Having the Privilege of Sharing the Sunday Morning Message at My Home Sending Church

For those of you who missed it here’s a video my parents and I were able to send back to Colombia during the Christmas Season to once again be in awe of the One God we all serve.

Will be posting as soon as I’m all caught up, Gracias & Happy new year!

Making Do With Limited Internet Access - Click Photo to see Clearer Image =)

Thank you mom & dad...well for doing your thang/part to bring me into the world

She’s right on the money. Those ideal childhood plans may not have come to fruition on my timeline, but living on God’s to the best of my ability, has been nothing short of an adventure and miracle. The growing, the experiences, the friendships and even the failures over the last 26 years are all things that I am so grateful for as God continues to use it all to shape me for His glory and purpose. I want to thank you all for being a part of who I am as a young man at 26 years old, but more so give God all the thanks for allowing our lives to cross as we journey together.

I’ll be preaching my first full on sermon this Sunday in Spanish and it’s been exciting to see the progress from sharing my testimony last year in contrast to the process of preparation this year. God has been uber faithful to my baby steps and I see this privilege to share the message He has for us as His birthday gift to me. Another challenge that is helping me grow and depend solely on Him as a young man.

Looks like this baby boy is becoming all growns up, kinda....

Since, I’ve been more focused on my upcoming sermon and sharing last night at prayer meeting, I didn’t really intend on celebrating my birthday being on a weekday and all. For those of you interested of how i spent it, many of you would be proud to here the frugalness of my day as I want to honor God and you all with the finances I have been provided to live here with. Plus, I’m sure it’ll make my Dutch, Asian, and missionary friends proud! =)

I started with an early morning workout (where my gym pass has been paid for through bartering the owner with vitamins purchased of Amazon) and a hearty breakfast. Pastor Julio graciously offered to take the time to give me pointers as we did a run though of my sermon over at the church. From there, I went to one of my $2 lunch spots, where I was given extra helpings because of the occasion then went on to the mall with another missionary Jeff and his son, Brandon. There we sought to take advantage of the other Birthday freebies Colombia has to offer. First it was half off Wednesdays and I received free drinks and popcorn on my birthday. Then we hit up the ice cream shop where it’s buy one get one free on your birthday. That was only followed by getting groceries at our local supermarket where veggies, fruits and meat are 25% off on Wednesdays! It may sounds simple, but for those who know me, they know how those deals were a gift in themselves for me =)

Praise God for friendships...Jose and Vane, you 2 have been an amazing part of my community and growth here as a missionary =)

A few friends kept asking if I was going to have a party, but I decided if I’m going to do anything I’d wait until after this upcoming Sunday and it was a weekday that I didn’t’ want to bother anyone. Over the last few weeks, I had found free…yep there’s that word again – free Salsa classes in our downtown area so I just decided to invite a few friends from church and go attend one of those classes for a relaxed night together with the possibility of coming back to my place to share cake with close friends.

Little did I know a friend from another church and my gym decided to throw me a surprise party where the Salsa classes where held! I was definitley caught by surprise, but it was good ending to my frugal birthday and more than I could ask for. As most tend to do around their birthday days, I was reflecting and I truly feel so blessed as a young man. Those ideal childhood plans may not have turned out the way I envisioned as a preteen, but I would trade what God has done in my life thus far.

I have been abundantly blessed each and every step of the way through the good times and the hard as I seek to give my life wholly to Him. I am excited for what the future has in store and ask now that you keep me in your prayers that God may use me for His Glory this Sunday as I share from the Word to the people of Colombia. God has blessed me with amazing friends, family and community. Amidst all the freebies, warm loving birthday wishes, cake and dancing – I am truly thankful this Thanksgiving and want to say: Gracias!

The Random ending to my Frugal Birthday...Click here for the full Album

It’s funny how things work out sometimes, but I’ve always been a believer of approaching the good and the bad with the same level of enthusiasm and attitude. If anything, I’ve found that it is more important to even welcome the difficult situations with greater fervor than those that are easy and comfortable. Over the last few prayer & blog updates, for those that haven’t noticed, I raised the prayer request for my fellow missionaries who have been suffering loss of financial support given the current world economic situation.

