Heaven

Handicaps Welfare Association's Flag Dae

2009-08-22T23:00:00.002+08:00

Today s Handicaps Welfare Association's Flag Dae. It s my 1st time helping out as a staff during Flag Dae. Actually I requested 2 station @ AMK MRT station & @ the same time I ask Jackie, Kathy & 1 other frenz 2 help in the Flag Day, bt in the end my Assistant Director assign me 2 station @ Parkway Parade & so I hav 2 tel my frenzs tat my Assistant Director hav assign me 2 Parkway Parade bt 1 of my frenz who s staying far away do nt wan 2 go Parkway Parade bt I ask him 2 persuade his mum 2 let him & his mum hav agree 2 let him come so they hav agree 2 go 2 Parkway Parade instead of AMK MRT. 1 dae b4 the event Kathy call me & tel me she s nt gg then she passed the phone 2 her mum 2 let her tok 2 me & her mum told me tat she hav no mood 2 go out as her PMS s coming & so I told her mum s ok if she do nt wan 2 go. Finally the dae has come it s the dae 4 HWA's Flag dae. I got up @ 5.30am 2 take a shower b4 the transportation picked me up @ 6.45am. At abt 6.30am the driver called me & said tat he hav reached my hse & I ask the driver 2 giv me 5 mins & so aft hanging dwn the phone I quickly off the computer & leave my hse. I tht I wil b the 1st person 2 reached Parkway Parade & so I saw my 2 other colleagues who hav alr reached the destination followed by another colleagues of mine who hav juz reached. I reached there abt 7 plus in the morn. 1st thing we hav 2 exchange our IC wif the pass frm the security guard & aft exchanging our IC wif the pass we went 2 our booth & set up the place. Aft setting up the place my female colleague & I went 2gether 4 donation & the person in-charge saw us 2gether she was like angry & shoutting @ us. Then I tell myself my female colleagues cannt b wif me. Coz if I nd help then it s easier 4 her 2 help me. After staying there 4 a while I saw sum familiar faces frm church, 1st s Andy, followed by Chealsea then David (the driver) & lastly Glory & Melissa. I was so suprised tat I wld bump into them & so I continued wif my donation & @ abt 5 we call it a dae as my colleague the person in-charge wanted 2 count hw many tins r there. After we hav fiished packing my frenz & I decided 2 go 4 our dinner & aft dinner we went hm.

Gladys's wedding on 19 Jul 09

2009-07-19T18:00:00.002+08:00

On 19 Jul it was Gladys's wedding & I was invited 2 her wedding. It was held @ Marine Parade TOUCH Centre. I was the 1st person frm HWA 2 reached there. Wen I was hanging around outside, Mingchun (who was already inside) appeared outside & he saw me & ask me 2 go in bt I cld nt go up the steep slope & so his BB boys help me up. And aft a while sum of the staff, ex-staff of HWA came, they were surprised tat I was there early. Haha... It also give the opportunity 2 meet up wif old frenzs. Hehe...

