staying warm

There has been lots going around here. Our mission team is stuck with us till the airport in Bangkok opens! Flights from Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi are fully booked! Somehow reminds me of the show 'terminal' haha. Oh I realise that I keep writing about accelerated time here, but there it is. tomorrow, december. I know that I am not the only person who is amazed by the speed in which this year raced by, right?

hope there was a quiet moment that made you smile today, too.

"Jesus is the way"

Late nights, early mornings, a very tiring few days, but so worth it. My small group were nursery tots and I've learnt so much in dealing with them. Not easy, but extremely lovable. Simple songs like "My God is so big" comes to life when shared with them. I also cannot tell you how precious and encouraging it is to know you all are upholding us before the Throne. The days are full, the energy wanes at times, but we rejoice in the goodness of our God!

"Fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you."1 Samuel 12:24

oh and happy thanksgiving to everyone! I have a lot to be thankful for. May we all find time to treasure the moments. I wish you all a wonderful start to this special season.

longed for this day

I received the best email in the world today! I'm dancing on the clouds, extreme happiness! Remember my post in Sept on "the ride home"? I later got to send this friend of mine a christian book on her birthday and God has drawn her to Himself! In her email to me, she wrote "...I recently start to make prayers every night and I want to have faith Him! " Hallelujah! Amen!

First Corinthians 3:6 says, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." Some of us plant seeds, some water the seeds, but only God is able to make those seeds grow. I realise that I can never regret bringing up the topic of God with people. The only regret I have is when I don't bring it up.

If you're a Christian, read this following poem and let it sink into your soul.

My friend, I stand in judgment now,

And feel that you're to blame somehow.

On earth I walked with you day by day,

And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory,

But never did you tell the story.

My knowledge then was very dim;

You could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together here on earth,

You never told me of the second birth.

And now I stand this day condemned,

Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me many things, that's true;

I called you "friend" and trusted you.

But I learn now that it's too late,

And you could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night,

And yet you showed me not the light.

You let me live, and love, and die,

You knew I'd never live on high.

Yes, I called you "friend" in life,

And trusted you through joy and strife.

And, yet, on coming to this dreadful end,

I cannot, now, call you "my friend"

- Taken from one thing you can't do in Heaven (Pg 52)

synergy

Hello there, I just got back from the mountains of Hua Mae Kham. The 3hr journey was one of the most torturous I've experienced. It was really no joke. There were no proper roads, the van we hired could not go to some parts so my dad had to drive back and forth. We crossed a little stream and our truck is not even a four wheeler! But it was such a fruitful ministry. Thanks to the Tan and Moi families! For the next 3 days we'd be having a VBS here, please pray along with us!

I am exhuasted - my weary eyes are closing- but when tomorrow comes He'll put a new song in my heart!

birthday goodness

Got my height checked! I'm 160cm. 4cm shorter than my little sister! oh well, at least I've grown 1cm since p6. It's grandma fongs birthday today! Got to talk with her in the morning and she received my letter just in time. So happy. I wish she would be willing to come up here one day. She has this thinking that the journey is tortuous. Don't know who she got that from. But I can understand the concerns of a 84 year old lady. I'm getting old myself haha!

One of the fondest times with grandma are sleepovers at her place since I was a toodler till now. Dad and mom would drop us there while they attended some wedding dinner. Grandma would tell us stories about her life till we fell asleep. Now, I secretly enjoy watching her fall asleep on her rocking chair while reading newspaper.

The last time I was back, we taught her to play 'saboteur'! When I was having a fever, she had towels to sponge me down every 30mins. Finally, she got me to go to the doctor. What can I say... I love my grandma! I shall teach her to check out this blog one day.

a little dash of cat love

I couldn't resist grabbing the camera. It was so nice of them to come together for my last photo. I wonder if Mr Aragon would like one as a friend. Did you know I once had a cat name Ginger?

