Panama Mission Trip Recap

感謝神於今年二月至三月份，給予我及兩位於福音千里行作領袖事奉的弟兄姊妹一個到巴拿馬作短宣學習的機會。今次我們有兩個使命：(一)參與第九屆巴拿馬中西文青少年營及(二)參與巴拿馬華人基督教會(巴京堂)的青年事工。

於青少年營內，作為講員的我，抱著既興奮、又緊張的心情，一半因為過去幾次於營內多是參與遊戲或總務的角色，作講員時心情卻有點不同的感覺。另一半則是預備工作上所遇到凡困難，比較於預備加拿大的營會時多；不單是年齡領域上較大 (參加者由十一至二十歲不等) ，成長背景亦有很大的差異。可是神的恩典卻是大於我們的所想所求，我在當中所學習的亦較我想像的多。是次令會以「導向人生」為主題，在預備其中一天的資料時，神感動我應以「彼此相愛」為題，不知為何卡我內心深處卻存有很大的疑慮，可是我仍抱著信心的去分享。在最後一晚營火會內的分享時間，出乎我意料之外的，是大部份的分享都是圍繞在「彼此相愛」對他們的影響，神的意念真是較我們的意念為高。

更令人感到雀躍的是，藉著訊息、查經、遊戲、話劇、電影及各導師組長的引導，營內約五十名未信主的年青人，有三十九名決志信主，於全營會120人內，亦有18人願意奉獻作全時間的事奉的立志，請為這些巴拿馬的青少年人禱告，求神堅定他們對神的信心。

在青少年營之後，我們藉著「潑水節」假日，與巴京堂青年團契的弟兄姊妹一同到巴拿馬城以外約個半小時車程的El Valley旅行。藉著與他們在行山、游水等節目與他們多點時間相處，更深入了解他們的生活及掙扎，從而能在之後兩星期的訓練之中，給予更適合的訊息。

感謝神於這次短宣之中，讓我們學習到更多對宣教的認識，對使者福音千里行事工亦能作出適當的改善，藉此給予加拿大的學生一個更多學習的宣教體驗。

馮耀宗
多倫多學生事工助理統籌

「Short Short 地」

「Short Short 地」獨立短片網簡介 有更多短片：www.shortshortday.org

永遠懷念戴紹曾牧師

我們敬愛的戴紹曾博士（Dr. James H. Taylor III，譯名：泰樂博士）

主忠心的僕人
於2009年3月20日安息主懷，榮歸天家。

謹獻上最深的謝意與敬意，感謝戴紹曾博士一生盡忠職守，不但活出僕人忠心謙卑的樣式，更以生命的見證與經歷使無數人終生受益。

戴紹曾博士生於中國開封，為人柔和謙卑，勤懇簡樸，誠信待人，是我們學習的好榜樣。他熱愛中國文化，一生委身服侍中國人，以死在中國為榮。他真正實現他曾祖父戴德生當年所說：「假使我有千條性命，決不留下一條不給中國！」

戴紹曾牧師是創辦「中國內地會」的戴德生曾孫，1929年8月12日生於中國開封，少年時代曾有近三年在山東濰坊集中營度過，長大後赴美國接受教育。1955年攜妻子戴賴恩到臺灣開始服事，三個子女（戴美琳、美溪和繼宗）也在臺灣出生。他在60-70年任高雄「聖光神學院」院長，先後在台灣及中國大陸創辦「中華福音神學院」和「國際專業服務機構」，2007年4月獲四川省昭覺縣頒「榮譽市民」，他自稱是外白裡黃的「熟雞蛋」，是蒙恩的罪人，生在戴家完全是神的恩典。他為人柔和謙卑，忠心侍主，誠信待人，熱愛中國文化，精通中國文學和歷史，一生服侍中國人，也準備死在中國。他真正實現戴德生當年所說：「假使我有千條性命，決不留下一條不給中國！」

香港地區將於4月4日上午10時在九龍城浸信會舉行安息禮拜。

(original post from 「真証傳播」之 戴紹曾牧師紀念冊 )

nightmare...

