Kudos to Mr D I have made my first Public Performance at Mu4 Chuan2!

Honoured to sing with the guy who sang the title track for Tong2 Xin1 Yuan2
Mr D, Yimin and CC
Yimin, CC and Sleepy Rac
Wahhahah dun play so fast...i can't sing well..
Rachel's thought bubble:"(to the tune of We will Rock you)
I will, I WILL WHACK YOU, WHACK YOU!!"
:P

Christmas Service part 1- Kopitiam Christmas 18th Dec

yesh this is a hectic weekend...we had celebrated Cheng's birthday and had a unit event on Sat...quite burnt out already...the chalet was good and we snapped many photos....do look at the Kodakgallery for more details...

We had put up a skit which depicts the main character Samantha, having to make a number of life-transforming choices. Passion or Reality?

In the play, she had to choose between being a photographer and an accountant not to mention the slew of consequences that entails each decision....

The crowd was very open to discussion and they had a really good time opening up to the life choices that they had made..made the whole event feeling more like a CG then an outreach event wow! Many hands raised up for the path where she should choose love over her passion, and there was an interesting discussion that follows when reality sets in and when there's the problem of even making ends meet...the picture that all of us painted of love is not that rosy after all...

Sandy made a good discussion topic of allowing the crowd to think regarding life choices, how our life choices may be also based on circumstantial or restrictions that our parents have imposed on us? (Sandy, please clarify...:P) That question really opens up a lot of hearts as our friends such as Jason Teo, Charles even started sharing with conviction on why they had taken up the paths they had trod on.

Interesting...feel that it was really a good chance whereby we got to know more about the perspectives of our friends and our own brothers and sisters...

we had a good long talk and by the time we were all done, we were treated with Egg Nog, and Log cakes and Chocolate Fudge cakes..can you hear the waist lines expanding? i do!!
Thanks Peiks once again for the wonderful sumptuous food!

The unit really chilled out at the chalet, all played the "Lord of the Rings" Risk while some others were facinated with Anthony and kept playing and posing with him...and gamblers were at it with cards...we were having lots of fun...

Met a saint who took the form of an uncle who helped me to get out of a very tight parking space as many ppl had illegal parked along the carpark to watch football at the Kopi tiam..All of us had tried to reverse the SUV out but no one succeeded..the uncle steady go in twist and turn twist and turn the steering..and VOLA the car edged out!! Amazing i tell you!!

Wahahah i lost my way again just to offer them a ride to Tampines MRT from Changi Village....much to the chagrin of the passengers....Dennis was super stressed sitting beside me at the front...he was so tensed that he hit the dash board a few times...*make way world for Ah Lian driver! Peikey kept up with.."Dude, we are totally lost MAN..totally..awesome..totally cooooool...totally LOST.."terrible driver, I am...

When we finally made it back home it was around 2 am...i was so stoned that i made a few wrong turns also....had to wake up early to serve in ushering...and then to a good lunch at Hans...

Some pics on Sunday... above...:P

Nice letter to Mountain Wings!! :)

Dear all,

Something very sweet ...very true of a modern mum who takes care of young children..:P quite farnie also..

Mom's Letter to Santa
======================
Dear Santa:

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured out howto attach nine patches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along withone potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting,"Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pack,the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the In-laws' house seem just like mine.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn'tlook so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always
Mom

PS One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

~Written by unknown Mom~

Harry- Movie poster 

Ron-Movie Poster 

Hermione-Movie Poster 

Hagrid and the French School master 

Victor and Hermione 

Cho Chang and Cedric Diggory 

Harry and Pavinda Patil 

Two interviews, an intern and a letter...

This has to be a most interesting week....its only midweek on Wednesday and i have already received so many blessing from God!!

Firstly, received a call on Monday for interview for a position i applied some time back as Customer Service Functional Coordinator...went to the DHL Country Office for an interview at 9 am..was so excited that i could not sleep the night and sprang up at around 615am!!

Been praying and fasting over the last few days for my job search and God indeed is faithful..He answered time and again!! Firstly the interview at DHL was going fine..Diane Hue this sis from our church came to support me from her office and talked to me while i filled up a really long questionaire..to tell you the truth..the reception already felt like home to me as i was in the DHL culture for 6 months...:P

chatted with her and found out about Diane..this sis really works very hard and its such a joy to see her around, being very encouraging to me and urging me not to be so afraid..
The interviewer was pretty amused at me choosing what he mentioned as a "basic job"
He added this comment which i later found rather interesting.."I am afraid that you would get bored with this job..."

Funnily though as i shared about my job scope and what i do in the Regional Office...he was lamenting about RO having Internet phones, cool vending machines and certainly bigger work spaces..i realised how God has pampered me the past 6 months with such luxury in the work place..whereas the Country Office has to make do with much less..He even asked me about the definitions of the reports i generated and to give analysis on the spot!! However, felt that the assurance from God not really there although its fun and interesting..:P

wah..thank God the interview was rather fast and being situated in Tai Seng, i took bus 87 home and lunched before heading back to work..

went back to office and slogged all the reports that were pending since morning...ahahah have an intern with me already..yesh she would be taking over my job..called Marlene Lee from the Netherlands...in the first part i was rather sad that my job would be taken over by interns...but realised that God had actualli planned other "doors" for me and I just need to step forth in faith...!

Hadn't got time to properly sit down with her to train her but already the other intern from Mexico kept coming to look for me to teach him the reports that i am doing...

sigh....feel a sense of "bu4 she3 de2"...

During the Christmas gift exchange today...hahah the person who got my name did not buy anything for me! wahaha he even forgotten that he got my name for the game! aiyoh...when i passed my present for the colleague..having bought a laptop bag for him...he was so happy! I realised all the months of bickering "bu shuang" will really vanish in the moments when u give a gift out of your heart to the person....I think that is what God really desires me to do also..to give out my whole heart to Him, to honour God and to proclaim Jesus out of the outflow of my heart whenever i am....when i saw my colleague, Patrick's face...it broke into a smile which i had not seen for some time le....

