#Alive2014

Our "ep-iak" Youth Camp, #Alive2014 is coming up!

15 - 18 December! Come and join us! Don't miss the time of epic fun!

Thanking God for the big help He has given to me as I was doing this video with Calvin! Ain't the best but I pray that you will still come and give it a shot! Give God a chance to show you what He can do through you by just simply, believing in Jesus! Hope to see you there!

Home Based Learning (Day 1)

Haven't done home based learning since, I think, primary school days? Suddenly there is home based learning again after what? 6 years? HAHAHA~

Have 3 assignments due today though, better get started!

Night Safari

又迟了post这次的outing！

上个星期，我们去了Night Safari。太久没去了，觉得很不一样。而且这次是和PB同事 （不对，应该叫朋友了）一起去的。嗯，拍了几张照片，但只会post这张合照：

#316youth young & alive for Jesus! #02

Another person to give thanks for...

Yupp! See the guy in the middle? That's my respected youth leader and co-lg leader! The picture was before he got attached to Twig! None other than the preacher in training: Jiahao!

Never expected to work with him in the same LG to be honest. Always thought it would be someone else in the youth hahaha! But God has allowed me to see many areas of Jiahao's character that I probably would never know if I wasn't working this closely with him.

Jiahao

Dear God, thank you for the first fruits that you have given to our life group, Ron. Lord, we are thankful and grateful for the addition to our life group. Thank you for how you have placed the responsibility in Jiahao to do follow-up with Ron and how you have allowed them to just get along. Lord, praying that Jiahao will not just stop here Lord, but that he will continue to take steps of faith to trust that you will bring in the people as he invites them in. Lord, asking humbly today that you break both your servant's pride as we serve you. Lord, you say in James 4 that you resist the proud but give grace to the humble. Today, we ask that you humble us and make us rely on our One and only, the One true and living God, Jesus. Lord, I pray for my life group, that each one of them will catch the heartbeat of Jesus and follow in His ways every day of our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

#316youth young & alive for Jesus!

Lots of things I want to give thanks for but one of the most important ones is 3:16 Church's youth ministry! So thankful for the people God has placed in the youth the past, I think 2 years, since the start of the church? Thank God for the willing hearts of many adults and youth in serving Him! (^^)

Think I'd probably post it up person by person, over a period of time...

Want to start with the most important person, after Jesus, in the youth ministry! Our youth pastor, Jeremy (a.k.a. Jerm):

Yupp, this is Jerm, our youth pastor! Amazing guy God has been using to impact young lives. Definitely a huge change from the Jerm that I used to know, I think, a year and a half ago? Used to be disorganized. Nowadays, he's becoming more and more organized and yet still being spontaneous. I'm so thankful for him investing his time in the lives of Shannen, Angela and I. Having this random internship programme in church and having us do bible studies with him. (though we never completed Genesis, hahaha..) Despite negative comments from youths, he's always been strong in the Lord, knowing that God called him this season, to rise up as the youth pastor of our church.

To Jerm:

Jerm, thanks for being a leader and pastor we can count on. Yeah, you are a man and you can fail us (and you may have failed our expectations many times) but we still respect you because we know that you seek God and submit to His leadership in things and thus, we too want you to know that the youth leaders are also behind you. We are learning to submit to you as you submit to our Father, following you as you follow our Father. Thank you for how you have set an example for many of the youth leaders, especially myself, on the way we should see others as leaders. We need to look not only at the faults of others but also the potential each person carries. Thank God for the time you spend guiding and teaching me about many things as well. I pray that God will always shower His blessings upon you as you serve Him and serve us. May He continue to provide for you and keep your relationship with Eishen so close to His heart. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

End of Week 1 Sem 2

School's started again... Actually very interesting lessons so far. Maybe cause the lecturers aren't boring! Haha. But thankful to have a group of 4 other classmates for FSIP. Aim for this sem is to make new friends and be more hardworking. Need to pull up my grades!

