january...

Hello! I’m back!:)
one month is gone again…
was it fruitful? Yes! I would say it was…
last month was a very different month for me..
I experienced a lot..
I was exposed to a lot of things..
I met with different people.. people with special needs… people whom I didn’t ever think would exist?
I didn’t leave home for such a long time before…
:)

Basically, I was sent to Bethany Home in Teluk Intan. It’s a home(school) for physically challenged kids. example: kids that are suffering from down’s syndrome, ADHD, slow learners, those mentally retarded and much more.. I didn’t go alone but was accompanied by Christina and Jasmine.:)

We started of our days with a 20 minutes morning devotion with the teachers at the Home. The morning devotions there were always very refreshing- a very appropriate way to start of the day. The first day itself I was reminded to always give my best in everything I do even till the very last minute. later after devotion, the kids will normally go for their morning walks and then exercise.

First time seeing and getting “in contact” with special kids was kind of scary cause my first impression of them was that they were “scary” people, they pull your hair and they shout out of a sudden. I was quite scared of them the first day I saw them but a teacher there explained to us some things about the kids that really comforted me.

I was asked to help out in a class the first day itself. After getting along with those kids for quite some time, my “fear level of them” decreased. They were not that scary as I thought they were at first. My perspective towards them changed. Hehe.. some were quite friendly.. they like to shake hands with you when they see you in the morning. Some will great you and even smile at you:). The little little things they do really encouraged me.

Basically, teaching the kids was the main thing we did there everyday except for weekends. Weekends there was a little boring. They don’t have sports, prayer meetings and yf there for us. We had the opportunity to join their CGs on Friday nights. I was and am very encouraged by the Christians there especially those who are in the Bethany ministry. Really encouraged to see how strong in faith they are. Their hunger and love for God is what I really need to learn from.We had Saturdays all for ourselves. As for Sundays, we joined two churches and help out at the worship service.

Looking and reflecting back.. there are some things I learned and was reminded of. The first thing I learned is that.. the kids in the Home are fearfully and wonderfully mad by God. They were made in His perfect image. It was not by mistake that God made them. It was not by accident. When God made them He said they were beautiful humans:). In God’s sight, their lives really matter to Him just like how our lives matter to His. I couldn’t believe at first when Psalm 139 stuck me just like that. Many a times, we “normal human” complain that we need to be taller, slimmer, cleverer, prettier.. etc.. etc.. but looking at these kids here.. what do they ask for? They hardly complain.. some cant even express themselves- all that comes out from their month are only words with “um..” “aa”. Pondering back, I really don’t deserve everything I have now. God could have just made the choice to make me into like one of those children. But He didn’t.. what more can I complain to Him about this and that in life?


I really salute the teachers in Bethany. spending and observing how they teach the kids for about 15 days really taught me a big lesson. The teachers have such GREAT patience and love for the kids. I can see that the teachers there have the heart for these kids. they don’t look down, abuse or even give up on the kids. they even laugh and have fun with them. Though some can be quite naughty and stubborn, I can see that the teacher and disciplining them with love in their heart:). I believe these teachers are really God’s blessing in the Home.


Going so far away from home for 15 days was really my first time. I missed home cooked food. I miss mummy’s, daddy’s and didi’s presence. I miss the yfers. I started to appreciated the little little things I always took for granted. Going so far took me out from my comfort zone. Attending a Methodist church was different. The way they conduct their worship service was different. Everything was different and new. I was not used to it at first. I stared to appreciate people here who have helped me in my spiritual life. It reminded me how important it is to be spiritually grounded in faith in a young age.

Another thing I learned there was I was there to serve and not.. to be served. It’s easy to think that when we’re at a “new” place, so we need others to serve us food, we need others to give us attention instead of we taking the initiative to ask and to serve others.

Phew.. I miss that place, the time I spent there with the kids. as I was on my journey back to kluang, I was kind of “bu she de” but in the same time I wanted to go back home cause I miss home. So.. I “posted” a question to God, I told Him: (I couldn’t express myself) how how?? What is this now? Is it going to end just like that? What about the kids there? How can I “contribute”(so called la) to them? The answer I got was: if you LOVE them, you can pray for them.” Whao! That comforted me so much la..!