I wanted to get him something that he really wanted so went through the pains of getting him a nice pressie...wow...look what a difference that makes when you really want to give something from the heart...!

Went on to rehearse the skit at Cheng's house...had a lot of fun and laughter Li Siong is a real natural..you all should have seen him!! ...yeah when they all realised that the "engagement ring" that i brought for the skit is actually for my engagement all those years ago..wahahh felt that Guang Rong cannot take it..started to ask me a "qian bian" question.."really your engagement ring meh? What happened now?" wahahah...all fell silent when they saw my face..hehe..i told GR this classic line..

"I choose God lor.."

To be able to fully convicted of this decision i made 4 years ago is not without its hurts, tears and struggles and pain...how i struggled..when i looked back at the decision to fully commit my life back to God and go for water baptism on 25th March 2001..my life changed...my engagement did not happen..wahahh was telling CC if "if it really happened, u will not see me in church man!"

How God prompts you in your heart and in these major decisions of your life, career, future spouse, education...the element of seeking God must be so relevant , i cannot imagine if i had went ahead and gone to marry ...him out of my own desires...things would have been so different...Now, I would not have traded God and the joy and love that He gives for anything in the world...:P

Had a fruitful bus ride to Dhoby Ghaut with GR and shared to him this little known fact...hehe..also my aspirations and interview process ...he helped me to to see my career direction and where i wanted to go and i was really grateful for him sorting out my thoughts...:P

Reached home...saw these two envelopes "ON GOVERNMENT SERVICE"

MOE....akan datang!

Shall end off with these lovely verses that kept me feeling very comforted and assured in God once more..

"He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge."

Psalm 91:4

"Because he loves me," says the Lord,
"I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I wil deliver him and honour him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Psalm 91:14-16

When doors are open, we are to be sensative to the Holy Spirit leading ..

Received a call from DHL Country Office...

14th Dec 2005 Wednesday 9 AM

Customer Service Functional Coordinator..

Coordinate events and planning lei..i like this kinda job also lah but then kids lei? my music path lei?

Holy Spirit, lead and guide me bah...I am lost without You ..dun let my own voice lead but by Your gentle prompting and leading..."teach me to walk in Your ways so that I may gain a heart of wisdom"....:P

Pray fast, pray , pause , listen, pray, fast, pause listen...

Miss you already! :)

On Saturday, me and CC went to the airport to fetch David Lee back from Hope Santiago, Chile,

CC was having shepherding so i sat some few tables away to read "Chronicles of Narnia". In the midst of reading, could not help but noticing this really sweet "ang moh" table beside me..cos there were a couple with a new born baby and their friends sitting around the sofas at Pacific Coffee.

As i sat there observing them, they were just so happy to be with each other's presence, the couple and their friends who surrounded them..Despite the baby's brawling for attention, I really witnessed a heartwarming scene of catching up, hugging , and simply a bunch of good friends really appreciative of the moments....

When it was finally time for the friends to leave the couple, they hugged and kissed...and one last friend turned her back from them to leave...barely a few steps away..she turned back her head and shouted "I miss you already!!!..."It was just a few moments ago, she was just talking to them....and her heart already desires to be with her friends..

Moments.. How much do we take captive of every moment we have? with our parents? with our friends, even ppl whom we want to share with...

was helpin my mum to do her nails, she wants to board the plane for Taiwan today in style! :P
there..was just this moment, she turned and asked me about commitment to church,...there , that was a moment.....i immediately asked her if she believed in God and she said "No"..i was shocked..given my knowledge of her Buddhism roots...then i popped this again

"then all these years, if you have been praying to Buddha and you dun believe in the "gods" then who are you praying to?"

"I have been following this since i am a little girl..dun ask me so many questions la.."

Then the phone rang and it was a call for her...that's it..the moment slipped by before you can say "wah.." think she super smart, sensing that i want to talk to her more, she turned on the TV and started commenting on the shows....

then came the grim procedure of passing me all their "assets" all the insurance documents and papers...so scary..i assured them, my parents, i will pray for them...they would be safe...dun worry..

This morning, woke up super early around 5 plus AM to send them to the airport for their trip to Taiwan... had a good time talking to my dad about his colleague, my sisters on how they felt about the trip...then it was time to say goodbye at the departure gate...

I hugged each and everyone of them and turned to leave....wah....did not take leave cos i was going to serve in the Christmas services and also wanted to avail myself in case of any interviews....

As i walked away towards the carpark, my heart was shouting ..."I MISS YOU ALL ALREADY!!"

Funny though..even though its only for a week....its just different without your family around you....aiyah..should have echoed this thought to them before they board the plane...typical Asian behaviour where you hide your emotions? :P

Moments....take captive of every moment you have with God and with your loved ones...:)

the babes! 

the gang from CEE! 

rabbit!! 

starbucks after camp! 

on the way to church camp teaching..*yawn* just woke up... 

Appreciation for a dear friend Mingzhu :)

Today i apologise to this dear fren, i realise that i have done her a great wrong...

She has a sweet spirit you know, really pray for her to forgive for what i have done...okay, i have always put her in embarassing situations and always "set" her up with guys..very childish right? The latest being...well to protect the poor guy, i shall spare his name...wah Rachel Tham, not AGAIN? hmm...which brings me to another thinking point, why am i so excited over such things? hmmmmmmm....okay...back to Mingzhu..

It's like you are being "hantum" behind all these while and not expecting its someone who's really your fren who started it all!
Oh dear, dear me...have to slowly clear up this ...

And to think she beared with me for 2 years le!

