as per Edina's request: an Update.

I spent Chinese New Year '09 in KL and Taiping. Oo, home sweet home... Everything's uber fine back home. Got to catch up with family, which was most definitely the highlight of the trip. One thing I've gotta say I'm totally disappointed with is the food. It's like everything I eat, tastes bad. Well not exactly BAD, bad but its standard dropped dramatically. As if bad food isn't torture enough, the places that we plan to eat at are either sold out or worse, closed for the holidays. I'm so not planning to eat anything anymore anytime I'm back.


My speculations as to why food sucks this trip:

• Maybe it's gotta do with it being the festive seasons and the chefs are lazily counting down the days to their own holiday to be bothered by mine.
  
• My family used to be one of the main patrons of those eating places and our absence for a year has sparked resentment in the hearts of the owners of the eating place which sprung out of bad business. So, upon seeing us, they did the only obvious thing to do: make our food suck.
• Or maybe my taste buds are infected with the Kuching flava. Oh dear Lord, say it isn't so. I have been Kuching-ized.
  

On the other hand I'm getting text messages about good food happening in Kuching. Like, uh! Can you spell ENVY?? Anyhoo, glad I did not put on tons of pounds this holiday, which is always a definite plus.

However, silly me did not even consider taking pics this trip as I was completely preoccupied with a total sweetie! He's the cutest cutie pie ever....um....baked? lol

When I first met him back home, I was indifferent but thought he was cute (heck, who wouldn't?!). You know how these things go. We lived under one roof for a couple or so days and indifference turned to infatuation.

And for the rest of my trip, I guess you could say he was the only thing on my mind (ask my mummy)...

I miss the super cutie pie Justin. Hope to see him soon :(
That's the only down side of leaving KL. Other than that, I'm glad to be back!!!



p.s.: springpoststillpending...

Just Shoot Me

December has been tremendously wretched! First I have mock exams. Then comes daily practices for the Christmas Event at Spring (of which there will be a post, I assure you), and finally my FINALS. But I must say, there are some perks. Like checking Doulos out, making noise at Spring and, well, studying.

Exams are in like 4 days and all I'm doing is ......

Well, I best be off. Books are calling and I have to pretend I'm interested.
Like I said, just shoot me. XD

What's in a Name...

Just this evening, we had to brainstorm for youth names. (boss' orders :p) The urgency being the youth t-shirt we are designing and planning to print before the end of this year (preferably before X'mas) . So, let it RAIN! Between the 8 of us at prayer meeting, we came up with some pretty weird names. Getting inspiration from other sources, (you know in Malaysia, copyright means copy is right) we managed to put together a list of a few names we might like.

• G-Unit (G as in Good News or God)
• J-Unit (J as in duh Jesus. Btw, the unit stands for army. Jesus' army)
• O2 Youth (O2 as in we need Jesus as much as we need the air we breathe)
• Contagious/Infectious (Infect the world with Jesus-Passion)
• J ™ or Jesus Trademark (appearing to originate from a unique source of origin, and to distinguish its products or services from those of other entities. Figure it out)
• J ™ also stands for Je T'aime which means I Love You in French. (God's people needs to have a lil bit of love, yo)

Yup, that's about it. Now for the boss' approval. She's on vacation in Singapore 'til Friday so results will be out then, I suppose.

Till then!

Youth Leaders' Retreat '08

Rachel's arch nemesis... Moth wins hands down

On the 8th and 9th of November, the GNF Youth Leaders took a climb up to Simuti to seek God. I've never been to Simuti and was pretty excited (Ignoring my particular need for clean bathrooms and efficient sewage systems). We prayed everyday, intensely, for a whole week before going up to Simuti. And was all totally worth it.

The team of 13 people (uncle Jeff, Aunty Su, Lydia, Lysandra, Karen, Katrina, Rachel, Keith, James, Dennis, Megan, Amanda and I) split up into 3 cars for the journey up. I went with Dennis, Keith, James and Karen.

During the journey up the mountain to Simuti, Keith kept groaning about how modern Simuti would've become. And every time I gasp at some awesome sight of nature, one of my car mates would give me a look that says "I can't believe you've never been up to Simuti." And after I've been there, I say "Neither can I."

One of the village houses

Simuti is a mountain village where GNF has one of its kampung churches. So our boss, Aunty Su, picked it as the venue of our first youth leaders' retreat as a team. Just being in Simuti already makes you feel closer to God. (And it has nothing to do with the "No Network Coverage" flashing on my cell phone screen, I swear!) :p The place is so peaceful. So beautiful. So naturey.

There's a lot more where that came from...

Upon our arrival, we were shown to our rooms in the church right at the top of the mountain and before long, were ushered off to one of the villager's house for a Durian Welcome. (much to my dismay and Uncle Jeff's delight) It's so awesome and refreshing to see these people being so friendly and giving to outsiders. Though the durians didn't please me much, the sight of joy and giving in that place certainly did!

Uncle Jeff giving out durians


Oh, sisterly love

After a couple of hours rest, the retreat kicked off with Uncle Jeff sharing about the most important aspect of leadership - self-leadership. Made me think a lot about the way I lead. And I learned a lot about my giftings during that session too.