I just have had a bad dream.

I was begging, crying, urging...
still, not able to make any changes...
I was being left out in the dark...
feeling lonely, feeling lost...

God, please don't let it happen...
please don't

2 down, one to go?

Thanks God, with His guidance, Junior TC and Chinese TC are very successful. The Gospel flow through the hearts of more than 700 students. May TC be only their first step in experiencing God.

Today is the first of two days Senior TC, please keep all the students in your prayer.

港男．講女 @ 星期日檔案 2009-03-08

港女本來是大眾傳媒用來形容香港女性的簡稱，但近年在網上開始流 行，將"港女"來形容集中了某些特質的香港女性，無論在網絡，抑 或現實生活，亦開展了一場港男港女大罵戰。

Kelvin's Panama Updates

Dear all,
Time flies so fast, here we come to the last seven days for my five-weeks mission trip.

Thank you for His opportunity, He let all of us who are in the youth camp learn a lot within those five days, serving or participating, including myself. Among the 112 participants, almost 50 of them are first-time comers. And almost 50 of these teens are non-Christians. The topic: Look for your purpose of life – Trust in the Lord, with the theme verse Proverbs 3:5-6, helping everyone of us to know more about our real meaning of life, especially how to love one another. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, 39 decide to become Christians, 96 (obviously including some recent converts) dedicate their daily lives to God, and 18 among all willing to commit for full-time ministry if that is the willing of God. Praise the Lord. Please keep praying for these teens. You can see their pictures here: http://stupidxteam.blogspot.com/2009/02/photos-in-panama.html

We were then able to visit el Valley, a dead volcano turned village, to have some fun for four days. We spend 5 hours to conquer a 900m-high mountain (the name of the mountain: sleeping princess), and we also spend a few hours at the beach (the water is really salty). You can go to my photos at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=68902&id=514761224&l=7c07e and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=68906&l=d3c07&id=514761224. We had a wonderful trip as we all learnt together how to support each other during difficult times, especially when we are walking up the hill. Also because of some miscommunication, some of us have to head back to Panama City before our trip ends, but that miscommunication also teaches every one of us how to care about brothers and sisters around us.

These events also help the short term mission team to ease up some of the tension among the youth fellowship which due to the rapid growth. The fellowship has now 40 people compares to the 20-25 last year. Please pray for the fellowship. Pray that God will give them strength and wisdom so that everyone in the fellowship can enjoy a healthy spiritual grow.

Also have to give thanks to God despite the snow storm in US kept them from return to Canada for a day due to flight cancellation, they are now safely back home. Please keep praying for me, as I will have two trainings on Thursday and Friday night, while having a workshop during Saturday fellowship. And pray for me for a safe trip back on Tuesday night.

Again, thank you for your prayer support.
Kelvin in Panama

This... is what Honda feels like

What a wonderful ad...!

Photos for Compañerismo Daniel

#1 Valentine's Day (Feb 14, 2009)
#2 8th Anniversary (Feb 21, 2009)
#3a Fellowship Outing #1 (Feb 28, 2009)
#3b Fellowship Outing #2 (Feb 28, 2009)

Photos for Campamento 2009

Camp Photo #1
Camp Photo #2
Camp Photo #3

"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
This verse best describe my most needed learning during the trip.

Just like Saturday. Thirty minutes before my first of nine message in eight days (yes, add Sunday school before my Sunday Service message), Satan definitely want to remind me that he will not let any opportunity to beat me to slip away.

It was when my laptop was being "flood" by an accident during the fellowship dinner. It was nobody fault. However, we found out that my laptop was not able to turn on after that. To be honest, at that moment, I am really desperate. Someone whispered to me, do you need a prayer? I don't know what to answer. The only thing I am talking to God... What? No...!!!

