Inspiring people in Cebu mission trip

Michael, Kenny, Stephen, Ansen, Brenda, Seh Chuan, Soo Kheen, Anwen

Ansen, Soo Kheen, Anwen, Michael

This was the first time I went on missions with the Soon family. Michael Soon had been a missions man for decades. He had migrated from Singapore to Perth and the missions passion, instead of waning, burst aflame in the land of the relaxed. He operates in a dependency on the Lord, and makes connections between needs and resources. Thus I ended up on this scouting trip to Cebu island in the Philippines. He and his family were in Cambodia for about a week, and spent a few days of Chinese New Year with relatives in Singapore and then it was off to Cebu. This was one long missions cum reunion trip for them. They traveled budget so that they could pour more resources into the ministries they were helping. They were seasoned missioners: traveling light, no complaints, adaptable, culturally sensitive, encouraging, not patronizing and intent on serving and helping the people.

Soo Kheen, Rose Pastre, Anwen: adaptableAnwen praying for a scholarMichael sharing life

On ferry back from Dumagete, Negros

It looked like his missions passion had rubbed onto his wife, Soo Kheen, son Ansen, and daughter Anwen. Ansen had spent a gap year with Youth With A Mission doing a DTS  in Perth. He had gone to Mexico for the outreach. It was a joy to see this family serving together in missions. Most often in church, family members would serve in different ministries and spheres, and that is okay because God gives different gifts, passions and grace to each one. Missions is one of those occasions when temporarily you can see the manifold grace of God at work through a family. Their strengths, training background, temperaments, spiritual gifts and passions come together like a lively and lovely dance.

Stephen, Seh Chuan, Michael Soon, Kenny

Stephen and I shared the room and it was good to have a partner with you on any trip. Jesus sent his disciples two by two into the field. We could share our reflections and process what we were experiencing. This mission trip was packed. Morning we left the small hotel and we returned about 10 most nights. An interesting first for both of us was taking the night ferry in the tourist section. Told a few distasteful stories of overcrowded sinking ferries to the group but I suspect they thought I was kidding. Anyway the cheaper fare was in the open air bunk beds on the deck, which seemed safer to me, while the tourist fare was below the deck in a smaller air-conditioned section.

I slept wellbunk beds in tourist sectiongetting ready to sleep

Both Stephen and I were impressed with the ministry of Grace Community Empowerment. Sharon and Manny Pastre are the leaders of the ministry. This couple complemented each other and are both vital to the success of the ministry and its outreach. Sharon was born in Singapore, raised in Hong Kong, but a US citizen, and a missionary in Philippines. She sold off her successful architectural practice. She used to design the interiors of hotels, and sometimes the facades of buildings. Now she designs programs to meet the needs of the poor and the proclamation of  the gospel. Manny was an Assemblies of God pastor and had experience working in a community aid agency. He was an ex-Marine and still sported a Marine haircut. “Keeps me cool”.

Seh Chuan & Brenda

New jeans for all

SC doing dental sealantSeh Chuan and Brenda sharingwalking over rubbish

Another lovely Singaporean couple were Seh Chuan and Brenda, who have been following Michael Soon in his mission trips. They retired long ago at around the age my father’s generation retired: 55. (You see in those days, unlike today, the Singapore system did not have scholars running it! Under them, the retirement age is currently 62.) This couple was sincere and generous, and they wholeheartedly threw themselves into all the mission work, especially the dental sealant project, with admirable zeal. They braved the dumpsite visit, the travels in jeepneys and ferry, shared their testimony with the marriage fellowship, and bought about 30 pairs of jeans for all the local workers and “scholars”.

tasty food with great company

Missions has a way of yielding interesting stories. Its always a privilege to connect with people, and be inspired by them. One of the simple joys of missions is to hear their stories of faith, love, failures and successes. Although our intent is to give and sow much, we inevitably receive much too!

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Comments

  • Great sharing and very Inspirational report. Keeping with the age of enlightened tolerance – “May the God of your faith, bless and keep your group of travelers.”

  • Good to see Stephen!! I was in Cebu in the late 80’s. I was part of a mission to Toledo City. We had a great time. Food was quite nice and the people were friendly.

  • Thanks for the photos. Its so encouraging the way it was written, so uplifting. Praise God. Great to see the happy faces of Michael and wife, Say Chuan and everyone. Thank you also for all the wedding help, 57 were baptised during Stephen’s trip. We just started a 200 children feeding at the dumpsite that you guys visited. Hoping through their children, we can get deeper into the families living in there.
    Thanks again for everything.

  • Hi Sharon, and thanks for serving the poor and giving us an opportunity to participate in this work of mercy. The Lord continue to bless and guide and prosper the ministry.

  • How wonderful to read about the Soon family! Their children are so blessed to have parents who care about mission and vice versa. I agree with their ways of travelling too. And I like the photos of the inside of the ferry for some reason.

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