Toastmaster Meeting, Guitar practice & Power Soccer

2009-07-18T23:00:00.000+08:00

Today went ACCESS @ ard 9 plus close 2 10am 4 Toastmaster meeting 1st @ No 9 building b4 gg 4 my guitar lessons @ 11am @ No 11 building on the stage. We practice our guitar on the stage 2 get familiar wif our seating arrangement and 2 get the feeling of hw it feels 2 perform on stage during the Special Award on the 1 Aug @ ACCESS. We practice on the stage for few rounds and soon it s alr 12.30pm & I ask them 2 take my guitar 4 me & so I head back 2 No 9 building 2 close the meeting session after the meeting session we hav Exco meeting dwnstair as we cannt hav our Ex-Co meeting as Bala hav 2 go somewhere else & so we cannt use the office 2 hav our meeting & so we hav our Ex-co meeting started & so the meeting was gg on til 2 plus which they said they wil stop @ 2pm which they hav overshot the time & so I said I nd 2 go off as my guitar team s waiting 4 me @ Hougang Point 2 start yet another series of guitar practice. Wen I reached there they were nt @ the place where we normally practice our guitar & so I cal Amanda & ask where r they & they said they r accompanying Janice @ Macdonald & so I looked 4 them @ Macdonald & they were having ice-cream & so we stay @ Macdonald til 3 then Janice said tat she wil join us @ CCK 2 see power soccer aft tat she went hm while we went 2 our "home-ground" 2 practice our guitar. While gg 2 our "home-ground" the rest of them wanted 2 go 2 the toilet & so I went 2 the "home-ground" alone 2 wait 4 them. I wanted 2 call them 2 inform them tat I am @ "home-ground" 1 instead of "home-gound" 2 bt they did nt answer the phone so I assume they kw tat I am waiting @ "home-ground" 1 & so we begin our practice again & again til Janice sms Amanda saying tat she wil meet us @ CCK MRT station @ 6.15pm then we play another round of guitar b4 rushing off 2 CCK station bt awhile later Janice sms Amanda saying tat she wil meet us @ CCK @ 6.30pm which were alr on our way 2 CCK MRT station. Wen we reached there it s stil early & we wait 4 Janice & we waited til 6.30pm bt Janice hav nt show up so I call her & she said she wil b late & ask us 2 go 1st & so we (Amanda, Jer, JX & me) go ahead w/o Janice & we reached there @ 7 plus almost 8pm & we saw Rafi, Bala, KN, Rafi's maid & Shin Ming's father came dwn & I heard tat KN wil send him 2 the hospital so @ tat point of time I was wondering y does Rafi nd 2 go 2 the hospital, "go hospital 2 see Zaki" or "he was nt feeling well", then we went level 2 where they hav their tournment then I saw Kevin was @ the corner of the other side of the hall. He was having difficulty breathing so he was wearing the oxygen mask 2 let him breath on the other hand I saw his mum crying & aft tat I also saw Sherena rolling wif tear bt I do nt kw wat hav happen bt I sumhw kw wat had happen bt I do nt kw if my answers s correct. Bt I hope they wil b fine & so @ 8.45pm we went off as JX's mum ask him 2 go hm & the 3 of us decided 2 hav our dinner outside as we initially do nt wan 2 hav dinner outside & Jer wanted 2 cal his mum tat he s coming 4 dinner which in the 1st place he told his mum tat he s nt coming back 4 dinner & so we ask him nt 2 cal his mum so as 2 nt get scolding frm his mum & so we went 2 Yew Tee MRT 2 hav our dinner then wen we hav finished our dinner I waited outside 4 them & we head back hm. I & Amanda took the same train back hm & wen our train came we(Me & Amanda) board the train while Jer took the other side of the train back. Amanda & me board the train & wen we r 2 station away frm where we board the train Amanda realized tat Jer's hp s wif her & so we were shocked & tat we do nt kw wat 2 do wif his hp & if by the time we take the other side of the train 2 go back 2 the station tat we board the train he might nt b @ the station alr & so Amanda wanted me 2 cal his hse as she scared tat his parents wil scold her & so she ask me 2 cal his hse & 2 my surprise his mum was nt angry @ all coz I too also scared tat his mum wil scold us too. His mum told me tat if the hp s left wif us she wil nt scold Jer bt instead if he really lost his phone his mum wil scold him 4 sure, wen I heard wat his mum said I was relieved. Jer, tis lesson tells u tat u shldn't ask Amanda 2 hold ur phone wen u wanted 2 push her.

Wheel, Walk & Jog

2009-07-05T23:00:00.000+08:00

On 5 July 09 s Handicaps Welfare Association's Wheel, Walk & Jog event held @ Lebrador Park & I hav 2 get up @ 5.30am 2 get ready b4 Uncle Lee picked me up @ 7am. Wen I get out of my hse @ 6.30am I realized tat the lift s spoilt & tat I cld nt go dwn I was so angry & I cal the maintenance 2 come & repair the lift ASAP as I am late 4 work & right aft tat I called Uncle Lee frm my hse phone, & also tel him tat my SIM card was giving me prob so ask him nt 2 cal my hp & also tel him tat I am stuck @ hm coz my lift s down & I am unable 2 go dwn & tat I nd 2 wait 4 the maintence 2 fix the lift. Wen the maintenance guy came I was so angry & told him tat bcoz of the lift spoilt I am late 4 work & tat I cld nt take my transport in time 2 go 2 work. Hence the maintenance guy who hav nt done fixing the lift he said he cld get me dwn manually & aft tat I cal Grace 2 send a driver 2 my hse 2 fetch me. She was so angry tat y everytime it s the same prob. Aft hanging dwn the phone I was manually getting dwn by the lift & tat I waited dwnstair 4 the driver 2 come. Wen Johnson reached he told me tat Grace ask him 2 fetched me bcoz he was @ Boon Keng MRT driving ard 2 see if anybody was left behind b4 coming 2 my hse 2 pick me up. Wen I reached there it was already ended & so I stayed there til everything officially ended @ 1pm & it was Godfather who was the 1 who send me back wif the rest of the member. I was surprised tat it wld b him 2 send me back. Hehe...

