last day of oct

For some reason, I'm feeling a little excited about... nothing really. Just maybe it's because tomorrow is Nov and building up to Christmas. I'm noticing the signs that we're moving into a new season + I'm greeting it with open arms! sorry summer... but you weren't too friendly this year.

So on the brink of a new month, I'm off to make a list. yesh... I'm feeling the need for plans. With quite abit of happenings over the next four weeks (another mission team coming up) I'm going to need to be a seriously organised girl!

Ready for the weekend?... I know I am!

In loving memory...

Mor-Low (Age: 9)

There's tears in my eyes and ache in my heart. The blow was hard, I can't believe that this precious little boy is no longer here. He was knocked down by a van. Even as I say my final goodbyes, his smiles and laughter would remain with me forever. I can never forget him wearing his underwear outside of his pants with a red hoodie running around calling out "superman!"

I'm keeping your file of crafts you did each Sunday. I can no longer give you a hug or look into your eyes but as I look up tonight, I know just where you are. Friends, if you died tonight, where would YOU go? I cry out for every lost soul...

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth and song;

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:

O yes, He cares- I know He cares!

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary,

The long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

what counts.

Chrissy is flying somewhere in the air right now. What a month it's been with her, our milk girl from Iowa! She was a stranger once but now she's a part of my family. Thinking of the countless memories we've had together. Thank you for doing what counts for eternity! We already miss you girl.

full of sunshine

A day out on the mekong river with a sweet dog named scruff. Too bad we couldn't take Aragon along. I get to say I stepped into another country -Laos! I thoroughly enjoyed wandering through this village. Wishing weekends like that could last a little while longer.

I'm going to eat homemade shepherd's pie!

BNN news: Camp Fellowship '08

Praise the Lord for another wonderful camp!

"You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever."
Psalm 118:28-29

not just any tuesday morning

This was how dark it was when we started out. "Use your night vision!" Kor, I could hear your voice pratically the whole time! You should be proud of us not using the torchlight at all. But for your info I slipped and fell once and my bum still hurts!

Day 2: We stayed in a little cabin for the night and woke up at 4:30am to conquer 'Phu chee fah'. The breeze was cold and crisp. We were hoping to see the sun rise but the thick mist kinda covered it. Still it was breathtaking, there is little one can say to communicate feelings when witnessing something so absolutely beautiful. I stood in awe of God.

That was a nice treat. Tomorrow, it's camp at Baan-nana!

My smile: wide.

the roadtrip. Day 1: 5 hours drive (not horse ride) , reading, hiking, photographing, enjoying, viewing, breathing. Simply wonderful. I seriously should print my photos and do some scrapbooking!

BNN news: The drama

Long ago there was a man named...

Elijah

Widow & Son...

(Photo courtesy of Chrissy)

...with this, I round out the week

Oh i guess I did not talk about what I've actually been doing this weekend. We were helping out with the Shan kids camp which started on friday. Yesh, Daphy and Mortuh were in town! Tonight, we got to play 'Saboteur' it's one of the best games. Just got to have the right people playing it! I had such a good laugh. Tomorrow I am going to climb a mountain. As in a real one!

Will be back before you know it.

Unchanging promises

In my devotional time this morning, I looked into Our Daily Bread, "A hill too high". As I read and re-read the account of Moses leading the people out of Egypt, I stopped to ponder what it would be like to go to bed without any food left in the fridge, but that the next day somehow the supplies would be fully replenished!

God did not provide for a week nor a month but only for one day at a time (Ex 16:4). Every day He gave them what they needed for the day, and asked them to trust that He would do the same tomorrow. Never did He let them down and never did He give them cause to doubt His providence.

Later this evening, as I was preparing for Baan-nana's lesson for tomorrow, God again used a simply Bible story I knew since I was a little girl to penetrate my heart. (1 Kings 17:1-15) One day at a time, God provided for Elijah and the widow.

Elijah and the widow couldn’t see where the oil was going to come from. They just had to trust that each day somehow there would be enough. They didn’t put their trust in what they could see - that would be easy! Instead they learned to put their trust in what they couldn’t see. They didn’t say, “Everything will be okay because, look! we have lots of oil and bread!” Instead they learned to say, “Everything will be okay - because God will take care of us!”

