Valentine's Day

Ah the most asked question that people starts asking when you go back to work on Friday is ,"So, how's your Valentine's Day?"

I had promptly made a loud comment on Thursday, 14th Feb after the nth time that question of "What's your plans tonight?" was asked by another colleague. "I have no date. It's okay!!"
My school is not without the feeling of love, teachers are constantly called down to the general office mind you, to receive sweet flowers and balloons as announced over the staff room PA system. I think this year has gotta be different for me too. I had not felt so much peace and joy in a long time. I giggled at my previous years' tantrums of having no special "one" to spend the time with over this particular day...Realised now...Joy must come from the Lord first and His love must first reside in my heart. If I am with the one who truly loves me and I really love, EVERYDAY is a V-day!

Lotsa chocolate exchange today...teachers brandishing their new year cookies and chocolates and giving them out. I too dish out pretty pink wrappers filled with Cadbury chocolates for my close friends in the school. Nope still no flowers.

Wednesdays thru to Fridays are what I call "Mad Rush Days" for me. I have full timetables, lotsa stuff to do, CCA stuff to handle. Have to stay in school to at least 430pm after dancing with the children. Actually I came to school today without much expectations, if it comes it will come...no need to worry...God will take care of that "ONE" the special one for me. Got a few encouraging and heartwarming sms-es and realise that ..hey its not that bad after all. Got a very spontaneous last minute arrangement to meet up my two lovely younger sistas for a crazy night out....

Braved the crazy CTE traffic for a good one hour plus jam along Eu Tong Sen Street.
Can u imagine my tired look as I finally parked the car at Maxwell Market and walked to Chinatown Square for a Swensons' meal...boy was I ready to collapse!


Us 3, me, my youngest sis - Jiaxin, Second one - Yunxin (Kerri)

Here's some suggested tips to deal with your V Day flowers if you find them a chore:-

Things to do with your flowers (1)


Things to do with your flowers (2)


How to pass your time while waiting extremely long for your food - Check the utensils are in good working order ala Ariel the Mermaid


JN warned me about the thin line between nonchalence and acceptance towards being single. Don't give up hope! heheheh... Not yet wor!
I prayed to the Lord today, Lord Jesus, Today YOU are my Valentine! No date beats You today and You are simply awesome and a wonderful lover first and foremost! :D
It will come...soon...:)

Jesus my CEO

My father's one true love

Must quickly do some posting otherwise the next time I would have at least 2 girls who are so crazed up over the song "This Never Happened Before" by Paul McCartney. Two girls who always visit my site and click the link to watch the YouTube video over and over again...I think I am going crazy...zhuZhu can testify...that I have been playing the song and video countless times over the last 3 days..."50 TIMES!!" my youngest sis made sure I kept count.

Must snap out of it! Can't believe that these emotions seep through in my life again so easy like a thief in the night. This year's Chinese New Year is really different. Heeded the Pastor's call to spend more time with my family and praying and I really gained a lot of more insight than I ever imagined. Normally my sisters and me would scoot off on the 1st day of CNY to hide ourselves at some cinemas with some shows that we do not really wanna watch...but somehow this year's different. We actually sat there and spent quality time talking and playing with my cousins! I finally got to know them much better and it was so meaningful as compared to putting my agenda before others.

I knew the meaning of family

On the 2nd day of CNY, I started to fume at my mum for something that she had said that really hurt me. I went on and on until my dad just smiled and told me "Truth about marriages my dear? It's about putting up with each other in love."
Lightning struck, that's my dad talking about his one true love for you.
Was so touched. "There are many things that we do not see in courtship that can only surface in marriage and its all about choice to love.." Did we all not learn that something back in the Relationship Seminar? There I have a real time drama playing in front of me and I was so touched by this valuable lesson in love.
In conflict management, do I tend to be the "Critic" that constantly puts others down, the "Aggressive" which uses mean words to hurt and lobby support to my side? I wander. Certainly do not want to progress into "Manipulative" controllers who use words to get things my way...How much more to learn about love and respecting each other in a relationship? Loads....

I learnt about my father's one true love...

On the 3rd day I decided to come back to the house and help out ....have not done that in years since I started visiting my friends' houses and the 3rd day is always the OPEN HOUSE for my family where we would cook and wash and clean and clear and do that all over again...came back early and was soaked in the spirit of togetherness, felt so good...power of presence and working togther...its been 6 long years that God took to let me learn these lessons of appreciating your family more and I am glad that I made that first footstep homeward bound after all..Lord I am ready...help me be ready...:)Let Your will be done...

I learnt about family togetherness

Wow thank You Lord!


