word power

Empowering the mind
These two days we have Word Power in JAMs Church. Santhi got the students to memorize 17 verses, together with their references.
It is important to note that these are not all simple verses, like “Jesus wept”.

Among the verses given:
Psalms 119:11
I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Psalms 32:8
I will guide you and teach you the way you should go. I will give you good advice and watch over you.

1 Kings 8:58
May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep all His Word and all His Laws, which He told our fathers.

What impresses the most is how few of these students, with IQ that could possibly be less than 70, are able to memorize all the verses, together with the Bible references – something we adults find it hard to do at times.

It is amazing how the capacity of a person can be increased if expectation is lifted up.
And once increased, they are never the same again.
Who would have thought that intellectually disabled students are able to learn so well?
Indeed, one can do all things through Christ who gives them strength.

This brings me back to the students at my school.
I am awaiting the day when their minds are able to be stirred to think deeper.
What has been locked up in the past school system needs to be unlocked once again.
May the LORD give patience and power for us to endure and to birth forth the new things in them.


Changing the heart
Last Saturday, a worker shared with me of how he witnessed one JAMs student ate his own faeces in the toilet. He of course stopped him immediately, but was stained in the process of struggle.

He told me he cried – not because of the stain caused.
He questioned why a person would think and behave in this manner, and about the things that go on in the student’s mind.

I was very touched when I heard what he said.
I believe something is changing in his heart.
This is the same worker who was beaten several times by another 200-pound Japanese student in JAMs on several occasions.
This is the same worker who went with me to babysit the hyperactive Choon Kit at his home at 8 am in the morning.

I told him that he was very blessed to experience the beatings, the toilet experience, etc.
What other better ways to increase one’s compassion than through all these experiences?
He had the chance to go through these trainings of the heart.
I am very jealous.


Looking back, I feel very blessed to be in this ministry for the past 9 years.
My mind and heart are much much stronger today than 9 years ago.
It is amazing to see students grow up and grow deeper in their minds and spiritual lives.
It is awesome to see workers, to see myself learn to be more humble and more loving every week.
To be more accepting of others’ weaknesses.
(This reminds me… I need to love my fellow workers more, even those I cannot stand – argh)

God has used the foolish things of the earth to put to shame the wise.
I am experiencing the reality of this verse, in a literally-speaking way.
This is my prayer this year..
That my heart will never grow cold, but burn more with passion and love every day.

A pure heart and a strong faith, O God…