Danger; do not go!

I just came back from a short trip to Cambodia to visit our missionaries who serve in the children’s ministry.

Before I left last Wednesday, there were a few concerned people who kept telling me it’s ‘dangerous’ to go to Cambodia at this time, because of their quarrel with Thailand, and that I had to watch my step. After reassuring these folk that I would not be even remotely near or get involved in any political spat, temple disputes or border wars, I arrived in Cambodia to hear tales of how the Philippines is considered more ‘dangerous’ nowadays, because of the recent massacre of nearly 60 innocent people in Mindanao.

I find it usually amusing, but sometimes sad, that well-meaning people, including Christians, read too much newspapers or watch too much CNN and believe that the rest of the world is more dangerous than their own backyard, and that nobody should risk their lives in such places.

I am not an adventurer always wanting to look for trouble, neither do I deliberately choose to head for hotspots for no good reason. I go to Cambodia because my work for the Lord called for it. I go to the Philippines not because I want to tempt kidnappers or be the first Singaporean to be held for ransom, but because I had something to do there.

Despite all the typhoons and floods and reports of bombings, kidnappings and robbery, I had walked about and taken taxis alone, on the seemingly chaotic streets of Manila, and had never met typhoons, floods, bombs, kidnappers or robbers. Of course it might have helped that I had no sparkling bling-bling on me, and was dressed casually in cheap 100-peso clothes, and nobody guessed that my old handbag concealed a thick wad of money.

During my latest trip to Cambodia, our missionary there was expecting me to deliver about US$20,000 for the purchase of two new vans, and he had even told the van dealer his money was coming ‘from the airport’. However, on that trip, I decided to remit the US$20k the day before I flew there, instead of bringing over the cash. Thank God the signatories were available that weekday to sign the remittance.

What am I saying here? The safest place is in the center of God’s will – if He had opened the door for you to see the work in the Philippines, or serve in Cambodia, or anywhere else, I don’t think we should become too concerned with looming disasters or political turmoil, because surely He would make a way for you and keep you from any danger. In a chaotic city like Manila, be as wise as a serpent if you have to go about on your own. Do your best not to attract the wrong company, and leave the rest to God! And if you had to handle large amounts of funds which is often my responsibility, consider and utilise the best options.

The safest place IS in the center of God’s will!