However, God really showing to the fellowship, He prepares. One of the brothers eventually bring a small screwdriver with him, and the most important, he knows how to fix a laptop. Within three hours, my laptop was being restored, backup and ready to go.

When I saw him fixing it, the only wordings in my mind, was the sermon I am going to preach Sunday morning. 'When Peter saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" '

I ask myself, Kelvin, why are you having so little faith?
I feel shame of myself, I should have know that even though the laptop cannot be recovered, my messages is still on. Why bother on the little computer?
Sorry God, I fell into Satan's trap again, I almost failed.
Thankyou for bailed me out, as the message went well Saturday night(at least this is what I believe).

師母D餸好好食

Photos for my first weekend in Panama

Click here to see the whole album...

Camp preparation day

Saturday is really a camp preparation day. Meeting in the morning and training at night.

It's really amazing that the brothers and sisters can cook good food despite having no water supply at the church. For us in North America, I am pretty sure we will have take out already. Fight against adversity, this is really what we should learn.

First two days in Panama

The first two days are pretty peaceful. Wake up a bit late in the morning for a little bit rest, and working on the youth camp materials during the day time. Finally they are all done Friday night.

Thanks for pastor Wilson for having me a big papaya, its much better than the 6-inches subway in Canada. Sweet and cool... taking some heat off my body.

Have to take some good rest tonight, as it will be meeting Saturday morning and training in the evening...

Please pray for my health and the youth camp.

Struggles to start – A Spiritual Warfare

Its really tough to start your mission trip with a day of spiritual warfare, however, God does not allow me to give up.

First, due to some reason named this and that, I have no sleep at all last night. Well, I don't feel sleepy, but clearly I am not well functioned.

Second, I keep asking myself this morning, what have I left not yet packed? I think, I think and I think. Nothing, should not be anything. At the airport: it's the Bible…! What? Yes, going mission trip without carrying your Bible. What a shame…!

Money, this is my fault actually, I forget to go buy US dollars, thus have to rush to the bank to get some. Thanks God, just a small line up, but the rate has gone up today.

Then, Hwy 401 got an accident, a huge parking lot. What a normal thing to happen on your not normal day. Thanks God, there is hwy 407, although its toll.

At the check in counter I was bumped up from 1240 flight to 1130. Messing my plan of having a peaceful lunch at the airport, as I was told only 15 minutes for custom and boarding. But finally the flight is delayed for another 30 minutes without notice. I am ok, as God already practice me with no lunch on Tuesday. Wow, how amazing the arrangement is…!

A phone call to Bell customer service shock me with the news of outgoing txt msg in US cost 60cents, it used to be included in my plan…!!! Well, the phone company never tells you that they secretly increase their charges in your already expensive phone bill. But thanks God for reminding me to call Bell before I am in US stupidly thinking that everything is free when its is fee.

Emotions build up during the wait for the flight. All my low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, worry to fail… all suddenly build up during that waiting period. What a big spiritual warfare. Thanks God for cooling me down, as I have to walk outdoor to aboard the plane under the -20 windchill.

The struggles seems not wanting to end after leaving Toronto, and a good 90 minutes of sleep during the flight.

At Newark Airport, I was already deadly hungry, yes, the airline now cut cost to the point not even give nuts or water to u…! The terminal map clearly stated that A&W is there… the only food store that interest me. However, what I saw when I arrived is a big renovation wall. Sigh… okie, I try find something for me interest to eat, and I finally found this store with "Loaded Fries", fries with cheese and bacon, yummy…! But fat tummy…!

Emotional struggles come up again during the three hours wait. I keep asking God, why its me? Is that always me who has the problem? Why always not being correctly understood, or being misunderstood or not even not willing to understand me… Why it has to be me who is wrong every time? Am I look so bad that not worthy to be trusted? Why I cannot be myself? Why its wrong for me to choose? Why? Why? And Why? These are questions I know that I should not have asked. But there they are. Faith, where is my faith to God? Hope, where is my hope to God? Love, where is my love to God? Hey Kelvin, wake up, stand up, keep fighting… its battle time…! I know I have to fight, but I need to regroup myself. I got five hours up high in the sky (closer to God??) for me to do that, God, thank you for these five hours. I really need that very much.

