Visit to SIM thru Jo's eyes

We visited SIM today to chat with Steve Shooter (NSW director) about our plans. We know Steve from being involved with SIM over the past years, so it wasn't a daunting experience. It wasn't even as huge a thing as one would expect such a meeting to be. Afterall, we were practically there to sign on the dotted line to go serve in Africa! I guess it was because we'd known for the past 9 years that we were going, so this hasn't come out of the blue for us, nor is it a surprise to those who know us. The huge event happened 9 years ago when we first approached SIM about our short term trip to Ethiopia. Back then, it was huge for us and for our families to take that first step.

We decided to bring Teaghan and Lucas with us, so they could meet us as a family. The last time we set foot in SIM, we didn't have kids! Symbolically, it was important to us that all four of us were there as we are in this together. Team Ong: two Ongs and two Onglets :o)

The whole meeting lasted about 2 hrs, during which time Lucas had a nap in my arms (which he has never done before!) and Teaghan made a mess of the playroom there.
















Teaghan's trail of destruction from the playroom to the meeting room.

It was a very informative time, and we had many of our questions answered. Here are some things that we nutted out, as well as things we're still thinking thru...

1. God's timing is perfect. Our plan was to be 'on the field' by 2012, in 3 yrs time. Without knowing how long the application process will take, we approached SIM today. We found out that the process will take 2-3 years. So we are at just the right time. We plan to submit our application by the end of this year.

2. God wastes nothing. All our experiences, gifts, and skills are coming together to point us to areas in which we can be involved. At this stage, we are excited about the possibility of being involved in training up teachers in Christian schools to teach Christianly and/or training up people to minister to children. Having worked at Pacific Hills, where we were daily encouraged to be Christ to those we teach, this is something that excites me. I can also draw on resources and experiences of those from PHCS to help us in our journey too. Pete is very excited about this as he gets to work with people, which he prefers over engineering related ministry. I had thought he'd want to use his water engineering, but it turns out that he's much more excited about children's ministry possibilities. This works out well as Steve tells us that placements are decided based on the guy, and the wife is generally 'free', as her primary responsibility would be for her kids. So this way, I can still be involved as much as I can, as it is an area I'm passionate about, while still doing what I love - being mum to our little monkeys.

3. We did the right thing in buying a home now, and we've been advised not to sell it before we go. This cleared up this part of the puzzle for us, as we were also unsure about housing.

4. We've narrowed it down to a part of the African continent - East Africa. It was acceptable for me to say NOT Ethiopia, as having been there, I didn't feel drawn to return. I couldn't stomach the local food and just generally didn't feel at home there. I felt 'at home' when we were in Kenya in 2005/6.

5. We can take a 2-3 week 'survey trip', once a placement has been decided. This will help us prepare ourselves to work there long term, as well as preparing Pete's parents in getting them used to the idea of us going. We haven't budgetted for this in our 3 year plan, but I'm sure God will make a way if he too thinks this is a good idea. We'd love to visit our conuntries of birth (Hong Kong and Singapore) before we go to Africa, but at this stage with the survey trip in mind, it is highly unlikely that we can afford it. Poo. Double poo.

6. There's a 'doctrinal test' somewhere in the process. I'm a bit worried about this. I feel as though I've just wandered back from the wildreness, as Pete put it. What if I fail??!! Gosh I need to really get back into reading the Bible regularly. Is it wrong to want to read the Bible just so I can pass this test??!! I should be wanting to read it for personal growth... Eeek, sometimes I feel like maybe I'm not 'holy' enough to serve overseas where I need to be really strong spiritually to fight off Satan's attacks. He already knows I'm good target, having gotten me once! I need to 'stock up' on holiness before we head off!!

7. Third child. Should we have another one? If so, when? It not, then will we live to regret it? Should we alter our original family plans for our ministry plans? We can delay missions for a year or 2, but once we miss the time frame to have one more, we can't go back!

Oh so much to process!! Sometimes I find myself thinking, oh gosh this is all so real now! and the reality hits, esp when we do things that I know we'll miss when we're overseas, like visiting my mum. At those times, I think: I don't know if I want to go anymore!! I guess that's all part of the sacrifices we make.

At the end of our meeting yesterday, Steve prayed that "If it is God's plan that we stay in Australia, then may there be such blockages in the way that it will be very clear to us. And if it is indeed God's plan for us to go, then may He open door after door for us."

And to that, I say amen!