The team is from MultiMedia University, Melaka consisting of 8 students, mostly first year students. Met them at Durian Tunggal and drove to Kampung Jus to meet Pastor Joseph Boon Chai. After lunch, we rested. Managed to get some sleep for a while. At 3.30pm we traveled to Gunung Ledang. The journey took us about 45 minutes. Along the way, we had to stop for a while because of construction work. The road up to the village is not tarred and uphill. The cars had to go up slowly as the road is not even with potholes along the path.
The OA children were excited to see our group. After visiting the headman (Batin) of the village, we spend some time visiting a few families. As this area is new to the ministry (pioneering work), much effort must be made to build relationships to reach out to them. I was told that in the past, when another pastor tried to come it to evangelize, the Batin took out his shotgun and wanted to kill the pastor. Thank God for giving Pastor Joseph the wisdom as to how to go about ministering to the people here. As Pastor Joseph, Pastor Joanne and I talked to the adults, the children flocked around the team members. We conducted the cell group at about 6 pm. The team members presented songs, sketch and storytelling using balloons.
On the way back, one of the car got stuck in a muddy hole. A few people had to push the car before it is back on even road. The car was made dirty by the splashing of the mud. We reached Jus at about 8.30pm. Had our dinner and thereafter took our bath. At about 11pm, I had a short briefing with the team members. Most of them had not gone for a mission trip before. They shared what they have observed and learned from the trip to the OA village. By midnight, we all went for our sleep.
Woke up at 7am. After washing up, the members were served with breakfast. Coffee, bread and biscuits. Every Sunday at 7.45am, there will be a short prayer meeting. Then at about 10.15am, the Sunday Service will start. Enjoyed the BM service very much. The songs, the team presentation and testimonies, and the sermon have been a blessing. Pastor Joseph preached about David and how he persevered on to trust in God even though he faced many problems in life. Lunch at 12.15noon and we traveled back to Melaka at 1.15pm.
This is my first time sitting in an Orang Asli Sunday service. One thing for sure, this ministry needs a lot of support especially financially. Hard work, perseverance, hard ground, relationships, endurance, listening patiently, sensitivity, and God’s calling – these are some of the words that will always be associated with the Orang Asli Ministry.
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