Young, filled with dreams..yet...

Hi all!

I heard some very sad news this morning...news that brought tears to my eyes...

Some of you might remember, in Dec 2006, I went with Isaac and some of his church friends on a trip to Melahbou - Aceh. It was a humanitarian trip, where we spent about 4 full days with selected students from a school, and taught them English. We came up with the entire course on our own...and spent the 4 days interacting with these Indonesian girls and boys, aged between 12 to 18. It was an experience that I would never forget...an experience that brought my two feet down to planet Earth (not that it was very far above to start with ;)), as I saw the simple joys that these children still possessed, after many of them had lost family members to the tsunami that had hit 2 years back. They had survived the tsunami, and were full of zest in pursuing their ambitions.

Throughout the few days, we built bonds with these students...they shared their simple aspirations, eg. wanting to learn English well so that they could become a doctor and help sick people. some wanted to be a teacher to help students...yet another wanted to be a painter etc....
Towards the last day, we were giving away prizes for the different groups....these prizes that we brought, some were just simple erasers, pencils, some just small stuffed toys. I will never forget the joy I saw on these gals and boy's faces as they firmly held the presents. Things that Singaporean students would not even regard worthy of prizes were held in their hands with such gratefulness and appreciation. There were no fights, no complaints on whose prizes were nicer....just happy faces all across the room.

One of my students managed to email me just early this month. She mentioned that she had sad news to tell me, but would tell me only after i acknowledged the email. I replied, happy that my student had remembered me, and glad that I could be some kind of support for her....yet, somewhere inside me, I had a suspiscion about what the sad news was going to be....

This morning, she replied again.....she shared that she had not gotten accepted in a course to learn medicine and be a doctor. Instead she was now in Banda Aceh learning nursing....
then came the sad news.....one of the students in another group (under my other team mate), passed away last year due to cancer. Her operation in Sumatra was not successful, and she came back to Aceh, but died soon after.

Cut Yunidar was one of the 4 students who won the Most outstanding student during our 4-day course. She was good at her work and had great ambitions. Pretty, sweet and quiet, she was diligent.....

As i read the email, my heart sank and tears started to fill my eyes. I couldn't quite remember how she looked like..but after searching through the pictures and with the help of my other team mate, I remembered who she was. In the photo, she was all smiles, holding onto a small bear that she had won.....another picture was her holding onto the book which she won as an outstanding student.....

It's sad....thinking about it...that a young girl like Cut, survived the tsunami, had such great ambitions for her life ahead...but then, within just under a year after we were there, she lost her life to cancer.....
Would her life be saved if she had been in Singapore? I guess...but that is life, isn't it?

The fragility of life yet again displayed.....


Sad.........
~Lola

Imagine Me Without You

~Roller

Hi guys! I believe we sang this in church recently just once...
it's a beautiful song, and i hope you guys are blessed by it....


IMAGINE ME WITHOUT YOU – JACI VELASQUEZ


Verse 1:
As long as stars shine down from heaven
And the rivers run into the sea
'Til the end of time, forever
You're the only love I'll need
In my life, you're all that matters
In my eyes, the only truth I see
When my hopes and dreams have shattered
You're the one that's there for me

When I found you I was blessed
And I will never leave you
I need you

Chorus:
Imagine me without you
I'd be lost and so confused
I wouldn't last a day
I'd be afraid without you there to see me through
Imagine me without you
Lord, you know it's just impossible
Because of you
It's all brand new
My life is now worth while
I can't imagine me without you

Verse 2:
When you caught me I was falling
Your love lifted me back on my feet
It was like you heard my calling
And you rushed to set me free
When I found you I was blessed
And I will never leave you
I need you

Chorus

When I found you I was blessed
And I will never leave you
I need you

Chorus

I can't imagine me without you

What a fren we have!

Nice! May you be blessed to bless!

SuperG

A thought-provoking incident....

~Roller (new nick for a new year :))

Hi guys..

Firstly, thanks SuperG for a Superpost! You have a gift of speaking in unique ways (hidden messages) and yet getting the message across so succinctly :) You should consider writing a book!

