"God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purposes".
~Romans 8:28
"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
~Proverbs 16:9
Tonight I wasn’t sure of what to do. I had cancelled my plans to go to the ship's booth on Orchard Rd (aiming to create opportunities to share the gospel or invite people to the ship), in favour of finishing the school end-of-year newsletter. After that was finished, I
wanted to go with a friend and have coffee and hang out, but one was already
off the ship, another was working and a third was
planning to watch a movie I didn’t want to see.
She claimed to have invited me but hadn’t, but anyway I felt left out and
didn’t want to join in. However I knew that sulking in my cabin would achieve
nothing and I didn’t just want to watch a movie or read a book all evening on
my own.
As I was eating dinner, the idea that I should go to deck 4 (our visitor deck) popped into
my head and I felt God encouraging me – ‘yes, go down to deck 4’. So, praying as
I went, I started downstairs knowing that God was going to use me somehow.
I started just walking around and I met Jiamin Choo promoting her book
“Out of the Harbour”. It was journal entries from her time on the Doulos. It
was lovely to talk to her and she’d recently been in Australia at my church where
a friend had encountered Jiamin's book. The friend emailed me and mentioned
it and said I should read the book and had I heard of Jiamin? Well, funny that
she’s onboard at the moment and I’ve had the chance to chat with her. Also, she
did line-up in Brisbane in 2008 and talks about a few people that I know very well! What a small world...
While I was in line with Jiamin while she was busy with visitors, I got
talking to some and had some good conversations before continuing on my way
through the book fair and onto the International Cafe where I saw a girl sitting by herself so I approached and asked
if I could join her. We started talking and 5 minutes later her friend
returned. We continued talking for about 30 minutes, each asking questions and
sharing about our lives. As they asked about the ship, I was able to share
about the knowledge, help and hope vision we have and what this means,
including openly sharing about the love of God compelling us to the works we
do.
When they had to leave, I joined a Korean family for another half hour
and after discovering they were also Christians, we could share and encourage
each other. I particularly enjoyed interacting with their 4 year old daughter,
who was convinced that the popcorn pieces were cockroaches and surprisingly
delicious!
As I made my way round for a second tour of deck 4, next to the lifeboat
a group of 3 young guys ~18-20 years old asked how they could join the ship. I
jumped straight in with sharing that we were part of OM and therefore a
Christian organisation, so one must be a follower of Christ to join the ship.
This didn’t turn them off at all, even when they answered ‘no’ to my asking if
they shared the Christian faith. They were very curious about why I came to the
ship, what we do, why we do it and I shared openly about my testimony of why I
came to the Logos Hope, what I hope to gain by it, the reason why we serve and
volunteer, about the hopes and dreams God gives us, the support and guidance He
gives through our lives. I shared about how God provided for me through my year
of studying education with the cheap rent and perfect job that was clearly a
divine gift. I asked about their hopes and dreams and how if they trusted God
with them, that these things were possibilities.
We stopped the conversation only due to the fact that the ship had to
close and the boys expressed a desire to return to the ship while we are in
Singapore, so maybe I’ll see them again!
After I came up the stairs, it was perfect timing to see a friend walk
by in tears. Although we had not had a proper conversation in 2 months, God
provided the opportunity that when she needed a listening ear and a good hug
that I was there at the right moment and we could talk and pray together.
All in all it was a wonderful evening where I saw God’s hand as I
listened to His voice and obeyed. And to think that I might have ended up
simply watching a movie instead!
Please pray with me for the people I could share with tonight,
particularly the 3 young men with curious and open hearts. May the seeds
planted tonight be watered and nurtured by the Lord, that fruit would be borne
for His kingdom!
