a blessed tweenteen

I’m so blessed =)
Every year, u’ll look forward to the day when u’ll smile and make a wish and blow some candles and cut some cakes and say to urself “oi woman! U getting old d la!”

Hahahha, well, this year… I actually forgot about this occasion cuz I was too caught up with other on going stuff. Last year I was blessed to have a group of new found friends who’d celebrate that special day for me in an Indian restaurant (pix and vidz). Though I was far from home… I was still loved =)

This year, the best committee ever in the whole wide world (say it in a very child-like manner) gave me a “surprise” and reminded me “oi woman! U getting older d now!”
On behalf of the comm, Patrick bought me a slice of cake from Cibo. We stuck the candle on the side of the cake so it was actually burning horizontally, hahah…. And they also bought me the most practical gift of all!!!! (I really really really love practical gifts, heehee) its “Bass Guitar for Dummies” book. Wah! I’m so touched… I now can learn more about handling my bass baby, heehee…. And they took turns to sign on my arms… so geli. Cant really see in this pic… but its cool, heehee…. U don’t need a cast for ppl to sign on u =p

then they took me to Windy Point! wah.... so beautiful~ The whole of Adelaide... super cantik!!! so straight and organised! hahah, quite different experience compared to Little Genting. This one is nice cuz its WINDY! hahah.... so cold... but worth the drive and the coldness. the view was awesome. Just reminds me how great our God is... He controls nature and He also controls the non-nature stuff, heehee... amazing!

Anyhow, i jz wanna express my joy of being blessed and loved by ppl around me and by ppl not-so-near-me, heehee… who gave me an advanced birthday gift on Vday just so that he wont miss this getting-old occasion of mine, heehee….

I love u guys!!!!

quotes

As I said b4, I dunno how to put Easter camp in words cuz it was jz too fantabulously awesome-mazing!!!
here's what mindy, esther, james, sarah, ian, grace, tall esther has to say about it =)

Big Women

Have u heard of the story called ‘Little Women’?
Well, according to wikipedia, it’s the story of a few girls who lived through the American civil war.
I remember reading it when I was young…. Didn’t like the story so I didn’t finish it (too boring… no monsters or dragons…).

But annnnnywayzzz…
I’m talking about Little Women cuz lately, the house has been something like that.
My grandpa’s sis (goopoh) and mandy’s mom (ah yee) came to stay and they’ve been having cooking, shopping, sewing and mah jong sprees lately, together with my aunt who I stay with (dai yee).
Though it all revolves around mandy and her engagement party tmr (minus the mah jong part), mandy is feeling quite left out already, heehee… oh well, she gets a wedding dress and lots of food for the party, so she shall just sit back and relax.
As for me… I learnt how to bake, fry, slice, dice, grill, mix, fold, peel, steal, kill and destroy! Hahaha… jkjk.... Well, we were making char xiu baos, curry puffs, Vietnamese fish cake, n apple butter cakes yesterday. So noisy. So girly. So ‘Little Women’.

There are pros and cons to them being around.
Pros:
-we get to feast when guests are here. We had chicken rice; char xiu, xiu yook fan; wonton mee; tom yam flavoured stir-fries; steak; cakes; pies; roasted duck etc etc.
-I can skip cooking-Mondays and let them enjoy themselves in the kitchen.
Cons:
-I get fat and become lazy

So should you or should u not let ur aunts enter ur zone? I’ll leave that decision to my future husband who will have the chance to try out the cakes and tarts I’ll bake for him.
Oh ya btw, my aunt promised me to leave all the cook books and recipe files to me in her will, so that I can inherit her legacy. Hahah… fingers crossed she has enuf money to send my testers to hospital for food poisoning also ;)

I prayed for one, He gave me an army

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean. I asked for a flower, He gave me a garden. I asked for one close friend, He gave a one troupe of people I can call friends.

More than 7 months of labor, we did not toil in vain for the last 4 days that were very highly anticipated for. OCF South Australia’s Easter Camp 2007 was an event that I can never put into words that’ll best describe it. I’ve been to uncountable camps in my life, but this one was the one which I’ve laughed the most, I’ve cried the most, I’ve ran around the most and totally humbled by the wonders of God the most.

Having the chance to work with the rest of the awesome committee was one of the best parts of E-camp. It was truly an honor to be able to serve God together with a bunch of dynamic servants of Christ. Each of them managed to teach me a lot about people, myself, God, being systematic, predicting what is planned, having faith and being cheerful.