Me with my Edgefield Ballroom (Dancesport) Dancers

With Wan Yi and Dehua


with the cousins 1st Day of CNY :)

This Never Happened Before - Paul McCartney

This song got stuck in my head ever since CN and Christine's wedding.. from the movie "The Lake House" starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock...:P Guess I am in one of those melancholy moods again...when will I face up to my true self?
Do enjoy it with me...its very romantic :)

My "28th Dress"

Watched the movie finally yesterday with ZhuZhu...good movie and good clean fun...totally enjoyed it cos it speaks to me about how the main character dons out dresses and accepts the requests of her friends who asks her to help out despite the fact that she may not look good in those dresses....Learn to say 'NO' :) Sometimes, it is an obedience to God to not succumb yourself to things which you cannot fulfill out of your heart...:)

Took the quiz at the website and this supposed to my results?! Dun be fooled - it should say "classy and conservative" really...

He will wipe away every tear from your eye...

Thurs 31st Jan 2008

Took a break off clearing of "condos" of worksheets and compositions to post this.
This has got to be a very difficult day in my stint at a teacher. My class just got crazier to handle. It started off way in the morning while I was taking the pupils to the science Lab. There you have Boy J spitting at Boy B who promptly hit him with a pencil case and Boy F did a ala "Chun Li" kick at the boy J on the floor.

It happened so fast. If you ask me its really gangsterism at its worst. I have such a hard time controlling this class that everyday, I am so besot with anger that my soul hurts. I pray and fast for this class every single day and sometimes, I am really drained. Chasing after homework, consent forms, calling parents who do not seem to care...Its tough when you have a huge number of pupils with behavioural and academic problems all in one class. I have to constantly call the DM to come in to help.

I have a huge headache. Lessons are behind time cos everyday I have been spending time scolding the children and lecturing them for at least one, two periods everyday. This is really another blow to the soul. I told the Lord, please don't quench my zeal for teaching so early in my career. This is my calling, I firmly believe that I heard it from You 3 years ago. Thank God for the girls in the class who are sweet and really my saving grace.

I broke down and cried after remedial lessons at 3pm today. I cannot take it already. 8-9 boys disappeared during their lunch break and went to cycle on the main road out of the school. They arrived so late when the class had already started 30 mins and demanded still to be released early. I was so hopping mad that I screamed at the kids. Very hurt already. This is really more hurting to the soul then it has on the kids. I told myself, should I just focus on the kids who really want to learn? My heart was really torn....

Teared all the way to the staff room..Thank God for Deb who lent a listening ear to my woes. She being the form teacher of that class when they were in P3. Went to hug her for comfort...She understood how exactly I felt. We teachers face very strict scrutiny by the school and we certainly do not want the label of being "unable to control class" or "unable to produce results" being slapped on our backs. Was so stressed already with all the portfolio given to me this year.

Thank God for you sending a good friend like KX too in my life. Cannot imagine starting off this teaching career as a full fledged teacher without someone like him. You ask yourself why you need friends...sometimes its not what they say that we have friends just because they are just there to help you, you need friends as mutual support, as motivators, as "road checks" on the blind spots in your path and really offer spiritual covering in your race in life. Its a job full of hard knocks. KX really is one awesome guy like that, really comforting me when I am down. Thank God for you!! :D Who says we need to fight the race alone? God is with us! God the ulimate source of Comfort!

Then I begin to wonder myself, why did I cry? Was it this pride issue that was in me that caused me to unable to surrender this part to God? You see, I always portray myself as very independent and in control. When stuff happens, and this is one tough situation, I really cannot handle and start to yield under pressure. I thank God for this experience too that taught me to hang on more to God for my dear life.

The race is not easy. I still love children, I still want to see hope in those I can make an impact on. Not yet Lord, Not throwing in the towel yet...

On being a better listener

I find myself having a really short attention span and having a very low self esteem.
There are many times over the years that people have commented that why I dun look at them in the eye when I speak to them or my eyes seem to wander off in another direction after a while. You want the truth? I can't concentrate after 10-15 minutes.
It's a REAL STRUGGLE!

I have to resort to mechanical stuff. Such as repetitive patterns and a conscious will power to concentrate. Numbers are good for me too. There are only 10 digits but they are thousands of vocabulary. That's why I can do music. It has patterns and repetitive melodies which I can concentrate. I take quite fast to process what people say to me sometimes, but leaving the conversation behind after a few minutes much to the frustration of people.

