plain ol' me

Christmas Dinner 2010 :)

2010-12-25T23:47:00.002+08:00

I'm so excited to present our menu for the night! Chose this after much thought, and to attempt a different tradition~

Here it is! Worded by our beloved Han Ee, and prepared lovingly with much help from many others...

1. Prawn, mango and avocado salad
Fresh prawn tossed with sweet mango, creamy avocado and a special formulated sauce that is sure to give your palate a treat.

2. Chargrilled pineapple
Slices of sweet pineapple chargrilled with brown sugar - a perfect prelude to the savoury goodness of the glazed ham.

3. Potato salad (Elizabeth's special)
Chunks of potato mixed with mayonaise, smokey twiggy stix and egg - a home cooked dish that is sure to make you feel closer to home.

4. Braised peas
Green peas braised with butter, leek, mint and topped with melted cheddar- a dish to tide you through the hot summer.

5. Honey, mustard glazed ham
A whole leg of ham glazed with honey, golden syrup and mustard, made fragrant with cloves, and baked to the perfect degree of festivity.

6. Stuffed turkey breast
A traditional Christmas dish - turkey stuffed with all things good and yummy, including dried cranberries, pears, walnuts, pistachios and herbed onions.

7. Trifle
A sweet dessert, complete with fresh cherries, port jelly, custard, triple chocolate cookies and lots of love to end the entire gastronomical experience with a bang! :)

Beverages / wine
*Tropical fruit punch with rosehip-frozen ice cubes
*Wolf blass varae
*Rosemount crisp chardonnay botanical with cucumber and green apple
*Banrock station moscato
*Yellow label moscato
*Vodka mudshake original chocolate

Pictures should be out on facebook, courtesy of friends! :)

Then we played Kinex on Danielle's Xbox 360. I think we danced and played adventures till we burnt off more than what we ate!!! Awesome...

Was glad to still spend Christmas with 'family'. :)
Ho Ho Ho!!! Merry Christmas everyone~

Honours~ :)

2010-12-18T07:38:00.003+08:00

Once again, i will revive my blog... I realised that because i didn't prioritise to blog, i've left out many testimonies!!!

'I cried out to God for help.. When i was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my sould refused to be comforted...
Then i thought, "To this I will appeal the yrs of the right hand of the Most High."
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago...

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.'
Psalm 77

The verses say it all...
For those that don't know, this sem's exams were the worst. In terms of difficulty, and also in terms of the amt of time we had to prepare... By the time i finished my last assignment, i only had 3 days to study for each of the 2 harder papers... Crazy! Really felt the fear and possibility of failing... Never felt that way b4. But...

Results are out. And i did quite well!?!? OMG. I actually got into HONOURS!!!
THANK YOU EVERYONE who has been praying!! OCFers, kins, cell groupies and friends.

Only the top 8 or 9 of the cohort can get in...
I remember with the amount of time serving in ministry took up (to do my best in a proper job to pass it on to the next comm), and how i failed one of my major assignments last sem, and with the craziness of this sem, i gave up the hope of honours. Just prayed that he would let me pass all my topics and smoothly get into yr 4. But.. he gives even more than i could ask or imagine...

Another stepping stone to something greater? Perhaps... Honours will be my key to further research and teaching opportunities. I've been quite excited about the whole practice of teaching and passing on of generations... Maybe i'll be able to start up a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics for Spore next time... Who knows?

Just took lotsa pictures with all the graduates. (Prob coming out on facebook soon) WOOOHOOO! Well done everyone! I'm super excited for all of ya. Will be my own turn soon... Grand reunion with everyone too, esp Grace Loo! :)

Going home soon... Hate to leave. Really. So many ppl left behind, hate for it to just become memories... :(

It's OPEN!

2010-03-28T21:33:00.002+08:00

MY COUSIN'S RESTAURANT IS OPENING TMR! :)
His name is Malcolm Lee Xiao Ming. The brilliant guy who won the scholarship at SunRice. There was only 2 up for grabs at the time. 1 for Asians, and another for non-Asians. And he won that one.
GOGOGO~

It's called Candlenut, at 25 Neil Road.
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_1/travel_site_4422/

The best authentic peranakan food in Singapore. :)

Better ship some sealed food over, Mal! I miss ya lots. sheng1 yi4 xing1 long2!

O-weeeeeks

2010-03-06T14:13:00.003+08:00

It has been an exciting time at Orientation... Our heartbeat is for the overseas students, so we won't give up till we step down or leave i guess?

Booths everyday and potluck dinner, followed by Victor Harbor and Goowa Beach trip. Then the next week Welcome Night and Captain Ball!

Somehow, still alot of fears that the centre won't do as well, or that we're not making wise enough decisions, which will have negative consequences. But... that's the whole point of ministry isn't it? Imperfect ppl, serving and partnering a perfect God. As long as we keep trying to learn and wait upon him and lovelovelove... we're on the right track.

Such an exciting time... Giving up sleep, but trying to bring everything together, and at the same time see how to let ppl get excited about what they're excited about in serving. God has added alot of other excitements along the way. Close friends know... haha.

One thing to note tho'. I must have a healthy balance! Priorities for the season... Ministry of cos, along with time in the word and prayer even if its at unearthly hours everyday, time for studying is a solace, time with friends and coursemates, lotsa exercise, family, and... i must COOK and make desserts!!! Alot of nice lights and stars this period too..
and... i'm trying to get to know special ppl much better. heh. i'm enjoying it :)

2Cor6:4-10 is my fav for this season.
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses, in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit, and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; known yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

New found land

2010-02-25T23:42:00.002+08:00

There is a new brown land.
But peace talks have begun. No signs of invasion or war.

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. Proverbs 26:15.

Safely back

2010-02-20T00:51:00.002+08:00

I am safe!

I had a wonky remote. And had to play IQ games to decide how to choose what i needed to. In the end, the most my controls could do was watch 1 movie. I couldn't select the others at all. Irritating. haha. But at least i could watch one. It's better than the time my in-flight entertainment spoilt. And Amelia Earheart kinda spoke to me in the simplest of ways.

But... to make up for that, i saw a whole sky of stars and 2 shooting stars! That was an amazing sight, in spite of the lack of sleep and feeling sick from turbulence and not being able to eat dinner.

Much thanks to Norman who helped me so much on day 1. From a lift from the airport to marketing and cleaning... Very very grateful...

Lots more to say, but after unpacking so much and already doing too many things on the 1st 2 days... i just need to sleep. Already more meetings, and planning, and welcoming to do.

WOOOOT. I'm pumped and glad to be back!

New Bakwa!

2010-02-14T22:06:00.003+08:00

It is CNY day 1.
And already it hits me that i'm not going to be around next CNY. Haha... Aiyo. In a good way, I blame OCF for making me think so clearly way in advance. It's too powerful training for my frontal lobes (part of brain that controls planning for the future).. besides the fact of cos, that that part also matures in the early 20s. haha.
Still... super emo. *sniff* I'm already feeling a part of what i'll feel next year during CNY.

That's why this CNY means particularly much to me. And i'm making more effort to talk to aunties, uncles, cousins and my tiny nieces and nephews more! Even though i'm not at all close to alot of them... haha. But i really wanna love them more. We are family no matter what happens!

And, i had a new revelation.
DELICIOUS Mutton Satay is seriously the NEW bakwa... I ate 6 sticks before i had to give up because it was too 'je-lat'.
Absolutely awesome.

Lovey dovey in the midst of crankiness

2010-02-14T00:19:00.007+08:00

Either we ate too much at the Indian restaurant... which shouldn't be the case, because altho' i was stuffed, it was only my 2nd meal of the day, and we walked around Mustafa for like 2 hours after. So everything should have been digested.

Or, God was excited about everything i told him in the steam room. Heh. Makes you curious and wanna know what secrets i told him right? :p

I think it's the latter, because i couldn't sleep the whole night. God kept talking and talking and talking, and wouldn't let me sleep properly.

Aiyooo. Very spontaneous ah God? And you know i become SO cranky when i don't get my beauty rest. Seemed like you just wanted to have a late night chat, as though you were staying overnight and sharing my bed. Telling me so much secrets till i had to force myself to get up, and scribble everything you said. But even though i wanted to sleep, i still wanted to listen more!!! You never answered some of my questions though, and i was left to keep asking. Frustratingggg! Haha. And you keep changing topic. Lols. Just like me when i try to avoid answering... So secretive ah! Nvm, i'm quite sure you will tell me somehow, sometime later. Maybe when you next are in the mood, or when the information is critical.

Anyway, i woke up grumbling to God how tired i was. But decided today was serve my mum day. So no matter what she requested about household stuff or running errands, i'll just do it, happily and willingly. I won't get to spend CNY here next year. Was a tough struggle though. Just wanted to be grouchy and go back to bed. I tahan-ed from 9ish am to about 4ish pm, was utterly drained, CMI, and then napped, b4 reunion dinner.

Interestingly enough, last night's QT (it's the Corinthians season currently) was on 1Cor13. I was trying to memorise, analyse and challenge myself. For myself, my family, my friends, and my future husband (which the application already starts from friends now). And i think, i'll be on this passage for a few more nights. Cos i'm still not too good. Esp with family members... I still have so much to work on! Our whole family does i think. hahaha.

Just for the record, 1 person i respect alot about trying very hard to honour his parents is J. I'm inspired. Thanks for that.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is notrude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (vs 4-8a)

Maybe serve my mum day was a good decision that overflowed out of QT in the midst of crankiness.

Oh wells. In the mood for Valentines Day actually, but i'm single. Awwwww. Yet, i guess i'm supposed to be already complete without a guy anyway. Just that if i'm the right helper for him, the formula works as this: 1+1 > 2.
I'm taking my time to become the right one, and find who i'm supposed be a helper to. Although selfishly, i'm being very very picky and trying to choose only the best one for me too haha.

But it doesn't matter! I still wanna wish everyone....
HAPPY SINGLES DAY!!! YAY! :) We singles have tons of privileges. Yeahhhhh~ Enjoy it while it lasts... :)
And to all couples out there, 1Cor13 yo~.

捞鱼生 ritual

2010-02-13T14:56:00.003+08:00

I learnt through OCF the true importance of passing on of generations... And decided, i will really put it into practice in the things i do.

CNY for instance.
Somehow, i think alot of the CNY spirit is already lost. That's so sad...
I decided to do abit of research and find out what originally needs to be said when the 捞鱼生 dish is prepared. Cos our family is in charge of the dish every year anyway. :)

This is the best i could find... Come on everyone, let's say it together, when we add these ingredients to the plate!!!

酸甘：祝大家大吉大利大丰收
胡椒粉+ 五香粉（青红）：双喜临门福安康
三文鱼：年年有余庆团圆
生油：生意兴隆通四海
鲍翅：包罗万有万事兴
鱼子：爆竹一响迎新春
酸梅酱：甜甜蜜蜜合家欢
薄脆：满地黄金添富贵

Shucks. I'm still missing the phrases for so many ingredients! Someone help me out here? There's still white radish, carrot, ginger, chinese parsley, peanuts, sesame seeds, chili... that are impt!

Love the steam room~

2010-02-12T23:44:00.003+08:00

Guy pal brought me into his gym as a visitor. So i have a free 7 day pass!
Tmr's the 3rd day, and i would have gone in 3 times.

1st day was a tour, plus a detailed body analysis. I like what i see about my height, weight, fluids, muscle mass, fat content, and fitness score. They are all very good scores. *grins* So what if i'm not as skinny as the average Singaporean girl?
And i ran, and did some toning. Quite sensitive to my body, so I feel the difference already.

2nd day, I went for a class. Which was great to stretch and increase my flexibility and balance. Miss the days of taekwondo or dancing lindy hop. Which i felt so much more flexible, and did more crazy body stuff then.
Staying in the sauna and steam room after, for a long time really made me feel so so so so so good. Love it. Told God many secrets in there too. :p

Tmr... i think i'll stick to a simple routine i think. Then go to the steam room again. :)

Still, there's no way i'll sign up for a gym membership. It's uber expensive, and i'm near broke. Shucks. haha.

I just hope i stay fit and healthy, esp b4 flying back down under. Cannot disturb the balance of great food, and health!

Indian

2010-02-12T22:43:00.004+08:00

I have found the
BEST and CHEAPEST
INDIAN RESTAURANT.

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy........................ :)

It was uber cheap. And we were so stuffed by the end of it.
Because the rice, 2 types of authentic curries and 3 types of delightful indian veggies were free flow!!! with 1 perfect papadum.
The lassi was like less than half the price of usual indian places.
Everything was served on a banana leaf!
Free flow water in classic metal indian jugs and cups.
The masala dosai tasted FANTASTIC. It was spiced perfectly and was so fresh!
The service was friendly, relevant and very very fast.
YUMMY.

And i'm not going to blog the name or the address. hahahahahahahah.

eh?

2010-02-11T17:10:00.002+08:00

Time passes by in a flurry.

I'm comfortable, and then i'm thrown into yet another environment again. Arghh.
Somehow, i remember that the world is my tent anyway. I'm not supposed to be that comfortable isn't it? Just enjoy it to the fullest, and do what i need to do. :)

In the mood of double-mindedness now. haha. Yes and no, staying and leaving, cooking and eating out, working and playing, talking and remaining silent... I think i don't really know what i want... because it's so confusing.

I'm a mystery.

Credits

2010-02-09T13:51:00.003+08:00

Forget not all thy history makers... of the Singapore Experience for Annemarie!

Dad, Mum, Bro, Aravin, Chuan Zhi, Adelyn, Rachel, Han Ee, Lydea, Samantha, Anna, Joshua, Elaine, Grace, Yan Yin, Joel, Samuel, Kimberly, Kellen, Jeriel, Michelle...

Transporters, Food-makers, Mobile phone providers, Singapore-contributors and whoever else we missed out...

We will meet at the next reunion, all! :)

The Singapore Experience for Annemarie

2010-02-08T11:46:00.005+08:00

Itinery from 4th to 8th February!

