weekend in lundu

I won't say much but I would like to thank God for the opportunity to join the iccts. I really have learned a lot and gotten close to everyone there. I see myself in a position where God just works and all he requires of me is being willing.

So we went to this kampong in lundu, i don't consider it a missions trip because there was already a church there but it was definitely cross-cultural and the team was an international team. It was nice to see how everything played out. We came there and felt like strangers but in a few days we all kind of got close to the people, especially the children :) Some became mothers to a few hehe. I was really blessed the way God worked.

Here i will like to share some pictures I took during the weekend as promised.


Some of the boys, the first one from the left, nick can play the drums, acoustic guitar and bass. He even thought me how to play the g-chord.


Whoa there's sir alex. Cute kid, we got really close


Look its simon and Naomi


She is so shy but not to amanda :(


kak Natashya hehe


Thats a dead baby snake surrounded by ants


there were lots of durian. I still dont understand how people can eat durian.


Who's that? the kids look puzzled


Hey little girl, why are you not coloring with the rest?


Aunty Janna and abang leslie the translator


We got close to the animals too not just the humans. Someone thought pechu was a good name for this doggy so thats what we called her.There are three of them, this one, pechu No. 1 was the most friendliest No. 2 liked to play a lot so was always out playing, No. 3 was too shy and scared.


comel comel

If there's one thing i learned is that God an use anyone and any situation for his purposes. God bless you :)
~shalom~

in 2008

Wow 2008. Like every year its full of hopes of things we would like to improve. In the beginning of this year I was not sure what to make of it. I was not sure where i would channel my strengths to and where God wants to lead me. It felt strange but I thank God for letting me know a bit of what He requires of me this year.

RELATIONSHIPS
Part of what we do at ICCTS is personal reflections and its nice to be able to do that and really articulate where you're heading, where you are now and how you're going to get there. So one day when I was doing just that I felt God wants me to build the relationships around me. Relationships with people, with my family especially with my dad. I must confess that I can get very preoccupied with my life here that communicating with them suffers. I need to make ever effort to talk to the man.

My relationship with God must be strong if i wish to grow this year. Last year was so-so but I can't afford this year to be just another one of those years where nothing happens.

Blessed to be a Blessing
If you have been to the condensed world missions course or the kairos course you would understand what this means. For me its a good reminder that Abraham's covenant covers me too. That when God promised to bless Abraham and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. He also says the same for me who through faith in Jesus are a partaker of the Abrahamic covenant. So for all the blessings I have been receiving all these years, i must always be looking for a way to channel it to bless someone else or some people else and who it is i cannot choose.

2008 is also a time of mindset change. I think in my life, there are a lot of things i hold on to or things i've allowed to hold on to me that are not suppose to be in my life. Some mindsets of how some things should be and all that.

Also I would like this blog to be a place of refuge. I know life is tough and its good to vent but i believe the children of God should not spend their time in mourning. Seasons change and well i'm reminded of the verse that says rejoice in the Lord and again i say rejoice. After all the joy of the Lord is our strength. And worship is not a feeling but a choice. :) So by God's grace there will be more encouraging posts here in the coming days and weeks and I hope months and years.

I would like to wish someone very special to me a happy birthday :D I can't believe you're already 21. Sorry cannot get a cake for you wo :(

~shalom~

walking the familiar

With the story of mary and martha in mind. Martha being the eldest charged with the responsibility to take care of guests and teach the same to her sister so society requires. So was it wrong for her to do what is normal for this guest that they had? Certainly not. But her disqualification was not in her doing but in her choice.

Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. And there is a time and a season for everything. Sometimes I can get caught up in the busyness of serving and doing things that I lose sight of what is more important; sitting at his feet and just spending that time with him. Really nothing can compare to that time when he's mine and i'm his. Of course this is always true but reinforced in that time.

Someone said once, relationship ends where communication stops. And its true for both relationships with humans and with our heavenly father. And when that communication is lacking, things become stale and boring. There's no more freshness, just mundane.

I feel something inside me yearning, wanting for more but my body and mind does not seem to be cooperating. We were meant to live for so much more... So so much more.

I know you bid me come, but i must confess I've just run in and as fast as i came, run out and not really stayed a while and get to communicate. I'm sorry, I need you more Father. I can't do it on my own.

~shalom~

its spring in kuching

So on the 10th the spring finally opened its doors to the outside world. I was surprised the made their deadline. I felt ashamed for myself, kept saying they won't make it but their opening day was better than boulevard's.

I brought my phone/camera with me and as usual, here are some visuals for you.


The area around the spring was packed to overflowing capacity by both cars and people. But we were fortunate to get a very good parking spot regardless of the chaos. Thank God for that.


just look at all the people. And the water thingy is cool to watch.


the roof, the simple version hehe


the roof towards the back of the building


roof the richer version


these people looked funny dancing and the moderator was like tiga, empat, lima, satu. You just have to listen to it to know la.


all the curious people


look, its mr. energizer


padini opening soon


the face shop, you won't find a lot of men here.


f.o.s


another apple store. I want a mac!


i like this shot


one clown


two clowns


another starbucks.

So the question some might be asking, the spring or boulevard? Definitely the spring.

~shalom~

pictures from my week

Wow this is the first post of 2008. So this week we went out a bit. Boulevard opened in kuching not so long ago and we had the chance to go check it out. Its still under construction so you will see a lot of people fixing things here and there but its nice to have another place to hang out and maybe shop. One thing i can say is that its rather cold there.


there she be.


kfc opening soon


sushi king already open. Don't think i'll be coming here. Although i'm half japanese, i don't like sushi.


pizza hut soon to be open also

We went with two girls to invariably we went to the ladies section and i found this



it reads: to sleep is to rest, to love is the best.

Then we (a few nigerians) had dinner with caleb





We saw caleb off to the airport his morning after a malaysian breakfast :) Most people are back in their schools but i'll be here until mid February I think. Not so sure when i'll be going back.

Next week is ICCTS wo so I don't think there will be frequent updates here since we'll all be very occupied. God bless you this year and make you a blessing.

~shalom~