I tend to wander off to a new topic suddenly, much to the chagrin of people as they are amazed at how fast I switch topic and can link to such a thing so fast.
I have such low esteem that I could not look at most people in the eye to talk to them also. That, after much prayers and teaching on how rude it is to talk not looking at the person directly, has certainly changed a lot. I trained myself (still trying) to not forcefully advance what opinions I wanna say or tell my friends and people when they tell me something, learn to process more and respond by active listening. I find that I learn more, and I discover more. More people gain trust in me.By active listening, I mean I respond at appropriate times and with comments to build up not to tear down.

It really takes a few hard knocks in my many friendships and relationships with people, when fights and arguments ensued or how distracted I am as a listener. Speaks to me as a Christian too. Do I just wanna blabber to God everyday on requests and forget about listening to what He has to say? His small still voice?
Since then, by the grace of God, I am still praying to be a better listener, to show genuine care and concern for people around me by active listening. To let the Holy Spirit lead me...

I always tell my class, "You talk, I talk, who listens?" haha...

So bear with me if I dun look at you in the eye when I talk to you alright? I am still trying to overcome my self consciousness, or you must be so drop dead gorgeous that I am afraid that I would blush :P

Congrats ZhiYuan!

I think some of you all know that yesterday was the release of the GCE 'O' Levels results. I am glad to share this testimony of my cousin, Zhiyuan.

It just started with a slip of the tongue last year from the picture above at my Popo's 72nd Birthday. He was taking his 'O' Levels last year and he was in bad shape. He had lost motivation to study and he gave his mother a really hard time. With tear strewn eyes, his mother, my auntie had told me about him falling drastically in his academic results. I just casually agreed to help him even though I am not very good in Sec school maths and science let alone Chinese.

It was such a huge promise that I immediately stressed myself out, buying assessment books to read, Chinese compos and made it point that he speaks only Chinese to me during my tuition. It took a lot of effort out of me cos I am not that good in Chinese. Little did I know that an initial 2-month commitment would stretch to the end of the year! I was juggling between graduating from NIE and my then workload as a Beginning Teacher. It was crazy all the weekends burnt and all the late hours spent giving him pep talks and encouraging him to study. I could still remember the faithful day when I started my tuition with him. I did not do much teaching at all, just plain pep talk and finding out about his interests and hobbies....

What he went through was what normal teenagers would go through, the ups and downs of BGR. He was so badly affected by his relationship with this particular girl, that I had no choice but to enforce stricter rules on him. Thank GOd after much prayers, he was able to see my point of putting the relationship aside and concentrate on his studies. I thank God that he does not hang around too much during the weekends but only hung up on golf...:P His grades then were devastating. I really did not know how I could turn things around. Needed God's help.

I prayed like I never before, putting all his exam dates on my diary. His English was a D7, Chinese D7, Humanities E8. He's never gonna make it I have told myself.

"What did I get myself into?"

I was so stressed, I started with drilling into Chinese and Chinese compo before going into the English summary question. God led me to show me how to answer all the analytical and commentary questions in the History paper, by printing for him interesting political cartoons from the Net for him to try on. The Holy Spirit must have led me to help him to summary for all the chapters that he was studying in History. That was the least I could do. But i firmly believe that the Lord's hand was certainly in this to help him and to protect him. I told him, "I have been praying for you and I thank GOd that you did not give up on yourself." Even took the courage to share to my uncle and auntie how hard I prayed and the significance of a Divine Help. :)

His 'O' Level grades are English :A2, Chinese:B4, E and A Maths : A1s, Physics: A2, Chemistry:B3, Combined Humanities:A2

Aggregate: 11

WOW! It is really God's mercy upon this boy, from a potential dropout to such amazing grades...It can only be You Lord! I thank God for anointing me to teach the Sec 4 syllabus even though I know nuts about teaching Humanities nor Languages at Sec 4 level. Thank God for allowing me a chance to motivate and encourage him. He is a living testimony of how You pulled him from the pits of life!

:)

Clips from the Concert

Don't laugh...think some of you know that my voice was hoarse on Monday...:P The clips are taken ahem..secretly by me...can still hear my screaming in the background...aiyoh...:P

"Jiang1 Jun1" (opening)




"Secret"

"An1 Jing4"

"Cai2 Hong2"

Touched by a chunk of Ferrero Pocket Coffee chocolate...a real soul boost from a crazy day!

It's coming...THIS FRIDAY! 18 Jan ...Jay Jay Jay Jay

What's it like in Heaven?

A man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and
asked, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

The Lord led the man to two doors. He opened one, and the
man looked into a room with a large round table in the middle. In
the center, on the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled
so delicious it made the man's mouth water.

