keep it up

Thank God for this year. I think that last Saturday was really great. The youths did a lot on thinking back on 2007 and how God helped us. Once I started to think back, I felt very blessed. God is really great. He has pulled me through so many things lar! Things that I would not have done but I know He wants to train me for stronger faith.

The main highlights.
1) Debate
I wasn't in debate team until when crystal and jm suggested to Mr Lim. We had our very first trainer. Thank God for placing me in debate. It was really fun to be in there and I really love thought-provoking issues. E.g. Small little things like cartoon can actually be a negative influence to kids! Debate definitely was an 'opening' to show me I need to train to have confidence.
2) Choir SYF
Mr Liew taught us stuff like having eagles' mentality. About having passion in the things we do. I realised that those two lessons alone are what we should be having as we walk on with God and in life.
3) MYE
Grandma's death was really sudden to me. It happened the day before physics paper and studies meant a lot to me then. I remember having to do those funeral stuff in the middle of the night when I knew in my mind, "Cham, I still have 21 chapters of physics to go". God gave me a verse, "Be still and know that I am God." I thought He meant I needed rest, so I went to sleep for an hour. Haha. But now I know He meant that He can calm the storm in my heart and provide me with peace. But that verse really touched me. God knew what I was going through and what I really needed. And I did rather well for Physics even though my trust in Him wasn't that much then. So it was really by the grace of God.
4) Prelims and O levels
There were some things that happen but they helped me not to be nervous about Prelims. I learnt more about God's faithfulness and love through those things too. I did rather well due to the less stress environment. I think I really less-stressed myself. (: Mostly because I've learnt to put God as my purpose for studying hard. In the past it was all because of the competitive feeling that drives me to going crazy. I'll just continue to learn to have more faith in God for O Level results.
5) THIMUN
I went to challenge myself from what was left last year. Did nothing for last year, wasted my edusave money. It's like still $0 when I last called the edusave hotline today for fun. But well, I felt really =D when I made that POI. 2 POIs. (: Sometimes still think about how shaky and happy I was when I sat down.
6) Aceh
I said it once and Im saying it again. God's healing power comes at the right time!

Last year a spider came to let me kill, this year a beetle did the same. May my phobia of insects be gone. It really feels disgusting and upsetting to have to crush their bodies. )=
Resolutions.. that requires time to think.

May all have a blessed 2008! =D

let the pictures talk

Im too lazy to upload all pictures. And I dont think you wanna see repeated faces of me, it gets tiring. Haha. So I'd just post the interesting ones, and yummy ones. =D

Featuring Christmas Eve.

Met up with some girls and roamed around at Spotlight.


















Ate at icemonster. Only shot I got cause' I was busy eating. (:


Ate japanese grill at vivocity with family. They have shabu shabu there too. Totally recommended place to eat. Even the salad tastes nice! (:


Tada! Complimentary beef worth $30-$60 for having not enough stock of the original dish we ordered. =D

serving with less stress (:

Hello all. (: Yesterday was really fantastic reunion with part of 4E2 after 2months. I'm really thankful for people like yongliang and xx for organising the gathering, and actually it was quite a good turnout. I'm looking forward to 4E2 chalet! Just so glad that most of us are going. (:

Thank God for this Christmas so well spent. I think it was better than ton-ing. Walking aimlessly and joking on the road at midnight isn't my idea of Christmas. (: I think I have stronger bonds with people that very day. It felt very fulfilling.

I'm sick. With cough, and flu which comes by every morning. Hope I won't lose my voice. Because I remember Sec1 orientation when my voice probably reached bass note range. Okay, exaggerating.

Christmas.. I have been thinking for the past few days how to spend Christmas with meaning. I was wondering, just bond with friends and family like no meaning right.. Every celebration has a meaning. May your Christmas' meaning be the celebration of Jesus' birth.
I've never thought of this qn until pastor asked us, Why Jesus' birthday? Why not celebrate yours and mine? He talked about how people offer food to pigeons. They cant just go to the pigeon and direct the pigeon where to go, the pigeon will get scared and fly away. If you could, will you not turn into a pigeon and then you can guide it to the food. That's the same with God and us. He came in the form of a man. I cant think of how humble He is. If I were God, I would have stayed in Heaven and not bother the hassle. To me, we ain't worth much to be saved. To Him, we are worth His all.
When I saw Jm's blog post, I was pleasantly surprised cause' it seemed like she was blogging what I wanted to blog. May your X'mas become Christmas. Stop crossing Jesus out of your life! (:

Merry Christmas to all. (:

continue running after God's heartbeat

Christmas deco today for my church christmas event 'Love Actually' tml. It was rather fun except for the tying balloons part. Seriously, my finger is like blue black of something. Due to the high pressure at the tip. Even as Im typing now, it still hurts. )= But well, I'm rather happy that I went.

