My Prayer

I wrote this prayer on the plane as I was coming back from Phillipines.

Dear God, thank you for the safe trip we had. I'm thankful for your provision. Thank you for your affirmation too as a leader. It has been a fruitful time for me being in Philippines. More stark than anything is the income inequality in the land. Edmund says that some people are just lazy. God, I thank you for reminding me that there are various root causes to poverty. Lord, even as I say that I wish to help the poor, this is such a vague term and idea. There are so many other influences like the government, society and education. Give me wisdom in knowing what is my role in all these.

Thank you for the friendships that have been forged amongst us. Let the bonding remain and that you will bless the friendships. Bless the sharings that may come. Bless and grow those seeds that have been sown.

When I consider the heavens, what is man that You are mindful of Him? All the complaints about social injustice, inequality. I'm sure that You see it better than me. You know the cause and effect, everything must be so interlinked.

I liked holding Deanna's hand and am happy to be able to meet the needs of her, or the hand of the girl who was reserved, shy and withdrawn. I'm scared to venture into this field because I don't know if I'm emotionally capable or ready. I don't know if my parents will be angry with me or worried. I don't want to bear a bad testimony or stumble them. But if it must be, God, You will open the doors for me and soften their hearts. Increase their compassion for the poor and open their blinded eyes to see You and hear Your heartbeat.

Teach me not to be juvenile Lord, to be naive and overly trusting. But to be as wise as a serpant, yet harmelss as doves. To know whom to help, to be able to set proper boundaries, to be strong and secure in You.

Thank You Lord.
In Jesus Name I pray, amen.

I'm happy that the goals I set have been achieved, to see the team coming together, and the trip cumulating with the farewell program we had right at the end. During reflections, people shared about becoming more appreciative of Singapore, about how they are more aware of their lifestyle choices and habits. Even though it was too short a trip, and we built very little of the house, I think at the end of the day, we achieve what we set out to do, if we internalize what we have learnt, and share it with our friends and family members.

Someone from my team bought me a Casting Crowns CD. I really like this song:

Casting Crowns - Love Them Like Jesus

The love of her life is drifting away
They're losing the fight for another day
The life that she's known is falling apart
A fatherless home, a child's broken heart

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
She's desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view
She's looking to you

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus

The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue
Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon
Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to gray
As the little one slips away

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You're trying to make sense of it all
They're desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view
They're looking to you

Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus

Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands
The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands
The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands
He cares for them just as He cares for you

So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus
Love them like Jesus