Surf Camper

Life should be simple.

Focus on "the" one great thing. Put everything in it. Put aside all other "good" things for it. Together with others or alone, run just for it!

Don't get me wrong. "The" great thing will never be gaining the world but always loving the people of it. And "the" only great thing that can drive us in all eternity is and will only be all about and around Jesus Christ himself. He is great enough.

If you have it, driven by it, convinced of it, your life must be simple and focused, fruitful and beautiful.

We were revealed again to this simple truth in our Tofino surfing trip 2 weeks ago. This simple truth was made alive to us as we stayed in a little community with the "Surf Campers." Let me tell you our story as a surf camper, a story almost couldn't happen, a story of threats and thrills, but ultimately of discoveries and ecstasies.

This is the story... it starts with the things that could have cancelled our Tofino trip.

$ issues. 5 nights camping with 3 surfing courses and 3 days surf gear rentals included was a hard financial decision, not to mention the BC ferries and the gasoline. So 4 months ago, we set aside $500 in a new account, and tried to save for the remaining amount. About 5 weeks before the trip, we had to spend an unexpected $1200 on our vehicle in its 4 times repair and maintenance in just 2 weeks. It ate up everything we had including that $500.

We were about to cancel the trip. In despair, I prayed to God, "I am fine if you cancel this trip for us. But just if you want us to go for this vacation, please PAY for it!" 2 days later, a lady called us and presented us with a gift, a cheque. It was $500, not much not less. Our surfing trip is a miracle, a prayer answered.

Tyres. Tried to get a cheapest pair of tyres on my 1994 Voyage Van. $183 for 2 Cooper tyres from nearby Esso station. When we drove there, the 2 tyres seemed to only appear in computer but never in actual stocking. Our desire to reduce our anxiety of driving the ups and downs narrow winding road between Port Alberni and Tofino was never fulfilled. We had to live with this worry and entrust our safety to God alone, not Cooper tyres

Bear visits. It was our first family camping. We fear bear. You might want a beer, not a bear in your site. We thought it was a slight threat only. But who could believe it was a reality in our campground. Bear signs everywhere. In fact our site was visited by bear 2 weeks ago. We really wanted to leave the campground after the first night.

Cold Water. We went there for one purpose. Surfing. Nothing else. What if the North Pacific Ocean water was too cold? In fact it was very very cold. But the wet suites and the fire inside kept us warm enough.

Back Pain. Within one week of setting off, I still visited Chiropractors. Not one, but two clinics in one week. The muscles I needed most for surfing, the lower back, was sole and painful. My knees problem already seemed minor. Will I lie on the surfboard but got no strength to stand up?

These threats were real. Every now and then made me despair and wanted give up. Every now and then they challenged how much I wanted to surf. Every now and then I ended up more desperate to do it.

Now the wave came, the first wave since April Kenting, the first North Pacific cold water wave came... I paddled paddled, pushed up, popped up, stabilized, stood up. Here I was. Riding my first Tofino wave, to my surprise, yet shouldn't be surprised. It's all by grace that I stood, that I rode a wave, that I felt His power in me over pains, threats, $... and Jesus fulfilled my desperate focus, SURF.

Over those few seconds on waves, it seemed I was having fun time with Jesus on the waves. Jesus walked on waves, loving me, seeing me and endorsing me to surf side by side with him. Every time I surf, I feel his grace of making possible out of impossible, therein I feel his presence. Now you know why I loving it.

Then I rode waves after waves. Never so many before. Even though I was wipe out many times. Who cares? Why cares! I did what I desired. I was fulfilled. I was surfing.

It is about surfing and it's not about surfing! You don't need to surf. But everyone need to have a mission, a passion, all and only about and centered on Jesus. Rather die to have one, than live without it. And if you have this focus and passion, life is simple, fruitful and beautiful, as my surf campers friends...

They didn't come for digging oysters or catching crabs, not for stomachs.

They didn't care to pitch a tent or if it's too crowded, some slept in their Subaru, uncomfy.

