backyard up-do!

I must say, our back yard is really overgrown. The grass ( no, maybe it's not grass anymore!) is about knee level and the weeds in one area is taller than me. So one day, dad and I decided to clear the mess. I even thought snakes might just be lying low under those thorny bushes.

While cutting, raking and trimming Aaragon accompanied us by eating the grass or chasing after imaginary birds and cats.

"Yup! I'm tired already". said Aaragon.

His Creation...

Studies have really opened up my eyes.

Exams for all of us should not just be for the paper we receive but rather the learning journey we go through. It's the process rather than the examination.

However, the exam is an incentive to make you look forward and work towards learning more.

This journey has been really exciting. I've never known the world we live in to this extent. It gives me a sense of awe and reverence of God's wisdom and His creation.

This complex world that He made in just 6 days. WOW! Think about it. Isn't that amazing?

I'm also grateful for my parents who mentor and guide me through my learning experience. Preparing a student for a particular exam isn't always easy.

I love the discussions we have at the dinner table, or just lying on the sofa. I thank God that they are interested in my studies and create a good environment for me to learn more.

I think we can never stop learning, and never stop being in awe of who God is and what He has done and will do.

D.A.D

BLESSED BIRTHDAY MY DAD!! :)))

And everything I want to say is what I've expressed today!

Actions speak louder than words so planning this surprise is my gift!

(half of the family picture)

(we had a lil' tea party!)

4 YEARS!

It has been 4 years since we've first stepped into Thailand! These years has personally been the years which I've grown in faith. And that definitely has been very exciting and challenging!
The times here has taught me a lot of things in life, it opened my eyes and my heart.

Yesterday was the last day of "school" or english lessons for the kids I teach at Baan nana.
This is the summer break for all the local schools as well! So as the kids have their holidays I've to study harder as I've a little bit more time now. This March, we would be having a children camp at Mae Gone, so we've also been occupied at planning the programme.

Tonight there would be a rally by Will Graham at Chiang rai! I'm excited about it!

Belated Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year was a great time for me! =) Celebrated reuion dinner with Cantonese and Singaporean missionaries! It was a good time of fellowship and sharing of each culture's delicacies! On the third day of the new year, we left for the moutains to a friend's village-a Lahu village. We tasted their "nian kao" ( new year cake) and it was pretty good! We played fire-crackers and fire-works and even dance the tribal dance!

(the new year cake!)

happenings and things in my week...

When we came back and returned to Baan nana we found out that the storeroom, library and the first-aid room has been burnt down! Some kids were playing with fire and the house caught on! Within 3o minutes, everything was gone. Medicines, supplies for school, everyday necessities and all the books they had!

So right now, they're slowly buying medicines, soaps and laundry powder to start off again.

They're thinking of building a new one soon but yet to find funds to do that.

For the past 6 months that I have taught at Baan nana, we've been using the library as a classroom. It was a bright and clean place that had a plastic sheet over the cement floor. Last week, I returned to teaching! But it was a challenge to find a new place. We tried the office on thursday but it was too cramp as this year we have 6 more kids than the last. On Friday we wanted to go to the main hall ( the Church) but it was locked up. So we decided to go to a nearby villa (bamboo house) to have class. It was a pretty scenic place over a small stream directly below us. The danger was, things fall in. And it did! My teaching cards! Haha! It's now being dried. Overall, I think we should go back to the villa for lessons. It's a nice place. =)

Another thing to thank God for is that Achan Sompong was ordained as a Rev. after 13 years in ministry!

Into the new year! 2010

Hello there! It's been a month since I've last posted! The trip back to Singapore was great!

It was really nice to meet up with old friends, especially my kindergarten friend!
What I really enjoyed most was my church youth camp. It was a time of bonding and experiencing God.For one of our sessions, we prepared tracts and packed it with buns to give to mainland Chinese constuction workers. A friend and I played the violin and the rest of the youth sang a chinese christian song. It was a meaningful time for us, and I hope they were blessed as well.

