Monday, 5 February 2007
i looked at the number on my handphone. It looked strangely familiar. i called back to the number, anticipating the reply to be from Forerunner. Sure enough, a familiar voice greeted me, "Hi, Forerunner here, can i help you?" i told Daniel, "Hi, this is David Chow, did someone call me just now?" Daniel replied, "Hold on..." as he passed the phone to someone else.
True enough, this was the call to inform me of whether i would be accepted to join the Ultimate Road Trip, also known as TURT. It is a music missions project organised by Forerunner, the music ministry arm of Campus Crusade for Christ. If accepted, one will go through a 4-week local training before going on the road in Thailand for 2 weeks, going to campuses and holding concerts. Finally, after a few days of waiting, the results of my audition would be revealed to me.
i was not accepted.
Surprisingly, i was not too sad about it. and after being told about why i was not accepted, i actually felt much better. i was told that there were other students who "needed" to go, more than me. That was because some of the applicants were in their final year, and i still have 2 more years to go. In the end, i was told to continue to improve, and to apply again next year. After the call, i sent an SMS to some of my friends to inform them of the result, and also shared to Dillon (Science Crusade staff) about my thoughts about the whole matter.
Actually, David Mak told me before not to apply for TURT so early, but it was due to unrelated reasons. However, i still decided to apply for TURT. Looking back, i think God was speaking to me through him, and it was never in His plan for me to go for TURT this year. In the end, due to my stubbornness, God had to show me the hard way, but i still thank Him for giving me the experience to go through the audition and interview. Because of that, i now know in which areas i need to improve on and also, i have a better idea of what to expect from the trip.
Somehow i also feel that i'm still not ready for TURT, and it's better for me to go for a campus mission for my very first mission trip. i felt that applying for TURT was my way of staying within my comfort zone, doing something i'm comfortable with and used to doing. So, by not being accepted into the team, i'm being forced to do something which i'm not so comfortable with, that is, reaching out to students by using conversational evangelism. i hate to admit it, but i'm still not very comfortable with talking to strangers, especially about the Gospel. Hopefully a campus mission trip will dispel all fears and give me a burden and heart for the people whom i'm reaching out to.
i give thanks to God, for i know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Amen!
giving thanks at 23:20 :)
david chow en yuan