Life is like a Tandem Bike

"At first I saw God as my observer, my judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong,
so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president.
I recognised his picture when I saw it,
but I didn’t really know him.

But later on when I met Christ,
it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,
but it was a tandem bike and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was
that He suggested we change places,
but life hasn't been the same since.
When I had control
I knew the way.
It was rather boring, but predictable ...
It was the shortest distance between two points.
But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains and through rock places
at breakneck speeds.
It was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said, "Pedal!"

I worried and was anxious and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer,
and I started to learn to trust.


I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed.
Gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey,
my Lord's and mine.

And we were off again.
He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage,
too much weight."
So I did ... to the people we met.
And I found that in giving I received,
and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life.
I thought He'd wreck it;
but He knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the Strangest places,
and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face
with my delightful, constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I'm sure I just can’t do anymore,
He just smiles and says... "Pedal!"\
-- poem by Richard Farmer

Tying up the loose ends

And so, it's less than 1 day. Suddenly, all the excitement and desire to travel seemed to slowly disappear as the number of hours i've left in Singapore diminishes. I really hate to say goodbyes. The last few nights have been increasingly hard for me to get to sleep... i would worry and think about how much i would miss home, and tears would slowly well up in my eyes. Have been packing up miscellaneous items just now, and we tested the webcam too. That took quite a while cos there was something wrong with the webcam initially, but all is fine now. Thank God. Other than that, i've also prepared gifts for my parents and my brother and letters too. It's my 1st time writing such heart-to-heart letters (it actually took me quite a bit of courage to write them), but i really wanted them to know how much i would miss them. So yeah, glad that i kinda did all that i needed and wanted to do.

I am crossing my fingers and hoping i'll be emotionally stable tmr :) so my family wouldn't have to worry so much for me. Guess this would probably be the last post from Singapore, till 6 months later. Would most probably be blogging at the exchange blog more frequently once i've arrived safely in Switzerland! :)

Anyway, here're some prayer requests that you can be praying for us:

- good health throughout the 6 months for us and our families
- journey mercies for all the travelling
- that pickpockets will stay away from us
- for good bonding with the other exchange students and also, the swiss students there
- we'll be able to adapt and settle down quickly
- quick adjustment to the cold weather...hopefully we'll not catch a chill
- to have faith and trust God that He'll provide
- right mindset and attitude...that we're going there to study
- that my roomie (Tamisa) and i will be able to get along well (without conflicts with our habits)
- to have the desire and passion to discover God, serve Him and draw closer to Him

Aiyah.

I am feeling so sad to leave home. The past few days have been heart-wrenching with the thought of having to say goodbye to my family. I guess it's precisely because i'm leaving my very own comfort and security zone and it's the longest time i'll be away from home.

i hope i don't cry when i'm at the departure gate on saturday. I don't really like to cry in front of people haha, i'm those kind who will secretly cry under my blankets with the lights off.

argh. this 'she bu de' feeling is totally unbearable :(

Tugging emotions

And so CNY just flew by like that. In a flash. Definitely, i had a good time with my family but it was too fast. I really wished we could spend more time together no matter what we're doing, be it karoke, eating, chatting, playing mahjong etc. But time doesn't wait.

It's a naggy feeling that i'll be leaving in less than 4 days time. While i'm partly excited, i'm also very hesistant to part with my family and the fact that i've to constantly watch out for myself and dear doesn't put me at ease too. I have been hearing scary stories about the gypsies in Europe, and how easy it is to get pick pocketed...and it really scares me. I can't imagine losing my passport, can you? It doesn't help that i've a natural tendency to over-worry too.

Being on exchange, i don't really have any expectations on the amount of travelling and countries i want to visit, but rather, i just pray and really hope that things will be fine at home; that my parents and brother are safe and healthy and that on my side, dear and i will be safe too. I guess instead of worrying so much, i should really place my trust in God that He will keep my family and us safe and healthy. There's really endless things for me to worry about...from where to safekeep my money, how to separate my money, whether my luggage has exceeded its limit, whether i can get along with my roomy etc etc. I should just leave it to God; that itself will be a step of faith.

My mom was just lying on my bed a few minutes ago (she rarely does this), and she started talking to me. Earlier today, she said "you're going for 6 months. you won't be hearing me asking you to eat vitamins and asking you to drink barley water anymore". That tugged my heart. I will really miss my family. How much? Well, i'm already starting to feel homesick 4 days before my departure. It's perhaps time i learn to be independent.

Anyway, here are some pictures i took during cny.

Reunion Dinner @ my home

The usual mahjong sessions (without gambling)Baby Bernard with his grandpa on the 1st day of CNY

CNY lunch at Auntie Lisa's house. Fabulous as always.Family. I really love this picture.

Sigh, i'm soo gonna miss all of them :(

Disturbing

This is so disturbing. The fact that such claims have been made, the presence of such websites, the countless number of videos on youtube talking about him being the anti-christ and so on, are truly very disturbing.

Whether or not he's the anti-christ, i cannot comment on it but we must be on our guard, and be discerning each and every moment. Our faith must not be shaken.

Some pictures to add colour

There're a whole lot of pictures that i intended to put up but have been so lazy. So, i'll just dump a pic or 2 from the more recent outings i went for. And thousand apologies for the temporary inconvenience of having to log-in to view this blog previously. If you're sharp enough, you'ld have found a new link on this blog. It'ld be open to all, and specially so for our parents and friends to be updated with our lives from the 31st.

a once-every-6 months meet-up with jia min and yiling :)

my bitsie dearies
i can't rmb when we took this photo alr haha. think it was xmas

v dark picture but anyway, i kinda 'forced' dear to take this photo with the 3 wise men. v cute hehe

my parents, me, dear and cousin rouvin attended my church's watchnight service.

and it was also pastor joel's last semon :(

@ Yong Peng, Johor. A day trip organised by dear's church for the senior citizens ministry.

it was a fun journey with lots of eye-opening to the kampong and orang-asli culture.

my 1st time seeing a pineapple tree.

Other than meet-ups, and spending time with our families and each other, we have been busy with all the preparation and planning we had to do. Packing is abt 3/4 done for me, and i'm really starting to feel the pinch of having to leave my family and my comfort zone. I hate to count down, but i cannot avoid the fact that there's only 12 more days to go. As cny arrives, it'll be time for us to depart... and discover & experience an entirely different environment.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" Proverbs 9:10

Read this verse while doing Quiet Time yesterday.

Struck me and sets me thinking... :)

What does it really mean to 'fear the Lord'?