.. Oxygen Appreciation & Farewell ..

We had the last OXYGEN meeting of the year last night in the new city campus at Currie Street. I knew that it was a farewell meeting, and had totally no idea about it being an appreciation night too.

Initially I thought it will be the few of us who will be leaving at the year of the year, standing together and the people saying a prayer for us! But then they did it separately!

And I was the FIRST one to be called out!

Aiyoyo.... So pai seh.  :P

Anyway, Ern Chee & Janice came and stood beside me to give a thanksgiving & encouraging speech. And Xiao Wen led the people to say a prayer for me. It was a great prayer! I felt really blessed, touched & loved! Got some gifts... The one I love the most is the lovely flowers from the LG! :)

I honestly feel that I have not done much in this ministry, as much as I could.  Had a rather tough time adapting to the different culture & style in Paradise & Oxygen in the very beginning.... but things really changed after Ern Chee became the leader of our combined LGs. Her passion for God and for this ministry really inspires me. We need people like that to keep stirring the fire within one another! That is why it is so true that there can never be a lone-ranger Christian. That is why we need to belong to a church, to a cell group, and have a group of close friends who are like-minded. Passion for Christ is contagious! :)

I also find myself loving Paradise more as I begin to learn to appreciate the differences in church culture.

Culture is really a BIG issue. In the business world, knowing and appreciating the culture in the different countries will determine whether an international business can survive & thrive in these countries. I realized that it is really the same in the church context.

So.... as much as Oxygen & Northrington LG appreciate me, I really also appreciate the things I had learnt through the pastors in Paradise, and the people in Oxygen & Northrington LG. I wish I had done more for them....

Life is not about regrets. It's about moving on. Learning from the different experiences and lessons that God brings us through daily.

Thank you Paradise. Thank you Oxygen. Thank you Northrington LG.

Thank You God, for placing me in this great church & ministry in Adelaide. I'll always remember how I went to visit the different churches when I first came, deciding which church to be planted in. And You indeed directed my steps & brought me to Paradise...

There's nothing much I want to ask for.... except that God to really help me in my weaknesses & flaws.

I hope that I will indeed be able to be a better CGL by His grace. Help me to be a better communicator and preacher of the WOG. Help me to be able to minister to the people. Help me in..... so much so much more.

.. The Countdown Begins! ..

It's week 12, and next week will be the last week of school!

Time FLIES!!!

Exam starts in less than 3 week time, and I have 3 papers to clear before everything is indeed OVER! :)

Now awaiting for the results of 2 assignments to be released....  Really hope the global issues group assignment will get a good grade!

Anyway!!  I am believing that indeed I will graduate this Dec.  :)  And I am counting down to these dates!!

18 Dec: Mummy, Mad, Samuel and Ah Yi arrive in Adelaide!
20 Dec: My GRADUATION!!
23 Dec: HOME SWEET HOME...... for GOOD! :)

WooHOOOOOoooooO!

.. I want to preach like her! :) ..

This is Pastor Jane Evans! Senior Pastor of Paradise Community Church.

She preached in the city campus this morning, and it just dawned upon me today that she is really such a great preacher! I mean, I always feel that she preaches very well, but today I am really inspired by her! I want to learn to preach like her! :)

In the midst of listening to her preaching, I was also observing the way she preaches and her ability to connect with the people. Wow... I LOVE IT! I learnt so much today!

It is always inspiring to hear women preachers like Pst Jane. While we do not want to preach with the dynamics of a male preacher, we are women after all... I want to learn to preach with such femininity (womanliness)! HAHA...

I thank God for Paradise Community Church. I learnt so much from the people here. :)

Come to think of it, while I am sooooo looking forward to go back to Singapore this Dec, I also somehow feel a little nervous. I mean, it's a transition again to transit back to working life. Got to send resumes, go for interviews... While a part of me wants to go back to the banking industry, a part of me also hopes to have the opportunity to go into full-time ministry. But yet, even if there is really the opportunity, somehow I feel that... am I ready yet?

I mean, can I really make it as a church staff??

With the many things that have happened in CHC since Feb, and also seeing the flaws I have in my life....

I don't want to step into it, and then having to step out of it, because I cannot make it. :(

Though I may not know what lies ahead after I graduate, one thing I know for sure is that, I want to continue preaching the Word of God. :)

Yeap! Need to pray... Need to seek God. Which I know I will have all the time to focus and do so after my exams. :)

Exams' going to start in 3 weeks' time! Wheeeeee! HAHA as if I am very excited! But I am definitely looking forward to finish the 3 papers that I have!!! :) :) :)

.. Everything Beautiful in its Time ..

Had finally finished the ethics assignment!!! Not too sure if I did it correctly though.... but it's my best effort, and I shall leave it to God's grace..

One more assignment to go!  And a presentation!

Anyway, wanna take some time to blog this cos it's a significant day for Paradise South/City Church today! :)

Brief history...  The South/City Church was started 5 years ago, in the heart of Adelaide.  There wasn't any church building, so the church has been moving around for the last 5 years.  When I first attended church service, it was rotating between Adelaide High School and UniSA west campus.  Then it moved to the Irish Club, and then Hilton Hotel this year.  Initially a rental was arranged with somewhere in Franklin Street, but things always did not get finalised, and no approval from the City Council.

I guess the frustration among the church pastors was really there...  It is always better to have a fixed, permanent place for church services.  So that people don't turn up at the wrong place as well.

