A few weekends ago, I was invited to join the ex participants of our ‘Keepers of the Flame’ (KOTF) programme on a community project for kids in Pukak, Sabah.
For the past 5 years, this group of enthusiastic and passionate individuals (all KOTF participants) would re-unite and work on a project to impact the community around them, despite being scattered all around the world!
This year marks the 6th Annual Gathering Event (AGE 6) aptly name ‘Across the Seas’, and was headed by our fearless ‘Keeper’ Sheila Ann Suppiah, bringing us to ‘The Good Shepherd Rural Training Centre’ in Pukak, in Kiulu Sabah. This training centre gives the kids in that village varied opportunities of development ranging from English Proficiency to Computer classes and also serves as a safe place for kids to hang out and learn.

 The scenic grounds at ‘The Good Shepherd Rural Training Centre’

I thought it was a blessing and very exciting indeed to be invited to join them for AGE 6; despite the fact that I’m not a ‘Keeper’ and that I’ve never really joined them on any of their annual events before!
But all these blessings came with a price tag: my plans.
In all honesty, the decision to go to Pukak was a difficult one to make. The thing is this; I’ve recently started re- learning driving again after close to 10 years of not being behind the wheels! Apart from working towards being comfortable behind the wheels again, I’ve also been saving money (slowly but surely) over the months, and was well on my way to owning my first car!
So when Sheila invited me to come along, I said “No Way! I’m not parting with my Car Fund and my precious free weekend from work!” (Yes, I have my drama queen moments..)
But drama aside, there was this burden in my heart that wouldn’t go away, whilst my brain went on hyper-drive, trying to deal with the gap between following the tugging in my heart and the reality at hand.
Well I guess sometimes life has a funny way of putting things into perspective for us, wouldn’t you agree? So after the initial deal of reluctance, resistance and emotional battle within, I finally decided, to follow my heart and to Pukak I will go!
Pukak, here we come!
The 5 of us (John, Sheila, Kelley, Terence and I) packed our bags and flew to the Land Below the Wind, that Friday morning, where we joined forces with our sole but ‘oh-so-faithful-Keeper’- Jimmy Loy (who was our amazing host!).

Learning how to make animal balloons the night before.

The kids in Pukak had been told months in advance about our visit. We had about 40 kids that morning walking from villages near and far. Excited, curious and shy lil’ faces trickled in at the Training Centre and warmed up to us pretty quickly when we started reading with them, as they eagerly showed us their English proficiency.

John making friends with the 5 year olds

We spent the rest of the day, getting to know them, played fun games, sang songs, had a quiz session (the kids are incredibly smart), made them balloon animals and at the end of the day we gave each one of them goodie bags we packed the night before. Those goodie bags contained essentials such as towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, color pencils, books, food and such. It was a simple gift, but it really made our day seeing their eyes light up and getting all excited with it.

 Superheroes for the day!

 Group picture!

As the evening drew to an end, we bid our goodbyes and watched them walk up the hills back home. It was quite a sight watching them skip happily home waving colorful balloons at us, their laughter ringing in the air, punctuated with shouts of ‘Byeee Abang and Kakakkk!”
That really made us smile and our hearts melt. It was enough to know that we made someone’s day.

 A colourful sight

Make Plans, but Hold Them Loosely
If anything, that weekend to Pukak has thought me to make room for spontaneity in the midst of my plans. That no matter how well thought out our own plans are, sometimes God could send a wave into the boat and tip all my carefully crafted plans overboard (for the better).
It reminded me that MY plans should not always be just about ME …and I’m learning that sometimes it’s more important to include and to give to others when it matters most, and not when it’s the most convenient for me.
So yes, I am still without a car now…but its okay, that can wait. What I DO know is that I made a difference that weekend in Pukak and that’s all that matters to me.