Dear Mandy...

Well, it's been quite a time! Merry Christmas eve to one and all!

The last week has been rather busy for me... Helping the 25th SC with their OGL training, and they're all really nice and adorable people, the Councillors. Haha... had quite a good time bonding with them, and just enjoying time spent with them. =)

Following which, I helped sis bring around the delegates who came to NUS for the congress... So it was like I was a tour guide bringing people around Singapore.. where did we go? Well.. Esplanade, the Merlion, Singapore River, Chinatown and Orchard Road. It was tiring, to say the least, but I did a bit of Christmas shopping for myself! Haha.. bought a book called "Love Letters of Great Men".. who said that great men cannot be romantics?!? Hahahaa.. =) The wonders of a love letter. Well, that aside... I did enjoy myself, but all glory to God. I had prayed a lot over this event, because let's face it.. I'm definitely not a qualified tour guide, what with my limited knowledge of information, and also the last minute research.. nahhhz.. don't think I'm qualified. BUt the Lord was with me, because I kept interceding when I had the chance, praying quietly... and the feedback about the trip to the organisers was that it was really good. Which really, is glory to God.

Thursday I met Celestine for dinner.. and it was... an interesting day, if I do say so myself. Hahaha.. Over a survey where I was asked questions on the recession by this NUS Engine girl... but well, the details are between Celeste, myself, and a few others who know. Hahaha... had dinner at MOF, and the food is quite good! Hahaha.. it was nice, really, catching up with Celeste... who's a really great friend.

Friday I cut my hair, so now, I basically have a haircut that really isn't my norm. Haha.. it shocked Yan Xi when I turned up at Pastor's house for Christmas dinner, and everyone basically were surprised at my new, daring haircut. Joel, Xiaoyun and Isaac liked the haircut though, but I guess it's going to take some getting used to. The party at Pastor's house was really simple, yet warm. We played board games, and the food was nice! Then, we had a time of worship, and thanksgiving. I guess I really have a lot to thank, now that I think about it... for my exchange, for my growth, for the tribe, for the journies in life that the Lord has taken me through, and seen me through. We closed off the session by praying for each other, and then we left. =)

Saturday was preparation for the senior cluster Christmas party, and it was at Vanessa's house. I LOVE VANESSA'S HOUSE! Goodness... going to upload some pictures to show the party.

The Christmas tree

Everyone crowding around the tree to check presents!

Wei Lin and I

Well, the party went really well. The food was really good, and above all else, I just enjoyed the homely feeling, and how everyone came and mingled, talked, caught up... it was great. =)

Sunday was Christmas service, and I felt so blessed. =) It was a good service by Pastor Khong, and though a bit tired, but I still enjoyed the Christmas songs, and the joy of the spirit of Christmas. Met Joel and Isaac for breakfast before that, and well, it was a really good time of catching up and talking! Had some conviction about stuff, but above all else, it was definitely a time that called for much reflection.

Monday I went for a run, and then I met Joel for dinner. Over bak chor mee and Ben and Jerry's ice cream (WHOOPEE!!), I had a heart to heart talk and caught up with my cell leader, who's pretty much been an integral part of my spiritual walk thus far. =)

Tuesday was a whole half day with Yvette, Isaac and Xiaoyun, though Isaac and Xiaoyun turned up much later, but I enjoyed catching up with Yvette! What with running around Bugis area, trying to find a dessert stall, to settling at Crystal Jade for some high tea... and a bit of emo-ing moments.. to going down to Chomp Chomp for food!! Hahaha.. it was definitely a wonderful wonderful day..

The desserts at Ah Chew Dessert Stall

Xiaoyun and Yvette over the huge mug of sugar cane

XIaoyun and Yvette over the stingray and kangkong

The fried Hokkien Mee that was voted best dish by most of us

Yvette and Wei Liang

Isaac and Yvette

Xiaoyun and Yvette

Yvette and I

I am going to miss Yvette when she goes for her exchange, being honest. This great friend who's been there for me during the moments where I was really struggling to move on, and heal. Well, do take care of yourself when you leave, make sure you come back safe and sound! May God be with you as you embark on a new chapter of your academic life! =) God bless!