Praise God, I have had many generous and faithful supporters ever since He called me into this journey. I thank Him & all of you of whom He has used to bless the people of Colombia and the many added members to our family in Christ. One of my last blog updates spoke in regards to my difficulties learning lessons of generosity. Ironically enough after publishing that update, I received a number of emails notifying me that individuals were unable to continue to support this ministry financially due to the current global economic situation. It’s been amazing in itself how God has provided through you all thus far and the many ways He always has provided just what is necessary. Never more, never less – even that, I feel has been so powerful as he teaches us to depend on Him for our needs.

Partnering to make God's name Known - Construction team from FBC helping build classrooms/dormitories for our Bible institue in the Guajira

I have committed and desire to extend my current term as a missionary in Colombia into the Summer of 2012. Without a doubt, I believe God called me here to Colombia to disciple & equip the young adults of Santa Marta in this time of rebuilding of the missionary presence in Colombia. He has now provided new workers as missionaries are set to arrive early 2012 to carry on this great work of carry his truth to all and we believe that this extended term will help provide the sufficient opportunities to train, orient and pass on the work God has started through us in Colombia.

The reality is I do need you as my community to continue to support me in prayer and as well as given how things are trending – I need you to pray and seek to see if God is calling you to support this ministry financially. I ask that you consider partnering with me further over the next year, whether that is in the form of a 1-time gift or committing to a monthly amount for the next 10-12 months so that I may continue to continue forward in obedience to God’s calling for my life as well as all of us involved being blessed by doing the Lord’s work together.

Hard to believe it's almost been 2 years since this photo was taken when I arrived here, excited to see what God has in store!

If you desire to hear more about how to partner with South America Mission or are considering to support the ministry God is doing through my life in this way, please contact me for any questions down below in the comments section or email me at: TseSamuel@Gmail.com and I’d love to share the passions God has placed in my heart. Once again, with deepest gratitude I am grateful for all the amazing support and journeying together we have done so far and look forward to see how God will continue this into the future!

The Field leaders of South America Mission. After an Ice Breaker @ the Gun Range, it was all business!

7 jam packed days later and I’m ready to enjoy my extra hour of sleep tonight as South America Mission’s Field Leader Conference and Annual Board Meeting have come to an end. It was a week where this young inexperienced missionary was surrounded and in awe by amazing & godly individuals. The number of stories and history that was interlaced in these men and women that have dedicated their lives to the Lord’s kingdom work, was downright inspiring. To see people serving God for more than 50 years, the dedication, determination and faith was incredible, but even more so was a genuine desire to not be stuck in their ways but continually seek to see how God can be glorified in this day and age. Life lived and time spent together over the last 175 hours provided many opportunities to take a peek into the lives, personalities and hearts of some of these incredible people.

From a 10-time South American Moto-Cross champion turned pastor to daring pilots maneuvering the jungles of South America in ways that I can only describe as insane, it gave me more of a real sense of what I wrote in my last blog entry. God is in the business of doing amazing things through ordinary people. As we visioned together as a mission about the future we answered the question of “why would anyone want to be a part of South America Mission?”, with the desire that people will see that the Lord God almighty is with us. Just as Zechariah 8:23 depicts –

“Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.”

I see that God has been with us over about the last 100 years as a mission and am excited to see how He is going to take more ordinary individuals with available hearts to continue His work. Take a look at this video clip for a taste of some of the kahunas some of these guys have.

The night before I left on a plane headed toward South America Mission’s annual leadership conference, I was out and about in the heart of Santa Marta. I should have been packing and getting a good nights rest before a full day of travel, but nonetheless I found my self amidst a group of young adults and professionals that night.

Our chairs forming a circle, it was a clear warm Caribbean night as we all sat under the stars together. The majority of us had never met before, but for the most part everyone was acquainted with at least one other individual in the group. As I got comfortable in my chair, my friend introduced me to everyone. The typical adjectives of, “Canadian, Chinese & Missionary” were part of all part of my introduction.

Taking me by surprise in addition to the usual smiles and giggles that I normally receive when being introduced to new people in Colombia, one individual piped up and others followed in agreement saying, “Noooo, liar, you don’t look like a missionary” followed by, in English but the lost in translation expression of, “you look like a bad boy!”

Intrigued by this response I naturally smiled back and inquired back why they had come to this conclusion. “Bad boy?” I asked. The jovial individual replied between shy giggles, “You just look like a bad boy, the confidence, the way you walk. I don’t believe you are a missionary.” Others threw in their comments in agreement, so jokingly in response I asked, “what are missionaries supposed to look like? Am I missing my halo, cargo shorts and safari hat?” The laughter only continued, but the ice was broken and the conversations began.

