Old Folks Home Visit

Yesterday, 10th August 2014, I experienced my first ever visit to a home. Can you believe it? In 18 years of my life I've never done this before. 

Homeless. 

I actually wouldn't consider them homeless because they are living in a home and not living on the streets. Nonetheless, it still saddens me to see people being left in homes that are not theirs. If you know what I mean. Seeing some of the people in the old folks home yesterday, I observed that some of them are not very old. Don't you think it's pretty sad that the not-so-old people being put in an old folks home? Some of them I reckon could live another 10 to 20 years. Being in an old folks home for 10 to 20 years is a pretty long time don't you think?

One of the questions that were asked to the kids and youths who visited the old folks home before we left were

"Why do we visit the old folks home?"

To be honest, I've never thought about it. I ask myself why. Sometimes, as a church, we do things out of obligations. We often give cliche answers when questioned. Eg: "Because Jesus loves the less fortunate." or "Because we want to show them God's love." Yes. The answers are true but how often to we really mean what we say? Do we really love the less fortunate like how Jesus loves them or do we love the less fortunate because don't want to look like a "bad christian"? Are we really going there to show them God's love or are we just going there for the sake of going there? 

My own experience

I'm not sure if you ever noticed but some of this people living in the old folks home are actually lonely and some of them have very low self-esteem. One of the uncles that I was helping during craft time broke my heart a little when I was talking to him. Though the craft was easy, I could see that he perceives himself as useless because of the pessimism that he shows. He kept saying "I did it wrongly. It can't be successful." and it saddens me a lot as I tried to encourage him as we were doing. I kept telling him that he was doing an amazing job and he kept smiling and laughing. He then went on to tell me that he has been staying the in the home for quite some time now and he doesn't have any friends. All he does there is watch tv.

Come to think of it now, my heart breaks. He kept asking me where do I live and due to communication barriers. I don't know if he understood. I think that he keeps asking the same question over and over again is because he longs for a companion. Someone he could often talk to. Someone that actually cares for him. 

One thing that I regret the most about yesterday is not really connecting with the old people due to the craft issues and communication barriers. I would say that I wasn't mentally prepared to do what I was supposed to do. I did not give my all and that really sucks. I hope that next year would be better.

For more pictures and videos of the song we sang, please visit Wesley Klang Sunday School facebook page

Croaking in My Head

I truly think that I'm out of my mind. I know what I want. I want to be free. Which job will I study that I won't get tied down? Nothing I presume. 

Currently sitting at the balcony watching a crow and feeling the wind blow. It feels good. It feels right. Always loved nature. I believe that I always will. 

I just went for an interview for degree in primary education in Taylor's and hmmm it is persuasive but I'm too hard headed to be moved. It's too difficult. Circumstances doesn't suit me. With lack of resources I know it's going to be a struggle. But the fruit of the labour will be rewarding. 

I think I'm pretty sure of what I want to do and what I can do now. Hope that my heart doesn't do me wrong. God please lead me. Please guide me. I really don't want to go against your plans. 

Still struggling. Still thinking. Still praying

I know it's a little late. Whoops let me rephrase. I know it's SUPER LATE! but hey it's still 2014 and it's worth welcoming. WELCOME 2014 ☺☺☺ 7 months has gone by and the 8th month of the year is here. Which simply means it's the month where the best babies were/are/going to be born. August babies are the best. Being too bias here. I know. 

Went through so many many many ups and downs in life this year that I think this is the most ups and downs I've gone through. Well, who ever said that life was perfect? NOT ME. But no matter how many ups and downs we may face in life, it gives me peace to know that God is always with me. He is always faithful and His grace is everlasting. 

