Reginald Mundain ... With Reservations: The Truth Will Set You Free

In the months preceding our adventure, the Mundains knew that we were being called to Asia but didn't know exactly where and for what purpose.

Friends were surprised because we didn't have a set itinerary (still don't) and some warned us of the pitfalls and dangers of traveling to third world countries.

We are firm believers in Providence; that nothing happens by coincidence ... not our existence, nor family, nor friends, nor experiences, nor any material we have acquired ... neither our place in this world at this specific time in history ... it is all for a purpose according to the design of our Creator.

So you may ask, "what's the point, if all is pre-ordained?" Ah...but that is exactly the point!

You have the free will to discover your purpose. You choose the path to follow and along the way there will be pitfalls, there will be setbacks and disappointments, but there will also be joy, hope, and life.

You choose who you ultimately serve and like my bro Josh says in his book..."As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Mundain out: End sermon

I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.

Do you not know that in a race all runners run,
but only one gets the prize?

So let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...

I press on toward the goal to win the prize ...

Run in such a way...

...to win the prize

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race,

...I have kept the faith. ...and...the truth has set me free

You're probably thinking "What a nutter!"

But hey, this is my blog...

SO AM I SUPPOSED TO GO TO ASIA?

If so, why did I get so sick in Cambodia that I was physically unable to join the His Child street kids ministry team in Phnom Penh?

So, why were my plans to link up with a missionary in Lijiang, a small town near Kunming in Yunnan Province, Western China thwarted? I was so sure we were meant to go there.

Am I even cut out for ministry?

What is my purpose here in Asia, what am I supposed to do?

Well, I got a unexpected glimpse of that purpose recently. I discovered that I didn't need to do anything extraordinary nor utter words profound.

All I needed to do was to give my personal testimony...nothing dramatic, nothing pre-planned, nothing special...just my mundane story of how I came to know the Lord.

I was given this opportunity to share my testimony with the Tan family, in a beautiful setting, in a guest house, perched on a misty mountainside on the approach to Mount Kinabalu, in a little outpost on the other side of the world...Sabah, Borneo, East Malaysia.

the view from the clouds..our guest house
on the side of a mountain in the Borneo rain forest

...looking down into the mist clouded valley below

Eric and Kevin Tan, father and son

the mundane Mundains with Kevin and mother Moi Lian Tan

Arriving at the "J Residence" after winding our way from the oceanfront Nexus Resort and Spa, we were famished. Fortunately, an eatery was conveniently located next door...

...she wasn't much to look at from the outside...
once inside, we immediately noticed a lack of patrons
....and soiled tablecloths

our server was apologetic...

...because, though the menu was fairly extensive,
they were "sold out" of most items...
so we basically had to eat whatever was available...

fresh prawns stir fried with garden veggies in black bean sauce

stir fried local greens in minced garlic

stir fried chicken with celery and scallions

egg swirl sauce with cloud's ears

pan fried noodles

After our $12 dinner (for 6 people) we gathered in Tan family's unit to socialize...and it was during this time I was able to share with them the story of my journey of faith.

As we retired for the evening, although the Tans appeared to have been listening intently, I was neither sure if it was only out of courtesy nor sure of whether I had effectively conveyed my testimony (due to a slight language barrier).

That was the only time we discussed spiritual matters. Four days later, the Tan family joined us for Sunday service at Skyline Church located in the Sutera Harbour Resort, the hotel in which we were all staying...

At altar call, the entire Tan family, Eric, Moi Lian, and Kevin accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!