PBC's VBS Experience by Becky Foo

Lifeway VBS preparation months to the VBS days.. at Piasau Baptist Church were the first ever ‘challenging’ experience for all of us the Piasau Baptist Church Sunday School Teachers especially more so to the organizing committees whom are taking up the Bible Track Study (imagine learning and communicating via emails, attachments, telecon etc..) with the children during the three days VBS as well as organizing the rests of the logistics. All I can say is Praise The Lord for willing hearts though we know not what to expect! The Lord has indeed strengthen us all through until the completion of the wonderful event!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…” Philippians 4:13

Wonderful people that the Lord has brought to us indeed.. though everyone from the other island (peninsular) is a stranger to us.. and amazingly we knew them as cheerful, vibrant and zealous for the Lord’s work in the children ministry via emails communication. When they actually arrived the city of Hornbill, we sort of connected to each other already.. ! amazing… truly amazing..

Praise God as well for the children participating. Out of 49 children we have half of the children received the Lord, a combination of unchurched children (Christians) and non-christians background. Through the VBS camp Lifeway vibrant materials, we were able to revive the excitement of our children to weekly Sunday school. And as of now, we have additional of 5 new faces to our church though there are still lots of follow-up prayer to the non-christian children who would love to come but not encouraged by their parents. Indeed, the Lord’s calling is that we need to pray for them and continue to follow-up though we do not see the fruits now.. at least seeds of Christ has been sown..

Glory be to the Lord! May His will be done and may we gain strength from Him daily.. ! Amen! Last but not least, every memories is great and we are glad to know that our brothers and sisters over in Peninsular and all of us here at Piasau Baptist Church are united in a body of Christ in serving our King together. Hallelujah!

How I Spend My School Holidays by Lee Ruey-Min

How did I spend my school holidays

My name is Lee Ruey-Min. I went to Miri to help one of the church there to start their Vacation Bible School (VBS).I took a plane to miri and had my breakfast on the plane. And we stayed in ML apartment and the next day we had kolok mee for breakfast.

When I woke up I was sick with fever and sore throat. My mother immediately sent me to see a doctor. But I was feeling better the next day and had fun playing with my new found friends there – kids and toys.

At VBS we teach the kids about GOD by singing and learning at bible classes.

We also have a lot of fun by playing games and eating lots of yummy food like cupcakes, bacon garlic toast with sour cream and ice creamed milo!

And when VBS is over we took a plane back home.

Yesus Pokok dan Kita Cabangnya

Many times we rely too much on our own strengths and will power to execute tasks, but we have foolishly overseen the reason of being, and that is to trust GOD, and to draw strength and wisdom from him to serve him.

Everything happens for a reason, and it has been a great time to have the doors open by GOD to serve in an evangelistic ministry, and this time, all the way over at east Malaysia. We touched down at Miri Airport on the 2nd of June, most, if not all of us, flew there with a heart full of anxieties and worries, not having to prepare ourselves and have sometimes forgotten that it is GOD's strength that would lead us. And what we failed to realized was that GOD was way ahead of us, planning and blessing all of us, and thus the mission trip turned out so perfect due to GOD's leadership and guidance.

I once heard that, GOD wouldn't let something happen in your life if you cannot handle it (quote: Nick Vujicic). It is because GOD knows and that GOD believe that you are capable of doing so that HE gave you the obligations to strive towards it and to do it.  

And that is when you realized that our GOD is good. He is fair and he indeed have helped and laid a loving hand towards the success of the first ever vacation bible school all the way at Piasau Baptist Church, Miri, Sarawak. 

We now have opened our eyes to see how GOD works in miraculous conduct, in many ways that many would often take for granted, always thinking that they succeed by mere human capacity, and they have never been more wrong, because without the blessings of GOD, we would have stepped into Miri blurred with no directions, and would probably have made horrible mistakes throughout the camp.

Although only playing a small role in the VBS camp, GOD have opened my eyes to important lessons in life that somehow just links in perfect harmony. After failing an assessment for a fairly high paid position, I truly was despaired, and that is when GOD came in to tell me that money is not everything. The message was so cleared, it made me teared thinking how much we have forgotten about Christ in the midst of chasing after material obsession. The message was through a lady who sacrificed man most chased after materials and have chosen to serve GOD in one of the most hostile places on earth, where facilities was bare minimal and undoubtedly insufficient. But that is not a reason for her to stop serving GOD, and alongside her husband, are nurturing future pastors in mainland China.

I've brought home many memories and lessons from the mission trip to Miri. Everyone there have been a great company and I had never felt so much like home even though I was more than a thousand kilometers from home. The hospitality from each one of the church members have been superb and even MAS Hospitality doesn't go beyond that.

Like what Lisa said, many times we have left GOD out of the picture and tries to solve problems  by means of our own abilities. But you guys at Piasau Baptist church have shown us that, you have involved Christ at all stage of life, regardless how small or how big the problem, you guys have always put Christ at the tip of your fingertips, and that is what many of us have failed to remember.

Overall, I believed that we have served GOD in ways that he would be satisfied, and had lots of fun along the way. I really felt heavy hearted leaving, but life has to go on. And I really look forward for another opportunity to go back to see how have the kids grown in Christ, and also to see some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. GOD Bless

VBS Miri @ Piasau Baptist Church

GOD have given First Baptist Church a priceless opportunity to help plant seeds in children's heart and as well as reach out to them, non other than through the wonderful ministry of Vacation Bible School.

Here's a short story to remind us all, even though it had been months since we're back in KL, our heavy hearts still brings us back to the family we were warmly welcome all the way in Miri.

It was on the 2nd of June, approximately 7am, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, all 13 of us getting ready to board a plane to an unfamiliar land to help spread the word of GOD to children's hearts, although we had doubts about our ability to properly communicate, or to help Piasau Baptist Church start their first ever VBS (due to the fact that first impression counts), we trust in HIM and prepared ourselves with prayers and gave it our best. 

We arrived at KLIA with a pleasant surprise. Pastor Moby was there to give us his blessings and he took the trouble to drive all the way there to pray for us before our departure. And with that alone, gave us all the confidence and courage to go ahead and make this VBS a great one.

Arriving at Miri, we were so warmly welcomed by the members of Piasau Baptist Church, and we were even brought to lunch at their home. Not forgetting the awesome laksa that we were served..Yummy.

The next 3 days were simply all fun, and we had so much fun doing what we do that we forgot all the anxieties and worries that were bugging us all the time, and praise the Lord that he gave us that opportunity to do his work, and what a fun work it was.

Skipping through the 3days of VBS, its time to say good bye, and indeed it was the hardest moment of all. Even though we left with smiles on our faces, deep down, we all agreed that it was a wonderful place to be, and a wonderful family all together. But reality kicks in, and demands that lives go on, although we are back here at our daily routines, a piece of our hearts are still there, and would forever be.

It would be great if we could all hear about the testimonies of the kids who accepted Christ through VBS Miri. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. JOHN 3:16. Since GOD have been so generously giving, shouldn't we be like that too, and through VBS, we can!