i'm back i'm back!! a lot a lot a lot a lot of updates!!!!!!!
i have been away from blogging for a long long time now...
been really really tired from all the activities and camps etc.
but i thought i should at least blog and update on what me and my dear have been doing, for rememberance sake =) heez. so finally, i managed to bring myself to upload all the photos and do some blogging. enjoy!
*and i wanna thank my dear for helping me to blog on our mission trip, coz i've been so lazy to do so...thanks dear! and he's so sweet...every day of the mission trip, he mentions about me hee hee. love ya!
the following updates is more or less arranged in chronological order, the first being the most recent.
1. ChESS FWC CAMP 2007 - Zephyr
ChESS camp was actually quite fun...though me and dear was actually very very tired to go for this camp, and so wanted to back out. But felt bad, coz we wanted to support yung chuan =) and we did. Due to accumulated fatigue, and overdosage of camps, we were actually quite sian to keep cheering and playing all the games...but we know that as councillors, we should try to bond the group too. but anyhow, we did what we could and i'm sure the group will cont to bond deeper as they go for outings and all.
actually, through all the camps including our mission trip, some might feel that me and dear are too sticky and stuff like that. Some may understand, some might not. Some might judge us and find us irreponsible as a result...but through it all, we have grown. We did not neglect our responsibilities, rather, we do it together hand in hand. coz we believe that as one body in Christ, we're gonna be together beyond eternity and we chose to do things together. It's not about being sticky or not, but rather, that's just our choice, our way of doing things, coz we're made for each other. =) and through all these camps, dear has thought me to stay firm and stand strong for God and for our love, and not be swayed by people's judgements or comments. thanks dear... and of course, beyond all that, even though we are together all the time, we are not totally exclusive, we don't neglect the rest...we mingle with them too, mix with them, and build friendship bonds with them..just that we chose to do it together. that's just something we've learnt through the camps, and i thought it wld be nice to pen it down, as we cont to grow in this relationship.
and for the pictures now!
this is our group! the freshies! Zephyr rocks!
and here's the councillors and ogls...i'm taking the photo hehe. fred trying to take a picture of me. dotz.
hee hee hee. giggles. took this photo during one of the SP (secret pal) sessions...i made them did that... =X but just a short while!
this is some photos of games, and the barbeque night before fright night...
shi min and albert...during SP night...so cute!
SP night again...i really like this picture pile...i took the background too! It was held at changi beach club. so romantic!
2. NDP Rehearsal
thanks to my uncle, we managed to get a total of 5 tickets to watch NDP. my mom, dad, maid, jess and dear. we all went together and my, the parade was 'fantabulous'.. --> dear invented this word..a combination of fantastic and fabulous. so cute. hee hee.
me and jess dearie...i love the star! so bright so nice! and look at our faces! got tattoo! i'm patriotic! hee hee. and super high that night.
me and darling...see my hat! the pelican's eyes can blink! it's relaly cool! one of the freebies in the goodie bag haha.might as well use it!
this's the stadium! so pweeetttyyy right?!
a myriad of fireworks! my hp camera not bad huh! awesome! me and jess were screaming all the way! we even took a video of it.
3. some pa-toring in between all these social activities.
can't remmeber which day..but we decided to wear our cambodia t-shirt together. so nice right hehe. that day, we met up to do our christian book together...a book that we both bought about a year back, to help us grow deeper in relationship with God and also to walk together spiritually. and it's really nice as we discuss some of the issues and questions the book raises, and we always grow and learn something from the book after every session. =)
and we watched transformers that day too! awesome movie! i was hesistant to watch at first, but agreed to watch coz my darling loves tranformers..and my gosh, i was so glad i went for the movie after watching it! optimus prime! :)
and i can't remember when also...but we went to changi beach to relax one saturday afternoon..and it was really peaceful and beautiful...and we went to the rocks to hunt for crabs...quite a few we saw! :) we love nature!
