An evening planned by God

"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!