Tuesday:
*Touchdown!
*Straight to the lagoon at East Coast for a Satay snack

Wednesday:
*Braised Duck Noodles, along with complimentary Coffeeshop (Coffee and Tea) Language Education
*Visits to the Indian and Chinese Temples, C.H.I.J.M.E.S, St Andrew's Cathedral, Church of the Good Shepherd
*Appreciations of the City Hall, Parliament House, Courts, War Memorials, with spontaneous historical background included
*Flowers admiring session at Bugis with Bitter Cooling Herbal Tea and sweet Chrysanthemum Tea Refreshments
*Best egg tarts and barbequed pork pastry
*Chinatown tour of shops and ornaments, followed by food section with Annie's hands and mouth both full of Chinese New Year goodies samples!!! (Pineapple tarts, almond and peanut cookies, Taiwan jellies, preserved apricots, pumpkin seed crackers, marinated pork slices a.k.a. bakwa, fresh coconut juice, etc)
*Geylang Beef Noodles and Frog Leg's Porridge for mains, Durian and Mangosteens for desserts

Thursday:
*Brunch at local indian stall - Cheese and Mushroom Prata, Kosong Prata, Plaster Prata, Egg Omelette, Teh Tarik!
*Singapore Arts Museum Tour, featuring a lovely scent exhibition (my personal favourite!), and lotsa Philippines and Thai artwork, some Singaporean paintings too.
*Orchard Road Galore!!!
*Our famous Pork Floss Bun from Bread Talk. Oh yes. Had to pay a tribute to this each time i came back. It's a sequal to Annie's taste of the bakwa.
*Lunch at the best food court in Singapore Food Republic - Fried Prawn Noodles a.k.a Hokkien Mee, Sliced Fish Soup, Pad Thai and Lemongrass Juice a.k.a. (well at least this is what i call it) Fruit Loops Drink
*Instead of drinking coffee, we went to Plaza Singapura for an Arcade Challenge! Bishi Bashi (Go crazy and whack and laugh game) and Mario Kart! WOOOOT! More than enough energy after.
*IDP post departure Seminar Gathering for new SA students, at Just Acia at Dhoby Xchange at Dhoby MRT. Ministry timeeee. :)
*Fitness corner and playground at my house area... Power walk! and on the foot massage stone circle too. Ouchh. Our blood circulation is still not the best eh? Heh.

Friday:
*Brunch at my Jalan Beseh Hawker centre! The best chinese meesiam in Singapore. Cos it's my godma's shop! YUM. And fried economy beehoon noodles, kaya and butter toast with half boiled eggs, and complimentary sugar cane juice and cut fruits from my godma... *touched*
*Sentosa Beach! The Luge, 4D cinematics, Fort Siloso, Images of Singapore. but not enough time for the beachhh.... :(
*Romantic C.H.I.J.M.E.S dinner experience... Love it. :) Walked to Clarke Quay and saw people getting tortured at the extreme bungee experience, and absorbed the breathtaking and 'makes you wanna dance' atmosphere at the pubbing scene.

Saturday:
*Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre - The best fried carrot cake in S'pore, Chicken Rice, Curry Noodles, Chee Kweh, Red bean with ice shavings and syrup a.k.a ice kachang, lychee drink, dried longan drink, grass jelly drink, and soya bean milk
*East Coast Beach where we cycled and bladed and got really tired... With aching butts too. haha. But i think we burned off like just one meals worth of calories. Considering the stuff we've been eating at every meal... hahah.
*Big Fire Cooked Meal a.k.a. Tze Char! At my family's favourite place. Hahah. Not telling you where. I'll keep it to myself. :) Annie knows where... Chili crab, Oatmeal Prawns, Hotplate Tofu, Sweet and sour pork, veggies and rice. Oh! They gave us free thai sweet corn and coconut dessert too. Since we already know them so well... :)
*Mustafa Centre walk of awe.

Sunday:
*8:30am Church of Singapore (Marine Parade) Service. Great msg. Struck me real hard... Gave me inspiration for my own walk, and also KAIROS planning for OCF.
*Katong Laksa, Minced Fish Paste in Banana Leaf a.k.a Otak otak, and Mix of stuff in shrimp paste a.k.a. rojak. Finally presented to her!
*AIRSHOW! Hotttttt and we tried our best to be excited. hahah. Singapore's booth was awesome. They even put in a Butterfly garden there where we could take pictures with Smithalings (butterfly in German)
*Aravin's Aunt's place for dinner. New experience eating with hands, and having never-ending food on the plate. Learn swear words in both Tamil and German? hAHaahha.

Monday:
*sniffs*
*Another can't have enough of prata and Teh Tarik time
*Another can't have enough of Sentosa time
*Last local food banquet at Simpang Bedok - Nasi ayam goreng, cockles a.k.a lala (not Ah-Bengs/Lians!), sambal kangkong, oyster omelette, sambal stingray, milo dinosaur, holicks etc.
*Byebye........ sniffs and lotsa hugs and kisses*

(For everyone else who might be tour guides to friends next time, or who are considering coming down to Singapore for a good time)
*Places we passed by and saw: Esplanade, Vivocity at Habourfront,
*Places we didn't get to see: Science Centre, Bird Park, Zoo, Night Safari, Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve, Botanical Gardens, Tree-top Walk, Macritchie Reservoir, Bukit Timah Hike, Perenakan Museum, Marina Barrage, Kranji War Memorial
*More food glorious food: Bedok Blk 85, Rochor Beancurd, Changi Village, Golden Mile Complex or Centre, Kuishinbo, Ang Mo Kio Central, Tiong Bahru Market, Long Beach or Turf City for Seafood, More indian at Little India

Till next time Annie! I really loved every bit of the time with ya. Glad I could have you over at my place! Will miss ya lots. Germany the next time!!! :)

Hope you run into your families arms (don't slip on the ice) and have a whole round more of yummy home food with the best times home yet again. Send my regards to your family! Esp your dad who called me... hahaha. Oh! And Happy Singles Day/Chinese New Year/Birthday to everyone else!

がんばって　ください！

2010-02-08T11:41:00.001+08:00

No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.

http://www.foreignmissions.com/articles.asp?AID=261

Blade fever

2010-02-07T00:37:00.002+08:00

I managed to blade at cycling speed today, for a long long long distance. From ECP Mac's to after Safra Resort, and back! WOOOT! :)

And.. i was a little healthier. Ate 2 apples. haha. Hopefully i got rid of some cholesterol! Super must detox after this week...

Sleeeeepy. 8:30am church tmr!

Theory abt eating places

2010-02-06T03:31:00.003+08:00

Did i mention that C.H.I.J.M.E.S. is one of the most romantic eating places that i know of?
Absolutely love tealights at the tables... and more lights hung up all over the place.

A pleasure to bring Annie there!

And since i said the place, won't comment on the awesome food that we had. haha. Just one of my theories in life. If you know of a good eating place, tell it to your good friends only. If not, if you blog about it online, everyone will know about it, and then it'll be either 1. Too crowded. 2. Start getting so much profits that it'll open branches and the quality or quantity will drop. or 3. It's won't be so special to me anymore...

Of cos, it only works if only i use this theory and everyone else continue to tell me whether other places i never knew about have good food or not. HAha. So perhaps, i just have to make many good friends.

Altho' there are exceptions. For instance. My cousin's Peranakan restaurant will be opening real sooooooon. IT WILL BE THE BEST. Seriously.

I'm not fussy about what i eat. But i have high expectations... Not being biased here. It WILL be the best. haha. Looking forward to it! :)

yeahhh.

2010-02-05T01:47:00.003+08:00

Can't help remember my phrase that i often use:
'It will come around one day!' (used when i wanna get away with blessing someone and not wanting to take anything back in return).

I was blessed by Kenneth who put me up and brought me and Sammie around Hong Kong and Macau for 8 days!!!

I was blessed by Samuel Yim and Arthur Foo who put a bunch of us up too after Convy, and just kept planning and planning, calling and messenging, driving fiercely (meaning:fast, with great skill and fearlessly. haha) around M'sia and constantly asking more friends down to accompany us...

My turn now to bless! If i can't give Annie a balanced diet, at least i aim for 7-8hours sleep everyday. Haha. We have SO LITTLE fibre, veggies and fruits these few days la. Aiyo. Hope her complexion is not too affected. At least i didn't overstuff her with yummy food today.

Well done me. :) lols.

*Note to self: Please remember to praise or thank ppl in front of everyone they've served. And not just say it when the person's no longer around... He/She doesnt get so much honour then.

Annie my dear... 1st day!

2010-02-04T03:05:00.003+08:00

It is amazing how the perfect model works. I saw it in action today...

My parents and brother graciously opens the house. My dad, of course, gives her the important story-tellings.

Chuan Zhi is our AMAZING driver + tour guide. Seriously, he knows the history of our buildings and roads like the back of his hand. He was quicker than textbooks, and more passionate than one who's being paid. Totally admire his knowledge in culture and countries, and appropriate sensitivity that comes along with that knowledge too. *respect*

Rachel is our itinery informer. She tells all our OCF friends, who know Annie, our confirmed programs and whereabouts so they can join us anytime, anywhere.

Adelyn brings the soft spot to the group. She balances us out all very nicely. And, she helped me bargain for our durians... Well done girl. :)

Aravin is the fun guy. He's a natural at making Annie laugh, and you can tell the genuine care and concern as a friend. Good stuff.

I just need to do the other tiny things. (And i get to learn cool German words.)

Annie gets the luvvvvv.

Perfect.

The model of how every part of the body works together. Every part is honoured, all shall rejoice! :)

2010

2010-01-31T13:21:00.005+08:00

It's been a long long time since i last blogged...!
So much has happened since the last, and it's been a crazy journey walking with God and for him.
I think it'll be good to do some reflections from the past and for the yr ahead, and how even some resolutions have already begun.

There's my personal growth, where i struggle to become an adult. I'm 21!!! And to me, it's just another added year that didn't mean anything different from other years to me. But i figured, I had to find out what's so special about this year even though no one is teaching me, or telling me anything definate at all. :(
Why do ppl organise grand parties on the day, and go on and on about not being childish anymore. What does it actually mean? Well, take the initiative and find out then! This year's hunt included a whole new world of learning:

1. Financial management and why there's a need to have financial freedom, from the perspective of a kingdom mindset and a heart of stewardship, not riches.

2. Will writing. Wasn't part of the list at all, but the young adult group organised such a workship. How interesting. My assets are like... prob my sesame street stuffed toys, my lappy, my baking equipment, and my most treasured personal recipe book. Haha. Who wants 'em?

3. The need to love my number 1 (God), and the patient wait for my number 2 (ahem. my life partner la). I'm not ashamed to say it... Haha. I don't have the gift of celibacy. And according to science, it's best to give birth to children before 30. This leads me to the 4th point.

4. Marriage and families... Yes. Go on and laugh. hahaha. So what if i haven't even found my life partner? Haha. I just figured i need to know. I wonder why people study their whole lives for their career, but schools never taught anything about families, even though it's like the basic and essential unit of society. There's too many dysnfunctional families around, behind closed doors. It's never meant to be this way...

5. And the compatibles of loving and serving, power and prayer, foolishness and wisdom, humility and confidence, simplicity and awareness, innocence and shrewdness, rejoicing and mourning, stillness and passion, fear and boldness.

6. (Said in a uber cool way, with uber cool pose) Discipleship... It's the way to go :)

7. To be a very expensive asset... Got to level up till i add much value to wherever i choose to work/live/influence... Not only do i have to study really hard, i will also choose to continue serving. Kenneth shared a very powerful point last night (paraphrased and added on):
When we choose to serve God, we will be blessed in return.
Compared to others who just choose to only study and nothing else, struggling to grow and serve others will give us a more all-rounded education. It's not just the textbook knowledge we need when we go out to work. But we need to know how to relate to ppl, work in teams, lead and teach and encourage others, juggle more responsibilities and love them yet correct them. This is the wisdom that is needed. Theory is not sufficient! That is the value we can add, and that perhaps might be the reason why we are blessed when we choose to bless others...

It's not just theory, as i've learnt while serving in OCF. It's the living out of what we've learnt. If it's not shown in your life, you haven't learnt it yet.

So there, the most meaningful and frustrating holiday yet... Meaningful because one: I spent much more time with family this time around. Although it's still not enough, and i think i haven't been enough of a granddaughter, daughter or cousin. And two: After praying, God really answered and provided opportunities already! to learn alot of stuff from my resolutions.

Yet, frustrating and alot of fear already for the yr ahead. RAWRRR! I hate this feeling... I'm not just happy and radiant all the time you know? But i must not be afraid to face it. Sigh. So so hard eh?
I will be victorious... If God is for me, who can be against me? The battle has already been won. I will get my hands on the movie 300 for inspiration, as recommended by my most respected chef.

*OCF ah OCF... So much mixed feelings..................................

Anyhow, I've declared 2010 the YOD - Year of Decisions. We'll re-evaluate at the end of the yr, and hopefully many times in the middle. Psalm 25:12 Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

Note to self: When i can't sleep, dark chocolate and red wine (i only need a few sips) works superbly an instant good peaceful sleep... Yesterday night was proof. :)

P&W

2010-01-31T12:55:00.002+08:00

Became a worship leader for the first time this morning. Set-up the place (by cleaning up my room), then chose my own songs suitable for my own walk, and repeated them as many times as i needed. Awesome... :)

2 songs that calmed, spurred, and prepared my sensitive heart most:

What A Friend I've Found

What a friend I've found
Closer than a brother
I have felt your touch
More intimate than lovers

Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever

What a hope I've found
More faithful than a mother
It would break my heart
To ever lose each other

Michael Card
Galatians 3 & Romans 3:22

Chorus
To hear with my heart
To see with my soul
To be guided by a hand I cannot hold
To trust in a way that I cannot see
That's what faith must be

When the universe fell from His fingertips
He decided He wanted some fellowship
But the man and the woman would not submit
So He made a better way
When the moment was right He sent His own Son
And He opened the way so that everyone
Could have hope and believe that when time was done
He'd be able to make us one

Chorus

Now I understand that there is a key
It's Jesus in me, a reality
That God is in Christ and that Christ's in me
That with faith I see what is unseen

Chorus
That's what faith must be

Gamabte Kudasai, Mel~

Gonna have fun preparing meals

2009-06-28T23:39:00.003+08:00

I finished my exams... I finished my exams... I finished my exams!!!

And i'm having the time of my life now. Back out from the books and my room, to the people in the world outside. :)

WOOOOO!

But just one more day at home. Before i keep going out, and neglect slacking at home time. Wanna work on my latest quiet time query to God. :)

Betty's staying over at my place now. SO EXCITED. I can cook for her every night, not forgetting desserts of cos! Not going to chat much to her outside of mealtimes, cos i just want her to study for her papers on Tues and Thurs. She's been a real darling to me. A confidante, and a huge encouragement. She deserves to have unlimited talk time and free sms, cos she uses it well, to bless others. haha. Like how i've been richly blessed by her thru' the toughest of times.

