One week more to ... SABAH

And so, the wait for posting is over. And I am being called, posted, sent (whatever you want to call it) to the beautiful land of Sabah. Not sure where in Sabah, that I shall find out in due time.

It's been an exciting past few weeks of preparing and telling people of the news. I got to know on the cheery Saturday morning of the 1st of August. 

I leave on the 17th of August for the orientation which will be in a hotel in Klang and then we shall fly off on the 18th. As of today, the 17th is a week away, SEVEN days!

For now, there's still packing and paperwork to be done and lots of bidding farewells to loved ones here. Of course I'll be back over time but it's always good to have proper goodbyes and appreciation for the people who have been a part of my life here in PJ. I am thankful for the paths crossed, the relationships built, and the moments spent.

I will miss life here. I will miss the family and the friends. But I am excited to start anew, to go discover life away from all I know to be comfortable and common to me. I am nervous, I am scared, but I know God is with me and He goes before me. 

SEVEN DAYS...

God, I trust You. Help me as I prepare to go where you send me.

Blessed Christmas

A picture speaks a thousand words, they say.

Here's my picture :)

Because of God's love, we are saved by His grace.

Because of God's love, we can love others.

Because He loves the world, He gave His one and only Son,

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Because in Him, we have hope and we have love.

These children reminded me and pointed me back to this love of God.

And I pray that my life may point them back to His love too.

Blessed Christmas.

Love came down to save us.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish

but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Battambang, Cambodia 

December 2014

Thankful

I will be graduating this year :) Praise the Lord! Just got my results for my final semester and all is well. I thank God for His faithfulness and grace in carrying me through. Am reminded of the tears I shed and the struggles I had throughout the semester but also the assurances He gave through His word and the encouragement and love He brought through people. Thank you, God. 

After our final paper :) Real relief! SELFIE!

So right after exams ended, had about a week's break then it was East Asia Regional Conference (EARC) 2014 in Port Dickson. So much to take in but I believe it was most timely as I come to the crossroads of "What Next?" in my life. Probably one of the most asked questions as I finish my undergraduate life, which I'm not too sure how to answer either :\ It calls me that whatever I do with my life, it must always be centred upon Christ and the gospel. It's a mission to bridge the gap between God's vision and the state of reality in our world today. The theme was "Awesome God. E.P.I.C. Generation". EPIC standing for - Engaging, Passionate, Incarnational, and Christlike. What we as Christians are called to in today's society. I met people from different countries, backgrounds, tongues and cultures and as we shared our stories and lives with each other, I saw that we all live in a broken world. My country and society has its problems and so does theirs. No perfect system, no complete justice and righteousness, and that is the state our world is in. But, we all hope in God, we all trust in God, we all yearn to see His glory manifest in the places He has given to us as our homelands, our countries. And that encourages me to keep pursuing Him, to keep our eyes on God, and to be shining lights to our nations. 

My small group during the conference. Thank you each one for sharing your lives <3 td="">

I had a getaway graduation trip with Shalini, Danny and Vindy to Krabi, Thailand. And it was beautiful :) The sun, sand, and sea. Though the sea was being very very rough as it was the monsoon season. We still had fun and enjoyed it :) I want to go back. Much happened (some good and some bad) and we made do the best we could with what we had. What happens in Krabi, stays in Krabi :P

Beauty :)

Travel companions and some of the best people I've had as course mates in the past four years :)

Am now in Tronoh with the parents. Time to unwind and prepare for what's next. I'll tell you as soon as I know what that is. :) Have a good day!

New Year 2014 :)

Was looking at some 2013 notes on my desktop :| This was what was written and my thoughts on them. Hmmm...

   2013:

- learn chinese 

(haha, verrryyy minute improvements)

- stop my habit of nail-biting 

(when stress comes... T.T)

- brush up on my guitar 

(still in the G, C, Em, D stage, improving in F though!)

- get grounded in my church 

(going to Korea took me away physically but my faith and love is renewed in new ways I must say)

- learn to cook :) 

(do instant noodles, pancakes, eggs count?)

- exercise 

(on and off)

- i am a ball 

(written by a certain cheeky brother)

- jangan senang merajuk 

(oh, emotions please calm!!)

- rejoice in sufferings :D 

(always in the process of learning to do this)

But 2013 was...

A year of rediscovering my faith and coming back to the core of it - the gospel. I came to realize how very self-centered my faith was at times and how I was so accustomed to that without even realizing it. It was new convictions and renewed love for Christ.

