Sharing and Blessing

I wrote this article for my church campus ministry last semester, take time to read and be blessed…

      Rise and shine! Take an initiative step to explore and discover the wonder of God’s creations really create a quantum leap in my ability to get closer to God and attune to His riches.

      On the vibrant and pleasant morning, no matter how comfortably I was cocooned in my thick blanket, I have to leave my “comfort zone” to explore Gua Tempurung in Perak.

       With expectant faces waiting for the adventurous trip, the sixteen of us ( campus students from BM&BI service ) were gathering at Pekaka at 6.45a.m. and we promptly split into two vans. Thanks Yun Leng and Hui Ping for driving the van for few hours.

        By the time we reached our destination, ( it took approximately 3 hours by the way), all of us unanimously agreed to take the utmost challenge – the Grand Tour which is the most exciting, risky and challenging tour among all the other packages. Hehe, as the generation Y, we have the spirit and enthusiasm of adventure!

         After the obligatory group photo, we headed towards Gua Tempurung energetically. As we take our first step into the cave, I can sense the intense feeling of pleasant excitement among us. Everyone was in a state of euphoria! With the efficient lead and funny explanation of the tour guide, we were so amazed by the natural formation of the limestone cave. The marvelous pillar of stalactites and stalagmites, the icicle-shaped formation and the crystal-like stones had caught our attention. The steady dripping of water is the natural techniques of sculpture in the cave. This nature art of carving and shaping figures on the wall of the cave are the master piece of the nature itself. The figures we saw are horse, bird, elephant, fox, soldier, statue, etc. It takes long period of time to form the unique structure and terrain of the cave.

         Above is just the beginning part and “warm up” zone of the four hours tour. The more adventurous zone are beckoning us! As we soldier on, we expect the more challenging tasks. We climbed the long flights of the stairs which seems like no ending point, and Vanessa’s leg was shaking, haha! Along the way, we were wandering in the pitch darkness and stumbled over the rock due to uneven ground. It’s really complete darkness if we did not switch on our torch light.

          Here’s the climax of the whole tour. It’s the most risky and challenging part. We have to climbed up and down the uneven rock face, slide down following the slope of the rock face without any safety equipments to continue the ascent or descent. So we have to develop the power of endurance and lend each other a helping hand. Be patient and understanding. We have to overcome all the obstacles to pass the test. I can see faces tense with anxiety, mental, emotional or nervous strain, screaming sound that is unable to control ( girls are expert in screaming besides crying :p ). We cheer up and encourage each other to relieve our tension and fear. Anyway, words of encouragement didn’t work to relieve the inner fear, and I found out girls can cope their fear by screaming that comes naturally. ( screaming + crying = girls’ best weapon? ) Finally, we, the survivors reached the Top of the World! All the difficulties did not deter us from completing the mind and physical challenging task nor we complain but truly enjoy.

         After the climbing and sliding, we are going to walk in the water, and for sure, we are to get wet! We keep all our things in the plastic bags to avoid any damages especially the mobile phone. We crawled and trudged in the water tunnels, the water level reach our knees and chests, we crouched and lower our body to avoid the hanging stalactites from the roof, and we squeezed through the narrow gap or restricted space in the cave. Some of us, especially the taller ones, have the higher possibility to hit the piece of rock protruding from the roof of the cave on the head. Hehe, it’s the disadvantage to the tall people to get in the cave. :p

          After 4 hours of getting shielded from the sunlight, finally we saw the beam of light which is so warm and bright. We knew that we have reached the exit. Just like the ray of sunlight, a beam of pleasure, bright and happy look appeared on everyone’s warm face. The trip seems challenging and full of dangers, but surely it’s also full of series of excitements and fun. I really thank our lovely God that none of us get injured during the entire trip. On the other hand, it has been a therapeutic exercise during the semester break.

