Sunday, December 28, 2008
Year 2008. The Straits Times have called it a year of “Upheavels”. SiChuan earthquake, Mumbai attack, Barack Obama has become the 1st African American President in USA…
Year 2008 has been somewhat a year of “Upheavels” for me too (contrary to the “Year of Sabbath” my church has declared year 2008 to be). Right now, as I look back at everything that has happened, woah… My life has never seen so many things happening within just a single year.
J1.08S31I really like 08S31! I remembered the scene in which everyone were…PRETENDING (haha.i could feel it lah)…to be shy, which almost scare the marshmallow out of Mr. Foo. We played this “Do Whatever You Want to that Teddy Bear” Game and a very gross “Pass That Down With Your Mouth ONLY” Game..all thanks to 07s31. Victor came in and pose as our senior (with his wet nerd hairstyle and a more nerd bag) who got ostrocised very badly by the rest. Well, he turns out to be our classmate....who always sharing his Eclipse spearmints with everybody!
Remember our bike outing all the way from ECP to Changi Village?
How about the Auntie who helped us refill all our bottles?
Haha. I really enjoy every time we have a meal as a class together…may it be at Roxy Square, Fish&Co or even eating durian puffs at some corner of Parkway like this:
Lost in VJCO.Found VJCICI have never felt so lost in my life before. But I will like to praise and thank God for the Lost & Found. Sometimes it is hard to let go, but God tells me that if He has the right to bless me abundantly, He has the same right of taking away things in my life and I just have to remain faithful and believe that “for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good.” Romans 8:28. Way back then, I never expect myself to join VJCIC. To tell you the truth, I didn’t even have the slightest clue of what CIC is all about, until I went for the tea party with Vivian (which I went, just to accompany my friend at first). Everything seems to work out in another of His wonderful plan!
I had great fun in VJCIC, because I love organising and running events and I find CIC work very meaningful since I also get to give back to the society and do something to add value to others’ lives. It has given me lots of exposure to the world out there, especially after helping out in Under No Roof and serving in the education and charity committees for OCIP-Laos!
Of course, there is something about VJCO that I can’t bear to let go and it is something which has made me stay in Chinese Orchestra for 6 years. THE PEOPLE!
Moreover, I enjoy the feeling of being immersed in the music…and the thing about playing music in an orchestra is more than just being personal. It is the FEEL, the synergy, mo4 qi4, listening not only to yourself, but to play along with others as well.
***
Having completed reading the book of Psalms this year, I am once again inspired, to just give thanks to God for everything, may it be good times or bad times. Just like what Pastor Khong said, if I totally surrender everything onto God and give thanks continually, I know that God will fufill His promise in Romans 8:28 and that every setbacks He allows to happen in my life, will only make me stronger than before, to fufill greater things God has in store for me, and His purpose!
After going through so much this year, perhaps one will have this feeling of not knowing what one should…or even dare to expect of year 2009...
...but I know God will be there for me, laying the path ahead of me :)
"Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me."
Psalm 23:4
Jonathan posted at 1:27 AM***
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
I have caught up with Shalom and his family recently! We lost contact for about 5 years. Just a few months ago, I found a piece of note with Shalom phone number, written by Shalom himself he was Primary 1!
His family has really inspired me a lot a I can really feel the joy of the Lord, radiating from everyone in the family--Auntie Grace, Uncle Joshua, Shalom ,Issac, Auntie Maria, Dolly and Glenda, Jane...
I am glad that the Lord has been with them through everything.
By the way, Shalom is now a VS boy too!
Jonathan posted at 11:55 PM***
Friday, December 19, 2008
VJC OCIP-LAOS TEAM! We took this photo without anyone's assistance at Bangkok international Airport, while transiting to Laos :D
Painting the signboard for the library we have helped to construct for the village school!
Sharon, Shermaine, Chun Yin and I, with our host family!
The lovely students! Sert, Kiet, Nau Miao, Kich, Nam Peng
I could really feel the impact this journey has on me after we leave the village and as I resume my life in Singapore. I learn to be contented with what I already have.
I realise that the reason we may get upset or envious so easily, is because we have taken the things around us for granted. Things like...having air-conditioned public transport, which we use everyday. We may have possessed all these, yet we are still unhappy, continually pursuing instant gratification and, never satisfied, not knowing how to cherish every little things we already have.
I have also grew to become more "baw phen nyang" ("never mind" in Laos) which means to be able to release and forgive, in the face of difficult times. "Happiness is a way of how we look at life"...and perceive problems. Sometimes, problems can be solved more easily when we choose to take a few steps back (not rushing to feel upset about it; having the baw phen nyang spirit) and have a good look at how we can address the problem.
PHOTO COMPILATION:
Click here: OCIP Album I, OCIP Album IIBy the way...
I LOVE THE NEW VJCO ROOM and the practice camp rocks! :)
Jonathan posted at 1:18 AM***
Saturday, December 13, 2008
It has been about 12 days since I returned from my adventure in Laos.
For those who didn't know, I went there with a group of 28 Victorians and 3 teachers to do community work in a village in
Luang Prabang Province. We made cash donations (for the library and a water pump system) and helped with the construction of the school library. We also taught the children English, through creative games and songs. We raised some money in Singapore and used the money to buy books to stock up the library, as well as some educational charts, stationery sets for every kid and necessities (along with some old clothes from a collection drive) for some of the poorer households in the village. Reading the entries in my journal, I could remember the days spent living with the villagers and the moments spent with other
OCIPers stranded outside Singapore, not knowing when we can reach home after PAD forced Bangkok Int. Airport to close down. I thank God for answering my prayer in an unexpected manner, extending the 10-day trip to a 15-day trip, which actually brought us closer as a team and allowed us to experience more of the world outside our comfy Singapore homes.
I dun have the patience to sit down in front of this illuminating box, typing out all my feelings and whatever I have been through over the 14 days but you can ask me about it. I will be more than willing to share. Currently I have been reading a novel by Keith
Donohue,
The Stolen Child and it has kept me thinking about the story...who is the stolen child? Why did Speck leave Aniday? How is the fairy world different from our world?
Well, it has been a long time since I picked up a novel and I am hungry for more:
Audrey
Niffenegger,
The Time Traveler's WifeAndrew Sean Greer,
The Confessions of Max TivoliSusanna Clarke,
Jonathan Strange & Mr. NorrellKevin
Brockmeier,
The Brief History of the DeadMark
Haddon,
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeMikhail
Bulgakov,
The Master and MargaritaFlann O'Brien,
At Swim-Two-BirdsHaruki Murakami,
The Wind-Up Bird ChronicleGabriel
García Márquez One Hundred Years of SolitudeLouise
Erdrich,
The Antelope WifeThere doesn't seem to be enough time for me to spend when I am in Singapore, or perhaps I have spent too much time handling other agendas (or worrying about them).
Jonathan posted at 6:08 PM***