I want to whip up a dish for dinner on the day of girls' sleepover, only if I'm not lazy. =D Lao sai!

And I really miss the time I spent with 4E2. (: Especially when we just suan one another all day long. I miss piggybacking Aly all the way down the corridor during recess. I miss chasing after people all the way on fourth floor. I miss hearing Priscilla's laughter. I miss snatching bags, pencilcases. I miss pouring stationaries from others' pencilcases. I miss doodling on one another's foolscap and handbook. I miss xx's loud voice. I miss Jm's burps. I miss chinchin, the girl whom I can pull her chair and everything. I miss Hu-hu-da-da. I miss Juv and I giving disgusting, act sexy expressions to each other, and the look-into-the-foolscap-hole. I miss girls passing pad in secretive. Haha! I miss our teachers especially Pink Bao and Mr Aw.

Hello. (: As my devoted blog reader Iris says I never update my blog (like for four days only lar). Here I am, once again. Okay, I think it's rather good to know that at least someone is reading and I'm not talking to the thin air..

Today was rather fun. I'm having post-mission reminders. Like when this guy came and sat beside me on the bus, I was thinking about the thing in Aceh whereby you cant sit beside another person of opposite gender for more than 6 hours. Well, I don't remember having to sit on the bus for six hours in small and cute Singapore. Anyway, we went carolling in mixed cell groups. Got to know this girl in the carolling team. She's rather nice. (: And it feels great cause' hadn't met up with some cell members for quite long due to mission trip and rain camp. I think it's really great to just put on a smile on my face and sing the carol songs even though the chinese is quite tough. I believe somehow or another, people would be touched or have a deep impression. (: When pastor was talking about christmas story, it made me realised something too.. that everytime we like to talk about us being sinners and everything, actually there's one thing that we cant forget. That is Jesus has cleansed all our sins and God remembers our sins no more! (: After carolling went to PS for pool session with cell members. Smarties is really pro. Man, I'm complimenting him. He better not see this. And yeah, great, I stepped on mud twice today. On the way and back paradiz centre. Yay. And we literally ran back to Dhoby MRT realising we're 7mins early for the last train.

Oh yes, I was watching Heroes on DVD today. And it took me to Disc3 to realise there's subtitles, or rather my Bro told me that. )= And to think I was blasting the sound a little just to hear their accent clearer. And after watching the show, I think I can slang better. Haha! Useful for next thimun, which will probably never come. You never know.

This is a gist of my devotion for 13th, when I got my JC posting.
It gives a metaphoric expression on weaving fine silk. They say for those very fine silk, they have a special room for it. Basically the whole room is dark, the weaving person is in the dark, and only that weaving thing got light.
Sometimes it's very dark, and we don't know what we're doing, just like I dont know why God put SA in my heart.
We are not able to discover any beauty, any possible good in our experience, just like I dont really wanna go there cause it's quite ulu and it's not my first choice actually.
Yet if we are faithful and fail not and faint not, we shall someday know that the most exquisite work of all our life was done in those days when it was so dark. (:

Spin cheerfully, Not tearfully, He knows the way you plod
Spin carefully, Spin prayerfully, but leave the thread with God.

When things go upside down, leftside right..
I need to think of Your name.

And I will feel better.

be like jeremiah

I think today is quite nice. (: Because Andrew betrayed himself. Haha. I guess he really makes the group laugh. (You should be glad I'm complimenting you) Like just to make me and joyce stay for macdonalds, he said stuff like, "The first time I saw you, I thought an angel just dropped from the sky". Haha! Of which I felt veryyyyyy disgusted. But okay, good attempt in making us laugh.

