Holiday....

The first week of my break has come and gone... It's been a rather exciting week.
Am up at the highlands and spent three days in the jungle earlier this week, living in a bamboo hut with no electricity or toilets.. There's no beds either... Lucy and I had to mandi in the river - but the water's so refreshing that we spent a really long time in it and really enjoyed the experience... It was really awesome.... Would have stayed there longer but food supplies ran out and our work there was done.

Made two new friends - which is always good... It has also been very encouraging to see their love for God and their willingness to serve Him in the jungle... Their enthusiasm has been very contagious and they made the trip really great.. One of them would gather the children in whatever village we went and teach them the song "Tuhan aje bor!" (God is so good) which the children never got tired of..

It was an eye-opening experience for Lucy as it was her first time.. It was a good reminder to me of those who have to live on so little and how much more we have to help them... Many were sick this time round and was asking for medicine - and unfortunately, there was not enough to go around... We had to ration the giving of clothes as well... Many were wearing clothes that were in tatters and some children had to go without clothes - so they were grateful for whatever we could give them.

After coming out, we went to visit a Myanmar refugee camp.. As they sang songs of hardship and of God, those of us who were visiting just had tears in our eyes. It was really beautiful... The stories they shared with us drove us once again to tears.. It was a good time..

The last two days have been more relaxing and today we explored the highlands a bit more.. We're heading for Langkawi next and am really looking forward to doing a bit of snorkelling and visiting old friends...

For the next few weeks

Came back from a pastoral retreat with the pastors of my church. Having a short break before heading to the jungles of the highlands for a couple of days.. Then will be doing some traveling around to meet up with people as well as some time out before coming back to a big pile of work... :)

Finishing line

Today's THE Day!!! The finishing line is here!! I'm finally graduating!!
Thank You God!
It's been a remarkable four years.... :)

Almost There

Attended my classes for the final round last week. Exams are over. Assignments are over. There is no more restart button (my friend Daniel, used to say that it all restarts at the beginning of the semester - the classes, assignments and end of sem exams). This particular phase of life will be over.

I thought that after all the exams and assignments especially, I'd feel this sense of great freedom and relief. I think what Mr Allen said is more appropriate -it's more of a process of winding down.

For now, the finishing line is FINALLY in view. Personally, the last year has taught me that it's about so much more than the last 4 years. In part, it's a closure of what He's begun in 1999. It's taken me 10 years and the finishing line is almost here. The journey still goes on for there will always be another milestone to reach. However, I am almost there at the upcoming one. I am almost there. I am almost there....

Craziness - for the final week *hopefully*

Haven't been blogging much lately as I've been trying to put aside everything that distracts and concentrate on studies.. I still find that I need to put a whole lot more effort on a paper than previous years but it's been definitely better than last sem.

Anyways, just thought to note down here that it's going to be a super crazy week ahead, still finishing up some papers, 2 final exams, reflection papers to complete, leading pastoral group on Wed, have dinner to attend and evaluations to finish up and leading worship on Sunday (and I still feel I've left out one or two things *sigh)... Am looking forward to the coming Sunday after church service when things will finally die down.. Lucy's suggestion of sleeping for three days after everything's over sounds REALLY GOOD right now. In the meantime, value prayers for this coming week.... :) Will try to write more after this... Have so many ideas stuck in my head at the moment - just no time to get it out.. :p

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Funny Facebook Song

What is That?

We watched this in counseling class today. I really liked it. :)

Crazy Conversation with self

Stressed-out-me: Man, there's so much to do.. Dun know if I can finish by next friday.. I blame it on you.. getting me more and more stressed out... If only you didn't take so darn long to finish one paper... STOP making changes!

Perfectionist-me: Aiyah.. But then- if you simply do your work, you're going to regret not putting in more later..

Stressed-out-me: But then.. I'm killing myself here..

Perfectionist-me: Just till next Fri lah..

Stressed-out-me: But that's exactly it.. Friday is so close lah!! Stop dawdling with the work!! Having exam some more..

Perfectionist-me: chill lah...

Stressed-out-me: what chill?!?! stop chilling lah you.. Dun care d... dun care what grade you get lah.. just finish the dratted papers!

Perfectionist-me: but... but...

Stressed-out-me: stop 'but' - ing... get the work done... hey 'taking-a-break-me'.. stop blogging and whatever not and get back to work!

Taking-a-break-me: ok ok... But you guys just stop arguing.. It's driving ME crazy..

Perfectionist-me & Stressed-out-me: Whatever.... (And the two goes back and to their never ending argument)..

The-rest-of-me: *GROAN*

Assignments.. :p

Think positively

From: comics.com

Live For Today - Natalie Grant

This song's got a groovy rhythm. A good reminder for where I am right now.



Sittin' in my room staring at the wall
Wonderin' about the meaning of it all
Why is it this thing called life
Has got me goin' crazy
So I open up Your Word and let it speak to me
The purpose and the plan that You've designed
Is clear to see, and I believe

C:
I'm gonna live for today
I'm gonna follow in Your way
I'm gonna let my little light shine
Like there's no tomorrow
I won't worry about the past
I know my future is intact
So I'll choose to live my life one way
I'm gonna live for it today

You told me not to worry
About what lies ahead
So I am gonna focus on today instead
Making every moment count
And counting every single blessing
I'm gonna set my mind on the here and now
This is what I want my life to be about
And this is how...

CHORUS

B:
My oh so crazy life
It's got me spinnin' round and round
Hanging upside down
Takin' one step at a time
Holding Your hand all the way
And it'll be okay

For Fun

Would You?

The 'big one' is coming
I already feel its beginning
Help me to continue to look up
In spite of the pouring rain

I still hear Your voice calling
Loud and clear
Reminding me of what's ahead
Plans that are awesome

But for now, I ask
Would You help me through this next mile?

Quote by Henri Nouwen

To live the spiritual life we must first find the courage to enter into the desert of our loneliness and to change it by gentle and persistent efforts into a garden of solitude. The movenment from loneliness to solitude is the beginning of any spiritual life because it is the movement from restless senses to restful spirit, from the outward-reaching cravings to the inward-reaching search, from the fearful clinging to fearless play.
- Henri Nouwen (Reaching Out, pp34-35) -

Never Alone - BarlowGirl

I waited for you today
But you didn't show - No no no
I needed You today
So where did You go?
You told me to call
Said You'd be there
And though I haven't seen You
Are You still there?

C:
I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I"m never alone

And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life

We cannot separate
'Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

We cannot separate
You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

Thought

To have grace is to give grace.
To be forgiven is to forgive.

Quote

God will not give you power unless you understand His love- for power without love corrupts. - Dr Chew Tow Yow.

Thought

One's perspective isn't always right. Sometimes people are further than you think they are.

Fog of Time

From: Boy On A Stick And Slither