Surrender

The 3rd YCS East Malaysia Encounter (EME) 2010 was successfully held in Sibu. This was one camp that called me to trust in the Lord, knowing how different the team worked this time round. Despite many head-cracking events and all the squeeze before the EME, all things went well, thanks to the big one up there!

The call to surrender is easy, but the act to surrender is difficult. Who would have known things would turn out well when every hope and trust is put on God? That is faith.

May the Spirit continue to work wonders in the lives of all those involved with the camp. May they be instruments to bring more glory and praise to the one who brought them out of the deepest pit from the camp.

All glory and honour and praise to the Almighty God~

Over Pastry and Chinese Tea

Picture - google search.

The week has been very hectic. Time was not on our side, and the ball never stopped rolling; it was nerve-wrecking.

As I sit here over cream puff and chinese tea, it feels nice to put life on hold for one moment. To spend time with beloved ones and just chill over laughter and smiles.

One more week before the big event. Let's pray all things go well, as God wills.

For I know the plans I have for you, plans that will not harm you but will prosper you and give you a future with hope. (Jer 29:11)

The Ending, and Beginning

2009 is ending soon... in 4 days. Come to think of it, this year moved quite fast. :) Perhaps because when you are busy, you don't realise time flies.

So, updates...



After weeks of practising hard and memorising scores, we ended up having...


The best carolling experience so far. :) Look at the smiles. Beaming shouts of joy!

Beautiful children singing beautiful songs with beautiful voices. Awesome.

That's Christmas. Celebration of a Son's birth, so great and mighty; trumpeted on rooftops and chimneys! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Which leads to...

New Year 2010! And another year of awesome happenings to look forward to!

Can't wait, can't wait!! XD

The Week

Ah I'm back... :)

After a whole long week of ....rush and all sorts of feelings and experiences, time to get back to reality and sit here and type again. So what's with the week?

Sunday - Tuesday: Mid-Term review of the Pastoral Focus on the Family by Archdiocese of Kuching. Had the priviledge of sharing my life story to 300 delegates from 11 parishes including the Shepherd and all other priests.. wow. :)

But with the car cooking my patience on the second day and causing lots of inconveniences and panic and worries, ah.... I almost died of I-don't-know-what-to-do... yet things just unfolded fine on its own at its own time.

Wed - "Break time" before the 'second half' of the week. Supposingly to get rest and take a break off the 3-day conference and prepare for the Leadership Formation camp (LFC) but... as usual, last minute-ness and craziness ate me up. Battery almost ran flat.

Thurs morning - supposingly get all shopping done for camp the day before but something else crept up and somehow things had to be done alone and unknown. So shopping carried forward and was "supposed" to go up Mt Singai in the morning but the car meragam again and caused more casualties. I got to rest no doubt, (well I needed it in the first place) but then things at camp happened and there were miscommunication and...no one's cooking for us? Thank God for an angel who just 'happened' to be at camp who's taking cooking lessons so he cooked for us with a team of half-pail knowledge assistants. :D

Camp dragged for 48 hours and we got back Kuching on Sat evening, of which we (as if not tired enough) went for makan and minum at Open Air and then back to office to chit chat and then later at night went to McD for a farewell drink with the "camp chef" before he leaves for studies.

Sunday - How time flies. It's a week gone. Supposed to get the assignment done, yet nothing's ready. Quiz on Monday yet I was flat at home, recharging. Mum insisted to go back to her dad's place so had to tag along and spent half morning, lunch and half afternoon there... Pond harvesting. :) Swimming in the mud for the guys = cool~ Got back home and dozed off for 15 minutes before going out again. I almost died. My legs ached madly, going up and down the mountain twice. I salute those guys going up and down 4-5 times, each time carrying stuff up, eg. diesel 5 gallon x 3 sets x 6 persons. Thank you guys. :) I'm sure you will be rewarded with muscles soon.

Sunday night - dinner. And there we laughed like crazy people who've never laughed before. Now with 4 crazy animators, we have a new generation of crazy student leaders. :S

Monday - morning I couldn't get my brain to work. Dad drove me home to sleep after mass and breakfast and I only touched on supply and demand 3 hours before the quiz. Brain froze at the start of it, but got it done in the end. Hope all's fine.

And so... the week's over. I've got office work piling up, camp work to be finished and some minors here and there to get settled. Life's just the beginning of something new. When one thing's done, something new and better creeps up. Till then, goodnight!

