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Matt called those of us in the discipleship group for a gathering before discipleship officially starts again next week... as the turnout wasn't that huge and that he's got the photos in his laptop, he decided to share about the trip to timor leste.

It's like unearthing something that's somehow been buried somewhere deep down in me... first it was the student trip to africa which I came to know about... and when we're asked to pray for compassion to arise as we closed in a time of prayer, everything seemed to come back again - the times I felt so much for a certain people group, the commitments I used to make...

The thoughts came to a sudden halt as I was suddenly jostled with thoughts of my family. It's like suddenly I'm brought "down to earth" kind of feeling... then again, nothing beats God's will. If it's meant to be, it will come to pass, He'll always be the one who'll provide.

Sidetrack a bit... this is a response to something I've read from one of the trippers, don't think he'll ever chance upon this (then again, who knows), but just as there're many out there whose hearts are filled with compassion, who'll like to do as many practical things that'll ease off the poverty in the regions, and as much as we're able to jumpstart sustainable programs that will help even a tiny bit, nothing beats them having that innate joy in their heart that is apart from their circumstances. That woman you saw with much joy whom you eventually call your hero... I'm sure if you would have asked her the reason for that joy in spite of her situation, she would have told you of her Hero. :)

We were then asked to give thanks and pray for the youths in WEB.

The last time I felt this way was when some of my guys responded to altar calls two years plus ago... I guess I really took many things for granted. It dawned upon me that they've actually grown so much in their faith and walk. Just the night before I shared and prayed with two of my Webbers (youth peer leaders) back to back... it would have been impossible for that to happen back then.

One of them has initiated discipleship with the group members under him - he's one of the five whom I spent alternate weeks with the year before going through materials which I hope they would in turn transfer to others... it wasn't a requirement - I just hoped that one day God would move them to understand the importance of passing it on, not just in materials, but in life, in action, word, deed. Frankly? I never expected anyone of them to ask me for the materials to disciple others so soon... and so you can imagine the jubilee inside. :P

"Joy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian." - G. K. Chesterton

It's an open secret... come and taste. :)