Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Mum & Sis vacationing in Budapest & Prague

Last Thursday, 21 June, I sent mum and sis to T3 to catch their flight to Doha and then transfer to a flight to Budapest. They have been travelling for nearly a week now. Sis has been sending lots of nice, picturesque shots home via whatsapp. I believe they should be on their way to Prague pretty soon. I have been enjoying my time without them - living life at my own pace. Attending conference that I enjoy, going to JB to check on Brownie, and basically just savouring solitude which I do not get enough of when both mum and sis are around.

Cousin TF's Passing

My beloved cousin TF went to be with the Lord on 21 April 2018, about two months and six days ago. I travelled down to KL on a coach to attend her funeral on 22 April. My mum and sis were by her side as she passed on, along with a host of close family and relatives. She waited till her favourite niece Nat returned from the UK to KL to bid her farewell, before breathing her last. Also, the last person she beheld was her favourite auntie J who was by her side daily during the last week of her life in the hospital. I give thanks for my cousin TF who had given so much of her time, talent and treasures to her immediate family, extended family and church family. I will always hold cherished memories of this dearly beloved "tai jie jie" in my heart.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

1st Post for 2018

It is already 26th June 2018 and almost half a year of 2018 has gone by. My last entry on this blog was last October, two days after my 27th baptism anniversary where I recounted God's greatest blessing - in keeping my faith in Jesus well and alive.

June has been very eventful for me. The 5th Asian Christian Teachers Conference happened during 15-18 June at ACS Barker Road. The nearly 100 international delegates from ASEAN (Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Timor Leste, with a sprinkling from Singapore) stayed at Oldhall Hall. The morning sessions and evening vespers were held at the Drama Theatre and afternoon workshops and seminars were held at the Learning Centres at the Secondary Block. Together with the local participants, we had over 170 delegates. I was thoroughly exhausted but exhilarated throughout the very inspiring conference. It brought back some wonderful memories of the 1st Asian Christian Teachers Conference I helped organised at the newly opened Girls' Brigade Centre in 2003. I remember back then, we had Rev John Ting speak on the theme "Jars of Clay". For this year's conference, the highlight for me was definitely Ms Seah Jiak Joo's nightly vesper.

Following hot on the heels of ACTC2018, was EAST Faculty and Staff Retreat 2018, at Changi Cove, themed "One Heart". We had Dr Daniel Chua, senior pastor of Mount Carmel share from God's word in 1st and 2nd Samuel, highlighting the spirit of Jonathan and the spirit of Saul, and their differing relationship with David, God's anointed. We were called to imitate and cultivate the spirit of Jonathan when relating with our fellow co-workers with the Lord. The retreat was a refreshing time for most, if not all, of us who attended.

Over last Friday and Saturday, I was able to attend sessions at Go Forth 2018, with the theme, "Go Forth, Go Urban". I was deeply inspired by the messages of God's call on Singapore as the Antioch of Asia, way back from 1978 by Billy Graham. I was also inspired by how God has been using Singapore since and is continuing to use Singapore from then till now and into the future. I am blessed to be part of this call that God has placed on Singapore.

1st post in May

I did not realise that I had not posted any entries in March and April. Seok Ting's birthday was in March and I ordered Swensen's de...