To sum it all.. I enjoyed my journey this whole month. I really thank God for giving me this opportunity to join YMI 2010… I believe it was God’s plan.. cause I would have just ended up at some NS camp since I was selected. I’m truly thankful that God answered my prayer:). If I didn’t join YMI.. then.. I wouldn’t have met sweet people like Tirzah:P.. blur friend like choon khai.. batman jun hao.. jasmine tai tai.. wakaka Christina..quiet people like yi chiun and xin pei.. and most importantly the things that God wanted me to learn this one whole month… I was worried at first how things would work out this year… I thank God for seeing me through part of it.

year end happenings

SPM
Looking back.. I still cant believe how I actually got through those four weeks of exams… phew… four weeks is not like four days but 28 days lieh… God was really great and faithful during my exam.. I believe He’s the One that sustained me.. carried me.. and rescued me through those days…. He brought me through the dreadful and wearisome time… He brought me through the high and low tides… especially during my bm and bk paper… I just felt so nervous.. bm maybe it’s because it was the first paper… couldn’t concentrate for the first 15 to 20 minutes.. ugh… but after that… I could concentrate like as if I was doing my normal exam paper:). Bk… I was nervous… I was/ am scared that I will failed Him again.. fail as in getting results like a C or B… I want His name to be glorified and I wanna be a good testimony to my friends around…. I still dunno what my results will be… but if I really didn’t get what I expected then.. it.. is… ok…..



After SPM.. (band practices)
It’s always fun and enjoyable to have band practices together… singing and playing and exercising our talents… but I was reminded again and again to not take this whole thing as a performance… as a show to human beings… as a time to be proud about how well I can play or maybe as a time to gain praise from others… but instead as a worship pleasing to God… sad to say… all these are always easier said than done… anyways….. you all really did a GREAT GREAT job!:)



“Undang-undang kursus”
I was left alone with strangers in the “ceramah room” all because I went in different cars with my other friends and took the “nombor” too early… ugh… I felt so horrible at first… why must I be left alone while my other friends can be together? Haha… but after thinking back…. It was not that scary at all… maybe this I just the beginning… I’ve to face more of all these things in future:p…



Caroling
:D…really look forward to caroling every year… dunno why… maybe it’s the people that made this whole event more joyous… singing carols… chit chatting… going up and down the bus… laughing… playing tambourine… teasing each other… praying for families… blessing the community…taking pictures… being ah long collecting money(:p) whao… so much more to name out… really had a woderrrffuuulll time…



One Joy One Kluang…
Everything turned upside down on the morning of 24th. In my heart I was praying that the rain would stop… if not now then later… I truly believe that God heard our prayers… and indeed the rain STOPPED:). Praise God!! Dancing with such a “big” crowd in front of me was my first experience…. The AIYAH dancers did a good job!!



CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO LOVE



After Christmas..
Got the opportunity again to catch up with my school friends… we went bowling and steam bot-ting… glad to see some of them… our hottest topic we chatted about was what our future plans were.. some said engineering.. some nursing.. some teaching.. some mass com(ing)… and much more…



The year is coming to an end… looking back… it was really a tiring… stressful… happy… pretty.. wonderful… amazing 2009.. many sweet memories to be remembered… many experiences that I’ve been challenged… many people that I’ve come across of that I need to be THANKFUL of… many fearsss that I’ve overcome(d).. many scoldingss(parents and teachers) that I’ve faced… many undesirable problems that we(5sc1) had to go through… and… the list goes on… hehe...

Treasures in Jars of Clay

In a basketball or netball game, attempts to throw the ball into the "basket" are not always successful. oftentimes, the one who attempts to score misses and he ball bounces off the rim. there is no time for the team to moan and wallow in regrets. in split seconds someone else on the team lunges towards the stray ball and makes another attempt. a successful second attempt brings applause but if this try fails too, there will be yet another effort made to score.

our lives are often like these ball games. we aim for success but are sometimes failed in our attempts to be good and righteous. we are sorely tempted to give up but Paul reminds us not to throw up our hands in despair in the face of opposition. believers can find themselves hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down but these tests are opportunities to experience the strength of the Lord in their lives.

Paul likens us to clay jars-fragile in the face of the storms of life. but the resilience of believers lies in the power that in theirs because of the death of Jesus on the cross and in the treasure of His abiding presence in their lives. moments of greatest human weakness are also moments when God's power in most gloriously expressed.

hmm.... these article was one of my QT material few months back... i wanted to post it... but didnt have the chance until now:).