She's sleeping in my living room now. Let her sleep early without much chatting/catching up (which we did quite alot during dinner actually, but there's so much more to say of cos), so that she can spend the whole of tmr studying. Which was her plan, and a wise one indeed. She hasn't STARTED STUDYING!!!

So since i can't chat with her now, i'll give chat about her here! haha. I'll miss Betty SO SO much. She's been a real joy to hang around with and go crazy with as a friend, to serve alongside in ministry like fully-armoured warriors for Christ, and to share burdens, blessings and passions with as Sisters-in-Christ.

The most obvious fruits of her ministry so far, is the large number of new members that OCF Flinders has this year. She really did a fantastic job for orientation. Leading the centre to reach out to many newbies on campus, and create awareness of OCF. So that even tho' we had abt 1/3 of an exodus last yr, we still increased in membership to about 34!!!

There's many other lives she's touched, intercession she's prayed, burdens she's borne, and struggles she's faced. And still, her life still shines ever so brightly for Christ. Great role model... :)

がんばって Betty! JIAYOU for exams!! Hope you enjoy the food, and have an enjoayable stay here. Gonna miss you when you're back in Melbourne...

1 more to go!

2009-06-23T22:18:00.002+08:00

1st paper on Human Physio went all right! Praise God. I'm surprised i could remember stuff.. Not prepared enough compared to last semesters..

1 more to go! Biochemistry.. Bo-ring.. I'm trying to make studying this as fun as possible already. Have abt 1 more day to study!

Haven't gotten back my results for Jap and Introductory Exegesis. Wonder how i fared...

Meanwhile, i'm still eagerly desiring after the gift of healing.. and trying to put it into practice. Figuring, sorting, using, praying... :)

?

2009-06-22T14:04:00.001+08:00

My emotions run wilder than when i saw our handsome Renal Prof. Haha.

It's been SO long! Why why why?

My sista

2009-06-22T13:09:00.005+08:00

15min gang membership is up to 5 now!!! Newest member, LI ENG!!!

My family is expanding... Somehow, i'm starting to get an idea of how this 'fictive kinship' (term coined by theologists) works. Perhaps it's not so fictive after all. Just a glimpse into eternity? Are we actually living it right now? Nahh. We're far from it. What can i do to change this?

Li Eng from UniSA, my Edge church buddy just accepted CHRIST!!! WOOOOOOO. Super happy. This is like the 2nd person that i'm close to, who accepted Christ this semester. Omgomg. It's brilliant to see the fruits of sowing and planting... The Spirit has worked, and we can continue doing the good work of his ministry. OCF! Even for all the stress that we've been thru. Salvation of souls makes it all worth it.

Meanwhile, i will try my bestest to disciple Chin Chin, our new sister in Christ from OCF Flinders! Aunt M says that you should continue investing until you see the person become a disciple maker herself. That's what i'm gonna try... So far, the few sessions have been short, but fab! Miss the sessions i had with Serene. haha.

I wonder what will happen next season. But first, selection of the committee.

Big decision for me again...................... What will it be? Tell me, Lord.

The reason behind sniff

2009-06-16T00:16:00.003+08:00

I am trying to figure out why i stopped going on MSN for a long time... I have many reasons... but i'm starting to remember why again.

Why was i scared for such a long time to come online you ask?

Perhaps the main one was:
It's like a roller coaster of emotions from every msn conversation.
And i hope to listen/help/celebrate/cry/laugh/whine/joke/kick/plan/encourage/correct... for/with/to/at everyone.

How is that even possible?

Ha. This wonderful world of MSN. Will i ever be run away from it again? Perhaps.

Meanwhile.. GO study la Mel.

muggers unite

2009-06-15T13:25:00.003+08:00

The beginning of Mugging week! It will go very well. I actually feel relieved that i can just stay home all day and study.. Perhaps by the end, i'll go abit mad.. but it's going well so far.

Must do well for exams... GAMBATE.

Brother is in San Francisco now. Praise God for the safe trip there. Hope he has the time of his life!!! I get a 4 yr holiday, he deserves an explosive experience too!

Back on MSN! :)

And my dark eye circles are disappearing.. Phew. Masks and sleep and just less stress.

Boo

2009-06-11T20:04:00.005+08:00

I am very sad.

Finished my 2500 word exegesis on the Parable of the Sower, but it required so much explanation that i don't like the parable anymore. Wonder how i will score?

Tried uploading the muffins performance on youtube at home, but the internet connection is so lousy it keeps getting cut off halfway.

Haven't run in like.. 1+ month now... too cold... and lazy too. Must start after exams.

Exams are in less than 2 weeks time and i'm no where near prepared. By this time last yr for both semesters, i already finished like 1-2 rounds of revision. :(

And....... I HAVE DARK EYE CIRCLES NOW!

*sniff* cannot fail these 2 core topics... exams are 50% and 60%, and they're so heavy on content!

The cold cold winter doesn't help me in my mood. *blehh*

But... at least i still have MasterChef on TV and Restaurant City on facebook that keeps me a little bit happier. Julie and Poh are still in the competition!!! Grins. Do check out the website everyone! You can even watch it online. So just whack~

http://www.masterchef.com.au/home.htm

The Singing Muffins 2!

2009-05-20T21:05:00.003+08:00

WOO!

Entertainment filled week.

On Sunday, i watched The Phantom of the Opera, the musical with lotsa OCFers. Someone backed out at the last minute, and i was asked to fill the gap. WAS so tempted, cos' i had all along wanted to watch it, just didn't get the chance. But i already planned out what i needed to study for the day, and so turned it out at first.. After alot of persuasion, i decided to indulge for once, and just not study for the day. heh. IT WAS SOOOOO GD. I even cried at the end when Christine left the phantom for Raoul, and the phantom looked so miserable. Anthony Warlow's singing was Fantastic. So i was in the 'opera' or 'singing' mood for the week.

Watched Angels and Demons today too! Right after class. OMG. I read the book before, and the intense emotions of apprehension and curiosity, and the drama i felt for those few days, was all squished into a 2hr+ show. I was literally grabbing HuiYee most of the show, while nibbling on our homemade popcorn that we brought to the cinema.. HAHA. We had lots, and it was sooo much cheaper and nicer to make our own too. Feeling very emo after both Phantom and Angels. Haha. Why you say? I can't really put my finger onto them also actually. But it starts prob cos' it touched 2 things that are very dear to my heart. Relationships and religion (and science intertwined of cos'). I still gotta think thru' abit more stuff to figure out my response after my emo reactions after the great shows. :)

Anyway, Opera got me really hyped up for the rehearsals i had for the week before Music Night.

We sang well i think! Managed to have fun, over all our nerves, and just entertain ourselves and others. Sang in the same format as last year.

Lame song: 'Onions make my Cry' by the dog, from The Muppets
Nice chinese song: '小酒窝' by 林俊杰 and Asa.
Nice English song: 'Everything in its Time' by Corrine May

Yup. I was chocolate muffin this time. Sam was Strawberry Muffin, and Han Ee took over as the new flavour of the season, banana muffin! Haha. We just change flavours as we change shirts anyway. So it's easy and just fun. Blueberry muffin (Anna), was busy... :( But we did include her in our intro to the grp.

Had some warming up, and giggles from the first song. So it broke the ice, and was exactly the reaction we were looking for. And we sang our hearts out for the next 2! Yay. Thank you all who came to listen to us sing. It's really nice to have friends around! If not it would be quite meaningless. Esp, since it's super duper assignments and exams around the corner season.

Heard that the video might be put up on facebook? Haha.. That would be cool. It's memories that i cherish right here on my hill. (Flinders Housing, Uni, Adelaide) The new things that i tried (actually singing in front of ppl?), and the heart warming occasions we shared.

Anyway, back to work! So much to dooooo.

Music Night

2009-05-20T16:51:00.002+08:00

The Singing Muffins are up again tonight for Music Night at the Village!
Another 3 songs, in the same genre and style, with one replacement muffin.
I'm chocolate tonight! Cos' i'm wearing brown... Hope all goes well, and I REALLY don't go off key. haha.

Off to my last rehearsal!!! :)

L-O-V-E

2009-05-11T22:40:00.005+08:00

Perhaps it's time to level up after getting 'feedback' from others.

Tried so hard, and did more than what i could ever do with my own strength. Right motivations, but perhaps I need to love with that little bit more, even though i thought i was doing my best already.. Seems like it's still not enough eh.

Ha. I wonder whether i'll ever find out what it means to lay down my life for my brother, just as Christ did for us.

I do want to love, and i don't want to stop, even if there's no return, even if the reciprocation is negative. If i was worth it, you're worth it too, cos' we're all the same.

Besides that, my only justification to the 'honest remark' is that...

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out all fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:16b-19.

I seem to be quoting alot of the bible nowadays. Think i'm not very creative, or 'entertaining' anymore eh? It seems like the world is changing soo fast, soo much, that many things seem blurry already. 'Advancing' from conservative thinking, to much more freedom may be what many want. But without discipline, we'd never know what's good for us isn't it?

Anyway, I get to say almost anything i want on my blog...

So it's thanksgiving time again! :)

God has been MOST faithful, even during these times! It's amazing how he works, and slowly teaches me.. Ha. One day, perhaps after a long long time, i'll finally understand what it means to have pure joy in facing trials of many kinds. (Aaron Wong! Your sharing was my inspiration to apply this scripture!)

Wanna list a few ppl, who have shown me how God never lets me endure beyond what i can bear, cos' they've uplifted and encouraged! Of cos there's more, but i hope i don't leave anyone out! (Just for this season la hor?)

Mel's hall of fame for the season: Betty, Grace, Naomi, Norman, Aaron, Chin Ting, Cheryl, Alethea, Chin Chin, Raymond Lim, Aunty M, Aunty Vanessa, Glenn, Taiwei, Kim, etc..

And special thanks to BROTHER HO! hahaa.. Thanks 'gor'. Your attitude towards 'an always exciting ministry' still stays in my head, and always sets me up for the right mindset when i'm dealing with issues. Haha. I Likes your style. The more stuff happening, the more exciting it is! Grins. Altho' i haven't spoken to you for some time now, you're still in my heart. :)

Nights all! Full moon night! Enjoy..

None...?

2009-05-09T18:33:00.002+08:00

Sigh. It's a cloudy night. I can't even see 1 star! :(((

Anyway, it's good reason to put up my glow-in-the-dark stars that i brought from Singapore now. I told myself i'll wait for a good time before i put them up. This is it! They'll accompany me to sleep, other than fierce scary but very shy sharkie. :)

Stars!

2009-05-09T18:01:00.003+08:00

It's a bad season. Two extremes in a day! Super happy cos' we celebrated a birthday, but also bugged by super little things. Perhaps i'm in the emo state these days. But.. I wonder what God is trying to say through it all... Anyway, quite tired emotionally.

But i cooked chicken rice. And i was happier, but the gathering i cooked for didn't happen in the end. :( So perhaps, it's good to get a breather, even though i was sooo looking forward to it!

Anyway, at times like these, it's good to read Ecclesiastes. Apart from all the meaningless bits, which take away my stress a little, for just once i really wanted to be selfish, and take away something i'm looking for to just to encourage myself a little in these trying times. I don't really care if its out of context. haha.

3:10-11a I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time.

So there. God knows my burden(s). And he's going to make everything beautiful in its time. But i'm going to take the 'beautiful' bit, and use that to just go back to my normal state. A 'feeler' and not a 'thinker', and just look at the moon and the stars tonight. Cos' they're beautiful and they make me happy.

It's just too bad i'm looking at them alone outside... on a cold cold night. Silly ol' me.

Bridesmaids!

2009-05-07T22:22:00.004+08:00

I found someone who i am able to share my heart's cries with. We're going to be at each other's weddings, and will be each other's bridesmaids, and we're gonna make sure we approve of each other's other half first.

Haha. I guess when you go through the most trying times with someone, and you find someone you can really cry and pray and still encourage each other in the midst of it, and still quote bible verses to each other. Still trusting and having faith and seeing what is not yet seen, still having the courage to move from 'mistakes' to the next best step, it is comforting...

God is good, he's providing, and he's still speaking and moving. Even though i couldn't answer the question WWJD for my situation.

When i said i needed to bake a super rich chocolate cake, it was going to be a good outlet. But i think i should just sleep, and not let it affect the whole of my tmr. So distracted, I couldn't even finish studying and making notes 1 human physio system for the whole of today...

Even though things are not looking too optimistic, it is written,

'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say in confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?' Hebrews 13:5-6

'And now we know that in all things, he works for the good of those who love him, who havef been called according to his purpose.' Romans 8:28

'Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray... If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.' 1 Peter 5:13-20

Hopefully, my sighs will quickly shift back to his glory? What will happen next? Exciting journey with God eh, Mel?

We were discussing how much easier it would have been if we just gave up bothering a long time ago. But we couldn't, and we didn't, and now it's even bigger than ever! WOO.

The truth has and will continue setting us free.

Blog...

2009-05-04T21:53:00.005+08:00

May i get the chance to blog properly soon. So many things i wish to blog about. So many extremes happening.

The news, the issues, the human relationships, the birthdays, the cake i baked!, the dishes we whipped up, the OCF events, the 1, or even 2 conversions to Christ, the staying up to finish assignments and study for a test that went well today, the new jap vocab i've been learning, the someone who accompanied me to walk home for just that 5 mins that meant alot, the big news that someone told me that took me aback cos' i have no idea what will happen since long long ago, the smiles, the laughter, the pain, the tears, the need to call back, the lingering feeling about another thing that's perhaps happening and brewing and perhaps will turn out to be exciting,

the suffering that's leading to perserverence to character and always to hope.

Emotionally drained, but so encouraged by by God too. Wanna blog about those sermons too. I have so much i'm learning since Easter camp, leadership retreat, life beyond uni workshop, 15mins gang, personal prayer, and I WANNA BLOG.

Wanna cry my heart out, need a shoulder to cry on, to cry with ppl, for ppl, with God, for God.

Missing ppl back home too.

But first, another night up to finish my literary criticism essay on Ruth Chapter 1 for tmr. What a romantic love story, filled with so many themes and meanings and application points.
Can't believe this is the 2nd time someone is also staying up, and has been encouraging me while i'm doing work. How blessed am i? Biggest thanks to you!!!

Lotsa favour from God and from men...