Merry Christmas eve to everyone once again!

Dear Mandy..

The last few days have been a rather eventful one... =)

I spent Friday night at a planning meeting for the Cluster "My Hope" program, and I really hope that it will attain it's objective! I really enjoy working with Rachel, Alicia, Isaac, Zhen Zhu and Xiaoyun.. and well, after that, I went for the Step Up "MY Hope" as well. It was... a night of mixed emotions, I'd say. I did enjoy the time spent with the kids, and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.. but there were times when I felt the kids were a bit hard to handle also. And of course, the little surprises like how a student from a school I used to teach appeared at the party. It was really a night of little wonders and surprises.. one that I enjoy much.

On Saturday, I spent it with Xiaoyun, Rachel, Wei Liang and Isaac at Xiaoyun's house. We spent time at AMK HUb first, buying stuff ffor the dish that we were going to cook for dinner. And then, we went to Xiaoyun's house. We spent a lot of time preparing the dish and even cooking it... and then. we watched "Love Actually" cause Xiaoyun hadn't watched it before. Here's pictorial proof!!

Rachel, me and Wei Liang cooking the stuff!

Me and Isaac cooking!

This is the end product!!!

To be honest? The dish was great! ANd Xiaoyun's father is a great cook! Salmon was great, and the vegetables..? Niceeee... haha... Just had a great time eating and just chilling... was a great way to refresh yourself.

Went for service today, but not before chauffeuring Sis to the airport so she can pick up the Thai delegates coming for the congress that starts tomorrow... And then, I just enjoyd the worship today throughly! Seriously! And I found myself really immersed in Pastor Eugene's message today.. it was a timely reminder for us to ask ourselves just what Christmas is all about... and is God really the priority of our lives? It's something I want to ask myself and check my heart everyday about.

Then, we celebrated Felicia's birthday, before we went to have our cluster meeting.. the meeting was a relatively good one, being honest. We ironed out a lot of things, and managed to even come to conclusions on much of the decisions that we needed to make. Was quite happy with the progress actually. =)

Then, headed down with Wei Liang and Rachel to City Hall - Wei Liang to buy some working trousers, and Rachel for Council dinner later. Had some sharing time with Rachel along the way, and well, Rachel, cheer up yeah? =) Met Kristy then, and then, I bought maccaroons to make Rachel smile... =)

The Councillors came one by one, and we had an attendance of 12 today!! Amazing stuff! And XuWen turned up too!! =) It was really a happy moment for me. We went to Shokudo at Raffles City Shopping Centre, and we ended up talking, eating and catching up on lost moments.

My beloved 20th SC Councillors!!

We moved to Starbucks after that, and we continued our conversation there... but honestly, I'm really glad that I organised this outing. I enjoy catching up with these people.. special people to me, because they are my family for 2 years in VJC. We went through much joy and tears together, and we've come a fairly long way! Of course, one of my closest friends of all, Kristy Koh is there, and my close male friends like Joel and Edrei are also in this group of close friends. And there's Rachel, a friend who's also my close sister in Christ.. I really just enjoy meeting up with them. They're an amazing bunch of individuals... really really just... =)

XuWen and I... Really funny how me managed to cross paths recently!

Kristy and I... one of my closest friends about.. one I'd run to when I've got problems. =)

I guess.. despite all of us walking different paths of life now... some working, some just graduated, some about to graduate... I'm just thankful for the fact that we're still close knit, and we make an effort to meet up once in a while...

Once a Councillor, always a Councillor, I guess? =)

Dear Mandy..

Been spending the last few days reflecting and thinking through a lot of things, especially some things that happened over the weekend at Kota Tinggi, and I find myself confused and in some sense, in deep thought.