4. Campus Crusade Blastoff Camp 2007 - CG 7 & CG 8
We were both approached to go for cursade's freshmen camp this year...and dear and i were challenged to be team leader and assistant team leader respectively...but not in the same group. Dear was in cg8 while i was in cg7. Actually, initially, i really struggled with this camp...coz i just didn't understand why i can't do it with my dear...and why crusade always have to separate us. isn't it better if we can work together, and grow together in Christ? and i wasn't confident to lead a group..especially during times of sharing and stuff like that.
but God has shown me through this camp, what it takes to be a leader. it's not about being able to speak up, it's not about being confident, but rather, just being who God wants u to be...you don't have to be perfect to be the best leader...and you don't have to fear. it's through this camp, that i took the step of faith to share my mission trip testimony to some of the freshies, and other crusaders even..and i have even made that effort to talk to the freshies in a deeper level, and sharing with each other our salvation story etc. And it's heartwarming to hear of how this camp has led some of them to be touched by the message, and how they desire to grow deeper in God. Praise God.
Even though the games were ultra smelly and disgusting....i felt that both dear and i have grown through this camp. Perhaps not all my expectations were met, and perhaps i may not have grown as much as what i wanted to, but bonds have been built...and together we're one family of Christ.
look at the middle picture.. i almost puke during the game...on the blue canvas sheet are stuff like soy sauce, ketchup, curry sauce, vinegar etc..it stinks like crazy..and many of us were stained with the smell. super gross.
5. Community Service Club Camp (CSC) - Ethelonter 2007 - Group: Cosmofudge
CSC camp was a real struggle for me. Dear was part of the organising committee (OC) while i came for the camp, just to accompany dear...i wasn't part of CSC and hardly know anyone there. And it was a real struggle coz i felt i wasn't accepted as part of the camp...where some of the OC talked to dear, and wanted me not to join them in the OC debrief everyday, plus i shouldn't be part of the OC dance...and stuff like that. It also means that i have to be alone without my dear for some periods of time...and because i don't know many people there...i feel terribly out of place, terribly alone. and i did broke down one night. sorry dear. But dear was with me...and i was really very touched when he decided to stay by my side, and quit the oc dance...he has to go through quite a number of discussions with the OC committee, and have to face some people's judgements, but he stood firm and told them his priority and his choice. And i was really touched by how much dear would run for me. :) i love you dear...
and our group is really fun. fudgies rox...look at the pictures! we had so much fun dancing the 'chicken little' song. hee hee. anyway, i have to add that the camp was really tiring. i almost drop dead. and dear nose bled a couple of nights...i was utterly worried... :(
look at the tao pok picture on the top left! so cute!
SP night...it's interesting seeing how some pairs actually developed some sparks in their conversations... :) and how some pairs were actually violent!
a day at sentosa. dear was the station i/c for one of the sentosa games.. see my dear in action! proud of u! :)
and see how tired all of them were! hahahaha...i'm quite mean to take such unglam shots...my bad my bad! and the 3rd photo! i got a chance to follow dear to csl (chen sulan home), which is where dear goes to teach tuition every wednesday last semester..and this girl actually just came to me and ask me to teach her..and she was sad that i had to leave after a short while...cute girl..but quite naughty haha.
and here's our group photo! click to enlarge it! :)
6. Gen 12ii Mission Trip to Cambodia (12/6/07 - 22/6/07)
Since dear has already given a brief summary of what we have done in cambodia..i will just write briefly on the things that i've learnt and how i've grown and stuff like that.
Firstly, it's me and darling's first mission trip and through this mission trip, we hope to experience God together as a couple...and really to grow in faith and do works for God. This mission trip hasn't been easy for both of us, but it has been meaningful, enriching and fruitful. The experience gained is priceless.
There, i really was out of my comfort zone, especially at the 3-4 days at the orphanage in Kampong Thom. The living conditions were bad....there was no flushing system, there were frequent power failures, there were zillions of insects in our bunks..and i was so intimidated to sleep with these bugs...there were a variety of them, ranging from small to big...the biggest were their crickets. absolutely scary. the toilets were super small, filled with spiders and other insects surrounding the 4 walls...bathing was frightening as i was all alone...and i bathed within 5 minutes. i ddin't dare to open my eyes, didn't dare to imagine...just got out of the toilet asap. there were insects in the toilet bowl...and i tried as much as i can not to use the toilet. there was no toilet paper...and no air con. u cannot imagine how hot it was...coz it was much much hotter and more humid than singapore. despite the bad living conditions, i really learn and appreciated singapore so much when i was back...to think i kept complaining about the weather etc in singapore, yet at cambodia, i felt so fortunate to be a singaporean. People in cambodia hardly ever committed suicide...yet singaporeans, filled with luxury, jump down from buildings when they are so much more blessed. irony isn't it. The livestyles there were so much simpler, and the people were so much more contented. We dont' realise it...but those people out there are fighting to live each day, working hard for food, for clothes, while we're struggling and fighting for grades and complain about how meaningless life is.