Lotsa luvs,
mel

Current affairs

2009-04-26T23:55:00.004+08:00

Haven't been reading news at all. But just heard about the news about the AWARE grp. With all the sharings about homosexuality and lesbianism in schools?

Sigh.

What's your stand on it? I know mine...

Romans 1:18-2:8

God's Wrath Against Mankind

¹⁸The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

²¹For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²²Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

²⁶Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

²⁸Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³²Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

God's Righteous Judgment

¹You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ²Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? ⁴Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? ⁵But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶God "will give to each person according to what he has done."^e]">[e] ⁷To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Birth verse

2009-04-26T16:28:00.004+08:00

Apparantly, this is my birth verse. Haha. I wonder how they chose the verses, but mine sounds romantic. I like nature. Looking forward to a less cloudy night cos' someone has just resparked my passion for stargazing, but i guess it's a gd reminder of God's blessings too. :)

Zechariah 10:1 NIV
Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.

http://www.birthverse.com/mybirthverse.cfm

CherMel again!

2009-04-20T22:38:00.001+08:00

CHERYL'S BACK!

big and heavy secret withholding too. *grins* i likes. :)

Have a gang

2009-04-20T22:04:00.004+08:00

Have just started a 15min gang to stay accountable to friends to spend time with God, away from distractions and really pray and seek his word. So far, we've got 3 in the grp! I should be more structured in how we keep accountable though.

One of the main reasons was that i've been been very inspired by how much Aunty Merrilyn depends on God and shows it through her emphasis and urgency to pray and read God's word. I was SOOO sad and feeling so guilty for calling her up quite late to ask her to speak at our centre for OCF. I msged her, then called her. But she didn't pick up or reply.. so i waited till night time, before calling her again. When she answered her mobile, she started telling me about how busy her whole day was: supposed to meet only 2 girls but in the end another 12 turned up unexpectedly, and her pastor and also her doctor. She haven't had time to eat dinner till 9pm+, and all her 6 bags of groceries were not yet unpacked too. And she kept saying also that she needed and wanted to pray before she called me back cos she hasn't had time to pray since 10am+. And she sounded soooo frustrated, not because she had to meet and talk to so many ppl, but because she just needed to pray and retreat with God. Found out that after she put down the phone, she wanted to pray for the couple she's meeting the next day for pre-marriage counselling, and also for our centre too. Found out also, that she prayed till like midnight before going to bed. Even though her meeting the next day was early in the morning.

So i realised how much.... i 'know' that prayer is impt, but that i'm not actually convicted by it! That i haven't been praying for soooo many things that bother me. That i'm not enough sensitive to the Spirit because i'm not talking and listening to God enough! I was soooo sad for myself, but yet spurred on by Aunty M.

So... in the 1 week after Easter camp, 15mins increased to 30-45mins for me. Since i lie in bed doing it anyway, before i rush to the toilet to pee or brush my teeth, which signals my stomach to start getting hungry for breakfast and wanna start my day. And... so far, reading the Gospel Parallels is fantastic. And as of today, 2 prayers have already been answered miraculously! It's a long time since i've felt this experience. The most major one i can last remember is gd grades with the Golden key, or Chuan Zhi agreeing to come for Easter camp. But not more than that. Cos' i haven't been praying much more than that.

Anyway, 1 of which, i must share. I've got a new mentor!!! I've been praying for another mentor cos' Darrell left last yr.. :( And it's difficult to catch up... Ok. Alot of it's my fault, cos i didn't really call her in Spore, facebooking now is not enough... Only in the past 2 weeks have i been seriously praying, cos i'm feeling a lack of discipleship. Both being discipled and to disciple others. So.. I persisted in prayer.
And... God told me very silently... Aunty M. I was like.. Woa. God, are you sure? Busy busy woman, board of advisors for whole OCF Australia, missionary to so many countries, currently ministering to already so many ppl......
I have this reverent fear for her. Her authenticity makes me so excited and spurred on, yet there's always this conviction too when i'm near her. Like i've got so many things still not sorted out right in my spiritual life. (e.g. Perhaps not walking right? not having the right attitude for God? not knowing my bible well enough? not giving many issues enough prayer? I don't know. Maybe it's her seniority also, and the fact that she knows so much more and has so much more experience too. That's why i'm usually very quiet when i'm around older and much wiser ppl. Cos i've got sooo much to learn, and i think the best thing to do is just keep quiet, listen and learn, rather than give opinions.)

Anyway, to cut the long story short. SA Leaders met up with her at her house, and just out of the blue, totally off topic, she just asked us all if we're currently being discipled. I said i was still praying for one mentor. And she simply asked if i didn't mind her being my mentor! Gosh. That was such a confirmation. I was thinking of asking her, but didn't have the guts at all. She actually asked me instead!

Aunty Merrilyn. When i talked to her for the first time at Convy 2008.

Wow. Mentor number 3 now. So many ppl have sown into my life. And i have learnt tons each time. Aunty M says she'll give me homework, with a firm tone. And i know that it'll not be pretty if i don't do it. :S But still, i respect her lots. Not cos of her title, but cos' of her Christ-likeness. And each time she shares, i feel that i need soooo long to actually apply her teachings / preachings / or even just simple stories about her life into my life.

I'm VERY grateful for a God who listens, who cares, and who loves me enough to teach me. And i'm blessed to have women of God sowing into my life. Thank you all...

Time to start discipling too... We're called to make disciples of all nations. Doesn't matter how young we are, or how un-knowledgeable we feel... Will Chin Chin say yes?

3 salvations on the edge for Flinders... What will i do about it?

Easter Camp 2009

2009-04-16T08:24:00.009+08:00

Easter Camp 2009 was.... THE BEST. Let me share some experiences:

1. Managed to get to know so many new ppl from UniSA and AU.

2. Spent alot of time getting to know the newer members from Flinders.

3. Had a word in season encouragement by a friend, plus we've decided to start a spiritual discipline together. Simple, but practical. 15mins time alone with God every morning before we do anything else. (Already, 1 more friend has joined us in our accountability grp, and.. God has already answered some prayers of ours!)

4. Aunty Merrilyn, the most outstanding (to me) of the Board of Advisors was our speaker.. And she showed Christ in an INCREDIBLE light. Her face literally lights up when she talks about Christ and I would daresay, the best example of Christ i've ever met in my life. Her feet carries the gospel to the ends of the world in various countries, and she never ever stops ministering, showing love to the needy, and even us members and she never forgets out names or what is happening to us. Thing is, it's not about the theology or the teaching or the charisma or the eloquence. So what if she always gets carried away with her countless stories? So what if we're all sitting on the wooden floor and our butts are really sore by the the end of each sermon and the muscle (or fats, haha) aches even after camp? I think we were all sooo ministered to and inspired to live for Christ with just her living example. Modern day Paul equivalent.

5. 2 ppl gave their lives to Christ!!! And 3 non-Christians from our centre went for camp as well. 1 of which i've been trying to sow (in lots of frustration, but not yet tears) and i hope one day someone will reap in joy. They didn't commit but the seed has been sown, 2 of which in fertile soil.

6. A prophecy was spoken that really shot through my heart. 'The arm of flesh will surely fail you, but I will never fail you'.

7. Learnt about the pre-requisite to the title 'Leader'. Which is servanthood. Ok, we prob all knew this already. But somehow, it's the determination now to want to serve, rather than just be pulled along with the programs. I say this now. I hope i won't be discouraged later...

8. Attended a 'Reaching out to unsaved family members' workshop too. I learnt tons. All along i thought reaching out to unsaved family members are like reaching out to any other non-christian. But there are differences, and those usually make it Very difficult. However, i'm gonna try and see if i can put what i learnt into practice. Again, it falls back not onto what the teachings are, but the real life example that the speaker showed. One point that really spoke to me, and i'll share cos' i think it'll benefit many others is that: Usually the closeness you have with your family members are the factors that are pulling you back. You might be too frank with them, you might feel awkward cos' you're spending so much time with them everyday that it makes it SO difficult to share. However, turn this around and use the proximity to SERVE them. Preach the gospel by first serving and touching their lives. Give your time to them, instead of just hanging out with Christians ALL the time. Two other very impt points that cannot be left out are also PRAYER and preparing how you're going to articulate your story, cos sometimes the opportunity just arises. So write a 2 min, 10min, and 30min testimony. Ready to share whenever you've got the chance.

It was freezing cold there at nights. The 1st night, it even reached 8 degrees. And all i had was a 16 degrees sleeping bag. Guess what? My water bottle spilled onto my bed, and half my bed and sleeping bag was wet that night too.
3/4 of the camp was girls, about 60-70 of us, and we only had 3 toilets and 4 showers and 4 sinks. Even so, 1 toilet couldn't flush and another shower broke. So all of us shared them all.
Some guys had to sleep in the freezing cold gym cos there wasn't enough bunks.

But so what? I'm not complaining, cos we're not going for a rest and relax comfortable resort. We went there because we're hungry and thirsty to 'Focus on Jesus' (Theme for camp). And our hearts were realigned.

I've been praying for a new mentor... and someone to approach Aunty Merrilyn with me if she was to be the one. Interestingly enough, i talked to Naomi yesterday just out of the blue when we were having dinner and watching TV together. She told me her vision from a long time ago, and I just found out of her desire to want to be a missionary in Nepal. GUESS WHAT? Aunty Merrilyn is coming to Flinders this Fri for OCF, and she's a missionary, and her compassion for the ppl is mainly in NEPAL! Gosh... We're gonna approach her this Friday. Keep me in prayer that i will be in the centre of God's will... I wanna learn and get a diffusion of her passion for Christ and ppl, how to reach out and disciple and also, just how to shine like never before as a Christian. Managed to, in this way, persuade Chin Chin to go to. Heh. She's a non-Christian, but her heart is almost ready... Just abit 'nua' sometimes. So needing lots of encouragement!! And prayer... :)

WOOO.
Pictures!

E camp

2009-04-09T21:49:00.002+08:00

Easter CAMP! With 11 non-christians in our midst. And 3 of them i'm quite close to. May God do something great... *EXPECTANT*

Facebook will be flooded with another thousand photos next week. haha.

And i'll also be able to stock up on chocolates for more chocolate dessert projects after Easter cos of the sales. YAYYY.

HD! and Golden Key cos of past HDs!

2009-04-02T21:40:00.005+08:00

God has blessed me abundantly. More than I asked or imagined!!!

I took back my exegesis essay. And I got a HD for that!!! Furthermore, my prof said that my paper was the best of the whole class, so she wants a copy so that she can print it out for the class to learn from. Oh my gosh.
I still remember i was so stressed during the whole week of attempting to do it, cos scholars all agree and disagree and there's so many different stands (unlike many foundational scientific theories). And they make me SOOO confused. When i finally finished it, and printed it out just in time to catch the bus to my class to submit the paper, i read it one more time on the bus.. and went something like... 'Shucks. I think i got the emphasis wrong. Don't even know whether i'm using the right tool to exegete the passage...'
But i actually did well!!! Somehow, i need to thank God for making me a perfectionist at times... Well, 1 down for exegesis. 3 more to go!

Also, today i got a letter from Golden Key International Honour Society. I've been offered to become a member cos i'm top 15% of undergraduate students at Flinders University in 2009 (meaning my last yr's GPA i guess)!!!!!
I have to pay a hefty sum of $95 for a lifetime membership. But it's a non-profit organisation.. and a summary of the benefits i get are:

Official recognition of your high academic achievement by an international organisation
Undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships available only to members
Career development guides
International networking with students and academics when travelling within Australia, the US and Canada for conferences and postgraduate study
Opportunities to participate in the chapter's community service, career development, social activities and to serve on the executive committee

www.goldenkey.org

It's been such an amazing journey being with my God, and obeying his command to come to Australia, to serve in his ministry, and to continue being a hardworking student. May I continue to know his heart more, and walk in step with his plans...

:)

Back to more work.... and more meetings... and another presentation for OCF tmr... and another Katagana test to study for next monday.

But had a great Korean dinner just now and am refreshed, and probably fatter. (homemade and simple style. SUPER duper healthy cos we finished two big bunches of different lettuce and 2 whole carrots too. We made wraps with them and rice and kimchi and hot chili paste and sliced garlic. ) with ex-Korean housemate, Naomi and Cheryl... Pictures still with Cheryl, cos my camera is too lousy. So we used hers. haha. Show you all another time.

OnWARD, to honour God even more.

Planet Cake

2009-03-31T21:36:00.005+08:00

I invested in a new book!

Let's see if i have the time to actually learn more cake decorating skills.

The best I have done (together with Criss) by far is:
Shawn's ARMY (pandan fudge cake with shredded coconut) birthday cake 2008!

Think i can do a better work of art next time, esp with this new book? I wonder...

Cher-Mel's Delights!

2009-03-29T14:08:00.017+08:00

In the past month, some of the more interesting dishes that Cheryl and I have made include...

(my first time making) Watercress pork rib soup with dumplings and noodles, with cut dried chili and soya sauce (dried chilli, because the fresh chili here is SOO expensive. $1 for 2 big red chillis can you believe it??!);

Grilled sandwiches with balsamic vinegar caramelised onions (NOT WORMS), roasted zuchinni and eggplant, and leftover teriyaki chicken (interesting zuchinni that i've never really used before);

(again my first time making. never knew it could be so simple!) 卢猪脚 with taupok, shitake mushrooms, black fungus and whole eggs, with porridge made using pork soup stock.

Red wine steak with shitake mushroom, accompanied with roasted potatoes with herbs, zuchinnis and eggplants, simple salad of lettuce and tomatoes (cos I quote Cheryl: Eat more Veggies!). We cannot forget our latest investment! Coopers Ale BBQ sauce and Red wine & Garlic Mustard. YUMMM. I thought Smokey BBQ sauce was the best. Coopers Ale is even BETTTER! haha.

Limau Purut (Lime leaves) Chicken Curry with $2.20 gigantic Naan, and some pineapple on the side to counter the spice!

Sometimes we just invite a few friends over on a Sunday night for a simple 'bring your own dinner' dinner.

Other times we invite our running buddies to have a more luxurious breakfast to reward ourselves for keeping fit! This one was the best we've had yet (we usually DON'T eat so much): Pancakes with golden syrup (or the honey that Cheryl takes instead), with strawberries, rock melon, bananas. Then cereal with yoghurt and milk. And tea of our choice! HAHA. Very good for students like us who need alot of energy to study.

And who can forget DESSERTS???