KAYD Weekend

Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Day (KAYD) just ended. :) Well, the weekend passed but I'm sure the memories and fire are still bright and burning in the hearts of servants and participants alike.

Having to juggle three ministries (two hectic ones to be exact) was enough to keep me on my feet. I sort of enjoyed being able to serve to my limits and give my all despite the moments of 'argh' here and 'gasp' there when things did not go as I expected. Perhaps they were meant to be as such, else there's no excitement. :D

Seeing youths from everywhere coming together as One, amazing. How God's love draws the hearts of many, young and old, far and near.. awesome, simply wonderful. Too magnificent for words; only actions can speak for His blessings.

The next one will be in 2011. Hoping to see the participants for KAYD09 serving in KAYD11. Let us build God's kingdom for all generations! Praise the Lord! :)

Back home

Got home two days ago after a whole long week of sessions with about 5 hours sleep at night to sustain the long hours during the day. Slept for 24 hours yesterday with 3 hours awake in between, broke my old record of 11 hours straight haha.

Anyway, the trip to Thailand was tiring but fun in a way that we slept so little yet could stay awake the whole day without complaints. The first day itself already was hectic due to the fact that we almost missed our flight and heard our names being called over the microphone while in the washroom! The run-for-your-plane was funny since we raced a European lady whose name was called too.

Upon reaching there, my friend's luggage got spoilt so we had a long wait for baggage claims but it was worth the wait. 350 baht. We were patiently waited by Kit, our old ASC friend together with his student Bank who thankfully could speak English-Thai so we had a good chat in the car while Kit drove at 180km/hr. Even though the session had already started, we took time and had dinner by the sea on the Floating Island enjoying life. Haha.

The sessions were great, in a way we learnt lots of new songs and actions and new words.. Not forgetting new friends and reuniting with old ASC friends - Reynard and Tui and Kit, Asian Team. The cultural night was funny yet fun, in which we from Malaysia performed bamboo dance which stirred the crowd to join us. My first time actually performing it but it was great. All went well. Malaysia won the AIDS quiz (so kiasu) and we greatly honoured all the countries for setting up wonderful exhibition booths (especially Laos who won the exhibition corner).

After a whole long week, goodbyes were exchanged; no tears though - as it was in the wee hours of the morning that most of the other countries left for the airport. The 3 of us went to Bangkok and visited Bank and Kit's school - so advanced! O.O My jaws practically dropped and my eyes couldn't stop staring in wonder.

We departed at the Assumption Cathedral as UCAN office boy came to pick us up. Sad to leave but life has to move on. We should not hold on to people, but to the memories we had. At UCAN we did interviews and it was rather funny to sit on such high chair and speaking in front of the camera. But we were paid that evening with a trip to the night market where shopping was the best for us. I bought less as my parents mistakenly calculated and gave me RM70 (700 baht) ONLY while my other friends shopped till I had to help carry their goods. All the same, it was great. They even went for Thai massage. I didn't. :P

Now that I'm back home, things had to be straightened out. College classes starting next week and camp preparations must be done for next month. Reports for this Thai trip to be out asap and I'm back to my busy life. Haha. Wish the trip was a week longer. :)

Pictures to be posted up soon, perhaps on Bangkok city and food. I won't bore you with the session pictures. But if you want to see them, check out facebook. :D

Weekend Work

The weekend was spent with an inter-campus camp. The camp was actually running well on Sat until I got phone calls from the office and under unavoidable circumstances, I had to rush down from camp site to do the work. Skipped lunch, worked full hours straight and rushed. Pressured, watched, supervised; rushed back to camp site after the 5 hour strain. Had taize prayers that night and went straight to bed after that. Never in my life had I been so tired. Even ASC was not that bad. This time it felt like I ran the whole ASC for 1 whole month.

Sunday. Finished camp. Came down rushed to office. It was 3pm and I stayed there till 1130pm. You may ask "Is that necessary?" I can't seem to find the right explanation for that. To say it is, I'm half-hearted. To say it's not, then what's with all the rush?

This morning, Monday - got it all done. But there was a story behind. I was at the tip of finishing everything, when the computer jammed. It just lagged and stopped responding. I thought perhaps I worked a bit too fast so waited for the lag to stop. But it didn't, instead it remained frozen. Switched it off, and it restarted. But it stopped at the loading page. And never moved for the next half an hour. It was 1030am and I had to get things done by 11am.

I was losing myself then. Didn't know what to do, was so worried about the work which I saved inside the computer only, not externally. And I went to dad and he came over and saw to things. Switched it off. Waited. He prayed over the computer, and it restarted. And all went well after that. No documents missing. The power of prayer.