As I was contrasted with the normal foreigner that frequents Colombia, praise God my life testimony only caused the group to be interested in my perspectives and beliefs as a Christian. We all chatted the night away about a number of topics, but soon enough the time came where it was wiser for me to head home and get ready for the 7am departure the next morning. We exchanged contacts and I look forward to meeting up with them once I return to South America as God definitely planted a seed that night.

According to the world, I may not appear to look like a ‘typical’ missionary, but what does that really mean? What does a Christian look like? We are imperfect people, in the process of becoming more like Christ, each with our own unique personality and gifts. “The way I walk” and “my confidence,” comes from my relationship with Him, my personal Savior, something He offers to each and every individual on this earth.

Not so SuperSam...entertaining the locals at a mall before halloween.

I praise God because I know He planted a seed that night, a seed that He will water and cultivate. What I’m learning is that even my subconscious picture of what missionaries “look” like, is also being reconstructed. God may or may not use me to water or cultivate what He planted that night. What I love is that, He doesn’t need me to be Superman and “do everything” like some super Christian. Each day He still blows me away in regards to how big He is, beyond the constraints of time,  and more immense than we can comprehend. Through all this my little faith is more and more assured that He is in control. In this I have confidence, comfort and live in freedom and wherever you’re at so can you. Let us walk with the Almighty God and may others be attracted to join us, because they see that – God is with us!

See, there's even books written about it!

Truthfully and maybe with a little shame, I write that I sometimes have found these articles intriguing. Now some of that you know me will probably laugh at that, because maybe on man different level it’s just a blessing from God, but I’ve been stuck with the predicament of finding footwear to cover the size 14 feet my mother gave me. For those of you blessed with a size 9, 10 or even 11 and aren’t familiar with the selection or lack there of when it comes to sizes bigger than 13, let me break it down for you. It’s pretty much the equivalent of the door crashers at your local Bestbuy on boxing week or black Friday. Quantities are limited and the reality is the product is actually pretty lousy. Nonetheless, you feel like you need to buy something to make you wait in line worthwhile.

It’s been that way for me with shoes for as long as I can remember and my friends with shoe sizes ranging from 14-18 can attest. Selection is limited and when you finally find the rare shoe that you like in your size, it never quite looks the same or as good as the size ten on the display wall. Shoes never begin on the designer’s table with the vision to look good in a extra large size. This being said they end up looking like and enlarged photocopied version and the once articulate detailed lines of design, look like they were recreated by a toddler using crayons.

Your options basically are broken down to basketball shoes, old man looking trainers, flip flops, really cheap quality dress shoes or the other extreme – handmade Italian dress shoes that at a minimum cost 3 bills a pair. Before coming to Colombia, I was warned that it would be next to impossible to find anything bigger than a size 11 or 12 here. Knowing this I brought a decent selection of shoes to serve me in whatever situation or occasion would arise as I stepped into an unknown adventure.

Praise God for the latest married young couple from our Community. Click HERE to see the photo album!

As life began, the realities of living in a new culture started to take effect. Maybe it was coming from a life and society where as difficult as it may have been to find shoes; they were still relatively accessible and affordable. No one I know back home would view me as one to invest much in the latest fashion or clothes and that probably comes from the difficulties I had growing up with such awkward and non-mainstream physical measurements. Kind of embarrassing to say now, but it hasn’t been since I was a small child that I actually wore a pair of shoes until they were broken and unserviceable.  It was either from my feet growing to fast for me to wear them long enough or I got to the point where financially I had the luxury of buying shoes before they got to that stage.

Living life in Colombia is different to say the least and understandably so. Its almost as if I have returned to the type of lifestyle and conditions my parents ran away from as Chinese living and being persecuted in Indonesia. God definitely has a humor to the way He does things and in it I’ve noticed how the little things have been changing in my life here.

Our different forms of headgear to battle the flood rains.

No longer with the financial luxury of purchasing shoes as I please, nor even having access to shoes my size in Colombia, I found myself in that place again that I had been so long removed from. With no car to drive around in, only mototaxis accompany my feet as my primary form of transportation. In the last year and a half here I’ve worn through several pairs of shoes and at least a half dozen flip-flops until there were holes in the soles. This made me all the more cherish bringing back shoes here last winter when I had the privilege of visiting my friends in family in Canada. Shoes that sat collecting dust and ignored for whatever reason, whether they were out of season or out of style were like gold to me. I squeezed what I could into my oversized luggage and returned to Colombia with old, but new footwear to last me the upcoming year.

