여보세요

hi.
i'm in seoul/korea!
hehe.
now at gimpo international airport.
waiting for the flight to jeju.

i'll be back on 26th! :)

no more MIA-ing

i haven't been updating for quite some time.
so i shall just do a quick one for now.
hehe.

12th to 24th may.
i was in philippines.
i don't have much photos to post cos i don't have them with me yet.

day 1 morning the team of us departed from singapore budget terminal.
reached philippines clark airport after an approximately 3-hr long flight.
then hopped on a jeepney.
having 16 people squeezed on a jeepney wasn't a pleasant thing.
it was crammed.
honest.
the first discomfort that i faced during the 13-day long trip.
and it was just the beginning.
the only thing that was really bad was i was sick.
so it added to the discomfort.
but i thank God.
for people who cared.
for sustaining me.
for making me well again after a short nap on the jeepney.
so the rest of the 15-hr long ride on the jeepney wasn't as bad.

we went to a rural area in bilcol region.
my biggest lesson learnt is to learn to appreciate what i'm blessed with over here in singapore.
most people there don't have tv, laptops, proper beds to sleep on...
some families can't even afford refrigerators.
electricity wasn't a constant supply. it short circuits easily.
the roofs leak when it rains.
the list can go on.
i just wonder.
many a times i just take things for granted.
how i just need to learn to be thankful for even the smallest thing i'm blessed with.

also the filipinos are really hospitable people.
at least for those that i met.
i can conclude so.
i think that's one thing i'll need to learn to practise too.
it's been a missions trip which i felt i was so well-taken care of.
they gave.
to the best of what they can.
another learning point.

some of the more significant moments include...


i had this taken on my phone.
climbing a mountain!
it was not as high.
but it was steep enough.
it was quite a climb.
but i really enjoyed it.
we did a performance at the village when we got up.
gave out vitamins to the people and prayed for them.
to the extent that i had a hard time pulling brakes when i tried running down the slope on the way down.
i'm just amazed when i was told.
a fellow filipino brethren would go once a week climbing the mountain just to conduct bible study with a few of the villagers.
going the second mile.
i was indeed challenged.
how i need to learn. faithfulness - another lesson i was thought.

i learnt to act by faith with boldness.
terence and i partnered with 2 of our filipino sisters (rosemary and joan) to go house-to-house to share the Gospel.
we talked they translated.
and i remember that day so clearly that i was just telling terence that maybe we can pray for the sick along the streets if there are any.
and the next moment is.
we passed by a hospital on our left.
and there we decided that we should go in and pray for the people.
i was amazed how smoothly we stepped into the hospital without facing any obstacles.
no nurse or doctor stopped us.
though it was obvious that we aren't local.
surely, no person would think i'm a filipino.
the first ward was the infant's ward.
i prayed for a child. initially she was crying badly.
but at the end of the prayer.
she actually stopped crying!
praise the Lord. i'm so amazed.
i figured the child was better.
then went to pray for this old man with breathing difficulties.
he mentioned something about a hole in his lungs.
i shared the Gospel with him.
and he listened. and he actually said he believe Jesus can heal him.
i'm just so amazed. (i don't think i can stop saying this.)
prayed for him and he said he felt better.
the doctor's report weren't out yet.
but by faith. his health will be restored.
my day at the hospital - fruitful.

i did the craziest thing ever.
the team of us sang and danced in the middle of a park in ligao city.
our filipino brethrens call it 'encounter at the park'.
so in front of everyone at the park. we did a performance.
making our stage 360 degrees viewable.
boldly went sharing the Gospel with people.
and i thank God for the opportunities to share my testimony.
i'm just amazed.
how God worked through all that was done.
in a crazy setting.
to lead people to Him.


we went to this really nice beach resort at marinab for the church camp with the filipino brethrens.
it was really a nice place.
and it was a great time interacting with them.
during the church camp, we saw how powerfully God moved.

it's just saddening to see how beautiful the beach resort can be.
and yet on the other side of the hill.
is a village where poverty hits the lives of people.
i remember the night where we climbed over the hill to the village to pray for the burangay captain of the area, a blackout occurred.
and the entire place was in total darkness.

we also did medical missions in a village in marinab.
i learnt how to clean and treat wounds properly.
like how a nurse would do it.
i learnt how to do blood sugar test.
though my main task was to help prepare the instrument needed.
practically. we shared the love of Christ with the people there.
God taught me how to be practical in loving His people - meet their needs.

the night at the village, we had a concert.
through it, we saw 60 salvations from the youths and adults.
and 50 salvations from the children group too.
the whole area was just lit up by ONE light bulb.
the concert went on with the bare minimum.
but God did a miracle.
thank God. it can only be Him.

through the 2 weeks.
other than learning to step out of my comfort zone.
i learnt much more.
about myself.
how self-centered i can be. selfish.
i'm still learning.
to put others before self.
i learnt how to root my confidence in the Lord.
not in my own strength.
but leaving it in His hands.
i've got more to learn.
God, mould me and shape me.
to be more like You, Jesus.

now i'm back. more tanned.
hehe.


came back with my sister giving me a pair of new running shoes.
cos mine was cui long time back.
hehe.
i'm so blessed.
thanks sis!
i love it so much.

27th may.

went on a cycling trip at east coast park.
it was quite a butt-aching experience.
having to cycle from ecp all the way to changi village. and back.
i was taught. perseverance.

31st may.
romp'08.
it was a blast.
i enjoyed myself playing captain's ball.
hehe.
i've been getting rather good time for workout since i got back from philippines.
i played badminton on the following tuesday.

3rd june.
got my haircut and highlights done.
hehe.
i love my new hair now!
and i'm so happy that i got a good deal.
50 bucks for haircut and highlighting for my hair length.
is quite a good bargain already.
hehe.

4th june.
i had a nice time catching up with ken over starbucks.
tried the new dark mocha frappucino blended coffee.
it was woo-lala good.
haha.
i realised i forgot to snap a picture of it.
thanks ken for the treat to a VENTI-sized drink.
i just enjoy chilling at starbucks.
hehe.
more more!

6th june.

i had an early birthday dinner with my family at waraku.
had intended to go pasta de waraku.
but apparently a mistake in making reservations.
still. the food was good.
just that i was having a terrible cold.
so i look rather worn out in my picture with mum.


i just want to say it again.
I LOVE MY FAMILY!
they are a great bunch of people.
i'm so blessed.
thanks for the birthday celebration.

7th june.
sisters fellowship.
hehe.
simple games.
but we all had a great time.
i guess we need more of such.
bonding time!

hehe.
ok i shall now go and rest.
else i'll be too tired tmr.
hehe.

9th to 13th june.
i'll be in kl.
so i guess i'll be MIA-ing for a while.
ciao!