So the "torture" of being in a ever so cina college surrounded with some not so cina amazing, lovely people. Yes! I've finished my pre-u. Though I kinda missed studying a lot, I'm thankful that I passed the almost unpassable (Why is there no such word?) subject that I never thought I would pass. I was so prepared for sem4 but WOW. This is a miracle that only God could do. Thank You Daddy above ☺

I've left UTAR for 3 months now and I've not started uni or anything. 3 months of being on holiday, the golden question that everybody asks is "So what are you doing now?" Well to answer that question, it's not that hard to guess. What I'm doing is what you're seeing me do. Standing, sitting, eating, talking, answering your question. But on the more serious note, I'm working. Yes I got my very first job in the 18 years of my life. Sadly, my answers are never satisfying enough, the next question they will ask is "So what do you plan to do?" This may be the most hated question in history of hated questions for those who are still thinking what they want to do. The answer to this question is simple. 3 words "I DON'T KNOW" Sad huh. 

2 questions that people need to stop being insensitive to when you ask someone who just finish pre-u. 

1) So what are you doing now?

2) So what do you plan to do?

On a side note, I really don't know what to do and I don't know what I want to be and I don't know what I see myself doing in 5 years time. I know I'm running out of time but I think I would rather think through what I want to do than to jump into a course that I might later on regret. I rather waste half a year thinking than 3 years regretting. Well I guess my current status now is "Still struggling. Still thinking. Still praying." 

Thank You 2013

Well, this is it. This is the last day of 2013. If you've not finish cancelling all those things from your 2013 new years resolution or set your 2014 new years resolution, you have less than 24 hours to do so. Have fun. 

Anyway, as 2013 draws to a close I really want to thank God for all the blessings and blessings in disguise throughout this year. I would say 2013 has been the best year of this 18 years of living on planet earth. It's a year with the most special, lovely, memorable, amazing and blessed memories that I had and I believe that there's more to come in the following years. Definitely a lifetime worth living. 

Here are some highlights for this year. I know I won't be able to list all of them so I'll just share the ones that left the biggest impact on me in chronological order. 

My JS Family

Was MIA from home during the first 2 months of 2013. Some may have known where was I missing to while some I was simply gone with the wind after high school.

Just so you know I did not die during the first 2 months of 2013, I was in Jeremiah School aka JS. NO it's nothing like National Service (NS) and it's

Twinny

nothing like jail. Technically I learnt a lot from JS. From theological stuff (OT, NT, Methodism, Spiritual Warfare) to psychological stuff (How to manage your emotions, Resolving conflicts) to personal stuff (BGR, Family, Love). My favorite part of JS definitely wasn't washing hand washing my own clothes nor is it beach day but it was the Quiet Retreats. During Quiet Retreats, we were not allowed to communicate with anybody for 11 and a half hours, only time with God. I remember during one of the Quiet Retreats, the mentors led us in a meditation on Psalm 23. Let's say Psalm 23 is a familiar passage of scripture to me yet this time while it was being read over and over again and we were led walking through a field and several stairs with our eyes closed by a rod, I felt God asking me 'Do you not trust me enough?' and that was my biggest melting point.

Not-So-Little Little Brother

I've been wrestling with God for quite some time about ministries and studies and I was reminded to trust God because "He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake". When we were given time for our own meditation during the Quiet Retreat, I really felt God's presence through nature. I could just stare at the sea for hours and think of God's goodness. I really enjoy being close to nature because to me it's like being part of the original sight when there was no buildings or pollution. It was just like being in the Garden of Eden. Only God and us. No distractions.

Weekend Visitation (Kuala Lipis)

One of the things I enjoyed the most were weekend visitations where we get to visit different churches every weekend. Though all the churches we visited are part of TRAC, it's still kinda different in the sense like how the service is run and the culture of the people from the place. Not only that we got to meet old and new faces we met from camps and events. We also got to bond with each other more as a JS family. 

Learnt so many things in JS. The discipline and the fellowship shall not be forgotten. And I thank God that through JS, I've found my twinny, my sisters, my brothers, my mentors, my friends, and my God. Love all you 24+6+those-who-come-and-go. Thank you for being part of my life and thank you for journeying with me in my walk with Daddy.

 After JS I came home to find the youths in church doing pretty well. There was initial hurt when I came back because of expectations but the love showered down by church members and some of my mates after that was incredible. It definitely brighten me up. So I had 2 to 3 months of free time, hence, I finally got my license, found a college, went on a holiday, plan for a rally, went for youth camp, planned an Easter sketch for the kids, visited my CF, and got my SPM results. No biggy.

