Kuala Lumpur Happenings :
Hosts: Chin Sui and Tizzey Yu
We are enjoying being with this normal Malaysian Chinese family. They have enfolded us into the group with great hospitality and kindness. Great
food Chinese/Malay with lots of fresh fruit a great delight to Janette. Chin Sui is diligent in making contacts and opening doors in his Church, with some Non C
linkages going back to families in Surrey, Canada and then our other major interest Dr Stephen Tee of the Asia Pacific Seminary. Saturday out for Dim Sum in the
familiar crowded noisy Hong Kong style. A grander dinner at the Magic Wok in the evening to meet with Dr Stephen Tee then the Chinese lady judge and her
husband.
Eating together being very much part of Chinese community life. A great variety – breakfast on dosa Sth Indian style. Lunch Chinese and Malay; a special treat with
the Chinese relative friends with the cuisine of Nyonya. Coming from Malaka where in history a Sultan married a Chinese princess and so brought into Malaya a strong
Chinese element which in this case moulded and merged into the Malay. Not so true today as the Chinese do not wish to integrate seeing themselves rather as a
strong economic and social minority with limited interest in the Muslim identity.
Asia Pacific Seminary
Seminar
Two evenings 2x 2 hours before a group of well qualified professional people with vital interests in spiritual growth and outreach; some preparing
for early retirement linked in with the Malaysian system where 55 is the recognized age.The ideas presented were not entirely new but the context and presentation
captured thir interest leading to a lively discussion on the merits of the Homogenous Unit Church approach of the major groupings with Hindu and Muslim peoples.
Not enough time to really develop it but a good start into the type of presentation the Gospel should take in reaching the major religious groups. The present
intellectual western approach has yielded little result. A more power centered rescue gospel majoring on deliverance from the forces and powers that limit people
was suggested. Further involvement could mean developing online internet courses for the D Min program in Anthropology and Mission. Agreement was reached on
format now a question of getting to work and producing the material then later introducing it to the students.
Lunch Hour Christian Business Groups
Most linked up to the Full Gospel Business men’s Fellowship, more of the attendees women! The sense of being linked to a world wide group brings great security to
Chinese who often feel threatened in this country with its Malay political dominance. Most of them are doing well economically and in careers but past history of
communal stresses has a huge overhang. There is a need to contextualize more into the local environment to respond to its dynamics. This may only happen slowly
and may even require another vehicle!
Colin’s Ph D Program
Alan Robson: An interesting interlude to meet with this man who has been recommended by Michael Howard my Ph.D. supervisor in
Surrey. He turned out to be a craggy NZ er dressed in shorts, white beard and shirt. He was leaving that night to take the overnight train to Butterworth near Penang
and then on into Southern Thailand.
A colorful character who has had a Maori wife related he says to the redoubtable Te Rauparaha who conquered the other tribes in the Nth Island
before the arrival of the British. Now herself a judge dealing with immigration cases in the NZ courts and political system.
He is a Professor who has taught in Suva, Fiji and Port Moresby , Papua New Guinea now a consultant to an NGO run by George Soros, the
financier. The NGO seeking to provide educational opportunities to capable Asians from this area with the expectation of injecting more democratic ideas and ideals
in these societies many of which are autocracies run for the benefit of elites. He sought to establish his agnostic credentials although did say his wife was a
committed Anglican. Intriguing dynamics as he is referring me on to Barry Kirkwood another N Zer living in Chiang Mai. This man is interested in part time work with
the Soros NGO . Alan says working with me is a way of returning to academic establishment. So we shall see how it all works through next week.
Chiang Mai
The distances may not be so great but the long waits for planes and connections meant a long day; beginning at 06.00 in Kuala Lumpur. Air Asia answered to its
promise arriving and taking off on time. A change of airports in Bangkok as well as a 4 hour wait over saw us on Nok Air for Chiang Mai. Some muddle over
telephone numbers but finally with joy we found Barry Kirkwood!
Barry was encouraging about the thesis believing that with some work and his input it can be made into the required document. So light at end of this long 8 year
tunnel. His history like that of Alan Robson, a colorful one. Before coming here he lived on Waiheke Island in Auckland harbor NZ. His appointment prior to meeting
me at a Tai Chi class where he has found great happiness in the small group of people and the instructor. Learning Thai he is remaking life again. Two daughters
working in London. He was uncertain about his future but may do some work with Alan Robson
Janette met some old friends, staying in the house Jayne a MK from Nepal with links in Nth Ireland. A girl who has not yet found herself so good to have this contact.
Then Sheila Wynn who goes back a long time Bhutan, Cyprus now linked to Friends of China in personnel in Chiang Mai.
Air Asia is an experience! Air Asia is a real budget airline like Easy Jet in UK. No seat allocations, no food, no headsets, no extras, walking out to the plane. The plane
arrived at 09.45 and then took off again at 10.05 to land in K L at its appointed time. Not at the grand International terminal with its long corridors, duty free shops,
high priced restaurants etc but alongside the domestic terminal to stop off the plane; a short walk all very utility but fast and away! The most amazing thing was to see
the plane crew working almost all of the 1.5 hour flight serving food with costs around ground prices. Meticulously picking up all the garbage en flight then to see the
head man don a pair of plastic gloves; pour Dettol into a plastic cup and go and clean up the toilet just before landing. No cleaning crew came aboard, instead they
took on the next batch of passengers and were airborne within the required 15-25 mins. A new generation of air travel is being developed alongside the more
sophisticated type for business travelers.