Yet, the people sitting around the table were thin, sickly, and appeared
famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles strapped to their
arms. Each found they could reach into the stew-pot and take a
spoonful, but with the handle longer than their arms, they could
not get the spoons close to their mouths. The man shuddered at
the sight of their misery and suffering and the Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'

He then opened the second door. The room was exactly as the first
one, with the large round table and large pot of stew, again
making the man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the
same long-handled spoons strapped to their arms, but here the people
were well nourished, plump, laughing and talking.

The man said, 'I don't understand.'

It is simple,' said the Lord, 'and requires but one skill. As
you see, they have learned to feed each other, while the selfish
think only of themselves.'

When Jesus died on the cross, He was thinking of you.

Remember, love your neighbour as you love yourself.

Made two boys cry in a supposedly terror class, am I a slave driver, a witch? hmmm...

27 Dresses

Recently I heard of this show called "27 Dresses" where this girl is like a wedding coordinator of many different kinds of wedding ceremonies for people that she had bought exactly 27 outfits for each wedding. She was rather skeptical about her own life about herself getting eventually hitched. Until one fine day this guy comes along and starts asking her question about her own life only then did she slow down and review her life. ah ah ah ah...i sense that some of you are going to really log off now cos its a much blogged about topic by me.

I think God has really strengthened me and made me much secure over the tempestuous year 2007.


Taken by a professional at Hazel and Boon Liong's wedding

My very first shepherd Siew Yee and Teck Keong


With the bride at Peiru and Shen Teng's wedding

With Choon Yam and Jeannie at ST and Peiru's wedding

I am very blessed to be always receiving wedding invitations from friends all over but I really have to turn down a few because of work or travel.
Sometimes S.A. Tan does like to pay a visit at my door and have tea with me.
The worst thing is? I allowed him knowing the consequences
The darkest moments of my 2007 I really felt like throwing in the towel and just walk away...not about getting into a relationship mind you, but more of why am I doing this thing all over again for the "nth" year. It's the same sequence, the same people, the same situation and the same ideas...life was a pure stagnant water. I felt myself unworthy of any love and affections and many times felt unappreciated by people. Looking back at those times, my heart was really ugly and my mind - Demented. I started to accuse many things and many people, it was really mild at first until I realise that it was raging within me. I could not walk or talk properly without every few minutes flaring up over the situations that I was facing.

I thought I was in control of my life my emotions, my understanding of people, the strength of my friendships with people...little did I know that they would be so challenged until they hung by a thread and all I ever did in those "dark ages" was to cry and pray "Lord, help me, You rock Lord, save me..." It's just a simple prayer but the effort that comes is not easy. I really had to break down my stubborn pride of being corrected by others, break down my perception to face the reality. Hey, I cannot do all this by myself anymore. I have to learn too to say "No" to situations which I cannot handle or cope..
The Lord is gracious and recently, all the broken pieces of my life has been slowly pieced and glued tight by God's assurance and deep deep love for me. Three words: Prayer really works!

Some figures for you...
In 2007, I have attended 8 weddings, of which 2 of them I was the "Jie Mei" (sisters) group, played violin for 4 weddings, paid out 1000 plus bucks in Ang Pau money, ate at least 3kg of shark fin, wore about the same dress 3 times!! hahah... The degree of struggle I find gets lesser and lesser. With each wedding that went past, God taught me more and more to be secure. With each song I played for the couples on stage, the very tangible presence of God is there. I find it hard to describe the feeling when you really feel God standing beside you and overwhelm you with His love.

The anointing of the music and the playing, I owe it all to the Lord. He just made my fingers play beautifully!

Instead of mourning and groaning over the umpteen weddings I am going(not to mention taking mental notes of all the wedding details :P), I began to rejoice together with the couples. Joy seeps through me when I surrender to God my emotions. Each time getting more convicted of God's protection and love over my life.Each time He multiplied my gifts and talents and blessings poured out when I chose to give. He would never shortchange me! Does that mean that I start to plan for myself now? hehehe...

Let God deal with the man la whoever he is...if what's mine, you think it would be yours meh? hahaha :P

Only started school a few days and I am struggling to keep up with the tremendous workload. I believe strongly that we do a job according to God's will, He will make us the head not the tail. I was given an assistant level advisor, English level rep, and the school's overal Aural and Oral activist. Am pleasantly surprised at how things would turn out this way. Barely 8 months as a full-fledged teacher and I am already heading so many roles. They are not major major roles la but sometimes the pressure do get to me.
What would the people think of me? What would they say? I am so new here, small fry, smaller than a small fry.
Office politics are rampant and its already like walking on eggshells for me here.
Read a devotional lately on Christian following an "open door" policy. When a door of opportunity comes, they assume its God's will to go through it. Then they find themselves going throught many open doors and aspects of our career, life, relationships...only to find that all these draw us so far away from the Lover and Author of our life.

