A beautiful gal whom i got to know better recently - Diana. There's an unique bond of love and gentle fun that we both share. Thank you for being in my life, Diana. =) *HUGS*
Christmas celebrations service!
Pretty Sharon in a pretty white dress - my Christmas present for her. =) *hugs*
Dearest Nozomi and Eri in town! Miss them sooooo.
Two peektures, which i surprisingly discovered, summarise what the Lord has done for me during the Israel trip!
Peekture ONE 
Before departure. What a tired and dull looking me! (My spirit was a little down in the week before the trip)
Peekture TWO
Arrival back to Singapore. God works in amazing ways. After two nights of intense lack of sleep due to rushing to airport and travelling on plane, i actually looked more refreshed and joyful this night.
Yes God met me in breathtaking ways in Israel, and He restored my soul and topped up His living waters in me.
Thank you, the wonderful youths above, for taking the time to send and/or fetch me at the airport. Simple gestures these are, but they touched me largely. =)
* * *
The whole west coast of Israel is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea (above), ever so exotically blue.Eunice, Stephanie and I spent the time after Ps's message singing as we swung our legs over the Galilee waters to the beat of the songs of worship to the Lord.
I discovered that.... I might have been a MacDonald's kid! (Below: MacDonald's sign in Hebrew)
To our delight we had a Chinese lunch! The fare was simple but it caused our taste buds to rejoice and leap.
The restaurant is opened by a pair of Christian Chinese. Their words on the wall definitely lifted me a lot - that I can always depend on God to start afresh (picture on the left), and God's joy is truly the best medicine (picture on the right) - exactly what God had given for me in the first 3 days of Israel!
* * *
Tadaaa..... this is the end of Part 1. Stay tuned for more! Ha.
Want to end here by giving thanks for one of my best travelmates Angela (see below!). We had a wonderful time together the whole of our 4th day, and wow how mightily did we bless each other.
ONE OF THE MOST MINDBLOWING MOMENTS:
Me: 'Angela!! Do you know my greatest passion is dance!' (I had NEVER mentioned this to Angela ever)
Angela: 'So scary. Just a few seconds before you told me this, i had a vision of you dancing with a tambourine! Out of nowhere!'
Both of us: 'Oh GOD.... You are with us!'
Me in my mind: 'Wow God, thank YOu for remembering and affirming this God-given passion!' (Nearly really to tears)
Dear Meishan invited me to her community event last night. Tired as i was, i thanked God tremendously when i was there, that i went.
I saw so many smiles of truest joy on the faces of so many kids, especially the moment each of them received the balloon sculptures he/she had asked for.
Not just the children, even their parents seemed to wear a more simple and childlike delight, seeing the colours and shapes.
And most importantly, i observed the dedication, commitment and patience in Meishan as she twisted balloons after balloons, having to manage and entertain both the event visitors and also the helpers. Every other minute, she might have turned to me, holding up her finger, saying 'Pain pain', but she always did that with a sweet smile, not as an act of complaint at all.
So proud of her. =)
See what she personally folded for me in the picture above!
She intentionally stayed later just to keep her promise to fold a gift for me. I requested that she rested instead, since she was tired and her finger was painful. But she replied with her sweetest smile again, 'It's okay. I promised you mah. I want to fold for you'.
Simple act of love. Simple gifts. But they touched my heart tremendously. =)
(Even if i had to carry the balloon sculptures on the mrt after that, and had the people around me staring at me. Ha. Maybe they were admiring the sculptures) =)
The Fern and the Bamboo
One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my
spirituality.... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to
have one last talk with God.
"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me.
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good
care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew
from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came
from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And
again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I
would not quit. The same in year four.
"Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant.
But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and
gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a
challenge it could not handle.
"Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been
struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the
bamboo. I will never quit on you.
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a
different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. And
He will never give up on you.
Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences; both
are essential to life.
--Author Unknown
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