There was banana chocolate chip muffin. Because bananas are so cheap now! $0.70 per kg! (even though i still prefer my 'ang ba jio' and 'kim jio' best. the ones here are like starchier Del Monte bananas. not that great.)

Also, tried making a healthier version of 'Orh Nee', or yam paste dessert (and cheaper too, cos we used half white yam and half purple yam. the purple one was cheaper even though we found out that it wasn't so tasty) for a simple Fund Raising for OCF Easter Camp 2009! I think it's too healthy to satisfy my picky palate. Need to learn how to make the real deal. Anyone has a good recipe?

And Fresh Carrot Cake that told a story!

We thought 9 looked better than 10. But we just couldn't squeeze them all in 9 muffin cups.
So as we were waiting for them to cool before we could put the cream cheese icing, I decided we could take 'artistic' shots of them. (Was soooo hungry by the time we baked them, that I just had to busy myself with something, if not i would have just started eating without the cream cheese! Cheryl refused to let me start eating before it was all finished.)
Pictures were always with that 1 extra muffin at the corner. Haha.. Outcast muffin!

In different shapes...

even some for our names... (We have even been branded by our friends as 'Cher-Mel' for all our fantastic food!)

and more interesting ones... rainbow with smiley face (cos a rainbow is a reminder for God never to flood the Earth to destroy all life ever again. :) )

And... finally this one represents Unit 61!!! Without any outcasts... None in our unit! :)

When they were FINALLY cooled and creamed,

We all loved it! Including our 2 U.K. housemates! :)

More coming up... Stay tuned... *grins*

(Let x be my weight in kg at time of arrival in Adelaide on the 20th Feb 2009. Current weight is now x-3kg. Must keep running!)

More studying..

2009-03-29T14:07:00.002+08:00

Finished studying for Jap test! :)
2 more weeks of lectures to go...
Meanwhile, i'm very distracted. I shall post pictures of what we've been cooking for the past month. :)
Drool!

Cooking is her passion, and mine too!

2009-03-28T21:54:00.003+08:00

Was supposed to finish studying for my Jap test today, but Chin Ting called me and Andrew out for lunch, and we had so much fun talking, and cooking simple dishes, including dessert as we eat. :)

I should have brought my camera along...

Anyway, finished making my jap notes after Hall and Village Path party, and learning how to make 盒子　(like a giant 锅贴) from my Chinese housemate. But spent the rest of the time reading a blog she introduced me to. All the way till past midnight. Can you believe it? haha.

Check it out. It's FANTASTIC. Feel slightly jealous, and tempted to go learn from NotterSchool of Pastry Arts in Orlando; FL too. Meanwhile, i know i'm in the right place studying.. and i'll just keep cooking and baking DELICIOUS stuff with Cheryl!

http://cookingismypassion.blogspot.com/

I really should post up pictures of everything we've been whipping up so far... :)

Printer.......died

2009-03-25T15:01:00.003+08:00

My Epson Stylus C63 Printer has given up on me... :(

The helpdesk says it's a mechanical problem and will cost $100+ to fix. So i might as well get a new one. Cos printers here are so cheap. Cheryl offers to share her newly bought colour inkjet with me... But still, I'm very sad............ So many extra cartridges now... :(

:(

To the tests!

2009-03-24T12:44:00.003+08:00

YES! Finally finished my 750 word exegesis assignment!!!!! Perfect word count of 750. No more no less. WOO.

I can Finally go back to studying. 2 tests coming up. Hiragana and Katagana. I'm aiming full marks.

がんばって　ください！ (Gambatte Kudasei!)

Church at home?

2009-03-22T08:47:00.003+08:00

Just felt like i had to have 'church service' at home today. Was reading and talking to him... and then.

Amazingly, my housemate came up to me.. and sought some advice for problems that has been going on. She wanted to do something quite drastic to solve it. But i managed to offer her... well, 2 solutions with biblical basis.

I guess there's prob 101 problems that we can solve with 1001 solutions. But whether we follow the biblical patterns that God already told us a long long time ago. I can only try my best to be a peacemaker. Blessed are the peacemakers because they shall be called sons of God.

Honestly admitted to her that i have been affected by criticisms of her prior to me getting to know her for myself. I'm glad she feels comfortable with me now and is thankful for my very alternative solutions compared to all her other friends.

I hope things work out well for her, and that she can one day decide to follow Christ too. Cos like after every paragraph of what i say to her, i tell her the reasons why i say what i say. And those are biblical patterns.

Anyway, 2 weeks ago, Anna commented that Unit 61 (my house) is the 'Church of Melissa'. HAHA. Gosh. What the... At first i thought it was ridiculous, but after a while.. i realised. Why not? Not the name... but whoever steps in, it should be an opportunity, a God time... haha. Perhaps, not my church la. The focus should just be on God. Perhaps Melissa allowing God to do church or something like tt... But church here sounds cool. :)

Leadership Training

2009-03-21T18:59:00.005+08:00

Had 2nd session of 'The Leadership Huddle'. I think this has been the best leadership training i've ever had so far, compliments to Raymond Lim of OCF. Very inspiring, very biblical, very practical.

Discussed the relevance, the uniqueness, and the needs of OCF in Australia.
And i guess this is really the foundation of OCF itself. An organization that God has comissioned, and cannot be replaced. A work that uses ppl who are called, not just volunteers.

Uniqueness:
Non-denominational, para-church organization, run by (mainly, or at least we have the independence) by international students for international students

Relevence:
Support group on campus, something that many churches find it very difficult to do
Group not bounded by the church's control, but still requiring their support. A different part of the universal body of Christ.

Needs:
Problem of scarcity, esp when our priorities are actually -
1. Being a Christian 2. Being a child/parent(family member) 3. Being a student 4. Being an OCFer
and also the circumstances around our scarcity... We just can't do as much as we hope we can do.

Of cos, there's also the need of accountability (VERY impt), generational thinking, relevence to the culture of students, & strong leadership

Problem to this huge point about relevence is.. if we stop being relevent, there won't be any need for OCF anymore. Why not just let churches take over the student ministries?

As i ponder again about these points... somehow, there are so many dilemmas in my head. haha. Too many to share it all at once. Reaching out to the closest ppl around me is my first concern.. Here i can be so passionate about a work, yet i cannot seem to be able to reach out till i see the harvest. Till i know that someone is in the 'safe zone'. I know that it is the Holy Spirit that convicts. Yet somehow i just feel the pain when i think of the end, when everything else we have now doesn't matter anymore. Our fun, our school, our disputes... Only that personal relationship with God...

Anyway, just feeling moody tonight. And i'm trying to finish my assignment when i'm just not excited about it for tonight. So that's not good. So much to study too. Lagging behind in my understanding of lectures. I usually study and understand my work by the week (last yr).

I'm not very good at thinking, and i'm not very good at expressing myself. Perhaps i don't even really make sense. Anyway, i have a song that i think expresses part of what i feel for ppl i love dearly around me, but for now, i don't really know how to tell them that they need God. That without him we are like sheep without a shepherd, and we are not really 'surviving' without him, even though it feels like we are. If you get what i mean...

Perhaps a bit of what God feels about us sometimes? We all fail... Thank God for grace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2yLMpGPU8A

Come back to God... come back...

Perhaps i'll take some time off to spend with God in a nice quiet place beside the school lake tmr, instead of listening to a sermon...

wanna stay home...

2009-03-20T21:53:00.001+08:00

I miss having more than enough time to study... :(

OCF Flinders Vision Night 2009

2009-03-16T20:25:00.009+08:00

Whole week of planning for Vision Night, (with lotsa prayer and planning done already since last yr) and finally revealed on Friday the 13th! Phew. WAS SO NERVOUS. I had about 2 hours of time for the night. Can you imagine a 2 hr presentation for 40+ ppl?? Prepared bible study material for the theme verses for the BS leaders to lead the group, and managed to make it as interactive as possible by splitting everyone into 4 groups, and have quiz-like session to see whether they knew each other (lotsa new members) and also to test their knowledge of OCF. 1 of the bible study groups!

OCF Australia Vision:

Theme verses: Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

And presenting OCF Flinders' Vision 2009:

Nearing the end, my lappie went flat and i didn't bring the charger. Shucks. But i ran out of time anyway.. So i just used the whiteboard, and decided to think on the spot on how i can make do. Events could be emailed, new song could be taught next week, thank you gifts to committee still can be given out. But still, Praise God! It was well-received! Got positive feedback. That it was relaxed, good sharing, very interactive, fun! Hopefully, hearts were changed, or spurred or excited. Just for God!

When i walked from home to OCF before the session, it was one of the longest walk ever. Was so scared, and kept praying and praying and praying. Whatever i prepared wasn't gonna be of any use if God didn't speak through me... Gosh. Yet his yoke is supposed to be easy, and his burden is light. Still learning, still learning. Thank God for this opportunity to learn, to serve and to grow...

As i finished off the night with Marcellina's pizza supper with some OCFers, i just wondered how amazing and different a student initiated ministry is... Such different dynamics from a church, yet all from and for the same kingdom. How would i be sent back after these 4 yrs? How much would i have grown? How Christ like would i become? I know.. that if i didn't take that step of faith previously to even come here, to take up this responsibility to serve, i would never find out the biggest extent of how God can work in my life...Can't believe we can actually plan so much every week, every month, every year. It's crazy. Comm meet once a week, SA meet once a month, 2 camps, combined events, outings, prayer meets, leaders' training, leaders' workshops, life beyond uni workshops, AGM that lasts for 3 days/year, etc etc. And we're still trying to do more...

Just wanna thank lotsa ppl who helped build me up in YPM/COS previously. Coming to mind right now (in my tired tired mind) are Matt and Serene, who taught me how to plan events, to lead bible studies and care for others in Benjamin.... The amount they have invested have so much far-reaching effects to impact, that they themselves prob never even had a clue? (i remember how Siew Ho and I were quite irritated with all the planning just for outings. We just thought, it's just a simple bonding session ah. Why need to have so many objectives and budget and logistics.. blabla. haha. Now i know the true imptance. I have been well trained. The tough part of discipline was over, now it comes more naturally to me) May i become a disciple maker as well...

Anyway, random pictures courtesy of WoeiShyang. :)

OCF Orientation Collage i made! (Batt died before i could show it)

Assam Fish Head Curry

2009-03-12T11:45:00.005+08:00

Taught Cheryl to make Assam Fish Head Curry on Sunday 8th March! :) So easyyy!

Fish heads were soo cheap. Bought 2 for about $4. Aussies don't really know how to eat fish head. Not as much meat as we'd like it to have tho.

Orientation BBQ

2009-03-12T11:36:00.003+08:00

Orientation BBQ on Sat 7th March 2009 ! :)

Bigger Bang!

2009-03-08T12:12:00.003+08:00

Got my hands on The Big Bang Theory Season 2!!!!!!!

Courtesy of Andrew. Time to spread the word. Abit like evangelism. So far, the seed has been sown to Cheryl. Alethea next.

As usual, a word in season from Edge Church sunday morning service.
To summarise:
Jesus's purpose: To give us eternal life, so he died for us.
Our purpose then must be: To obtain eternal life, because he loved and died for us.
But if God hasn't brought us back to heaven, our purpose here on Earth must not have finished. That's because, not everyone has received eternal life.
Therefore, our purpose now as Christians, is to influence and impact others, to point them towards Christ, so that they too will have an eternity with God and in heaven. Living just for ourselves, is just having a perspective to live for the temporal, not for eternity.

Another Sabbath day. I like days at home.. :) Study, pray, and prepare for meeting on Monday and Vision Night this Friday.

No more MSN

2009-03-07T14:47:00.002+08:00

Oh yes...

I won't be on MSN for a long while, cos of the very irritating virus that i cannot get rid of even though i rebooted my com, and because i'm abit afraid to go online, and keep chatting so much that i forget the time and get distracted from all my other priorities.. :(

Contactable here, or email, or post, or phone, or facebook k? :)

Thanks. Missing everyone... Nowhere is like home...

Orientation Night

2009-03-07T14:05:00.008+08:00

After another committee meeting on Monday night, and more planning efforts, we gather once more for Orientation Night on Friday!!! :)

Lotsa planned, unplanned, spontaneous, unexpected, hilarious, awkward, focused, enlightening, etc stuff!

Of cos, pictures here are biased for my sake. I picked out those that i'm mainly in.. haha. :)

Didn't take pictures of pre-service prayer, but a record number today! About 15! Even more than YPM pre-service prayer...
Praise and worship, followed by OCF vision video Aww.. Betty and Philana as emcees and games i/cs!
Got called out for 1st forfeit.. boo. lucky it was just pictionary.
Much better than finding red beans in yucky canned spaghetti.. LoL! Couldn't even find the last one...

Perfect picture to end the night. Lots of food too. But i think our camera ppl were too hungry, they just gave in to their stomachs. Dig in! :)

Next Friday, Vision Night. Oh man.. I... need to pray more...

City tour

2009-03-07T14:00:00.004+08:00

Then we had a city tour the next morning (Sat) to bring newbies around!

Good ol' Chinatown and central market. My source of sustainence

1st official OCF Flinders event - Potluck dinner!

2009-03-07T12:56:00.004+08:00

Very very tired... It's like planning for major events every week.

I Wanna Study!! haha. There's so much new stuff already, eager to absorb it all... Shall give up a day of shopping at habourtown to just rest and recuperate. Strawberry picking on Monday!

Meanwhile, check out more photos! :)

Potluck at my place last Friday, 1st official OCF event!
Betty! Our Missions and Outreach coordinator, and best Emcee award winner.. :)

To organise the CROWD of ppl in my house to have fun and be merry...
To help finish up ALL the food on 2 whole tables...
Some prepared by Pat and Han Ee...
And when we're all really full from food, and had the opportunity to meet and talk to alot of ppl, esp those in the same course, Betty led us to do cooling down exercises...

Before continuing with more dessert...And just to end it off, i asked everyone if they needed transport home, so we can match ppl to cars available...

Clean up was a great task! But we had ppl to help. And Cheryl and I ate more leftovers for supper cos we were so tired and hungry at the end, about midnight... Whew. What a workout!

Fun learning

2009-03-04T22:44:00.002+08:00

Memorised 30 out of 50 hiragana! :)
It's so funny how i'm trying to make different weird associations for the funny looking characters.
E.g.
1. ti ち is abit like someone kicking. therefore 'ti' or 'kick' in chinese.
2. ne ね is like 'nehhhh' in english, so abit like saying 'no', and the word is a small 'no' slanting to the right.