I felt quite burdened today. And God spoke to me through sermon on "Keeping the Faith".
To brothers and sisters-in-Christ, may these verses encourage you.
Hebrews 6: 12 (MSG)...Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
Hebrews 6:20 We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.
These verses really touched the core of my heart and tears just had to well up in my eyes. (I'm sorry, I miss writing compos) God really understands what we're going through! Not in just this these few verses but also many parts of the Bible. Indeed it's a living book that talks to us and refreshes us. I realised that these few days I've been tempted to use the comp and go out etc. to do my QT. But well, I believe that I'm a victor and this temptation isn't gonna win anymore!

photos of orang-orang

Juv's Bday






Check out their hands.



Juv with her sec 1 crush. Haha! (: (I know she's happy that im publicising that =D)




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Fatimah (:




He's like making them into pancakes.




During pool (:

Hmm, I have weird friends. Just kidding =D Anyway, I got my exilim at sitex like the end of last month. Yup, like crystal said, it's really worth the money. But I dont know why I've gotten one with rather high megapixel considering I'm not going to print a poster size photo especially when all my friends are so scary. Haha. Just kidding (:

how beautiful is your unfailing love

Yesterday, I headed off to SA after church. Just to know how to get there. It was rather okay, less than 10 mins walk from MRT station. But from across Kallang River, it looks rather big. And I never knew there was St Andrew's Village. Yay, Im going to cross over bridge everyday to get to school. I really hope to take Physics but I guess I can't since Maths is more impt. I really love Physics alot lar. )= I guess probably because' Ms Chen has been so so good to us. Whenever I break down she'd show her concern. And she has been my science teacher for 4 years! Urgh.. I'm going to miss her alot. )=
I'm really sorry that I didn't make it for the outing with Juv and company. And because I overslept, I woke up realising 3 people have been trying to get me on the phone. Headed off for beach with Jassy and Cherlyn. It was quite good. Especially when you stretch yourself and feel the breeze. I just feel so so relaxed compared to past times of going there. (:
Thank You God for reassuring me that You have taken care of my future and guiding me. Going to SA isn't gonna to feel like a forced obligation. I'm going to head there with willingness for You to mould me. May I be ever so mould-able. (:

I'm going to SA! I cannot explain this. But I believe it's God's calling ever since that small thought came into my head. And to think that I've never wanted to go. Okay, I'm rather excited about it. Cause' when I shared this with a leader, she was like, " I think you're going to have an awesome year ahead!"

I'm very encouraged by my Dad too. Yesterday he shared that he was tempted to buy 4D but he was reminded by my Mum that God doesn't like us to pursue money first. In the end he didn't buy. At night he met up with his friend and found out the number he wanted to buy came top prize! And he doesn't really feel anything lar. I'm so proud of him can. =D

Im back from camp. (: Hobbi saya tidur (my hobby is sleeping) so I need sleep badly now.

The camp was quite different, cause' it's a YPM camp so the age group ranges from P5 to working adults. And basically they mix all age groups together to bond us.
First day, very fun. The Aceh troopers were so excited. We were like, "Wah, we're back here again." I miss Aceh alot already. Anyway, at first I felt very weird lor. I can't really link with the people. And I lack this patience and love for younger kids, which I told myself solemnly never to serve in Children's ministry or I'd be the one driving them crazy. This camp is full of travelling cause' no preaching allowed in the campsite. The guest pastor, Pastor Glenn Lim, really looks like Andy Lau. But anyway, he's a really anointed speaker. Night games was like fun and quite crazy. We got really dirty. There was this ice-cream game whereby we are to lie down and feed the other person lying opposite you. So you don't really know where his/her mouth is. Some aimed at the ear and stuff. Just imagine melted ice cream in your ear. Cool. Haha! Basically, the games were very original and innovative. (:
Second day, I prayed for love for people younger. I felt so much better that day. We played 3-legged captain ball in the rain. Very fun. (: It's been so long since I soaked myself in the rain. Had the telematch. It was probably my first time making those card pyramids so I guess my performance was not bad for a beginner. Haha.
Word was really great. Pastor showed us a video clip of Passion of The Christ. At first I thought wont impact me much cause' I've watched it before. But well, the unexpected came. I have taken Christ's love for me on the cross for granted. I realised.. Jesus has given His all for me. He bore the cross which I was supposed to bear. Just thinking about it makes me feel so.. amazed by His love. Really really amazed. Thank You Lord for You love me so so much. I made a personal covenant with Christ, which I want to keep.
Pastor was very witty. He said there are two kinds of Christians.. The "dog" Christian says, "My Master is so good! He sayang me, he feed me, He must be God!" The "cat" Christian says, "My Master is so good! He sayang me, he feed me, I must be God!

