= �e Journey�e team, a group of 17 Singaporeans from Faith Community Baptist Church, led by Pastor Timothy Tan, came together with one heart to want to make a di�erence in India, Goa on 6-14 Dec 2010. Our desire was to be a blessing to the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) ministry in Goa. Together, God brought us through an amazing 9-day learning journey �lled with encounters of His goodness and grace.

He blessed us much more than we had imagined as He used us to bless the children of Baina and Birla in Goa through a 3-day pre-school programme, as well as home visits and a walk through the slums in these communities which impacted each one of us greatly. We also had the opportunity to carry out a nutrition programme to bless the Birla community.

Lastly, we were able to conduct a Sunday School programme for the children of Birla, where we shared God’s love message with them. �e team were divided into two groups to serve in the two pre-schools for the pre-school programme (one at Birla and the other at Baina), but all of us came together as a team to serve in the Sunday School programme at Birla. Every one of us witnessed how God can use us when we availed ourselves to Him. It was indeed a privilege to serve!

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Mission Trip to Goa, India, 6-14 December 2010

LAUGH SMILELAUGH SMILEMAD IN INDIA!MAD IN INDIA!

ObjectivesLAUGH: Living Adventurously Under God's HandsSMILE: Serving Many In Love EverywhereMAD: Make A Difference

Before Departure

Reaching!

“Jesus Loves You and Me!”�e team planned the 3-day pre-school programme consisting of 3 di�erent yet interlinked themes. �e theme for the �rst day was “Jesus loves me and He created me!”, followed by “Jesus loves me and I am special!” on the second day, and for the last day, the theme was “Jesus loves me and He wants me to be happy!”.

All in all, the lessons were planned with songs and activities to illustrate the di�erent themes. We had a story-telling session on how God created the world, and also sing-along sessions with the children where they sang familiar tunes such as “Jesus Loves Me” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”.

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Pre-school at Birla

Pre-school at Baina

We also had photograph-taking sessions as well, where individual photos of the children were taken and later developed for them to take home with their individualised card, completed with their own handprints which caused much excitement. While the children hand-printed their cards, they also left their handprints on a big piece of white paper which we had planned to give as a surprise at the end of the pre-school programme– a beautiful mural consisting of each and every one of the children’s handprints and their individual photos.

�e joyful look on the faces of both the children and teachers when they saw the mural really touched our hearts. Truly it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

Murals done by the children and us!

At the slums

Apart from the pre-school programme, we also managed to visit some of the homes of the children we had been interacting with, both from the Birla and Baina slum communities. �e walk through the slums de�nitely made more than a light impact on all of us when we saw the conditions in which the children were living in. Yet, while we witnessed the poverty the people were living in, we saw the simple joy that they had too. Despite the little they have, they still welcomed us into their homes with a smile, and shared their lives with us.

In addition to the home visits, God gave the Birla group a chance to help out at a nutrition program held for the slum community, and also joined the weekly women’s prayer meeting. For the nutrition programme, we were blessed to be given the chance to teach children basic dental care and help give out cups of milk to the children and women. During the women’s prayer meeting, our teammate, Geraldine, also had the opportunity to share a short word, as well as her testimony, with the help with a Hindi translator. God taught us, as we watched the women of Birla slowly gather in a small, dim room with no acoustic instrument, and as they so beautifully lifted their voices to God with all their heart in Hindi songs, that surely, it is the heart that God sees, and that is all that matters!

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Visiting the homes of the people and seeing the land they live in

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Proud to be Crowned

For the last highlight of the trip, the whole team gathered to hold a half-day Sunday School program at Birla for a total of 70 children. God gave the team a key message which was “Jesus loves you and you are His Prince and Princess!”. In the spirit of Christmas, we role-played a short skit on the birth of Jesus Christ, and by God’s grace, we were certain that each child received the message that God really loves and cares for each and every one of them.

Many children indicated that they wanted Jesus to be their King! �e children also had lots of fun creating their own unique crowns and tiaras before we held a crowning ceremony for the “Rajahs” (princes) and “Ranis” (princesses) of God, and the terms of “Rajah” and “Rani” echoed throughout the entire program! We received this beautiful truth for ourselves too. Indeed this is God’s truth and we all are princes and princesses in the kingdom of God.

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

Luke 6:20

‘Rajah’s and ‘Rani’s of God!

“Shhhh!”

Vinod - our wonderful guide in India- and his beautiful family

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�e Last Day

After a week of service at Baina and Birla and to bring the trip to a closure, we spent a well-rested day at Bogmalo Beach. Yet, more than just resting, sight-seeing and marvelling at God’s beautiful creations, we had time to collect our thoughts and re�ect on our learning experiences and what God had spoken to us – be it personally, or as an entire team. In other words, we had a full day to re�ect on our amazing journey with God in India. �e peaceful beach scenery and the stray cows and dogs at the beach accompanied us in this re�ection journey. Every experience we had in India gave us greater insight of who God is and who we are in Him.

As the trip came to an end, we had the question “What’s next?” in our minds. God brought us to Goa, India for a reason and though it was an end to the 9-day mission trip, it is de�nitely a new beginning to all the learning that God has given to us. Humbly, we prayed to God that we will turn these learning into action as headed back for Singapore. All glory and honour be to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Living Large for God!

Have a break, take some photos!

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Despite having so little, it was really heartening to see the native people smiling. In preschool, the children were beaming at the simple paper origami. During Sunday school, worship was accompanied by bright smiles. In the slums, a simple wave would almost always be reciprocated with warm friendly smiles.