       It was a fun outing. We have established a qualitative fellowship. Personally, I like this adventurous outing very much. It did not waste my good time of rest, but it taught me to appreciate my quality time with others and the mother nature. I learnt to socialize and dealing with all kinds of people in a different environment. Explorations or just spend time admiring the wonders of nature is one of the great way to serve as a recreational space in our hectic life. I have the deep affection for all kinds of adventurous explorations and expeditions related to nature. I am enriched by each place I had visited. It’s not just about testing our physical fitness or build up our stamina, but as well as train up our mental, emotional and social fitness, as we were put through a range of adventure disciplines. Here’s hoping that there will be more to come in future! :p

     I wrote this in PKA’s newsletter last year, hope who read this

     will be blessed…

    Abraham- Father of a multitude, as the song goes: Father Abraham has many sons, many sons have Father Abraham…. Clear enough, my CG is called Abraham! M2M ( Mary and Mandy ) are the CGL and ACGL. They are very committed and show great enthusiasm to CG, otherwise it could be end up a real mental torture, because we as the members are troublesome, hehe..

          CG is the nerve center of the CF, it serves as a refreshing place to be, provides a space to well balanced godly life and creates a true momentum to grow spiritually. Whether you realize it or not, just think ( imagination made things beautiful ) of the immense happiness and manifolds of blessings that CG and CF will generates.

           CG is the pillar strength and inspiration to CF. As the proverbial saying “behind every successful man, there’s a woman”. I will say that “ behind every CF, there’s a CG”. Make sense? :p  Let us rise and shine! Let God’s words and joy become contagious and reach out to our friends ( friendship evangelism ) and to spur one another towards Christ like maturity.

           To do my recollection on CG, I vividly remember the moments of laughter and sharing. CG is the witness of good time and sweet fellowship. We have hiking, creative outings, birthday celebrations, combined CG, overnight stay and games beside the obligatory bible study. We are put through a range of recreations and funs to establish a good fellowship and keep us sane after a hard day in campus. We lose our effectiveness by keeping our lives so tightly strung. If it seems we can’t relax, Jesus may be inviting us to take a break to rest a while. If our body, soul and spirit are to function at their best, time is needed for renewal, time for leisure, time for rest. Creative outings or games function as catalyst in fellowship and for unity. Personally, attend CG is not wasting my time for good rest or study, on the other hand it taught me to appreciate the quality time of fellowship with brothers and sisters. CG also creates a true quantum leap in my ability to get closer to others and God. A collections of memories and therapeutic bible study worth more than spending time frivolously. A strange, sweet feeling began to take me over when I reflect on CG.

            Abraham CG is quite big in number through multiplication, and I really proud of it! We gather not by accident but God finds us and restore us to relationship with Him. We are created genetically different that made us unique from each other, but the bible says it so well: And all that believed were together, and had all things common. ( Act 2:44 ) Because we are human, many times our differences can present challenges in effectively communicating with others. We are individuals, each uniquely designed. In our uniqueness, we also have commonalities because we have the same creator. God is love and we are created in His image. We share one common love, the love of Christ.

      A special prayer for all the committed CGL, ACGL and all the CG members:

            Faith to guide you through the years, satisfactions in your work,

            And joy in what you do, warm and loving fellowship,

            Peace of heart and mind,

            These are God’s most precious gifts,

            the everlasting kind.

            What better time to tell you,

            That you mean so much to me,

             That I hope your life is blessed

             With all God’s best continually.

   We live in a fast-paced ege where everyone rushes just to keep up.It’s easy to get caught up in our tasks,becoming too busy for what God says is most important- listening to His words.

Before making schedule, take time to focus on what God wants from my schedule,take time focus on what God wants from all my activities. Knowing what God has said before I rush into my day will help me avoid foolish mistakes. This is my desire to honor my heavenly Father in whatever I say, in whatever I do.

I was functioning hectically recently. I never mentioned to anyone that I am busy but this semester I have to admit that I am busy and fatigue. I dont like people ask me this question " how are you?" I dont like to answer that I am busy.

I dont like to stay far away from my comfortable zone( my house at hometown) because everything will be different and changed.The chances of developing eating disorder is high (for me),I think I will have the potential to develop bulimia,crapulent, or hypochondria if I work or study under constant pressure. I am allergic to stress. Stress and over worry will easily disrupt my physiological functions.

One thing i notice recently, every day I have friend request in friendster. May it be someone I am not acquainted or familiar with or some other friends that lost contact for long time. I really didnt expect all this. It surprised me. I will ask myself, why these people want to add me in their friendster?I thought they dont know me or they have already forgotten me. Honestly speaking, I will hesitate for a while or even take few days to approve their request. But if I think another way from different perspective, it’s such a wonderful blessing and sharing. Guess what,before this, I just have 2 friends in my friendster and i never initiate myself to invite more friends!