As far as most of my shoes go, I’ve always tried to find deals at outlets or sporting good stores. The truth is very rarely have I ever spent a lot of money on a pair of shoes just because I wanted them and I liked the way they looked. That being said it has happened before and one of those pair made it into my bag last winter as I returned to Colombia.

Just to switch gears a little, some people hear I’m a missionary and picture this glowing man who carries his bible and preaches the gospel everywhere he goes. The reality is, I’m pretty much the same Sam that you all got to know back in North America. The difference is, I don’t have a 9-5 typical job. I have been called here with a mission to yes, carry the truth of God to Colombians through various ministries, but much of that just has become what makes up daily life for me. I still struggle to wake up early sometimes and really engage in my devotional time with God and yes there are days where I start my day off with God, but don’t really have that expectant child like faith. A faith that believes that what I’m studying, reading and learning in the Word of God is something that I’m actually going to experience in my own personal life immediately.

After bailing water and cleaning until 2am after the health brigade, this is still the aftermath of the rains at our beloved Frank & Luz's home. Praise God for these faithful servants!

This is where I am so thankful that God doesn’t only use perfect people. In fact, He never does. He’s infamous for taking messed up individuals with their issues and all and doing amazing things through their lives. This process of being used isn’t always easy though; sometimes the lessons and the growing are downright painful. I recently had the privilege of God using and teaching me exactly where I was at and just as I was.

I woke up as normal and before meetings and time at the school and I did my morning devotions. Being a child raised in the era of technology, I do enjoy time-to-time using my Ipad to take advantage of the many resources online. This particular morning it just so happened to be a devotional on generosity. It was an interesting story paralleling Jesus’ advice to the disciples in regards to their financial needs and a story of one British Preacher’s obedience in giving to a fellow ministry. It was moving, but a part of me thought to myself contently but foolishly, “That’s great, I’ve given up my job, car, home and any sense of financial security I had so meticulously built up to live and serve God here, great lesson, but I think I’ve got a decent handle on this one.”

Keyword in that last sentence was, “foolishly”. I went on that morning with my normal routine and after classes were finished at the school I was hungry as usual. Some friends at the gym recommended a restaurant in my neighbourhood that is part of one of neighbour’s homes, so I thought I’d check it out. It was a humble little restaurant a few streets from my apartment, but it looked promising as hot appetizing, home cooked meals were being served to the lunch patrons around me. I introduced myself to the owner, found a spot near a fan and chatted with the people near me as I awaited my 2 dollar lunch. The mountain of food came and I sat there content filling my stomach with Colombian cuisine.

One of our community volunteers, Mariae making the girls giddy with newly painted nails!

Half way through my meal a man in his 50’s in an apron walked out with a smile and introduced himself. He was a family friend of one of my buddies from the gym. We chatted briefly and he began to turn shy. He lowered his head and I saw his gaze go down towards his feet. I immediately picked up on the fact that this guy struggles with the same problem I do in terms of finding footwear that fits. He kindly asked me if I could help him find some kind of shoes to protect his giant feet. I looked down at this friendly giant’s feet and I saw patched together flip-flops that barely covered the soles of his feet. Being a cook, I saw burn marks scarred into the tops of his feet from not having any footwear to cover and protect them. I told him, I’d do my best and try and find a solution for him. He smiled and walked back down the corridor to the kitchen to go back to work.

I sat there enjoying the rest of my meal and picturing the shoes I had in my closet back up in my apartment. Of the shoes that made it back last winter, I had a pair that immediately came to mind. Like I said, I never spent much money on shoes and I had a 30-dollar pair of worn in Nikes that would have easily made this man happy. Then as I continued eating, content that I was able to help this man, that other pair shoes popped into my head. The pair purchase by want and not need. A pair that would protect his feet a whole lot better and were of much higher quality. I had maybe worn these shoes on 5 occasions and they were still pretty much new.

I’m ashamed to say it, but it was a struggle for me. I found myself justifying that I could just give the older, cheaper pair and he would be just as happy without knowing the difference. I found myself fighting to let go of the nicer shoes. Maybe because it was one of those rare purchases where I actually spent a good chunk of change to buy a pair just for the looks and because I wanted them, but I literally finished the rest of my meal trying to justify to myself that I had already given God so much, why can’t I just take the easy way this time?