At 1500 hours, Aunty Su taught us how to do a prayer walk around the village. To speak blessing into the lives of the villagers, to break bondages and to release God's promises in the village. That was one of the most refreshing and tiring prayer walks I've ever had.

Andrea barely survives the walk after being idle for over 6 months

We had to climb slopes, walk down narrow stairs, balance across narrow bamboo bridges and just plain walk while praying continuously aloud. Walking around the mountain-village, we were offered durians by the villagers at almost every house we passed. Lucky for them I don't eat durian or they'll be sorry they asked! :p

Us and some of the village kids :)


Kid getting a hair cut

One of the highlights of the trip was when we prayer-walked across the open field just below the church. We saw visions in that field. The whole village , not confined to the church building's four walls, but out there on the open field worshipping their God and Creator. From the sunrise to sunset. It was a beautiful vision which was shared among more than a couple of the leaders.

The field of dreams

After the tiring prayer walk, we shared our visions and thoughts with the whole group and dismissed til dinner. An interesting UNO game started where the loser washes up at dinner. Katrina and Dennis lost but I don't remember them washing my plate. Lol.

The UNO gamble

Dinner time


Worship in the dining room

After dinner we met at the dining room for a worship session and one more teaching session before going off to bed. But God had other plans for us that night. There was a youth meeting going on in the village church and God told us to join them. So we did obediently.

James shares, Lydia translates

After the youth's worship, without prior notice, the youth leader of the Simuti church invited us to share the word of God. And we weren't even prepared for the evening! James ended up sharing about faith (His prepared message for Sunday). It was a total walk the talk scene for him that night. Bravo!

Aunty Su prays for the youths


Us praying for the only SPM student in Simuti :D


The hoodies :)


Our supper of instant noodles

Sunday morning, we woke up at 6, showered in ice cold water, got dressed and went out only to be welcomed by the most breath-taking view I have ever seen! The church was at the top of the mountain and at that hour of the day, the clouds were pretty low so you can actually see it covering the whole mountain! It was like walking into the sky. Awesome. Just simply awesome.

Keith walking in the clouds

After breakfast, we assembled at the field of visions and prayed that our visions for that place will come to pass. Aunty Su shared the word of God that morning to the Bidayuh congregation. At the altar-call, the youth team spread out and prayed for not only kids and young people but for adults as well! We prayed for boldness for the trip and here it is in full display! SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS!

Aunty Su sharing on Sunday


Youths pray for the congregation


Keith and our mascot, Hunter


The girls and Hunter

We left Simuti with sobs and emotional moments, a broken guitar (no details will be provided :p) and a pocket full of experiences and memories that the world can never take from us. Simuti was awesome. We went there expecting to bless the people but it was US who was blessed instead. I have a feeling we'll be back there again.

Leavin'


Goodbye Simuti...


The team on the field of dreams

goodbye forever ... NOT!!

At the end of SPM examinations '07, I thought I'd said goodbye to exams, and the pressure and stress they bring, forever. College, to me, was a picture of fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun.

How naive indeed was I back then because that' so NOT true! Trials are in the beginning of December. So while my high school buds are off "eating air" in Kay El, and my still-schooling friends are enjoying their school break in places like Perth and Hong Kong, I'm stuck in Koo Cheng cramming for exams!! Life, be damned.

• Monday 1/12 - Mathematics Unit 2
  
• Tuesday 2/12 - Chemistry Unit 1, Chemistry Unit 2, Mathematics Unit 1
• Wednesday 3/12 - FREE DAY
• Thursday 4/12 - Biology Unit 1
• Friday 5/12 - Biology Unit 2

Just shoot me.

The Secret's Out!!

Ever wondered why girls generally do better in exams than boys?

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

The Secret is OUT!!!!

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

Though personally, I don't endorse this ... um ... secret? :p

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...


Tada~!!




Good tip for you SPM and STPM -ers :p
Cheers~

I love Text Books

Finally, long awaited text books have arrived! I must admit I'm eccentric, special. Can't study without text books. I have this weird insecurity when it comes to studying short notes so text books are my security. I don't particularly love reading but I just have to make sure I read everything required by my syllabus before feeling good enough to sit for any paper. Which is a good thing... right?? :p So you can see why my text books are a big deal.

Now for my venting.

• The bloody text books are bloody heavy! Talk about high quality paper! I think I'm gonna have muscles by the time I graduate, considering the weight of the books I'm dragging around everyday. And, geez!...
• Could they have arrived any later?!? Exam's like in less than a month, people! Like, doesn't anybody care about MY NEEDS anymore?!
• Not only are they late, and I have to do major cramming to satisfy my study-insecurities, but they're darn expensive!! Like hello? RM75 per book for 3 books. And that's excluding shipment fees and service charge by the oh-so-hated librarian, who claims that it's "UCSI policy". Oh yeah, money-suckers.

So everything's corporate now and students are just commodities. Guess that's college, nay, the real world. Look, ma, I learned something today.

On a lighter note, my text books are really colourful :D So to commemorate the long anticipated day, I'll show you my new babies!....

Cheers~