Precious Life

It was about five thirty on Tuesday evening.  I'm getting the dinner ready when my husband said, "Oh- look! A bird hit our french glass door and is lying here." "Oh.. he must have broken his neck,... He's dying" he added as he stepped in from our porch. 

I instantly felt the sadness of a life at the death's door.  I didn't know what to do, but I just didn't like the fact that a life is dying on our porch.  I told him to do something.  He thinks that he won't live.  I wanted to ease his pain if it truly is the case where he broke his neck. 

One can easily thinks the worst because the way he was lying there was so awkward even to look at him.  His head was positioned in a way that his neck was crooked in a "L" shape...  He was lying on his back and couldn't get himself to move much.  His body barely moved from heavy breathing for a few seconds and then stopped.  Then it would vibrate a bit more and then it  stopped.

I couldn't just watch or wait for this bird to slowly reach death.  I got the rubber gloves out and was going to do 'something,' not knowing what that something was.  I gently touched the bird on the side and this somehow gave the bird enough of a push that he rolled to the side and propped up and sat on his feet.  This gave me hope!  

However, he sat there and just sat for a long while.  No blink of an eye.  No movement.  He just sat still.  Slowly, I was starting to doubt if this bird is going to make it.  It was dark out on the porch and I didn't want the bird to sit there all night long.  He sure would get eaten by a bobcat or some other animals around our house.  It was getting cold too and I began to worry more.

I called up a friend who was a vet and asked her what I should do.  She gave me some pointers and suggested a few things.  She said that the bird might be going through a shock if he indeed hit the window hard.  I got my honey water ready and a box with shredded papers on the bottom.  Whether the bird makes it to live or not, I determined, that it will be in our garage and not in the cold with many dangerous animals around.

I knocked her beak with my spoon and that little body just jerked up and down, back and forth. I thought to myself that this bird was dying slowly... motionlessly. Hoping and wishing I tried again, knocking her beak. I didn't know how to make her beak open, so I finally gave up trying and poured the honey water (from my spoon) on top of her beak. Then, I tried to crack her beak open from the side way. It finally moved! He opened his beak and tasted the honey water. I gave him a bit more.

Now, I got my box out next to him, ready to put him away for the night.  I took a deep breath and carefully and gently, I attempted to grab him with my two hands. (This was my first time doing such as this so I wasn't fast or confident) As my hands got tighter around his small body, he resisted. Instantly, he took off flying to a place nearby... Wow...

What a surprise! It was a relief when he opened his mouth for the honey water, but it was a real thrill when he flew away! It was such a joy to see him flying away, knowing that he is alive. If then how much more God would desire us to be healed, healthy, and live vibrantly!!  He is a good God indeed!

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)

God's Timing

Have you ever given God a time limit? "Oh, God, please help me to find the one to get married." I am XX years old. I want/need to get married! People around me are pressuring and keep bugging me about it... Please send him/her to me soon..."

I've done that. And when the XXth year passed me by, I sighed and started asking again. I know that His timing is the best. But my faith was challenged when that "best" is not happening to me. Not realizing that it is my time table, that I put God into and want Him to act when I "think" I need. I just couldn't understand why it takes so long to hear my prayers answer.

From my Bangladesh mission trip, I am once again reminded that His timing is the best time! Waiting on the Lord is not easy or fun somtimes, but the Bible is clear and direct on this matter: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Phil 4:6)

So, here is a story on how God's timing is simply amazing!

There was a young man named Z who helped me in my Vacation Bible School all week long in Jalchatra village, 5 hours bus drive from the Capital city, Dhaka. Almost all the volunteers who came to me to help with the VBS were teachers or education-major students from our SDA college in Dhaka. Z was neither of them. On Friday afternoon, I was busy distributing all the left-over materials to the teachers from different regions including the dean, the education dept chair of our SDA college. With a little uneasiness, I told Z that I had nothing to give him. He understood and shyly smiled and said that it was okay.

A few minutes later, I was just about to pack up my belongings and was ready to leave the VBS room. Z came over to my side and whispered to me, "Ma'am when you come next year, would you bring me an English Bible?"