Anyway, weather abit rainy these few days. Many ppl falling sick already. Proud of myself for making chicken soup for Sam and passing it to her even in the drizzle. I will NOT fall sick. I'm gonna buy more chinese herbs tmr to 'balance' my body. So far i've only got 'cooling' stuff, which i took in the heat last week. Love TCM. :)

Grocery shopping tmr!
Glad i learnt how to make 炒番薯叶 in belachan on my own, trial and error style. It's fantastic. One of my favourite veg dishes at the 煮炒 stall. Tried making the kimchi on my own for the very first time too. Haha. Vaguely remember how Wonmi (my korean unit mate last yr) did it the last time. Got all the ingredients right, and it tasted half as good as hers. Only because i forgot to wash off the salt. hahaa. Shucks so it's super salty. Will try again soon!
This week, i'm going to make... fish head curry, 卢猪脚 or maybe steak, and perhaps.. belachan eggplant. Woo! So much better than having food provided... :)

Monday's a public holiday! Think we'll go strawberry picking on sunday, then invite ppl over for dinner on monday. We can have pancakes with golden syrup/honey/ice cream with STRAWBERRIES for dessert! YUMMY. I'm am... so in the right course, and living with the right housemate Cheryl. We get so excited just thinking about our menus. hahaha...

Very happy so far.........

Yippee!

2009-03-03T12:58:00.001+08:00

WOOOOO!

1st day

2009-03-03T12:32:00.003+08:00

1st day at school.

Still wondering if i picked the right electives. Doing different from everyone else, not the recommended ones, but they're stuff that i like.

Sensei says the 1st 3 weeks are the survival weeks. If we get through and don't drop out, we'll pass. Gosh. All the hiragana this week! Gambate kudasei!

Neeeeeed more sleeeeep. Memory failing me already. TOO many things on my mind.
Thank God for cheryl, beloved housemate. She brought me a sandwich when i was starving without lunch, etc etc. Hope she joins OCF one day... :)

Orientation Week 1

2009-03-01T22:11:00.004+08:00

We had a fantastic week of orientation! 1 week of being at the booth trying to reach out to as many ppl on campus as possible.. So tiring, but worth all the effort. Keep forgetting to take pictures when more ppl are around. haha. So it seems like there's only us few. But check out our banners. WOO! OCF Flinders!

Decided to reward our members with a BBQ and pool party @ Andrew's place on thursday night after that!

Chaos the neighbour's beautiful dog, with a bigger face than mine!
Half a heart, but not half hearted!
Bracers no more!
Synchronized swimming! 10/10

All of us on a floatie for 1.
Kallang wave, water style.
Freezing gals, with macho Joel.

Waiting for more pictures to be uploaded by my friend first, for Orientation potluck dinner at my place, our 1st gathering with the new ppl, and city tour on saturday.

Week 1 of orientation. FANTABULOUS. LOADS more planning to do. Onward OCF.

Reflection: Need to praise, pray and attribute thanks to God. He is moving to expand his kingdom. We just need to continue serving like how Christ did, and move along with his will. May we be good stewards for him. Wanna finish the race well...

May our vision be illuminated this year: A family, passionate to know and share God's heart.

Time for change

2009-03-01T22:09:00.001+08:00

It's time to change, no longer following the norms of our culture and society. But to be different, set apart and to be the 5th gospel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

Down under Version 2!

2009-02-24T21:16:00.005+08:00

YEAH. Internet is up! (anti-technology powers only lasted about 3 days this time. it is weakening...)

Good trip over. Love SQ flights. Smooooth. Had free Spore Sling cocktail, which was lovely, and put me to a restful sleep very quickly. haha. The air stewardess and steward were both discussing who ordered it in front of me, and deciding if i was over the age limit. Finally asking me and finding out that i'm TWENTY! haha. When i was checking in my luggage at the counter, the lady also said i looked so young la. I shall take it as compliments. And i give credit to my mum, who buys Kose skincare products for me. :)

Took so long to unpack and settle down, cos i was like showing Aunt Lily and Adelyn around the new area - city and nearest places, explaining all the basic stuff, and buying groceries and living stuff for 3 days straight. So tired. haha.

My room and house is GIAGANTIC. That's for paying AUD147 per week. I have SO MUCH storage space. I'm like living in a hotel room la. Just need to clean and cook my own food everyday. Woah. Big change. But i likes. So far. :)

My BIG room! Love the table space... It's like 4 times my table at home.

Kitchen and dining room!

Living Room! (Friend's TV coming soon)

2 Toilet sinks, toilets and bathrooms.

Corridor into our rooms! With additional storage (see left) for each of us.

I also have 2 new pets. Feather and Bubble. Feather is my new groceries trolley, which makes all heavy things light. And bubble, my slow cooker, which has been cooking my soups overnight for 2 times now. I shall take precious care of them. :)

Then began ORIENTATION! Time to reach out and befriend as MANY ppl as possible. May God's favour rest upon us. We wanna expand his kingdom so so so much. Crazy stuff man. haah. We all had too much holidays, so preparation was very efficient and effective. Haha. All in 1 long meeting. But everything is up on schedule! Even for the 1st day, just 3 of us managed to successfully invite 16 ppl to our events! Looking forward to the potluck at my place on Friday. Targetting... more than 50 ppl? Hope there's enough food. Our i/c is leaving for Melbourne before the event. So i guess, we all help out and take charge too.

Need sleeeeep. Not enough everyday already.

But.. studies on the book of Matthew has still been very exciting, even though i badly wanna jump into bed.

Cheers.

Spaghetti & dessert!

2009-02-14T01:42:00.003+08:00

Wooo. Was inspired by Chong-er who made spaghetti for his parents, and i realised that i've never made spaghetti on my own! So i got the ingredients list from mum, and tried cooking for girlfriends.

I quote dong gua's comment on the food, main course and dessert: Your cooking is heavenly!

Ha. It totally made my day. :)

Wooo. And the dessert, also V-day gifts, turned out to be fantastic. Even though it's the first time i'm trying this recipe (from an issue of Her World mag 1 yr+ ago), and i modified it so much too.
PURE DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH BISCUIT BASE.

mum said: I think you make better ang-moh food than chinese food.
(hmm.. I still have so much to level up!!!)

patrick and leney said: Wah¬ very nice leh!!! the flower can eat one? (after tasting) mm.. mel! VERY NICE! i think you chose the wrong course. you should become a chef.
(that was my first choice when i was younger! But i'm afraid i can't persevere through such a tough job though. Perhaps after i retire from being food doctor. haha)

*Sorry if i seem proud. I'm just REALLY glad to make good food, and share it with others. And i'm quite sure one of my primary love languages is words of affirmation. Thus the comments. :)

Saw the roses and hearts from Phoon Huat some time ago, and i knew straight away i had to use it for V-day. Happy Valentine's day to everyone, even singles! Dearest YPMers will get my gift too. Enjoy!

I would have loved to give one to Serene too. You need to eat more!!! But you've flown off! Too bad. My wishes to you still. Caleb better be romantic hor! haha. In your 'macho' kinda way. :)

唱出生命！

2009-02-05T02:52:00.002+08:00

Have been watching so much 超级星光大道 recently.. I wanna go sing K again, with Glenn, one last time before i go back!

As according to 小玲老师：
唱歌其实是在唱你的生命，你对于你想要追求的梦想。也许你的未来不见得是要站在舞台上。也许你的未来是要当一个设计师也好，或者是当一个平凡的家庭主妇也好，我觉得那个就是你把你的生命力，把你生活的经验，你想要的未来, 其实就在你的旋律当中都听得见的。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6RUY73Dl6Y&feature=related

JAP~

2009-02-05T00:38:00.002+08:00

I have learnt how to make Teriyaki Chicken, Chawanmushi, Stewed Beef (Wafu Gyuniku Nikomi), Miso Soup and Jap rice.

YUM! <- from parents, brother, Caleb, Serene, Enos and Zhang Qi too. :)

The ingredients are really expensive though, even when I bought them from the wholesaler directly.

Onwards for my quest to learn Asian cuisine...

Cell grp CNY visitation

2009-01-31T01:34:00.001+08:00

To try one more time tmr! And see what happens..

To be transformed by the renewing of the mind, and then to test and approve God's will. Romans 12

Frustration

2009-01-30T01:15:00.003+08:00

Maybe now i understand the frustration...

It is the Miracle of Restraint: Although power can force obedience, only love can summon a response of love.

Argh. I don't like this part of sacrifice.

But I, when I am lifted up from the Earth, will draw all men to myself John 12:32

Strategies, not just deltoids

2009-01-30T00:00:00.005+08:00

My chinese fan I held for CNY. Inspired by ZhuGeLiang, and because Spore is swelteringly hot. Not that i'm complaining. Adelaide was 45 degrees yesterday. And someone fainted at the busstop and died from heat stroke. *shivers*

ZhuGeLiang's feather fan. So that he'll always stay cool even in times troubled times. :)

Everyone from all walks of life can watch Red Cliff together. Which is why i organised a Red Cliff MARATHON! Even though all those who came didn't know each other... haha.

Bought the VCD for RC1 to watch , before heading to the cinema for RC2. Tickets were bought last minute, cos of lotsa of changes in confirmations. But in the end, sitting at the 1st row turned out to be a good thing. I didn't get a cramp, or become giddy, but I did feel the shock and the heat from the burning of boats. HA.

WOOO. These heroes are such brilliant ppl. Without the power of mind reading, we'll have the intelligence of toddlers (as learnt from Lifespan Development, and a cool new book i'm reading - Blink by Malcolm Gladwell).

To strike the right balance btw the goals and virtues, friendship and self-interests. Everytime i try, i always wonder once again... How in the world did Jesus manage to hang out with the tax-collectors and the prostitutes? Who are the equivalent in our society today? And how are we responding?

Have i been doing the right thing? Perhaps it was a great way to end the day... Sitting on the stone seat once again and praying... No better way. :)

Now.. what will i learn from chapter 4?

牛(New) 年快乐!

2009-01-27T01:01:00.003+08:00

Lunar New Year Day 1!

*Prosperity in the midst of recession? Peace and love in the family even in the midst of fighting? Faith and hope even when everyone else are questioning?*

So many things i can't control... Oh how I need to bring it to the Lord even more...

26 days late, but i've not got much proper resolutions written down yet. I shall take it slow..
But with a new season of my relationship with God, i've decided to study the life of Jesus in depth, beginning with Philip Yancey's book 'The Jesus I never knew'. Perhaps with more understanding of Jesus, who reveals God, I might be able to become a radical imitator of Christ and different from what society's norms, in a Christian manner. Even at chapter 3 today, i've realised that i'm so much similar to a Pharisee... Excited at what i'm going to discover!!! The NT module has led me to love the Gospels and Revelations the most. The beginning and the end... :)

And a new chapter in life! Just celebrated my 21st birthday with my Dong gua, Patrick and Leney. Cos i'll be overseas during mine, and Architect donggua will prob be stuck doing submissions. Patrick is most prob speaking Jap, playing the guitar and drums, discipling at the same time. And Charlene is the poor gal who can't meet all of us even tho she wants to. (In a humourous way, it's something like that la. Haha.) We're all 21 now! Shared our 2 wishes out of 3 and prayed with each other. I shall put mine down. So that i remember:
1. That the 4 of us will continue meeting up with each other as long as we live. Avg 4 times a year!
2. That we'll always be passionate about what we do. (even passionately angry at injustice, passionately bold to make changes, passionately excited at our decisions, but most of all... have the passion knowing that we're doing what is right and pleasing in God's eyes)

Forward to day 2!

Feeling so hungry studying nutrition

2008-11-23T21:00:00.002+08:00

Had such a great time in Brisby~ Thank God the highest rainfall in 12 yrs, the storm, blackout and flood that happened in the area that i stayed at didnt really affect me much. The weather was great for the activities i was doing each day.

Spent so much $ though. Needa save up for Sydney trip next year already. Hillsongs Conference! And...... I so wanna go to Tetsuya's for a meal.. heh. :P It will cost me a BOMB. Anyone wanna donate to the 'well-deserved experience of a lifetime for mel fund'?

Nutrition exam tmr, and chem on tues!!!

Realised i'm not as confident as i usually am for exams cos' alot of the info i hid in my head flew away when i sat on the roller coasters in Movie World. Still can't believe i sat on roller coasters. I'm PETRIFIED of heights. Maybe cos J tricked me into sitting the humble looking Scooby Doo one. I was so wobbly after that. I actually only planned to sit just the kiddy road-runner roller coaster. But after that i felt more confident la. Went for more... :)

Managed to re-read all my notes this weekend, and do 4 practise quizzes. I'm ready to thrash my paper tmr! But i realised that i forgot to do 1 nutrition quiz during my brisby trip. Shucks. Lost 5%. Not sure if i can get my HD now... Oh well~ Just do my best, and enjoy my exam~ :)

Meanwhile, I REALLY misssss home... Really wanna fly home now. Some friends have already went home. Now i understand how my friends felt when i changed my exam dates last sem, and was the 1st to leave. This time, i'll be the last to leave cos of OCF Convention and AGM for all the different states' OCF centres... Better prepare for my centre report soon. But first, what all of us Sporeans make the world of.

EXAMS! WOOHOO~

Mid-Brisbane update!

2008-11-17T13:28:00.003+08:00

I'm in Brisbane! 1st state i'm visiting in Aussie other than Adelaide!

Yes.. I know. My exams are next week and i should be mugging in my room, or with all my other stressed out friends. But who says you can't schedule your time such that you finish studying before everyone else, and take a relaxing (or tightly packed with activities) break so that your brain cells are not moaning from over-studying when you take the exams? And.. i cut it short such that it fits in just nicely between 2 OCF gatherings.

Have been to the city, Indropolli, and Westend since Sat. Much bigger city and chinatown here compared to Adelaide, but the variety of shops are about the same. But the 'Shao La' stall, BBQ food, and desserts are not bad! Westend Village is quite a sweet place. Lotsa concept shops.. Abit like Handorf, the German Town. So i manage to buy more pressies. The rest of today and tmr will be the 'End Times Seminar' conducted by the church J attends, Hope Brisbane. Really didnt intend to go for a seminar during a hol and venture abit more around the place... But oh well. He signed me up, and this season i've been reading revelations and am trying to understand so much more about the symbols used. So much hope in this book that's become my fav now. So i'm quite expectant as to what they're going to teach. Exciting church they have here. Very tightly bonded care grps and lots of spiritual training... Much more than just services. Loving it.

