This Summer in Japan.....

ETHNOS has been involved in ministries to the Japanese youth since July 2008, when I went to Tokyo to search for ways to reach out to Japanese youth. 

My findings in 2008: God is passionately moving to fill the emptiness in Japanese youth. There on the streets of Tokyo, my team interviewed the young people. We heard confessions of emptiness, purposelessness and rejection from school dropouts, young 'service agents' (pimps, we would call in our district), musicians and students. God is opening the hearts of Japanese youth. Who knows how long this time of open hearts will last? Thus, my sensing for ETHNOS is to minister in Japan as much as we can - NOW is the time. 

I thank God for my past teams who have gone with me - Brandon Myles Krause, Suwit 'Tee', Joshua Riordan, Justin Ho, Jachin Pousson, Brian Cheung, Benjamin Wu, Ruth Lee, Charlton Ying, Jasmine Sia - THANK YOU for being part of the vision and work on behalf of Japan, and your sacrifices to make a difference to the young people of Japan through media, music, photography, video, translation, teaching, worship, prayer, testimonies, sports, games, stories. The possibilities for you guys to contribute to world missions are limitless, keep multiplying your talents to disciple the nations.

 

This 20th July- 8th August, another team of us will be going to Japan to run 3 camps: 1 youth worship training camp, 1 evangelistic youth camp, and 1 evangelistic children's camp.  Much of what we will do will focus on imparting truth and kingdom values to youth who need ministry into areas of unworthiness, perfectionism, depression. For the children, we will be focusing on calling out their giftings and abilities. 

The team consists of Jasmine Sia, Robin Xu, Khoo Yingnuo, Xiao Qiying, Chia Swee Kit and Joshua Riordan.

After 8th August, I will stay on to follow-up and spend time with the youth.

We're currently trying our best to raise funds, a total of $7,650 to cover airfares, ground fees and ministry costs for the team. If you'd like to bless us, do get in touch with me at regina@ywam.org.sg. The team needs your prayers and support, thank you!

love,

Regina

I am back. Safe and sound. Was there at the right time and right
place. Thank you for your precious prayers and gifts. Updates again
later!

- Regina

People in Penang are People-People

In Penang last week with the best friend, I saw so much of Jesus on the streets we walked.

I walked past a man giving a beggar money - his body language spoke of value and genuine compassion. He patted the beggar on the shoulder as he walked off, with a big brotherly smile.

That simple gesture and smile floored me.

Because it was so genuine, and simple.

It spoke of love and brotherly kindness, to a beggar.

We encountered warm Penangites of all ages, who gave us directions, spare change to take the bus, and appreciative smiles. When a beggar walked down the line at the bus interchange, many people responded to him by giving, not begrudging.

I felt warmed at how these Penangites knew how to live.

On a hot afternoon, we passed by a roadside drink stall (above). 

Uncle told us to sit down, enjoy the drink, and pay when we were done. 

So we sat there and chatted with him. We had his au naturel soyabean drink, which he proudly proclaimed to be free of chemicals. He told us stories, of Singapore and Malaysia, his life and family.

Somehow, I am drawn to the relational nature of this society.

I almost didn't wanna come back to Singapore.

Goodbye Chos, you will be missed....

Spotted at Food For Thought 8Q:

Finally ALMOST through with my series on hearing God's voice at SJSM. I'm beginning to miss my Saturday nights.....

Haven't blogged for a long time, maybe I shall summarize the highlight of my week: I find it so true that when we cease to try to 'fix' people, their characters, or their problems, and just try to love and accept them, our purpose in this world changes completely.

Even if the ones we reach out to never want to accept Jesus, or use and abuse us, what matters is that you were someone there for them no matter what, without conditions or needing to see results.

Failure Is Necessary

Extract from "Thoughts on Calling" by Tim Morey:

"If we are to live into our calling, failure is necessary.

In God's hand, failure, like a woodworker's lathe, becomes a tool by which he shapes our lives and makes us fit for his purposes. God uses our failures to purify our motives, to equip us with tools we didn't know we needed, to adjust our direction when necessary, and to deepen our convictions on who we are and what we are called to do.