Another imporatnt thing, I want to express my appreciation to all of you that add me as your friend. I hope that you guys will be blessed as well. Friends are not for gossiping, friendster is not just for uploading all the nice photos to show off. I hope that our purpose are not only to take a glimpse at others’ photos and gain nothing, but it’s good to share ur ups and downs with people around. May it be joy or sorrow, we still can be a blessing to others. Thank God because His joy is in our heart, Trust God because His presence abide in us. I encourage you to share with me in your blog. Any prayer request is much welcomed!:)

This few weeks was tough for me.Loads of group discussions, assignments, presentations, tests, activities that require time consuming preparations and efforts. I have invested plenty amount of time to search for informations, and group discussion but still can’t see the fruitful results..I cant do it systematically due to confusion, overanticipation, and other underlying barriers..I have squeezed my brain juice to plan the induction set and the lesson, just to gain the students’ interest and to create an effective teaching and learning atmosphere. A lesson plan might sounds nothing as i thought before, but it has crushed me to ground! It’s not easy, absolutely not easy to come out with an efficient micro teaching. As a presenting group, we have to get ready for comments. Compliments will be encouraging, conversely negative comments will be disappointing. Anyway, I like the comments that truly pinpoint our weaknessess, not to crush us but to stretch us to reach higher..

Continuous assignments and tests really torture me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Somehow I found that I enjoy my hectic routine. Not matter how worst the situation, by the end, I can heave a sigh of relief. Problems are temporary. It’s designed to strengthen and discipline us. It reminds me what the bible said those who sow in tears will reap in joy. Today’s thorn will become tomorrow’s flower.

My birthday was a blessed one..Thanks a lot to my housemates,for giving me a pretty surprise when the clock strike at 0:00 17.8.2006. I was busy that time with my group discussion until late night and I really forgot my birthday at that moment. Guess what, I dont have a bakery baked cake…BUT I received a homemade cheese cake from my housemates. My name ‘Leena’ was embedded in the cheese cake with cornflakes!This cake was a different one, it was made by my housemates, a highly sought after,100% authentic, limited edition birthday cake. Really salute them for their creativity.It’s ingredients are not just crem cheese, cookies, nuts and butter butalso mixed with friendship love portion,hehe… I was shocked when i know the cake is made for me becasuse I am so blurred all the time. I am the person who bought the ingredients and taught them how to make cheese cake but I dont know they are actually making the cake for me!I Just want to thank all of you for planning such wonderful celebration for me, though you guys are busy and tired with the assignments and activities.I didnt express my heart-felt thanks to all of you individually but I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. You know lah, I am very introvert and dont know how to voice it out.:P but your voice,your smiles,your face your unique characteristics will never be forgotten.

     I also received a sculptured ballon inflated with helium gas with long string from Anna, my cell group member. What a special birthday present! I have to carry the ballon all the way from campus to my apartment!!

       I really thank God for bringing all the friends to my life albeit I have experienced  ups and down in friendship.Friends are excellent buffers in time of crisis, wonderful companion in time of happiness…Friends should be mathematical, they should multiply the joy, divide the sorrow, substract the pass and add to tomorrow. Friends are gifts from God.

      Praise God that I have an enjoyable and blessed birthday though I am in the midst of my busyness.Praise God for strengthen me, that I can still enjoy at the last minute preparation for everything I do.

   Life is full with joys and tears. I can’t stifle a laugh when there’re happiness and joy, I can’t stifle a cry when there’re sorrows and sadness. Laughter is the best medicine, in contrary, just as crying can be healthy. Whatever it takes for an individual to vent and release stress is essential to our emotional health, even a voice is better than brooding in silence. For me, one of the method to ease some of my trapped feelings is writting. I like to express my feelings through words than through face to face communication. I can write a lot when I feel like want to pen on, and i can be very wordy.:P The negative element about me is my poor ability to sosialize with others, verbally.

       A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets….There’re emotional land mine, sweet memories,painful experiences,grievance, etc etc.

          Thank God today for the smiles that have come to my face and yours because His joy is in my(your) heart. I have to keep reminding myself that, "I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me." (Philippians 4:13). I must trust that God has allowed the suffering and pain to be wasted and to be a mean of discipline through which faith,love and patience and grace may be cultivated in my life.