Would have liked to venture further out and see more attractions. But they're all so inaccessible by car.. I can't drive, he's not sure of the road rules, and his friends are not free. Oh well... If only i learnt driving before i came over... Shucks. (Too late to regret now. Perhaps i'll just take my basic theory when i return and start booking driving dates for the end of next yr) I'm thankful that at least his gal care grp mates have very accomodatingly put me up at their place for free and joined us in our journeys around Brisby! So much more fun to have friends together to tour the place. As much as possible, i'd always want to travel with friends who are locals at the country/state, cos i'd see the recommended places, and at the same time have shared memories... If not, places are just places. Never ending attractions to see in this world la... Without the people, it's meaningless.

Wed and thurs will be the more exciting Movie World and Seaworld! But i'm hoping we can exchange Seaworld for a sandboarding + snorkelling @ Morton Island trip if we can book a place. Everyone who has went there are so excited about it! Gd way to get a tan and do be immersed in nature. Then Fri it's time to fly back. Can't possibly see everything, so it's ok. I don't have so much cash anyway. Just really thankful to meet some very lovely new friends here, and a few of the best spots. God has been most gracious in providing even my wants.

WOOHOO. I'm loving the hol. Hoping all my stored up exam info won't disappear as i'm having fun. I still want my HDs. Then it'll be a win (hol) - win (OCF) - win (exams) - win (spiritual food) - win (more / deeper friendships) situation. GRINS.

Malcolm Lee!

2008-11-09T22:21:00.002+08:00

To SHOW OFF! by Praising God for his amazing plans and providence.

My cousin is beginning his journey of a thousand miles to become a 3 star Michelin chef. :)

Passion for cooking wins him scholarship
(The Straits Times 9 Nov)

Coming from a household where the aroma of dishes like buah keluak, a local nut spiced with belachan chilli, was often in the air, the young Malcolm Lee grew up a cooking aficionado.

But it was not until he cooked for some friends in junior college that he realised his potential.

'That was the first time people told me they enjoyed my food,' said the final-year Singapore Management University (SMU) business management student.

Mr Lee, 24, went on to clinch the $23,000 Miele Guide-at-Sunrice scholarship two Saturdays ago.

The Miele Guide will publish a list of Asia's best restaurants yearly. Its inaugural 2008/2009 edition lists 300 of the best restaurants in Asia and is available at major bookstores.

At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy, started seven years ago by Mrs Kwan Lui, now boasts students from 25 countries.

Upon finishing his final exams at SMU in December, Mr Lee will start his diploma in culinary craft and service excellence with the academy, at Fort Canning Centre.

When SMU had a student-run restaurant called the Treehouse, now no longer operating, Mr Lee was one of those running it. He saw to it that the food was of a high standard.

'My parents have seen what I've done and how cooking has developed me as a person, so they are very supportive,' he said.

His signature dish is tagliatelle, a pasta dish, with ragu sauce. The sauce alone takes him eight hours to make.

He has also cooked in Harry's Tap Room, in the American state of Virginia, for 21/2 months. There, he learnt that fresh produce makes all the difference.

He hopes to own a restaurant one day.

He plans to travel once his 15-month course at the academy is over.

'I want to learn from chefs all over the world and bring my experience back to Singapore and share it with my customers.'

nah. not dating...

2008-11-08T20:10:00.003+08:00

Hellloooo everyone who visits my blog even more than me...

I'm so sorry for not updating for so long. I totally gave up writing my blog for so long, and admit i didnt even check my tagboard... Have been quite stressed over here adapting to serving in the new christian organisation, and managing my work at the same time that blogging just went really far down in my priority list. So i go back to my usual habit of hibernating for some time.

Awww. If only... but i'm sorry to disappoint everyone looking for new exciting conversation topics i'm not dating right now... It's not the right season la. Too many changes, and i'm just clinging on tightly to God, then supporting and being supported by a huge bunch of friends than to any 1 particular guy... Well, who knows? Anytime.. anywhere.. :p

Anyway, 1st sem it was a whole new country, 2nd sem it's a whole new spiritual atmosphere and ministry altogether. I was really tense since mid-aug because i started serving more. Which wasnt the way it should be. I looked forward to serving so much in COS and spending all my resources there. But somehow i was afraid of investing more of my time and energy in OCF, till i started to even dread it a little cos i wasn't feeling comfortable with myself. The perfectionist in me just sparked off. And i struggled to meet the own expectations i placed on myself.

State wide planning, uni scale events, personal ministries.
Weaknesses revealed, strength gathered, but now personally refreshed and renewed.
Hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.
Because the all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

So it has been a great learning experience, and will continue to be as i keep building on on skills. Can be painful and stressful, but it's all worth it for the growing of character in light of the hope.

Anyway, that's the minimum turning point and inflexion points briefly described.

For now, exams are coming up 24th for nutrition and 25th Nov for chem. I have, by right, 2 weeks to study. But by left, i only have 1 week. Cos i'm going for a holiday the week before my exams! haha... I'm almost done with my revision for this 2 modules. Only 1/2 a module left to revise for a 2nd time. And try out 4 past yr papers. So i aim to finish by... tues/wed? Aiming to get both High Distinctions. So that i will top my grades last sem.

So there, i'll stop here because i can go on forever about all my experiences... but i needa go mug for whole week and know all my materials inside-out. (hwa-chong sydrome) Before i go though, there's always room for testimonies.

It's still absolutely amazing, even though I should be used to his amazing-ness by now, how God has been providing for me in every aspect even though i feel most stressed the previous few months during this sem.
For studies: Managed to get High D for NT, and should get another D for lifespan development (i think).
For finances: They were running quite dry due to some delays, but just at the right time it was topped up again.
For strengthening weakness of perfectionism: Voluntary research study that i signed up for once a week for 10 weeks let me have one on one sessions with a psychologist to see how it's possible to change certain unhelpful thinking styles to helpful ones. Enlightened me in a very different and practical way to live out Romans 12:2, to develop a renewed mind and to test and approve his will.
For more counsel and sharpening of ways: Mentors, advisors, parents and also friends.
For leisure:
Caleb and Serene coming over to celebrate bday week!
Lotsa running,
baking (this time - more apple crumble, fudgey brownies, bread pudding, macaroons) and tried sorbet freezing too,
learning to make more Korean cuisine,
kayaking with dolphins,
performing on stage in a hostel charity fund raiser event with 2 other gal friends (with group name 'The Singing Muffins'! haha.. I was 'raspberry and white choc muffin'.) AND. Getting our very first album... Ha. Cos the event was recorded live and sold as CDs to raise funds.)
Then managed to raise about $500 in another OCF event that we planned in just 2hrs and abt 30 ppl. I was auctioned off to a friend to help organise her receipts. Raised $50 just for that!! Nice~
And many other fun...

Anyway, I'm coming home 8 DEC!!!

And i wanna see my photo on the YPM camp shirt. *devastated*

Sigh. Took so long to even type out this entry... Frustrated that i can't put up pictures cos i needa try to get rid of my dark eye circles and go to sleep.

Excited to mug more tmr, and try cooking shi2 quan2 ji1 tang1 (10 medicinal herb chicken soup), for the 1st time, for my unit mates, for a farewell meal for my korean friend, for dinner.

Missing everyone...
luvs mel

Pls don't send me to Africa

2008-08-21T19:41:00.002+08:00

This has been my secret prayer previously... Ha. Check it out. May the many of us take a different stand...

He has spoken

2008-08-21T19:32:00.003+08:00

Once again God has spoken. It's going to be an amazing journey. May he create miracles and work wonders through his people...

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Philippians 3:8-9

Eeling + Choc Bean = :)

2008-08-17T15:22:00.005+08:00

Received news that Ee Ling got top 5 in Flinders Law and for her 1st class honours!!! Praise God. He really answers prayers! Still remember how she studied so hard and stayed up countless nights to do her assignments. Special thanks... to Matt, her bf who helped her during this difficult time of completing assignments. and also to UNIT 7!!! Haha. Cos we were fantastic encouragers isn't it? :)

Miss you lots Ee Ling. May you have even better days / your 2 years at NUS Law as you convert your degree. Keep us updated!!! (Hope you're reading this~)

Here's our picts from Chocolate Bean just before you left. If only i could make such delightful desserts. Just got to meet Kelvin, someone who studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney. His first module was baking. OMG. If only i could study there during just one holiday.... Maybe.... haha! :)

Summarised thought process

2008-08-13T21:05:00.005+08:00

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27:14

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. Ps 86:11

If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Ps 37:23-24

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Ps 130:5

21st!

2008-08-13T20:01:00.005+08:00

Okies. Yang Wei wants a birthday post. So I'm going to be nice and wish him Happy Bday again~ Happy 21st muscleman!!! I'm glad you liked the Mars Bars Cheesecake that Cheryl and I paintakingly made, enjoyed the best Jap restaurant in Adelaide - Wasai lunch and absolutely LOVED the wallet present. Heh. :)

Birthday boys get special birthday wishes:
It's tough being far away from home and studying so hard at the same time to fulfil your dream of becoming a doctor! I think us international students all understand homesickness full well. Aren't you glad you have friends like us? :) So far you've been doing great. Mugging much more than I think is required (thus the fantastic results), and opening up to your 'fully (maybe over-) developed confidence' compared to the really shy guy we knew at the start! LOL. Hope you have a fun year ahead as you keep experiencing and learning new stuff. Enjoy!

Verse dedication (for one who desires great strength):
A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;
for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.
Proverbs 24:5-6

Us all!

Goodness. I'm going to be 20 soon. And I already feel the pressure... So many changes are taking place. Too many, too fast. Must time fly by so quickly? :S

Celebrate good times, celebrate!

2008-08-08T10:01:00.004+08:00

It's time to celebrate~

Happy birthday Alethea, Sarah and Ash!
NATIONAL DAY!
and because it's the beginning of a joyous period.
*grins*

Olympics 2008

2008-08-08T08:35:00.001+08:00

It has begun!

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8

Another learning point

2008-08-05T08:49:00.002+08:00

It's great to be back in aussie attending The Edge church again. Once again, the sermon spoke very strongly to me, relating to what had happened during the week and answered my questions to God.

Interesting n unique people come and go here in the hostel. Usually we'd flock to people of the same kind, and very easily push away people that we don't really like, or don't usually associate with isn't it? Had a hard time trying to not push some away this week. Actually it was like that since a long time ago. Well, somehow i understand how it feels to be different, to be left out, and not to be accepted. That's why I felt the pain, and the loneliness even before it happened. But I just couldn't really explain why i did the things i did. When others ask me why i still spend time with certain people, or do things for them that i don't need to, I couldn't really answer them. I don't know how to put these feelings into a logical explaination.

Pastor Jonathan spoke about the power of the word 'because' on Sunday. How if we were to give a reason for all the things we do, we might be more deliberate in doing certain things. Not just do it because of comfort, or culture. I found out my 'because' then.

If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Corinthians 5:13-21

Emo day

2008-08-05T08:15:00.003+08:00

Have been quite excited about this sem cos i really really like my modules. They've been fun! And the work hasn't really started. Ha. So it's good to just learn and absorb and reflect.

I even had the time to go watch Mama Mia! It was FANTASTIC. I cried for half the show, and kept singing. Almost wanted to dance too. Lol. But was abit shy. 4 of us gals went together - Sam, Alethea, Anna and me. And the other few seats in the whole cinema were filled by really old people. Ha. Weird though. Even though they older ones should be bigger Abba fans, I think we were the most excited ones in the place. GO WATCH IT. I rate it 5 stars. Like 赤壁! :)

That was an emotional day actually. After crying during the show, I was crying while talking to Siew Ho on msn. Haha. It was just one of those moody days where I couldn't really control my emotions. Think i'm get less stable when i'm all alone in my room.

The story goes like this:
I was approached to help make refreshments for OCF for Friday's orientation nite. So I happily agreed to do it! Given a $30 budget and told to make refreshments for 40 ppl, I decided everyone would really like some apple crumble and ice cream! Since the usual snacks are like 2 bags of potato chips, i thought this would be really a great idea to have homemade dessert and just indulge for the big event! Everyone is allowed to take 2 fruits per meal, so it'll be free when i rope in all my friends to help me get green apples. The other ingredients like flour and butter are so cheap. And i got lotsa cheap nice vanilla ice cream too. So i spent about $20. Which is actually much lesser, cos i won't be using up all the ingredients.

I later found out that I was actually supposed to make LOTS more food! Cos most ppl would be at OCF about 5pm to prepare stuff and rehearse and won't have any dinner. So the food I was supposed to prepare should be filling and lotsa carbs. Thank God i found out before the big day. Pat saved the day by helping me buy some other stuff so tt we can bake and prepare on friday. But in the end we had to increase budget by $10. Even though it was my fault for not asking specifically what was expected, others told me that it was just a miscomm.

The perfectionist in me ran wild and took over. Shucks. I WAS SO SAD. Made a mess. So in my room, not knowing who to talk to, I was glad when Siew Ho asked how i was! Told him the whole story and he actually offered to ask churchies to donate to the 'Save the Melissa's OCF supper time fund'. Haha. I was so tickled, and thanked him for the joke to cheer me up. But i realised that he wasn't joking!! OMG. Haha. Then he wants to transfer the money over so that I can give it back to OCF. Gosh. I was laughing and crying at the same time. Thanks siew ho.... You have no idea how grateful i felt by the thought. Thanks....

In the end, I baked from about 9am to 5pm together with a few others, and managed to prepare lotsa yummy food. Apple crumble, ice cream, 2 types of muffins, tuna puffs, sausage rolls and fries. Glad that people enjoyed it and was able to fill their rumbling tummies!

O nite was good i guess? Programs went well on that day. Just abit sad that we weren't able to set up a booth before that to publicise OCF more. Only 2 new people came. At least 2 came! But i just hoped for more. Nvm. We'll just keep praying for more.. more more more.

It has begun

2008-07-30T21:28:00.005+08:00

It's been 1st week! Played mahjong with Sam, Colin and Mahjong Master Kenneth + made lovely apple crumble with Cheryl's recipe already.

