14 Dec 2014 by Adeline Lum CM-
On 8th of December, Borneo Christian Marketplace Fellowship (BCMF) held a Christmas party for the Myanmar refugee children from—Shelter Community School 1, Good Year Court 3, and Sri Hartamas Ministry—aged between 3 years old to 15 years old at Kaffeine in Plaza Damas 3, Seri Hartamas.
Started three months ago, BCFM is a Christian marketplace fellowship for people originating from Borneo and working in the Peninsular Malaysia. With only seven people in the beginning, the fellowship has now grown to more than 30 people.
Mervin Gerawat, President of BCMF, felt compelled to touch the refugees who are natives of their own soil, besides his existing ministry with his own people and the Orang Asli’s.
“I cannot imagine if I am in their condition. You are away from your country and you don’t know when you are going back to your hometown. The future is uncertain.
“But seeing them here, it’s really touching. They also need love. And I think the Christmas party message is to show them that we are not alone. We as local Malaysians have a heart for them. We want to show them love,” said Mervin.
Rev Danil Raut, President of SIB Semenanjung and advisor of BCMF, shared similar sentiments with Mervin. Instead of focusing only on our local Orang Asli’s welfare, he shared that the church leadership is touched to reach out to Bangladeshi and Nepalese refugees, apart from their established Filipino ministry.
“They are here by God’s design. If we go to their homeland, the chance is we may be unable to go there or reach out. So, God brought them here so we can impact and touch them,” said Rev Danil.
Chang, advisor of the BCFM added, “The people originating from Borneo in BCFM are very blessed to have a place in the marketplace. So, I suggested why don’t we bless another country’s indigenous people?”
Visiting Ba’kelalan in Sarawak three years ago, the Lord ignited Chang’s passion for the Orang Asli’s when he started to write a book on a particular people group in Sarawak.
The event started with Rev Danil Raut covering the children in prayer, before the children sang Christmas songs with a choir of young adults.
The highlight of the event is the generous peppering of candies by Santa Claus, which sent the children into a delightful ruckus.
The children feasted with the self-prepared buffet dinner before they played a few more games. Each received a backpack filled with stationaries before the event ended.
Attending the Christmas party, I cannot help but see the beauty of God in these children’s eyes, whose hearts are so impressionable, pure, and trusting.
Each in the party acted freely in their own will, openly expressing their various idiosyncrasies. They were not afraid to be who they are. One stared blankly to the horizon. Another ran around with a prized possession of a Christmas ornamental ball. Another rolled around the floor. Two hugging. All held hope, curiosity, and a simple joy in their eyes, humored by the things we deemed ordinary in our lives.
Looking at them, I only felt love in my heart. Yes. They are the children of Myanmar. They are… the children of God.
This Christmas party is sponsored by Tent Builders Fellowship, Kaffeine in Plaza Damas 3, Friends of Mine Café, BIG Bookshop Sdn Bhd, individuals from Talent Corp, and other generous individuals. The food was deliciously done by Mr Kuan and the transportation for the children is provided by Mr and Mrs Cheli N.
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