The most credit goes to Arthur, the big bro, and the leader of leaders. I was taught how great one can have faith in God and how a final year engineering student can juggle so much at one go. Never had I felt so cared for and so protected by a big bro.

I also would give a standing ovation to Bryan the secretary who was so efficient and systematic. He may be quiet, but you would be going mad if you know what’s going thru his ever so active mind. Thanks for the gentle and constant reminders that was so helpful to me.

“Hey! Hey! Hey!” Ian the publicity coordinator managed to lift up the spirits all the time and I’m so amazed with the fresh fire he has for God. Not only has he done a great job in the trailers, he also constantly send giggles and smiles to me when I’m stressed with the programs and games. Thanks for helping with the games and entertaining me with your vain “cis cis cis” attitude.

Ian’s alter ego, Patrick the treasurer and bible study coordinator is indescribable! Though he might not think so, but he’s so good at multitasking. Having to juggle between money, serious bible study questions, OCF UniSA’s admin/ regio and making me happy, he definitely did all of that with top marks! Thanks Patrick! U’re not chinaPat! U’re chick magnet Pat! How could I survive without u?!

Another person who amazes me is David the logistics and transport coordinator. This job is so tough…. You’ll never think that someone like David would be able to pull thru. But you’re so wrong! He’s so good at it. I asked for a small stack of newspaper, he gave me 3 huge stacks of it, with extras in the car boot. Thinking of bringing 172 campers to a super ulu campsite really can tear the veins off your head. Good job, David!

Last but not least, my beloved and only sister in the camp committee, Joanna the fund raiser. She is so energetic and so practical, she never cease to surprise me. Its so nice to get sisterly love from the committee, and she’s super good at shopping!!! I learnt so much about getting the best bargains from her! Thanks for helping me save resources and helping me with the morning surprise event =)

Not forgetting, the best camp parents anyone could ever have. Andrew and Joanne, you guys are awesome!!!! Without them, so many things would not have happened and thanks for pampering me, heehee…. Your future kids will be the luckiest kids alive. You both may want us to call you guys camp-bro and sis, but nope! I insist that you both are camp parents because both of you have showered us with so much parental love and care =) love you guys!

An ultra mega huge gratitude also goes to the volunteers who helped me with the station games and water battle. Danny, Huey Chi, Ming, Zack, Myra, Gillian, Del, Ray, Raymond, Disposable Man (Kenneth), Lai Ping, Tuck Yean, Alan, and Yu Ting. Also for the rest of the fossils (heehee) who were in the water battle, proving to us you’re not fossils after all, hahahha… thanks!!!

Since this post turned into a ‘thank you’ speech, I shall take this opportunity to thank auntie Marylyn, who poured out her love every where she went. Every time she spoke to me, her words would always remove me from the busy reality and make me gaze out into deep thought.

Uncle Vincent, did a great job in speaking the word of God to this bunch of young people and setting the spark in our hearts to keep burning for Christ. Though I wasn’t in workshops but I’ve received great reviews from all four workshops. Thanks to Uncle Sam in money matters and Craig Hunter in his workshop with the special musical performance.

Oh ya, not forgetting to thank leng chai Justin and his team who gave us the final skit during drama. I’ve never seen a camp drama session leading to alter call!!!! God really works in amazing ways, and all we could do was to stand in awe before His great works.

Also, how could a camp run without great campers who were the main focus of this whole event. The committee prayed for the campers since the start, and hopefully every single one of you have been blessed and have experienced God in your own individual ways =)

Last but not least, thank you Lord! for being so real to me and showing me that plans and programs without you is nothing but a useless piece of paper. Truly... God... You're... WALAU!!!!!! *speechless*

The most painful death in exchange for the most joyful life

When the huge drop of tear fell from the heavens, He knew that the earthly death of His only Son was the only way to bridge His creations to his loving arms.

The story does not just end there at the cross where the earth is stirred with wanton emotions of lost.

Talk about extreme suspense. All frivolous thoughts were left hanging in the air till the Savior rose from the dark pit of death.

When the power of the agape love retaliates and saves man from the chains of sin, the indescribable joy from the heavens above poured down like never before.

Though time made that phenomenon history, but the gentle embrace and love from the mighty Creator never ceased to rain down, and it never will. All thanks to one sacrificial act of Christ that saved every soul.

Happy Easter n happy holidays to those who have them =)

picture update

melb trip PIX!!!!