Sometimes, we take all these opportunities for granted, just because the Lord doesn't stop us from something doesn't mean He wants us to continue. We must continue to discern which opportunities to pursue by "approving of things that are excellent" and be "filled with the fruits of righteousness ..to the Glory and praise of God" ~Phil. 1:10-11

So you ask which way should we go, what decision to make? I personally have experienced this and shall testify once again that the Lord is good, let the Holy Spirit be the guide and trust for true discernment.

The best way to know God's will is to say "I will" to God...

Happy New YEAR everyone!

This year is going to be so different...before I start blogging about all the weddings that I had ever attended from Oct 2007-Dec 2007...I wanna say...."SCHOOL HAS FINALLY STARTED!!!" booo hooo...nah...it's going to be exciting as the school has given me a most challenging class with the most challenging grades...walk with me Lord Jesus!
:D

Have a most smashing new year 2008!!

Conclusion to Lijiang...

Flew back Singapore from beautiful Lijiang on the 3rd Dec. ... and from then on its a mad whirl of activities! Shen Teng and Peiru's wedding, Christmas, Hong Kong and Teck Keong and Siew Yee's Wedding...etc..But I dun wanna end off this year without thanking God once again for the marvellous work done during the missions trip.

I think really God changed me a lot during this dream...

Just as I thought...

Just as I thought of having fun and shop all I can in Singapore...

God helped me to see how the little I had could touch so many hearts in Lijiang, China...

Just as I thought of running my own show and wanting everything to be smooth flowing...

God intervened and created a masterpiece - joy in the children's hearts more than I could ever imagine...

Just as I thought I could avoid of God's most marvellous plans for me,

God came in to show me His well-thought out plans for me, lovingly crafted for me.

Just as I thought I could "escape" from what God has called me to do,

Missions bell came a ringing and stirred up my heart to something more for Jesus...

Just as I thought I could hang on stubbornly to my own ideals and thinking,

God thought me surrender and lovingly asked me to release my hands full of my own treasures so that He could fill me with inmeasureably more than I could ever hope or imagine.

I think I would never be the same again... God You have touched me, made me fall all over, deeper in love with You and Your plans for me...

Thank God for a wonderful year 2007! :)

Missions Trip To LiJiang - Part 3

5th and 6th Day - 29th and 30th Nov 2007

The 5th day was really spent just preparing for the party for the orphanage children. Balloons and more balloons were put up...me down with fever again and had to stop to rest...the whole world starts banging onto my head again. Took a few shots of the people...in a total daze...:P Some of the kids were so facinated with Carol's CD and MP3 player that they played and replayed the tracks on the players that they could actually sing and hum to the tunes that we were going to teach!
We order a close to 200 plus cupcakes with candles for the children and they were really enjoying themselves eating the cake. Sad to say for many of the children, they do not even know when their birthdays are. The mass "birthday celebration" really touched our hearts and the kids were once again packed with lots of goodies from ourside, sweet, chocolates and stuff.
There was a prize presentation too where we blessed Hu mama, the teachers and the Principal with all the gifts that we had bought to thank them for the hospitality that they had extended in the school. We also managed to sing 4 chinese and English Praise and worship songs to the kids! A big bold step for God! :P A bit of sadness overwhelmed me today cos I know that the missions trip is coming to an end....but wait...ever seen snow on the mountains? Start drooling at the following pics...am devoting a majority or this posting for the climb up Lijiang's Yu Long Snow Mountain....
IT's FINALLY R AND R DAY!!!

View of the snow mountain from ground level

The girls all ready in their climbing wear at the base station

Cable car starts to travel above the clouds!

Look how far we had to climb! It may seem short to you but we took 4 hours!

Never had so much fun for a mighty long time. Woke up bright and early at 5 plus am where it was so dark and cold to have our breakfast. We set off at 745am to the Snow Mountain. In the end, all Hope people signed up the climb! There was this joke though, the people who were supposed to lead the morning's devotion and praise and worship were all in the team of climbers!! Me and Daniel led the whole van of people into worship and GR and Siew Khim blast Praise and Worship MP3 off their phones. It was fun and rather hilarious. No one's left behind to lead the rest of the mission team!

Arrive at base station where we all armed ourselves with oxygen tanks at 35 yuan each. We were initially reluctant to buy cos we saw all the locals all very garang without the tanks.We had to take a bus up to 3500m halfway up the hill where we had to queue another one plus hour just to take the cable car up the snow mountain.
The scenery was really breathtaking and you really have to be there yourself to experience it.

