank God for the many supporters who supported us financially for this trip! I'm really grateful for those whom God actually led to supporting us. This love gifts has definitely encouraged us tremendously as we were a little fearful at the beginning for the large amount we had to raised.


Training Runs!
We were told by the missionaries that the physical conditions will be really tough so we decided to prepare some training runs to at least condition ourself with a decent level of fitness in time for the mission trips! 



The last 2 weeks have been crazy where our preparations have geared up, where we rehearsed and prepared our various ministry tool box, from skits, to dance, to games, to crafts & even a music gig! And coming to PLMC at 730am everyday to pray when Trackers actually starts at 9am has definitely been a huge spiritual discipline to us. And to be honest, I felt really tired at times to wake up early the next day especially when I had meetings at church the night before, but felt that prayer in itself is a spiritual discipline. And I can definitely say those prayer meetings have definitely prepared us much to really trust and depend on God as the one leading us. 

And now just 2 days to go, will be flying off this coming Monday morning, for 12 days, from 18 Feb to 1 Mar 2013 to Katmandu, Nepal! Will really seek your prayers for both physical & spiritual coverage as we begin this misison trip where physical conditions are tough, with drastic temperatures from 17degree in day to 2 degrees in the night. 

Besides that! Hope to share more again when we are back 2 weeks time! :) 

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