They would forget to bring matches for the woods but never forget to stack up their surfboards nicely on top of each other over their car's roof.

They ate quick and simple foods, canned foods always.

After breakfast they set off for beach, at sunset they came back with full load of funs. After supper, they made camp fire, they shared the excitements, they laughed, they played guitar, they sang loud... At about 11 pm, they were disciplined enough to sleep. To sleep well. Why? Simply to ride another morning wave. They stepped in the water, gave each other a high 5. "Let's do it."

Their lives were simple. They made them simple. In order to accomplish their biggest desire and their greatest focus: to surf. Only surfing. And nothing else...even catching a crab is a good one. Simple and focused. That made them make it.

Jesus forms us a community, a community of 2-3(Mat.18:20), or any numbers up. So we learn to love one another, accountable to one another, encourage one another, share food and life together... Always knowing that it is only because Jesus and for Jesus that we get together. Life. Simple enough.

Jesus assigns a mission to this simple community. To plant Jesus everywhere we go, to every one we meet. Make the pre-believers his disciples. Make them the Jesus followers (Mat.28:19).

Who are we then? The Baptists. The Evangelicals. The Anglicans. The Catholics...The Apollos's. Paul's. Cephas's. Man complicated God's simple truth.

Who are we? What are we here for?

We are a spiritual family, with Jesus' presence, together on a mission. A church.

We laugh, we cry, we share and we encourage...that we all could set out for accomplishing the Jesus' mission.

If there is no mission, there is no direction. If there is no mission in God's people, complications and shallowness set in. There will not be deep life sharing and exchange from the hard-fought SWAT team.

Mission. The DNA of being church, of being Jesus' followers, of our story being a part of God big story of redemption. Take it away, we live. But never with spirit and soul. Simple. To me, it is that simple.

The devil is in the details. God requests a life of simple trust and obedience. That is life. A simple life.

But if we let complications set in, let "what to eat, what to drink, what to wear" overwhelm us, let busyness and programs replace living life together as Jesus followers, then we are a bunch of God's people on earth ends up catching crabs, digging oysters...

Forgetting we came here for the waves, for surfing, and for fulfilling Jesus mission.

If eating crabs and oysters make me stumble, I would never eat crabs and oysters - Paul said similarly. Die to them, that I could live for a mission. My only passion for His mission alone.

To reward you with this long reading, I have a not-my-best surfing video clip for you. Although the sea is rough, I want to have you in this missional fellowship to surf as well as to witness Jesus:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RoxdCNSRMY

Enjoy Surf Campers!

9/11 Love Multiplies

9/11 Sunday. We had donated $540 to UNICEF to help relief the "horn" people in Africa.

On or around 9/11, "R" donated another $540, "K" donated another $540, and "M" donated another $540. They matched our donations. All to Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Plus the Canadian government matching the donations, this little initiative ("The tomatoes of Hope") out of this little patio of mine raised more than $4000 for these poor and the needy people in one of the worst famine in Africa.

Joy filled my heart. And tears almost fell, as I recounted how God moved and led us to this finish line on 9/11...

A few months ago, we decorated our pale patio with summer favour by growing pot plant - tomatoes. First time in 14 years.

In July, we heard of the very severe famine in these 3 African countries, the "horn." We have been constantly praying for Africa, especially Somalia and Sudan. The news broke our heart. So out of our very tight budget, we donated some money.

I watered the tomatoes daily. My kids at times.

One day while I was doing the watering, God inspired me to sell these tomatoes and donate these money to Africa. While I was excited with this idea, Jesus told me, "why don't you ask some Christians to match the tomatoes sales?" I was even more excited now as I could see it as a way that more people, Christians or non-Christians, came to realize the desperate needs of our "neighbours" far away.

8/1. I posted on facebook about this little project and the needs for the famine. Sadly no one responded. Not even 1 "like" or 1 "comment." While my friends' photos of delicious foods, up-class hotels...jammed "the top news" of my facebook. I felt some loneliness.

