Today I had a great chill out session with the TP-ians! Just a simply group of 6, we set off to century square after recruitment in TP. Ben, regina (Hao lun), phy, joelle, jess and myself was @ this "food culture" which is a subsidary of food juntion; pratically sells a whole range of hallal food.

We started off chatting about stuff that is relating to crusade... ministry and even some fun points on issues like joining in the CD (Civil defence) force. Miss Joelle Choo even mention that she wanted to be a fire"woman" or a police... Now we know yea?! Anyway... We started to have this "inner" circle thing that consist of the "art of word distortion". It is really very fun! We were pratically talking about many stuff like our missions and also some of the things that we miss alot, and we came by the topic on "pork". And that what hit off the whole thing is that I shared that in my Charis team, we like to name every one by spelling out the things that we wanted to say. For example: "Hey R-E-B-E-C-C-A! Hows the food?" or "I need to G-O somewhere."

And that the excited Joelle started sharing why she doesn't like to eat pork. That was the highlight! Seriously... She mention that she doesn't really eat pork because she was on a mission to **somewhere**, and she P-L-A-Y with P-I-G. At first... I thought it was "plague", Phy interpret as "plate" and ben caught the "play" but amiss on the PIG. And we all started bursting out in laughter as we were so amazed by her sentence of "playing with pigs" and literally imaging Joelle holding the paw of the little pig and "play" with it. What a luaght... Than I brought up a point... "I thought mission is for people? Why you mission is for P-I-G?".. that triggered another round of laughter as Joelle explains that it was to help a old granny.

Than the whole group started to found sentence with certain words that is bring across using spelling. And we did came up with words like "hmoe"... "resth".. "bsu".. "G-O".. and "Pee-elle-A-why" and stuff like that. It was really fun! And I bet if nicholas from TP was to be there, we will end up being the most nosiy gang over there. Oh ya! Did I mention that we were in a all malay food court? AND WE TALK ABOUT PIGS!!! Amazing?!

Fig 1.1 - Never try this @ home

Just a day before... I was told 3 times to be "patient", and today I have to face a new term called "Obedience". What is going to happen to me? Why there is so much message that carrys a set of living in peace with people and practices on norms that is to be observed for the different status of peoples? And seriously enough... I think I have ought to learn something and to expect something even more.

Practically the only thing that I could understand now is that "patient" in what ever thing that I have struggled and still struggling (those that I have so called "lift-up to the Lord") and also "obedience" in the observations I've made around me. There was one incident that I thought I wanted to challenge the authority for a certain set of management in the ministry (Youth), and that I thought being the person that voice out complex issue will win the case. But little do I know that... my plans didn't actually succeed one way or another. And to my suprise, I am not even considered to be part of it in the first place!

Such humility involved... Not from me but what He had taught me. To seriously be humble to the authority that He had set up upon and that to really be a "team player" in every aspect of it. Not taking into the conisderation of finding the slightest "problem" and fit myself into the situation and try to change everything that is already being set up.

Just than... I realised that in the process of which I am trying to mingle my way up into the "ladder" of influence, I was actually so blinded by the fact that "authority was being set in place for people to follow lead", not literally sitting by the fence and try to take control over the smallest fault that is observed.

" Problems arises to find strength in everything we learn...
moulding opportunity for every practice we preach...
and opportunity for lesson we hear... "
-Foxin Lin

As I look back into the archive. I was reminded of the first time I ever own this blog... Now that I really see a change in me. I meant... I am convinced.. myself that I have indeed change drastically from I first become aware of myself till now.

I also remember that I use to always like to tell myself... "Hey! Something happened to me! I'm a new person now!" and also like to constantly hearing people say "Hey! You've change!". Such itchy ear right? As I look back (I think I have said that tons of times), I withness the langauge that I once used... The typo erros.. The lingos.. The style and presentation... The fonts and ideas behind it. No doubt one thing is always the same... It's always about myself.

