How time flies.
As our time in Uganda draws to a close, we were filled with a flux of feelings, mixed with nostalgia, gratitude, joy and sadness.
Imagine our speechlessness and shock when we discovered the doors God had opened, to have Channel News Asia visit us for 8 days to film a documentary, here in Uganda, at a timely season where we were wrapping up various projects and seeing them come full circle.
Entitled “A Singaporean Abroad”, this 8-episode series featuring Singaporeans making a difference overseas will be aired in August to September this year in 25 countries, in more than 50 million households.
I’ll be honest to say, that the night the crew landed in Uganda, I couldn’t sleep! Anxiety got the better of me, and I was overwhelmed by the very packed 8-day schedule of intense interviews, traveling and filming.
Would I say the right things? What if I missed something crucial? What if it rained on us, like it has been raining every day this week?
It was only when I had the revelation- that it is God, and not myself who has orchestrated this opportunity, that I began to let go and release my fears. Any camera-consciousness melted away as I realized it was not me that the media was featuring, but the God I served.
I was just a vessel.
Worrying about the rainy weather in a predominantly outdoor shoot setting was pointless. Even in supposedly rainy season, God held up the rain and gave us blue skies every day the crew was with us, save for the first morning. The day they left, it poured again.
Not only was it an encouragement to us, the presence of an overseas film crew really encouraged our local friends too.
The ladies from our sewing and craft group were honored to display their hard work of creativity and be interviewed about how this skill has transformed their lives, giving them confidence and self-worth.
As our term came to an end, my work at the health institute also came full circle, as I conducted my last training session with my group of health professionals, the first in Uganda to be trained as trainers to teach a curriculum in Caring for Vulnerable Older Persons. It is essentially a course in Geriatric Medicine, a specialty that is much needed but not available in Uganda, and many parts of East Africa. As the number of older persons increase dramatically (rising up to 200 million by 2050) in a land without sufficient healthcare infrastructure, the need has captured increasing attention from the government and NGOs.
Our first batch of trainers holding up their Certificates proudly
My last training session, before handing over to my very committed and loving colleague and friend, Shallon
Cliff also had his time of wrapping up his time with the bible school students, whom he has invested much of his energy and heart into, teaching them spiritual truths, IT skills and even rabbit farming. Our bible school students were thrilled to cook rabbit stew for us all and the crew too for lunch!
M, who initially had no computer skills, presenting his self-designed brochure to the class, after a year of being taught by Cliff.
Over 8 days, we had laughter and tears.
As the crew prepared to leave, I was filled with gratitude at their sensitivity, warmth and love for us. In a strange way, their presence affirmed and encouraged us deeply.
Many missionaries leave their place of service with hurts and regrets of some sort. Over time, we too, faced our fair share of disappointments and frustrations. But these 8 days made us look at ourselves through the lens of the crew, and through God’s eyes, helping us realize that disappointments are just part and parcel of humble service.
In the overall scheme of things, there was so much to celebrate- lives which were transformed, friends we had made, communities we had touched. We could not allow single incidents to mar the victories and joys God had allowed us to be a part of.
A photo taken by the Producer himself
All in all, we had a great time.
Most of all, we thank God for the doors He has opened,
and the opportunities He has given to us, to be used as His vessels.
I am learning,
that it is not the targets we set for ourselves or the magnitude of the projects we spearhead which truly matter,
but our quiet commitment and faithfulness to what God has called us to do.
The doors He opens, are not those we can pry open with our own striving.
And when we let go of our self-consciousness and insecurities to serve Him (and not man, or the cameras),
it is then that we can truly find joy and fulfillment.
Our last shot on our last day- The Crew and Us