And off she goes

Today marks the last day for Logos Hope berthing in Singapore.
Though she isn't exactly leaving yet but moving to Keppel Bay, still she will always be on my heart.

She may not be the ship I was onboard in 2006 but the stark similarities with the Doulos just brings back memories.

Memories of the many nationalities onboard; memories of the friendships forged and many more...

Still I can only pray that if it is God's Will, then I will be back for a 2 year stinct.
Then again, I don't want to go onboard with a wrong attitude and mindset so I'm watching what God is saying.

Till then, these are some of the people I'm gonna miss!

Desiree! Had to leave her quickly else she'll weep in the bookstore!

Yoshi! See you in 2013!

Marcel the Handsome German!

Steven the friendly guy who is so tall!!!

Francois! If only time would slow down!

Madeleine!

Barnard the Bossman of Tours!

Captain Ahoy!

Today is the second last day the Logos Hope will be in Singapore.

Kind of sad yet excited to know that if God willing, He will make a way to put me on the ship for 2years. God willing that is.

Anyway, it has been a great experience and exposure, getting to know heaps of new friends and going around the ship explaining little details to curious tourists.

Tonight was a little special. Got to spend a bit of time with a Singaporean ex-captain with OM.
His involvement with OM and giving His time to God is just admirable.
So I figured I must take a photo with him! =)

And you're leaving on a jet plane

I had barely known the Lugao family for 2 weeks and tonight, they are enroute back home to Brazil.
Here lies one of the saddest part of the ship ministry is that everyone comes and goes pretty much all the time.

This family has been a exemplary model to many around them and I thank God for allowing our paths to cross. Though we may not have known each other well, still I thank God for knowing this family and pray that God will bless and use this family greatly for His glory.

Silent Night. Literally.

Having spent Christmas 2011 in Silence seemed pretty sad (for me). While most close ones I know spend their nights either together as a family or with friends, I spent mine working on a video needed for coming Sat and heading to bed.

If you don't already know, I spent most of my festive seasons in my whole life (not) celebrating them. I don't know the exact reason but it always sticks in my memory because I always hear people around me of how they are going to spend their time going to some gathering or flying off on holidays.

It's never a wasted process if something is taken away from it. And for me, I would never want to see my kids spend their festive seasons and holidays by themselves. It is not just the need to celebrate or host lavish gatherings, but simply the reminder that there is still a family that exists and it is real.

Here's how I spent my Christmas weekend:

Something cooking up this 31 Dec 2011 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOSuTZN6fXs&feature=youtu.be

5 Loaves and 2 Fish

Serving God's purpose is probably one of the best ways to see Him provide.

A submissive heart.
A simple offering.
A supernatural experience.

It is more often mind-blowing to experience first-hand of what God does.
And He's not doing for you or me. He does it for His glory.

As the clock counts down to Christmas, the entire team is working to keep up with pace.

Rehearsals after rehearsals; Gigantic props and stuff to be made; issues to be ironed out.
Yet in the midst of all these, we see God's Hand both in individually and corporately.

This Christmas feels really different and definitely a faith-raising one given the boldness for a 300+ congregation to target a 1100+ seating service.

Then again, the ship that never leaves the port will never discover new shores right?

Lord God Almighty, we look to You.
Not Your hands or Your provisions, but to You.
To hear You; To follow after You; To glorify You.

How Much More

Hearing Sunday's message on God's Goodness and His provision, I really didn't see this one coming! =S

I had been hyped up for this coming week's mission trip to Myanmar and halfway through, I hit a roadblock. The amount I expected to raise for the trip was only suffice for the air tickets. I had to raise another sum of it for the lodging and food. Usually for my trips I would take it for granted and ask from my parents.

Well this time round, I wanted to go in faith, by faith. I want to go knowing God is the One providing for me. And He did. The way God worked in the situation, really threw me off and sweeping me off my feet! I cannot imagine in my little brain how God could have turned this around just like that but HE DID.

Just weeks ago, I couldn't come up with enough to pay up for the trip and I had to ask Pastor for deferment. I don't know how and I don't know when but I will do all I can to raise the outstanding amount for the trip. And I thank God for Pastor's understanding to let me pay back later.

Now after tonight, I stand to testify God's provision when we ask of Him. How God always provided for His people especially those who give everything for Him, I may never understand fully but now I have tasted and seen of His Goodness.

I will go forth and be the blessing I was blessed to be. With every cent and bit of the love you all have given, I will put them to use for His glory. And the kids of Myanmar will receive the Good News, knowing that I made it there because of you love and generosity in Him who is able to so much more, exceedingly and abundantly.

