It’s been 12 days into the new year and I would say that things have been moving rather quickly of late. Time seems to move faster whenever we want it to slow down and for my last few weeks in Malaysia, time has not been very gracious; not at all. I’m currently waiting for my last flight back to Wellington from Auckland and I’m just trying to recall my time back home in Malaysia, especially the last few weeks. Two weekends ago, my family decided to spend New Years in Kuala Lumpur. It was more of a trip to visit my relatives before I head back to New Zealand, and so it was very well planned and scheduled.
On our way back from Kuala Lumpur, we dropped by Taiping to attend the dedication service for the new intake of GLO Bible School students. The moment we drove into the compound of Taiping Gospel Hall, a feeling of déjà vu came upon me. Nothing of that place has changed chaged since the last time I was here. The mission house, the big tree in the middle of the field, the church building, playground, the swing, the kindergarten, and library; they all seem to be just the same before I left that place.
Stepping out of the car, I walked up the staircase that lead up to the mission house. That staircase was one of my favourite hang out places. I practically did everything on that staircase. It was on that staircase that I learned how to play the guitar, sang to God, did my quiet time, had phases and phases of encounters with God and even times of pain and tears. I remember I would also sit at that staircase every Sunday, waiting and looking out for new students that might come and enroll for the weekly courses. Moving into the house, I saw the holes that were scattered on a particular spot of the wall. We used to have a dartboard there and thus explain all the holes, thanks to our lousy skills. There was also the chair that I used to sit and read my papers, read books, do my homework, play the guitar and occasionally take my nap. In the middle of the hall was the dinner table, where meals, conversations, group devotions, laughter and fellowship happened. To the far right was my room and I couldn’t help but remember how hot and humid that room was in the noon, giving me those sweaty nap times. The nighttime were the time when the mosquitoes would swarm the place, and without the use of electronic mats, sprays and coils, I would’ve been sucked dry by the mosquitoes. There were the good times of laughter (lots of laughter) that took place whenever my friends came and visit me from Penang. Nevertheless, there were also times of fear and testing of my faith that took place in that room as well. Outside the house was the playground and I could see how I used to be everywhere in this area. I would be playing soccer by myself in the afternoon, or basketball with the netball hoop from the storeroom. On days that are not so hot, I’ll lie on top of the cement tubes and stare into the sky. Some afternoons I’ll be at the library, reading books or magazines. Evenings after dinner, I’ll be playing the guitar and singing on the swing. During the World Cup season, I watched football matches at the backroom of the church or play the piano in the church hall.
My time spent at GLO Bible School Taiping, was one of the most significant times of my life. It was significant because I never believed that I could ever come out of this school sane, considering the amount of time I had to spend alone. It was during the loneliest period of my life that I discovered God. Because I had no one else to talk to, I had a lot of time to think and also to talk and listen to God. And those times were are so precious to me. Eight years have passed on now and so much has happened in my life. So much has come to pass and as the day goes, memories of my time in GLO have slowly died. But I know that all these memories that I had was not merely for my own pleasure or pride, to know that I was once a Bible School student.
I left Taiping that night, knowing that God wanted me to remember what He thought me during my time there, and that is to have constant communication and dependence on Him. He thought me to listen and talk to Him as if He was in front of me. Yet, that lesson’s becoming so weak in my life that I only talk to God now as if He’s above me. I yearn for those times when I can have conversations with God like friends. May this message that God has given me as a farewell gift to New Zealand, be realized in my life this year.
I used to say this very phrase in my testimony in sharing my experience in GLO and I hope God can remind of the significance of what I said,
“During my time at GLO, my only friends were Yamaha (guitar), Wilson (volleyball), and Jesus.”