Anyway, my trip to China was made a little more significant because of a call i received just a few days into my trip...

I was walking along the streets in Zhu Hai, about to enter into a big shopping centre when my handphone rang and the name which appeared on my screen was a 'not-that-close' client whom I had not met for more than a year, and who was stationed overseas during this period. As she spoke, I felt that something wasn't quite right. Her boyfriend had been admitted into hospital for an operation and she had asked me to help check if he had another insurance with my company. I didn't know her boyfriend....i initially thought that it was a small operation (the 1, 2-day type of stay). As we spoke a little bit more, without me probing too much, I found out that he was in a critical stage of cancer, something that happened so suddenly. He wasn't able to walk or talk...and just 30 years of age.

As I heard her voice over the phone, it sounded as if she was fighting back tears...I didn't dare to ask too much more, and decided to just accede to her request and update her again.

I was left dumbfounded as i hung up the phone. I stopped in my steps for that split second, my mind flooded with thoughts of how anyone so young could have cancer. I was quiet, my mind far away for at least the next half an hour. I had never known she had a boyfriend...but I felt comforted that I could at least be of some help to her. I dropped her an sms to tell her that I would be praying for him and the family. She smsed back with deep appreciation.

I gave her a call this afternoon to check out how her boyfriend was. Her answer was quick and exact: "Not good"...Again, i was lost for words, unsure of how best to show concern. I asked what cancer it was..she paused a bit, and then said briefly 'Brain cancer'. I didn't know how to reply...and in my heart was wondering if i should have even asked her that in the first place. Did I sound like a kpo? Did i make it more painful for her by asking that? I asked which hospital, but it didn't sound like she was too excited to tell me, let alone visit. I'm still wondering if I should pay him a visit, because my gut feel over the phone was that she wasn't too comfortable with me asking too many questions.

I hung up, once again, my mind filled with thoughts....cancer...brain cancer...30 yrs old. My first concern as an adviser was if he had insurance...so that at least financially the family could tide through this period without even greater worries than they already had. My next concern was if he knew where he was heading if things turn for the worst....

more thoughts started to flood my mind...the fragility of life once again struck me....
We never know what can happen to us....or to our loved ones....what if this happened to me? Or to my loved ones?

I ask myself: why is it that we only think of these important things when such things happen? Do we take our loved ones, oikos for granted? Or do we truly treasure every moment with them and enough to share with them the Good News they might never otherwise get a chance to hear.....

Bread and Word and The Little Things

Hi hi,

I was reading Matthew when Jesus said Man does not live on bread alone but also on the Word of God. When I went running, I reflected on this again.. Could it be taken literally? When you read the word of God, it brings joy and calmness so you will be less likely to suffer from mental stress or illness, or it will motivate you to undo some wrongs in your life and thus you will also suffer from less diseases. And also when you fast (no bread mah and also no nice yummy steak fresh prawns) and pray, you feel more alive ... Hmmm

I was very stressed yesterday because of little things. Little Things:
- A cat and a human gave my car a 30 cm deep scratch on the door.
- My new phone got ugly scratches on the screen and heats up within 5 min.
- My "boss" been acting cold. We used to be quite chummy. It is a he.
- I have a lot of unfinished planning but no time to complete due to long meetings.
- The Others shrunk my committee members.
- Unfulfiled promise of support by The Other.
- My miracle fren doesnt show signs of beliving in Christ.
- Severe lack of courage to share Christ with Miracle Fren and Wife.
- Severe lack of thickskiness to pester my family to go to church.
- Not able to meet up with SB due to clash in schedule.
- Change in pay structure leads to very high and precise expectations of performance to avoid conflict.

Then how? So I went to listen to Who am I? (not the jacky chan movie but the chirstian song) It is really true that I am only a flower that is quickly fading here today gone tomo. Not becaue of Who I am but because of Who you are. Suddenly, I realise that I have allowed Little Things to become a mountain and alevated my existence. But actually I am still safe under Him and that He is my master not the Little Things. Then I went to read the Bread verse. The lesson that I carried with me is Humility. Life is but a passing shadow (from Macbeth lor I think), make it meaningful and dun work for the Little Things . Let the Little Things work for you.