And it's really heartwarming to hear of testimonies and stories of the missionaries that we worked with. How Dr Castro, our missionary doctor, forsaked his own comfort in Philippines, left his family, and came to serve God in Cambodia out of obedience to our Lord. Such sacrifice is really admirable. It's so warm to see how they always put in an extra mile to be a greater blessing, to bring love to the orphans, the villagers and how they fight to spread the gospel. And it's even more heartwarming to see them filled with faith, as they depend on God on every single thing....it's really inspiring when u hear their testimonies. These people of great faith, reminds me really, of what it means to obey with full obedience.
I've seen how God has worked and how He has so intricately and marvelously helped us to spread the gospel and bring people to Christ. Through carnivals, through village sharing, through all these little ways, we reach out to the people, and people came to know the Lord. I remember how we went to the dam, soaked ourselves in the muddy water, and dear lost his specs...and while we panicked and tried to look for it desperately, the villagers asked us to form a circle and they led us in prayer...and after saying the prayer, some unknown villager found it and asked 'whose specs is it'. We praised God, we were full of smiles, coz God was working. God heard our prayer. God saw our faith, our dependence on Him. The dam was huge, and because it's muddy, there was no way how we could actually find it, since the bottom of it is all sandy...and we didn't know where to start finding. God is amazing isn't it!
And throughout the mission trip, my dear fell sick quite badly for many many days. There were times, he was so sick that he had to miss a school carnival and some village sharing. I was so worried, and started panicking, but the team reminded me to pray and ask God for healing...and while i was busy panicking, they brought me back and reminded me of the importance of prayer. I was really touched as we circled and prayed for dear...dear had dosages of medicine, and had all kinds of viruses...asthma, nose bleed, flu, cough, sorethroat, phlegm, blocknose, giddy, diarrhoea etc etc. Felt like it was God's plan...and it was a real struggle for me...as there were times i couldn't be beside my dear..coz in the orphanage, i couldn't enter the guy's bunk due to their culture. and i was really sad..coz i really wanted to take care of him....and felt so lonely then. and we even resorted to writing letters coz we were told not to be too sticky and stuff like that. and it was really sad coz i don't understand why i can't even share and tlak to my dear face to face...why was it even a barrier since God gave us to each other. But i realised through such short times of separation physiclaly, i really learnt how much it is to cherish and treasure him, and how really blessed i am to have him. and even though we have such short separations physiclaly, we had God to connect us, as we always keep each other in prayer :)
There's so much to say about this mission trip, and it's also my first time stepping out, and leading a mass group of cambodian kids to sing children christian's songs...it's really warm to see these children singing to God, with hearts so pure and so innocent. And i really felt that it's so true, 'the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few'. How apt that is...
In all, i really am so very thankful for this opportunity to go on this mission trip to cambodia. Despite the many struggles i faceds, especially as a prayer i/c, dear and i have learnt and grown in many ways even as i serve as a prayer i/c and as we go out to spread his gospel. And we thank God for being with us, for working through us, and guiding us and protecting us. Praise be to God. And not forgetting, thanks to all our supporters...thanks for being our prayer warriors! :)
some photos!
nice view from the orphanage...look at the padi fields! so pweeettttyy!!
a day of R&R at Angkor wat. hazel and huisan were so funny. they didn't know we were all behind when they saluted to pose for the photo. haha.
The orphanage we stayed in kampong Thom...miss them so much...
here's eliza givng health talk to the village - teaching how to brush teeth. see how she does it with so much love :)
more pictures will be up when i receive them during our next meeting..which is monday...
super long post! but it's all the updates for the past months in june and july!
*oh and i have to say, i'm really happy as some of my friends have gotten attached during this holidays! so really happy for them :) may God bless their blissful relationships!!
No comments:
Post a Comment