Lots of other things to think about too though... There's the Youth Camp coming up at the end of the year, the promotional videos and poster. Also currently have the youth sports event this Saturday. (tmr to be exact) Trying to coordinate for a dinner celebration for Amy dajie next Sunday as well. Hope all these can come together...

Dear God, just want to commit all the cares of life and stuff unto You. Praying that you give me double portion of Your strength as I go through this Semester. Pray also for a good, sunny weather tomorrow as we set out to botanic gardens for the youth sports event. May You bless and keep us all safe! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

Internship (PB)

Part 2 of the already late thanksgiving!

19 May - 15 Aug

And this is the period of time I was attached to Private Bar. PB is under the same umbrella as In Room Dining department. We have the same uniform and all, the difference is in the service that we provide. IRD is focused on providing food that guests ordered by room service, while PB focuses on the minibars in each guest room as well as the sending of amenities. Amenities such as fruit cradles and champagne to guest rooms. In all honesty, when I heard I was headed to PB, I was a little upset. I thought, "I'm gonna dread this next 4 months here..." Guess what, totally not true! Though I was 100% shy at first, was adjusted only to speaking to Rachelle. (Filipino) Why? --- because I was exposed to SweetSpot before hand. So on the first 3 days, I basically spoke only to Rachelle. And yeah, I thought I would dislike PB. Then came the day 4 when Constance wasn't feeling well. Her hand was injured. Raien (captain) got me to go up to help her out. So that began my first real encounter with Constance. (apart from the first time I spoke to her in the TDR with Rachelle) Yupp. And I gotta say, thank God for that once to get to know her. She became the one who taught me a lot more about refilling and running the floors. Then being in the same tower as Constance that day after refilling, Wayne was in the pantry too. That's when I got to know Wayne a little bit too. (Still very shy and quiet) From there, slowly got to know Xeric, Chale, Jason, Daniel, Vijai and Jenny. (basically all those who run floor for refilling) Raien was like my mentor for learning the system. (or should I say, taking adjustments) Michael was another distinct person. Got to know him better through one of the days that I was doing closing shift and was sent up to help him. (had a lot of FCS to complete and was running late = cannot finish) Then came 2 new TMs to the department. Jacqueline and Linges. And also further on when the other intern from IRD was attached to PB! My now twin, Meiling! She was the one who ran floor with me on my first time. 2 first timers on refilling together without a senior hahaha! Oh and of course, not forgetting the only management in our department, Yasmin (AM)! Was an interesting department overall. Helped me get to know more people and open up more than in SweetSpot. Also, I was always uncomfortable talking on the phone or walkie, so it really helped me a lot. Enjoyed because of the people there. Despite the job scope being harder than SweetSpot, it was a really good experience learning all of those things!

Well now some, or can I say, all of my colleagues! Because department too small --- hehe (^^)

 Yasmin - Thankful for her giving me the side projects and allowing me to see and learn more stuff. Think I got these side projects because of the "information" from the upper management that "this new intern can only be on system, she cannot run floor". Think that it was assigned because of this reason. Haha. Till now I don't know why. But thank you for teaching me how to get the amenities side ready for the opening and also for checking on my closing procedures. Was an enriching experience in PB.

 Rachelle - Thanks for being the first to talk to me in PB. I know I'm shy and quiet so it is not easy to talk to me. Also, for introducing me to Jason on my first day learning refilling with you because he was at T3 also. Hahaha. Remember how quiet I was because I was shy. You taught me quite a few things as well! Thanks for that! Also was funny when I was helping you run refilling at T3 after running T2 on my own a number of times. Hahaha.

