My Murud 2023 experience: Goo-gle vs God-gle

2013, 2015, 2017 – Attended Murud Prayer Conference.

2019 – I struggled and went against the Lord’s calling to go to Murud.  I told God, nope, I didn’t want to scale up and down the mountain just to meet Him anymore!

2021 – Covid.  No Murud Prayer Conference on the Mountain.  My heart broke a little.  I missed being in His presence on the mountain.  Thank God for technology, we had it online instead.

You know you are missing Murud when you're craving luncheon meat!  Such a luxury.

August 2022 – Got the dates for the Murud Prayer Conference in 2023.  God didn’t even have to push me this time.  I gladly and immediately got my flight ticket.  I tried to bring along a few friends, but none were interested at that time as it was too early (one year ahead!).  But I told God, it didn’t matter.  Even if I were to go alone, I would happily go.  I had only wanted to come to His feet and basked in His presence.

The first time translating for Ps. Julison in TMC due to unforeseen circumstances.

March 2023 – Team from Ba Kelalan came to minister in TMC.  The main speaker fell ill and the accompanying Pastor took over to share for all the sessions.  He spoke in BM.  Guess who had to be translator?  Me!  Fear and trembling experience for both speaker and translator.  But God is good.  He was our strength and wisdom.  Little did we know that was only a sneak-peak of what is yet to come.

Translating for Ps Julison again in TMC.  This sealed the deal for Murud.

May 2023 – The committee of Murud Prayer Conference approached me to be one of the translators for the sessions.  After much prayer and struggling with the Lord, I accepted the task with fear and trembling. 

As the dates for the conference drew near, my heart was filled with excitement and apprehension.  Excitement to be back on the mountain, despite knowing how tough the hike would be.  Apprehension, because after attending for many years, I knew that the entrusted task of translation was not to be taken lightly.

July 2023 – The month.  Nerve-wracking, both spiritually and physically.  Heard from relatives in Ba’Kelalan that there was telephone / internet line on the mountain, unlike previous years, as they had set up a tower in Bario and were receiving signals.  I sighed.  I sighed because I didn’t want to have a connection with the outside world whilst I was there, but at the same time, I sighed of relief.  Bittersweet.  Thank God I thought.  At least I can Google for words that I didn’t know when I was doing my translation.

16 July 2023 – No speaker notes or slides have been received.  I WhatsApped a dear friend, “I don’t want to go Murud tomorrow, I’m scared”.  But of course, no turning back, no turning back.

A smiley translator doesn't mean a less-than-nervous translator!

17 July 2023.  Here we go! Like it or not, we were on our way to the Mountain.  As we took the flight arriving on the morning, we were able to hike up to the Church Camp on the same day.  However, we started late and only managed to reach the church camp at 8pm.  Stories for another day.  Buzz me up, come let’s have coffee and I’ll share those stories with you.

18 July 2023 – T-1 before Conference start.  No sign of any text from Speakers.  Dying inside from anxiety, and yet knowing that my God who is full of wisdom and knowledge will be my help in the works He had entrusted me with.

Session 1 with Pastor Bina.  The most memorable was him saying Jesus enter Jerusalem on kuda and I was like "on a horse???"  Thanking God for Pr. Dave in the background who kept the AV running.

 19 July 2023 – Session 1.  I finally got my notes.  A mere hours before the first session that I was supposed to translate.  I couldn’t settle down that afternoon and went to the church early.  I tried as much as I could to translate the materials and prepare for the night session.  I almost broke down in tears as in that stress of limited time, there were words that I couldn’t figure out.  In my desperation, I turned on my mobile phone, which I didn’t want to and tried to Google for words.  Yes, there was line.  But the signal was weak from where I was sitting.  I prayed to God, seeking His mercy and His help.  In His gentle, soft voice He asked me, “My child, Goo-gle or God-gle?  Will you surrender all and depend on me fully?”.  I broke down and repented, turned off my mobile, and continued on the slide depending fully and only on Him.

Was it tough to translate? 

It was, challenging.  We are so used to modern conveniences that we can just reach out to help us.  To only depend on God-gle, now that’s something as scary as day!

It was, most of all, humbling.  We are so used to be in control, able to figure almost everything on our own, being the tough one, not asking for anyone’s help. At times when I was loss for a word on the pulpit, it was all the brothers and sisters in the congregation who helped by throwing in the right word.  When I was flustered in my own world, preparing for the sessions in the church alone, God sent so many people, strangers, who would just walk over and lay a hand and say a prayer over me, even at in the darkness of 5am. Sometimes, one would pray, and before I knew it, the voices around me grew more and by the time I opened my eyes, there were too many to count.  I’m sure they can see how terrified this translator must have been!  For all these prayers, seen or unseen, I am truly grateful for, because I know, God had surely answered their prayers.  When I was nervous, God had placed familiar faces of brothers and sisters in the midst of 700 pax to know that I am never alone.

My take-away from Murud 2023?  God-gle.  Depend on God in everything.  Not only in translating.  In every.single.thing.  It doesn’t matter if you have 2G, 3G, 4G or 5G.  The most important connection you should have is with the one and only G.  God.