BULLETIN REVAMP ONLINE SURVEY

Thank you for your support to our quarterly bulletin. We are in the process of revamping the bulletin to make it more concise and informative. Please note that the new one will only come to you three times a year. Here is a short survey to assist us in improving the bulletin. Your response is important to us and it will only take you 3 to 5 minutes. Kindly click the link https://msips.org/msi-bulletin-survey/ or scan the QR code to access the survey. Thank you!

NEXT ISSUE: OCTOBER 2021

---

INTERCEDING TOGETHER

1. We give thanks we can organise a few summer activities amidst ongoing travel and gathering restrictions. Please pray that all participants would be blessed and for the physical health and journey mercies for all involved.

2. The ongoing pandemic makes international travel and visas very challenging. Several long-term foreign colleagues are still unable to return to their places of service for more than a year. Please pray for patience and perseverance for those who are waiting as well as more local professionals to arise to join our teams in China.

3. We give thanks for the rise of short-term members who provide online training and coaching. Please pray for good and clear communication, smooth and secure Internet, and continued on-site follow-up by our teams.

4. We give thanks for the MSI headquarters team in Hong Kong. Please pray for greater alignment with our mission and vision as we strive to better support for our teams inland.

---

Running Water in the Long Rill
Amy Fan

“… THEREFORE, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

These verses were my closing prayer at JHTIII, Dr Taylor’s final interview in accepting me as a full time volunteer into the early incepted MSI headquarters in 2000. I then joined the team with Dr Matthew, director for medical programme and his capable personal assistant, Maggie. In liaison with the zealous international medical specialists and the local officials in mainland China, we were in our days of many unknown and uncertainties. It was truly a time resonating with the very popular saying in China: “fumbling on all fours while crossing the river”. Yet, looking back, with reverential hearts and enthusiasm, we had a tremendous period in spiritual growth, fellowship in the body of Christ and witnessed, HE is the perfecter of all the work we responded to HIS sovereign salvation, and call to HIS field. Eric Liddell ran his races at the Olympics and later finished well at the Japanese war prisoners’ camp at Weifeng, Shandong, where JHTIII a young teen was also there. When Eric coached the missionary kids until his home going. Eric saw the pleasure in God’s eyes.

So five long years passed by until my autoimmune system compromised to a breaking point. Dr JHTIII suggested I took a break to go home. Seeing the disappointment in my eyes, he further suggested that I re-establish a prayer group in my home town. In June 2006, Dr Matthew, president of MSI, and Dr Po Kee, executive director for international mobilisation were making a tour in Northern Hemisphere. Thus, our first prayer meeting was set up. From then on, every month, we gathered like nomads at various people’s homes, park sites and quiet cafés. We prayed according to the prayer updates sent from headquarters. We were edified in prayers, in fellowships and most times got to share good foods. Our team members vary due to their joining short-term missions or long-term mission commitments, yet, it never changes, because this is HIS work, His grace and His providence.

Last but not least, though 15 years ago, my autoimmune system blasted out a red light alarm, I did not suffer too much permanent irreversible bodily damage. Particularly during this pandemic Covid-19, a lockdown new norm, we met on Zoom, on phone, or at public parks. It has given me a chance to view our majestic God of the universe in a purer and clearer awe.

---

VESSELS IN GOD’S HANDS
Suzanne

Many of you would remember the great Wenchuan earthquake and the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008. To me, it was the year I joined MSI short-term team for the first time. I had graduated from university just a little over a year ago, so my work experience was not something worth mentioning! I heard from a senior in my study that a site was looking for a speech therapist competent in Chinese. Furthermore, the prospect is required to have experience in speech rehabilitation for children and also could provide training programme in speech development for children. About the same time, I was praying for God’s guidance in ways to serve Him. This invitation indeed was His answer to my prayers! Though I was unsure if I am qualified for the job, I went to talk to the MSI staff anyway. After that I decided to accept the invitation and embarked on the path!

