SDCU Retreat 2011

It's SDCU Retreat for real! =) It was an interesting gathering with... insects, animals and jungle for 3 days 2 nights! Haha! =) Managed to see fireflies that lit the jungle like christmas tree :) It was indeed a greater one as compared to the previous round when i went. Nevertheless, the fee has increased drastically. -_-"

The six of us that made up the firefly trip to RM 90 @_@"

For your info, we didn't even bathe when we reached on Friday night.
We went straight for firefly! Check out the t-shirt we wore o_O"

虾膏饭 in the morning market in Pasir Penanmbang! :)
Yum! with the sambal!

Actually, i quite like Firefly Park Resort :)

Then, we headed to Sekinchan, around 1/2 hour drive from Kuala Selangor :) So, finally we got to see the real paddy field :) Love the greens and the sky! It was scorching hot but the sky somehow filled with bit and pieces of gloomy clouds :)

Very first group photo =)
It's quite challenging for a short hand person to snap a group of six.

Then, we headed to Fish Village :) Nth special but smelly.

We never felt a single second of hunger. Kept on feeding ourselves with good food. Lunch was covered with seafood, eg, shark porridge (plain soup and spicy styles)

Very interesting dish: Spicy fried shrimps! Fresh!

Kung bo Sotong! :D Yummy!

Big kid (Amy) was playing bubbles :)
Fatt Mee bought us bubble stick for this trip purpose!

We went to Bukit Malawati in Kuala Selangor in the evening after the rain :)

Met many of our ancestors in black and brown. Mostly in blacks :D

Lighthouse on the hill- Historical heritage

Have you seen Malaysian version of Spice Girls? Here they are... XD

I like this group photo lots :)

It was windy and happy.

Then, we headed to Jeram for Ikan Bakar, namely Aroma Ikan Bakar. It is a huge place to makan ikan bakar, operated by malays. Very affordable to have seafood here.

On the last day morning, we had our own sharing session. On and off we did have our programme on our own for bonding purpose, which include self-discovery and get to know each other more. So, that particular morning, we shared our view on ourselves and our job. We also drew on the stones for each of us as a form of encouragement that never fade.

So concentrate except Ker Shin =X

Before heading back to KL, we went to Klang for Bakuteh. I must say this is the most delicious one by far. The dried and the soup ones :D

I believe it must be a momentous trip for me because it is our first time spending 3 days 2 nights together as a team out of office. More to come, i hope! :)

new hangout place

Ever since i moved in, the pool seems to be a new attraction for me. Hehe! Well, at this moment, it is my new hangout place whenever i am free and feel like exercising! The swimming pool! Be it at night or day time :) I love to swim still. Today, i did it for 10 laps and i felt real contented. Should do more next round.

Just get changed and head down to the pool and dip in! =)

dream...

Everybody has dream(s). Recently, i've been thinking about my dream, my plan for the future. Masters semester resume and the adrenaline rush had swung by again. It's time to readjust myself back to the eventful week with studies and work, and maybe some entertainment (i really mean, SOME) because i can't spend 24 hours per day without sleeping.

I love my yet-to-be profession, especially when i hear it from Dr. Tun (my lecturer who teaches individual counselling). Her inspiring words made me want to learn more and always be humble in learning. She always mention, "This is a skill class, if you missed it, you will miss it." Classes are like the life and death thingy, you might not know one day you'll need those skills that learned from class for those whose lives are at stake in your hand.

With her, I find this profession is so beautiful. Well, helping profession is always beautiful. In order to reach out to more people, I can't just stick at where i am now. Thus, at this moment, apart from learning and working, i hope i get to do extra learning by attending more training outside. Most importantly, i hope i have strong discipline for me to finish it strong.

I wish everyone has a dream to move and don't just stay here to wait, but to do something about it. Sometimes, all we need is to care about it. Most importantly, it is YOUR dream to fulfil, not OTHERS'.

National Counselling Conference 2011

Been quite busy preparing National Counselling Conference :) Learnt a lot, thought quite some, everyday is still an eye-opener for me to hear from people.

Wish NCC to be a successful ending note for our year 2011 =)

Sign up with us or visit as at this web (click me).

Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

This song is very comforting to me :) Hope you'll love this song too!

2 Samuel 12

Last Sunday service was refreshing. It talked about how David failed as a king and how he repented to God. I find this verse interesting. 2 Samuel 12: 4

"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."

I find this verse is so applicable in this modern era. The selfishness of man that always refrain one's to do something good. I had a relative who asked my parents to "try" to use the broken machine. The relative knew it's gonna break down soon and yet he still insisted them to try. In the end, the machine spoiled and they asked my parents to throw it on their own. This incident is vividly showing the selfishness of the men. Sometimes, out of the good will of people, we wanna help, but how does the world consist of people like this? It's like making use of your relative that has blood relation? o_O" this kinda extended family, i'll choose not to be bothered.

Pastor Daniel shared an analogy with us on Sunday- "The experiences of the chair". That chair resembles a few things in life: 1. The way we brought up; 2. The work life we have; 3. The church.

When we were young, we sat on the "chair" that's placed by family. Some family used to compare with us and somebody, some don't. Some always fight, some were peaceful and harmonious. What kind of family are you coming from? :) Family culture is very pivotal. It affects us in long term basis.

The 2nd "chair" would be the career. If u're coming from the type of family that always compare you with others; when you're a leader in the organization, u'll tend to give less compliment to your subordinates but more criticism and comparisons.

The 3rd "chair" would be in church. You might think that this is not good, that's not perfect, so, you hop and hop to many many churches. In fact, church has only one purpose- to worship and serve the only God with your heart.

I find these few stories have such a good linkage in life. The first chair is so important. We can determine the next generation with God's help. Thus, we ought to choose the values and cultures that are healthy and positive to create a better world.

Dr. Biles & Ms. Eileen =)

It was an inspiring night for all of us. The presence of Dr. Biles & Ms. Eileen was really superb! The analogy given by the both of them in terms of counselling was down to earth. To me, both of them are the angels from God sent. They came to Msia to share their knowledge with Malaysians. It's my first time meeting Ms. Eileen, she's an Italian, living in U.S. A crisis intervension expert, a music therapist, a good friend of Dr. Biles, a great counsellor and i love her learning attitude.

We met Dr. Biles for quite a few times, she's a respectful mentor of ours. :) Her spirit in spreading the seeds of love and knowledge really motivates me to elevate my mission in life. The selfless characteristic makes me feel that the world is indeed beautiful with people like her :) She is forever pleasant to me. Her hug really warmed me, just like a mummy to us. She has 9 children, mind u, only 2 are biological, the rest are adopted. I've got a shock when i heard that. We shall always share good things with others =) Never ever fail the essence of sharing :)

As a counsellor, far more often we concern a lot on the approach stated in the text. In our education, we're taught to have a counselling approach. That night was an eye-opener for me. Both the experts said approach is always the next thing as a counsellor. Being a counsellor, your hand is like a rope. When a person is in danger, you throw the rope to the person and grab that person out. Just like your best friend, what he/she needs is very simple. Our best friend simply needs our ears and heart. Isn't it simple and precise? Same goes to the r'ship with client and counsellor. Client wants a listening ears and a truthful heart.

Supposed to be a formal discussion on the upcoming National Counselling Conference and research discussion, we ended up listening and sharing of experiences :)

so, we went for a good dinner that night with the both of them :)

a group pic with all of us at wee hour :) almost 12am @_@" and we gotta work the next day too O_O so happening right...

Self-discovery & Enrichment Workshop

Everyone deserves a chance to speak and express. I believe this workshop has reached the climax of the year. Exploration of life journey can be interesting yet distressing at the same time. It's really depending on an individual willingness to open the heart and share with others. We're glad that these bunch of peeps are really dare to share.