During those five hours, a lot of turbulence, real turbulence, however, always peaceful after going thru it. Like my emotions, turbulence, but peaceful after all.

 

Last but not least have to thank all the brothers and sister for their hospitality.

 

Faith is all I am asking for...

Its all about the ironic feeling in your heart, but after all, its all about your faith to believe.

Its ironic that I know God is giving me the best, but I don't think I am having the best now. I need faith to believe the God has already given me the best, its just I have yet to understand it.

Its ironic as I want to understand so many "Why?"s in my mind, but I also understand that there are so may "Why?"s are not able to understand. I need faith to believe that God has His reason to allow all those "Why?"s to happen.

Its ironic that I want to see my future, but on the other hand, everyone know that you will never know your future except I am convinced that I am going to Heaven after death. I need faith to believe that God is taking good care of my future.

Its ironic that I know that I should not have to worry, but I always worry about this and that. I need faith to believe that God is in control and I really have nothing to worry.

Its ironic that I know that I should follow the Will of God, however, I always feel pain occurs when doing that. I need faith to believe that following His will is the most enjoyable one, and no pain really no gain.

Its ironic that you know that Satan is going to attack you so that you don't have faith to serve Him, but I always fall into Satan's temptations. I need a lot of faith to believe that I can fight as long as I am walking with God, even though sometime I might fall.

Life is full of irony. But FAITH TO BELIEVE will always overruled these ironies.

God, please, let me have more FAITH so that I can BELIEVE.

She asked, "Why do you love me?"

小說中的一段...

...

這晚怎樣變得特別地可愛?
一個沒有球賽的晚上。
他下了結論了。
不論是她低頭，她欲語還休，她說話時的懶音，不完整的句子，用詞不當，甚至只是焦慮地等待著甜品到會的神情，她依舊是那麼討人喜歡。
總之，她的可愛已掩蓋了一切。
而當一個男人，看上一個女人時，無非也是在於覺得她可愛吧。

...

那麼，妳喜歡他甚麼呢?
我也曾問他: 你為什麼會喜歡我呢?
他說: 喜歡上一個人，很多時候，是基於無知。
這是甚麼意思?
我也不明白，但是他接著說，就是對妳知得不夠多，就是不太認識妳，我也愛妳，那麼，我是注定要愛著妳的了。

...

是小說，還是現實中的心聲?

Goal 2009

Monday night, little wordings, trigger my emotions. Although nothing harmfully done, I know I hurt someone in someway. This deeply ensure myself that my IQ is ok normal, but my EQ is really not. Self-control, something I really have to learn.

God told me two weeks ago, and remind me again today.

During the sunday school two weeks ago, God gave me my theme scriptures for the year.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(2Pe 1:5-8)
正因這緣故，你們要分外的殷勤；有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知識；有了知識，又要加上節制；有了節制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；有了虔敬，又要加上愛弟兄的心；有了愛弟兄的心，又要加上愛眾人的心；你們若充充足足的有這幾樣，就必使你們在認識我們的主耶穌基督上不至於閒懶不結果子了。
(彼得後書 1:5-8)

I do have faith, and I believe myself are trying my best for goodness. Knowledge, I trust myself will not be lower than a certain standard. However, when reaching self-control... sigh.

Not matter how much knowledge, if I do not have self-control, knowledge really means nothing. Not to mention the steadfastness and things coming after that.

KNOWLEDGE WITH SELF-CONTROL... MY GOAL FOR 2009.

A New Year, A New Page

7 days into the new year...

What's new for 2009?

Simple.

A New Page.

Pray that I can change my bad habits, so that I can have a closer relationship with God in 2009.