lifesong
Everyone needs compassion
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations
Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Shine your light in
Let the whole world see
We're singing, for the glory
Of the risen King
Jesus, Shine your light in
Let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory
Of the risen king
Thursday, November 03, 2005
-11:29 pm
Today: I went to SGH with Jiaying to visit a friend but we found out that she was already discharged a few days ago. It was good news but bad news for us because we had to arrange for another day to visit her, and I really wanted to see her. Anyways, Jiaying's dad kindly offered to drop me at Harbourfront because it was still early and I could meet my family for lunch.
Walked around a little while waiting for them to arrive and browsed some shops with really gorgeous earrings and dresses but were too expensive. There was this place having some huge sale and the evening dresses were really affordable and nice. BUT I've already gotten my FAM dress so I could only look at some other girl trying them out in front of the mirror. The shimmering blue satin one she was trying on looked really good on her but it was kind of like a tube but with two thin straps over the shoulders. The other dresses looked just as good but I figured that my parents wouldn't allow me to wear such revealing stuff anyways.
After a while, I convinced myself that I shouldn't succumb to peer pressure (I have a feeling there'll be too many cleavages and bare backs in the Mandarin ballroom on 17th November). God's voice rang in my mind: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. It always works to keep me from straying (:
The above would prove to be extremely ironic in contrast with what I was about to experience.
After lunch, I went to Tanjong Pagar mrt station to meet Sara, Av and Hannah to go for the Watoto Children Choir concert today at Fairfield Methodist Church. Then I had to take the train back to Outram Park where I came from because they were *ahem* running late so they wanted to take a cab down from Outram. I came out from a different exit because I was taking the East-West line while they took NEL and spent ten whole frustrating minutes searching for *grrrr* --> EXIT H <-- where they were waiting. In the end, I gave up and took a cab down myself because it was 2.10 and the concert had already started. Blowed 5 bucks on cab fare. Boo. It could have gone to a worthier cause, which I'll elaborate on later.
Aptly titled Concert of Hope, the performance was a really touching experience for me. All the children in the choir are from the Watoto (which means "children" in Swahili) Child Care Ministries in Uganda, founded by Pastor Gary and Marilyn Skinner in 1983. All of them have gone through the trauma of losing their parents to deadly epidemics like AIDS and the civil war.
Check out
www.watoto.com.
The most moving thing about them was that here were about twenty Ugandan orphans, from 7 to 12 years old, who have gone through the most unimaginable trauma in their young lives, yet, every single one of them had bright, earnest smiles on their faces, singing, praising God and enthusiastically dancing along to the beat of the African drums as their clear voices filled the auditorium. Watching and hearing them sing a cheerful, up-tempo song the moment I sat down, my eyes just filled with tears which spilled uncontrollably down my cheeks. It was weird because the song was one that was happy and upbeat but I couldn't control the wave of emotions as I thought of how much they have gone through.
This carried on for the rest of the concert. Every now and then I would have to inconspicuously reach for my tissue pack as I felt God's spirit moving. I knew God was in the house. His presence was so strong and just like the words of a song they sang, He dwells in the praises of His people, especially His little ones who sang with such gusto, and sincerity. I didn't quite focus on the acoustics and the vocal aspect of their singing but to me, they were pitch-perfect and their choral harmony was immaculate. I hung on their every word, though some songs were in Swahili but nonetheless, I silently worshipped in spirit together with them and I tell you, God's presence was overwhelmingly real.
Their energetic songs were interspersed with short speeches by various little ones about their story and how God's love have given them hope and a new home. I admired their courage to share their desolate past. As the children spoke of their past experiences one by one, the pain they went through was evident- loneliness, desperation, hunger, rejection, being deprived of love, helplessness. But as they talked about how God lifted them out of a life of poverty and hopelessness, their little faces brightened up and what really touched me was how they spoke of God's amazing love. As one little boy put it, "God's blessings are SOOOOO AMAZING!" Yes, he really emphasized the last two words. I could tell that for such young souls, they truly understood what it meant to call God their heavenly Father, to know that His love is never failing and that He gives hope to all.
At first, I didn't quite know why the tears came in floods but Pastor Gary gave me the answer at the end of the concert when he said something along the lines of "You must have had laughter and tears. The tears aren't tears of sadness or pity; they are tears of compassion. Yes, that's what it's called. I want you to know that it's that same compassion which Jesus has for the fatherless and the lost that is trying to get out right now."
In a video, one girl said that she remembers a time when there was no food for a long time. They were so hungry that they "ate dust". I know we can't imagine that, and we must be wondering how on earth they could eat dust even if there was nothing else to eat. But that's because we can't comprehend their desperation and painful struggle to survive. We live in the affluent, yet apathetic city of Singapore where material comfort and gourmet indulgences are the norm. Since we have not experienced their dire circumstances, we cannot truly understand their tragic plight.
The message of God's love and hope really hit home that afternoon, at least for me. The children have found a Redeemer who lifted them out of the darkness and pain to give them a new lease of life. I could feel their gratitude as they sang of His goodness with such earnesty. They have experienced the unconditional love of the Father and they wanted to share it with the world, travelling the globe to bring songs of hope and good news for others.
I walked away a changed person. Literally. I'm not joking. I thought of the times I've begged my parents to buy me a new bag, or an acoustic guitar which costs hundreds of dollars, how I spent carelessly on material things these children would never dream of having, while these Ugandan orphans were starving in the streets, having no one to love and care for them until they are put in Watoto's care. I was overcome with immense shame and guilt. I just wanted to go up to those children, tell them that I'm sorry and give them the warmest, most loving hug I can ever give. But there were just so many of them. I had to be content with just shaking a few of their little hands, thanking them for a wonderful performance at the end.
It was really sweet how all the cute little kids lined up along the aisle and at the entrance to say goodbye and "God bless you" as the people left. I emptied my wallet by donating to the Watoto ministry and spending the last 5 bucks on a $20 Watoto Choir CD which the four of us shared. No, I'm not going all fundraising-mad on you nor will I start championing the cause- "Save The Poor". But I think the world needs more than just people who think they have done their part by mindlessly contributing monetary aid to the needy. After all, what do a few $10 notes mean to most well-to-do Singaporeans? Peanuts (:
As one of the children said, "I know God has a plan for me." By giving what little I had to the children, though it wasn't much, I was glad that somehow, I would make a difference in the lives of these children, who will one day grow up into God-loving Uganda leaders, and become the people God wants them to be.
I left the house in the morning feeling pretty rich because my dad just reimbursed me for a bag I bought some time ago. Ironically, I left the place utterly broke, but not without knowing that I am now richer, richer with God's love and knowing that lives can be changed when our hearts are filled with the compassion of Christ to
Make A Difference.
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