Well... Constanly looking out for my "changes" might seems to be a tiring process... And that being able to see a difference in myself is something that I never thought I would come across. Amazed by what He had done, I do see a "newer" Simon than before... A kid that once was angry, abandon in his own world, self-pity, prideful, rebellious, attention seeking and ruin child. Now the Simon that appears before me seems so much refine now... Not that I wanted to boast myself of it.. But was really what He have done in me through my life and what He has allow me to withness.

No longer I flare up easily...
No longer I speak of words that is harse and self-centered...
No longer am I "burden" by the forms of this World...
No longer I seek what I want...
No longer I live a life that is according to people of the World, but by God's will and His people...

And no longer I am away from Him...

Are you in Him yet?

The following was my article of my reflection on my mission: (Gosh~ Its so long ^^ ):

“Mission exists because worship doesn’t exist” This was the quote by one of the famous missionary john piper. Mission exist when worship in that place does not exist and the gospel is needed to be brought across to these people who needs to have a fair share in the joy of the gospel.

In my team for the local Charis missions, I do have the benefit and chance to co-lead for this team who strive to bless the little pillars of hope for Singapore, the children’s ministry. For this trip, I have learned to focus on 3 things that are essential and only be found during mission.

Firstly, many practical applications can be made both in the team and also to the children back in the student care center. Learning and studying on fishing all along doesn’t make you a great fisherman right? Applying these skills points brings about many lessons that is attach along with it… like while you are trying to lead a team of people into helping them to make decision, you are not just training yourself on the field of assisting, but also on learning to make decision yourself too!

Secondly, many a times I’ve overlook that children are all along a different “set” of people. You see, you will need a great deal of knowledge to pass on certain life value to a kid more than a youth for an example. But it is a different set of teaching all along, but being with kids, one need to learn to control himself and to really understand the coming point of your message and also how you deliver it. It is not easy as little ripple of mistake to us may form a wave in the child’s perception.

Lastly, I face a lot of struggles and difficulties from the trip. One of the valuable application steps is to really seek God. Being in a situation where you find yourself away from your usual spot, you will find that seeking God is different while you are in your “comfort zone”, and that itself helps me grow a lot in relying on Him more and more and to really appreciate the “moldings” that comes along my way.

I am really thankful that I was being place in a well blend of talents that take cares from food to daily activities. People who could take the front-line to backstage people, these people paint a wonderful picture. How can scenery be nice when there are flowers and large trees? The greeneries of course! These peoples not only compliment the main lead but also provide a chain of learning opportunities as we transits from role to role.

Ultimately, I will also like to thank God for many big areas like seeing everything through smoothly, allow us to think of creative and fresh ideas. Not just that, but also the slightest things like being able to have food daily, safety of my fellow mission mate and myself for the whole trip and also providing a shelter for us.

And that never in my did I come across a message from God that occurs so many times. "Patient". This was the message that I was reminded 3 times! From missions, cell and my QT. 3 times I was told by God to be "patient", sounds like when Jesus reinstates Pete ya? Haha...

More and more each day.. I find myself getting into the shape of what I use to be like before mission trip! OH NO!!!! Now that seriously is something that shouldn't happen... I'm so dead.

Alright... Not that good for a start... Anyway! Yeap~ These past 2 days (Ok.. Now is past 12 and I do am refering to 16th and 17th of April) were really down with recruitment business back in RP and that the response were good! 60 over contacts so far~ And majority of them are Christian. Wow! Now thats something man!

But back yesterday while I was bathing (It happens most of the time), suddenly I have the urge to think about many things that had happened in my church and I start imagining myself being up front and pointing out every mistake through heated words that might not be very nice and too much of "direct" to be accepted. But thank God that I wouldn't have that courage to even do that.. Well anyway...