3rd time's a charm, rocking the de-licing station with my friends.

I paid my bill and walked home to decide and bring back a pair of shoes. As I walked into my room and pulled out both pairs in front of me, the lesson of my morning devotions came back. The lesson resurfaced that we all learned in Sunday school when Jesus answers the person who says they never saw Him, “What you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.” It wasn’t easy, but I picked up those nice shoes and prayed, “God, I don’t know why this is so hard for me, but if I’m going to give you something it might as well be my best.” I quickly grabbed the shoes and headed back to the restaurant before I could change my mind.

I was greeted once again by the owner and asked to speak to the chef once more. Trying to be out of sight of the other patrons, I presented him his new shoes. This elderly friendly giant had tears in his eyes as he opened the bag. It was like seeing a kid getting his first bicycle, so full of joy and gratitude. It was so humbling for me to see a grown man react in such a way and with tears in his eyes he gave me thanks. I stopped him and got him to try them on, they fit perfectly. I turned my gaze back up to him and tried to hold back my own tears and said, “No, thank you for this opportunity. God spoke to me about generosity this morning and this is no accident. He loves you and He wants to you to have these shoes. Thank you for the opportunity to practice obedience.”

I thought that it was just God challenging me to do a silent gesture for someone in need, but even in that I didn’t see what God saw. I went to the gym later that day, and some of the guys who I try to be a positive influence on with my life ended up eating at that restaurant later that day. The chef came out like a little boy to show off his new shoes to them and told them the story. God used that to build up my relationship with these guys and get them more intrigued in who He is and what He is all about. For that I am humbled, thankful and excited, because in Christ I have so much more than a pair of shoes to give them.

Showing Silvia, the new missionary, the ropes. This godly woman and mother of 3 was a natural and a whole lot quicker at learning than me =)

With this blog entry, I want to thank you all for you generosity in making it possible for me to live, serve and experience God here in Colombia. It is truly a privilege and a blessing to learn how to live life depending on Him in this way. Yes, at times it’s painful as He tears away parts of my character that I’ve tried to build up and am so comfortable with, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I also want to encourage you, that despite our failings, issues and problems – God is in the business of doing amazing things through people like you and I. It’s just a matter of getting your feet dirty, trust me – it’s more than worth it!

An excuse for a baby picture - It's to balance all the talk about death. Yes i've always had a big head

“Well Sam, that’s kind of a depressing way to start your blog!” Depending on your world perspective or system of beliefs that very well could be true. Nonetheless, when we encounter death a natural reaction is to reflect. Many of us reflect internally, asking ourselves if we’re making most of the lives we’re living, for others it’s regarding their actual purpose of existence, and yes there are those who compartmentalize and ignore the topic all together.

In the last 2 weeks, in addition to attending my first funeral here in Colombia, South America, I received the news that a family friend, neighbor and the husband of my mother’s best friend had passed away. Worlds and cultures apart, yet in death both these individuals found their lives on earth come to an end. I definitely wasn’t the only one doing a little reflecting as my sister sent me some of her thoughts she wrote down while processing the news we both received. From her office desk at work she sent me an email, which she has given me permission to share with you all below:

Mom just called me. Uncle Yu Ming has passed away. Uncle Yu Ming is the father to Jason and Julie, husband to aunty Kim Wa, my mom’s best friend.  Our families became really close when their family decided to move from Vancouver to a home on the same street as ours in Surrey.  Uncle Yu Ming or Pak Pak as we called him (child’s way of saying uncle in Indonesian), would pick my brother and myself up every morning and drive us to school.  My mom would pick us all up from our different schools (Jason and Julie attended a private Catholic school), and look after us for a few hours until aunty Kim Wa would pick them up after work.  We’d start the afternoons with a snack that mom would prepare for us. Then we’d fill the afternoon with some sort of game or activity.  We would usually come up with a role-playing game: cops and robbers, school, house, etc… As we got older, those games turned into sports or just homework, until Jason was old enough to stay at home with his sister.

Going Old School - My sister and I back in the days of the "hideout"

I was actually surprised with myself on how I reacted to the news.  I haven’t actually seen Pak Pak in a few years.  I really don’t even remember the last time I saw him.  As the four of us went into high school, and then onto University and then onto our own individual jobs, we all lost communication with one another.  When we were kids, we were used to seeing each other everyday.  We would play with one another, fight with one another, and share everything with one another.  As we grew up, we saw each other less frequently as we all headed our own unique directions in life.

