have you already explored the new buildings that have been springing up? seems like the latest happening places are these places -- ION, Iluma, Orchard Central... and there are just MORE under construction. these fanciful places....are actually just fanciful.explored Iluma with Matt yest...and bcos of Matt's adventurous spirit and psycho-ing, i walked the whole building with him! and despite it being 6 storeys high, there are not many retail shops. the building has high ceilings and large spaces which Matt loves, but well i think its so under utilisation of space! like one level only has 4-5 shops? ok, it has food outlets, retails shops, cinema, and an arcade. hmmmm oh, the only quite fancinating thing about Iluma is the "sky" level where there is an outdoor rooftop garden (which is still under contruction so no entry), and a super cool lan gaming shop with large movie screens images of the game, and a super high class club (yes clubbing club). so it seems, Iluma is not a place for people like me. I'd still very much prefer to shop at Bugis Village. Iluma is well...too atas for me. and also, too high class to shop for bargains. hmmm..i think the next time, i'd most likley be found outside Iluma to admire the lights rather than be inside.and for once, i combed the entire National Library. okie that was a bit of exaggeration, ha i just went to every level. and did you know it has ELEVEN levels? i didn't know! And ok, the top few levels are really boring, reminds me of the NUS library.....with all the reference sections! and i think this is worse, cos the reference sections has books that you wouldnt want to read! It has a section on all the chinese books and they are like the super old wu lin mi ji (manual) kinda books. As Matt and i browsed through the sections, i just cant help but kept exclaiming "so boring!" i really wonder WHO will go read that kind of books!
and i think National Library stands out as a building la but probably not as interesting inside. and finally we reached the familiar floor where it feels like the normal neighbourhood library at B1, but it was packed with people and many common sitting areas. and hmmm.. not very conducive to reading i would think with so many people; like no privacy. i prefer to read in a isolated corner. :) but i would say, this level has all kinds of books! they have books on photography and adobe photoshop. Good for general knowledge or if you wanna learn a skill or two! well... after the exploration, we finally went for dinner at V8 at bugis. This is our second time there, and i must say we really love the food! A must try is the cheesy wedges! The food are very affordable and super delicious. :) its a satisfied dinner. :) except the super spicy sambal. okie.. thats all for the new buildings! Will be exploring ION next mon! Will update again!
i shouldnt be blogging now cos i am at work. but i just felt like penning some thoughts. i guess it will help me focus on my work later! haha.. like clear some things off my mind.
i've been wanting to blog past few days but i dunno what i should blog about. its like bits and pieces of information which i have no luxury of time to string together. let me try attempting to pen them here.
time with Matt:
has been really enjoyable and laidback...esp times where we are both tired from the day, and just want to nua. times when we are just contented taking bus rides, walking distances, eating or sitting down. its just the mundane things we do, but i think its really not what we do that matters, but who we're with. and for us, just spending time with each other speaks volumes.
the only downside to being attached is that now i get lesser dates. :(
work:
packed with stuff to do! i think i've had more meetings this month than all the past 6 months! there will be changes to my jd which means i will be doing different things than when i first joined. all along, i just did youth work and programs, now i will have to handle casework and counseling, do outreach, attend networking meetings and conduct groupwork sessions. all of which i'd rather not, cos i just have the passion and heart for youth work. I guess this expansion of jd is not necessarily bad, but it means i will have to do the stuff i dont naturally like and to be out of my comfort zone more times than once. hmmm.. well.. i dont have much of a choice.
the one big stone on my shoulder now is the dec cambodia trip where my colleague and i will be leading a grp of 26 youths and young adults to do community service. this is a task bigger than myself that i am often taunted by the expanse of it all! to be really frank, i have no confidence to lead all of them. i feel this is so beyond me. and i often lay this expedition before God and tell him to lead and guide me. i cannot imagine myself leading this without Him.
AHH:
my baby and burden. this is my 3rd year leading as a cell leader. and i have grown attached to this group of brothers and sisters. there have been many changes in these few years, and ha..i feel i have weathered the storms with you, i've been stretched, i've grown, i've sacrificed, i've gained, i've cried, i've laughed, i've aged. lol. i dunno what legacy i'd leave behind. but it was definitely a defining period of time in my life where much of my christian self was moulded. my top prayer request for cell is always growth. growth in knowledge and understanding of God, growth in faith, hope and love, growth in service to God, growth in hunger and desire for the Lord, growth in spiritual maturity. this cell will always remain close to my heart, and God's heart. jia you. :)
spiritual condition:
i've been reflecting and i believe i am currently underchallenged and stagnant. and i guess i am ready for new adventures with God! i miss the times of being stretched and seeing God work the miraculous. Partnering God to do the impossible and incredible. Thats really something! and i miss those times. Life now is stable, comfortable, steady and boring.. ha. i guess only a few of you really understand my sentiments. maybe some of you think i'm asking for trouble, or more work! But i want a life filled with God or nothing at all! Jesus promised an abundant life and i dont wish to live any lesser. i guess... cambodia will be a roller coaster ride. hmmm. :)
relocation:
soon in a few months' time, i will be moving out from my humble abode and home of 10 years. i feel so sad to leave this place i've grown to love; esp its central location and convenience. and i will have a lot of packing to do! really dislike the packing and unpacking part. and thats why i've haven started! given the other things happening, this is like the least of my concern, yet i believe it will be a major adjustment for me and family in this later half of the year.