Music has open many doors for me, in places I wouldn't expect to be and I thank God for that. =)

Another thing I'll like to share is for this upcoming year in which I have to take my O' level exams. I've always worried about what and how I'm suppose to pass my exams and when and where to take it. This morning, the tittle for my daily quiet time was " Fear of the Unknown". It said, " Never be afraid to entrust the unknown future to the all-knowing God." It really struck me that I've not been really trusting God that He's going to work things out, but rather I've been depending on myself.

So all of us out there, God has a purpose and plan in everything He does and leads you to. And remember, always trust Him! =)

new BOOTS!! =)

Dad got new farming boots! Looks like 'Pua Chu Kang huh? too bad it isn't yellow! Dad has been farming lately planting tomatoes,cassava (tapioca), banana, pandan leaves and chye sim! And not to mention a passion fruit creeper and a lychee tree (already planted by the landlord)
that yielded abundantly this year! We've also bought a lime tree! :))
Hopefully we'll get to eat our crops soon!

"True Friend" camp

So it has been a week since I've posted! It has been a really busy week for me with two camps going on! Well, I'll let the pictures talk! We had so much fun! The pictures below are from the Shan kids camp, the BNN youth camp pictures would be posted later! On other news, my family and I have enrolled ourserlves to thai lessons again after a year of break!! I'm pretty excited but yet hesitant as it would take up time for other studies. Anyway, enjoy your week ahead!

camps!

From the start of tomorrow I'll be busy! We'll be helping out at the youth camp at Baan nana and kids camp at the shan village! Whew... Lord give me strength! =)

On the day that Aaragon was found, it was also the day where I played at a concert! =) I've been CYO for about 1 and a half years, and it has been fun and a good experience! I've met thai friends there and one girl ( the picture above) has been especially dear to me. I've been keeping in contact with her as she recently moved down to Chiang mai for studies. I've talked to her about God and shared with her a tract. Please keep her in your prayers! =)

I'll be gone for several days!

was lost but now am found!

Aaragon has been found! =)) Praise God!
We've posted up some 'missing dog' notices and have been waiting for calls to come.
Yesterday, after five days since Aaragon went missing, two girls spotted him ( they must have seen the notice) and followed him. He stopped at our friend's home where he use to stay when we were on vacation. The two girls knocked at our friend's home and asked whether he was their dog. Quickly they called my parents to tell of the exciting news! =))
Aaragon was found covered with all types of dirt you can imagine, poo, mud, sand, etc. He stank! My dad and our friend bathed him before letting him go home, when he got home, dad bathed him another time!
I really really am soooo thankful! Those 5 days that Aaragon went missing were days that I really learned to trust in God. To know that our lives are fully controled by God with a plan He is unfolding. =)) I'm grateful for that lesson Lord. You can ask me for the story about God working in my life those few days. It's just too long to put in here!

missing my missing dog....

Aaragon has been missing for two nights. We usually let him out by himself and he will always come back after a short while. Two days ago, we had let him out at around 4:00pm and he came back after that. At around dinner time, there was some fire-works celebration. Aaragon has been very scared of the noise and so we had put out his box to hide. We tried to give him his dinner but he refused so we decided to feed him later after our dinner.
At about 8:00pm, we went out looking for him. We searched everywhere, he wasn't there. And we realised that we had forgotten to close the gate when he came back home earlier that afternooon. My heart sank at knowing that he had ran away because he was scared. I wished I had close the gate when he came home.
We quickly took our torch and looked for him in our neighbourhood. He wasn't there.
That night was the most hard night to sleep through, my thoughts race thinking of the worst.
I couldn't wait for daylight to come.
The next day, I got on the motorbike with dad and continued our search. We went at least 4 times an hour each time. Still no sight Aaragon.
Today, we went out again but Aaragon wasn't in sight.

I've prayed countless times, why doesn't God want to answer I keep thinking. That I cannot fathom. My dad said that maybe God wanted to teach us a lesson. When our dog is lost we are sad isn't it? So how much more we should grief when a soul is lost for eternity.Maybe God wants us to go share the gospel with more courage.