Then it all ended when I started this thing called college. College=A whole new world. Yes hear me sing!!!! College was literally a whole new world in a good way and also in a bad way. Before I started college, many warned me about the potential dangers in college but it's not that bad. Well at least not in the college that I'm in.

First Friends in College (The Es)

 College, college. During my first day of college, I always feared that it's going to be high school all over again. All the cina-cina people means I won't have any friends but I really thank God that He placed me in a class with amazing people. Amazing ENGLISH SPEAKING people. I also thank God for the nice-lecturer-turned-monster lecturer (if you know what I mean) because if it wasn't for her we wouldn't even be so close today. Looking back at all the memories of this 2 semester in college, I can't help but be thankful for all that He's given me. Sem 1 was amazing despite of the long long breaks, it really helped us to bond a lot in college. The sleepless nights, the google hangouts, the sleepovers, the movies, and the assignments. Sem 2 was indescribable. The assignments drove me crazy, the timetable was satisfying, the lecturers were amazing, and the conflicts were............ anyhow, after 2 semesters, I learned who to trust as friends and who to trust in assignments. I also learnt that college is about the survival of the fittest but I believe that we all can be the fittest and we all can survive if we work together, work hard and work smart. 

Without college, I wouldn't have met my cookie. This guy has been my greatest blessing of 2013. I really thank God for him and I couldn't ask for more. We've been through thick and thin together. He's seen things in me that I don't even see. He's taught me to be strong and to see the light of things instead of the shadows. He's taught me how to love and how to trust. He's taught me how to give and take, to accept love freely. Most importantly he taught me to open up and to smile through the storms. Many times we fight and there are times where it seems like there's no hope but in the end there's always a rainbow. This cookie of mine took me to places I've never been just so I could experience what he has experienced. The heart of gold that I don't deserve yet he is willing to go beyond the borders to captivate me, always going the extra mile just to see me smile. To my mirror that I always want to see smile, he has the smile that could melt even the hardest hard. If you were to ask me what's my best memory with him I would say it was during his birthday at the park where we just walked aimlessly surrounded by greenery and when we reached a place, he just carried me and twirled me around. I always wished that we had a camera then to capture that perfect scene when the time seemed to have stopped and everything seemed so perfect. But it's okay that sight has already been engraved in my heart. 

I'm sorry for the times that I hurt you or disappoint you. The truth is I always wanted the best for you just as you want the best for me. Seeing this baby smile is like seeing the light shine. So here's to the 6 months; to be exact here's to the 197 days of love and blessing you have given me. I'm looking forward to spending days with you.

So as 2013 draws to an end, I really thank God for each and every one of you who come and go in my life and I pray that you'll have blessed years ahead. Each of you are significant whether you admit it or not. Continue to be a blessing. I would also like to apologize to those whom I've hurt or offended in any way. Please forgive me. And to those who still hold grudges I pray that you'll find heart to forgive and be forgiven because Jesus had died so that we could be forgiven and that we could forgive.

Bukit Cahaya

My Queen & My Cookie

Sisters From Another Mother

Sticks and Stones May Break Our Bones but Jesus Holds Us Together

Broga 

Eugene's Birthday

Christy's Birthday

My Favorite Slide

Feliz Navidad

I know it's a little past Christmas to wish everybody a very blessed Christmas but Christmas is always in my heart because Christ lives in me.

Let's say Christmas this year didn't go that well for me. Wasn't really feeling myself during Christmas week. My emotions was like a out of control roller coaster which most of the time just goes down and down and down but nonetheless I'm thankful for all that's happened because at the end of the storm there will always be a rainbow. And the rainbow reminds me that God's promises are true and that He is always faithful.

Since my uni's finals was a week before Christmas, I didn't have time to do my Christmas shopping so this year, I decided to bake cookies to bless some people who had been a blessing in my life. So I spent the afternoon of my Christmas Eve baking 3 trays of these babies. Haven't been baking cookies for some time now. Glad that they turned out fine. 