Past, present and future, which one do you prefer? For me, i love all of 'em. Yes, i believe we shall move on in life, but it's not meant for u to waste your past. We ought to pick up some good lessons from the past, well, we all always learn a hard lesson then only will realise it was actually a good lesson. That's.. us. Of course, we shall grab our present because we may not know when an opportunity may just slip away! :) Oh yes, we shall also look forward to the future! :)

Like i just mentioned, sharing of life journey is never an easy task for some of us. Being a facilitator in this counselling related workshop, i felt awesome. It's great to be a company to the students, to just listen and be empathetic. To me, i still feel that i've gained so much of blessings from people around me. I love my life and i appreciate the journey that i've gone through :)

thank you, guys :) You all made this workshop worthwhile :)

Tree of Life: a very good tool for exploration purpose

a very thoughtful gift to the participants: self-drawn stones :) with some motivational purpose behind :)

the booklet

my group members :) thank you for opening your heart to us =)
i learned a lot through the workshop even though i'm a staff :) I guess the impact could be bigger if we conduct the session in the camp! =)

why give?

The other day, we were having some counselling related training. It was such a great session that each of us got the chance to do some self-discovery :)

During my turn, i mentioned to spread the seed of love to my surrounding because i've been given enuff to people around me. I wish i can give as well. Question arise. "Since you've received abundantly, what makes you to give?"

At that split sec, only 1 sentence came to mind. "Simply because there are people around me who're lacking still."

I must thank God for His grace and mercy. I always receive tonnes of loves from people around me. Everytime when i see people who's lacking, I always think I've had enough. It's time to give your love out for people to share. One thing i must learn and reiterate will be my thought of repayment. Sometimes, love is not meant to be repay. In this context of love, it's a vast operational definition. It can mean a lot of things to me. Thank you God for giving me a lil heart, that always auto-count the blessings that i've received. One day, i must give out to the community no matter what.

Today, i saw a pair of old couple, walking at a side of the main road, very very slowly. I was driving and i thought how come an old man was holding the hand of the kid (but can't see the head). I was shocked to see, actually, the hand that he was holding was actually a hand of an old lady who had a hunchback that close to 45 degree. My heart was drenched at that moment. That grandma's head was tilted in front with her back faced flat towards the sky. I felt so sad for her and for her loving man. I pray that they're ok. I pray that God gives them a longer life, for them to spend time with each other.this tree will matter a lot one day :)

Later in the evening, some men came over to my house to mow the lawn. There were 3 men- a local and 2 international guys- labours. The worker was about to start the mowing machine, that boss smacked him coz he did wrongly. I was thinking to myself, we're all adult, why do we have to hit or scold? Is it very difficult to just teach? It's just the steps and instructions that matter. Physically smack a person was so childish. The more i witnessed this, the more i felt how important it is to educate our generation the value of courtesy. Be courteous to people. Keep a positive attitude to treat people.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)

Sunday Service: I Stand in the Awe of You

A powerful song during Sunday Service.

It made me raised up my hand and honoured You.

attitude in us

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

John C. Maxwell

Been reading about the "The Winning Attitude" by John C. Maxwell. I find his piece of work is really wonderful. It's ever simple and precise with many applications to serve as a reference in life.

In my sphere of life, i find attitude is the biggest chunk of life that will eventually build you or kill you. Imagine you have the most brilliant brain on earth but you never own a willing-heart to learn more, you're nothing from where you stand- be it past, presense or future. Positive attitude will bring you to a higher end.

One of the chapters in this book shared about adult acceptance/affirmation. "God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)". Acceptance and affirmation are something that we, Malaysian are lacking of in life, especially working life. A friend told me the company never give praise if the event was greatly conducted, all they did were to give "feedback".

Maxwell shared this: Long before we understand teaching we reach out for understand; Long after we have forgotten the teachings we remember the feeling of acceptance or rejection. Most children's psychological problems risen from their lack of acceptance and affirmation from parents/peers. At times, we paid so much attention to what we will EARN, instead of what we will LEARN. With the "L" on, it makes so much of difference.

I wish i have a good attitude. I am praying for that. Father Lord, I want to change some of my negative attitude. I wanna sit down quietly and pray about it. I want to find more joy in what I do. I want to work under a positive attitude by increasing my understanding and acceptance towards my peers. I want to be a listening ear and giving constructive comments. Amen.

Still

Hide me now; Under your wings

Cover me within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise, the thunders roar

i will soar with you above the storm

Father you are King over the flood

I will be still know you are the God.