Really dun deserve her forgiveness, Mingzhu dearie~ so sorry~ PLEASE FORGIVE ME!

This dear friend of mine have been really patient with me throughout tutorials times, study times, we have seen tears, frustration and certainly lots of hurts and mini fights in between that really made me appreciate her for who she is...of course saw all my ugly side and put with all that..what more can u ask for in a friend...Her calm and composed nature had taught me many valuable lessons, her maturity in thinking has made me realise that once she's convicted of what she knows about the Bible, and who God is ..she would be really a mighty Christian! :)

This entry is to dedicate to a dear sis and fren, may GOD bless our relationship and help us grow in God together..also to let you know, that i appreciate you and love you very much!

some pics for you taken this year...part of our history together in our Walk with God! Isn't it amazing? Let's envision for the day when we see our Civil friends all slowly come to know God!!

Nice commentary from Mountain Wings..:)

So Connected Yet So...

=======================

I was watching a commercial for digital TV when it hit me.

We are so connected.

300 channels of television

Remember when there were only ABC, NBC, and CBS? Internet that connects to the world, now at broadband speed,DSL and Cable move 50 times faster than modems two years ago.

Cell phones that keep you in touch no matter where you are,the minutes are cheaper and free at many times.

GPS tells you where you are anywhere on the face of the earth.

Two-way pagers that don't just allow you to be paged, but let you send a message back.

E-mail

Instant chat

Instant messaging

Text messaging

Voicemail

Videomail

Shirt pocket PDA's (Palm Pilots and Pocket PC's)

that are more powerful than computers of just five years ago.

We are the most connected generation ever.

What is the name of the neighbors on either side and across the street from you?

When did you last sit down and talk with them?

The human mind can only think one thought at a time.

We can multiplex thoughts and jump from one to another rather rapidly, but we can only think one thing at a time.

Maybe we can only handle just so many connections, just so many channels.

When we add one channel, we have to disconnect another.

There is just so much bandwidth in the mind and spirit.

Maybe we need to push the doorbell button next door instead of the power button because the GPS doesn't really tell us where we are.

Maybe, just maybe, it's time to change the channel.

~A MountainWings Original~

10 dollars from God!

7th December 2005 (Wednesday)

Already in Christmas mood...have been thinking of stopping work two weeks ago...

haha...applied for many jobs already no response yet, then finally plucked up the courage to apply for teaching in NIE...wanna teach kids, love kids and music...

Is it a call from You God? Can't really see my future , but i do forsee myself to do my best and see young kids touched by music..filled up the online application form with much trembling but a mixture of excitement also...

I went to meet Lee today for a short lunch...so cute both of us not enough money! i mean i needed to shop for hair accessories for my baby sis for her prom..doing her hair again...and Lee din bring money out..so we just shopped at the Aries in Raffles Place MRT.

Lee is very sweet and we had fun walking in the Raffles Exchange at the MRT station, trying all the accessories and shops..

Really running out of money lei, God, how?

I was praying this prayer to God when i was walking back to my office from Bugis MRT...

"Lord, i need to meet Dennis fren, Yimin to Mu4 Chuan2 lei tonight, if i pay so and so much, how am i going to last the month?"

At one point i dun want to miss out the chance of meeting Yimin and getting to know her better, but on the other hand i have very little money left, the rest are savings and for breakthrough giving! can't touch those...:P "Lord Jesus, do give me a job soon and let me provide for my family more! Let not my parents worry for me so much.."

Then would you believe it? The moment i finished that prayer, i found a $10 dollar note on the floor! It's near the MRT gate where you tap your farecard!! in a swift moment, bend down, plop the note in my lunch bag, tap card, go out of gentry!

Wahahah thank YOU LORD!

Another indication of how sweet and how timely God is! i was really touched! i was reminded of the verse in 2 Corinthians 10:5 " We demolish pretensions and arguments that set itself against the knowledge of God and we take captive of every thought and make it obedient to God."

Wanna really drive out all those negative thoughts and focus on God and trust even when the future is uncertain..Lord, I place my decision on Your feet, may it honour You and may it within be within Your will...

had a great time at "Mu4 Chuan2" with CC, Den and Yimin, shall blog the pics at what happ when i receive them..:P

God = Our Jehovah Jireh! :)

I am tagged :)

Just read Yi Cheng's blog after CG today ...wow true to his word he has already blogged down 5 weird things of himself!

I am tagged!!I am tagged!! What shall I do when someone tagged me? Read the rule belows. =)

Rules of the game:

1. Post 5 weird/random stuff abt yourself

2. At the end, list the names of 5 ppl who you want next to this and leave a comment "YOR ARE TAGGED" in their blogs and tell them to read your blog for rules!

wahahh..here are some weird / "random" things about myself hope that you all won't be too shocked...:P
wah have to spend some time to think lei good game Yicheng!!

1) I like to do poses in front of the mirror ie, look at my reflection whenever i pass by something reflective, eg check for hair lah, is my smile good enough? ie Ladies and Gentlemen, this is more "hiao" behaviour..wahahah..:P

2) I like to sleep with 3 pillows on, wahahh felt that one pillow is not high enough to support my head...dun ask me how i do it it works for me for so long le..:P wahahh i like to read before i sleep mah so i will prop up on pillows so before i know it its the morning le!! :P

3) I love to dance to 80's and some rock music also eg artists like Def Leppard, Firehouse, Bryan Adams, all the Hip Hop Music..I like to mimic the drums beat whenever i hear nice music blasting ..sometimes at home i will dance and go simply crazy, hope you all won't catch me in that man...

4) I absolutely love "Longans"!! the longan season is always near my birthday and i would just sit there for quite some time and FINISH the whole bunch!! love to eat it so much i can peel off the skin very fast, pop and out comes the seed!!

