Royal Rangers Selangor 7

I have a feeling that we will meet again soon at the Texas Pow Wow two months from now”, the lanky German commander told me as I drove him back to commander Herbert’s house that Wednesday night.

“I would love to, but I don’t think that’s possible. I don’t think I have the funds to make it there let alone attend a camp”. My reply was skeptical.3568

“Don’t worry about it, I can help cover your cost”.

That brief conversation spurred a series of events that has given me the opportunity to thank God, for His mercies endures forever. I sit here lost for words contemplating how best to express my experience in these past months. I fear that my ramblings would hardly do justice for the blessings that God has laid before me. “3716

Late last year the wind blew in news of a great pow wow that was brewing in the lone star state. A rally of the 3 Texas districts that were going to congregate in the hallowed camp grounds of the Royal Rangers in Maypearl, Texas. I caught on the excitement of the good news, feeling a stirring in my bosom knowing that I really needed to be at that camp. The only way there however was if God extended His hand of grace and made things happen.

Well, He did. My blessing came in a form of a tall, lanky commander all the way from Germany. Christian Meuller was visiting Malaysia on his around the world tour and was a guest at Commander Herbert’s home. In preparation for his visit I volunteered to show him around the city of Kuala Lumpur. We shared with each other our joys in serving in the ministry and how great it was that around the world we have brethren that want to see boys and girls reached, taught and kept for Jesus. So on our way to Commander Herbert’s house is where the above conversation took place.

When someone offers to pay for you a huge amount of money expecting nothing in return, question marks in bold start popping over your head. The “Don’t Get Conned” alarm bells were wildly going off and the “Is This Guy For Real” sirens were blaring . This was an opportunity of a life time and here it was being handed to me from a stranger at no cost. In the limited space of my cranium here I was trying to figure what the catch was. A finite mind trying to figure out an infinite God.

From the time of that conversation till I actually purchased the ticket, I was in some form limbo. I could not afford to be here or there emotionally. I was excited as a manic moth trapped in an electrical lighting store. But like that moth I was so fearful of being fried with disappointment if this whole trip never took place. So I only shared with a few the tales of my fortune. Inside I was a little ship being tossed around in a tumultuous storm.

But then who am I to question the grace of God. All things worked out with no room for errors. My application for the US visa fell through easily. I got the blessings from Pastor Henry. I got blessings from my Senior Commander Theresa Teoh. The plane ticket was affordable. I got sponsors from my father and my aunties. All these things fit together seamlessly, like a well planned quilt, little victories that began to make up the beautiful big picture. Mind you, that I was also helping with some of the planning for the 25th Anniversary Camp. There were times when I was disheartened because I saw all the challenges blooming on the horizon and being too large for me tackle by my self. My sin was I forgot the Master Ranger.

All said and done, I set off on my adventure to The Great Texas Pow Wow aboard a Boeing 747 with the Malaysian colours emblazoned on its body. 4 hours to Taipei, Taiwan with an hour stopover and then a 15 and a half hour flight across the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean to the Tom Bradley International Airport in Los Angeles, California. All was left was a 2 and a half hour flight to Austin, Texas.

It was late when I finally walked out the gates of the airport.

My host, Commander David Kohn is a stout man not much taller than myself. He has a tussled head of silver grey hair and eyes that smiles when he’s happy. He lives with his family in a house in a farm area they bought a few years ago. David serves as the Senior Commander of his outpost. I had mixed emotions when I met his wife Laura, she seemed a lot more serious and somber. Serious and somber as I soon found out is not her forte. She has a dry and hilarious wit with the uncanny ability of keeping a straight face when she is talking about the more hilarious aspects of Texas. Matthew, his eldest is 12, Nicholas, 9 and the last, Daniel 7. Boys will be boys: read. they were fun!

I felt really welcomed into the family as they did their best to accommodate me. I was and am truly grateful for their most generous Texan hospitality, which like everything else in Texas is truly BIG.

Camp was a HOOT! The campsite was the size of SS2. There was a menagerie of RR activity everywhere. This was as close to the Big Pow Wow in the sky as I was going to get. There were golf carts and trucks ferrying boys and equipment all over the campsite. Tents were being put up and lines were forming at the registration counter. Boys were running around laughing and cajoling along the dirt roads and they disappeared into the woods to their campsites.

The night services were electric, boys were rushing to the altar and calling out for Jesus. I was counted blessed just to be able to pray with them and share with them the foot stool of Jesus. Many boys gave their lives to the Master Ranger those three nights and many of them made that “CHOICE” to live for Him. All the activities, all the programs and the fun of the day became wisps of smoke as 1250 Royal Rangers sat at the feet of Jesus and worshipped Him those nights. 3780

Think I’ve written more than I should have. But this is where I’ll end. God provided for me. And He knew what I needed and how to fill me up. And He did an amazing job. I was truly blessed. Jesus be praised. Most of the pictures are in the gallery and you can view them there. And if you want to know more, I’ll see you this Sunday at the RR meeting and I’ll tell you all about it.3843