Through it all, my mom and aunty Kim Wa maintained their friendship, and still to this day go on their regular post dinner walks through the neighbourhood. I can just imagine what they would talk about.  I am sure that aunty Kim Wa knows everything about my brother and I and likewise my mother is quite up to date on the lives of Jason and Julie.

As I sit here, reflecting and writing – the process of digesting this news has me reminiscing. No more are the simple days of school and afternoon playtimes.  Their children have grown up and have become adults creating and living their own lives.  Instead of playing house in the “hideout”, each of us are creating our own “hideouts” in what we know as life today. We had really good times in that “hideout”.  Endless hours were spent in that dark, musty space in the basement that my dad constructed with some pieces of wood for… I actually don’t know why the hideout was constructed.  I imagine my dad wanted to construct some kind of frame to house the “hot tub” we had lying around. We always had a lot of odd things in our home, as many clients who couldn’t pay my dad with money would compensate him with random items.

My sister - The Creative Genius as a toddler before I came into the world

My brother and I discovered this half finished project and decided to make that space our own. For the next few years it mostly served as our “house”.  On occasion it would transform into a restaurant with a drive through window where we could serve food.  Other times we constructed a second floor to our beloved hideout, which consisted of a piece of plywood, a stool and a large blanket. In our imaginations, this only improved the hideout into a spectacular fort.  We eventually discovered the narrow “hallway/secret corridor” that ran along the hideout’s backside and ending up near our home’s back patio door.  The secret corridor was actually where my dad stored odds and ends like copper piping, aluminum siding and such. In other words you had to be careful when crawling through it. In addition to the odds and ends that lined the hideout, I forgot to mention the spiders.  There were a lot in our unfinished basement.

In summary, the “hideout” served as a significant setting for our childhood.  As our parents limited the areas in where we were allowed to play – mainly in the house or the backyard, my brother and I had to be very imaginative with our playtime.  Fortunately, our parents provided us with a great backyard.  It contained a gazebo, a kidney shaped pool, a grass yard on one side of the house leading up to the sundeck and a side patch of rocks and weeds on the other (my least favorite part).  We spent countless hours in the yard with our neighbours and friends playing all sorts games.  Looking back, I’m glad my parents restricted us from watching endless hours television, and not providing us with a video gaming system.  Rather than staring blindly into a television, we spent our childhood pretending to run a restaurant or fishing for pinecones to prepare dinner.

Hearing about Pak Pak’s death and reminiscing about my childhood is making me a little emotional.  I’m feeling happy now understanding why my parents were strict in the way they raised us.  As a child I felt so resentful towards them for placing so many restrictions.  Now, looking back, I’m thankful that they kept us away from the mind numbing distractions television and video games offer.  Rather than being skilful gamers, we’ve learned how to create a world out of nothing.  I think growing up with that unfinished basement was a positive thing for my brother and I, as we learned how to turn odd spaces into our own worlds.”

Even now my sister can create a world out of nothing, her attempt to cheer me up one night by pretending we were in a rap video

A few things popped out to me as I read my big sister’s personal reflections. One of those being how unique and different God created each of us. We grew up in the same home, with the same parents and the same rules, but I never felt resentful the way she described. I was just the jovial chubby little brother who followed his big sister’s ideas of grandeur that stemmed from her wildly God given creative imagination. She was the charismatic leader amongst all us kids as we grew up, but at the same time we were both blessed with a very good child hood. From the huge things our parents blessed us with, such as a loving home and amazing opportunities even to the indirect blessings such as captured by my sister. Amidst a half finished project of my father, we were both given a gift as she writes, “to be able to create a world out of nothing”. It truly is a gift to this day that instead of being skilful gamers (an area where I’m still horrible), we were given the gift of being able to turn odd spaces into our own worlds.

If you really think about it, that gift doesn’t seem like much and in reality it isn’t. As I sit here in the aftermath of “death”, in a time of self-reflection of purpose and meaning, I cannot help but to see how the God I believe in, does the same with me.

Without Him, that gift I’ve been given as a child to create a world out of nothing – isn’t anything special. On the contrary, fast-forward over a decade past those epic years in the “hideout” and I’ve lived and experienced first hand how even a seemingly “useless” gift has had so much purpose and meaning in my life. Purpose and meaning beyond me, for those of you who understand, it’s purpose and meaning for eternity.