I'm sure many of you had a very blessed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family and friends and I'm happy for you though Christmas wasn't as Christmassy for me this year. Lots of tears shed and lots of space to be filled in my heart. Okay! Enough out with the sad thoughts, in with the happy thoughts.

As usual spent my Christmas morning in church. This year's Christmas Musical was entitled Legacy of Love. The children sounded incredible and I'm sure many were blessed. Just to give you a little background of the musical, it's about living a legacy of love. I'm sure you're not blind to see that this world is so lacked of love. We see things like corruption, murder, hurt and pain in this world. We live in such a godless world where people are so focussed on wealth and success and have forgotten about love. Living a legacy of love doesn't require us to do big things like giving away all your money to help the poor or becoming a monk or something. Living a legacy of love simply means loving people around us. Even a simple act of kindness like thanking the cleaner in your school or helping an old lady cross the road is enough to leave a legacy of love in their lives. Small things can lead to something great. It doesn't matter if we don't see the person that we helped again but you have left an impact in his/her life. You have left a legacy of love because you live a legacy of love.

I have made a commitment on Christmas morning that I will dedicate my life to live out a legacy of love. Most of you may know that I want to pursue a degree in education but only a few of you know the reason. I've got a calling from God to go into the education line since I was 15 or 16 but I had denied this calling till I was 17. Throughout the period of running away from this calling like how Jonah ran away when God called him to go to Nineveh, God was merciful and again and again He showed me and prepared me for this calling. He gave me a heart of people, a heart to reach out to children. He gave me eyes to see how terrible the education system is. Moreover, He put people in my life to emphasize the calling and encourage me to pursue this calling. Even till now, God has been constantly reaffirming me and providing a way to fulfill this calling. Right now, my motivation of entering the education line is because of Christ. I want to live a life not to pursue wealth but live a life that has meaning, to invest my live in the lives of others, to leave a legacy of love in the life of the next generation. It's time to give back what I have been blessed with. 

The Hallelujah Kids' Choir presents Legacy of Love

Ps: Look out for the Christmas Musical (Legacy of Love) by the Hallelujah Kids' Choir at our very own YouTube Page

VBS 2013 God's Incredibles

As usual VBS is something I look forward to every year. The reason why is simply because of the kids and because of God.

I grew up in VBS. Never missed a year since I was 4 or 5 except for 1 year where I had to go for YLDP. Anyway, to sum it all up I've gone through 14 VBS and it was all incredible. Loved VBS to the bits. 

So here's a little insight on VBS. VBS is short for Vacation Bible School which in simpler terms it's a 5 days children's camp held in church. When I was a kid, VBS was all about fun. Praise and worship, aerobics, puppet shows, game time, cheer, and of course lessons. As I grew older, VBS meant kiasu because we always want to win. A competitive mindset that Ps Nicholas say we could all gain Singapore citizenship because we kiasu and kiasi. That's somehow true but kiasu-ness aside, we could really see the difference between kids back then and kids now and also kids learning and desiring more of Christ which is the most important part of VBS.

Every VBS we have a theme and many teams. This year our theme was God's Incredibles. Often when we think of superheros, we think of characters like Spiderman, Superman, Batman and all sort of Marvel characters or other cartoon heros like Mr Incredible and many others that are fictional. Little did we realize that in this life, in this earth, there all real superheros and incredibles. No, they don't fly and no, they don't have superpowers like we expect but they are just ordinary people like you and me. People who are willing to make a difference in our society, people who are willing to make a difference in the lives of others. 

5 incredible people that we learn during VBS were:

• Friendly Abe (Abraham)
• Adorable Mae (Mary)
• Incredible Josh (Jesus)
• Trusted Rita (Ruth)
• Humble Moss (Moses)

And if you realize, this people that we've learnt about are real people with real stories. Ordinary people that are called by God to do extraordinary things. When God called, they obeyed and they did what they were called to do in FAITH. Each of them had tremendous faith and their faith had brought them a long way till now their stories has been passed down generations to generations and they are role models to ordinary people like us which God can call to do extraordinary things.

