Lucas Lion

Lucas: 'Who created God? Who make God appear? How does God look like?'

My sis sms me the above

i replied: "God is the beginning and the end. No one created God, He is there from the beginning. God created everything just like the Magician Liu Qian." (Lucas know who is Liu Qian ok)

My sis replied: "So God need to eat or not? God can turn us into lion or not?"

I replied to my sis: PRAISE GOD for tuning Lucas' heart to Himself!!!

Lion has special significance for Lucas. When he was afraid to attend his first day of school, we told him to be strong. He say he cannot but God can help him to be strong! He will be a lion! Lion means courage for him!

God, you will not turn Lucas into lion, but you will give him the spirit of courage as a lion to live a life of faith for you!!! PRAISE GOD!!

Day 5- Wanaka

Day 5- NZ

5th day- travelling to Wanaka. From Fox Glacier town to Wanaka takes us around about 4 hours. Not a long journey I remember.

On the way, there were many nice sceneries. Now that I am back in Sg, I miss those majestic and yet so serene lakes, mountains, and streams.

Found this lake by chance. We were ahead of schedule so we followed the sign and found this nice lake to our pleasant surprise. Not many people there, only a couple of tourist having their morning breakfast by the lake. =)

Wanaka is a medium size town. Bcos of the beautiful Lake Wanaka, property market there is pretty vibrant. Many more houses as compared to the other small town.

There is a post office there and Paul shops for a souvenir for his sister.

This is our self-contained little room. Clean, neat, with awesome view of Lake Wanaka!

We had a little grass patch right outside our container-room. Its almost private to us becos becos hardly anyone walks pass since our room is toward the end of the estate. I recommend this backpacker accommodation to anyone who goes to Wanaka. =)

At our Wanaka backpacker hostel, I had my first try of cooking in a community hostel. Was a bit intimidated by somewhere that is not my kitchen. N the voices around me are so foreign. Nonetheless, I had my first try of maggie mee! There was this girl who was very pro in cooking. She was fussing around many things and I was impressed by her! But I thought she took too long to cook bcos by the time we finished cooking, and eating, and washing, she is still there in the kitchen cooking! Aiyo..

2nd day dinner was slightly better than the first day. We cooked rice and satisfy our craving for our asian staple.

Although it was very cold the next morning, and the wind was blowing, we insisted on having our breakfast outside our room! The bench is just outside our room and it was facing Lake Wanaka. So blessed! Whatever we cooked turn cold very quickly so toward the end of the meal, we were just eating cold bread and sausages.

The place was also very pleasant and neat and we felt very safe to wash our clothes in the shared laundry area.

Library- Paul's favorite place. I am just posing for the photo.

I was actually slight afraid that the horse will attack me so I didnt dare to go near. The horse did scare me a little when it kept turning toward where I was. See it quite obediently posed for the picture right. I should have been more bold and patted it. No more chance.. sigh..

PUZZLING WORLD- A place of interesting situated in Lake Wanaka. The optical illusions in this place is fascinating. I heard that they have not change a thing in 6 years but tourists are still coming from all over the world to visit them. Brilliant!

The end of my Day5. Conclusion? Wanaka is lovely. So lovely, we extended one more night of stay there...The place where I want to retire...

NZ Day4

NZ- Day 4

Franz Josepf Glacier

I think this is Day3 or 4. Cant really remember. But i know it was an awesome day!

We opted for the heli-hike, where we can take a helicopter up the glacier and another 3 hours hike on the glacier itself.

We wondered if we shd spent the money but decided that if we dont do it now, we will never get another chance again. And so heli we did!

It was bit scary at first cos its really loud, but after awhile, got use to the big headphone tt helps us to listen to the pilot's command.

The view on the high places are really nice. "God has all the snow in His storehouse."

When we reach the glacier, we have to be helped with our shoes first. The guide was helping me to put the spikes on my boots so I dont slipped on the ice and fall.

See how blue and white the glacier is..

We were encouraged to try the water that flows through the glacier. Other than icy cold, I think its just really clean without the pollution of the earth.

The boots is rather heavy and after 3 hours of walk on ice, I burn my butt with ice, became a little tanner with the high UV exposure, experienced another side of God's creation, fell in love with this part of NZ.

N of course to end the day with a big meal at Fox Glacier Inn resturant. =)

Cooking in office

Cooking in the office for the past 3 days was fun. Corrie did brilliant in the little pantry we had! Healthy, no oil, low salt, more vege, less meat, brown rice.. sounds like cow? Not at all! We had salmon, bak kut, soup, vege, vege and lots of vege..

Though some unhappiness in the office, but focus on the little blessings makes life easier.

Empathy.

To empathise means to leave the our own shoes for the moment and step into the world of another. It involves leaving my world, values, culture, thoughts and suspend our judgement for that moment of empathy. It definitely involves my feelings. (Modified from John Powell, not my wisdom)

But she told me I cannot feel what my clients feel. I am only to identify, and understand but not to feel along. How on earth am I suppose to do that? I am not convinced by what she say anyway, and much less to carry out what she say.

Its hard to communicate what to non-SW about SW. Our proj was a platform to demonstrate the love of God to the community and I find her becoming more and more financial base. She question my fundamental belief about how I see my r/s with my client, I didnt have the answer. Now I kn0w- Outreach to demonstrate God's love. If outreach, then I will be all things to all man as Paul say. But in what context to be what to man?

Fully Human, Fully Alive

"Glory of God is a person fully Alive!"
Full Alive, Fully Human
John Powell

Analyzing means I got to stand outside and think about what people say, their underlying meaning and what make them say what they say.