My nose is definitely not helping in the trip, I was still running a fever mind you. My stubborness at work again and I really struggled and felt very faint throughout the climb. But when I saw the place looking like Hokkaido in some winter wonderland, I was determined not to let anything stop me from the climb. The guys really took good care of me during this trip. Daniel helped me carry my haversack up the mountain, and whenever I stopped to rest, GR would rush to give me the oxygen and made sure that I do not faint. hahahaha...I think I must be turning purple!!!
There were many fun shots taken along the way and really the winds were very strong and cutting on our faces so you see us all attempting to cover our faces up.

The locals were really very garang, some even trudged up easily with the oxygen tanks but you would see us every so often whip out that aerosol can and start breathing from it. Remember once reading about altitude sickness and how to avoid it is to stop strenuous exercises and really walk slowly and carefully. We could or at least me could feel my head in a whirl a lot of times. It's not as easy as it seems although the roads were paved with bridges and stairs, there were many dried ice in the boards.

Finally reached the peak at 4680m after 3-4 hours climb. We did not even feel the cold at all. Downhill was pretty much easier and poor Hong Ping who was waiting for us was so worried at why were stuck up the mountains for so long. We then hopped along the bus to the other attraction at the mountains, the Blue Moon Valley and the White Water River - loosely translated hahah...Mission Trips are not without their own kind of fun! :P Watch this space for the pics !:P

Me and Carol having fun having snow fights with the rest!

The Titus Watch commercial pic - thanks to Carol who took us from another angle! haha

At some paths down the paths, we slid down the snow on our butts!

The team reached the peak! 4680m!

Having fun in the snow

Missions Trip To LiJiang - continued

Fourth Day 26th Nov 2007 - Monday

I woke up today and felt as if the world took 30 seconds to spin from one point to another. My head hurts and my whole perspective was in a whirl. I was supposed to lead the morning devotions and being the only guitarist around, play two roles at the same time. I simply cannot do it. Take charge O Lord! I told Him today. Really cannot. I do not even have the strength to stand up straight after yesterday's saga. How do I expect myself to do anything? GR was really sweet, immediately offered to help me take over the morning devotion. I just looked at him, far from my usual, loud, boisterous self, "GR, you all must help me again today..There's absolutely not much strength in me." Siew Khim took over the guitar playing and as the Lord led the morning worship. I felt simply wonderful to let God take charge again.

Despite my sickness, missions still have to go on. I would have to help Siew Khim, take over a Primary One class in sharing the story on Noah's Ark and also balloon sculpting. I had to pull Nicholas along. I dun think I could last on my own. True enough, I knocked out for two hours in Francis' room before I could do any work.

The children were wonderful. Their faces showed so much eagerness and enthusiasm to learn and when we taught them "Jesus Loves me" in Chinese, they sang with so much joy. Indeed their attitude was superb. Most of us were teachers in this team and when we saw the children taking initiative to do their duty roster of clearing the school compounds and sweeping the floors, doing the washing and stuff. Man, we were thinking to ourselves, this would NOT be the case for our kids that we teach back in Singapore. The kids back home are too pampered la...

It was wonderful to conduct a lesson with God. When you are at your wits end and absolutely sick and God steps in with a gentle hand. I once again saw how beautiful it was. He paved the way for us so much that even the teacher who took part in the lessons had no objection of us sharing the love of Christ into the classroom!
We were able to share the story of God's promises to mankind through Noah's Ark and also how God's love is meant for everyone. All of us felt a strong sense of burden for the children after realising that these children had been through a lot, some even witnessing their parents' violent deaths before they were sent into the orphanage. We were so touched by their resilence to life and their attitude towards studies. Indeed the children reflected a lot back to us then we would have expected to impact in their lives!

Thank You Lord for your most wonderful work done again in this day....:)


Nicholas coping with the rush of kids that came to him during balloon sculpting.
Me helping out in making the balloon figures for the chilren.

Han3 Feng4 with her new balloon hat!

5th Day - 27th Nov 2007 Tuesday

Was pulled to sit in with the Primary 5 table today even though I hardly got to interact with them. Got to know this very learned boy called Pai Jianyun. He was so learned that as I was helping Carol prepare for her English lesson, drawing her paper plate "angels", he came up to me and started reciting the whole history of the French troops invading Yuan2 Ming2 Yuan2. I was so shocked that such wisdom comes from a 12- year boy. I took him aside and chatted with him and was so amazed at his great knowledge of literature of Lu Xun and many other great authors. These are really tough books for such a young boy like him! As I chatted with him further, I realised his sad past of his parents having passed away from drug overdose and his strong hatred for drug abusers. His dreams, his visions for life all lost in those sad eyes of his. He wants to be a dancer, his one great interest and a policeman so that he could nab all the drug offenders.

