PELITA - The Methodist Church Newsletter
Listed below are articles abstracted from past issues of PELITA
01 Jan 2013
January 2013 - Blessed Beyond Measure:
An Interview with a MYF Member
20-year–old Christine Wong Siaw Wei will read medicine in the prestigious world-renowned Cambridge University this September. The effervescent, top all-rounder JPA scholar from Miri has a zest for life and glorifies God for her excellent accomplishments, James TC Wong discovers.
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“I was not born a genius. I am not gifted in music or in sports. I am just a child of God.” |
I arranged to meet Christine at the new McDonald’s at the Petronas Petrol Station near Columbia Asia Medical Center. Arriving on time, Christine was immediately recognizable by her simple-yet-nice turquoise-colored blouse and dazzling smile.
I praised Christine for her punctuality. Will your Mom be here later for a photo shoot? I asked. I had earlier arranged a mother-and-daughter photo to go with the interview. She said yes and thanked me warmly for the lunch invite.
We ordered double cheeseburgers, started eating and chatting.
The early years
Born to Wong Ing Mow and Sim Soon Gim, Christine is the youngest child of her three other siblings. Her parents, originally from Sibu, are now retired. Being part of a church-going family, attending worship service during Sundays was the norm for Christine. But for some unknown reason, the Wongs stopped attending church when Christine was in Primary Four.
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“For some unknown reason, my family and I stopped going to church when I was about 10 years old.” |
“Once I was caned 22 times consecutively by my teacher because my results were really bad - it was common to see red-ink grades in my report cards,” confessed Christine.
“I liked dancing and public speaking but never did anything to pursue these interests. On hindsight, I suppose you could say that I had no motivation to excel in anything in my early years. The change came after that. Even my peers in secondary school noticed the late bloomer in me,” continued Christine.
Turning point
In secondary school, things took a drastic turn for the better. Motivated with a purpose and plan, Christine began to put in a conscientious effort into her studies. She was determined to toil harder albeit without private tuition classes.
Well-articulated and academically-inclined, Christine participated in competitive events like public speaking, science quizzes and softball competitions. Fueled by the desire to be the best, Christine became the top student in her cohort every year and was unstoppable in winning various extra-curricular competitions. Her indomitable spirit was recognized and she received many awards from her school and other organizations.
Emptiness
Despite all the success, strangely, Christine felt no peace and joy in her heart. Worse still, she was constantly under pressure to maintain her good grades due to peer-rivalry in school.
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"I was friendly at a superficial level to my peers and rivals, and strangely I felt empty inside in my heart despite all the accolades." |
Christine was quick to declare that God showed His love and faithfulness by sending a very good friend to her at the right time. Kho Ee Ping understood the terrible state of Christine’s spiritual life and invited the latter to the once-a-week Youth Fellowship at Mei Ann Methodist Church. Not wanting to be alone on Saturday nights, Christine agreed to join – and yes, apparently for the wrong reason.
Going the extra mile, Kho would fetch Christine to attend the Sunday worship service regularly. Deeply encouraged by her friend’s act of love, Christine even joined the church youth choir.
“One night during the Youth Fellowship in 2008, I was at a low point burdened with a lot stress from my studies. Feeling increasingly desperate, I cried out to the Lord to forgive my faults and frailties while we were worship-singing. I wanted to give everything up and I needed a new purpose. Tears came pouring out and all of a sudden, I experienced peace and liberation in my heart.”
Christine added, “In a heartbeat, the Lord Jesus became the center and purpose in my life.”
More storms in life are inevitable and Christine was relieved that she no longer had to carry the burden by herself. All she had to do was to surrender everything to the Lord Jesus.
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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” |
Answered prayer
While waiting for her SPM results, Christine asked God for a direction. God, what is your pathway for me? she prayed in earnest. At first there was no sign so Christine chose to do the South Australian Matriculation (SAM) program under Tan Sri Dato Dr Loy Hean Heong Merit Scholarship in Taylor’s College, Subang Jaya. Christine chose this option in the hope of eventually reading medicine in Australia but at the back of her mind, the potential financial burden on her parents and working siblings troubled her.
In 2009, more than 465,000 students sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). 7,987 students scored straight A’s in all the subjects they took. Another 214 students scored A+ (above 90% marks) in all subjects. The crème de la crème top academic cohort was overwhelmingly competitive, to say the least.
Little did Christine realize what God’s greater plan for her was.
As expected, Christine scored 12A+ in her SPM but she was still unplaced in the national Top 30 Scholars list. A student in the Top 30 could choose any discipline or top university in the world of his or her choice, with no bond fulfillment requirement with the sponsor upon graduation.
Miracles do happen! By God’s grace, in June 2010, Christine received a call from the Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) informing her that she was included in the country’s top 30 when two recipients had turned down the offer and opted for another prestigious scholarship from Bank Negara.
Immediately Christine declared unabashedly that it was the greatest miracle in her life!
As a recipient of the prestigious JPA Top 30 scholarship, Christine switched from her SAM program to Cambridge GCE A-Levels without having to change college. Scoring 4A*s in Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, Christine was awarded the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards in Best in Malaysia (Mathematics). She also earned a place to read medicine in the prestigious Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
Another two awards Christine holds dear to her heart are the Taylor’s International Model United Nations Conference 2012 “Most Diplomatic Speaker” and “Best Position Paper”.
“I was in the Human Rights Council representing Chile, and we were debating about human trafficking and torture as a practice in the global community. I did participate in several conferences before but this is the one I enjoyed most.”
“Because of His grace, I can now pursue my passion in the university and country I have not even dared to dream of. To choose any course I want, to study anywhere I want, without any bond with the sponsor - God has His way of performing miracles,” she praised God.
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“Now I am no longer afraid because I know God will provide.” |
Christine hopes she can be a living testimony to glorify God. “I am young and lack wisdom. I realize my limitations and I need to rely on God, to fear HIM, to be in full submission, to trust and be humble in all circumstances. I will continue to learn to live as a living testimony for Him.”
A new chapter now opens for Christine as she heads to Cambridge. She endeavors to do her best so that her family and country will be proud of her.
“More importantly, I will be righteous and truthful in all my thoughts, deeds and actions to glorify God. He has blessed me in so many ways throughout my journey. Personal awards and achievements may be a great way to glorify God explicitly but I believe the way we live our daily life is a better example to our community, especially to non-Christians.”
“I dare not think that my story would be a touching inspiration to anyone but I earnestly hope it is evident that God’s grace is often more than what we could ever fathom – yes, God’s grace is ever overflowing,” summed up Christine.
Too often we fail to see that God’s giving extends far beyond all we can imagine. But not Christine.
Surely we can expect more good things from this child of God in the bright years ahead of her.
A faithful worshiper in Grace Methodist Church, Christine was among the 15 congregational members baptized last May by Rev. Lisa Ting.