      Convo is coming…phew! Again I will see purple surround USM campus!Though it’s not my convo, but it’s a great oppurtunity to meet all the " long time no see" seniors.:P As I went to take the jubah for Janet and Yi Woei, this question strike my mind : when is my convo? Aiyoh, still long way to go lah..I have to wait for 2 more years! I just want to graduate faster!!!

      Time to spend $$ to grab the convo gifts for the graduating seniors. Teddy bear?  Flower and roses? Cards…..? Headache lah, loads of ideas but no answer.

      Convo week is the time when i can lepak around and visit the gerai-gerai in campus,hehe…some of the lectures and tutorials have been cancelled but this time a bit different,I m no longer lepakking around aimlessly :p.I ve to pick the rubbish during the convo week..Guess what? not being punished to pick the garbage lah..This is one of PKA( Persaudaraan Kristian Agape) activities to bless USM and the community. Picking rubbish is not embarrasing and something you and me should be ashamed of or look down to it! Sadly, it’s a virtue that many many people reluctant to practice :(sob,sob..

      Even for me , I never experienced cleaning up the rubbish in public..I pray that I will have the willing spirit to carry the work, not just to fulfill the requirement, not just to finish my  duty, not a job that expect to earn reward, not …Pray that all of us are willing to cast our own crowns by reaching out to the community to extend God’s grace..As PKA’s theme is beutifully written: Grace Expounded, Grace Experienced, Grace Extended..I pray that P.I.T (Pick It Today) will be beutifully done and we will also experience God’s heavy downpour of grace and shower of blessing..Blessed be to all those involved in the cleaning crew!

This few weeks  made me out of shape. I felt like being lost in the reality. I lost the eagerness to do everything especially all those stuffs related to my study. I just like to be lazing around and do whatever I like. I should learn how to love the thing i do but not do the thing i love. I think this will be a tough lesson for me to learn..

I am into sports and adventurous outdoor games, not the studious type of campus student. All the outdoor activities have created a quantum leap and added colorful spectrum in my life. Imagine how monotonous the life would be without taking a break to smell the roses out there. The awesome nature and the wonderful creation are such a tremendous blessing to human beings. It’s amazing…

I dislike assignment which i ve to follow the fixed format,requirements, instructions..,I hate to follow all the rules!! I dont like group discussions, sorry I have to admit that i dislike that..because I cant really express myself, my expectation,my point of view and so forth that hide deep inside me. I am such an complicated homo sapien that is so complicated to comprehend yet I lead a simple life:P

I just feel like want to write something in my blog to overcome my void and emptiness i am experiencing right now..I am not talkative,not worthy but I am wordy :P…I prefer to vent out my feeling in words than voice it out verbally..

It’s weekend again, I like it because I will have more time to spend with myself and do what I like,to laze around,hehe..and to catch up what I have been missed..

I drink a lot of honey and apple cider recently,hehe..because I have sore throat!It is my secret recipe and organic non- chemical medicine to heal my sickness,haha..I always promote the natural prescription and self-immuned in figthing the antigen and the disgusting virus:P The drugs sold in clinic or pharmacy are the ‘no no’ taboo for me,hehe. Dont get irritated by my philosophy ya!:P

OK lah, I better pen off now..God bless you

  Tonight’s Fantasy, Tomorrow’s Memory.. the theme of my education night. This was the 1st edu night I have within my 4 years campus life. For me, being frankly, it was out of what i expected..I wonder I ve to call it as orientation  dinner or just a party for fun or an opportunity to see how all of us,the future teachers will be dressed up in that night. My coursemate looked sooo much different after they make up an dressed up as kings and queens! Everyone has their uniqueness and beuty. The beuty depends on how you define it. As the saying goes : "Beuty is in the eyes of the beholder". That night was really an eye opener for me. I never experienced a dinner as noisy as this before! :PWe have bunch of games, qoir, dance…it might be fun for some of us but not for some the other way. I think it has been a little messy and lost control when everyone keep posing for photos all the time!!! Make every shot a power shot??

           The negative element i can say is the investment we made. I mean most of us sure spent a lot for that edu night. Dinner dress, cosmetics, garments, make up, hair dress and etc…we know it’s not economic but we just compromise with ourselves and lost our rational to get to it.

         Anyway, I left nothing but footprints, keep nothing but memory, take nothing but photos!