 Jason - 哈哈！谢谢你咯～ 整天叫我去T3帮你跑floor的只有你一个人咯！但是每次去帮你 都还蛮好玩的。每次叫我帮你upsell冰箱。然后你又自己跑去拿，让我帮你跑floor，不然就是要我在lift landing等你。靓～ 哈哈哈。谢谢你教我咯 哈哈哈 (^^)

Jacqueline - 我的Jac大姐。哈哈！有你在真的好好笑哦～ 记得上次我们一起跑floor。太好笑了！然后我们又不能分开跑，一定要在同一个floor。Raien让你跑floor的condition。现在就要换了咯～ 现在应该是你教我了！嘻嘻～ 你现在是高手了，跑得又快！太厉害了！为你开心！(^^) 谢谢你哦Jacqueline！真的！让我有一个能聊天的大姐姐 哈哈！(^^)

 Raien - 到这位好captain了！这就是第二位，我遇见的好captain了。谢谢你每次都那么有耐心的在教我system的东西。也要谢谢你因为每次我有个新的side project，你也会被拖下水～ 对不起！我不是故意要把你拖下来帮我的。弄到你好像有越来越多东西做的(>_<) 但是，谢谢你还愿意继续教我！好久没问你了：有吃饭吗？让我抓到你就惨了 哈哈哈！一定要吃哦，不然你又胃痛了！多忙也要喝点东西啊～ 你一开始胃痛就不好了！照顾好身体，不要让同事们都担心你了。加油哦 (^^)

 Constance - 另外一个大姐姐！非常谢谢你一直以来的帮助！你真的让我觉得自己好像真的有个大姐姐在关心我～ 真的很感激！第一次听Yasmin说可能要我自己跑floor，你还发信息给我，问我怎么样了。感动的小番茄！现在你纽到腰，我却什么忙都帮不上，也不在PB了。帮不了你们跑floor或者是什么的～ 但是，一直都有为你们祷告！那是我能帮到你们，最好的方法了！希望你的腰能赶快好起来～ 保重哦大姐姐！(^^)

Xeric - Jacqueline的帅哥师傅。哈哈哈！谢谢你！也帮了我不少～ 第4次 自己跑floor是你过来帮我的～ 那时候太不好意思了，我还跑得好慢～ 害你要过来帮我。幸好那天我只剩最后的follow-up DND。然后又在T2的pantry做了一会儿，教了我一些技巧。哈哈哈。上次给我办的“farewell” KBOX 也要谢谢你们咯！真的很开心认识你们～ 但是好像每次和你们出去都被你说我看起来好像很累。我是累了一点啦，因为一开始太开心又要见到你们了嘛～ 哈哈。你们约我出去，我可是准时到的哦，但是忘记你们是会有debrief的～ 嘻嘻... 就等你们时没事做 才会变得看起来很累咯～ 哈哈(>_<) 希望你们不要误会哦！不是因为不喜欢和你们出去。我超级想你们的(>_<) 保重啦！有缘再见。（当然，缘份也是可以自创的啦）(^^)

Wayne - 唱歌高手。你看这张照片，你bend down弄到我看起来更矮咯～ 上次和我说每次和你讲话要使用英语，你却没说... 哈哈！但也要谢谢你那次做opening shift时也有帮到我。就，那时我和你跑T2，我做完refilling和你差不多一样时间。然后你帮我粘贴纸。谢啦！不然那天不会帖到那么多间房的minibar了。也谢谢你帮我扛那个冰箱去客房。哈哈！和你学会 不要用trolley时 可以怎么扛冰箱去客房。哈哈。我自己跑floor就这样扛了叶。哈哈哈！幸好没被你们看到。不然又被你们讲了～ 嘻嘻。照顾好身体哦！有缘再见 (^^)

 Jenny - 언닌야! 너무 보고싶어서~ When can we meet up again? I remember we took this photo while waiting for the rain to stop under the shelter and was 30min late for returning the bicycle because we were stuck in the rain. 언니 너무 감사함니다~ Thank you for being a big help many times to me! Remember that day when I cried outside the office? When the office was so quiet because I finished late and the rest left already... That day thank God that you are still around... If not I think I will hide in the locker and cry like the time when Jacqueline just join. Thank you for helping me in the amenities also. That time during NDP especially. So many and still need to run extra errand... Thank you for helping me. Let's have our CBTL meet up soon ok? With Siri 언니! (^^)

 Chale - 不知道要说什么。哈哈。你真的太unique了。谢谢你 （虽然不算是帮了我） 哈哈哈！开玩笑啦。你每次在pantry看到我拼命写refill report的东西，在那笑我。说什么 不用写啦。我不写会miss out的嘛～ 但是也要谢谢你啦 (^^)