5)I think sometimes when i talk i actually "voice" out my random thinking...as in day dreaming stuff lah or weird thoughts, often inducing weird looks from people around me and sometimes people do not understand whatever i am trying to say..:P hang around me and you would know ahahah..:P

OKay lah the people i wanna tag...silly Yi cheng! now i cannot tag so many people le...
the 5 people i have chosen are:
Jeannie, Nancy, Kim, Nizam, Wilson

It's your turn to blog now!! :P Tag you are IT!

Embarrassing moments again!!

Gotta share with u all something really farnie today...

I was wearing this emprire cut/ baby doll top to work today..so very airy around the tummy area lah...so i stood near the "handicap" seat on the MRT reading my Bible and having a great time reading Colossians 1:11-12a.

Then ah...the train jerked and "air" seemed to get under my top, creating a momentary "pregnant" look as i lost my balance. The lady who was sleeping in the seat in front of me...suddenly jerked up and stood up immediately to offer me the seat!!!

ARGHHHHH!

I pretend not to see her do that and then this lady who was standing beside me..suddenly plonked down on the seat being offered and went "Thank you ah, Thank you ah!"

aiyoh.....*red light warning to lose some weight!!!* so embarrassing!!

:S

Changing Directions, Changing Gear

Think this song just ran through my head ..waahhaha no wonder i am so tired..wooo hoo brain activity yeah? Finally down to some exercise!! Will sing it out to you all when i see you all! :) written in the office again woo hooo...:P

This song aptly describes my emotions and feelings this period of time when I am in the midst of changing jobs and letting go of my past hurts..so decided to pen this down in a song...recorded the excerpt of it in my MP3 player..:P
TIME: 345pm, added a Bridge to my song...)

CHANGING DIRECTIONS

Verse 1

Lord I look upon Your countenance, Your beau-tiful face

And You bring me peace and comfort by the fullness of Your Grace

I was lost and misguided when I look to my own desires

But You came and pull me back from all those lies.

Verse 2

Pretty things and wonderful toys, all the things that hold me down

I find it hard to sur-render to You when all these that keep me bound

Then I heard You calling to me, telling me that You love me more

Free-ing me from these chains Lord You restore!

CHORUS:

Lord I am chang-ing directions, to find the path that You have lead me,

No longer wandering in my wil-ful-ness

Draw from Your Grace I don't deserve


Lord I am chang-ing directions, when I put You fore my life,

And I find the peace that fills me through,

And The Word that brings the light to me,

Lord, when I changed my heart.....

BRIDGE:

All the paths that I trod,

And all the roads that I took,

Could not measure to Your perfect plan for me,

It's Your face, It's Your Grace (x2)

Everyuthing that I need it's in You..

(Back to Chorus)

Its the EXAMS time for NTU!-7th Nov 2005

My dear "di di" Timo! wahah a series of shots that captures our
expressions~
The gang of us who went back at TR 130 and Seminar Room 9
Da Rachel and Xiao Rachel
NTU New believer joining us for the first time!!
Eileen, you are my only love!! miss you loads!!

Went back with a group of bros and sis who had moved on to Adults group..everything is so surreal..its just a few months ago i was with them..in this very same room Seminar room 9 mugging for my last few papers....Patrick, Guoqiang, Shen Teng, Peiru, Sharon, Patrick, Hoe Ping, Ye Xiang, Qiuyan, Huan Jie, all went together..

We bought lots of food and groceries from the supermarket, coffee, cake biscuits, "liang teh"..
These are the brothers and sisters who have been with me in my study days in NTU and how i really missed the privilege of always able to meet up every day! reminded me of the days when the whole of YA would come and bless the NTU community wahahah....

That is when i know i must learn to grow up..wahahh part of me still with them la..really encouraged to see God move in the land of NTU..having poured out 7 new babies into the group!
We were so discouraged at one point when all the graduates had moved on there would be no one left in the group...thank God for this outpouring of His grace and once again showed how wonderful it is when we moved and worked together with God in outreaching lost souls...Indeed it was really encouraging to see New believers joining the study group and share lives together!

How wonderful is fellowship..stayed for quite a while and really prayed for those who were having papers..NTU "ni yao jia you oh"!!

You Stand Alone

YOU STAND ALONE

I will lay me down

At Your feet in worship

And listen to the

Sweetest sound of all


Oh GOD You are my God

How my heart it longs for You

I'm thirsty for Your presence

In my world


I cry out night and day for more

To HOLD the majesty of YOU


MY God YOU STAND ALONE

And I worship at Your throne

I will look to see

Your power and glory

Jesus Lord of all

Jesus Lord of ALL.....

Battery NOT included!!

Story of a gal and a battery in her wallet..

she looked through her wallet the other day... this battery still sits in the coin compartment of her wallet...why does she carry a battery you would say?

Two months ago, a gal full of dreams of expectations had splurged all her money on preparation for violin exams. All that she had ever saved or earned those few months had went into the exam. The hiring of the pianist, the music lessons, the paying of the exam fees itself, the booking of the music studio to rehearse...for those few months she's really broke, scrimped on meals and stuff...so for a good two months, being so broke, she could not even afford to buy batteries for her MP3 player.

The MP3 player is absolutely essential to the musio, she would really need to really listen to the songs that are often given last minute and to figure out the chords and what to play for her violin part. Cos most of the songs do not have strings interlude in them.

So then, came one day that someone asked if she could pass all her digital photos to him for him to compile, all the photogs like to pool our photos together often we would have a good laugh at what we saw in those pictures from other units...:) of course we would share them out lah...:P Having no thumbdrive, her MP3 player serves as a detachable thumbdrive. So then this gal uploaded all her photos and passed to this someone, the MP3 player. He was shocked that she had passed him her precious MP3 player.

"You don't need to listen meh? You on duty right?"

"It's okay lah, I don't have money to buy the batteries anyway...upload already pass back to me okay?"