I was so touched by this boy. If he was saved he would definitely be a strong influencer for God! Carol had spoken to him the day before and I continued to chat with him. Then, I felt God's presence very strongly, when Jianyun suddenly came to me and said to me, "Ah Yee (Auntie), you looked troubled, you seemed to be very listless, are you okay?" I don't know what came over me and at that sound of that boy's gentle voice, I started crying. Really feeling God's love and concern from the heart of that young boy. He's really special. Ha! Broke off my strong defences and teared, something that I have not done in a long while. Got GR to quickly talk to that boy as soon as possible so as to hope that his heart would be stirred about the message of Christ.

My heart really softened so much today.

Went through the day with the English class with Carol in the P4 level as GR and Nic taught the P3s with the Science experiments all.

I was a different Rachel as I went back to the inn. I started to reflect on how small I am and how sensitive was I to God every single day of my life that I fail to realise that sometimes I go on with the daily chores that I need to do and fail to notice that God cares even for the minute details of my life?

God put in me a burden for Jianyun. I would want to do a little something for him despite my short stay there....


Helping out at the English Lesson for Primary 4s

Primary 4 children participating during class

GR and Nic teaching the P3 class



Lovely, engrossed faces at the class

6th Day - 28th Nov 2007 Wednesday

Went to help out GR at the Science class today after a lengthy discussion with Carol on the flow of the English Class. We really felt that God would do something in the hearts of the children that she would be teaching today. Indeed at the end of her lesson, she broke the good news that 30 young souls were saved! It was amazing to see how God really moved through all the lessons and the children's hearts as the Christmas story was shared.

Jianyun was certainly one of the factors, him being the one to take initiative to ask how he could being a Christian! We were all so glad that God really caused the hearts of the children to really acknowledge the love of God and the gift of salvation. Praise the Lord for the souls saved! Indeed God goes on with His marvelous work being done and I thank God for Carol for being such a woman of great faith and carrying on with the lesson despite of the initial difficulties faced! Well done team!

The P6s on the other hand were also very appreciative of the Science lessons and we had certainly great fun! Our initial thoughts of the P6 children not able to appreciate balloon sculpting were all cast away as we saw how the balloons really opened up the children's hearts. These children are an epitome of how God really loves them and even the simplest of life's things can really amaze and touch them.

WOW GOD! YOU ARE AMAZING! :D


GR at the P6 Science Lesson

Kids all amazed at the peeing figurine

Preparing for the big "Birthday Party" for the children on Thursday! :P

Missions Trip To China 23rd Nov- 3rd Dec 2007

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much for this trip and for the experiences that I felt throughout this period of time. Many times, I could have been defeated and fell along the way, if not for YOU and for all the people who were our prayer warriors supporting us all the way...I would not have made it...

First day - 23rd Nov Friday
Could not sleep the whole night, been packing and planning and praying the whole time, so afraid that I would miss out on anything during the trip. Barely slept two hours when I jumped out of bed at 5 a.m and started printing some last minute pictures which I need for the Games Day on Sunday. Kept receiving frantic calls from Xiu Qin to quickly rush to the airport for check in. The whole day consisted of waiting for transit in between planes from Singapore to Bangkok then from Bangkok to Kunming and finally our destination.
Kept praying throughout the whole trip for all the people I left for a short while back in Singapore, God to move in my heart, God to speak to me specifically regarding the missions work and how I could contribute in this trip. Guess all the tiredness and sickness that I brought along from Singapore did not really help...feel jetlag and having a runny nose all the time...will it stop?
The whole flying thing took us to 7 plus in the evening. We were all greeted by really cold weather of between 0-3 degrees Celsius!
People from the orphanage that we were visiting came to pick us and we had a sumptuous dinner of jiao3 zi4! yum!