Okay, I shan't share much more. Overall, the camp was good. But I guess I would like to ask, is it too much to commit to God, is it too much to do things for Him, when He has given His all willingly for each and every one of us? Thank God for He bore the cross for me.
I just came across this. In the dictionary, to bear= to support the weight of. Just imagine, He took the weight of the world on His shoulders for a pluto (small, insignificant to people) person like me.

You dance over me
While I am unaware
You sing all around
But I never hear the sound

Lord I'm amazed by You x3
How You love me

How deep
How wide
How great
Is Your love for me
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I really like this song. Tells me how stupid it is to waste my time and brain juice and emotions and everything on things that pass faster than vapour. Cause' if life's considered vapour, how much shorter are things in life.

I was just thinking.. we really like to look at things with superficial eyes huh.
Im practising to look through eyes of faith now. I don't want to limit God's power in my life. Nothing is impossible with God. You just need to remember that, girl. (:

Im off for youth camp tml. It's in Singapore, good thing. =D
May God continue to show me more and more things. Im bringing hunger to learn new stuff along.
Will be back on 10th. Seeya ppl soon, once again. (:

through the valley

Hi pals. (: Thanks for the tags. I'm very touched that there are so many people who are blessing me all the way. Haha. I really needed that. Sorry I didn't like blog or anything yesterday. The team reached at night and I was really knocked out. Haha.

I think God is really really awesome. This is my first mission trip and He has made it more than a normal impression for me. I learnt at least a single lesson everyday.

Day 1
First plane ride. I got the window seat and Sheila was sitting beside me. Didn't really know her well. But we clicked rather fast. It's like no generation gap or what when you are talking about God. Haha. So we got on talking alot about my life and how God has placed me in really good places to grow like NV. She believed that I was going to have an awesome year ahead. I believe so too. (: It was rather tiring. To reach Aceh, you have to take one ferry and two domestic planes. But I got rather used to the plane experience. Not the ear blocking. )= Haha.
We got to eat at seafood restaurant at night. The food was too great! Especially their kangkong with small padi that you can die eating. So I ate two bowls of rice to suppress the spiciness. I kinda regret now.. But the restaurant was pleasant. They have this eggplant juice that I tried and was really nice. Their starfruit juice was absolutely refreshing.
Aceh roads do not have traffic light. It was rather wild when we crossed roads. Wanhui and I were always left behind. Haha. And our wonderful Grace is safe by God's grace. She dropped her camcorder along the road, with dunno-how-many bikes approaching and she went to grab her camcorder barely away from the sides of the bike. I couldn't really process the scene. But the only weird thing about her is she wasn't even shocked. Cool.

Day 2
I had severe stomach problem that I wanted to lao sai badly. At first I didn't really think it was serious. Until almost every moment I just want to head to the toilet. Good thing it's controllable. So now you know why I regret eating the kangkong. But it was really nice lar. Haha. When I eat it I will think of my mother and grandma. (:
Anyway, we went in the morning to Pak Ali's church. It was such a new experience. We sang worship songs in Bahasa Indonesia. The people were very passionate about God. We got to know some people too like 'Superman' who is one year older. It's quite cool lor, he can speak Hokkien and Chinese. So at least communication barrier isn't so great. Then we went to the beach for picnic. It's quite nice and very breezy. It was great talking to little kids like this girl called Kristin. She always smile and I feel like pinching her cheeks. Haha.
Then two of the church members were getting baptised. It's quite cool cause' they baptised at the big pond that was created by the tsunami. For my church, we would usually do it indoors yeah. It felt like they were replaying the people in the Bible's baptising scene for us.
I also got to try out their toilet there. Which I felt really sad after going. Haha. The 'door' is a not so big metal plate that is half my size when I'm standing. And there are guys further outside. But good thing the girls helped me by guarding the door. Quite cool. Cause' I experienced true kampong toilet life.

