Summer Retreat

Despite all our shortcomings and inefficiency, i do thank God for the Summer Retreat that just passed and for all who were there.. Really do agree with Rob (thank God for his ministry in the OCF!) about how we need a different approach to sharing our faith in today’s world. Let’s continue to encourage each other to have conversations about things that really matter. To provide a listening ear to what our friends are saying, and to share our own stories in a sensitive way. Guess that’s why the Alpha course is becoming increasingly popular nowadays – people need the chance and space to talk issues through and ask questions in an open and welcoming environment. Let’s continue to build relationships with the people who have been placed around us, and also learn from the Master Conversationalist Himself.

Perth Second Year

Am back in Perth. ..and finally have time to update my blog. God really worked in a most amazing way with regards to my thesis data collection in Singapore. One week to my departure date, i was still short of my hoped-for 80.. Was wondering whether to just be satisfied with that or try to reach my target, and in the end decided to just try my best, which meant that my last week in Singapore was still spent running around the island testing the kids, right to the morning of the day before i was to fly off. And at the last kindergarten, when my tally count was 71, there were 10 consent forms handed in. As 1 kid had already turned six and was thus not eligible for my sample, that made a total of 80 exactly! How amazing! Must also give thanks to God for all the wonderful people who helped out with the testing – Grace, Lisa, Adrian, Yung Ling, Simone, Stan, and Mum; not forgetting Poay Sun and Jacey who helped with the translation work, and all the willing principals and teachers who were inconvenienced to some extent because of the testing! ..So touched by the help offered and cheerfully given by so many =)

Despite the busyness and hurried pace of life, i really did have a wonderful wonderful time those three and a half months back home. Guess being away does make us treasure the time we have together all the more.

Now back in Perth for the final year of the course, the coursework and contact hours won’t be very much, (there’s the thesis and placement mostly) but i also continue to be involved with OCF and Subi church and the careline. Really want to make the most of my time here with joy instead of counting down the months, and i suppose these few months will be a time of learning to depend wholly on the Lord, as today’s sermon talked about. Thank you, Lydia, for your wise words of encouragement.. Let’s all keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, even in the various stages of this race that we are in. Isn’t it wonderful that even when we are apart, we can keep connected by praying for each other. Remembering especially the prayer points of the Agapellians, and also Karen who’s away on the Mercy Ship.