no one come and shepherd us.
我们要出去播种。
written by BOE local missionary, Nguang Sii Khing
I joined MSIP in 2003 and it has been 16 years since then. In these years, I have visited many longhouses to share the love of God with the people so they can see the power and grace of God.
I was relieved to see longhouse people thirsting for the word of God; but there is one big problem, that is no one came to shepherd them, they said to me, “Kami sabaka anak manok nadai indai (We’re like chicks without our mother)”. When I heard them calling, I was touched and prayed that God will continue to rule among them so that they can rely on Jehovah with all their hearts and rely on this one and only true God all their lives.
It is inevitable to encounter some obstacles, teasing, and contempt while serving in the ministry of the indigenous people. You must smile calmly to go through it. This is a kind of self-confidence, not discouragement, and calmness. I also ask the Lord to have mercy on them. We must rely on the Lord to be strong, brave, courageous, and never shrink back. God will be with us to complete the ministry entrusted by Him.
Although the journey to the longhouses is a bit difficult, it is difficult to walk through the mountains and rivers, and it is hard to walk, even will be exhausted before reaching the longhouses. After a short break, the gathering (worship) begins. Even though it’s quite tiring but however seeing the people gathered actively, praising God loudly, and listening attentively to our sharing of God’s words made me feel relieved, because they were hungry for God’s words. They will also ask questions after the gathering and even ask us to pray for them. Pastors only come to visit them once or twice a year, so they are eager for missionaries to shepherd them once a month.
In my lifetime, I pray that God’s love surrounds me, and the grace of Jesus changes me and gives me a humble heart to be friends with fellow Ibans, lalu mai berita manah ngagai sida semoa. “Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (2 Corinthians 15:58)
我于2003年参加原住民事工，迄今已进入16载。在这漫长的岁月中，我走过了甚多长屋与居民分享上帝的爱，好让他们能看到上帝的大能，恩典彰显在他们中间。
我感到异常欣慰，看到一些长屋居民渴慕上帝的话；但没有人来牧养他们，他们说“Kami sabaka anak manok nadai indai”。当我听到他们呼唤，非常感动，并祈求上帝继续在他们当中掌权，好让他们能专心仰赖耶和华，一生依靠这位独一无二的真神。
在原住民的事工上难免会遇到一些拦阻、揶揄、藐视，一定要平静一笑置之，这是一种自信、不灰心、冷静，也求主怜悯他们。我们要靠主刚强，壮胆勇往直前，永不退缩，上帝必定与我们同在来完成主所托付的事工。
虽然去长屋有一些的路途艰难，跋山涉水，翻山越岭，崎岖难行，精疲力竭，才会抵达长屋。有时歇一会儿，就开始聚会（崇拜）。但是，看到居民们皆积极聚集，大声赞美上帝，聚精会神听我们分享上帝的话，使我感到异常欣慰，因为他们是如此渴慕上帝的话。会后他们也会发问一些问题，甚要求我们为他们祷告。牧者一年之中只有一两次来到他们当中，因此他们渴求宣教士每月一次来牧养他们。
在我有生之年，求愿上帝的慈爱环绕我，耶稣的恩典改变我，并赐我有谦卑的心与伊班同胞做朋友，lalu mai berita manah ngagai sida semoa。
“所以，我亲爱的弟兄们，你们务要坚固，不可摇动，常常竭力多做主工，因为知道你们的劳苦，在主里面不是徒然的。”（林后十五58）