Heh :)

One of those little special moments which I hope to remember longer :)

Reminds me to appreciate all the quiet giants in church who serve unnoticed.

Guess that I have to continue creating the sole pairs of footsteps on the less preferred path.

Jia you, victor! Jia you! Don't laze around, don't drown yourself in your negative tsunamis. Put in effort in the ministries, your work n studies! Don't give up on yourself, don't give up on the young ones!!

Stars

"Star light, star bright
Wish I may, wish I might"

I remember, I remember,
I wished that thine would shine like an ember

Lesser an angel, lesser a dream
Fulfill heart's constellations that they may be seen

Look far, a dear,
It's patterns woven on thy seams
Hidden below, no fear
a trust never so unseen

Hi there, dear heart
how long has it been
be true, to thyself
and to the maker of thy being.

=)

Feather II (and last)

And here it is, at the end of the windy road
where the paths diverge

Bid goodbyes to an unseen feather already flew away.

It will be beautiful.

It shall.

Beautiful, finally free

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-12

LongDi

Long Di came by Christine's house when morning devotion is about to end. He is thin, average height, wears specs. He is prim n proper, wears a short sleeve collared shirt tucked into his slacks. His shirt is slightly yellowish and old, looking like an aged cloth in a dusty environment.

When he first walked into the house, he seemed quiet and unassuming, like a nice quiet boy brought up from a humble family and moved to the city to further study. He studies law in the university, or maybe already graduated.

He greeted me, put his hands together, "chom-rik-sue", with a smile. His eyes lighted up upon meeting us, and we sat down in the living down. The conversation started, and this 24-year old humble young man spoke.

He talked about the ministry that he is running, trying to create avenue for young people to earn a living while furthering their studies in the city's uni after moving in from the provinces. The 3 learning centres that he is overseeing and the leaders he is training up to live a better life and impact the society. And the clear vision he has for the future.

He does not seem to express the fiery passion for God outwardly like i thought a person with his capabilities would. His tone is calm, he explains what he does like how i would talk to my friend about where to lunch out later.

And in this same unassuming, natural conversation, he ended with this last sentence which i could not remember exactly but is roughly like this:

"My life is meant to live for God, so this is what I will continue to do for His glory".

This is the 10-min conversation that shattered my pride. The many years growing up in church, eventually thinking that to live all for my King is the greatest honour and arduous journey which also command the utmost respect among the same-faith peers is actually just as simple as this - it is only the natural thing to do so.

To follow Christ, to bear his cross, to love God n love others. Isn't that what I have signed for as a Christ-follower? To follow in His footsteps, to fulfill his calling in the works of my hands, to be molded like him in mind, soul n strength could only be the only mission of my life. I can't wash my sins away, I won't earn enough to laugh at the streets of gold, I can't even do anything of my own well without living in His grace.

So this might very well be it, not about being here in Cambodia to do all the wonderful things but more than that - witnessing the lives of the quiet people who magnified Christ and changed the world, and be inspired to do so for the next 50 years of my life.

orphanage programme

e went into the 2nd phase of the mission trip, to join Christine in the Khmer ministry. Ordered about 80 crab fish & sausage sandwiches and brought it into the orphanage. Kids run out of the building to greet us & wanting to hug us even before we got down the ‘tut tut’. They lined up for the sandwiches and we hand it to them one by one, they hold their palms together n thanked us before receiving it, with such pure sincerity and appreciation that I am moved to near tears. To put it in short, we played games, sing songs, did a drama, boon fei shared a bit..

We go off again, saying byes n getting hugs.. I wouldn’t understand that significant contribution we did to impact the place, what have we done to deserve such joy n love from the kids, but while on the way of the sunset ‘tut tut’ ride to the Russian market roadside eatery stalls, it seems that the dusty air and unfamiliar surroundings have dawned on me that He breathed life into my soul. God still breathes, in every willing life, no matter in the slums or royal palace, he died so that we have the opportunity to live; or probably in my case, to see and feel His heartbeat, to learn to love and live.

*P.S. Beef noodles ‘ho sek’ & beef satay ‘ho dai’ wor..

14-28 Aug mission trip..

Pre-mission trip..

Thank God the sharing @ SDJ went well. Although i have forgotten to share my experience, hopefully the story-telling is sufficient.. Boon Fei said for 1st timer is not bad, said that i am a natural sharer... hmm..

Time passed fast and TnT Camp went by like a flash during the long weekend. A lot of good things happened and I'm glad that no matter how uncertain the future holds & how much facts and emotions fluctuate, God loves me dearly & is in control.

I just bought some dry food n wet tissues for the upcoming mission trip to Cambodia.. still have a list of ministry preparation which i haven't completed - testimony, worship leading... kid's drama, song leading, sharing, games.... drum teaching, english teaching assistance..