Anyway, to cut the story short!!  Just last week Pastor Ashley came and announced to us a great piece of news!  And that is the Word Bookshop is moving out, and through God's prompting, the pastors just went in to ask for leasing the property.... and the "strippers" were almost about to tear down the shelves, fixtures, cafe and kid's playroom!  The amazing thing is right now, we have gotten "our" place to hold service for the next 5 years, and the place really has great facilities!  The Word Bookshop agrees to keep the facilities so that we can use it.  So now we do not just have a place, we have a place with the necessary facilities!

God is really amazing!  He moves in ways that we can never imagine indeed.  Always higher, always greater! :)

This is the "main" audi.  Wonder how it will look like after all the setting up is done!

 The cafe!  Imagine how much the church saves without having to build a brand new cafe!  The coffee machine, fridge, etc etc are all there!

The kid's playroom! Can let Sam Sam play when he comes in Dec! HAHA...













It is really an amazing testimony.  Reminds me just like how CHC got our church land and building.  From JW... to Expo... and the coming SUNTEC CITY!

Pastor Jane shared something that is really good today as she led us in dedicating the place to God.

Everything is indeed made beautiful and perfect in God's timing.

She shared that they have been praying and seeking and praying and seeking...  in fact, the church has been praying....  at least for the last 2 years since I came.  and when it takes so long and the Franklin St deal hasn't come through, and the peace of God just isn't in their hearts...

What they didn't know is that, God has already prepared this place for them...  the Word Bookshop.  Located at Currie Street, a location so much better than Franklin St.  With nearer proximity to Chinatown and Rundle Mall.  Many carparking options around.  HAHA.

What they didn't know is that, God KNOWS that WHEN the Word Bookshop is moving out, and has reserved such a time for a moment like this.

Instead of a place where they have to start building everything from scratch, now, God has blessed the church a much better place, so much better!

WOW!  What an amazing God we are serving right!  It takes indeed FAITH... and PATIENCE that will obtain the promises of God!

I am really blessed today.  Cos Pastor Jane also somehow spoke to my heart...  I have always been somehow feeling frustrated that...  I felt I am so far away from my purpose in God.  I wondered when will I be able to really live my life to the fullest for God.  I really want to live out my life purpose.  I am already 30!!

But today, I am reminded that...  Everything is indeed made perfect, and beautiful in His timing.  Not mine. :)

I will continue to hold on to the promises of God... and believe that I will be doing what He has called me to do.  In the time to come.  :)

YEAH!  So I am very full on now.....  Just wanna clear the last assignment and the last presentation so that I can start preparing for exams!

I KNOW I WILL GRADUATE THIS DECEMBER!!  :D

WOOOHOOOO!

God is good!  And I really want to be like Jacob.  Like what Pastor Kong preached today...  not to be a supplanter, but to have such a spiritual hunger for more of GOD!

I miss CHC!  I miss my family back home....  I miss my church!

Paradise is great!  I learnt a lot from the people here....  it really reminds me to going back to the basics.

2 more months in Adelaide...  Time really flies.

Thank God for everything...  Though it has not been smooth-sailing, that's what it is all about.  It's not a bed of roses!  But He will build us to go above the circumstances we are in.

In God indeed...  I PUT MY TRUST!

.. Goodbye FarmVille... for NOW! ..

The time has finally come... for me to say GOODBYE to my farm! For now at least till 26th Nov, after my last paper!!!

My beautiful farm... haha... the FB game that has kept me company for the last many months... my source of entertainment here in Adelaide!

I love it when Sam Sam saw me farming when I was back home for holiday... He would sit on my lap and look at the animals, and point out to me what the animals were! He would often distinguish all the different animals correctly, and imitate the sounds of them!

So adorable right!! Sam Sam is a smart boy! :)

I will let Dan Dan do the same too next time! Sit on my lap and let him tell me what the animals are! :)

Anyway, this game is taking too much of my time... or rather, I should say, I should concentrate all the time that I have (aside Uni, church and work) to do my remaining tutorials and assignments that I have now!

Praise God I finally completed and submitted a group assignment! Wah... this is one very tough group work.. but glad it's done. Prayerfully will get a good grade for it.

Another 2 assignments and a presentation to go go go!!!

OK. Good bye my pretty farm.... I will miss you.  HAHA. Thanks for keeping me entertained all these while!

.. It is OCTOBER!!! ..

It is now 6.09 am and I am still awake!!!

Haha.. cos I slept from 6pm to 10pm plus.. so guess I should just stay up and do my assignments!!

And praise the LORD! I completed my part on one group assignment!  So now I can move on to the other 2 assignments while waiting for the rest to finish their parts..

It is now already the month of October!  Time flies... 2 weeks holiday is over and school is re-starting!  Thank God it's PH today so that we have another day off.  WOOHOO!

Daylight saving starts again!  So now the time difference with Singapore is back to 2.5 hours...  But it's good that the day is longer now!  Sky will only turn dark at 8pm.. so it's good!  Safer to walk home from Uni or work! :)

And exam timetable is out!!!  Finally!  At least now I know when are my papers... and praise GOD!!  My 3 papers are spread out so nicely!  The hardest one is my first paper, which means I can focus my revision and clear it first!  Then focus on the 2nd paper, after the 2nd then I can do my last bit of revision on the last paper!  WOOHOO!  Can't wait to finish this semester man!!  :D

Gambatte gambatte!!  Just few more weeks to gooooooo!