Bali Reflections.

I’m amazed sometimes at how God leads us step by step, bringing us into the arena of uncertainty where faith is the only thing we hold on to. All it took was a Christian MTV and subsequent conversations with God that took me on my first mission trip. I did not experience any of the emotions like excitement before the trip; It was simply a step of obedience to what I believe is God’s direction in my life in this season.

As I readied myself for the trip, I had to deal with the fear of feeling inadequate. The ghost of my past failures suddenly became very real. And especially in this trip, I felt like a spiritual dwarf amongst many who were seemingly spiritually stronger and better. I wondered what God could do through me, and though the feeling of inadequacy was present, I took that step of faith to believe that as long as I come with a willing heart, God can use me like everyone else. This truth gave me courage, and set me heart to peace. I’m quite apprehensive of calling this trip a mission trip, since we were going to minister to an established church; nevertheless it was equally important to strengthen the saints in Indonesia too, and so I went.

Upon landing onto Balinese ground at the airport I looked out of the plane window, I could almost feel the immediate tasks ahead was not going to be easy. Bali was known as the land of the thousand temples, a land steeped in the works of the enemy; the battles ahead in this land would be long and tough. As we were traveling to our hotel, we passed by a giant statue of a Balinese god battling a dragon, and it became so clear to me that the land of Bali was deeply involved in idol worship, exalting false gods who were in fact demons. Almost every building I saw had a spirit house, an altar of sort to the spirits. Idols of demon and gods could be found almost everywhere, summarizing the dark situation of the spiritual climate over Bali, and the fear that holds captive the hearts of the people of Bali as evident in seeing an almost daily offerings of food assortment to the spirits for good fortune and safety. I will never forget what Pastor Tony said regarding the giant statue we saw on the way to the hotel.

“This (idol) is brought down by daily prayers.”

These simple words burnt deep down in me, for our weapons are spiritual and mighty. For even though the darkness are like giants in the land, we have the weapons to slay them, like David facing off with Goliath.

A significant thing that happened to me, ironically, was a simple word given to me by God. As we past the many buildings on the way to the first youth meeting, I realized a certain similarity in their architectural design – almost every building had a gate, sort of like an entrance at the city walls. And my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to ask Pastor Tony what these gates symbolized. He mentioned that it represented the spiritual protection, a sort of superstition that says that these gates protect the people inside against the spirits. These gates was part of the enemy’s plot to wreck havoc upon the people’s fear, and playing upon their superstition, in order that they might glorify their fears and thus glorifying the enemy. And as I sat there, thinking of what Pastor Tony had shared, I was suddenly reminded of the passage found in Genesis 24,

“And may your sons possess the gates of their enemies”

These simple words prepared my heart; it set in me a fire that desires to make these words come to pass at the youth meeting, that the spiritual foothold of the enemy in Bali would be crushed. As we minister to the youths of Bali, that passage continued to encourage me greatly.

I’m amazed at the hungry hearts of the youths there. And as I see the brokenness and pain from all their hurts and rejections, I realized that they were very much like me; struggling with the same issues, and dealing with the same problems. To pray for them would be the very least I can do to bless my brothers and sisters in Bali. I yielded my life and will to the Spirit’s move, and ministered to the people, as lead by the Spirit. At that time, all the feelings of inadequacy was thrown out of the window – now I was slaying giants in the spiritual realm.

I wouldn’t say that I was attracted to the land of Bali, as some may put it. No, it’s not a dying must that I return to Bali; I’ve already made up my mind that if God’s the one that calls, I’ll go, even to the deepest, darkest corner of the earth. The trip was an experience that planted a seed in me, as I learn to seek God more and more, I know He’ll show me the great and unsearchable things of His heart. And may this seed grow into perfection, and bear much fruits.