Daniel - 谢谢你。我在你的letter里写 说很少和你说话。没想到被他们看到了。虽然在工作时候没什么和你说话，但是现在好像和你说最多话咯～ 就因为坐same train。哈哈哈！Take care！有缘再见 （虽然你说的有道理，Xeric做早班 很快就会再见了）哈哈 (^^)

 Vijai - Thank you for being the super high pill in PB. You always bring craziness to the department! Like the atmosphere around you. Hahaha! Like a happy pill like that! Also, hope Linges is doing fine under you haha! Will remember the time that you were on MC cause of the surgery and I was informed I had to run refilling alone. That was a sudden thing that I had no mental preparation for. Short of hand that day when you went on MC and I got the biggest shock in my 4 months of internship in PB. Haha! But thankful for that experience! If you didn't go on MC, I think my biggest regret would be that I never ran refilling on my own before. And of course, that week was short of manpower so I was running the floor on my own the whole time. And then that was the start of me running floor by myself already. And the chancing upon the auditor. Hahaha! Always so lucky when it came to auditors. SweetSpot I also got. Well, all the best and till we meet again, take care! (^^)

Michael - PB里 还有个 Mic 不能忘记！谢谢你，你帮了我很多！上次因为太多FCS，你做不完，我做夜班的，被派去T2 lower phase帮你。然后就在我一个人跑floor时，也种了很多FCS，做不完。那天换你做夜班，被派上去T2 upper phase帮我。哈哈！我们还说 现在互不相欠了。太好笑了。但是那时候让我更认识你一点了 (^^) 谢谢你咯！

Yupp that's mainly the difference between PB and SweetSpot. The team effort is so evident! It's really an adventure in PB to be honest. Awesome experience! Thank God! But, I'm not done with this department. Because I mentioned that there is another intern who was attached to PB from IRD!

Meiling (or should i say Ms Meiling) - Haha! When I left, she just came back as captain in IRD. And she's currently AM already! Happy for her! Back when we were both in PB, we loved how they always said our voices sounded the same over the walkie. So we did our magic by confusing others over the walkie. Only we weren't. Haha. Oh, except when Yasmin called us over the walkie (it sounds the same even though her name is in Mandarin and mine is in English... strange...) Hahaha. But so fun! Especially the time when we were running floor together and there was some information Yasmin asked me about that I didn't know the answer because Meiling entered that room. So she asked me and I answered and halfway through Meiling was answering without anyone realising it was 2 different people. How we knew she didn't know you ask? --- cause after the whole question and the answer we gave, she said, "ok, thanks Mandy". Hahaha! We were laughing together cause while answering, we were actually on different levels. Hahaha! Love you my dear twin! Jiayou because you can! You're gonna be a great manager! I believe in that! Praying for you! Take care! (^^)

The other captain that I've encountered who is really nice to work with is from IRD. Cap Ron! Was a pleasure to work with him cause he's always smiling and creates a happy atmosphere around him. Didn't get a picture with him though, cause not exactly in the same department although under the same umbrella. Haha! Still thankful for him for teaching me some stuff over at IRD! Awesome captain! (^^)

Well, that's my encounter with the PB team during internship! Thoroughly enjoyed myself and learnt a whole lot more! Service industry may not be easy to start with but it's surely an interesting industry that teaches you so much. So blessed by the people and the experience there. Thank God for the 6 months of internship! (^^)

Internship (SweetSpot)

Long overdue thanksgiving but like they say, "better late than never" right? Haha.

17 Mar - 18 May

This was the period of time I was attached to SweetSpot! Was an enriching experience to work in a café style business and see the SOPs that were in place, how to go about following them as well as what the art of clearing a queue really is. Truly was a time that God used to teach me patience and endurance. Learning how to open up and ask more questions to benefit my own learning as well. Definitely not an easy job in the service line and what more in a prestigious hotel brand. But I have to say, I came out stronger and more independent.

So ...