Finding myself gradually unable to fully experience my own life. Everything operates on multiple levels- the action level, the mental level, the emotional level and recently I learnt to be aware of the spiritual level. Constant reflection and processing. I am glad I am not on twitter, otherwise I will be so busy twitting every other thoughts.

Blessed by John Powell's wisdom in that statement. For me, to be fully alive means to fully experience all that is available for my sensory to experience. Its not just about the mind or the mental processes. Its also about experiencing it emotionally, spiritually with my joy, my sadness.

Fully Human, Fully Alive!

NZ Day 1 & 2

New Zealand is beautiful but I didnt know how to enjoy myself in the beginning.

I thought they should be friendlier, more courteous.. My own expectation was not helpful to the trip. But after awhile, things became better as we become more accustomed to the culture.

Day 1- From Christchurch to Akaroa- Ajustments

Many things to adjust on the first day.

1. Paul driving an auto-car, he only drove manual in the past.

2. Cold weather

3. Surprised by the expensive food when it claims to be affordable

4. Went to bistro at 530pm, was told to return at 6pm. Hmmm...

5. Waitress confused when we order hot water

Day 2- Akaroa to Hokitika

1. Enjoyed the beautiful scenery in Akaroa in the morning. Majestic sight of mountains and lake, aromatic scent of flowers in the garden and cheerful chirping of birds. Saw a ladybird on a leaf. Nature is so close to me.

2. Had our morning breakfast in the little garden of where we stayed (Halfmoon Cottage)

3. Along the way to Hokitika, the scenes are more or less like this. Sheeps, cows, deers or some horses. I like those with a whole field of sheeps. Reminded me that God is the one who owns them all.

5. Met roadblock along the way. Need to go by Telegraph Road and reach Aurthur's Pass to go to Hokitika. But road works! Stupid GPS only know Telegraph road. Thankful to a BP man, who taught us the way and recommended directory for us.

6. The fun about self-travel in NZ is there are always something worth stopping for. Farms, creeks, lakes, rainbows, signposts, rolling mountains, even postbox!

7. Finally arrived at Arthur's Pass- halfway from Akaroa to Hokitika. Lunch time!! Ice cream time!

Upon finishing, found out that car battery died cos headlights on. But we survive cos of a helpful traveller who fix the car! Thank God. I felt helpless when it came to the car. But I did what I know- pray!

8. We finally reached Hokitika by night fall. Dinner time! Went hunting around for places to eat. Found that French Cafe that Paul missed so much when he went to NZ yrs back. Must take pic of tt place.

Can you see the pattern of travelling. Travel, eat, toilet. Travel, eat, toilet. Then sleep at night. Tt's how it is until we reach Day 3! =)

Blog more next time. No time liao! got to go!

Self-trapped?

What truly makes me happy? What brings joy?

Strucked by the different things we pursue to bring us satisfaction.

Some a little more different from mine (occassionally I find it hard to swallow) but reminded myself that its their life and I am no judge.

Strucked by the different paths we choose in life.

Some I cannot even fathom the purpose of it but reminded myself again that God created each one different and each had a different purpose in God.

Strucked by the attitude that was held on me.

Some which I am amused by. Some which offended me. But reminded myself that I am who I am, I please no man but God and Paul.

I am puzzled, by others and by myself. The difference I begin to sense more n more. Time to catch up LJ. Yet there is this unwillingness to move beyond. Trapped by my own puzzlement. Funny.

Interesting how gossips travels so fast in the social service sector but news travel so slowly among friends. 1 night of catching up means a lot of new revelation for me. ha! Puzzled once again. Maybe I dont facebook, twitter etc. But unwillingness remains. Trapped by my own unwillingness. Funny. Crazy.

May they know You

I am beginning to not know how to express myself because its a little complicated. Sharing with others becomes a bit redundant because I wonder who would truly listen.

Listening is part of my job but yet I dont think anyone truly listens to me. Therefore communication becomes pointless because a mere exchange of words does not mean communication.

My audience becomes very limited, and eventually friends become very limited as well. Its a choice that I made. Conscious or unconscious decision?

The night I cried from shouldering too much emotional baggage from listening to too many stories, there was no one I could share with. I learnt that night to consistently surrender to God. Pray for spiritual coverage. Pray for emotional ties with clients to be cut.

Lonely journey? Nope. Theirs is a lonelier one. I have Christ but they have none.

Heal them. Manifest your Sovereignty in their lives.

Mac..& Photos

Using my very first macbook to enter this blog... !!!! Woohoo!! Been wanting to update my blog for a long time but no opportunity to do so.

Macbook Pro! Cool! hehe.. very high resolution screen, perfect for movie watching.. so clear until I can all the imperfection on my face! Interesting function and I believe once I get use to it, I will realise its potential. Learning..

N yes I am connected to the internet again from my home. finally after a few months. Paul says I am married to my macbook now.. hmm, hardly impossible la.

Anyway, here are some of my favorite pictures from the wedding =) Just wanna share with you who is reading my blog =)

One of the most natural pic of Paul and myself.

Paul meeting his challenges and the challengers with grace and humor..

Ever cheeky Lucas.. Enjoying the day with me as well..

Beautiful smiles makes great photos..

His coming make my wedding very special.. I cried during his wedding because I was so happy for him. (I was shocked that I cried too) A good hug is a must with Michael Chiam!

Thank you Serene and Marge for your sacrificial help.. Dont have much photos with you two. Wish I have more with both of you..

How am I after wedding?

Being married and staying with another person, a lot of things cannot go my way. Endure seems to be the key word. However there are many fun and happy moments too because I think I enjoy Paul's sense of humor.

Marriage needs to be built on a strong foundation and we are still building it.

Time to get off my macbook and go cooking..

=)