"Life can be like that. If we peer too far ahead of today, the challenges may feel like a Mt. Everest climb. They can appear impossible to handle if we think we have to be "ready for the hill." -ODB

I wish these days would happen to me more. Tonight as I peer into the clear sky with a full moon glowing above I feel Him near. He cares. Really. Such simple truths, but when I really believe them it transforms me deep inside. I know more than anything that if God wants me to climb this mountain, He's gonna give me strength for each step. And even when it feels like I can't go on, He's gonna carry me on His shoulders...

Can I just say that...

If I could, I would like to take a picture of what goes on in my mind and heart. There has been so many things and it is easy to be overwhelmed...

The Lord has been telling me to do things, things that I too want to do but am afraid to do. As a 20 year old, my life has been most different from my peers. Most would think my GPS system has gone hay wired. "You're not thinking of Uni? Aren't you missing out too much in life?" These questions are repeated over and over again as people give me their opinions on how I need to be living my life.

"Your life is so uncertain" a friend remarked.... that, I could not agree more. But it's only through these uncertainties, all these unknowns, that God brings me through this 'school of trust'. Sometimes I do wonder when I'll finally learn this lesson and all these hard test won't be necessary.

I'm going through a faith stretching season of waiting. As most of you would know from a previous post, I feel that it's time I need to be better equipped in God's word to be more effective out here on the mission field. I've visited 2 Bible Colleges back in Spore, I've all the application forms laid out before me but I don't know. I'm tired of being held back by my own fears, especially of being probably the youngest. I wish God would appear in my dreams tonight and clearly tell me "yes" that is where I want you to be next year or "no" I've something else for you to do!

My only certainty is in the Lord... away questions! away doubts! Trust God who has promised to guide! "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." Ps 62:5

‘Cause it’s been fear that ties me down to everything

But it’s been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

(Nichole Nordeman, “Brave”)

handmade at it's finest

Yesterday, we got the kids making little coin purses. Thread, needle and some cloth can turn nothing into treasure! Today, we decided to make something we can eat! Steamed pau and fried dumplings. Though we were no where close to my fav Tiong Bahru pau i just love seeing the kids being able to express create, learn and play. What shall we do tomorrow?

My heart is full, my belly is full, and I'm gonna sleep well tonight.

Dive in. Get dirty.

Baan-Din (Mud house) for Baan-nana kids! We're making bricks by dancing in the squishy mud. Hoping to make 2,500 bricks using soil from the land mixed with rice husk and water from the river. By the end of the day, we were filled with mud from head to toe because along the way the kids could not resist having some fun. Sure felt like I was back in the days of Jesus. Re-building the walls of Jerusalem with Nehemiah haha!

If you could call this a dream

The sun, the tress, the paddy fields- they are glorious. What more the one who made it all. I'm feeling both full and grateful. Grateful for just seeing myself in a mirror, being able to see my food when I eat dinner or being under a nice warm shower. These are things I've taken for granted. My stay at Baan-nana made me feel more blessed than ever; and Full of rice, rice and more rice. Breakfast, lunch & dinner haha. No but seriously, I fill so full of God's love for me. Feeling the breeze against my cheeks as I walk through the lush green fields, seeing the kids play hide and seek.

What a sight to behold. I floated... and floated away.

breath it all in deeply

Wake up early.

Nice cool air.

No talking.

Not being talked to.

Listening.

Forever

Ever attended a wedding ceremony which lasted for 3 hours? Today, we made a day trip into a village in Burma to witness a traditional Chin wedding of a dear friend. We had some adventure travelling in there on a 'song teow' with 24 people on the dusty bump roads.

At the wedding, there wasn't any flower girls, no exchanging of rings and not even a peak on the cheek! But that's not what weddings are just about right? It's about a promise "to have and to hold, to love and to cherish" come what may... love grows deeper, stronger and more beautiful when it is planted by God.

Whenever I think about weddings, I pray for that man who may one day become my man. But I think my care for His will, in His timing has grown that much greater as I do so.