tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-163373972011-04-21T11:04:11.044-07:00Ps Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399826424758046572noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16337397.post-1125889745557308802005-09-04T19:51:00.000-07:002005-09-04T20:12:46.506-07:00Being part of the Chinese service is something I enjoy but also stressed. Stressed because my Mandarin is at best kopi-tiam standard, at worse, .. up to your imagination. Enjoy because I know that I have to depend on God to give me the ability to befriend, minister and even share the Word to people who would respond more if I can speak their heart language.<br /><br />Yesterday (4th Sep), Ps Dianna gave me a job - she wanted me to pray during the Chinese service, thanking God for the last 9 years of the service. I was pretty stressed the few days before that - as I need to write out the prayer in Mandarin. But I had been busy and also with little inspiration, until Sunday morning itself. I even had to skip my Sunday lunch to finish up the prayer in Mandarin. Even as I sat in the Chinese congregation, I was still not relaxed as I went through in my mind the Chinese words for the prayer.<br /><br />Then God gave me an experience and taught me a lesson that He will empower. Not that I do not do my work, but I do not need to be overly stressed, cos He will enable.<br /><br />This is what happened :<br />Ps Dianna and I were sitting at the front part of the sanctuary, worshipping with the rest of the congregation, listening to the choir singing, until it was time for her to get up to the pulpit to preach. Suddenly as she looked around, she realized that her translator was not in church. She looked at me and said - "I have been here nearly 6 years, and never once did my translator not turn up. God is doing something here; can you translate for me ?"<br /><br />My jaw dropped, but I recognized it was God, and somehow had the faith and confidence He would be with me.<br />So I followed her up to the pulpit and started to translate for her.<br />It was scary, I was nervous, and in fact, I felt a pain in my stomach - my gastric juices (acid) were being hyper-activated. But I prayed in my heart for the Lord to give me the grace and the strength.<br />It is hard to explain, but as Ps Dianna preached in English, the translated Chinese words and sentences flowed out of my mouth rather easily. It was a miracle. But I also had the experience of Peter - everytime I panicked and wondered if I could translate the next sentence, I froze up and literally sank into the waters of doubt. Twice I had to ask the congregation (those who are bilingual) for the correct Chinese words.<br /><br />When the sermon ended, Ps Dianna was very happy that we got through the sermon, and that I could translate rather well. She was happy for me and thought I did well. I was just thankful it was over, but also that I have yet another wonderful experience of God being with me.<br /><br />To God be the Glory !<br /><br />Ps Aaron<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/16337397-112588974555730880?l=aarontty.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ps Aaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08399826424758046572noreply@blogger.com4