It was my final year serving as committee after being in it from second semester of first year until second semester of third year. All I can say, it was God's grace and sustenance that brought a group of ordinary young people who wanted to see men and women living out God's truth and having an impact on life. It was also passing on the baton after that :) I thank God for those who served and journeyed alongside me in this campus ministry. I thank God too for those who are willing to continue to carry that vision for our campus.

AGM 2013

I also completed my thesis :) God's grace and favor! It was such a blessing to serve and teach while conducting this study :) And there are times I miss my students dearly and wonder how they are doing, how their families are doing. And all I can do is pray and commit these lives, far and near, to God. Oh, this was also the reason my nail-biting habit is not broken yet. The stress!!

Motivation and Attitudes of Myanmar Refugee Students Toward Learning English - 2013.

It was also our 13th General Elections in 2013 and though the results weren't as we hoped for, we still hold on and stand true to the hope and fight for righteousness and justice to prevail in our land, Malaysia. It was an eye-opening, heart-moving sort of phenomenon. You see the ugly and also the good of people in so many ways. And you realize, change starts with us. Above all, we know that God is in control. Amen.

It was new experiences and a taste of the work I might be called to do for the rest of my life - teaching in secondary school. I was given SMK (P) Assunta, an all-girls school and students of 13 and 14 years of age. It was such a valuable experience and I thank God for the teachers, students, family and friends who supported and gave me good advice and encouragement along the way. I learned that it was not easy, but that it was worth it. These lives are worth it :)

Find me! Hehe.

Right after that, it was this Student Exchange Program to South Korea. It still takes me by surprise at time. I go, "I can't believe I'm here!!" But these four months have been an amazing journey with God and the people He has brought alongside me. I am thankful. And through it all, when all is stripped bare, God is enough :)

IVF :) Brothers and sisters who serve the same God though we speak completely different languages and come from various backgrounds and cultures.

People I've met and grew to love along the way. :D

I will remember and miss you all.

From my recent lone adventures in Busan :) I am pro in self shots! BAHAHAHAHA.
Lone adventures also meant alone time with God :) And those are always the best times.

And we're already in the new year :) Soon, I'll be home. New chapters, new seasons, new experiences. But the strongest and firmest foundation I will ever have is this:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

Hebrews 13:8

Though the days, months and years will pass, 

Though the seasons of life will come and go,

Though we find and lose the ones we love,

He remains the same yesterday, today and forevermore.

My Announcement! :D See ya soon, Malaysia!

10 days more and also New Year's Eve :)

Hello again :)

It's exciting! These countdowns and all. I'll be back next week! I can't believe that it's already coming the end of my exchange here in Korea :| Wow.

Just got back from a trip to Busan yesterday :) Got to meet up with some friends and do some sightseeing. But what I really enjoyed most was simply having coffee in Starbucks while reading back on my old journal, one which I began to keep since my first year as an undergraduate. And boy, was there much to read! So much has changed since then, how I was back then and how I am now. Life has changed and is continuously changing. The one thing that makes all the difference - God! 

Reading back, I saw His hand and His grace throughout the various seasons in my university life. From new beginnings, to preparations, to humbling me, to rediscovering my faith and God, to relationships and so much more, God was there.

So, as I step into the new year (2014) and as I prepare to go back to Malaysia, to my final semester as a TESL undergraduate, I ask myself what is this coming year going to be for me? What are my hopes, visions and resolutions?

And this one word came: 

URGENCY!!!

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Matthew 4:17

One of the Sundays here in Korea, the message was on that verse. The pastor said that to those who know Jesus and are looking forward to His coming, this is a message of great comfort. But to those who do not know or believe in Jesus, this was a warning and an urgent message to them. This message was Jesus' mission statement here when He walked the earth and so it is also our mission statement to tell others this message. 

So, next year, may eternity and urgency be etched upon my heart. That my thoughts, actions and words would reflect these in my life. Committing this year unto God. Amen.