I was young and knew very little about the job; however, during the course of my service, I was amazed by what the Lord could achieve via teamwork. We operated like team with definite tacit understanding!

My inadequacies were covered by my teammates; we helped each other out and made many adjustments to complete the task without making any serious errors.

That was more than ten years ago, and since then I have been to quite a few sites. I just want to say, “Glory to God! Thank God for His guidance. I would not be able to accomplish these things by my own strength; I went to places where I never thought of going; all these have broadened my vision.” Together with my MSI colleagues, we realised that we are God’s vessels in His hand to accomplish His great work. A lot of time we wondered if there was any impact from our work; and yet when we looked back, we marvelled at what He has done through us. Just like what is recorded in the Bible, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) We are His workmanship, I believe in His goodness He will continue to work among us until “the day of Christ Jesus”. Amen!

---

STAYING BY THE BAGGAGE
Dr Leong Keng Hong
MSI-SG Regional Centre

A story is told of an ancient king whose territory was raided and his enemies captured all the women and children and looted the place. He, together with 600 men went to rescue them. Along the way, 200 of the men were exhausted and so they stayed behind while the rest went to rescue their families. They had victory over their enemies and came back with much spoils of war. Some of the men did not want to share these fruits of success with those who stayed behind. The wise king did not agree and said: “As his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” (1 Samuel 30:24)

This has been my experience with MSI since joining the work in 1994. Although I have made short-term trips regularly over the years, my main role is to “Stay by the baggage”. This involves homeside roles of mobilisation, member care, finance and policy setting.

The work of MSI appeals to me because of the holistic nature of its work. We are all given good gifts to be used to bless others. These gifts include our professional experience and expertise. MSI gives us the unique experience of using our professional training to bring meaning and purpose into the lives of people we encounter.

Over the years, I have gone on trips to be part of the health fair in Zhaojue, I joined in ward rounds and gave lectures on Rheumatology to the 2nd Hospital in Xichang. My wife and I were involved in the initial stages of the autism work in Kunming. We have made other trips for member care and to visit other aspects of our work, such as the water projects, Sunshine farm and animal husbandry projects. The truth is that we learnt more than we contributed from all these trips.

Nonetheless, it has been a joy and an honour to be part of the work of MSI in the last 27 years. It is a work that needs many hands to bring about good outcomes. I am grateful for all the colleagues over the years who have been a part of this meaningful venture and long may the work continue to be a blessing to many.

---

As If FAMILY
Dr Edward Sitt

If I am asked about my role in MSI, I am a long-term committed short-termer. Twenty years ago, I started with medical work in Sichuan Province in Mingshan County and then continued in Erbian County. At an early stage, I was impressed by the work of the three young ladies who served in Xichang County in Daliangshan area. They were Sharon, Tomoko and Tami who has since passed away. I am also a short-term worker who had explored some new sites for service such as Jianshui and Honghe counties with Eckehard and Yunnan chief representative Amir. I had also been with Peter to Dulongjiang County in Nujiang Prefecture in Yunnan Province to explore the opportunity of arranging corrective surgeries for disabled youngsters. This was later developed as a sustainable project for poverty alleviation and corrective surgeries and rehabilitation for disabled by Garry, his wife Maggie and others. I am now a MSI mobiliser.

What is my motivation for long-term commitment in MSI? A vision? A mission? Or a love action? All of the above factors are correct. However, the most important reason is the testimony of all the named persons I have mentioned above, together with other partners whom I have not named. Such a great cloud of witnesses from all nations was interwoven in my life. They were not just ministry partners who walked together with me, not just friends; instead they had transformed MSI to gradually become my family. An Indian writer, Jay Shetty said, “There are friends there is family and then there are friends that become family.”

“For this reason, as we are circled by so great a cloud of witnesses, putting off every weight, and the sin into which we come so readily, let us keep on running in the way which is marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1) – BBE

---