I rest my soul; in Christ alone

Know his power, in quietness and trust

x Chorus

Give thanks 感恩

爸爸&妈咪，相信神原来是一件很开心的事。很多时候，我们都不明白这种感觉，因为只有亲身体会到的时候，才会去相信那份感觉。我希望有一天，你和妈咪都能够体会到那种感觉，就好像在我四月二十三号晚上体会到的一种推动力。我希望有一天，我们能全家一起祈祷，让神再次感动我们，让祂带领我们，让我们的家更有凝聚力，更有爱，更有神的爱，更有安宁的心。


这几晚的我和妹妹，都在为家人祷告，希望一切都能顺心。有时，很多事情可能我们没办法解决，我们让祂帮我们安排吧~



希望你们会读到我这篇部落。
我今天很感恩，因为爸爸说他想要个信仰 :)
祷告回应了！


感谢您。
amen :)

John 15: 12-17

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what i command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that i learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but i chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other."

Today's sermon is kinda interesting. Ps. Andrew shared about friends of Jesus. He's really a very kind and friendly man. He'll intro his name and shake hand with you, then ask for your name. The message that he's got for us today somehow spoke to me:

1. Make friends out of LOVE

2. Make friends intentionally

3. Make friends to motivates Evangelism

As i reflected upon his words, i can honestly say i only fulfill 1/3 which is, I make friends out of love. I believe it's so right that we ought to cultivate a friendship with a sincere love for others. If not, why do we need a friend?

He added, when people love one another, a friendship is born. Mutual understanding and love are so important. As a Christian, we need to intentionally make friends, to allow new friends to feel comfortable and welcome with our presence. All in all, I'm a friend of God, you're a friend of God, we are the friends of God :) I'm learning still. Continue to pray for blessings and guidance in this. At least at this moment, i truly appreciate my close friends who are the huge blessings that given by God :)

believer

I've been wanting to share this last week, but too many things happened in a week, too brain consuming, therefore, hardly have the inspiration and mood to pendown something here :)

Anyway, it's a message that i heard from church invited speaker the other day. This pastor is a chinese, i believe he also understands very much what a chinese will think, how's the mentality and all in this community.

He shared with us this message. It's said that people only choose christianity, choose to believe God when things happen. Disastrous thing to be exact. Previously, I also heard from others that, christians comes to you when you're at your weakest point of life. When you're super sick, you seek for god(s). When you're poor, you pray for wealth stuff like that.

I always wonder, why we, chinese can be that selfish? It's nth about religion here, but it's the culture that we've brought into. Why are we so selfish? When do we wanna give ourselves a change? My mum used to tell me we need to 还神 when we receive good thing. It's just like how a pastor will tell u to praise God in prayer for all the blessings that you've received. I could agree no more. We seriously need to learn how to praise Lord. He protects us when our lives are at stake. He plans for us to go through difficulties with strength. If we can go through all these, we should thank Him for all these. Not only to think about our own welfare, we gotta think of His words too. When we receive thing, we shld say thank you. That's very common and that will be common when it comes to spirituality too.

I'm grateful that i choose to be a believer at this period of time when i am ready. It's not a period whereby i NEED him, but it's a period i WANT to be with Him. I hope i can continue to uphold this spirit :)

everyone has a story to tell

I believe everyone of us will definately have our story to tell. Every day makes an episode. It can be a happy ending, it can be a unsatisfactory ending. Nevertheless, we shall never give up in life because i believe everyone of us will be able to create a beautiful ending. Pray to God for a new beginning when we fall; praise God when we lead an ideal and positive life.

