byebye twenty-OH-8

How do I summarise a year with 365 days, 8760 hours and over 1 billion thoughts and emotions? I've written 158 blog enteries in just this year! Sigh. It seems like the older I grow, the more swiftly time passes. But it was a good year. A growing year.

If there is just one thing that marks this year, it has got to be the ways the Lord has loved me and sustained me. 2008 brought many choices and challenges. So much has happened. From moving house, to attending a course in ChiangMai Uni, juggling life as a teacher, student, missionary, daughter and sister haha, sitting for my GED exam, applying for Bible College, going on many adventurous trips to the mountains for evangelism, written 53 snailmail letters to friends (yes, for your info I keep a record) to organising camps and of course I find myself having a record breaking amount of photos this year.

Well, I'll just let this poem I wrote end this sweet chapter. Happy New Year, friends! See you next year!

Only in Your strength

God, I can't fight this on my own.
You know how I'm so prone,

To slip away and worry about the unknown.

Taking up unnecessary burdens all alone.

It's not easy to be in a storm,

Many a times I wondered "Why?"

At times I thought "I can't go on."

But You never once left my side.

God, forgive me for complaining.

Grip fast my soul, as I let the burdens go.

My strength do I lay down while this world I roam,

Dwelling only in Your power as I onward press towards home.

As the year comes to an end, continue Your work in me.
Whatever the coming days may be,
Teach me, guide me, walk with me.
May it be another year lived for Thee!

SURPRISE!

"We'll be at your place in an hour!" This is my Uncle (Dad's elder brother) for you. As you can see, they drove up all the way from S'pore! Mad? yeah, i know. It's amazing how much he loves driving! We had good times of catching up.

Pictures says it all

Timeless in my heart, forever in my memory.

BNN: Christmas Party

The day we've been waiting for. Frying 40kg of chicken wings, getting their costumes done, is it really all over? For dinner, we had 5 food booths in the outdoors. Each kid had coupons to redeem their food. It was so much fun! You have no idea how thrilled the kids were. Me included! Soon the programme started. Worship, message, games and the best was saved for the last! The Nativity musical skit. What can I say... the kids did a superb job! All praise and glory to our Heavenly Father!

i could not be happier

I love the cold we've been getting the last 2 days. Just right, not too chilly, very christmasy. Perfect for a party! Celebration at the home of aunt Cherry. Lots of laughter, christmas music in the background, sugar treats, gifts were exchanged. Back home, dad bought us a classic movie, Heidi. Got into our jammies, eating cookies under cozy quilts as we watched. I hope your Christmas has been meaningful for you, as it has been been for me...

a very merry Christmas!

For the first time on Christmas day I woke up at 6am! I was super groggy tired because of the night before. Nonetheless, can I say I had an amazing time going on this outreach to all the police stations with the Lisu kids! Gave out bibles, build relationships with the authorities. There was no greater joy than seeing the love the kids had for the Lord.

"But how are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone telling them?" Romans 10:14

The night before Christmas...

I'm thrilled that I love someone and not only does He love me too, the best thing is that He loved me first. Beyond the beautiful lights, beyond the gifts, beyond the feasting, may we remember the true meaning of Christmas. I wish you all a blessed time with your family and friends and hope your joy is due to the celebration of Jesus Christ- who came to this earth to save us!

it's a yum, yummy winter

The merry-making around here is heating up! I am a gift-giver by nature. it's just me. it's a my way of saying 'thank you", "i love you". This year, Lois and I made cranberry cupcakes for our neighbours and friends. It's nice and really easy! Went house to house delivering them today.

BNN news: last meeting of the year

Merry Christmassssss!

I can't imagine my life without these children. They have been my joy, my love. Looking back, we've gone through much together. Times of crying out to God for provision, times of opposition from non-believing volunteers, a time of weeping over the lost of our little brother...

I typed, backspaced, typed, backspaced. I really just don't know how to put in words the awesomeness of what God has done! We started with just about 30 kids, today... every single kid at Baan-nana was present!

The children and youths have been stepping up to take responsibilities in our sunday school. Leading in worship, opening and closing prayers, ushers for offering. This offering bag was sewed by one of our girls. My heart was so moved seeing the kids joyfully serve and give the little that they have.

I am very excited about everything that God is gonna do next year!

P/S: Pray for our Christmas programme on the 27th :)

Lately....

This is how we look! Christmas celebrations starts real early here in Mae Sai. Tonight, we did a mime at Bethal Bible College where my Dad teaches at. Tomorrow, we have a gift exchange party with the Shan youths. Stay warm, friends. I need more hot chocolate now.

to the mountains and back

As promised, a little more on our recent trip. It consisted of beautiful events leaving me with many happy memories.

01. I can't think of any other colour that makes me as calm as a warm natural green. My eyes were able to soak up these lovely surroundings.

02. There seems to be surprising beauties that reward the early riser, only to hide again when the rest of the world wakes up.

03. Enjoyed long walks reflecting as the year wraps up and change begins once more.

04. We travelled at the back of a pickup truck to the different villages. The wind chill was unbearable. My nose and ears felt like dropping off. Did you know when you're cold, goose pimples are an obvious sign and you want to pee!

05. I survived the cold! Felt like a sandwich. I had my thermal wear on, my vest, sweatshirt, outer coat, headwear, gloves and woolen socks.

06. In my 20 years, I've never wrapped so many presents before! The entire room was filled with colourful packages. One reason I adore Christmas. By the way, we have exactly 7 days before Christmas!

07. Night program for the villages.

08. We gave out hundreds of tracts. This boy was reading it out loud to his illiterate mother and the lady next to them was listening in too! Believe it or not, God can even use an unbeliever to share the faith.

" Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. " Psalm 96:2-4