Hello OAK,

Things to prepare for the next 3 weeks:

1: Personal Journal
2: Research on Cebu
3: Find 3 Prayer Warriors
4: Research as a group on 10-20 games, each having our own personal life journey.
5: Maintain a prayerful attitude
6: Be sensitive to God's work around your life, the transformation taking place/the preparation for the mission trip
7: Equip yourself with the toolbox, things that you think you'll need, such as, enhancing your knowledge on the bible, practicing bible stories, etc..
8: Ask God, what does he want you to do during the mission trip.
9: Ask God, how can you do what he wants you to do
10: plan your course of action on how to do what God wants you to do.

alright, you know i just done my research on Cebu, and Joseph Chean was right, all the pictures are pictures of beautiful resorts, beaches, hotels etc. Even the roads look so nice just like Singapore.

When i went to research Cebu on the wikipedia, everything was positive and i couldn't extract important information.

You see, when i thought about this, it really reminds me of our attitude towards mission trip. Our pride, our reputation, our anxiousness and anxieties all have to go away. We cannot put on a false impression, a mask that says:
" Hey i'm the best "
or
" hey, i can do everything ".

You see, the internet also tries to cover the poorer side of Cebu, bringing a very false impression of the place. It tells in a sense " Prosperity Gospel " what people want to hear so as to draw tourist to their city. Joseph Chean said that the main source of bread and butter for this city is tourism, and so when you look on the internet, you only find nice and good stuff.

This should not be the attitude that we should have when we approach Mission Trip. Our mission trip must not be a tick in our Christian piety Box. It mustn't be a holiday, neither should we have a dis-engaged attitude. The focus on the Mission Trip is to preach God's news to the world as well as to further equip us with the knowledge and grace from God so that we'll be more prepared to share the gospel to our friends, family, strangers in Singapore.

We should approach the mission trip with a heart to serve,

"Matthew 5:3-16"

The key is "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the Earth"
Meekness resembles control over power, it is making a different without exercising our power.

At the same time, as we travel as a team to Cebu, let us not only look out for out own interest but also the interest of others - Phil 2:4

Also, we should approach everything without complaining or arguing - Phil 2:14

Let us take the initiative to have a heart to serve, first by stepping out of our own comfort zone and stepping out of our own initiative.

Together as a cell group, let's drop all the pride, the reputation and any other things that really hinder us from God, put away with all the false masks that we are wearing and be real. Be as Real as You can.

Remember:

Amos 5:21-24
Don't show what you can do in church when you do none of it outside. Be who you are outside like who you are in church!

Isiah 58:3-9
Our worship, prayer and fasting has no meaning unless there is compassion.

Compassion for the poor, compassion for the hungry, for the crippled, for the dying, and for those who don't know God. Fulfill them and seek God for understanding, patience towards them.

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Next, i would like to challenge everybody be it those who are going to mission trip or not, to think what you can sacrifice for the Love of Christ for Cebu. Exchange the time use to pray for Cebu, to pray to God and ask God what you can do for them, what he desires for you.

As i shared during Cell Group:

Abraham wished for a descendant. For 20+ years he didn't get his wish even though God promised him that he'll be be the Father over the nations, and the people will be his descendant. Imagine, when God promised you this and you waited 20+ years to realize you don't even have 1 descendant, how will you really feel?

Finally, Abraham had a descendant after 20+ years and his name was Issiah. As soon as he had Issiah, God asked him to sacrifice Issiah to God.

Imagine now what Issiah must be thinking, questions like:

"What? You're Crazy, i waited 20+ years for Issiah and you asked me to sacrifice him?"

"If i'm going to sacrifice my own flesh and blood, i must be mad"

But you see, Abraham didn't say that, he was a faithful servant and he just did what God instructed him to. As he went up the mountain and when he was with Issiah, Issiah asked him " Where are the sacrificial Lambs? " Can you imagine now what Abraham is thinking?

"Well oh, it's actually you!"

yeah, i mean, i can't really imagine how it must be, if i'm a father next time, it'll be like the toughest thing to sacrifice my own son, and especially after waiting like 20+ years.

The significance of this passage is not to tell us how great Abraham is, but it is to question our own spiritual belief whether we're able to sacrifice the dearest things for God. Be it money, fame, pride etc.. Can you?

I think it is a really thought provoking question. And my challenge to you is it, ask God what does he want you to give up for this mission trip.

Joseph Chean said " It is not that God gave up his only son, yes it is important, but you have to know, God gave his best "

God gave his best for us, and he chose the best people to go for mission trip. We are the specially chosen "best" people from God, and own our part we have to give off our Best to the people in Cebu. We have to give off our Best to show the Ceburians who God really is. We want them to see beyond us, and question who is this God, Father of Jesus.

I'll end off with this:

Re-examine our spiritual roots, check the foundation.

The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

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Remember to prepare the 4 things Joseph asked us to prepare for this Wednesday meeting 6.30 at St' James Church

1) Prepare a spiritual Journal
2) Think about some games and equip it with your life journeys
3) Read up on Cebu
4) Find 3 spiritual Warriors

SHALOM!