Down payment of a promise

What a day!

I got a call from Jenny of Armour Publishing telling me that a major bookstore chain in Singapore responded to their publicity blitz to retailers introducing my Moken book. Jenny said that the purchasing executive picked my book out of the many that they had marketed. The retailer asked how they could work together to do a book launch for it. While nothing is set in concrete and it is all still in the very early negotiation stages, it’s really encouraging to see that things are moving.

Jenny said that she had completed reading Aunty’s story. She said that Aunty is amazing. She also said that it was very well written.

Yesterday, Christina also from Armour Publishing had called to say that she was going for a book publishers conference in Orlando, and if I’d be open to have the Moken book published under Armour Publishing if she could find an international publisher who would be interested in the book. She said that the story is unique and that there might be someone who would be interested.

My heart is celebrating. But it’s not just because the Moken book is gaining attention, but because God is fulfilling his promise to me.

Last year when I completed the publication of my book, many people asked when I would write my next book. I felt really pressured and asked God what he would have me do. In January, I felt him telling me that this is not my year for writing. And that I was to focus on promoting the Moken book.

But work and everything else got in the way. I tried knocking on doors but nothing opened up. More than half a year went by and I didn’t see any progress with the marketing. When Aunty was here, I told her about this. Aunty prayed that God would open doors. I didn’t see how it could happen.

And then suddenly things are happening. I can only attribute it all to God. I know he has special plans to use Aunty’s story. I just happen to be placed here to enjoy what he wants to do. What a privilege.

Thank you Jesus.

I have a dream

Two weeks ago I spoke to a friend. I said, “I want to know what God’s will is for me.” I have so many things I want to do. I feel the weight of my many gifts and talents. Where should my focus be?

My friend turned around and asked me, “What do YOU want to do?”

Oops. Now that’s a different story!

He said, “If God were to asked you, ‘Angel, what do you want me to do for you?’ what would you ask him?“

Hmmm. This might sound strange but I guess the truth is, I feel better NOT knowing his will for me because it keeps me from taking responsibility for my own life and decisions (mistakes and failures). As long as I don’t know, I can stay play it safe and stay put where I am.

“Angel, what do you want me to do for you?”

I’ve been making a list. Not a haphazard but a carefully thought through one. Here’s one that I added to my list two days ago…

I have a dream. I want to write a whole series of “_____’s story as told to Angeline Koh.”

It was so fulfilling writing, “How the Moken Sea Gypsies got their Book — Naw Say Bay’s story as told to Angeline Koh.” It will happen all in his time.

My first PayPal customer!

I got back from our staff retreat with Jan Johnson and Ron Benett to discover in my email that a perfect stranger had stumbled upon my Moken website and bought the book! I asked him how he found the site and here’s his reply…

Hi Angeline,

My name is ___ .

So, here is the way God lead me to this book. I was taking a class at my church on Missions, and we were studying how missions come together, from God’s will, to resources, through the planning process. For God’s reasons I was able to pick the area that I would research and the pastor/teacher picked the area for the other 3 people in my class. I chose Phuket, Thailand.

Prior to God taking me out of the world and opening my eyes to His love and provision I was in the US Navy and I vacationed in Phuket on several occasions and I remember the many good people there caught up in the sin and immorality that I was also a part of. I even remember two Christians handing out tracks there in the evening where all the bars are.

I did some research on the Joshua project website and I think it was there when I was steered toward the Moken people. I had not even heard of them until then. So, I needed to find out more about the Moken people. I found out that these people did not have much of an written language and very few people spoke their language.

While being [with the] Sea Gypsies and moving around I thought to myself, Lord, you have called us out to preach the Gospel to all, How Lord do you use us to preach the Gospel to a people that we cannot communicate to? I then continued to search for more information about the Moken people not 10 minutes later I ended up on your website and read the excerpt from your book.

God you answered my question, You live with, love and immerse yourself in the culture. Just as Jesus came to us in Love and immersed himself in our culture. What an awesome privilege to be taught by the Holy Spirit.

So I also looked at the Navigators website. It really opened my eyes to what we all should be doing. Going out and not only preaching the Gospel with our words but sacrificially living the Gospel all to Glorify God not ourselves. I looked for the book in many places in the US and no one had it.

Thank you for telling her story.

May God Bless you and Keep you.
Matt 22:37-39