At times, one's family background can really influence the way we act and react, the way we perceive thing, we receive and give things. However, i believe it's through understanding that we then receive acceptance on one another. Remember, understanding is much much more important than tolerating. :)

Just wanna share a song to all of you, it's indeed a very motivational song:

I've been working hard so long
Seems like pain has been my only friend
My fragile heart's been done so wrong
I wonder if i'd ever healed again

Oooh just like all the seasons
Never stay the same
All around me i can feel the change

Chorus:
I will break the chain to find me
Happiness will find me
Leave the past behind me, today my life begins
A whole new world is waiting, it's mine for the taking
I know i can make it, today my life begins

Yesterday has come and gone
And i've learnt how to leave it where it is
And i see that i was wrong
For ever doubting i could win

Oooh just like all the season
Never stayed the same
All around me i can feel the change

x Chorus

Life's too short to have regrets
So i'm learning now to leave it in the past, and try to forget
We only have one life to live
So you better make the best of it

x Chorus





No matter what, i will always love my family because they bring me to this world :)

Luke 6: 32-36 Love your Enemies

"If you love only the people who love you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that! And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get it back, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount! No! Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God. For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful."

Was reading this during one of the reading nights. Came across with the verses that caught my eyes so much. I was thinking to myself at that juncture. Why am i being so selective in life? As in, i will only love those who sincerely love me, be it friends or family members and i will give more to those who love me. After reading this, I think i'm very much a sinner. =X Thus, I will set this reminder, to be gracious to people, to be a merciful person. It'll be a struggle, I pray to God that He will walk this journey with me. To let me walk into people's life without a selective heart.

Yes, i was right in the beginning that counting a blessing is very important. I always count things that i've received, all the good things. BUT! What did i do? What have i done so far... that matters so much to my surrounding, or to just myself? Guess sometime, we just don't stop and think. We use so much of our brain that at times, will hurt our surrounding. Our actions and words (from brain) sometimes can be unintentional, but it's always a hard truth that it'll hurt people.

I love the tagline of Ignite Community Church (ICC)- a hospital for sinner, not a museum for saints. We are imperfect, we go to church as a sinner, to repent our sins to God for us to be a better person. Continue to go to church people, you'll realise one day that your relationship with God is so wonderful, for you be able to spread this love to others as well, including your enemy :)

understanding

Understanding people, to some, seems like the most difficult thing ever. It's like worse than having constipation. *wink* When i started working, this part of me seems to be activated, as in, it never came to my mind that this element has turned out to be a conscious "source" in me.

Understanding people is a virtue to me. It takes a long period of time. Often, we always have that pair of judgmental eyes. Seeing a person without a smile on the face, we said he/she is snobbish and unfriendly. As time goes by, then we'll realise "eh, not bad actually. This fella is quite funny and caring." Through experience, be it good or bad, we earn/lose that person.

Sometimes, before having a thorough understanding, it's advisable that we just keep our mouth shut before our words start to label people. I have to admit, im quite sucks at that :) because i have a big mouth :D I need to listen to people than talking. So, please, if next time i really talk a lot, please say "Ng Shan Na, shut up." :) Consciouly, gotta tell myself that. Being critical to people isn't a good thing to be brag about. Amen? :)

Great day, peeps :)

Footprints- Margaret F. Powers @1964

One night i dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed
scenes from my life.
For each scene, i noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand,
one belonging to me
and one to my Lord.
When the last scene of my life
shot before me I looked back
at the footprints in the sand.

There was only one set of footprints.
I realized that this was at the lowest
and saddest times of my life.
This always bothered me
and i questioned the Lord about my dilemma.
"Lord, You told me
when i decided to follow You,
You would walk and talk with me all the way.
But I'm aware that during
the most troublesome times of my life
there's only one set of footprints.
I just don't understand why,
when i needed You most, You leave me."
He whispered, "My precious child,
I love you and will never leave you,
never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints
it was then that i carried you."

This message surprised me a lot. :) It was a bookmark given by amy. Thought it was nothing much but it strikes me a lot when i read. :)

my yellow room :)

As what i've mentioned before, i've shifted to a new place :) Quite love my room condition now. It's quiet, and less dust as compared to before. Here i am, back to the single bed. The room now is yellow themed. Haha! :) It's just a coincidence that things that i have are in yellow, so does my surname: 黄. Hehe! :)

I have my wardrobe given by previous housemate. My bed, my study table and the rack/shelf. So, everything seems ok. Though the area of the room wasn't as big as last time, but it's more than enough for me :) Shall not buy more things, if not, shifting isn't as easy as it seems. Just a quick sneak peek for my room! :)

yay? :)