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"Dependence on God is not a sign of weakness but is only the way to see more achieved through us than we will ever hope to accomplish on our own"

friendsick??

me is friendsick..


is me friendsick?...




me is missing those timess we had together yamchaing...


me is missing those timess we had sharing...


me is missing those timess we had talking on the phone...


me is missing those encouragementss you gave me...


me is missing those comfort you gave me...


me is missing those timess we laugh together...


me is missing your presence...


me is missing those m n ms you gave...


me is missing the little little gifts you gave...


me is missing smsing with you...


me is missing the timesss we walked and talked along the student's walkway...



me is missing someone to at least "lean" on...

adik saya sudah merdeka...:)
tapi...
saya belum....:(

my week

phew...
today is rest..
today is rest...
FINALLY!!..
i actually looked forward for today.hehe...
books aside...
and rest!!
how nice!!:)
this week..
macam "kempen membaca untuk peperiksaan"
ugh...
rush to finish studying.. trying to read as much as possible..
using the "full capacity" of my brain to memorize "thingsss"
it's CRAZY!!
it's ENDLESS reading!!
it's really impossible to study all la...
impossible to memorize all.. AND
impossible to understand all!
sometimes... i feel discouraged...
because no matter how much i study.. i know..somehow..
i cant reach my expectations..*why expect so much??*
i know somebody will surely be ahead of me..*why compare? i'm still learning not to*
haih...
studying everything doesn't mean you already know everything..
studying everything really doesn't guarantee good and perfect results.
phew...
i really thank God for rest today..
i overslept in the afternoon.:p hehe...
God is really an understanding God rite?
He knew that we cant work 24/7 so He said..
work 6 days and rest 1 day..
:).

......................................................................

merdeka celebration today at prime city was really good!!
seeing believers coming together to worship God really touch me...
it was just wonderfrrrfuuullll...
i don't know how to explain it with words...
but it just touch my small little heart;).

a statement..

"when you're having a headache..
Don't count the sheep...
look for the Shepherd."

Hari Kantin

FINALLY.. it’s over.. not really FINALLY lar.. didn’t want it to end so fast. Haha…

Anyway, the whole idea of setting up a stall came from Jieyi, Weishan they all.*I think* I didn’t even know all about their plans until a few days later. Hehe.. and so.. we started planning… putting them in groups.. and etc.. etc..we became busy.. busier.. and busier as the day approached. Thank God we had sufficient time for all the planning and preparations. it wasn’t very rushing:).though some undesirable things happened that made some upset and disappointed.. haiz.. I guess.. it was just part of the process… it’s all settled:).

It’s really a privilege to be the penyelaras.this is my first time planning for this kind of thing.. no experience.. a lot of decision had to be made.. it was not easy at all dealing with people, communicating with them.. sharing my ideas.. agreeing with what most agreed.. accepting not only my own ideas but also others…tolerating with them.. all this needed PATIENCE!! But.. I somehow enjoyed it.*weird*

Looking back.. I think it’s through “these times” that we get to see how we cooperate, work together and learn together. I learned that we can choose to cooperate or not to. Cooperation is a choice. cooperating with others is a choice.we cant force someone to “work” with us if that person is not willing to help.

I was really "shock" and it really put a smile on my heart when almost everyone were so willing to help out with the food… some sacrificed their time just to make samples for testing.. some sacrificed to buy all the stuff and all… AND not forgetting those who came to carry the tables on Friday though it was drizzling and the time was really ought.

“hand busy leg messy” I didn’t expect to be that busy. Hehe.. really thank God for MISS WONG!! She was really a GREAT help!! Her generosity really amaze me.

To sum up the whole event.. it was overall quite successful!!! This whole experience setting the stall up.. selling together was really FUN!!!

Thanks to…

Zheng Ru(my lovely and helpful assistant) though you were not there.. thanks for taking the trouble to buy the spoons and polystyrene.:)

Yen Li who made the flyers and all. They were nice. Very creative.

Jia wen, sock Ki and Jia Huan. You all were really very helpful. I really appreciated all you HELP!!

Aiting who helped me with the planning though she had her PBSM stall to settle.

Evonne—the high frequency!! Haha… thanks for all the laughter:).

The most important person ever… God who gave me the strength and love though it all!!

Erm.. I got 30 more to go… too many lar… I’ll stop here:).

during sunday service...

we were about to start with our praise and worship session when "out of no where"(or maybe some wherela) came two NS people. i suddenly became stunned. i said to myself:"HUH??!!0.0 why remind me again about this thing??!! fear.. i lost focus.. i almost cried... i started praying that I'll not be affected by them but to focus on God. thank God my heart tuned back to His. the songs we sang spoke to me..

haiz.. this NS thing... i admit i was/am quite troubled by it. i guess.. God really planned for me to go despite the plans I've already planned after SPM..

letting go.. letting Him take over=). i think that's much easier...

really so grateful to have such a BIG GOD... BIGGER than our problems.

NKLP

i'll try to be calm..
i'll try to be calm...

PLKN??!!!! did i really get???
though the sms said YES!!!
i'm still hoping for a NO.
haha..
sigh...
i really dun plan to go lah...
but what if God plans for me to go?
hmm...
aiyah...
i'll not think abt it for now.
=I