Felt so comfortable being back with my hostel friends. Wonder how i'll feel when i leave them next yr to move into a cheaper apartment without food... :(

Ee Ling just left... I'll miss you lots. You've been such a dear to me. Always crazily random, sheepishly humourous, yet the lawyer in you never fails to shine through when I need advice. The unit is much quieter now... but i'll see you back in Spore! Have a good sem in NUS k? I have appointed you as my lawyer if i ever need one. :)

Managed to clean up my room and fix my internet and printer. My super hero power never fails to act up. Internet got cranky and my new printer cartridge was rebelliously dry since 1st sem. But i managed to bring in fresh supplies... So it's working fine now. :)
Talking about my powers, Alethea and I laughed for about 5 full mins when i walked into her room and the next second, there was a 'BING' sound that said she temporarily lost internet connection. OMG. HAHA.

I love my modules and my timetable this sem. So far so good for 1st week. The workload seems fair. Did i tell anyone that i have only 4 classmates in my NT class? 1 guy and 3 gals. Who are much older than me. I think the ladies are at least 40+. We even sit around cosily in his office for lessons and there's free coffee and tea in the student's common room during break. Haha. Prof suggested we change timings from 5:30pm to begin from 4:30pm for our 3 hours seminar. So my timetable looks even better now... Was so nice of one of my classmates to offer to send me back home every week. So i wont have to suffer in the cold waiting for buses since the bus change and waiting would take me almost an hour to get back.. in the dark.

Core mods: Chem 1B & Fundamentals of Nutrition
Electives: Lifespan Development & Interpreting the New Testament
Deciding and still sitting in lectures: The Individual & Society (Philosophy)

My Timetable for 2nd sem

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

09:00

DSRS1202 Lecture (1) STS.S403

CHEM1102 Practical (4) PHYS.121

10:00

11:00

12:00

CHEM1102 Tutorial (1) SLTH.STH1

CHEM1102 Lecture (1) IST.STH3

13:00

14:00

NUTD1000 Lecture (1) FMC

15:00

16:00

17:00

THEO1201 Seminar (1) ACD.E3

18:00

19:00

20:00

Now... to set out to look for a job to work on Fridays.

Hols are over~

2008-07-30T21:07:00.005+08:00

Being back in Spore was really what I looked forward to for the past 5 months! I guess being away for a long time really makes you appreciate friends and other stuff alot more. Absence makes the heart grow fonder isn't it? It was short, but seriously action packed!

The best parts i can remember right now are:

Coming back to my own home
Having extended family mahjong session + celebrating Uncle Casey's bday with durian fudge cake
Buffet dinner with cussies
Playing the YPM league and winning Captain's ball with the cell
Having cell and eating meals together
Eating ALLLLL the un-beatable yummy and cheap local food, including Ding Tai Fung / Fisherman's wharf / Billybombers dinner with ypmers
Learning how to make dimsum (session 1) from my shifu
Having a new god-mother - the mee siam aunty just at my hawker centre
Sitting at the beach with a friend chatting
Hanging out with ducklings
Singing KBox from 7pm to 3am with leney, donggua and patrick
Having free duet practice session @ donggua's place
Being bridesmaid for 2 weddings (Congrats!!!)
Seeing Caleb and Serene off... hoping to see you 2 soon...
Learning that He Lu has a similar testimony of financial providence
He Lu being head chef for meal of chili crabs, salted veg duck soup, egg, veg & chin chow followed by mahjong
Eating and shopping with Ee Ling + getting messed up with oozing tiramisu donuts then meeting Gab Lee. lol
Watching Red Cliff. Brilliant!
Having curry udon lunch with Ying Zi and Sam
And I am ever so grateful... for the whole experience of getting the scholarship. Psychometric test, interview, excitement + expectancy + exclamation :) May I never forget the faithfulness and power of God

I am coming home in Dec. Yayyyyyyyy... :)

GRINS

2008-07-12T12:04:00.002+08:00

I am now a MOH scholar with a 6 year bond!!!

PRAISE God~ He is faithful...

"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 will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16

Interview

2008-07-09T10:20:00.002+08:00

God willed!!!!!!! I made it past the psychometric test!!!

I'm going for my interview with the panel tomorrow... Pls keep me in prayer? There's only that much I can prepare. I need God's favour MOST importantly. :)

I want the scholarship so badly.. (Feel like i'm one of the ANTM contestants. haha) But seriously, Mum's working too hard. Everything's so expensive there. And I want to come back to work in the hospitals here. So it's a win win situation. Unless God has other plans?

I'm BACK!

2008-07-02T00:19:00.003+08:00

BACK IN SPORE! And i'm lovin' it. Love the people, the food, the jacketless outfits, the short travelling times and home sweet home...

SERENE's finally MARRIED! Really glad for her... But.... Caleb is stealing her away... I will miss her soo sooo much. :(

While i was out with leney, dong gua and patrick, MOH called me today telling me that i'm scheduled for a psychometric test tmr!!! I'm so shocked. That means that i have only one day to prepare!!! I immediately went to central library and found the only psychometric test book available to practice. Shucks. I feel as though i'm going to fail the maths, english and reasoning tests. Maybe i won't do so badly for my personality one. It's hard to fail that isn't it?

But... am praying really hard... I can't do this on my own. Intercede for me yes? If God is willing, he'll grant me the scholarship! He said he will provide for my studies... I'm just not sure if MOH is the way he planned.

*interlocks fingers*

ONE MORE!!!

2008-06-23T22:40:00.002+08:00

Bio was... irritating. I'll surely pass. But there were so many questions that asked tiny details that weren't even in the lecture notes... :(

Well, at least thank God for Sheryl and Yang Wei whom I went through pass yr papers with. Answers weren't released.. So we had a tough time arguing over some qns.. And i really learnt lots from tons of my mistakes. So i know i got understood much more concepts after the practice.

Chem's tmr. Finished studying, but am rushing to do past yr papers now... I don't feel as prepared as O or A levels. Sigh. Will do my best still. GAMBATE!

High life

2008-06-19T23:24:00.001+08:00

I am in love with teas.
Recently it's been ginko, peppermint, chamomile, green...
Lovely...
You can guess what kind of effects i'm after.

My superhero power

2008-06-18T12:58:00.004+08:00

Essays are out of the way. Thank God.

During this period, I wished that i could have the 'memory' ability that one of the lady in the show 'Heroes' has. Just read and voila. It's stuck in my head forever.

I think my Hero ability is 'To spoil electronics'. So far it's an unconscious, involuntary ability. I just haven't learnt to control my powers yet.

Coming here, I have since:
1. Mysteriously emptied my brand new printer yellow ink cartridge. And it seems i can't use my printer at all... not even to print black and white.
2. Spoilt my friend's printer, irrepairably, when i asked her for a favour (for the first time) to help me print my documents.
3. Made her camera hang as well (That's really rare isn't it?) when she wanted to take a picture of me hugging her bear.
4. Kept my phone reception still awfully bad.
5. Contracted a horrible msn virus which sends out virus to others. It's a link directing you to get the virus i think. I am 1000% sure i never clicked on the link when i got it from some others. It's not my fault!!! I shall stay off msn till i return and get help from my bro. My brilliant anti-virus isn't working...

Anyways, back to work. If mum's working that hard, I can do too... Gambate mum! Love ya... :)

Rebel Yell ahhhhhhhhhhh~

2008-06-16T21:26:00.003+08:00

Study break begins!
There's a 24 hour noise curfew in the hostel where there must be no audible noises coming from the rooms or common areas and only whispering in the corridors.
If violated, there will be a $50 fine!
One exception: 'Rebel yell' at 9pm every day for 5 minutes!

Thoughts:
It's toooo quiet...
I think i'm going to gather ppl to shout together just for the fun of it.
Yay. There's lotsa extra treats from the dining hall!
My friend passed me season 1 and 2 of the show 'Heroes'. It is abit bloody, and freaky, but from the fantastic reviews by Mingen last time, I couldn't help watching it. Too addictive! I better have more self-control. Not many days left to studyyy...

必胜

2008-06-13T08:30:00.002+08:00

Glad to announce that i have finished a 2500-3000 word essay! Finally... after like 2 weeks of research work and another week and a half of structuring and writing. I take hopelessly long to do it. But Thank God that that's done. May it all be worth it. At least i've learnt lots from it! That's the great thing about assignments isn't it? You don't learn till the hard work is put in. Now to start on another one... Shucks. Haha.

Thank you everyone for remembering and keeping me in prayer... Really appreciate it. So much luuuuv. :)

Yup. It's exam atmosphere all around. It's like a kind of strength in unity. So fun. Well, i say that cos i'm still in familiar ground. And i'm not that stressed. Just have 2 mcq papers for bio and chem. I won't underestimate it cos qns do get kinda tough. But at least we do similar types of qns back in O and A levels.

All rights! Time to tie the white cloth around my forehead that says "必胜" and goooo! :)

Hail.... stone!

2008-05-22T18:25:00.003+08:00

Just a quick update since i should be going back to study. More work waiting for me! I want HDs. :)

THERE WERE HAILSTONES!!!

Gosh. First time i've seen them. And to think i used to believe hailstones were actually stones. How silly. Anyway, weather was soo cold for the past few days. God's giving me glimpses of winter i think. Gd for psychological preparation. But hey. I won't be suffering too much from winter! :) If you know what i mean.

Anyway, sun's out again today. I finally did laundry. Feel the sense of accomplishment. I refuse to use the dryer unless absolutely necessary. It costs $1 per load. That would mean 100% extra in addition to my $1 washing cost. Ha.

Cognitive dissonance

2008-05-14T08:05:00.002+08:00

Ha. I think this blog has become abit like my journal already. Records of lotsa thoughts and memories. This entry is my own encouragement to myself, since i was amazed at the coincidence of what i learnt during both my slacking & studying recently. Psychology is so cool~ If only i had one more elective to take, i would have taken psych A & B.

Was watching the show 'Liar Game' that Patrick so sweetly gave to me as bye bye pressie. It's a bit like 'Hunter X Hunter' the anime, but this one's a real life psychology jap drama. About this organization that believes that all humans are evil deep down, will lie and take advantage of others for their own benefit, so they organised this Liar Game to see who the best liar is, with tons of money as reward or at stake. Glad to say that the show ends with lotsa hope for us all, cos there was one girl who was truly pure and showed everyone that it is possible to stay pure even in an evil environment. This was great encouragement to live 'in the light' in the midst of darkness.

One small psychology snippet for everyone! It's a rare cartoonish bit of the show, but explains quite clearly about 'cognitive dissonance'.

According to Wikipedia, "cognitive dissonance is a psychological state that describes the uncomfortable feeling when a person begins to understand that something the person believes to be true is, in fact, not true. In simple terms, it can be the filtering of information that conflicts with what one already believes, in an effort to ignore that information and reinforce one's beliefs. In detailed terms, it is the perception of incompatibility between two cognitions, where "cognition" is defined as any element of knowledge, including attitude, emotion, belief, or behavior. The theory of cognitive dissonance states that contradicting cognitions serve as a driving force that compels the mind to acquire or invent new thoughts or beliefs, or to modify existing beliefs, so as to reduce the amount of dissonance (conflict) between cognitions." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance)

Even as i continued to ponder, i surprisingly read in my notes, a few days later, this part about a book by Robert Caroll - 'When prophecy failed'. "According to his theory, ppl cannot tolerate conflict btw diff states & experiences for very long."
They'd usually deal with them by:
1. avoiding this conflicting evidence
2. seeking a grp support for the original belief
3. reinterpreting their beliefs

Prob that's why YPM / OCF to is so dear to my heart. I feel comfortable to be with the ppl of the same belief! And it's my grp support, and helps correct and impart some of my beliefs. Plus a boldness booster cos i can't avoid certain conflicts, but got to tackle them head on. So even in the midst of busy-ness, i shall try not to stop attending ocf! For others back home, ypm ya! :)

I think everyone experiences the same feelings as me. Maybe not as badly sometimes, cos i'm easily influenced. Ha. The triangle in the 2 choices (refer to video) is not always as clear as it should be, or i let cognitive dissonance make it blurry. I guess that's why i've got to continually spend time with God isn't it? If not i won't even know which stand to take, let alone decide on that stand. Esp when there's a new covenant:
'I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.' Ezekiel 36:26-27

Okies. That's all. Hope ppl were entertained. My main source of homesick remedies are blogs now. Ma-ta-ne.

P.S. to Patrick: Love the show! Thanks for giving it to me. Just one thing. It was scary!!! I know it's really just tiny tiny bits of music, and a mask that made it scary, but i'm really faint-hearted you know? Warn me first next time k?! haha. Other than that, love the show!

Headlines

2008-05-13T09:34:00.002+08:00

Gosh.
Myanmar's cyclone + China's earthquake... Thousands of ppl dead and missing.
Urgent need for prayer.
Time to restock and reflect.
It's the beginning of the end.

ha

2008-05-11T22:38:00.003+08:00

Today i shall just blog abt 2 funny things, cos i wanna sleep soon.

One:
Boo. Some ppl lack passion here. When they play DOTA, they can play it without any emotion at all!!! Just stare blankly at the screen and play. HOW CAN THAT BE? (instantly sings song: "So sad.. so sad.. it's a sad sad situation" if only cousins, esp criss, were with me, we'll sing together.) DOTA is more fun than that! Killing heroes, getting items, helping friends, FIRST BLOOD/MONSTER KILL/OWNAGE. Haha.. Yes guys?

Two:
Conversation of the day when i was talking to someone, take A to be that person, and B to be the friends around A. It went something like that.
B: Aiyo.. You slept so little for the past two nights. Why you so stressed??
A: Desperate times need desperate measures!!!
B: Not so bad.. You don't have that much backlog...
A: No~ Exams are in 6 weeks!!!
Ha. Can you believe it? Now i've got someone to spur me on.
(haha. no offence to A. I really had to blog it. Couldn't stop laughing. Your name will remain confidential~)

YAY

2008-05-09T14:02:00.004+08:00

Added note: *HAHA. Okies. i was just thinking about my bro. then the only other ppl that came to mind was his clique. LOLS. *apologises* That list includes dg, leney and patrick! of cos along with my whole batch. which i haven't been really catching up with. haha. oops. and... my cell grp + everyone who had exams.. haha. won't leave out anyone like that. hope everyone aced all their papers! heard yanling was really stressed. was Chem ok?

Congrats to all those who finished their exams! Even though i'm not one of you, but... i can feel all the excitement, and wanna help celebrate abit too! I think there's... Bro, Stell, Eeling, Aaron, Cal and... who else? Helu? Anyway.. Enjoy some of the bestest... like hanging out with friends, eating chocolate (esp whatever Ee Ling is gonna bake) and sheepishly grinning at each other. NOT laughing at those who still hasn't started hols. haha. Have fun~