Guitar performance

2009-05-24T16:09:00.000+08:00

Frm nw til 1 Aug we only hav 8 weeks 2 practice our guitar & we are stil lack behind as we r stil practicing our Guitar 1 & nt the whole song of Connon D. Starting yest we (Jer, Amanda, myself TJ, Peter & JX) decided 2 hav our own extra practice lesson after our official guitar practice @ ACCESS @ 12.30pm as we kw tat we r stil nt able 2 play the whole music pieces. On the 1st week of extra practice we went 2 Hougang Point 2 hav our lunch 1st then we find a place 2 practice our guitar @ 1 of the void deck near Hougang Point Mall. Jer cld only stay wif us 2 play 4 a while as he hav 2 go 2 his grandma's hse. So he played wif us til 3.30pm & wen 3.30pm reaches Jer hav 2 leave & so the rest of us continued 2 play. As we were playing we realized tat Peter hav stopped playing as I tink he was tired. (I was tinking 2 myself r we in as a whole group 2 play guitar during the extra practice and I also wonder if it s the right choice 2 hav Peter 2 join us 4 the extra lesson)or izzit tat Peter hav no interest in playing the guitar. So the rest of us continued 2 play our guitar & suddenly TJ hav stop playing guitar as well so we tht Peter was the 1 who distract TJ frm playing guitar. Then left me, Amanda & JX 2 play & so we continued playing til we r hungry. And so we stopped playing @ 6.30pm 2 hav our dinner @ Mac.

Singapore's born-again Christians thrive in tough times

2009-05-06T21:42:00.003+08:00

Believers gather at the New Creation Church every Sunday for upbeat services conducted in ultra-modern surroundings that are helping make Christianity the spirituality of choice for Singaporeans.

The venue, a plush 1,200-seat auditorium equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, is on the third floor of an upmarket shopping mall in the city-state's business district.

"Say not what you can do for God, but what God has done for you," preacher Lawrence Lim told a rapturous congregation during a recent service which opened with rousing hymns played by a seven-piece Christian rock band.

"Amen," the churchgoers replied in unison.

Singapore, a predominantly ethnic-Chinese Buddhist society of 4.6 million, has seen a boom in recent years in born-again Christian movements, which experts said people perceive as modern institutions reflecting their personal aspirations.

While Taoism and Buddhism are the traditional belief systems in Singapore, most people adopt them as a matter of birthright, rather than choosing to follow them as spiritual life codes.

"Those who have converted (to Christianity) were probably not very entrenched in their original faith," said Mathew Mathews, a sociologist at the National University of Singapore.

"People want to move out from traditional concepts of religion to a more 'classy' image with things which mirror our popular culture and are congruent to their own works and expectations," he said.

New converts are encouraged to bring in more recruits, helping boost the number of Christians in Singapore.

According to a 2000 census of Singapore's 3.6 million native inhabitants, Christians accounted for 15 percent of the population aged 15 years and older, up from 10 percent in 1980.

Buddhists and Taoists accounted for 51 percent in 2000, Muslims 15 percent and Hindus four percent. The rest belonged to other religions or were atheist.

Singapore might be in the midst of its most severe recession in history but Christian churches led by charismatic ministers seem to be weathering the storm well.

The New Creation Church, with its slick audiovisual presentations and interactive services, is clearly benefiting from the trend -- with 18,000 members, it is probably the most financially successful of the new churches.

It expects to move into a purpose-built 62,000-square-metre (667,000-square-foot) complex in 2012, with the project budget of 120 million Singapore dollars (80 million US) largely funded by members' contributions.

Now under construction in a high-tech district, the new church complex will boast retailers, food and beverage outlets, two amphitheatres and a 5,000-seat performing arts auditorium.

During one giddy eight-hour period in February, the church raised 19 million dollars from four Sunday services, and believers are heartened by the support.

"There are a lot of people who are willing to contribute a lot more, so that's why the amount became so big," says 21-year-old student Ng Yiling.

Responding to criticism that the money could have been better spent, Ng said: "The church didn't force us to do it. In the end it's our money, it's up to us how we want to spend it."

The church and its businesses, which include two child development centres, a travel agency and a diversified firm called Rock Productions, declared assets of 146 million dollars in a balance sheet dated March 31, 2008.

It is going ahead with overseas missions and global "outreach" programmes, with members able to register for trips to Vietnam and Thailand scheduled over the next six months, according to the church website.

