Last post of the year

What a year 2006 has been! Completing my studies at UWA, getting involved in Subi church, the Sonshine Careline, and bonding with my coursemates through the time spent working in our theses together, cementing relationships within the OCF and then having to say goodbye (at least temporarily)... Then returning home to be reunited with family and loved ones and adjusting back to life in Singapore. Looking forward to a time of fellowship and reflection during our young adults' retreat over this new year holiday, and then starting work again at the DAS in the new year.

It has been extra special being back to sing with Agapella again this year. Looking back to the time when i went for the audition not knowing about post-graduate study at the time and half wondering if i should commit to joining the group, i'm ever so thankful that i did - 'cos that's where i met my best friend! :) And since my last post, after the Agapella gigs and celebrating Christmas with dear ones, Wednesday night was especially momentous (even though i didn't quite know it for the first half of the evening ;P) as Stan bravely, and with much prior planning, creativity and cahooting, asked a very important question. Which means even bigger things to look forward to in the year ahead! So thankful to the Lord for sustaining our relationship even during the time apart, and even for the fact that we were both actively involved in our various different ministries in the respective countries that we were in for the most part of this 1 1/2 years of courtship. We look to Him to help us continue to grow closer to each other even as we grow closer to Him, and thank Him so much for the friends around us who have encouraged and supported us along the way. That's why the night was made even more special by the presence of Tina, Nam & Aaron, and Sherm. So glad they were all there :)

I cannot but feel so extremely blessed by God's goodness to my family and to me all through these years. He is so amazing and loving and does so much more than we can ask or even imagine! Truly, as we close this year and look ahead to the next one, my prayer is that this will be the song in my heart all the time, regardless of the situation or circumstance,
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Saviour all the day long!

Thanks be to God!!

Indeed, there are just so many things to give thanks for ! After waiting one extra week for my results to be published online, they finally were made available, and i praise God for bringing me through my final semester and my thesis!! =) Besides the many things i've gained in Perth and the wonderful friends made, i have also completed the course by His grace, and feel more equipped to work with children, teachers and parents. Looking back, after applying to perhaps about ten different places to do my studies, i'm so glad i chose UWA and got involved in the 'extra-curricular activities' the way i did. ..Plus one of the best things about studying in Australia is coming back for Christmas and being able to sing with Agapella in their busiest season of the year as a result!

Wednesday evening at the Esplanade was truly a great time! Despite the late start due to technical issues, moments when the balance was not quite right, and some people who weren't feeling their best, the Christmas story was told through song, and people were blessed :) So glad to see so many friends from church, OCF, Sheffield, as well as family members, who came down to show their support and give encouragement. It was such a blessing to be able to sing for all who were there!

Visit to KL

Popped up (quite literally, given the short time i was there) to KL on Tuesday/Wednesday and spent most of the time in the shopping centre and eating :P Didn't even get to see any of the OCF-ers! But it was worth it to be able to catch up albeit briefly with Carolyn and Yvonne and hear a bit about how they've been keeping :) Look forward to meeting them in Singapore!

Birthday celebration

The Christmas parties have begun! Thanks be to God for last night's gig held at the NTU Alumni Club to launch the Christian Fellowship for people working at the nearby Biopolis :) Even though many of us weren't feeling our best, think the sound was generally good (with Lyn's help on the mixer of course!) and the listeners were responsive and expressed their appreciation too! I myself had been down with a sore throat and then cough for the past few days, and even that morning when trying to sing, would get phlegm-y :P But later after prayer and committing ourselves to God, my throat was alright during the real thing! =)

Such a privilege to be able to share the good news of Christmas in song and skit. Surely one has to wonder why so many people around the world would pause to celebrate this one event - the birth of this one person, who even history is centred around (think about how we count the years - Before Christ and Anno Domini: in the year of our Lord)! Surely it must make a difference to each of us personally if the Christmas story is true - if God really came to earth in the form of a man to reveal Himself to us, to live among us, and ultimately, to provide us the way to come to Him. Surely it is worth at least investigating in order to decide if this is true?

It's hard to explain how the time passes so quickly. When people ask what i've been doing these few days, i'm quite at a loss as to what to say.. Doing a bit of reading (not much), spending some time at the piano (not a lot), checking emails, thinking about jobs and applying for SPS registration (read: thinking), resting to recover from this flu bug so that we can sing on Friday... and somehow another day has passed! Of course, i've also been able to spend good time with my parents and catching up with dear friends, but this i certainly hope to be able to continue to do even when i start working. Which is why i really would like to start work soon - so i know i'm making full and constructive use of the time! But this is another thing: how to make a wise decision about which job to take (or to wait for) with the available information, and not worry unnecessarily about the future, which i have no control over anyway. Surely this is something we face every day, but perhaps only realise whenever we reach crossroads like these - learning to walk each step with Jesus, allowing Him to lead the way and in order that each decision we make will show how good our God is.