Day Two - 24th Nov Sat



Went to walk around the "Old City" (gu3 cheng2) as a tour...had a taste of freshly picked strawberries...man they were so sweet and delectable, we forgot all about hygiene and just kept popping them into our mouths after buying from the tribal ladies along the roadside. They were the sweetest strawberries I have EVER eaten, fresh some more. Took a lot of sights and sounds of the city...must really see for yourself to appreciate Yunnan's varied cultures and the 22 different tribes! The Naxi women are considered to be the more female-dominated tribe, whereby the women are made head of the household! Men are not expected to do any menial work and ladies would have to be garang and take charge of everything..check out my photo links for details! :P A short but very meaningful cultural lesson here.The girls are so forthcoming that some of our dear brothers in the team had their fair share of attention from the girls! Carol and I digged at them "We are VERY SAFE here in this part of China!" tee heee heee...:P



Made a trip to the school in the afternoon and had lunch with the children. Was very impressed by their cultural performances put up. Some of the kids even took me around their school compound and their dominitories. We were already beginning to be very impressed by their strong sense of survival and hearing their many sad stories of how their parents died, our hearts were already very moved and many of us ready to want to do something in the lives of these kids.

We were hosted very well by Francis a Singaporean who forsaken everything he had to work at the orphanage and "Hu2 Mama" a very dedicated and capable lady who single-handedly set up the orphanage more than 20 years ago. She went to the extremes to "collect" all these orphans from all the hill tribes of China, and as we listened to how she trusted God despite all her difficulties faced with the authorities and in getting the finances - 3 million Yuan a year, to run the orphanage we were all in awe. She is certainly one amazing lady with a big heart.

We were treated to a sumptuous meal at the end of the day at a small hotel and restuarant ran by the secondary school branch of the orphanage. The orphanage also provided for the children a chance for them to earn cash and to run a small business for their living.



Hu2 Ma ma Sharing her testimony of how God healed her of her illness to enable her to carry on the work at the orphanage

The secondary school branch of the orphanage where the kids blessed us with their marvelous cooking! A "Dai" Tribe boy presented us a tribal song!

Day Three - 25th Nov Sunday


Lovely shot of me, Carol, Guang Rong and baby Wang Rui! She was the doll of the team every day!


Me with the Primary 3 children who showed me around.

Had a serious lesson from the Lord today: SURRENDER. And what it really means to me.

Just after lunch, I already felt terrible, was so stressed the previous night that we all stayed up in the cold and chilly guys' room on the second floor of the inn that we stayed in, planning the flow of this big "Games Day" and preparing all the materials. It was supposed to be me being the overall in charge, little did I know that I was to be so tested and so weak at the onslaught of the things that were to happen.

I saw Auntie Mag, whom I felt was like my Samaritan for the whole trip, and she commented that I looked very pale and weak. Sat me down at the steps leading to the school hall, and provided me with hot water and medication. I was so weak that words cannot describe how I felt. She rubbed my back and my whole head just went burst. I could no longer think straight and I know that I was living in a whirl for that good one hour in the cold wind, lying on the lap of Auntie Mag in the cold wind. Auntie Mag herself was down with bad gastric pains. If you all are talking about spiritual attacks...I think we were really struck down, just hours before the big event where I had to run the games for the whole school...I prayed very hard underneath my breath.

Francis saw the both of us and kindly offered us his room to rest. That was the beginning of the failing of my health from that point onwards. Shortly after I laid myself down to rest, I threw up all my breakfast, lunch and whatnots. I had not vommitted in years! Aunt Mag stood by me, caring for me, and I really prayed for God to help me, prayed for the people whom I had briefed to to be able to run the rest of the show. I was so so weak that there was a strong battle within me, I want to run the show but my body cannot take it. There at that point, God showed me: Surrender to Him. All my worries and concerns and how the thing is going to turn out. The pictures you see below and above are taken are after my "vommiting" saga. Praise God for sustaining me!

I continued to monitor the running of the games after resting for a few hours in the room until I know I was nearly fainting at the very last part the finale Telematch, too weak to even carry the prizes that we had prepared for the children. That was when my stubborness had taken the toll on me - I have to leave it the hands of Guang Rong, Nic, Carol and Peiqi and Siew Qin to finish what was started for me...I really have to let go...It was certainly a very humbling experience if you ask me. To be so weak and totally dependent of people to save me and to assist me. Thank God for the rest of the team that day and for God to preserve me!

Surrendering really means, leaving it all to the hands of HIM, who would run the show for you, who would ensure you that everything to go according to HIS PLAN not your plan, after you have prayed over the thing and committed the result in His hands. The more you try to hold on to something that God had intended for something better, the more you would struggle. I saw the beauty of allowing God to run things according to His plans that lovely afternoon in Lijiang, and I was truly falling at His feet all over again. To have tried to control the timing and the smooth flow of the program that I had orginally intended would have really marred the children's fun and experience of the whole event.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
~Proverbs 16:9



Photo collage of the Telematch - Check out the children's faces!
To be continued...

Back in Singapore liao...think my heart's changed a lot...am very sick still...:(