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014 :)

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!

congratulations, dear :)

hey mr lee :)

i really wish i was there to attend your convocation. must have been such a meriah day :) and the weather looks great too :P

was browsing through your pictures :) you're looking good and really happy. your family too :) and all your friends. feeling a bit bummed and jealous that i am not there. i wouldn't have mind being your stuff carrier for the day.

i just wanted to say for the millionth time from afar, congratulations :) you made it! yayy :) i owe you a BIG BIG BIIIIGG HUG :) i'm so proud of you and it's been a blessing to have been able to share in bits and pieces of your university journey.

it didn't seem too long ago when we were encouraging each other to keep going when either one of us got pretty demotivated about our studies or whatever else, or when we shared about what we looked forward to in the coming semesters, or when we had to write our academic projects, or when we began to learn and discover more of God in our lives, and so much more. i love how you invest in the lives of others and i always admire your passion and vision to bless others. thank you :)

i'll definitely miss the trips up to your campus :) thanks for bringing me around and for the times we spent together.

am praying for you even as you embark on the next phase in life. follow God, it's the best route ;) i trust that He will lead you and direct your paths in the way you should go.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

i love you, ernest :) and i miss you bucketloads! 

TWO bucketloads! :P hahaha.

with much love,

miss lee

Day 1 - Leaving Home

Never been so far away for so long in my life. Of course, there'll come a time when this will seem so trivial, but for now, it's quite something to me. 

My parents, Yew Leung and Ernest were at the airport to see me off. It was quick goodbyes and constant reminders to be careful and wishes for have a safe journey. I really love and miss them all :) Oh, and the night I flew off was Yew Meng's birthday too. Happy birthday, rounds. Am going to miss kacau-ing you these four months!

Leaving home makes you appreciate and miss your loved ones back home :) 

leaving on a jet plane

So, I'm flying off to Korea tomorrow! Wow, that's fast :\

In the past two weeks, I ended my teaching practice. It was bittersweet. Learnt a lot being in the school for about eight weeks (two weeks of Raya break do not count, haha) but there seems to be so much more to learn too. Was very touched by the efforts of my students in saying their goodbyes. I'll miss you, girls :)

Fellow Trainees :)

Had a family dinner on Monday - farewell for Yew Leung and I + Birthday celebration for Yew Meng and Sieh Ping + Celebration for Yew Kong's thesis successes (speaking and writing) I'm going to miss home :)

Tuesday was debriefing and reflection in UM about our teaching practice. Insightful and inspiring :) It was good to see everyone again. We laughed, told stories, encouraged each other and for Vindy and I bid farewell to our beloved coursemates. Had a makan-makan with Dr Visha and the Moral bunch :)

Dr Visha, Hanan and Vindy :)

With Shikin and Kat :D

All together now :D

Banana leaf - Yay! :)

Also got to meet up with Huey Lin, Jared and Ernest at The Grind :) It was good hearing from the working and the fresh graduates. I felt like a kid :P

Huey Lin, your perseverance and work inspires me. And when you ask, "So, what can we do?" It reminds me to keep asking that question too. 

Jared Koh, thank you for sharing and challenging us to become missionaries, teachers, politicians, people who make a difference. hope you get your call one day! heheheh. 

Ernest Lee, thank you for journeying with me and always showing me what it is to put love into action. Keep doing that, keep reminding yourself that God's call is better than what the world expects you to do/earn/be. 

 *To these who inspire and encourage me to make a difference in this broken world*

SWEEPers :)

Favorite boy in the whole wide world! :D

Today, we went back to the refugee school for awhile. I missed the kids. :) Hugs and high fives given. And was reminded at the end of the day how blessed I am to have Ernest in my life, such a BIIGG heart he has! :) Ernest, thank you for being patient, understanding and loving towards a broken, sometimes confused and often times confusing girl. I love you.

So anyway, all my bags are packed...

*starts singing*

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go

...

Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane (aeroplane)

Don't know when I'll be back again (9th January 2013)

See you soon :) Hope I'll blog more when I'm there!

New chapter of my life, here I come :D

alive!

And that marks the end of the sixth semester (conveniently omitting the fact that there's four papers to sit for :P) which is also the end of my third year in university :)

This semester got pretty mad towards the end, with deadlines and especially the academic project. In the end, through much tears and prayer, coffee and late nights, regrets and rants, this was the product:

Pride and Joy :) Thank You, Lord
"Motivation and Attitudes of Myanmar Refugee Students towards Learning English"
:)

Some of those who were there with me through it all. Thank you, Joyce and Deborah :) there's a long list of people who I've been blessed to have with me along the way; parents, brothers, course mates, friends here and there and also a very special boy. :)

This guy :)
Not the best picture of us :\ But this was our getaway trip after I finished up my thesis. Yay!
Thanks, Ernest for being there for me, praying with and for me and for all the help you gave. I love you :)

Went for church camp in Melaka on Friday right after handing up my academic project :) Such a relief! It was nice being together with the others in camp. Catching up here and there, hanging out and serving together. Helped with the kids this year :) And though they are the cutest, they're also not the easiest bunch to handle. We made a tree of the characteristics of love, made flags and had water battles :D

:)

The Tree of Love :D

Only joined one session :) And that was about transformation in Christ. A Christian life transformed by Christ should exhibit: Humility, Holiness and Harmony. It was a timely reminder of what a life transformed by Christ is like.