It was a sweet melody in my ears! I was so happy. You see, I had many Bibles at home. Amongst them is an American Standard Version pocket size Bible (with Jesus' words in Red). This Bible was sentimental to me, but I never used it at home. It just collects dust on the shelf. So, I decided to give it away, not knowing who and how. I simply packed the Bible in my suitcase and forgot about it till now.

It was so special to see Z beaming with a big happy smile. When Z went to his friends , they all wanted to have a copy too. They all turned and begged me if I can bring them English Bibles next year. (By the way, Z told me that he was scheduled to work with some evangelists in the upcoming evangelical meetings next few weeks! What a timing God has in mind!!!)

I don't think that Z expected me to grant his request at that moment! I know now what it feels like to give a good gift just at the right time. This must be how our Father in Heaven feels. He knows all our needs and wants. He just gives the perfect gift at the right time!

Yes, I am married now for little over a year. I look back and see how God brought my husband to me and I to him. It couldn't be any perfect timing than this! His timing may seem long at times, but when you receive His blessing, you will know... His timing IS perfect and amazing! :)

Bangladesh VBS 2008

The unforgettable experience in the life time~

Mission Trip Flashback

I called my sister-in-law the day before her birthday and sang her a happy b-day song.  That was embarrassing.  I was up in the middle of the night and slept in the day time that I thought it was a new day by the evening time same day...  I hope this disorientation and jet lag wears out very soon.

I have just noticed something as I reminisced the experience when I returned to US. This is my delayed realization of the children's action on Sabbath program at Jalchatra, Bangladesh. 
I asked the children to raise their hands if they were Christians (right before I had them say the memory verses) on purpose. I had many non-Christian or Muslim children who came to our VBS during that week. So, I wanted the audience/ church members to see these dear children. 
However, to my surprise, the majority of children's hands went up. There were only 8 - 10 kids who did not raise their hands. You see, on Sunday (9/21/08), I registered 26 kids from the Adventist Boarding school compound in which I assumed them to be Christians. On last Sabbath, 61 kids showed up at church at 9:00a.m. I was guessing that at least half of them are non-Christians. But no. Because the majority of children all raised their hands. 

COULD it be possible that they did not understand their translator in their own - Bangla - language? 

Or is it that they all WANT TO BECOME Christians? (I'm hoping that this is true.) 

Only God knows and we will too when we get to Heaven. For the mean time, I wondered if there is any way to do a follow up with those kids. I addressed this concern and a wish of mine to Dr. M (the missionary there) for a pastor, or a Bible worker, or someone who can do the follow up and lead them to a baptism. Can you imagine that.!! Kids spreading the good news to other kids in the neighborhood... Would this be wonderful?! 

In addition, I volunteered to bring English or Bangla Bible for kids next year.  And here is what he responded:  "Your observation about Christian number of children is right. Some children was so impressed that they made decision to become Christian, too. It is difficult to say which children present on Sabbath was there before and who  of them made decision for Jesus this week. But I believe that all children was very powerfully touched by the way how you managed them and inspired for following our loving Savior." 

"I will call to local pastor to take care for this children and to guide them to Jesus, to do follow up program. There is our SDA school it is one option how these children can accept Jesus into their hearts.  It is possible to buy Bible here in Dhaka. There is Bible society in Mogbazar where you can buy Bibles in Bangla language. You can buy them here directly in Bangladesh."  

Lastly, I found his other comment on the email to be a humble call - a calling to do something for God's glory.

“Tomorrow morning we'll go for another mission trip to Dinaspur, a very poor area with many tribal people.  Thank you so much for your great financial help. It will give me more blankets, and gifts for children, bananas, and rickshaw and sewing machines which are saving families from starvation and from miserable life for better prosperity and it guides them to Jesus our Savior. One Muslim mother with two kids is already baptized after receiving a sewing machine and several others after receiving rickshaws. Let our Lord be glorified in us and also through us now and for ever. Thank you for great and powerful cooperation.”

Little goes a far way, indeed.  And as for me, just like how Jesus fed 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread, more I break and share His blessings, more I feel full and satisfied.