On duty that Sunday, the gal gets back her MP3 player and put it aside, since its a thumbdrive, the gal could pluck it out and plug it in the USB port of her computer to save on batteries!!....wahahh you would think of all the ways to save money when you are absolutely broke!

Finally got some money to buy a cheapo pack of batteries, opened the battery compartment and VOLA! There's this really "higher end" battery sitting in the player. "Eh, i dun use this brand lei, how come got this battery in the compartment?" She pressed the "ON" button, it worked...

Finally, it dawned on her, tears started to flow down her cheeks like a silly little gal...she MSN that someone whom refused to tell her where the battery come from..

"If its not you who put the battery in then it must be an ANGEL..."

"The ANGEL knows that you have no money to buy batteries, bless you with a titanium battery, lasts way longer than the normal alkaline ones.."

The gal's tears flowed, silly gal, simple acts of kindness like that do touch her, how much does God love her to grant her such small gifts to show that He cared!

For a good few months, the gal looked up to the "ANGEL" a lot, shared a lot of things to her "angel"....looking back the girl is glad that she's finally stepping outta the emotional rollercoaster ride..

Was digging into her wallet, saw the battery again, she had put it there cos she could not bear to use the gift from her "angel"....Finally took it out today, not to think about it again ..waved the battery about and told GOD about her wallet and hence forth her emotional baggage during what she would call the mini "dark ages" of her life...

"Dear LORD, Battery NOT included this time!......."

:)

Paradise Worship Seminar 2nd and 3rd Nov 2005!!

The guitarist together with the drummer, very cool rifts and coordination among the band members..they really gel together and very very tight as a band..:P
Our young aspiring drummer, Nicholas!! hee hee love this boy...worship leader Ah Long's son..:)

With Olie Sebastian and Anna Bunton..:) Olie conducted my Songwriting workshop and Anna was leading the Worship Leading workshop...really nice and friendly people...:)
Our young star..:) dun disturb me i am on duty!!! :P
Paradise Worship team came to Singapore!

have the privilege to talk to the band members to serve at the concerts and take photo with the band members! really really cool!

Loved Olie Sebastian and Pastor Paul Zaia! The worship was great too, the singers wowed the crowd with their lovely voice, the female worship leader, Anna Bunton sang very well too...
He gave a very heart warming sharing on how to write good songs for the house of the Lord and also how as musios, our passion for the Lord must be greater than the passion that we have of our skills..every word spoke to me and also he could really understand the heart of musios when we serve in a frontline ministry like that...the songs they sing are great! We have been singing of their songs for some time liao wor...example "Shout to the Lord" "You Laid Aside Your Majesty.." wahhah and we thought it was sung by the Hillsongs people!..:) they were really good stage ministers and ppl were not just awed by their voices and skills but really the anointing that flows from them and the presence of God was really great that day..

****Pssst will ushers get our rewards soon? hee hee hee...

Will share about what i learnt in another entry..enjoy some photos yeah?

Forrest Gump's Feather!!

It was one of thoes rare and lazy afternoons last Saturday i guess...i was sitting on my couch at home munching a banana...and would u believe it....asking God at the same time about my life..praying to God that He would speak to me more and reveal my weakness...why am i so emotional?

sigh....those lazy afternoons where you wanna do anything but just daydream..but this day is different...God was showing me all those flashbacks of my last few months..the mistakes that I have made...of course the joy and laughter shared...then my thoughts fall on......well......that someone and the particular phase where i was so emotionally affected...and would you believe it? When I was praying to God to heal me and to reveal to me my purpose and future...a feather fell to my shoulder! a small white sweet feather...macham Forrest Gump when he opened his book in the movie and the feather flew out.....

It was like a very sweet moment and I felt as if an angel with wings was with me at that moment...listening to me and really comforting me....all this happening when i was praying and thinking about sigh....and you would think that "aiyah that silly Rachel, sit there whole day think of that only.." To me its a comforting thought from God that He heals my hurts and fulfills my needs...my rest of the day was basked in love just with God at how beautiful He chose to reveal about my life and His plans for me bit by bit...rather than a huge torchlight to immediately reveal all things...its was like a warm lamp showing bits slowly..:)

The song "Under the Shadow of Your Wings" began to play in my mind...

" Under the Shadow of Your wings, I will fly ..."

Lovely verse today!! (From KIM)

This verse today has touched me...another round of testing from God...yeah holding on tightly to God now..no where i can turn to le..:)

"Happy are those who are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do" ~ Psalm 1:3

Praying that we would always be beside the living streams of our Lord the Saviour who would always give us strength...:)

6th Nov 2005-Sunday

I know the TRUTH,

My heart is HEALED,

My strength is in YOU.

I know the TRUTH,

Its done already,

The TRUTH has set me FREE.......

Comm Care Event 29th October 2005

Called to host again..

Punggol Primary School.

Its a really hot and scorching day..something in my heart draws me back to the school compound, it suddenly feels good to be in the company of kids again after the 6 month stint as a relief teacher..

Is is You Lord? DO you want me to be a teacher? Need the confirmation...can't see the future...
my current job is ending soon...i can feel it even if my boss dun tell me about my contract renewal...
The kids...loved them, a few of them remembered me from the first Comm care event that we had in June, the sweet little Malay girl who's really on and Chinese girl called Yilin...

Love to be in the company of kids, played and chatted with some of them...

Helped Poy tie the balloon sculptures, another Indian kid Vickes comes along....my heart just wanna go out and cuddle her and to show love to her as i watched her play the balloons in a childlike manner..:) ....hey in case any ppl out there thinking..this is not a warped mind speaking wahah...

I am born into okay lah....slightly more privilege than the others, think it would take me a while to understand their plight and their family background their pain and their plight...each would have a story to tell...the hosting went well, my co-host Zhen Min really had to talk as if we are talking to kids ...going down to their levels so that the kids will understand....