What awaited me when I arrived to Colombia - Praise God for the days of the "Hideout"

It’s almost ironic that years later, God would call me as one of the missionaries to re-open and strengthen the Colombian field. Sure enough, I found myself just over a year ago entering a cockroach infested, moldy, ancient and deteriorating apartment to which I would call home for the next few years. That gift God gave me through my parents and my creative sister, the ability to see pieces of wood, a blanket, scraps of carpet as something so much more has been just that: a Godsend. It has helped me adapt, grow and serve the people of Colombia in a way I could have never imagined being capable of as a child back in the days playing house amongst the spiders and copper piping in that old musky hideout.

None of us can claim to have had a perfect life. We’ve all come with our baggage and struggles from our past. The amazing thing that I’m experiencing and am so eager to share is that God, despite all our imperfections can take who we are, just as we are and in the face of death give our lives purpose & meaning beyond our imagination.

You’d think I’d be more careful now when I pray, wouldn’t you? Did I enjoy and cherish my time in Vancouver as a young successful professional? With out a doubt, but would I trade what I have now to go back? Not a chance!

Professor Cesar, showing his thank you card from the kids on the last day of classes

In reality my tendencies as a human being are to be quite methodical and structured. I enjoy order and might even go as far as to say that my nature could be described as one who enjoys playing it safe. Since I accepted Christ as my Savior, He’s been the gravy to my mashed potatoes. Sure, mashed potatoes can be great on their own, oh so creamy, buttery and smooth. I’d be the first to vouch for the goodness of this simple dish that I’ve been enjoying ever since the days of the Sizzler and Uncle Willy’s. Just ask my mom; she’ll remember the Sunday afternoons, where much to her chagrin I would fill my whole first plate with the creamy potato goodness. Being Asian she was always concerned her son wasn’t making the most of the money spent by filling his stomach with what was probably the cheapest food in the buffet line. That being said, her bottomless chubby son never let her down.

Then I was introduced to gravy. It was a simple brown sauce next to the steaming tray of the familiar comfort food, but it brought a whole new element to my mashed potato experience. You know how it is, make your pile of mashed potatoes nice and high then take your spoon to form the crater of what is now your volcano. Fill it with gravy and carefully carry your plate back to the table. From there with your spoon, you tease the gravy at the edges of the crater walls not quite sure where or how it’s going to overflow. Then with inexplicable joy as a fat child the volcano erupts and you mix the brown savory sauce in with your potatoes. The gravy adds fun, taste and excitement to your mashed potatoes and the next thing you know you’re 6’2 and 220 lbs child in the 8^th grade…ok maybe that last part was just me.

Group shot on the last day of classes after a memorable month together

Christ has brought that excitement, adventure and the unexpectedness to my life, it’s that element I never want to trade back. Don’t get me wrong, metaphorically speaking, sometimes I’m too hungry and impatient to make the gravy to go with my potatoes, but what am I left with? Just plain old potatoes, they’re still good but not great. I want great, I’ve tasted great but have come to learn the reality that great doesn’t always come easy.

It’s a lesson that is easier for some people to learn than others. Sometimes I wonder if we were all back in elementary school that I’m in God’s learning disability class. Almost as if He needed to send me all the way here to Colombia away from all the things that gave me security and comfort in order to teach me these life lessons in preparation for what’s next, more of the unexpected.

Here’s one more example from the last month of how God’s been the gravy to my mashed potatoes:

As I’ve noted previously in the Southern Hemisphere we don’t really have seasons and if we did they’d be reversed in reference to when they occur during the year in Canada. That means summer break for the kids at school here takes place during the December and January months, while the two-week winter break spans the 2 first weeks of July.

Perks of living on the coast - Saturday language activities include going to the beach and talking to foreigners

This year we held our annual youth camp during the final week of June and after 4 memorable days with the kids I was looking forward to a slight ease up in my schedule with the upcoming 2-week break. Well aware of how easy it would be to check out and just enjoy the paradise that is the Northern Coast of Colombia, I said a prayer that night after coming back from the camp. I simply prayed that God would give me opportunities during this break so that I wouldn’t fall into the temptation of wasting my time. I wasn’t specific or anything, it was just a general earnest prayer right before I passed out like a baby that night.