Perhaps you reading this might not feel the real stress in handling such situations at the very last minute. Perhaps this does not apply to you. Perhaps this might even be a funny joke to you.

But all I can say is; despite the hecticness, the pressure, everything, God makes sure you are fit for it. He won't give you something you can't handle; he just wants you to take the extra step to do it for him. In my case, sacrifice. At the very last minute, this morning say - I was so tired from lacking of sleep after camp and burning midnight oil in the office, yet he kept me fit enough to just finish everything, and this afternoon I rested since all's done. He plans your path, and as long as you are willing to submit to him and face the waves that come alongside it, all plans will unfold nicely.

That's my weekend story. For camp story, perhaps another day. A busy week ahead, but I'll make time, hopefully. :)

Stop to Look

As I drove this afternoon and there was this mini roundabout I passed. I saw two cars eventually coming and yet I didn't brake. My right leg was on the brake pedal but I just didn't step on it. Instead I made the car slow down and the guy behind got really angry that you-know-what-drivers-do-when-they're-angry. Would just consider myself blessed so as not to be crashed and not to get the car crashed with my mum and cousins crashed too.

After that I drove rather quietly, hearing the words of advice from mum of which she panicked etc.. I thought to myself, I questioned myself in fact; why didn't I stop??

I suppose it was a tiring day, or perhaps the moody weather and the cooling air-con in the car, or maybe the smooth flow of the drive preventing me from breaking the motion.. I don't know. I was confused myself.

Now come to think of it. I should have stopped. The consequences were far more worse than I thought, but I overlooked them.

Lately I have been so caught up with things; involvements, priorities, passion, dedication.. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm busy with. And with all these things crowding around me, confusing me, I tend to overlook a lot of things. Seemed to have failed in everything.

But today's experience was one to remind to stop for a moment and do a check on myself. What IS my priority? What IS the thing I should be busy-ing with?

Perhaps getting things organised would do me good, to keep me on the go again. Or perhaps a cup of tea just to sit and list them all down would grant me freedom from confusion. And the commitment to do that - that's the first step to take. Never easy.

Giving or Running?

That trip.

IS it just an excuse I'm giving, not to go? The signs clearly showing up in front of me.. NOT to go. Even the one who has the final say finally put forth his views. "Should let others go.."

Then there comes the latch. Contradictions. Encouragements. "If you don't go, how would you be trained?"

Dilemma.

Cooking up excuses, finding out pros and cons of going. Doing SWOT analysis. What to do???

:(

To decide in 3 days! Someone... I want a hug..

End of ASC

ASC just ended. Everyone is writing about it. The people, the experiences, the events.. and everyone's missing it too. Hard to admit, but so am I.

I wouldn't write from Day 1 to Day 14, since most days had similar agendas. I would just share the summary from my own experience.

Overall, it was a memorable event. Awesome! (as Evelyn would term it), best LOC (as Asian team called us), Great! (as Kak Steph said). I myself would say, we are not the best LOC, but we just performed the very best we could by keeping ourselves focussed on God, and it turned out just fine, well, smooth. Praise God! Despite some glitches, miscommunication, minor problems here and there, we LOCs left an unforgettable memory in the hearts of our delegates, and we learnt a whole lot of new lessons from the delegates.

Through the many ups and downs, from the 40 days of Lent, entering Holy Week and finally facing Good Friday, the very much anticipated Easter came. The day when all things fell into places nicely, just as God planned them in the first place. Finally we stood on top of the mountain, enjoying the final view of the whole ASC after months of climbing and slipping now and then along the way. Thank you Lord. :) I'm just happy this offering is the best offering we could give to the Lord, and I pray we can give more in future!

To view photos, please find from facebook accounts of our Mutimedia Crew. To read more about stories from the event, please find from facebook, blogspot or multiply blogs. There are too many for me to list down, but I'm sure they're not too hard to find. :) There's a purpose for putting up links of 'people called friends' somewhere down there (scroll down), you know.

Thank you everyone for support and prayers! :) God bless!

ASC ends, but it's the beginning of something even more exciting! Are you up for it??

4 Days and COUNTING down

ASC.............. 4 days to go!!

I'm excited. Are you? International event....when on earth would we, STUDENTS (mostly age ranging 16 - 21) have another chance to organize such GREAT event??

