Matthew West - My Own Little World

What is it worth to you?

After a tiring day at work, looking at these photos sent by my friend (documentation for our recent gift), my heart just leapt with joy :) It will be something that I will remember and cherish.

It was back when we were in cambodia, during our daily visits to the rural villages that we witnessed the lack of basic necessities in some villages. Some of the better off villages actually had water pumps and water filters donated by foreigners. I wondered in my heart how much would it be to give them one of those?

I later discovered that everyone else in the team had the same burning question. We had the heart to give, but wasn't sure how to do it. So the local pastor was approached and asked as to how we can contribute. They indeed needed those pipes and filter.

Pipes installed to transport water into paddy fields

Rice planting

Clay filter to purify water. Shared amongst community in one village.

How much is clean water worth? Priceless!!

Psalms 84

10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

the LORD bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

12 O LORD Almighty,

blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Afterthoughts part 2

Throughout the whole trip, we only had one day of R & R before heading back. The afternoon was spent at Angkor Wat. I had wished for the day to pass at snail pace. But when you have a good time, it never seems to slow down.

Time is almost up. Time to go and back and face the music.

Perth is a different battleground. And of course there is every possibility that I might slip back to my old ways.

For the last leg of the tour, we were brought to a different temple to watch the sunset. It was jam packed with tourist. I am one too, one that is supposed to go home ultimately.

As I watch the sun slowly cross the horizon, I was praying that God will give me the peace to go back, and to not fall back into the dullness of life, but rather adopt the fullness of life that He can offer.

As the sun disappears, with certainty it will rise again. Though I will be seeing sunrise and sunset in a different land, but for sure, just like the sun, our God is there!!

Afterthoughts

It was almost a trip that was not meant to be. As the date neared, my friend was unable to give me an answer whether there is vacancy available. At that point of time, I had actually given up waiting. Not much of faith I guess.

But deep down I knew I needed a new lease of life, I wanted to get away. My last resort, I told God, " Please show me something that is worth living for. If it is meant to be, You will open the way for me." Finally, on the last day of my exams, my friend delivered the good news. I am glad He made a way and that I was able to take a leap into the outside world.

Cambodia is the total opposite of Australia. Australia is truly the land overflowing with milk and honey. Though it is in the midst of poverty and development, it's ppl are just charming and life is simple.

When we arrived, we touched base with the local churches who prepared interpretors and brought us to the villages. Cambodia is heavily influenced by Buddhism. But in the midst of it, you can see that the local churches are growing and sending their members into villages to hold cell groups or meetings. Their passion is fierce and commitment strong. Our services are merely providing them with assistance in terms of health care, and also at the same time providing a platform to share Christ with those who have not accepted Him.

I went thinking that we have lot's to give. In hindsight, I have received so much as well. There are times that the hardness in my heart would just dissolve when I understood how stubborn I had been. Many are still unsaved, much work needs to be done. Instead of playing down the courts, I have been living my life at the sidelines.

There so much that I wanted to write, but I know that my writing is inadequate to express it all. It is inked in my memory. Of course in pictures too. Tedious uploading of pictures on facebook, checked! Tagging, checked!

Take heart, take flight

I don't think one can remain static in one phase for too long. Boredom sets in and it feels like one's been painted into a dead corner.

Once in a while, it would be nice to see how the world is on the outside. To look outward to know that one does indeed live in utopia.

I need a breather from perth.

Toodles, I'm off to cam ... booo ... dee .... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Usher in the new year pls!!!

Next month marks the decade that I have been here in Perth. A decade ..... sounds really long, but feels just like yesterday. Perth is also the place that I have taken residence for the longest time. 8 years in KL, 4 years in a puny town in Sabah, 6 years in another town in Sabah, 10 years here. Where next??

Sure, I have had my gripes with life here. But seriously, I cannot fathom living elsewhere now.

I wished that it wasn't so hot here ..... and I saw on the news the other half of the globe being snowed in .... ahem no thanks.

I wished that there are no traffic jams here ........ and I saw Bangkok ....... enough to make me shuddup.

I wished that ppl don't drive like a lunatic ........ but who doesn't now?

Etc etc etc ..... I think you get the idea.

Until the day Utopia is created, I think this is where I will call home for the time being.