On a personal note: My heart is filled with gratitude and warmth of all of your love and giving. Each one of your name written down on the card. Many things tend to be forgotten but I will never forget this. And I pray that as you have given, that you receive much in return and be blessed as you grow more and more in Jesus.   Love you all!

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ~ 1 John 3:16

Cake baked with love =)

Hand Burger

The wonderful people

Zac - Always ready

Reminder that my friends are very sweet!

I get it I get it..any takers?

The prop makers

The cake bakers

Eventually I did enjoy the night! ~ Sam and Pavit

Smile always! ~ Zac

Always joyful ~ Jean

I'm 24, not 16 ~ Rachel

Good times ~ Zeph

Keep Growing tall in Him ~ Brian

My awesome sister for life and forever ~ Ethel

Loving siblings ~ Amanda and Ryan

Never fails to make me laugh each and every time ~ James

Stay 'hot' for Jesus! ~ Eudora

You are always a dear friend to all especially me ~ Sarah

Sure glad to know you so much more since 2005 ~ Donnie

The card of love

My version of the "card of life" with the names written on it

All your love, now I hold onto in memory for life

The stand ~ Made with great love and effort

Thought this is quite apt for a sweet friendship

Thank you for the magical night

My symbol of offering to Him for all these blessings in my life

The night to come before I turn 24

 And I look back today, giving thanks to God for the little surprises and reminders that He loves me!

Jean Lim

Zeph

Elaine

Temporal vs. Eternal

 Bugatti Veyron - Estimated Price $2.6million

 Considering that this is probably the most expensive car in the world till date, it is the best comparison I can find =)

Chariot of God - Priceless

But nothing beats this!

 

From the beginning of creation

22 "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.

23 "From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.

24 "When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.

25 "Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth;

 26 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.

27 "When He established the heavens, I was there,
When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became fixed,

29 When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth;

Proverbs 8

Blog reading...one in a while

Happened to revisit one of my friend's blog whom I have not seen or talked to for years now since Poly days. Xuan Yang, since I first knew him in poly, is one densely-packed brain of knowledge and intelligence walking on the face of this earth.

Since I'm blogging about him, let me try to recall some of the highlights about him during our 3 years in polytechnic.

1. A walk to remember

And no I'm not referring to the chick-flick starring Mandy Moore! Astrology has always been one of XY's favorite topic and how I know this?

Well if you had no interest in Astro, would you rise from your comfortable bed in the wee hours of the morning to catch a passing star? Or calculate when the next Astro activity is going to take place? Or follow the live updates and telecasts from NASA (No this isn't an acronym from American Pie!)...NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration that is.

2. The Big Bang Theory

I still vividly recall the painstakingly long train rides we took together on the North-East Line (NEL) on the MRT system. The hour-long trips to and fro would usually end up in us doing VERY different things on the train. It has always been a rare occasion that the 4 of us including Christopher and Shao Jie takes the train together but somehow when we do, most of the time you'll probably notice a dude doing his reading on the train while 3 other bozos doze off as quickly as the train pulls out of the boarded station.

And catch this! XY isn't just reading the daily comics or revising his lecture notes! For once out of the countless times we took the train together, I noticed he was actually reading Nuclear Physics! Well it may seem trivial to some (or many) but during our poly days, the last thing on most of our minds was to actually read something beyond our studies. Guessed it must really be his interest!

3. Spaced Out

No I am not meaning to say that XY will daydream from time to time, but the fact that he has a dream (not sure if it still is) to work in NASA (refer to point 1). He actually has a plan rolled out back in our poly days on his route of advancement (ROA) and was dead set on entering NASA. Now that he left for Aussie for his degree along with Christopher and a few other of our course mates, I'm not exactly sure where his location is right now. But I'm pretty sure he's still on planet earth (the last I spied his FB!)

Now sharing about a unique friend, it's time to share about his unique sites. I have put down the links to one his blogs on his daily entries (some call it a diary) and from there you may find really interesting links!

http://www.ultimate-infusion.blogspot.com/

Our Polytechnic graduation photo (L to R) - Me, Christopher, Mr Roger Chua, XY, Shao Jie

I actually do miss this bunch of friends (you will when the few of you do almost everything together in school!). Other than Shao Jie who I see in uni, Chris. is back and running a cafe in SG while like I said, XY is unknown at the moment. Not sure about Mr Chua but I have a good feeling that he's probably still lecturing in SP.

Ending off here on a lighter note, one of my teasers towards XY back in our poly days:

Internal Joke =)