Thanksgiving No.1
Thank God for seeing me through part 1 of my internship and for allowing me to make friends here!

 Ms April - Thank you for guiding me and teaching me principles that I can use not just in the work environment but anywhere! You've always pushed me ask questions and answer questions during briefing and even sometimes in the shop while at the barista station or while I'm insisting on being the "Sink Manager". Thankful for every opportunity you have given me to grow in SweetSpot. (^^)

 Ms Rachel - I know I promised that I will call you Rachel only from now on but it's a habit already. 谢谢你一直以来的教导和照顾。从我第一天开始上班时，就是你在教我了。谢谢你对我的耐心教导。希望我没让你后悔用这么多力气和时间在我的身上。那天在巴士站遇见了你，真的很巧，也让我知道你现在在哪。哈哈。加油哦 Ms Rachel！(^^)

 Ms Jackie - Thank you for teaching me how to be a power lady! Hahaha. You have always lead by example when it comes to arranging things and packing up things to make space for others. Remember the time you called me down to B2 to pack up the huge pile of things that belonged to SweetSpot that was placed outside the F&B Office. That was the once that I got to climb up so high and wrap those boxes with clear wrap. Hard to forget! (^^)

 Ana - When I was in SweetSpot for the first week, you were on holiday and I didn't have a buddy! But once you came back, you were constantly hastening me to remember the product names, pricing, ingredients and all of those things. Still remember how you taught me the coffee SOPs too. You said, "I only teach you one time ah. You do once for me after that." But that helped me to learn fast and be attentive to your teaching too. So thank you for being such a big help at SweetSpot. And congrats on your new stage in life as a wife and a mummy! And as a captain. (^^)

 Evelyn - Thank you for being a "can go to" trainee at the time I came in. You were also a trainee when I came in and you were there about 2 months. Still, you helped me out a lot too. Taking stocks and clearing up stuff. Was pretty fun having you around. You always told us how forgetful you were too hahaha! Mike could agree being your trainer haha.

 Sharmaine - The bubbly you that I miss so much now haha. Thank you too for being a friend that I can go to for help. Remember the first time I was doing closing with you at the barista station and you were teaching me how to close the machine and wash it. I was so blur back then. But thank you for being patient with me and teaching me how to get the job done quickly. Also wanna say sorry! Sorry for messing up the place at MICE that time when I was sent over to help with the busy crowd. Felt like I was more of a nuisance than a helping hand to you. But thanks for being understanding!

Jerry - To one of the 3 most understanding and nice captains that I've worked with this internship! Strangely, all of you used to, if not are from IRDPB. Haha! Thank you for being a captain who's always ready to give a helping hand to anybody in need! 还记得上次我拿着一样很重的箱子。你看到了“吓”到说：“Mandy，那么重你也扛得起来哦？” 你当时要帮我 但是我没让你拿。哈哈！但是太重的你也会帮我拿，太高的也是。哈哈哈！谢谢你哦！你教我的，其实比别的同事还要重要咯。因为你是用你的actions的。你是个工作上很认真也很勤劳的captain。而且，不分什么captain或service attendant的职位。不管是谁教你，你也会听，会学。这种谦逊的态度 真的让我非常敬佩你！也从你身上学到了许多东西！谢谢你！(^^)

 Michael - Thanks for being an awesome buddy to Evelyn, yet also taught me a lot while I was in SweetSpot! Had a great time there because of all of you guiding and helping me out. Even on getting a Grazie, you guys cheered me on despite my being in another department at that time already. Now that you're Angela's buddy also, train her well! Haha! She's super thankful for you too! Take care of my awkward good friend Mike! And thank you again for being a great colleague and friend! (^^)

 Siri 언니 - 너무 감사함니다 언니야! 맨디는 너무 감사 예요! Thank you for that photo that I took with you along the walk way from the office. Never expected you to post it up with a message on Facebook though. But thank you for that little message. Meant so much to me.. Take care in SweetSpot and hope that we will still keep in touch! Dinner together with Jenny 언니 too okay! (^^)

