Level 2 : Exposure Immersion Programme

Hi all,

We had a rather busy day last Sunday with our Exposure Immersion Programme (EIP) start-up. I was really pleased to note the enthusiasm among the candidates, parents and sponsors regarding the EIP. I believe there are many parents who on their own have made it a point to get their family involved in such activities even before attending our Confirmation Programme.

I would like to share with you my experience of EIP but not one which was part of the Confirmation Programme - like you do now - but this was organised by the prayer group where I was attending. This was when I started working. We were sent out in pairs to live with, for a few days, poor families. My friend, Anne and I stayed with an old indian couple in a squatter settlement in Batang Berjuntai. We went there by public transport - an old rickety bus - at that time there were no express busses like we do today. No air-con as well. We were met by the coordinator of a group who deals with social concerns of the community in Batang Berjuntai - not from the church but from an NGO. He took us to the house - made of wood, had a well from which we had to draw water from, had no electricity but depended on a generator at night. We met this old Indian couple - and not being able to speak Tamil, we conversed in Bahasa Malaysia.
One of the things I remember was the rice which they ate. It had a strange smell but not wanting to be rude, we ate it. Another thing was the other living creatures we encountered : a frog in the bathroom and since it was kinda dark we could not really see it until we entered the bathroom and was about to bathe. At night we slept on the floor in one of the rooms and as we looked up we saw a rat running across the panels of the wall. Good thing we had a bedsheet which we used to cover ourselves - from head to toe.
They had a television set but it was not on for long as they were using the generator. Also, we learnt how to draw water from the well. Now the best impact this visit had on me was - thereafter I never saw the need to be overly conscious or concerned with things that are not necessary in this life. Also, I learnt to be thankful for the many blessings I have received in my life.

Hope to be able to share more with you sometime. Once you have done your own EIP it would be good if you could write in to me or put a comment in this blog telling of your own testimony / experienve. A good sharing / testimony would be an encouragement to others who would need to hear it.

Make a wise choice ya?

Take care and God Bless.