48 hours

After 48 hours since my ministry in Miri, I really felt the weariness this evening. I only spoke for 25 minutes but it could be the 90 minutes waiting in the changing room for the service to start that took a lot of my energy. I purposely brought my legal gown instead of my PhD gown as the latter is unwieldy and rather cumbersome with hood and stuff. But the events were packed and that added to the lack of rest throughout my 36 hours in Miri. After the convocation started we had refreshments and I spoke with about 10 people for about 45 minutes. A number of people asked to take photos with me which I duly obliged. With about one hour back in the hotel, I was taken to the convocation dinner at 6.30pm and it ended just before 10pm. When I arrived back at the hotel at 10.30pm, I checked a few emails and texts on my phone and went to bed by 11pm. Then I got up at 5am to pack my stuff and went for the hotel's complimentary breakfast at 6am. I had a 30-minute breakfast and by 6.45am I headed to the airport for my 8.55am flight back to Kota Kinabalu. But the joy was palpable.

As I started speaking on Sunday afternoon, by the 2nd or 3rd minute I felt a rush of the Holy Spirit and I spoke with unction and fluency. Even I was surprised how well my Malay went and at the dinner later one committee member commented "your Malay very good". I just kept quiet hoping she would understand that I had preaching for 30 plus years in Malay! I connected with a number of people whom I think will be important in my future ministry. Miri is exactly the same distance from Kota Kinabalu by flight like Sandakan, the East Coast town of Sabah. It only took 40 minutes. 

Because the pressure of ministry mentally I felt exhausted until now. I experienced great hospitality as the hotel was very nice and the breakfast was great. The chairman of the Board sat beside me during dinner and we had lovely conversation over more than 2 hours with two or three other guests seated at the same table. Things in Sabah are picking up and there will be many things to do. I completed my invitations to my 30th anniversary in full-time ministry thanksgiving service an hour ago and I expect about 20 of my closest friends will come to the service which is also an installation service of the church's pastor. Though I almost received an invitation to serve in Miri but I think I will remain in Sabah as this is my home state, my church family and my fight and struggle for truth, justice and meekness has just begun.