Viola - Last but not least, thank you for the little gift! Graduation from internship! You were the only one who knew when I was ending my internship. So thank you for remembering! And for guiding me to places on the first day of work! Take care! 你的台词：“有缘再见！” 我相信我们一定会再见的！但在那天来令之前，我要先说，加油哦！哦，对了，还有一句，恭喜你当上了captain！嘻嘻！(^^) 

Actually, there are more colleagues and managers that I didn't get to take a photo with but have much to say about them. So here is 1 more person who meant a lot to me from SweetSpot:

Ms Joanne - Thank you for being such an understanding and responsible AM! Been a great 2 months at SweetSpot learning from you as well. You basically taught me one of the most important things in the service line. 'The art of clearing queue' hahaha! But that was a really important aspect of SweetSpot, considering there are guests coming in all the time. At the barista area that you knew I loved to be placed at, you also trained me to be fast with my hands and on how to remember who ordered what drink and make them quickly. It was all because you were there helping me out that I could manage! Great big THANK YOU Ms Joanne! And take care! (^^)

Well, that's for SweetSpot!

Late but necessary thanksgivings!

1. Just want to thank God for saving me and being the support and pillar when there are things that I am aware that I cannot overcome on my own. Be it persecution or obstacles or things that burdened my heart in 2013. Been an awesome 1 year with God! So excited to see what new things God will do in and through me this year!!

2. Thank God for my family being there for me as well. Know that they played a major role in my upbringing. Also, thank God for opening doors for me to invite and bring my brother and cousins to church activities in 2013. I know that as long as I pray faithfully for them that God will save my family members!!

3. Thank God for the salvation and growth in the Lord, last year, in Angela and Shannen's lives. Praise God for opening Angela's heart to see the wonders He can do in and through her. It's been such a blessing to see her grow deep in the Word of God last year. For Shannen, thank God for how she grew out of her old self to slowly understand what serving God truly means. Seeing her take fresh steps of faith to lead worship has been such a blessed thing! Really thankful for these 2 girls God has placed in my life. Remember how we moved from acquaintances to friends to close friends and to best friends. It's been a long journey with them through ups and downs in our relationship but God has kept this relationship together and now, made it centered around Him!! Going through 2 church internships with them and drawing closer to God, getting to know more about His grace and love and mercy.. It's been an amazing walk with them in Him.

4. BIG THANK GOD for saving Zhi Yong!! It was a test of our faithfulness to continue praying for him when he disappeared from church after joining us for about 2 months or so.. A new believer but a passionate and loving man of God. So excited to see how much more God will prosper him this year!! Press on bro!!

5. Another BIG THANK GOD for Catherine! If not for her heart to reach out to her patients at her workplace, I wonder what I'd be doing now.. Remember how you invited Shannen for Running Man and I tagged along? haha. Amazing how God has used Cat to impact our lives and even give us our nickname in church: ~the 3 little pigs~ Thanks for spending time getting to know us and doing bible study with us last year. Also, thanks for initiating to start bible reading and keeping one another accounted for this year, starting with Galatians today!!

6. Yet another BIG THANK GOD for placing Jeremy, our youth pastor, into my life. For being a man after God's heart and a leader who leads by example, thank God! God used you last year to bond and grow the youth ministry and leaders. He will use you in a whole new way this year to do greater things in this youth ministry. But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall soar high on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. This year's gonna be a year that the youth grow and soar like eagles as we depend on the wind as the Holy Spirit blows!!

7. Last but not least, thank God for 3:16 Family and Pastor + leaders of the church!! Been so blessed last year getting to know so many new people and also getting to know some others better: Auntie Annie, Dawn, Grace, Ron, Gillian, Jillian, Iris, Samuel, Anders, Raine, Amelia, Lydia, Jerome, Chester, Jeron, Feng Ying, Jester, Chinnarat. Even Joseph, Joash, Amy, Iris, Sue, Cheryl, Calvin, Jia Wen, Zhi Yong, Angela and Shannen. Thank God for all these people God has placed in my life thus far. Many other names I haven't mentioned but truly thank God for..