transitions:
change is coming, again. in times of change, i am just so thankful my God doesn't!
its truly a blessing to be loved.i've entered into a new phase of my life, where the "I" have become "We". and... i'm happy..or rather we're happy. :) i really thank God for you. :)i guess this journey has been quite daunting for me; esp when i've been single for the last 24 years! and with no prior relationship experience, all i have to approach and view this relationship has to come by faith and trust in God. i really have no other things to fall back on. and i'm leaning SOLELY and FULLY on God, trusting that He knows better and what is best for me.and of cos, it really helped that my mentor, pastor and Matt kept me in prayer. the very amazing thing we realise about this relationship is that GOD LOVES US VERY MUCH! God's love for us has been so evident as we interact with each other. God created the opportunities for us to spend time together. God made the wonderful weather. God brought people who blessed us. God preserved our feelings for each other. God taught us to recognise the attacks of the evil one. God helped keep us accountable through Brenda and Ps Esther, both of whom loves us very much and are very supportive; people who have been there for us all the way. and as we reflect on this amazing journey, it is hard to miss God's hand. our love story has been written by the greatest lover of the universe. it is such an awesome privilege.we're honoured and humbled.Fully aware and knowing that we are loved by the greatest lover.This, is the greatest love of all.yes, we're very much in love with each other, but we're more in love with God! and God is EVER so in love with us! God is so in LOVE with YOU!
His love just completes and sustains.so................. i pray for all you my dear readers, that you'll be in love too! :)and while we work at this relationship and love each other, i pray that our walk with God will only get deeper, purer and higher. :)
Here at 2am, i am using my cousin (Tina)'s laptop to blog. yes, i am staying over at her house tonight. and guess what she is doing now while i'm typing this? she's worshipping God by playing the guitar. yes, at this hour. and i feel super unholy while with her in the room! and i tell her, her worship is anointed, and i really sense God's presence and spirit as she sings and plays. and i am led to join her in singing and praying. yes, and i feel super unholy. :( cos... i am here blogging on the comp.
and as we shared about what God has been leading us in our lives, we realised today was a divine appointment. God used my sharing to remind her of God's calling. And God used her to inspire and encourage me. WOW is the word to describe my thoughts as i hear her share her calling. and like i told her, i would never have expected what and who she has become today. God has really worked so powerfully and mightily in her life. Truly when i look at her life, the word is really, transformed. God turned her whole life around. It is amazing to see what has taken place in her life. Almost all of who she was in the past took a 180degree change after she accepted Christ. No one in the family would actually expect her to accpet christianity as she had always been a pious taoist. But by God's divine intervention and grace, she came to know God, and her life was never the same again.
now, whenever i see her, she is just so full of God's love, joy and peace...and i 'm reminded of what an awesome and great God i have. He really work mighty wonders! He is mighty to save........anyone.
I was given my 1st 'case' (counseling client) this tues, and a 2nd one yest.
receiving the case notes from my director who passed me in a 'matter of fact' manner stunned me cos i never expected it to come so soon. i mean we were just discussing about me taking on cases just last week, and like 'da..ta..' (flash of time) it CAME THIS WEEK!
so ya i was quite taken aback. not that i am not prepared for it, but that it came SOONER than i expect.
and it is SIGNIFICANT for me to receive the 1st case, cos it is my 1st casework and counseling since i joined REACH as a social worker 1 and a half years ago. So its really something 'new' for me to do at REACH cos all along i've been doing youth programs, managing events and youth volunteers. Now i will have to do counseling work with people of other ages and of all ages. like really do what a social worker is meant to do.
AND.. i really thank God that i received my 1st case after 1 and a half year; cos its really rare to have a social worker not do casework and counseling...and for 1 year plus! thats' like really unheard of? and the time allowed me to adjust, prepare myself and to overcome my fear of the traumatic attachment experience to once again feel comfortable and ready to take on counseling again. so ya, i'm really grateful for this time of preparation.
i dunno whether i'll be able to manage well when the cases start streaming in, but i know God has been good, and He will see me through. :)
i really dont like farewells.
yet i've faced several major farewells in my life which left me very saddened each time. and i wonder why people who leave me are people i love or am close to. its also emotionally challenging to deal with someone u love/close to leaving,; exiting your life. not to mention its painful too.
and i realise, i still feel the pain with each farewell, i dont get used to it. but i get stronger with each. and i used to question why God would have me go through such painful process, but now i am beginning to see why. with each farwell, i learnt to surrender and let go. i learnt to trust in God's sovereignty, and His will. I learnt to trust in His character. i learnt to depend on God and God alone. i learnt to be strong. I learnt never to give up faith, hope and love. i learnt to love and cherish those around me.
i still dont like farewells. but i trust and know that God is in control no matter what. and i know you'll be best in God's hands. its hard to say goodbye, but i know God will hold you wherever you go. Take lotsa care wherever u are, and .....just remember to miss me and meet up with me!!! :)LOVE YA!