The only plans I had up until that point was to accompany Jon the next day to pick up his newborn son, Logan’s passport in the neighboring city. I awoke the next morning to my normal routine of getting ready. Morning devotions then brewing coffee as I prepared breakfast and awaited Jon’s confirmation of when we were to leave. My phone vibrated as I sliced fresh tropical fruits into a bowl, I set down the knife to revise what time I was to meet Jon at the bus depot only to see a message from a high school senior student whom I had met playing volleyball with a year ago. He kindly asked if I was free to stop by his school and help with an extra English course he was enrolled in. I promptly replied that I was waiting for Jon’s response, but if anything changed I’d let him know. I continued on with my routine, but no more than 5 minutes later my phone vibrated again. This time it was Jon, but he was notifying me that something came up and it’d work out better for us to make the trip the following day. With that I wrote back to the kid that I really didn’t know that well and told him I’d be willing to help and would be at his school later that afternoon.

Just like the gravy flowing over the edges of my mashed potato volcano, I didn’t know what to expect. Turns out God was listening to my prayer from the night before as I was passing out from a long weekend at camp, and He was answering it. I arrived at the gated school and was soon informed it was the local campus where all the brightest children of whose parents served for the national police had the opportunity to study and learn. I made my way through the deserted campus to encounter the only class taking place during the winter break. A tiny man, greeted me with a huge smile and introduced me as the instructor for the month long intensive English program that I was about to help out with. Cesar was his name and he informed me on how these students were selected from a learning initiative directed by our nation’s capital, Bogota. The idea was to train these students intensively for a month in the English language with the plan to send them to Barranquilla to serve along sided the police force for a month in order to gain work and life experience on the field.

One of our conversation victims - Small world turns out she worked with Grambo at VGH!

Still personally unaware what God was doing, I just kind of followed the instructor’s lead and tried to be as helpful as possible. The format of the intensive class was that during the weekdays these students would partake in lectures and study grammar from 7am-12pm, take a break for lunch then return for practical activities between 2-4pm and the weekends would be filled with extracurricular outings to practice English with foreigners. Watching for cues from the professor and listening to his English, which amazingly sounds exactly like Jet Li speaking English (Don’t ask me how that happened in the heart of Colombia) I realized that I was the “practical conversation activity” planned for that afternoon.

The first hour began as expected; the kids practiced their questions in trying to get to know their guest. Quickly the facts came to light that I was a missionary serving youth and young adults in Colombia, I’m Chinese but don’t really speak much Chinese and am not a master of any martial arts, and that I was born in Canada and am Canadian despite my Asian outward appearance (For some this was a hard concept to understand). We joked around as we practiced conversation and slowly the walls of the unknown began to come down as the students and their strange large guest began to grow relationally.

This activity inspired the professor to explain a little bit more about himself as well. Turns out he learned English at the age of 13 from Mormon missionaries that passed through his village. He was fascinated by this outside world and became enamored with the language and began trying to learn it. Now over 30, he’s dabbled in different religions, but is still seeking for truth in his life. In turn, he ended up changing the whole conversation activity and began asking the students about their beliefs in God or otherwise. No word of a lie, the next hour became a gospel presentation and a discussion group about religions. Here I was, the first day of my vacation in a room of Colombia’s young bright minds laughing, discussing God and ultimately presenting the Gospel in English!

Teaching the Colombians how to play "Futbol Americano"

As 4pm approached one of the students who had a lot of questions spoke up, “Sam, I don’t believe it’s an accident that you are here today and not with your friend in Barranquilla. I believe this God of yours has a purpose and I am so thankful we were able to meet today and hear from you.” His name was Julio, and you know what Julio? I believe the very same thing. I was able to work with them not just that one afternoon on the first day of my “vacation from school” but for the rest of that month. Jon was able to join me and even did a bible study as one afternoon conversation activity. Who would have imagined that night when I prayed that prayer after returning from camp, that God would have prepared an opportunity such as this?

Last week we had a party to mark the end of the course and now they are off in Barranquilla to practice what they’ve learned since that first afternoon. I will be attending their graduation later this year, but more importantly I’m excited to see how God will be working in their lives, to hopefully witness as I whole heartedly know: how God can be the gravy to their mashed potatoes. He can and wants to flow into every part of our lives, providing taste, joy, excitement and the unexpected to everything He touches.

Working with the Police force means we get our own private Police Bus!