Day 3
We headed for Layeun village and I was really not feeling well. Puked in the van not because of motion sickness but my stomach. But I really enjoyed the 75 humps along the way. It was really fun. Haha. =D
I had to stay back in the hut to rest while the rest headed for CP. This was probably the most mission life changing day. There was no electricity yet so it was quite humid in the room. I didn't know how to spend my day so I tried doing QT. Then I tried eating some fruit. But I puked right after. Went to sleep and woke up because some guy was singing outside the hut. I was quite scared. But the rattling of the metal roof because of the wind comforted me. For no reason, it was a reminder to me from God that I was not alone. He was and is still with me. And finally there was electricity which lasted for a while,so the fan came to my aid. Then the fan had to 'recharge' then again.. I tried calling home cause' I felt very homesick. I was either hesitating or there is no reception. Until when my mind got calmer and called. That was around the time when my mum, dad and her friend prayed together for me. It's like God really has a timing. My parents encouraged me alot. Mum told me to tell God I wasn't there to sleep but to work. Pak Dong called after that and asked if I was okay. It's like the timing was very smooth sailing. Haha. The people finally got back from CP work. I went to greet them and when Joe asked if I did pray for them, I felt kinda bad. This brought me to learning to care for others more.
At night during dinner, I still had that homesick feeling. Beatrice was a great comforter. When I was basically squatting outside the food stall and crying, she hugged me and showed me the stars, sang song for me. Haha. Thanks beatrice! (: I felt really really great also when Stacia talked to me later in the night and challenged me to asked God to let me experience His healing power. Thanks to instimewa (special) team especially leaders and friends who always encourage me and keep asking, ' are you feeling better?' You guys are really great!
Bathing time was very fun! We bathed in threes and the wind was so strong. So we were freezing. The well was sheltered so good thing it's quite clean. Drawing water from the well was quite ma-fan cause when we have soap in our hands, the other had to help us draw water. Joyce is really strong at doing that somehow. Yes, there is a door. =D Haha. We practised teamwork.
At night during debrief, we were sitting under the star-filled sky and there was a blackout which allow us to see more of the stars. I suppose you cant see stars in Singapore cause of road lamps. Haha. We saw shooting stars too! =D I had alot of first-times during this trip. When they were sharing, I felt like I was there with them during CP. There were alot of sad stories when they visited the homes. There were many who lost their homes and family members due to tsunami, some who have sad family stories. I felt very motivated when they said the people were fine with them praying in Jesus' name for the families.

Day 4
I got alot better and could go for everything that day. God's timing was just right cause it was the day that was packed with activities. =D
Rachel shared in her devotion this verse. Acts 2:2 "Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." It got me to think about the rattling of the roofs the previous day. Also, the wind there was the kind that can send Joyce on the verge of flying away. Haha. (: We believe that God is pleased with us. I guess that was really an encounter that no one can deny that God was with us.
Went to the school and we sang songs with the kids. We then headed to play games and the sec4s were team leaders. I was a little worried cause of communication barrier. But I used gestures and they understood me. It was really great. Even though they didn't really played by rules (which doesn't matter), all of us had alot alot of fun. (:
After that was CP work and I felt quite great cause' I didn't miss out anything after all. I got to pray for the people too. (: We then got on to our christmas programme at their common hall. Helped to take shots of the people and some of the kids even requested to take photos with me. They were so sweet and I was really touched. They seemed so happy with the gifts. =D
At night we got to eat BBQ fish. One of which was really great. The stingray there was sweet! =D Some of us (mostly girls) then headed to buy drinks. The guys pushed the lorry. It was quite fun. Haha. We continued star gazing on the lorry. When we were heading back, we had to push the lorry ourselves. Very fun! =D

Day 5
Was full of travelling.

I will remember..
Sitting on the lorry and waving hellos and goodbyes to the people like we are stars.
Indo mee for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The well and Joyce, Clari and my harmonious singing performance in the toilet.
Worshipping under the stars
Our translators:
Nevi's motherly feeling and her great massages
Freddy's jokes
Augustina's warm smiles
The kids (:
The great wind!
Learning Bahasa Indonesia
God's great healing power