The spiritual adventure

Picked from sunriseseekers blogspot

 Lawas - Lepo Bunga 4wd ride 6 hours @ RM120 per pax per way

1045am Arrived at Lepo Bunga, gathered bags down for porter service
11-12noon Lunch 
12noon Hike started from Lepo Bunga @ 1700m asl 
0230pm Arrived at Batu Linalit @ 2205m asl (actual 7600 ft/ 2255m asl)
0345pm Arrived at Church Camp, Reked Meligan @ 2085m asl

0630pm ETA Last person in team to arrive at Church Camp
0630am Summit hike @ 2370m asl (actual 7950ft/ 2424m asl) being the tallest mountain in Sarawak
(Bakelalan ppl started as early as 5am - still raining!)
1255noon Prayer service over, 1145am Arrived at Summit, Prayer service ongoing since 11am

descend
0130pm Lunch  
0530pm Arrived at Church Camp
0600pm ETA last person in team






















This is a Christian prayer revival meeting that held every 2 years. This year is at Mt Murut, and next year will be at Bakelalan.
A total of 800 + delegates came for the meeting this year. Two years ago, it was 700+. They came from all walks of age, tribe and nation. The oldest probably 70 years old, and the youngest 2 years old. The Revival Meeting encourages to bring their children along. 

It was an eye-opening trip especially the services and worship are conducted in Malay language (with interpretation in English), in addition to different kind of living environment.  To me, I thought I could adapt to it easily as I had been camping on high altitude. The difference was the extreme weather affected my skin; and the outside public toilet that was strictly to be used; and sleep late, rise early! The coldest is at 16 degrees Celcius, the warmer at 19 degrees Celcius.

The first night revealed that God is our provider when we found out that our porters could only bring our bags containing sleeping bags and warm change the next early morning! Thankfully, our host has extra mats and blankets; and the host family also has extra clothing to be loaned to my team members in wet trekking attire. Thank to Adam for telling me to bring sleeping bag and warm attire along before we started hike, due to insufficient porters. For those who are fit and seasoned climbers, it is advised that they carry their own backpacks as the porters are limited and had to go through muddy trail. A physically fit or seasoned climber could reach Church Camp from Lepo Bunga less than 4 hours (non fit will take 6-7 hours); and from Church Camp to Summit takes 7 hours return in daypack but I took 9 hours return in daypack probably due to crowds and extreme weather change.

The Lunbawangs and other delegates sharing under one roof with us were friendly. When I arrived at Church Camp, I wasn't sure where I would be staying; so I asked the delegates who arrived there earlier of the location of our host. Everyone knew where the host's house. Cooking for 30 ppl done by paid cooks was an efficient job in between tight church services. Not only efficient, but also delicious. The whole Church Camp experience came as a homestay with the local natives that led simple life, the praying on the mountaintop, and 3+ hours church worship and prayer sessions (altogether about 6 sessions).

I felt much of God's presence when I reached the Summit. The ladies in front of me were tired and exhausted, yet they kept on going, and sang praises. Worship became more melodious ringing into my ears everywhere. Many people were hunger for God. They knew that every step of journey comes with hardship and God knew that. When I came down, I saw more of orchids than when ascend time; and felt the soaking of Holy Spirit rain. It was tough under the rain as the summit trail became soft and muddier as compared to the trail from Lepo Bunga to Church Camp.

an encounter with the Lord - Mt Murut

Mount Murud is a sandstone mountain located in Sarawak. At 2,423 m, it is the second highest mountain in Borneo and the highest in Sarawak. Once upon a time this mountain was intensely feared by the inhabitants of the surrounding villages. It was called Gunung Hantu and the mere mention of it brought fear and doom. In fact no one dared to look or even point their finger at the mountain for fear of demonic reprisals and certain death. In short it was a stronghold of darkness oppressing all the villagers that lived under its dark shadow.

But today this mountain has become a holy mountain – a sanctuary of the Most High God. Everyone coming to this mountain can feel the joy, the peace and the tangible presence of the Lord. My husband and I were so blessed this year to make a journey to Mount Murud. It was a holy encounter that renewed our love for Jesus as well as refreshed us with a sense of awe and reverence for the Lord!

What is it that causes pilgrims to Mt Murud to have such a holy encounter?

The secret lies in the lives of the Ibus and the Bapas of the Bekelalan revival that took place over 30 years ago. They are the custodians of the mountain. For the last four decades they have lived a consecrated and devoted life to the Lord. This year is the 40^th anniversary of the Bekelalan revival. One generation has passed but the spirit of the revival has not.

When I reflect on the lives of these godly men and women three distinct characteristics stand out.

Firstly there is this hunger and passion for God. No matter what happens they start the day by coming together at 5am to pray. Not satisfied with that many of them will spend days in fasting and seeking the Lord. The yearly Mt Murud prayer conferenceis merely an extension of this lifestyle.

Secondly there is a deep humility and dependence on God. When they were preparing for the Mt Murud conference they spent months seeking the Lord for which person they should invite and even who would be allowed to minister at the altars. It is this spirit of brokenness and humility that allows Jesus to take center stage in all their decision making. For them it is not just a song they sing but a belief they live out.

What is the evidence of this? Looking at the logistics of organizing the Mt Murud Prayer Conference it astounds me as to how on earth did they know how to feed and house 700 delegates with no prior registration. The delegates came from all over the world. Mt Murudis  a mountain cut off from the outside world and only accessible by foot. There is no wifi, no telecommunication and recourse for back up plans!! For these godly men and women God is their back up plan! No wonder they went about their hosting with calm, warmth and amazing  hospitality. It was a sharp contrast to the stress we often feel when we organize conferences – inspite of our slick organization and great technology!  

But what impacted me the most was the way the people honored God. On Mt Murud everything was done  to honor the Lord. Our hosts not only cooked for us but would also wake up at 4am for morning prayer.  I was deeply impressed that every act was done in an act of worship – from carrying supplies up the mountain, to cooking and the disposal of rubbish, to welcoming us into their homes all was done as an act of worship unto the Lord!!

It was no wonder then that by the time we went to the worship service the whole atmosphere was filled with a deep presence and reverence of God. When worship started it was evident that the focus was only on the Lord Almighty and nothing could take His place. No credit was given to any human being – not  even the invited speakers names were mentioned. No mention was made of any special guest even though in our midst were the ex -bishop of the Methodist church and the president of SIB Sarawak.  Indeed God alone was honored and all of us worshippers fixed our whole attention on Him and Him alone!

When instructions were given to the delegates on how to honor God no one felt offended but rather they felt this was the honorable thing to do before an Almighty God! All of us were left standing in awe and reverence in the Presence of a Holy God.

What did I learn from this visit? For me I realized how important it is to honor our Lord when we come to worship Him. When we honor Him greatly we will also encounter Him. This is what worship is really all about. Indeed worship is never about just singing  songsor going through all the motions that make up a service. Worship is not worship unless God is revered, honored and loved.  Worship is an encounter with the Living God. But how can that be unless we His people long for Him, hunger and thirst for Him and seek to honor Him above all else like the villagers of Bekelalan.

picked from SIBKL website