My 1st trip to Shalom Kelong@Labun Island in July 2012 was awesome and the experience priceless; a rare appearance of a double rainbow with full spectrum of splendid colors and the starry starry nights with countless of brightly shining glitters against the dark skies.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will mediate on your wonderful works. Psalms 145 : 5
But on this 2nd trip in Oct 2012, God worked differently. No rainbow (I thought it came close after the rain but it did not happen) and few stars. If the virgin trip was the vibrant splash of His artistic watercolors, the sequel was a silent and stoic display of His tender mercies and faithfulness.
Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3: 22-23
Those who rose early were treated to a spectacular sunrise; a glimpse of ray peering above the horizon. Slowly but gradually, the warm orange glow rounded and yawned up its climb and became a fiery ball glaring the skies with its painted stripes, bouncing off the ocean surface. The sun gives light and life and rises in the East and sets in the West. Beyond this mundane routine is His tender mercies and faithfulness.
The weather was scorching and unbearably hot. Yet He chose to surprise us with incidental showers of blessing as we travelled to a nearby fishing village to distribute used clothing and toys. When it rained down, our umbrellas went up to shield off the pitter patters. But a fear seeped through me and my imagination ran wild. Our tiny flimsy boat was exposed and collecting drops. We were rocking against choppy waters and without life jackets…I called out a silent prayer for His protecting hands to shield us against all harm. And His tender mercies and faithfulness prevailed.
When we reached shore, we were wet to the skin but continued to brave the downpour armed with the goody bags to gather outside the home of the village chief. Adults and kids eagerly awaited the distribution. They heartily broke into smiles and grins as they walked away with some “new” clothing and playthings. Some were having fun playing in the rain. Others worked hard to collect water in pails.
Unlike our start trip to the fishing village which was “fearfully silent”, the return ride was totally different. Our spirits were strangely hyped up. Our joy in the Lord could not be contained as we spontaneously broke out in singspiration. We were singing in the rain; lunging out our voices in songs, praises and thanksgiving to the Almighty.
8 of us went out fishing. Most were new hands on deck. But He lovingly hooked us up with 26 fishes to give us the joy of fishing in His vast abundant ocean and also supplemented our meals with the freshness of fishes. This reminded me of Peter and the disciples who caught 153 fishes with some help of Jesus. He is Jehovah Jireh.
George and Poh Gek came for the double rainbow but God blessed them with double twins! Chee Wah was a happy fisherman beaming with pride. Mee Fang, a newbie reeled in a different specie which added color to the catch. The rest were just having great fun, enjoying the laughter and cheering each other on. His tender mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.
Food was rich and in abundance that we almost wanted to skip the suppers. We were soothed to the therapeutic calmness of the sea and rested in the silence and cool breeze of the night. Each day, we woke to a panoramic sea view of the tranquility of the vast emerald ocean and the angelic blue, cloudy expanse of the skies.
When we leisurely walked the island trail, we found ourselves reminiscing the carefree fun and nostalgia of our childhood years, picking shells, casting stones, trying out hammocks, posing for cameras, girls giggling, boys starjumping, life in paradise?