Might things have occurred differently for Moses and his people had he not killed the Egyptian? Very likely yes. But still God was at work. For decades Moses lived and worked in the very wilderness in which he would lead his people in decades to come. Moses didn't know that rescuing his people would require him to have an intimate knowledge of the desert, but God did. Even Moses' failure contributed to the shaping of his call."

I Am Second

Below excerpt from here.

“Invisible Influence” by Eric Bryant

Awhile back I was introduced to “I Am Second,” a website which includes the stories of athletes, musicians, actors, and other notable people.  Some of the stories of spiritual transformation are quite amazing!

Two of the stories I found of interest included Stephen Baldwin from “The Usual Suspects” and Brian Welch of Korn.

In both instances, they mentioned random people unknown to the rest of the world who helped them connect personally to God.  For Stephen it was the housekeeper and for Brian it was the real estate broker.  The heroes from these stories were Augusta and Eric -  invisible yet powerful influences.  Random people making a remarkable difference.

We may be surprised with who is already looking for God and who we can influence if we have the courage and humility to serve those around us.

Inspiration

I used to get quite bummed that I have no ounce of songwriting talent in me. Nothing comes, and there's nowhere I can tap from or connect the experiences I've had to song. It was weird to me, as a musician, and try as I might, no lyrics or tunes ever flowed from me in that Rachel Yamagata way - the bohemian lass plucking her guitar and a song emancipating from the folksy strings. Alas, this bohemian lass has no lovely songs to sing at her gigs.

However, I've realised of late that the way songwriters get inspired for a song - Wave of ideas hits. Furious rush for pen and paper. Impassioned scribbling - is the same way I get my sermons/teachings.  It's probably because I just can't stop talking and God knows I'd be better amusing people with my antics. 

Everyone has a special anointing and I pray you'll find what you were created to do effortlessly, as waves of inspiration hit you in the sweet-spot He gave you and you start living God's dreams. 

The Cost

I had a meeting with 2 young men yesterday. After the meeting, they began to ask me about YWAM and what life without a salary is like. As I shared my experiences of God's everyday faithfulness and jaw-dropping miracles,  I said this to them: "When I heard it from others' mouths, I thought it was so great.... but when it started happening to me and became my own experience, it's different - it's 100 times more amazing and life-changing."

After that I went home and reflected on that conversation. It reminded me of the cost I had to pay to live such a wonderful life that people 'envy'. The privilege of experiencing a life of faith and zero finances is great and something not-so-common in society, but it's not that I'm part of a privileged chosen group to have had that experience. There was a cost involved.

And this morning it reassured me as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, that I've had such an amazing life with God, and it's because the major downs, pain, laying down rights and jealousy, walking the narrow path, etc, paid the price for a life in the middle of God's will..... I may have sacrificed a marriage relationship, fashion and beauty, a nice house and loads of money to live the life I like, but there's a life and walk with God that money cannot buy and that you need to pay the price for.

And when I saw their faces yesterday, how they were so in awe and envious of the life experiences I had, I knew that price was worth paying.

Unbelief

Are you dwelling in unbelief?

How hard it can be for some of us to say this in confidence and faith:

"All things work together for the good of those who love Him, who've been called according to His purpose."

Do we really believe this truth: 

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

2008 and 2009 were not a walk in the park for me. I received bumps, cuts, grazes and well, SOME gaping wounds as I started Ethnos. Those times were dark times, disappointments in relationships abounded, and there were enough negative experiences to make me doubt the Word of the Lord upon my life, my friends, this ministry, and the future.

But recently, I discovered a profound truth. 

Pain leads to Unbelief. And Unbelief made me doubt that God would never shortchange me. It made me doubt His promises and Words. I couldn't take God seriously sometimes, and confronted Him about His lack of fulfillment.

Then I confronted myself: Can I believe that  "All things work together for the good of those who love Him, who've been called according to His purpose?"

I think that's the only way - to believe that. 

[ All scriptures from Romans 8. ]

Lost Generation