I was reminded last QT (Which I was suppose to do but still I pull it off by just reading the daily bread and a little of bible), in 2Cor 9:6 onwards... it speaks about "sowing generously". What a faithful God! Here I am lazy to do QT and that was so eager to sleep, He allow me to have "QT" in a very special way. It seems like I only read that one line, but actually it was more than just one line to me... In fact, that was one of the most memorable sermon back in my mission (CSCC) in FCBC. I still remember freshly about the preacher speaking about "you will reap more than you sow" and all the principals of not being decieved by the world of no harvest and not being calculative in reaping. PRAISE THE LORD! He actually allow me to have that "QT" lesson with just one line that brough back a sermon that is still lasting in my head. So! Instead of me being to read further on to understand more, God allow me to learn a lesson through something that I have had heard before! Wow...

Alright... RP recruitment is down to its final 2 days... Pray that more soul will be lead into rekindling for His kingdom and glory.

My Oh my! When back to school (RP) today and found out that... everything is the same... Greezz... When will RP ever learn ot be on-time and it's valuable lessons? As the old problem goes... Class time table released late.. chaos everywhere as students chasing each other for direction to class.. etc. Well... First of all I must say that the administration is bad enough (Can't be blame I guess... 2000+ intake for this year, the largest by far), and the sign board is placed... but at the wrong spot. Besides... Buildings are not properly labelled yet (since I first move in RP woodlands almost 2 years ago) and the direction was still back. Papers still sticks everywhere... How nice for a "paperless" environment.





Never mind now... As I was walking in... Many people flooded the whole of agora (the main hall) as I literally see similar scene of marching angry mobs into the school with half awaken look (some wasn't though) and deafening! But as I make my way down to the push cart, I find myself mumbling "God~ Save these souls!", "Looks at these souls"! And guess what?! The campus staff was like saying... "There is about 20 over classes inatke this year... and about 15 - 20% are christians." So if i do my maths right...

20 Class X 25 students each = 5,00 students
100% = 5,00 students
1% = 5 Students
15% ~ 20% = 75 ~ 100 Christian Students!

WOW! And how many people do we have to reach out at current strength? HmmM... 15? Lets say that there is really 15... The ratio will be about 1:5 ! And provided that these freshman are willing to devote themselves to God or dedicate their life to God again. Well... Be it that they find their calling in crusade or that through this their heart is rekindle to make them serve in their church again, either way if that soul is on his/her way to Christ again.. Why not?

So do pray for these brothers and sisters whom are "Students whom are Christians" to turn to Christ and those brothers and sisters whom are "Christians whom are students" for strength and endurance in this race. Indeed the route mark out is tough and uneasy, but the view at the peak will alwasy serve a better repayment to every little effort being put in.

"Strangers... Are just family member you yet to came to know of..."

E-----------------------------------------5/7-5/7-------------------------------------
B---7-8/10-10-10----7-8/10/8-7^8^5----5-7---------7-8/10/8-7^8^5-----5-7-7-7^8-7-5^7^5
G----------------------------------7-------------------------------7------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Yeap! This is the solo part from "This I promise you - Nsync". One of my favourite band of all time! Whahaha... But too bad they have disband since years ago and Justin Timberlake have move on as a singer. But I must say that he is getting from bad to worse, no doubt his unique voice is nice... But the genre and style of singing is not that appealing anymore. Sad-ed.


I thought that I've spend the most of my day into praticing for guitar and also keep myself update on the latest happenings around me. Haha. Why? Cause one of my church-mate (Aric) said that he recieved an sms that Johor Baru had an fuel explosion that leads to the poisonous gas that is discharge into the air. Ponggol and Seng Kang are 2 main area that is badly hit. How true is that? Check Rueter.com or Channelnews Asia than... I've even checked on the malaysia papers online and there is on trace of such thing that had happen. Be it that they hide it from us or what.. No one knows. But one thing for sure is that the air quality over @ my side (Yishun) is good as usual and I don't detect any pungent smell.


Yeap! Thought that although this is a very boring day, but I guess I still have to get past it all the way till 8pm before cell. Actually... I thought I wanted to skip cell for once and go for my mission meeting... The wonderful dudes and babes of CSCC - Gen12ii wave 1. You see.. My reasonale is that we only have 6 times min to meet up for the next six month and that it is not regular for us to have meeting all the time as there might be clashes in interest and sechdule.