Compassion for the kids grew in my heart...this day is for them Lord! I hope to bring too some joy in the lives! think i screamed louder than the kids during the games, playing with them really warms my heart..

What's this tugging of the heart? Is it the calling of a teacher?

I have never felt this before...

sigh ..saw the someone again...how long more will this someone keep swimming in my mind like that? ..its a good 2 long months le....Lord Jesus set me free....

some of my photos..:)

Aiyoh...if forced to take picture i will give this silly face lor..:P at a blood donation in July??
Then, with the lovely Angela and Peiqi!!
The next two taken from my cousin's wedding recently with my model younger cousin, Pern Ren....wahahah look like family shot.
The last... all my favourite "tang di di" heee very cute but naughty boys..

My Violin Exam results!! 12th October 2005

Barely one month after my fateful violin exam....

There i saw the very familiar Singapore Symphony Orchestra envelop..

THIS IS IT....

remembering my trauma all those years ago when i was still a young girl of 13, when i sat for the exact same grade 5 violin exam...i failed that time and it was really a trigger point for me cos then, my mum STOPPED me from learning violin from my teacher then..somewhere in my heart BROKE.

I had just come back from the Missions Training Night and my heart was really prepared to see the envelop...

THIS IS IT...

I fell down on my knees and pray.."Whatever happens Lord, Whatever is behind this envelop, this time round ITS YOURS O Lord, Its YOURS, for YOUR Glory and for YOU, may I be always thankful for what You have given me be it good or bad, pray also for Your mercy to be on me...I just want to PASS! "

Its like its taking forever to open the envelop...i tore open the envelop and CANNOT believe my eyes...I had passed , not just a pass but with DISTINCTION~!!!!

oh my gosh? for a good long moment i was stunned....i took my calculator (engineering blood still in me) counted the marks...re- add them all up..130 upon 150!! WOW God!! THANK YOU! The comments that the examiner had written were really flattering too! Sure or not?

I cannot believe what God has given me! Prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and could not contain myself...jumped up and down....sms-ed all my dear friends immediately after that...my sheep, my shepherd...my violin teacher Lester, my accompanist Salome...

When i showed my mum the next morning she also went..."SURE or not? Liddat also can ah?" hahah JEANNIE, i can totally relate to you about your mum!!!

All this is part of the miracle that God had prepared for me...I was really pressed for time...remembering all the times when I had to carry Anthony to practice in the void deck of Bras Brasah Complex for a number of weeks after work,even arriving early before CG days to book the room and play... practised only 3 times with my accompanist cos i ahave no money to hire her for more....forgot my scales on the actual day..WOW God! YOUR LOVE IS AMAZING!

only You could write such a beautiful story O Lord! i dedicate this exam result and my skills which You have blessed me to You and Your house alone!

Missions Training Night

12th October 2005

Today is the day when our team gathered for the Missions Training at IBMEC.
Really wanted to go into the missions field for years now....ever since 2002! hahah money has always been a huge factor for me...can't go due to financial difficulties...heee ..well this is finally the chance to go! i signed up for the trip during on the "Friends of South America" night with Teck Keong and told me about my interest to go and to expose my self to local culture.

I had spent a few days praying and also to hear from God how He would lead me and guide me in this...there are many obstacles...my leave lah, my parents lah...funding is not a problem this time round....cos ah working already mah hee...

Entered in the room, saw my team members for the first time...really glad to be able to cos dun know how long i have waited for this day. Teck Keong is our team leader, we have Keng Suan, Addy, Jasmine, Doreen, Jeremy and myself.:)

We did spiritual giftings test and found out a little of our group's dynamics hee very interesting to know how different members actually go there with a slight difference in expectations , but could really see all of us having a heart for missions and to do God's work..:)

Da Jian Ming showed us videos and clips from the previous missions trips from our District, the Pretchabun trip, the trip that Poy and Cryst they all went..Patrick came up and shared about their experiences there and how they themselves were personally blessed by the group and the people there.

I am personally inspired..Jian Ming told us to "rough it out" ....living in a very comfortable home and having almost everything that i wanted...this is what i want to go to experience to touch the lives of the local people, to learn about their culture and to spread the love of GOD!

We gathered after that at the S11 foodcourt, actually a lot of uncertainties still lingered in our team; there were no responses from the Indo church whether we could enter there, our leave approval esp for the only teacher in our group, Jeremy, parents' approval and also lots of other factors, we set aside time to really pray, fast and to seek GOD..want to make this trip happen not just for us but for GOD...:)

We were all very excited, set aside mini tasks on what we want to do for the trip, prepare Indo praise and worship? hahah research on notes how to share and be culturally relevant? whaha all these really serve an important part in the preparation in leading up to the trip itself, pray also for our heart conditions to be ready and at ease with God..:)

Lord, You gotta make this trip HAPPEN! :)

Mingzhu's and Sandy's SONG!!

9th October 2005 (Saturday)

This is the song that Lee and me have written for Mingzhu and Sandy...Lee,lyrics, Rac, melody..

D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7

Sandy Sunshine

D G Asus4 A

She brings a smile to my face

Mingzhu beauty

She leaves us all standing stunned

Sandy helpful

Always there to give a hand

Mingzhu sweet and kind

She encourages us all

Chorus:

G A D Dsus

And these two sisters, their birthday today

G A D Dsus (D Dmaj7 D2 to end)

Let us join in celebration (Repeat)

Glamour shots anyone? MZ and Sandy's birthday!

9th October 2005 (Saturday)

Had a good rest..really slept like a log...the past few weeks has just been in one word..HECTIC...