Come to think of it.. WAOW. Amazing how God works. Apparently now suddenly got free time to write something. Usually I won't have time to even go to toilet at times just for the sake of MSNing or eBUDDYing other LOCs. Haha.

Hmm.. what to say. I'm getting excited. :D Hehe.

Steph jie said to us coordinators: "We must go all out for it. In other countries when ASC is being organized, their full time coordinators and working teams are SENIOR COLLEGE STUDENTS and ADULTS. And us, we Kuching YCS organize this with a team of SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, coordinated by fresh school leavers. We have studies problem, tuition problem, transport problem.. parents.. exams... and they don't have AS MUCH problems as we do! Now that's what we should be proud of!!" That hit it. We are younger in age and lacking in experience, but we can do as good as others could, for it is the LORD who is working in us!!

What's impossible for him?? Nothing.

With all these motivation, affirmation, assurance and signs from God, why worry when it is GOD who's doing the work? We're only his hands and feet. Why complain and fear? Why not rejoice and be joyful for God is using US, specially CHOSEN for this event?

I'm so excited for this. I used to worry about the financial thingy....but now come to think of it, why worry when God will mutiply loaves and fishes, God will tranform water into wine, and God will provide donkey for entrance into Jerusalem.??

God is so good ~ Alleluia!

We are counting down the days.... and you won't hear from me until 2 weeks later. Hehe! Perhaps I'll even find time to write a few lines during the event itself! Sharing of God's glory. So LOCs, GEAR UP! For God's glory! :)


John 17:23 "With me in them and you in me, may they be so perfected in unity that the world will recognise that it was YOU who sent me and that YOU have loved them as you have loved me."

Don't know what title

Seriously I have no idea what to write. So many things happening these few days, and my brain's been working extra hours without complaining.. yet.

The Youth Easter.Rally 09 was AWESOME. The preparations were killing everyone but the result was so GREAT that we all rose from the dead in the end. So many things happened during the 3-days conference. It was really a start for greater things. Just the right timing. Thank you Lord!

In line with that, ASC is just.. a week away. O.o I would say most things are almost done, yet not done... A lot of final things to be finalized. Committees are not helping with slow replies and pending requests. Well, everybody's got work to do.. and we can only accomplish our work IF everybody works together... :) T-shirts are coming out from the shells but booklets are still in the eggs not ready to break the shell yet. Things to buy are yet to be bought. And for once my file is full in one day's printing of updates. But all the same, let's work together to make it happen for God's glory!

TC's another one. I'm actually starting to let go of it slowly. I shouldn't be holding on to it anyway. But the experience I got from working with different people here is definitely a memorable and priceless one. About time I stand my ground now..

Actually I have so many more things to talk about. Somehow I think I need to clone myself to do more work at the same time. Apparently now multitasking and shifting windows Alt-Tab Alt-Tab non-stop trying to figure out what else to write. Hmm. Will be busy off starting tomorrow until....14 June for the ASC. Hopefully will have enough consciousness and energy to go back to class on 15 June - and that I don't sleep in class.

Back to work! I'm losing a few kgs already from all the mental movements. Haha. O.o Hope I don't bore you with these blah-ness. :P

The Pre-WEEK

It is so near now.... and so many things happening. Just a while ago I met a lady and there was conversation between us and WHOLA she sponsored gifts for the event, of which I thought of buying. Praise God!

So what's with all this rushing and tense situations...?

11th International Young Christian Students (IYCS) Asian Session & Council (ASC)2009

first-time ever to be held in SARAWAK, in KUCHING by KUCHING YCS.

WHOA. Big thing. International event, hosted by mostly unexperienced secondary school students and don't-know-what-to-do-at-first alumni YCS.

So what's this ASC? ASC is the highest decision making body for IYCS Asia. Once in 3 years, the student leaders of various national movements gather to decide on the orientation of the YCS movements in Asia.

And this time round, it's decided to have KUCHING to host such a grand event, of which will be attended by the Apostolic Delegate himself, coming as a representative of Holy Father the Pope.

O.O

I still can't believe such "little"state will be chosen..for such BIG thing... For those who humble themselves will be magnified, and those who magnify themselves will be humbled.. This verse is so true, though I can't exactly remember the verse.

But above all, this is for Him. This event - is His. Who are we to decide if we can have it going well, if we do not focus on Him?

It's a rushing week now. Prepare for everything with Plan B. Too many to list. Too much to write. I just pray everyone will be at their best health as we await the delegates and bring them closer to GOD through our preparations and joy in doing it!

For all glory is for Him. :)