Secondly, I thought that cell and always on friday and it is for my whole life!


But than lastly, I thought church is a place where I need to grow up with and gain my spirtual support from... I thought that I am account for the many supporters that had one way or another partner with me on this trip and thus making everything possible. In the end... I have to go~


:(



Never mind... I thought church is also fun in a way as there are really blessing that I have failed to see and compromises on, and that the people there might not be the best of what I thought to be (Yes! I'm physically and spiritually bonded to CCC alright) but that church will eventually be a place where my support will be. So above all... God had first appointed me to church and this is a place where I recieved y confirmation of membership and also my declaration to the World that I am a full pledge Christian; baptism.


Yap! 3 more days to recruitment! Go go go...
Yeap... One very funny question.. Lame one of course! Write your answer in the tagboard ;)


Qn: Which home appliances will always remain empty despite how many times you use it?


Have fun... :)

Ha! Gosh~ I find that after the mission trip, I am so so so lazy now! Gosh! I do hope that I will not compromise my quiet time with the Lord.

Yeap... Basically found out that many of the people will be starting school soon and that those who had graduated will be either be working or busying with some other friends they have. So far for crusade wise, many of my peers are joining staff and stuff like that.... Thinking back, things will be really different if that these people were back in the student days.
I must say that I really enjoyed being a student crusader back than as there is so much things to do and that I thought I really enjoyed serving both in church and ministry back than. Cozy to be exact. Now that I'm officially out of the school and that I still trying to figure out my identity in the ReSt ministry, I start to ponder that how I need to spend the rest of the week after recruitment and how RP/TP will be like in the near future. So exciting! Come to think if TP is to get recognized as a CCA, I think everyone will be so so so relief! 10Years man! No joke... Pratically reminds me of the QT I have today as joanne(one of the character) prayed for her friend to recieve Christ for 30 years! And to think that her friend;sue had a BF and was showing sign that she's taking a road with no returns, along came a message that she is relief she had recieved Christ. I would love to have that kind of news man...

Yeap yeap! Great day! And have to prepare myself doe recuritment real soon~ 4 more days to go! Go go go~
:)

It's been a long time since I last wrote in an entry... And I bet many of you people out there thought that this blog is dead right? Haha. Anyway... These past 12 days have really been exilerating.. fun.. tough yet rewarding and ultimatly.. I do miss my mission team mates. They are seriously good people to be with and i will never forget these people whom will be my memories of my last mission as a student in '07.

Sounds kind of emotional right? Not really! ;)
Now that the mission had pass and I have to move on to the next stage of my life.. I do wish that these people will continue the crusade legecy and continue to shine for out Lord Jesus Christ.

On the next matter... I only manage to follow-up with 2 of the students from CSCC and that is seriously one bad news to handle with! Why? Because I wrote a target of 10 or more and this is what I get??!!! AhrRrR! But thanks be to God that they are just a few stop away traveling on the train and that is not something tough to do with. I might just be afraid that I will mess up their timtable in the centre and be that "extra" over there.
Well... if I am to conpared to those kids that I took care of in my previous mission, those kids are not that fortunate as those I have seen days ago.

In terms physically there for them (because they live pratically in philipines)... they have no parents... they have no proper school... But one thing i admire the most and that lacks in Singapore city kids... that inward love towards others. Althought there have been a barrier in language, but these strongs kids held on so much to friendship and love towards other, not that the city kids have non... But just that you felt so much warm within them when you tried to use hands and feets to communicate with them! Yak-herh!

Oh well... I do miss my team-mates though! 12 days is not short.. and of all it's not long either. But to think that i have so much affections for them with just merely 2 weeks, what's more can a month do man! Whahaha.... Well... I must say that God have bless me with a good mx of team-mate which compliments each othwe well... From the slightest details to daily encouragment to food.. to programs and to people who work all these out. Not easy man!

Not that God have blessed me with 3 great missions... I must really bid good bye for now to student life and seriously sit down to think over what to do next...
Maybe being a full-time staff in NP?! AhRrr! Foxin must focus!