Today's the day! we are celebrating Mingzhu's and sandy's birthday yeah heeeee! It's Mingzhu's actual birthday and this is the first time she's celebrating with us...:)

Both sisters are very dear to me, Mingzhu, one of my bestest buddies from NTU days and Sandy, well she's really sunshine to my life! LURRRVE YOU BOTH! muaks!

din manage to get the car today..wah sure hafta rush here and there liao..:P
Pamela had messaged me the previous week if I could help her with her DND make over.
could not resist...used to do this kinda thing when i was in NTU hall...was the pageant helpers in make up and hair!! waahah those were the days..

made my way to Clementi at around 330pm to meet Pam at her house. Wah...her house and her room is very nicely kept! love her room and the way she decorates it also!

pulled out all my "equipment" wahah all the make-up sets, the "or pins" the spray and gel..wahah think ah i could really think of doing part time make over artist...so fun!

looked at the watch..not much time gotta rush to meet Lee later to prepare our "special" for the sweet birthday gals..

Had a really good time with Pam, she's like my this one fren whom i can really share and talk to in WAM. She's the second keyboardist and always stands beside me..I have only 1 and half hour...wolfed down my "lunch" of "min jiang kueh" and kopi wahahh this is really my favourite snack! wahahh hey you guys know what do to ah? i always say i am a "simple" woman...just get me "min jiang kueh" wahahh or peanut pancake...wahhhah aiyah ..to side track...my dad loves me so much..he went to devise the recipe for the min jiang kueh!! we used to HOME MAKE them! wahahah love u lots Pa!!

We jammed to Lincoln Brewster and Lisa Ono on the PC.. she helped me tune my guitar and all...really cool then i did her hair pronto..really enjoy designing all the styles and the look that she would look in her outfit, which is a sweet yellow dress with flower embroidery.:) wow! I am amazed to at how much efforts that we girls take to really dress up for an occasion like this...so interesting the theme of her DND..all people are to come dressed in one colour!! :)

Pam was really sweet and she gave me a lift to Raffles MRT after that...walked to Lee's office we were so excited..initially we wanted to do a skit of the girls at Sandy's request..wahah then we by the grace of God after praying we managed to come up with a song for them! hey Yicheng! post the song lei!! will post the lyrics and chords to the song lata...

Dinner was cool with really heartwarming sharing at the restaurant...had a whiff of Turkish coffee which is famous for all the coffee "dredges" mixed in a teeeny weeeny cup..hahh Guang Rong and me tried it and we were like waiting for the dredges to settle to the bottom! wahahh the thing really looked like black tar!!! we were encouraged when we saw so many friends coming...

We chatted and shared till late until the restaurant was closing! we continue at TCC (=Teh Chai Choo? :P) some more.. till 11 plus ..

Hey Sandy and Mingzhu hope u all like the pressies....:) Hope you all have a very enjoyable birthday!! :)
love lots...MUAKSSS!!

more photos..:)

Some photos during Lunch on Sunday 2nd Oct 2005

Planning for all the Birthdays~

5th October 2005 (Wednesday)

Received a call from Kim that Dennis can't take over as the overall coordinator for Sandy and Mingzhu's birthday bash....He has got a wedding to attend..

Kim: "You ke2 yi3 ma1?"

Kim's pet phrase....hahah seems like she always says this to me! its very true that in the midst of serving God that we dun forget the ultimate purpose for us doing the things that we do, Its because we LOVE God , not on our own strength..its simple words like this, acts of kindness that really warms my heart. I knew that in the midst of busyness we have to seek God.
How many times I have wallow in self pity, and the pursuit of significance that I feel lost and unworthy and unwanted? brawling like a spoil child when i do not get the recognition that i wanted? God still loves me even though i do not serve so much, get my perspectives right first. I AM a child of GOD!

I took up the challenge, hooo hoooo, rushed through the next few hours brainstorming with Lee ( what can i do without you man?) furiously msn-ing, where to eat ah? what to do ah? who to call ah?

Lunch time...rushed out alone been a long while since i last lunched with my colleagues..bad Rachel! tried out the cafe at Shaw Centre and went to SOFRA Restuarant at Kim's suggestion.
the moment i stepped there at the restaurant..fell in love with it IMMEDIATELY!!

there were pretty cushions, and candle lit tables, the atmosphere is simply great!

Met the manager on duty that day Adeline, really blessed because when i told her i wanna organise for a birthday party for about 10-12 people, she took me immediately to a really cozy place where we could share and laze around after the dinner! The corner is simply great! haha..
Thank GOD! no need to search le..this place already has my heart. Adeline was very gracious, even though its the first time we meet, she agreed to reserve the place for me. That's really good business tactic if you ask me....Customer trust and respect.:) That week is still in the Puasa month for Muslims, so the timing has be very tight, we gotta reach there slighly after 730pm on Sat ... she has a chart even on the timings that the Muslims break fast..for a moment i forgot that though the restuarant is Turkish....its pretty much Muslim..:)

Booked the place immediately and rushed back to work...wahahah

Jamming Session at Guitar 77

4th October 2005
Jamming session at Excelsior

This is a real first for me. Went to jam at this really cool studio at Excelsior Hotel, called Guitar 77. A friend of Jacob, Uncle Dennis owns the shop.
Its really cool man the equipment one of the best that I have seen. Haha
Bestest this week is the first time I am serving under Pastor Lawrence.
We made a dig at the songs that were chosen..I have not heard them before! Really bad we all…its that old!!

You are the The King and Who is Like Thee

Wendy has to convert the tracks from a CASSETTE mind you into digital format for my sake!! Hahah thank God for Wendy working in a production company with equipment like these!

Pastor Dinah is preaching this week on the topic on “Customising God” and had asked me to play for her the altar call song, Throne of Praise by Don Moen.
That makes me play 2 times this month….pray for God’s anointing ..:)
Heard that Pastor Law chose the songs very “strings” one …really stressful on me! The song “I will Bow to You” is actually played in cello at the lower register if we had to play on the violin…my scales in B is HORRENDOUS. Please see entry on violin exam for more details..wahahah..:P yeah made it by God’s grace.

