Dear Mandy...

The view of sunrise from my lodging

Well, as the time in Victoria goes on, it becomes increasingly busy, as the workload increases, and the assignments get more colourful. But through it all, I'm rather amazed by God's wonderful grace. I took the model that PS Khong recommended in his sermon on the 13th Sept, and it's been difficult initially? But as I kept at it, I started to be more and more honest with God, and heard even more clearly what God wants to tell me. It's like when there's a need to reply the Lord, I am more sensitive to what He would want to say. And ever since.. it's been a romance journey with the Lord. =) Great! =)

Then of course, the school work. I found it an irony when I got 36/50 for a test, but it's a B- grade here. Haha... yes, there's no bell curve here, everything is what you've got is what you get. Hmm.. It's got its pros and cons I guess, but to get an A, I've gotta score 85/100. =S hahaha... even a 72 is a B-... so I'd need like... 75 for a B and 80 for a B+. Haven't done such systematic grading for some time, so it's a rather refreshing experience actually, if you ask me. =) Having to work doubly hard all over again.. haha... I wonder if what happened at A levels would actually resurface sometimes.

But then the Lord affirms me by saying that He will provide for me. So I shall trust and walk by faith. And I never ever thought, that on a sunday morning, I can sit in the sunshine, and be typing this blog entry to you. I'm rather amazed... this is a lifestyle that I could definitely get used to. My landlords, Jim and Nicola are really friendly and amazing people. I really like them. =) I can talk freely with them about anything and everything, and they're just such a homely and friendly couple... I'm really thanking and praising God for such an arrangement.

I went whale watching yesterday, and I really marvel at God's creations. Humpback whales, killer whales, poposies and seals were all spotted yesterday as we were in the Zodiac boat. And it was awesome! Really great. I marvelled so much at the Lord's creation, because it's something that I'm pretty certain I won't get to see all that often. But as I was on the boat, and we moved out into the sea, Juliet told me "wah.. the ocean is so big.." and a song came to mind... Lee Ann Womack's "I hope you dance".. and with that song, the semantic correlation would be to Prisc. Haha.. so I took a picture of the ocean, and then wrote "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean" as its caption, and then posted it on facebook. Haha.. but upon further thought, I kinda realised that indeed... God may have made us the ruler over His creations? But His majesty is shown when we see an ocean so vast, to only know that we're just like a little ant, in a world so big.

"How great Thou art!" And as well as "Oh Lord, how majestic is Your name" came to mind. But in all honesty, as the boat headed back to Victoria, and we saw the mainshore, I told Juliet "it's kind of welcome back to reality", as we knew that what awaited us were assignments, deadlines and more readings and catching up to do. It was kind of a demoralising factor.

This morning, I watched FCBC's sermon for 20th Sep by PS Ashley Evans, and he reminded us that "praise comes first". It was quite a sequential sermon, but the part where he says that praise will get rid of depression spoke to me. I may be in a difficult situation, but I will praise the Lrod, because this is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalms 119). So I'll remember to praise God in all circumstances. =)

I miss everyone back home! Pearlyn Ong called me stoopid.. haha.. Jas!! Help me get some revenge on Pearl!! =P Hahha.. but that aside, BKC is dearly missed. =) Jasmine, Pearlyn, Rashidah and Isaac.. haha... it's been quite weird not having them in my classes... but I'm going to be optimistic because I know that I'll be linking and meeting them pretty soon before long, and I want to believe that our friendship is going to be one that goes beyond NUS. In fact, I think it's definitely possible, given how wonderful and reciprocative these people are. =) Missing you peeps!!

DEBORAH HENDRICKS!!! How to do your survey when you don't send me the file!!??? And u know that there's always something called email, so the word docu can get to me in any way? =P But I'm really excited seeing how you've grown in the Lord! Haha.. continue to shine and walk close to Him. =) I know great things are destined by God for you. =)

And of course. I miss the tribe. Rawr!! Hahah.. and a lot of new things are happening at home as well... haha.. what they are? I shan't say... but the new addition of an animal to the household does make things rather.. interesting. Hahahah... but overall, I am enjoying my time here, and I should take time off to enjoy and take in the sights and sounds of Victoria. Despite the overwhelming workload, I am resolved to take my own moments. =P

Alright.. with every darkest night, take heart, for the dawn will soon come. God will see me through. =)

Dear Mandy...

I've already spent close to 2 weeks here in Victoria, Canada, and well, the mixed feelings are finally starting to settle in. =)


Don't get me wrong, I love the place. Victoria is a beautiful beautiful place, and the air is so fresh here, and the university has all these cute little bunnies that keep jumping and frolicking around.. the university itself is a tranquil state of being, rather than a stressed up series of events that make for a potential stressful situation than anything else. Perhaps I'm just being biased because of the fact that Singapore is a place where to stay in the game, we've gotta be ahead of the normal world average by at least a couple of steps, but this break is something... really something.

Of course, that doesn't mean I don't miss the people back home, as well as certain things like the food, and the other what nots like church, like cell, like studying in VJC. I especially miss Audrey (my chipmunk and awfully close junior and friend), Kaiting and Yvonne (I think they call themselves my guardian angels.. haha..), Vette and Prisc (my two closest church friends), Zhiyuan, Jacob and Joel Teng (my closest male friends, and my mentor), and how can I forget my beloved 20th SC, and the quiet, comforting people like Gayne and Deborah? Haha.. there's a whole list if I were to list them out, definitely.. and it wouldn't be countable with both hands and feet.

I realised how much the quote I placed on facebook "the beauty of the moment seemingly lessened without the ones you love" impacted me last week when I saw yesterday my new lodging and the running route, and then realising that there's really no one here in Canada that I'd really want to share my emotions with. Then thank God, Vette was online? And I just shared with Vette.. and the two of us had a moment of sharing. =) My silly emo-buddy is adorably silly. Haha.. =P

One cannot help but marvel at God's creation of wonderful nature, but I also feel that my season here, God is teaching and moulding me a lot. I'm having to confront much discomfort here in Victoria and UVic... and it's somewhat starting all over again to a certain extent, but by the grace of God, everything has been going smoothly, and has worked out in one way or another. I'm really thankful, and just when I thought that I wouldn't have a chance to practice guitar.. lo and behold, there's a guitar in my new lodging that I can use. Haha.. I'll worship God in quiet and in truth. =P

To everyone who comes by this almost inactive blog.. thanks for being such avid readers! Haha.. God bless each and every one of you. =)