In this year's VBS, we were taught 3 simple words that we should always remember and hold on to. These words BELIEVE, BEHAVE, BECOME. You might think that these are just like any other words that we use everyday but these 3 words have incredible meaning. We were taught to BELIEVE in Christ and when we believe in Christ we are called children of Christ and as a child of Christ we are called to BEHAVE like one. Show good fruits and then we should learn to BECOME more like Christ, living a life as a living testimony so that other may see and they too may believe, behave and become.

In all the years of VBS, this year, the kids were given time to hear from God and respond to God and testify. Believe me the outcome was incredible. It has reminded me once again that I worship a true God, a living God and a incredible God. We see kids testifying about God asking them to change how they behave, we see kids testifying about the things that God has shown them and we see kids testifying about how God asked her to pray for the victims of the typhoon in Philippines, we see kids testifying about God assuring her that He's not going to let her talent go to waste, and we see kids testifying about hearing God calling him by name. These are just ordinary kids, ordinary people like you and I and God spoke to them and they heard from God, they saw from God and they responded to God. If these kids can hear from God I believe that we too can hear from God when we are still.

What touched me the most during this VBS was during a time Praise and Worship. There was a time when the music just stopped playing all of a sudden yet the children continued singing with their eyes closed and knees bowed. On bended knees they were singing their hearts out. I'm sure they've touched the heart of God. Hearing them singing "From my heart to the heavens Jesus be the center. It's all about You. Yes it's all about You." again and again it was such a beautiful sight to see. Their childlike faith melted my heart. So proud of my little angels. Truly it's all about Jesus. 

I'm truly thankful that I went for VBS despite of the contemplating. Being able to go to VBS this year was truly an answered prayer because before college started I prayed that if God is willing and if He wants me to go He would provide a way, provide a week without classes. When time came I was still unsure whether to go for VBS due to reasons like having finals the week after VBS and so I prayed once again that He will provide me with good midterm results and He did. So I really really thank God for His goodness to me allowing me to experience Him in a whole new level. Thanks be to God Who is worthy to be praised.

Super Leaders and Advisors

Leaders and Advisor of Optimus Lime

Leaders and Helpers Praying Every Morning

Night Games

Puppet Time

Time of Testimony

Team ELASTIC GOLD

Team CYAN MAN

Team WOLVERED

Team OPTIMUS LIME


Click here for more pictures of VBS

I Had A Dream

I had a dream last night. A dream that has left me in the pit today. That dream is somehow like a forecast of what will happen. Something connected to what I'm going through right now.

2 nights ago, I was in my room, minding my own business after dinner with my aunt when I heard my mum screaming at my dad downstairs. I didn't hear a word from my dad but I know what was the argument about. I don't understand why are human beings always divided by money? Why has money become so important in life that without it we can't live? The same money that can be used to save can be used to kill. I know that my dad is in debt and my mum refuses to help. What I don't know is why.

So last night I had a dream. I was sleeping over my friend's house supposedly to do our assignments but we didn't even start. Having difficulties to fall asleep, I slept at 4 after watching Soul Surfer. And I had a dream or you may call it a nightmare. I remember it vaguely.

In the dream, my dad was picking me up from somewhere. I knew my dad was upset yet he didn't say a word. He just started speeding and speeding till everything was at maximum. The turnings were sharp and I saw sparks. I kept shouting daddy! daddy! but he just went faster and faster. In my mind, I imagined myself at the verge of death. I didn't know what to do. Pulling the handbrake didn't work so I pushed the gear to Park. It didn't make sense but the car stopped. I shouted at my dad I remember very clearly the words I told him. "Daddy, I know you're going through a hard time. I'm going to help you. I going to get the money and everything's going to be all right." My dad nodded and tears were rolling down our face. The next thing I knew I woke up.

To be honest, I seriously don't know what will happen next. The future is full of uncertainties yet I want to learn to trust God. I want to trust that He is in control. I want to trust that He can deliver us. I want to trust that He will walk with through the storm.

There will always be a rainbow after the storm.