Terence

“ THEIR SMILES SIGNIFIED HOPE. ”Teaching children has always been the least ideal career path for me because I was afraid I may ruin their lives if I could not set a good example. �rough this trip, however, God has blessed me with a new heart for children and I’m just so glad I can see and treat them di�erently now! �at was the greatest breakthrough and gift for me in this trip.

“ A NEW HEART FOR CHILDREN ”

Soh Han

Jelvin & Daniel

God wanted to do something in my life, something which money cannot be used to substitute. It was the personal witness of God’s work in His people in India there and God’s love for the place. �e understanding and experience that came was more than what pictures, testimonies or clips can do. Jelvin

“ A DEEPER SENSE OF COMPASSION ” I was especially blessed by the good attitudes of all our team members there, as well as inspired by the testimonies of the YWAM helpers, who dropped everything just to serve God. I was struck by their simple obedience and methods of ministry – it was a “just do it” kind of thing – engaging in worship with no guitar, a small, bare room for a clinic and simple prayer for healing.

Daniel

“ JUST DO IT ” KIND OF THING

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He has shown us that what He has in plan for us is really greater than anyone could ever imagine, and that each of us is special to Him. Above all, He has shown me that I am His special child, and that that is true for every one of us. I thank God that He has placed in me a revived passion to share these truths with everyone here in Singapore, not just the believers, but also with our friends and family that have yet to receive that love and hope He has in store for them!

“ I AM HIS SPECIAL CHILD. ”

Jeremy

It might be a nutrition program that fed a small number – but God was still moving. In the kindergartens, Sunday school, and women’s prayer meeting, seeds of hope were planted in their hearts. God has not given up on them. God is at work, and I was reminded that change can take place in a split second.

KianYing

“ CHANGE IN A SPLIT SECOND ”

I missed India so much. �ough I do love my country so, my bones cry out to serve the nations beyond. To be honest, there were many moments I was trying to control my emotions. Once was in the bus, I was looking out of the window and I could not control my tears as I feel God’s heart for the nation. �e other time was when I was at the slums; I felt God was among us. I am just so thankful. I pray I will know His heart more and do His will.

“ YOU WALK WHERE HE WALKS, YOU FEEL HOW HE FEELS, AND YOU PRAY WHAT HE SAYS. ”

Angela

I left for India with many questions on my mind and was actually worried about how I would react when I see the state of poverty the people were living in. I thank God for His grace to help me obey his calling. Once I stepped foot in India and started to interact with the people, my attitude completely changed! I felt this supernatural love for the Indians in my heart that I know must be from God.

Kelly

“ OBEYING HIS CALLING ”

I am also reminded of the simple things in life which I often took for granted.I have come to the realization that it’s not a matter of how fortunate I am but more of how I can maximize my blessing to expand the Lord’s kingdom. I went to India wanting to make a di�erence but yet, I received so much more from God’s twofold blessing.

“ I RECEIVED SO MUCH MORE. ”

Valerie

Now, back in Singapore, through my learning experience, I will live a life that will continue to be an impact to the lives of people around me from now on, and reach out and share the gospel to the people. With the greater heart of compassion that God has given me, I will help and cheer others in need in a more tangible manner. I will be also be praying for India – especially Birla and Baina – and will live and walk by the spirit!

“ LIVE AND WALK BY THE SPIRIT ”

Alex

Desmond & Geraldine

After graduation, career option suddenly became much more di�cult than before. �e dream to live for God also seems less simple as before. But hearing how the YWAM sta� are living their lives for Jesus has given me a new sense of hope and courage to dream again for God. Desmond

“ TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE ! ”

God allowed me to see India through His eyes and I truly love it! Whenever I see Indians in Singapore now, a heart-warming feeling stirs within me. I was extremely touched by how God is working there through His people. I could also feel His presence very strongly there. He is the same God everywhere! Indeed Jesus loves His people, especially the little children.

Geraldine

“ HE’ S THE SAME GOD EVERYWHERE ”

Team India

THANK YOU!To the supporters of this mission trip, thank you for all the contributions you have made to this team. We were very blessed and grateful to receive them. God bless you!

Seeing all the needs and having knowledge of their lifestyle, I sense the Lord teaching me the important of waiting upon Him and partnering with Him in this great work. Money cannot solve all the problems the people faced. Psalm 37:7 says be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

Sometimes waiting is the most di�cult thing to do. Waiting for money to �ow into the ministry, waiting for money for this, for that, is to mold our character. Secondly is to know what are the real needs we are meeting. I learned that whether I am in Singapore or in India, my respond to meeting needs must be one of partnering and waiting upon the Lord. It is His work. And God will complete it His way. Lord Jesus, thank you for blessings the missionaries in Goa and the great work You have undertake to complete. Lord, your glory will be made known to all in Goa. In Jesus name, Amen.

Syh Leong

“ WAITING UPON THE LORD ”One thing that i really felt God wanting me to learn during this trip will be to simply appreciate all things around me. Going to the school in Baina, i realized that the school is very small as compared to our own school in Singapore. �ey are happy in that small little place and i could tell that they really appreciate the things they have like the jigsaw puzzle that they played for so many times. A simple photo of the kids brought such smile to the kids and teacher. It made me feel that any small little thing just bring so much joy in them.

“ LEARNT TO APPRECIATE ”

Alicia

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