Screamed so loudly after jamming session that the twins, Geo and Gerald were shocked.

“I saw Xiao Qiang!!”

Sub D Sports Day!! 1st October 2005

wahahah this is like my first time hosting an event for Sub D...its our Sports Day today "Sweat It Out" Was asked by Peiks to host the event two weeks before...mixture of excitement and anxiety actually...although i have been cheerleading during Uni days...this is a whole new ball game to me..the crowds the AGE group wahahah and of course the spirit of the people bah..still rather new to Adults i feel..:P

had spent the last few days prior to this event rather i would call it "sleepless" nights wahaha...besides the occasional waking up in the middle of the morning to pray , i had stayed up to brainstorm the script with Chukai my co-host for this event since Monday! i was telling God its like "Bam Bam Bam, ministry!" You see Sunday I had just played for 3 services...this week is the starting of the downloading of data for 26 countries reporting to be done...by midweek...my face started to outbreak and stress was written on my brow! wahaha..Our script was edited a few times actually wahaha...

Initially we had written scripts in to "poke" at our Co-hosts wahahh then Peiks came in and went "the golden rule is :- You should NOT put down your Co-host!" I am so blessed by this sister! she stayed up with us and gave us good tips on how to host...even re-wrote the script for us!! Peiks if you are reading this, *BIG HUGS!!* Thanks!!

Finally the day has arrived, sms-ed our dear brother Tony a birthday greeting, very groggy, O Lord You must lead me Lord! I am nearly drained from all the late nights and I realised that I had to drive also....took the car at 1030 and started driving to ah Zhu's house..realised that I am so "blur" i missed a turning and hafta turn one big round!! wahahah after picking up Ah Zhu, drove on to Kim's house!! could you believe it? MISSED the exit to Kim's place again!! wahaha..now i have to go through unfamiliar roads....indeed i was circling around the Boon Keng and Towner Road area before i finally settled down in one place and whipped out the Street Directory to get my coordinates right...so farnie!! wahaha...Pa dun scold me for wasting the petrol man! wahah...

Finally reached Kim's place...had a good time eating Nasi Goreng and Roti John. Kim offered to help Ah Zhu iron her shirt...its her first Sunday serving as a Usher toml! I am so proud of her!! :) Really its God that changes hearts! Really blessed also by her spirit to serve and grow in the Lord!!

After a short prayer we set off, met with heavy rains and visibility was really bad..think a lot of us volunteers were really praying in our hearts for the rain to stop for the event to carry on..true enough..the moment we reached the Pasir Ris Park the rain stopped! God is so faithful! Thank You LORD! The volunteers are already there at 2 plus and setting up and tying water bombs...me and Chukai started to rehearse our scripts and so farnie...din know we were so comfy with each other!! wahah we were so natural at poking fun at each other, must really thank God for using Chukai! He was the one who brought me to Hope all those years ago. Chukai, me and Yee Ping were year 1 course mates in NTU and we all were part of a gang who always stayed together to study. I guess I really saw the Christ living in him and one fine day, I went up to him in 2001 after a prompting from God to commit my life back to Him, "Hey Chukai, could you bring me to your church?" He was like, `eye big big' whahah for those who have known me earlier...i was really an true blue "Ah Lian" my former days without living for God was terrible..

I went clubbing, i hang out in pubs, i drank a lot...yeah hang out with all the "ah bengs" wahahh had a really crazy life without much aim and meaning...really God changes lives! As I look back at what He has done in my life from 2001 till now...its amazing i tell you! Think my friends whom i used to hang out with last time will not have expected this man..."Rachel Holy-moly" some of them would chant when i told them that i am part of the church worship team...:) I guess its really true during one of the sermons when the Pastor mentioned that as you grow more in Christ, you draw further away from your wordly friends..:)

Anyway, wanna thank God for bringing Chukai into my life to let me experience this life changing love that only God can give..:) We had great fun, asking the group to mimick all the cheers of the "super action heroes" and noticed some great stunts do look at my photo link which i will send out where i would consolidate all the photos...

We all felt that the warm up was more tiring than the actual games itself! so farnie...had a go at Dodgeball where i joined Dennis' Bruce Lee team...wahahah i really siam all the shots coming at me like crazy! think its because they think i am an easy target for being so big sized!! waha...i became the last person standing! thanks to Yicheng! i was finally knocked out...too tired to siam balls already...took a lot of pictures of people around...:)

Kok Siang and Nicholas brought along their pet dogs and they became instant superstars! took a lot of pictures with the cute "starhub" puppy also..heheh well then during tug o war, the hose actually broke!! so we resumed with water bomb games also...wahahh really whacked everyone with the water bombs in our hands...me lah itchy fingers go and provoke those who are really armed with water bombs and was dretched to the skin!! wait till i catch the person who threw a bomb on my head...all my hair cream to sustain my curls came oozing down my face!! It was a Inter Unit sorta competition whereby we would have to destroy the piece of vanguard hanging from our UL's neck.....all of us "bakat" and we rushed towards A unit! wahahah i was hugging Ai Ai and kena from the rest showers of blessings too ....its a warzone back there..:P Guang Rong who ran so fast that no one could catch him emerged victorious! yay! we won just like that! wahaha..:P

i really look a sight! Thank God for Chukai, always filling in the gaps during the hosting them and i can't stop praising him for being part of the hosting..can't imagine anyone who can be so "mo qi" with me...dinner was spent quietly on groundsheets spread on the ground...its really a wonderful day...

Guess the cheer that i bring home with me today is from Peiks and Poy's group who were in the "Neo" group from the "Matrix" haah
it goes, "THERE IS NO SPOON!!!"