40 days - goodbye november, hello december :)

Hello, final day of November today and also 40 days more to home :)

Been a good past ten days :) Did some shopping to which my mom replied,"Great! This will keep you warm and happy and smiling." :D Bought three jackets and a pair of boots for the winter in less than two hours! Not bad for a person who doesn't really fancy shopping :P

Also, the snow came again :) And so we played with the snow, made a snowman and also my first snow angel!

Also, got to spend more time with friends here. Trips, coffee dates, homecooked dinner by the boys from IVF, a Korean movie with no subtitles but which we could understand (improvements!) and a lot of meet ups over some sort of food or coffee :) I'm going to miss the friends here and even some have become family. The conversations, the experiences, the lives.

This month has been teaching me where to put my focus on - Christ. And that as I look to Christ, my perspectives change which in turn affects the way I think, feel, act, speak, etc. However, I've stumbled about so many many times. Getting distracted, losing focus, messy emotions, and so on. :\ But His grace always finds me, picks me up and shows me again and again the way I should go. It's been humbling.

I miss home a lot, though.

Also there's been quite a number of people who have lost loved ones :( And it just keeps reminding me: Life is short. Time is so limited. You never know if today is your last day on earth. Are you living a life that is to His Kingdom and glory? And also the people in our lives, are we loving them?

Aww.. shucks. This made me emo.

Goodbye November, Hello December :)

50 days

So, I've been here in South Korea for almost three months now. And as I've said it so many time before (because it's true and it's a good reminder to myself) that this place and her people are beautiful in so many ways :) But I also miss Malaysia and her people very much, and my heart is definitely there. :)

So, here's the countdown! Fifty days till my flight home. FIFTY! 50! Five-Zero! (Haha, it's not really that big of a deal :P Every single day is indeed precious.) Fifty days till home, family, loved ones, friends, and so much more. I'm excited but I'm also so aware of how much I'm going to miss Korea.

I want to make each day count. Bless someone, do something meaningful, try something new, grow in faith :)

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

- 2 Peter 1:5-8

I want to be prepared to go home, refreshed in God. With the knowledge and assurance that He is enough. :) I want to look back at these days and thank God for them and for what He has done and is doing in me. 

So, here's to 50 days to come, with God, here in Korea! :)

Picture taken from http://blog.connectionthebestmedicine.com/?p=1674

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Oh! Yesterday was my dad's birthday :) I am thankful to be able to call him "Daddy" and am blessed to be known as his daughter :) 

I love you, Daddy :) And I miss you truckloads here in Korea! Thank you for providing and caring for me all these years! For teaching us through your words and actions and for inspiring us is so many many ways. I love your heart for God and your compassion for people and pray that day by day you will continue to grow in His grace and refining. You're my hero, Dad! And one of the most important men in my life :) *BIGHUG* God bless you!

I love you :)

First Snow :)

There are moments in life that are precious and amazing. They make you bubble over in excitement just thinking about it. My first snow experience is today in Cheongju, South Korea :) And it was beautiful, amazing, exciting, fun and everything wonderful!

The first sight of snow from my room's window :D Excitement was unbearable!

Look at that :)

The changes I have been allowed to experience :)
Summer, Autumn, Winter :)

A place for my time alone with God :)
Now, too cold. But I'll find somewhere else.. :)

First touch of snow :)
Was so excited I went down in shorts and slippers :)

Thank You, Lord for such experiences! Lord, I'm amazed by You! Day by day, Your glory and wonders continues to amaze me. And thank You for the people I was able to share these moments with. Thank You for such moments and for being with me throughout :) I love You!

time to change - preparations

Changed the name of this blog from "Faith, Hope and Love" to "Preparations".

And the verse from "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) to "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). 

As a reminder to myself to live for Christ and for the things that really count. To always have eternity in mind and to always be in preparation for it.

Coming to Korea has allowed me to take a step back and take a good look at life, my worldviews and perspectives and the environment and situations I'm so used to back home. Makes me realize the need for change and am praying that day by day, bit by bit, the Holy Spirit will work in me to change me and prepare me for when Christ comes again. Less of me, more of Him. 

Also, the loss of loved ones has also reminded me that life on earth is temporary yet the way we live is important. It's important that our lives glorify God and touch the lives of others that they too may know God. Reminds me that my time here on earth is not forever and neither are the times of people around me. There is an urgency.

And so, it is a time to change. The very safe and comfortable way I've been living in. The very self-centered and me-first mentality. The selfishness and indifference in me that tells me that it's fine to keep the truth and good news to myself. The hypocrisy and double-mindedness of my being. 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 3:12-14)

And I pray that more and more Christians will continue in fervent preparation for our King's coming.

home

With such knowledge and revelation, how would we be living our lives? 

The same? Differently?

Today, I just got news that Aunty Poh Lin went home to be with God. I miss her. She was one who really inspired my faith in God. She rejoiced in the Lord when she had many reasons in the world's perspective not to. Her heart and vision was set on eternity and upon God and with that she touched many lives through her encouragement, prayer and love. She was wonderful and beautiful. I miss her, but now she's home and now she's perfect and now she's rejoicing with God :) Thank You, God, for bringing Aunty Poh Lin into our lives.

Wish I was there, PKV :)

Hello my fellow brothers and sisters :) This picture came up on my desktop the other day and it made me feel really nostalgic. It was during one of the AGM's where we took up the roles of those before us as well as a change of PKV's advisor. I miss each and everyone of you.

Well, the reason why I'm writing this is cause T.H.E. Camp is happening tomorrow :) And how I wish I could be there! Even as the leaders are preparing for whatever else needs to be prepared for tomorrow, I pray that each one of you will go with much expectations and excitement :)

THE Camp 2010, Cameron Highlands

This was camp during my first year :) And also the beginning of serving in PKV for me :) I thank God for the relationships we formed and all that He has brought us through. We're already in final year weihh!! (To those who are in my batch - Timothy, Joanne, Daniel, Philemon, Deborah, Noah, Sandra, Elaine, Sarah, Jun Ling :) Ahh, the memories. May you continue to walk each day in faith and grow deeper and deeper in love with Christ :)

THE Camp 2012

Lots has changed over the years and God has brought in even more new people into our family :) I can't wait to meet the new juniors when I come back :D Take care of one another and love each other earnestly, okay? :) It's all part of being God's family.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. - 1 Peter 4:8-9 

Finally, specially for my two favorite girls :) Remember this? Every time I think about this I will laugh to myself :D Hehe, funny lah.

Camp Director Debs! :) It has always been such a blessing to have served alongside you. Your encouragement and prayer and your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit has blessed us in so many ways. I wish I could be there this time round but I guess God does bring us through different seasons and phases in life. I'll be praying for you all still :) Keep trusting in God and enjoy what He is doing amongst you. May the joy of the Lord be your strength :)

Princess Joyce! Haha. Don't merajuk ok? :) And you don't always have to be Martha. Be Mary and sit at the Lord's feet, enjoy His presence and learn from Him. He is sovereign and almighty! And He is at work among you. Trust Him :) Thank you for all that you have been doing. Don't give up, persevere :) And know this; His strength is made perfect in weakness :)

I love you and miss you all :) Have a good camp! God bless!