8/1. Same day. This displaced Somalian woman (above picture) sits with her malnourished children at refugee camp in the capital waiting desperately for life necessities.

I pressed on. Water and water. With love and love and prayers for these tiny little tomato firstfruits. God bless all those acts that bless other people. Our tomatoes grow big and red.

I managed to find 3 friends of mine who were quick to say "Yes" when requested to match our tomatoes donation. Now we were a bit worried to sell the most expensive tomato in the world. $10 each.

If I would have just made a few calls, all these tomatoes would be gone right away. But we wanted as many people to participate as possible. So that more people will know the needs there. And more might do some extra good at a later day. We were just the initiator and agitator of more love actions! We decided to sell to our neighbours and our small community. So we talked to our Muslims friends, Catholic friends, Buddhist friends, atheist friends, Christian friends... And we talked to friends from Middle East, Africa, Taiwan, PRC, HK, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Korea, Philippines...

Most embrace this "Tomatoes of Hope" readily. Few of them with hesitations. Why not?! When you were sunbathing at the pool side, suddenly someone whom you not knew well came up and asked for donation. You hesitated naturally. I felt embarrassed even more naturally.

I really did. Even when I were in need, I seldom ask people for money. I have my pride. Now I asked people to trust me with $10. Even $10. People hesitate. And I felt embarrassed. Suddenly a voice inside said, "If my embarrassment means help and aids to the famine people. I don't mind made embarrassed. I got embarrassed for a purpose!" So we asked $10 after $10...

Now we have 25 families buying 54 tomatoes from us. A total of $540. Plus all the matching, it multiplied to $4320. More than thousand people could be fed. Dying children could be taken care of. Heartbreaking parents could spare some tears. All out of this $4320. All out of our little tomatoes plant of our little patio. All out of a little brain of a little man. Above all, all out of Jesus our Saviour.

From one, it multiplied. And multiplied. Money multiplied. Love multiplied. They became the sources of joy and life of the poor and needy. Isn't it wonderful? Isn't it beautiful? Shouldn't we be filled with joys and thankfulness?

"The Tomatoes of Hope" started in July and accomplished on 9/11, not planned. But there is a divine conspiracy. One of love. One about 9/11.

Jesus loves the Muslims. He died for them as well. Now the most severely famine stricken area is in Somalia, a country of 100% Muslims. Literally no Christians at all. Even missionaries retreated because of highly possible life threat. None of them heard of Jesus' love for them. Now everyday thousands and thousands Muslims moved to Kenya and Ethiopia for help, two Christian countries. They might possibly receive the Living Bread and the Living Water and the eternal hope there. God loves the Muslims.

God loves the poor. Jesus identified himself with the poor and needy (Mat25:40). Anyone who loves unconditionally draws close to God. The God of love.

The world is filled with hatred and evil. Unfortunately 9/11 is not the first and won't be the last. If we choose hatred, self interest and focus on our differences, the world is Hell in advance.

But if we follow Jesus and choose love instead of hatred, choose loving others instead of securing our own interest, choose to celebrate our commonalities as human being instead of differences, goodness will then flow, kindness will be done, our image of the perfect God will shine forth. We won't be too far from His Kingdom.

These little tomatoes inspires. They teach us that we are never too little to extend a helping hand. Even an idea, based on love, aimed to help, consecrated to God, could mean life to many people. We are never too few to achieve something big as long as we have love. Because our God is the God of multiplication. And this God charged us to multiply. We just let as many people to involve in love actions as possible. Love then multiplied. And multiplied. God multiplies it.

So now how do you feel? This is my yesterday Scripture reading... This is our God. It might help you to act now and more.

"For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
FOR PRECIOUS IS THEIR BLOOD IN HIS SIGHT."(Psalms 72)

Canadian government will still match your donations to any major relief organizations before this Saturday (9/16). Let it multiplies. Let love multiplies.

Check this website for the famine and donations:http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/east-africa-famine-crisis-help-160515874.html

God loves a cheer giver. Just give with love.