Acting Chim,
SuperG

Sea Otters Vs River Otters

Hi again,

I just want to bless everyone with more pictures of God's creations. For those who were at last nite's cell, you people might remember that I mentioned the otters look quite similar to the mongoose in certain ways. As for the different aquatic habitats that we can find otters living in, man has discovered the presence of otters in both rivers and the seas. The top left and right pictures are those of sea otters whereas the bottom two are those of river otters.

Powerful Medicine

Faces of the Mongoose

Hi everyone,

I should have posted this earlier last nite, but last nite I KOed. Thanks to Annie's timely reminder, the pictures of the mongoose is now out! As discussed last nite, the mongoose is one of the most agile creatures man has ever seen. With a high level of alertness and intelligence, it is even a match for the King Cobra. Truly one of God's wonderful creations. I have enclosed a number of pictures on the mongoose, hope you people like it. :)

Powerful Medicine

Who am I - beautiful song to remind us to be humble

SuperG

New Company Policy for Year 2008

From: Chipmunks

New Company Policy

To all Employees:

Effective January 2008

Dress Code

1. It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a pay raise.
2. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a pay raise.
3. If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a pay raise.

Sick Days

We will no longer accept a doctor's certificate as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Holidays

Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year of holidays. They are called Saturday & Sunday.

Compassionate Leave

This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead relatives, friends or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employee involvement attend the arrangements.

In rare cases where the employee's involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Restroom Policy

1. Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minutes limit in the cubicles.
2. At the end of the three-minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the cubicle door will open, and your picture will be taken.
3. After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company's notice board under the 'Chronic Offenders' category.
4. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Break

1. Skinny employees get 30 minutes break for lunch, as they need to eat more so that they will look healthy.
2. Normal size employees get 15 minutes break for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.
3. Chubby employees get 5 minutes break for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a 'Slim-Fast'.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. Remember, we are an employer of choice and we are here to provide positive employment experience; therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternations and input should be directed elsewhere.

Regards,
HR Department

Let the Sun Shine In

Dear all,

I find nursery rhymes are simple yet inspiring and uplifting....follow this link
http://www.nurseryrhymes4u.com/NURSERY_RHYMES/Page_947.html
and here's the lyrics:

My mummy told me something
A little girl should know,
And it's all about the devil
And I learned to hate him so.
She say's he causes trouble
If you let him in your room;
And he'll never ever leave you
If your heart is filled with gloom.

** So let the sunshine in.
Face it with a grin.
Smilers never loose
And frowners never win,
So let the sunshine in.
Face it with a grin.
Open up your heart
And let the sunshine in.

If I forget to say my prayers
The devil wears a grin,
But he feels so awful, awful
When the light comes shining in.
So if you are unhappy
Just stop listening to him.
Just open up your heart
And let the sunshine in.

repeat **

First Day of School

Hello,

I was dreading this day but it finally arrived. Please do not misunderstand that I hate my job. I am still loving it till this day but the inertia of working after such a long break is causing the dread. The night before, I was having jitters (my colleagues have similar experiences) and could not sleep. My fren asked me to read bible so I went to read Corinthians but I still could not sleep. It was already 1 am. I decided to write diary. After a long while of writing a four page diary, it was 2 plus am. Totally exhausted, I finally slept.

Today was great. I felt alive when I see my new "monsters" or "angels". I felt alive when I saw my projects coming to completion. I thank God for today. I thank God for His grace and mercy everyday. Today is almost over. May your today be a day you can thank God for. :)

SuperG(my colleague miss my mushrooms)

Seek Him

師奶殺手:

This is the first post of the year 2008! Haha.. =)

Just wanna share something with ya:

An abundance of material things will not determine quality of life. God is not against you having an abundance of things. But He is against things having you, not you having things.

In Matthew 6:32, our heavenly Father knows that we have need of material things.
"For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them."

However in Matthew 6:33, these things will be given to us if we first seek Him.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

These things include material things. Be blessed.