Today, we had a meeting for Baan-nana's Christmas event! Now I've a skit to think-up, costumes to make and a fun dinner party for 96 kidos to plan for. I'm excited! I can't believe we are this close to the end of the year.

morning walk in the woods

It was so great to spend hours amongst trees and a beautiful lake. How calm and relaxing it can be. Too bad I forgot to charge my cam batteries and it died way too soon. These pictures just do not do justice to this magical place.

Back at home, I looked at our garden and realised it was kind of overgrown and we need more flowers! Inspired, I got out my gardening gear. I knew that I've to pull the nasty weeds before I plant the seeds. Talk about back-breaking work! Some had thick roots while others were a bit easier. God then showed me this process was just like my spiritual life.

Those easier ones could be an obvious unkind word I said to my sister? And the more difficult ones of an impatient spirit? But the only way to find them is to get down on my knees and look. And when I find it, I have to pull! Not just cut.

It's amazing how quickly weeds spread and if I do not deal with it, it'll soon overtake the garden. I know I have weaknesses and I need to humbly ask God for daily help. I need Him so much. I'm sure it is a great sorrow to God's heart to see hearts choked with the weeds of the world because He wants us to be ‘weed free’ and beautiful for him, a delight for all to see.

What does your "life garden" look like?

Happy Loy Krathong

There are thousands of floating candles glistering the rivers tonight, spectacular fireworks display and hundreds of lanterns being launched into the sky. This is one of the most beautiful festivals in thailand. Yet it reminded me to earnestly pray for this country because all these 'acts' are for seeking redemption and starting afresh on a better foot. Some people will even cut a bit of their hair and add them to the little krathong (banana leaves raft) as a symbol of letting go of their sins.

Thais are devoted to the customs and practices of their ancestors but they do not exactly know what is its significance in their lives. I can feel their longing for forgiveness and restored relationships. They need to seek and find the one true God!

brrrrrrrring it on.

You won't believe how quickly the temperatures have dropped! Hello Winter. The thermometer in the house reads 15 degrees. I'm all layered up. It feels like it's gonna be our coldest winter. The chill in the air tonight makes me hum christmas carols without realizing it. I wish we had a fireplace in our living room. But since we'll never, I made-do with standing in front of a stove cooking butter sauteed mushroom pasta for dinner tonight. Mmm!

Our electrical stuff at home has been going bonkers! First our printer decided not to work, next our internet modem left us disconnected with the outside world for a couple of days, then the mircowave thought it would be fun to join in. Now, my laptop needs to go to the hospital tomorrow. Life with technology sure has pros and cons.

Okay, it's getting too cold sitting out here on my desk. I'm gonna snuggle up under my comfy blanket. I shall leave you with this. "The best preparation for the future is always the conscientious carrying out of what is given us today." - Elisabeth Elliot. I met this amazing lady 4 years ago just about this time.

little hobit home

It seems amazing, by today's standards that such a thing is possible. This was built entirely from scratch. If you remember my post of us making and drying the mud bricks, this is the end product! It really is beautiful, I've learnt so much. I feel that one solution to many of the world's problems is learning to live sustainably.

all the excitement for nothing

Picture drawn by Harry Junior. It'll be so fun if I could do some sewing and turn his drawing into a little soft toy. Tonight, on our great mission to kill another 'tuh-keh' with brooms and the throwing of slippers, a panel of our glass window was shattered and we got a terrified dog which did not want to crawl out from under the sofa. I guess you figured by the post title that the 'tuh-keh' won this round. oh well, we'll get it the next time.

cutting corners

Okay, I have to blog about this because I simply love it! Clearing out a drawer in search of some stuff, I chanced upon a whole stack of used envelopes. I'm not someone which toses things out that easily and I remember reading about this idea in some kido craft books. So I took out a scissors and started cutting corners off the envelopes which were destined to go into the trash bin.

It works so well! Just slip it over the corners of your page. Simple. I use it to mark out my favourite features, recipes or help get through my day as I study. I'll like to think that I spared some trees haha.