So Lord, give me courage to share the gospel and can you please please send Aaragon back to us? Help us to locate him. Please pray for Aragon that he'll be safe. Right now I can't think of anything else except Aaragon. I can't concentrate on doing my homework. Lord, bring Aaragon back. PLEASE.

LOVING you always

Having a sister around again is something special! The way she and the kids talk is so nice to hear, watching her teach with experience is something I need to learn. The kids never cease to brighten ones day and especially my sister's! Creating a special bond with them ever so fast!

Yesterday, my sister left for Singapore. Goodbyes to me are hard, but yet I've been so immune to it. This one though I cannot, it was hard. Having a brother in one other country and having a sister in another country. That makes it hard. Thank God for skype! =)

After a one hour english lesson, we'll have story time and games time. The kids just shrill with laughter everytime we play. Each child has their own character to love. And I know they're specially and wonderfully made by God.

WELCOME BACK!

These past few days have been a great time! =) Talking together, singing together, shopping and all the other things you can think of! It's great that my sister had a weeks break off her studies.
She has been so stressed and tired that this trip is also a sleeping and recouperating time for her. We're going to Burmese school tomorrow to visit the kids and pass out the snacks left over from the Tehs! =)

good times....

The Tehs and Rachel was here for 5 days! =) They taught Character First and they did a great job. We went to two schools, two mountains and just enjoyed each other's fellowship. The kids really enjoyed the night that they held the chalk talk and gave out the bomerangs! The analogy was great, telling us that whatever we do, it'll come back to us. Our speech and our attitudes. Just like the bomerangs. Today they've left and the house is quiet again. Thank you for coming! I'll never forget our supper times!

26+1 = 27!

27 Blessed years together! Dad and mom you both has been an example to me and I'm sure to many others. Time doesn't prove how blisful marriage is, but its the love in the years that prove. I can see the love for Christ in you.

For a little get a way time, we went for a road trip up to the mountains. We let open our truck's windows and took in the fresh air and the scenic view. We had breakfast at a cafe in a flower garden and had a good time! =)

Please Pray...

Nin jar is a sweet boy that has been in Baan nana for less than a year. He has been such a cheerful, bright and active boy. Recently he has lost his parents both to cancer.

Just last week, he went back to his country to study further. I'm sad that he has left, but I'm glad that he wants to pursue to study further. Please pray that he'll keep God close to his heart, and he'll not pick up bad things and he'll know what is right from wrong. Thank you! :)

a "t" but also a cross!

Every time kids do say something funny that you'll want to remember. Yesterday while teaching at Baanana, they just cracked me up.

Me: What letter is this? (* draws a "t"alphabet)
Kids: a cross!!
Me: (started laughing) yes it is, but it's also "t"!

I'm really happy that they have the impression that I like to teach them about Christ.And when they see the cross or "t", it reminds them about Jesus! =)
Seeing them learn is a blessing, being with them is being blessed. Yesterday, Kannah ( a boy that is a little bit slow in learning) could finally remember how to write his name in English! I was so proud of him!

Tissue (literally) has been helping me alot too! Everytime the kids get any squable and they really do kinda fight ( with a real tight fist), I hand out the "magic tissue"
The magic tissue does clear up quite alot of tears! And of course I do talk with the offender.
Teaching this little kids has taught me alot of stuff and I'm happy for that! =)

BNN News: Painting...

The kids were painting the meeting hall! Although I don't quite agree on the colors it is going to be worth it! The kids had their share of fun and I had my share by looking at them.

Previously, the NTU team from Singapore had scrub the walls outside and painted them. Now the kids did the inside of it. ( the walls were painted with mud last time!)

I'm sure this Sunday will have a different atmosphere! =)

Scenes from Laos

This is our third time entering Vientiane. This time was for the same reason, our visa.

We praise God that we're permitted to get an O visa! This means that we could stay for 3 months and with later extension, a year!

We traveled there by train ( it was comfortable!) and took another train which brought us arcoss the border. I was allowed to take some photos in the cockpit! Anyway, below are scenes from Laos that never fail to amuse me. There is always something unique around the corner. It just stands out!