Kuala Lumpur Happenings :
Hosts: Chin Sui and Tizzey Yu
We are enjoying being with this normal Malaysian Chinese family. They have enfolded us into the group with
great hospitality and kindness. Great food Chinese/Malay with lots of fresh fruit a great delight to Janette. Chin Sui is
diligent in making contacts and opening doors in his Church, with some Non C linkages going back to families in Surrey,
Canada and then our other major interest Dr Stephen Tee of the Asia Pacific Seminary. Saturday out for Dim Sum in the
familiar crowded noisy Hong Kong style. A grander dinner at the Magic Wok in the evening to meet with Dr Stephen Tee then
the Chinese lady judge and her husband.
Eating together being very much part of Chinese community life. A great variety – breakfast on dosa Sth Indian style. Lunch
Chinese and Malay; a special treat with the Chinese relative friends with the cuisine of Nyonya. Coming from Malaka where in
history a Sultan married a Chinese princess and so brought into Malaya a strong Chinese element which in this case moulded
and merged into the Malay. Not so true today as the Chinese do not wish to integrate seeing themselves rather as a strong
economic and social minority with limited interest in the Muslim identity.
Asia Pacific Seminary
Seminar
Two evenings 2x 2 hours before a group of well qualified professional people with vital interests in
spiritual growth and outreach; some preparing for early retirement linked in with the Malaysian system where 55 is the
recognized age.The ideas presented were not entirely new but the context and presentation captured thir interest leading to
a lively discussion on the merits of the Homogenous Unit Church approach of the major groupings with Hindu and Muslim
peoples. Not enough time to really develop it but a good start into the type of presentation the Gospel should take in
reaching the major religious groups. The present intellectual western approach has yielded little result. A more power
centered rescue gospel majoring on deliverance from the forces and powers that limit people was suggested. Further involvement
could mean developing online internet courses for the D Min program in Anthropology and Mission. Agreement was reached on
format now a question of getting to work and producing the material then later introducing it to the students.
Lunch Hour Christian Business Groups
Most linked up to the Full Gospel Business men’s Fellowship, more of the attendees women! The sense of being linked to a
world wide group brings great security to Chinese who often feel threatened in this country with its Malay political
dominance. Most of them are doing well economically and in careers but past history of communal stresses has a huge overhang.
There is a need to contextualize more into the local environment to respond to its dynamics. This may only happen slowly and
may even require another vehicle!
Colin’s Ph D Program
Alan Robson: An interesting interlude to meet with this man who has been recommended by Michael
Howard my Ph D supervisor in Surrey. He turned out to be a craggy NZ er dressed in shorts, white beard and shirt. He was
leaving that night to take the overnight train to Butterworth near Penang and then on into Southern Thailand.
A colorful character who has had a Maori wife related he says to the redoubtable Te Rauparaha who conquered
the other tribes in the Nth Island before the arrival of the British. Now herself a judge dealing with immigration cases in
the NZ courts and political system.
He is a Professor who has taught in Suva, Fiji and Port Moresby , Papua New Guinea now a consultant to an
NGO run by George Soros, the financier. The NGO seeking to provide educational opportunities to capable Asians from this area
with the expectation of injecting more democratic ideas and ideals in these societies many of which are autocracies run for
the benefit of elites. He sought to establish his agnostic credentials although did say his wife was a committed Anglican.
Intriguing dynamics as he is referring me on to Barry Kirkwood another N Zer living in Chiang Mai. This man is interested
in part time work with the Soros NGO . Alan says working with me is a way of returning to academic establishment. So we shall
see how it all works through next week.
Chiang Mai
The distances may not be so great but the long waits for planes and connections meant a long day; beginning at 06.00 in Kuala
Lumpur. Air Asia answered to its promise arriving and taking off on time. A change of airports in Bangkok as well as a 4 hour
wait over saw us on Nok Air for Chiang Mai. Some muddle over telephone numbers but finally with joy we found Barry Kirkwood!
Barry was encouraging about the thesis believing that with some work and his input it can be made into the required document.
So light at end of this long 8 year tunnel. His history like that of Alan Robson, a colorful one. Before coming here he lived
on Waiheke Island in Auckland harbor NZ. His appointment prior to meeting me at a Tai Chi class where he has found great
happiness in the small group of people and the instructor. Learning Thai he is remaking life again. Two daughters working in
London. He was uncertain about his future but may do some work with Alan Robson
Janette met some old friends, staying in the house Jayne a MK from Nepal with links in Nth Ireland. A girl who has not yet
found herself so good to have this contact. Then Sheila Wynn who goes back a long time Bhutan, Cyprus now linked to Friends
of China in personnel in Chiang Mai.
After locating his cell phone we made contact with Doug and Jill Shortt (NZ and BC) long time residents here with OMF. They
came over, stopped for lunch and had a long chat about their family. The daughter Rebecca is getting married in January to a
very suitable American engineer. They are both proficient in Mandarin so look forward to ministry in China. Other personnel
matters discussed very related to Janette and her experience in Interserve years ago.
Air Asia is an experience! Air Asia is a real budget airline like Easy Jet in UK. No seat allocations, no food, no headsets,
no extras, walking out to the plane. The plane arrived at 09.45 and then took off again at 10.05 to land in K L at its
appointed time. Not at the grand International terminal with its long corridors, duty free shops, high priced restaurants etc
but alongside the domestic terminal to stop off the plane; a short walk all very utility but fast and away! The most amazing
thing was to see the plane crew working almost all of the 1.5 hour flight serving food with costs around ground prices. Meticulously
picking up all the garbage en flight then to see the head man don a pair of plastic gloves; pour Dettol into a plastic cup and go
and clean up the toilet just before landing. No cleaning crew came aboard, instead they took on the next batch of passengers and
were airborne within the required 15-25 mins. A new generation of air travel is being developed alongside the more sophisticated
type for business travelers.