Want to be fully prepared, also spiritually, for this. I have always wanted to go overseas for missions, i have waited for more than 5 yrs for this....

public speaking for dummies

Internship in church just in the beginning few days has open up my eyes to the many needs of the people around me that has tumbled into the sight n ears of the church full time ppl.

actually have someone guiding in how to listen, how to respond with empathy.. it's common sense but nice to hear from someone saying it again.

tomorrow ish friday CF, need to give 20-mins worth of sharing to 80+ students!!?! so nervous, public speaking is NOT my thing.. prepare prepare prepare.....

Letting God choose..

sigh, yeah..

"We may have secret longings too deep to utter to others—perhaps a desire for marriage, or a work or ministry we’d like to perform, or a special place to serve. We must put each desire in God’s hands and pray, “Lord, You must choose for me. I will not choose for myself...”

http://odb.org/2010/05/05/letting-god-choose/

Last day e-mails..

HEY VICTOR!!!

IM SO SAD that its your last day. I will definitely miss you lots cuz you’ve always been the funny one in the office. I hope that you’ll have a great life ahead.

Hopefully we’ll meet again and wishing you all the best for ur ACCA!!!

Keep in touch k! (:

Smile always. Hahahaha

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Vic,
Congratulations :) You can finally have a good rest:)
When you come to Melbourne, let me know, dinner/ lunch is on me:)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

oh gosh i lost all the others..

Last cup

I'll just have one more, last cup of yam then, on my last day of work.. =)
Before going off to the 1-month church work and take the 1-day windsurfing course soon.. And work really hard.

Feeling down?

Things Got Ya Down? Well Then, Consider These . .


In a hospital's Intensive Care Unit, patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning, at about 11:00 am , regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought it had something to do with the super natural. No one could solve the mystery as to why the deaths occurred around 11:00 AM Sunday, so a worldwide team of experts was assembled to investigate the cause of the incidents. The next Sunday morning, a few minutes before 11:00 AM all of the doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books, and other holy objects to ward off the evil spirits. Just when the clock struck 11:00 , Jimmy Johnson, the part-time Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so he could use the vacuum cleaner.



Still Having a Bad Day?

The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez Oil spill in Alaska was $80,000.00. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were being released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view, a killer whale ate them both.


Still think you are having a Bad Day?

A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a dancing frenzy, with some kind of wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood, breaking his arm in two places. Up to that moment, he had been happily listening to his Walkman.

Are Ya OK Now? - No?

Two animal rights defenders were protesting the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn , Germany . Suddenly, all two thousand pigs broke loose and escaped through a broken fence, stampeding madly. The two helpless protesters were trampled to death.

What? STILL having a Bad Day?

Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with 'Return to Sender' stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb; he opened it and was blown to bits..

=P

Gratitude..

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

Takoyaki & yam

It's been a long time, I ate Takoyaki & enjoyed original blended yam bubble tea (which is not purple in colour).

Remembered the forgotten taste, thought about it for the longest time, and move on.





It is a beautiful Thursday morning. Looking out from my office's window, the sun is shining brightly on the city buildings, the sea, port and Sentosa island.

Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. =)

Music of my life

After all that i went through in the last 2 yrs of my 1st job, the tears & joy, it will finally come an end soon. I remember the most hectic days where even the photocopier is not fast enough to keep up with your pace, coming back to office on a sunday night just to do filing; working with my senior, manager, the client - accountant and financial controller until 10pm in Tuas to discuss the figures, going back to own office to continue work until 2am; slogging for weeks straight and finale with work until 4am and continuing at 8.30am on the following day... laughing happily n crazily with my colleague on a friday 10.30pm because we can go home early... All the insults, scoldings and stress involved with different seniors, managers, accountants, finance managers, financial controllers, directors, working with people, working alone, contacting overseas people, south africans, koreans, americans, french, australians, taiwanese, india, hong kong nationals..... went to indonesia alone, discovering discrepancies and seeing the reaction of the australian directors and worries of the indo staff.... all the hilarious antics with colleagues, crazy hours.. all the korean n japanese food....

What an adventurous ride in 2 yrs..

Quitting job by 30 July, going off for missions for probably a month, first time in my life get a laptop for myself, find new job again, finish up my studies.. Taking care of myself more...

Looking forward to some rest to counter some mental & emotional burnout, taking time to pray n seek the Lord, a weekend at tioman to meet the beach & sea, find more time to enjoy meals with close friends, hanging out with family at home, taking care of people with real needs.. Live a life again, gain new perspective, breathe some fresh air, learn to smile again.... .. to smile.. sigh, to smile..

Remembered a word from God when I was at Melbourne's great ocean road's 12 apostles early last year, as the waves crash against the beautiful statues on the sea - that He is molding me for a beautiful path, and I would not fall even as the waves continually come.

To never, ever give up.



Finally I have found a song to describe my life till now.. =)

..

Psalm 42:11

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Prov 23:23

Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.

Gifts for 2010

Lord I pray for this 3 things for 2010:

Love, wisdom & discipline