Today as I read Roman 8, I was reminded what it is to live in Christ. It's definitely a struggle between our flesh and the Spirit. But it is a struggle we need to go through in order that we may have life in Christ.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6

There are times when I feel really dead, days when I dread waking up and just lie in bed for a few extra minutes. And I realize it's cause I've been so caught up in the flesh and the world. So worried about the day that it wears me out just thinking of it. I find myself putting my hope in things that do not last, putting so much into things that have no eternal value. :( And I walk away tired and lost.

It helps to have Christians brothers and sisters spurring us on. Helps to read the Word which speaks truths that contradict what the world tells us. It helps to pray, to turn our eyes and hearts to God who is above all. Yes, it more than helps. In fact, it is essential to a Christian's growth in this world. And all this only by His grace that we are alive in Christ :)

Anyway, exams are coming and my teaching practice starts next Monday! Time flies and each passing day brings me closer to the day I will meet my Lord :) As for now, I shall live each day in Him, for Him and through Him.

And this is where I'm hanging out at today :) Where Yew Leung is working at: espressolab, One Utama :)

His cafe latte :P Haha, asked him to draw a peacock, came out looking like ermm, King Julian from Madagascar. Stirred it and drew myself a star, hee. Yew Leung says he pandai to draw hearts :) Ngaw.

Till another day :) Byee! 

mad weekend into december

not like we have snow or white christmas-es here in malaysia. but, this picture is beautiful :)

it's been an amazing week and weekend. helped Charity a bit for Christmas Tapestry the preparations and the shows on Friday and Saturday night :) which was lovely! it was quite a new experience for me and i learned a lot. the people involved, singers, musicians, technical crew, were all so humble and friendly and very helpful to this girl who has never dabbled in a production before.

Tapestry doing their thing :)

i also met the cutest kids during one of the practices - Douglas and Lucas :) it was pretty alright until the boys started to have disagreements over their dad's ipad and then my laptop. :\

this was lucas and i entertaining ourselves while the singers were practicing.  such a charming kid!

we had softball tournament for SUKMUM on Saturday and Sunday  and we won 3rd place :D i really enjoyed being on the softball team and it was such a great feeling when we won because some of us on the team started with zero idea how the game worked (well, for me at least). apart from that, the support, encouragement and teamwork of the team was really great :) even with my lousy batting, i still felt a part of the team :)

with the 1st College team and umpire for the game :) we love good sports!

i missed the semi-finals softball game though cause i had to run off for the Christmas Tapestry thing on Saturday. wish i could have been at both. but i have no regrets about it lah. next time, i'll just have to be wiser in choosing my commitments. :) i enjoyed both very very very much, don't get me wrong, but it gets tiring having to run here, there and everywhere.

this week, will be a lot of assignments and preparations for PKV's Christmas Caroling :) the coming weeks look very daunting and overwhelming, but i believe and trust that God will bring us through. He is the God who is the creator of all things and who is above all things. I will be still, know You are God.

And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 

"Peace! Be Still!" 

And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

Mark 4:39

Christmas is coming! :D

T.H.E. Camp 2012

a little overdue. but better late than never :)

camp was God's grace right from the preparations before camp, during camp and right up till today. I pray that the fire still stays in our hearts and that it would burn brightly.

it was encouraging to see each person come and be a part of the camp. the camp committee really did a good job and i think God also opened the way as we trusted in Him. He provided a venue, provided the speaker, Pastor Daniel Tan, and most importantly, He called the people :) in about less than three weeks.

there were times of uncertainties and stress along the way; money, payments, sponsorship, pull outs, etc. but God proved to be sovereign over these things. no problem too big for Him :)

I enjoyed the fellowship with the people :) getting to know some better as well as strengthening the old friendships. there was a sense of unity and genuine relationships built. camps have that ability to bring people together :) and I pray that these friendships continue to grow throughout our uni years.