Feedback, receptivity and all that... who determines what and how it goes? I've always believed that every situation calls for a different approach, and the way I portray myself often goes to lengths that I don't think about. Perhaps it's time to take a look at those lengths, but one thing is for sure.. when I believe in something, I don't back down from it unless something proves it otherwise. It is in things that I believe strongly in that I refuse to listen to feedback that makes me short of achieving that expected perfection. I am open in terms of other things that I know need the feedback, but am less receptive in things I hold dear to me.

Many a time, I've wondered and pondered... what if the Lord takes it away from me? How would I react? And I guess that the one thing that I probably wouldn't get over would be if the Lord took Himself away from me. Take VJC away from me, take my close friends away from me... I'd be devastated? But life would still go on. But without the Lord.. I don't know. And yet, there are so many times I've fallen short of the Lord's reach, and yet, by His grace, I am still saved. I just need to really get back a hold on that promise of the Lord.

People may say the things they want to say. But I will first endeavour to seek first His righteousness. And even if the path that I am to take may end up with many obstacles and dead ends.. I believe that as long as I walk the path the Lord wants me to walk, I will overcome. Even if it faces adversity from all angles from the people who just don't understand.

I am not the same person I was 9 years ago. I may retain some of the salient traits, and some flaws are still recalcitrant. I will attempt to improve. But don't judge me based on the me I was 9 years ago.

Dear Mandy..

Celebrate the end of exams with a movie.. at my own home, on my own laptop. And I watched a show that was screened in 2001 starring John Kusack and Kate Beckinsale, entitled "Serendipity"
The synopsis is as follows:

"After the long-delayed Town and Country, director Peter Chelsom turns in his second 2001 effort with this love-at-first-sight romantic comedy that revolves around fate, destiny, and chance. Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) are two New Yorkers already in relationships when they meet one another, each reaching for the last pair of cashmere gloves at a department store. Over coffee, they strike up an intimate conversation, and Jonathan thinks they should see each other again. Unconvinced, Sara arranges an elaborate series of "fate" games; if they're meant to be together, she reasons, she and Jonathan will receive some sort of sign in the future. Flash forward several years, and the two are at opposite ends of the country -- Jonathan in New York and Sara in San Francisco, both engaged to be married. Still, neither can shake the memory of their chance encounter, and they both enlist their best friends (Molly Shannon and Jeremy Piven) to help them find their true love again. Serendipity had its Gala World Premiere at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival."

This show, in summary, talks about holding out for that one true love that you believe is the one. Let's face it.. which normal person in their normal minds would hold out, search relentlessly, including taking the subway from New York to Brooklyn to Manhattan and back, flying all the way out to San Francisco I think... and even calling off your own wedding in the end, on the morning of the wedding, because you realise that you are hopelessly waiting for a girl you spent a few hours with a few years ago? Well, the main protagonist, Jonathan did that.

And then... which girl would fly out to New York when she's getting married in a week, run all over the place, get off a plane in the last throes before take off, and go running without a jacket in Winter to the central park? Well, the female protagonist, Sara, did just that.

This movie is touching, and surprisingly light-hearted. It's a story of missed chances, but yet, a fairy tale happy ending. Life's little misgivings that co-join together to culminate in a great, happy ending. It's movies like these that make me remember that love is really great. Of course, movies tend to exaggerate things, and rarely are they the correct portrayal of what not... but I do get renewed hope when I watch such movies. I don't know if this only applies to a minority... but I still am an optimist when it comes to affairs of the heart. =)

See what happens as God's plan? That although there are times when we keep searching, but we just don't find the answer that we need. or the thing we're looking for? It's at times, when we learn to give it up, believe that it's lost, that the Lord will bring it back to us. The Lord's timing is at times... difficult to hold on to, but when it does come, you'll realise it comes at the most beautiful timing... =)

Ecclesiastes 3:!1
"He has made everything beautiful in His time. He has also st eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

I will be patient and believe. =)