That's our theme for this year. N.O.W. It's to remind us of the urgent times we live in. Pastor Daniel did a great job with the sessions. He began with very fundamental things for our faith in the first session about "Hearing God's Voice". Because when we are in a two way communication with God personally and intimately, we will know His will. He gave very practical ways to this. First knowing how God speaks: through the Word of God, prayer, Holy Spirit, people, dreams and visions, circumstances, and sometimes in the audible voice :| (whoa, i wonder what that would be like). He taught us then how do we listen to God's voice? We need to take on the right postures: Seek, Surrender (humility), Silent (to listen), Stay (to wait and dwell in His presence) and to have hearts that are like good Soil (hearing and obeying the word).

The second session was about the Narrow Way which echoes our theme that there is no other way but through Christ. There's the Broad way and the Narrow way.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

Matthew 7:13-14 

It was a reminder that we cannot live our lives any way we want or do things just because the world is doing it. It meant living in Christ, following His word rather than the word of the world. Muuuch easier said than done, but we do not walk alone, nor do we walk by our own strength. God grants grace for us to finish the race, to walk this journey with Him. The narrow way is only possible through Christ :)

The third session was entitled "Disturb Us, Lord". It challenged us to live for a cause that is bigger than ourselves. To look beyond "me" and to look to God. When God disturbs us from our comfortable and safe lives, how do we respond? Taking the encounter of the first calling of the disciples in Luke 5:1-11, where Jesus came into the boat of Peter, taught the crowds from it and later told him to put out to sea and let down their nets for a catch after a loooong night of catching no fish. When Peter obeyed, they caught a crazy amount of fish. This opened his eyes and he fell at Jesus' feet knowing that Jesus was more than just a man. Jesus then calls Peter to follow Him and that He would make them fishers of men. Peter left all he had and followed Jesus. Our response, when God comes into our lives and rocks our boats is to start small - obey. Jesus came into their boats and told Peter to 'put out a little from land', God doesn't always come in all His glory with a mission impossible task right away to us. It's when we start obeying Him in the little things that He then gives us bigger tasks. He knows how much we can handle. We then need to go deep! Jesus told Peter to go deep and to let down their nets for a catch. Peter's answer was, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at your word word I will let down the net." He was listening to Jesus teaching the crowds prior to this and because of that, it gave him the faith to obey. We need the word of God in our lives, to convict us to go deeper than we normally would, to try again even after a whole night of catching nothing. The last thing is to surrender all. Right after catching the mother load of fishes, their eyes weren't fixed on their success, instead their eyes were fixed on Jesus. It was a reminder to us not to let our success take us away from God. Humility. So, start small, go deep, surrender all.

The final session was about How do we Shine? Pastor Daniel brought us back to the point and purpose of the church. He said the church is the hope for the world. The world can only see Jesus through us. No other way; only through us.

Let your light shine before all men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 

Matthew 5:16 

How do we shine? Be genuine, let people see Christ in our lives. Don't just do things so that we can preach to them. Don't do things with ulterior motives. But love, because Christ first loved us. Love because that is what God calls us to do; to love God and to love others. Give what you have, not what you don't have. We'll never start if we keep saying, "Let me have this first, then I will..." or "I don't have anything to give." Give what you have :) God is able to provide for our needs. We need to stretch out our hands and lift others up. We need to touch lives, not just meet their physical needs. The human being is more than a body, it has a soul. People need acceptance and freedom for their souls. Lives are never transformed by silver or gold, but by the touching of the human soul. So, let's go and shine our lights. :) Pastor Daniel said, "You say 'turn on the light' and 'turn off the light' but no one says 'turn on darkness'. Light always conquers darkness. It's when the light doesn't shine, that's where darkness is."

Let your light shine :) We live in urgent times. May all who see our lights, come to God.

Dear God, thank You for camp, for Your word spoken and each and every person. Thank You for the work You have done in our lives. Help us to continue running the race and going through the narrow way with You and with the people You have brought alongside us. May we continue to spur and encourage one another until we reach our goal. You are our goal. Lord, I pray that we will have the same love and passion You have for others in our lives that we would see the world through Your eyes. Commit each one who was a part of T.H.E. Camp 2012 into Your hands and pray that You continue draw us close to You. In Jesus Name, Amen :)