City Harvest Church, another Christian church boasting healthy finances, has not seen any reduction in donations since the onset of the economic meltdown in late 2008, according to a spokesperson.

"Donations are both a personal and a private choice of our members. We believe that as the church helps to meet the different needs of our members, they will continue to give free-will donations to the church," the spokesperson said.

The church, which declared 79 million dollars in assets in its balance sheet for January 2006-June 2007, says on its website it has 45 affiliate churches and 44,000 members in the Asia-Pacific region as of 2008.

Locally, it claims a following of 26,000 and conducts its weekly Sunday services in a 2,300-seat complex built eight years ago for 48 million dollars.

Indeed, tithing appears to be thriving among Singapore's Christian community, despite official forecasts that the economy will shrink by up to five percent this year.

Reina Lee, 21, a member of Faith Community Baptist Church, tithes 80 dollars from her monthly income of 800 dollars, and said she is not thinking of reducing the amount even in the current economic climate.

"As a Christian, we give a proportion of what God has blessed us with as an act of thanksgiving and wanting to bless His ministry," she said.

"It is also an act of faith, that we believe that God will provide for our needs in this time of recession."

Overseas Community Outreach Project 20th 2 23rd February 2009

2009-02-24T22:17:00.024+08:00

The Theme for our Overseas Community Outreach Project s "Sharing The Love".

Our Objective of Overseas Outreach Project:

Cultural exchange between TM clients & resident of Cheshire home, Philippines
Clients 2 experience and learn 2 live independently frm their families
An opportunity 2 assume leadership skill in group discussion
2 create a platform 4 TM Inc clients 2 share their work skills wif residents

We r split into 4 grps:

Group 1: Welfare Grp
Staff In Charge: Bala
Team Leader: Zoe
Team Members: Nigel / Li Bing / Kathy / Hifney / Raj

Tis grp wil assist Bala 2 look aft the safety needs of clients
Responsible 4 security issues
First Aid Kit
Tis team s in-charge of souvenirs & momentos 2 b presented 2 the management of the Home & residents

Group 2: Social Activities Grp
Staff In Charge: Lynnette
Team Leader: Keng Fatt
Team Members: Yuan Ping / Swee Heng

Tis grp wil b in charge of all singing & performance
They provide training 4 the grp & all rehearsals

Group 3: Skillls Exchange Group
Staff In Charge: Lynnette / Tarin
Team Leader: Li Bing
Team Members: Kai Soon / Max / Si Yuan / Shahidah

Each member wil share on a topic & the challenges they face & hw they overcome the challenges
Each member wil lead a grp of residents 2 share their experience

Group 4: Public Relations Group
Staff In Charge: Tarin
Team Leader: Jonathan
Team Leader: Zahid / Asraf

Tis grp wil b the forefront 2 b ambassadors of AWWA
Upkeep etiquette & protocol standard of the grp & b ready 2 share & present wat they kw abt AWWA, TMIS
Presentation of souvenirs & momentos 2 the residents & management of the Home

On 20th Feb we meet @ Changi Airport, Terminal 2 Row 2 @ 10.30am.

Itinerary:

20th February '09

10:30 Check-in @ Changi Airport.
Flight number PR 504
Changi Airport, Terminal 2, Row 2

13:00 Depart frm S'pore via Philippines Airlines

17:00 Arrival in Philippines, Manila

18:00 Check in 2 hotel, Holiday Inn Galleria, Manila

19:30 Dinner @ authentic Filipino Restaurant

21:00 Team 2 meet @ hotel 2 discuss & briefing on activities 4 the nxt dae

21th February '09

08:30 Breakfast @ hotel

10:00 Arrival @ Bahay biyaya Cheshire Student Hostel located @ N0. 6 Saint Michael Street Cubao, Quezon City

Details on activities

Tour Home Facilities
Clients 2 b paired wif Cheshire home: Ice-breaker - clients & residents share abt themselves i.e schooling, work, hobbies & aspiration
All staff of AWWA TM Inc 2 share abt their roles & responsibilities & exchange experience wif the Home.
Lunch @ Cheshire Home / Interaction among clients
TM Inc clients facilitate grp discussion, each grp wil b given a topic 2 discuss & share.
Performance by TM Inc clients

16:00 Back 2 hotel (2 freshen up)

19:00 Dinner @ local restaurant

21:00 Team 2 meet @ hotel 2 discuss & briefing on activities 4 the nxt dae

22nd February '09

08:30 Breakfast @ hotel

10:00 Arrival @ Bahay Mapagmahal Banawe Cheshire Home, located @ POC Compound Banawe St. Quezon City

Details of Activities

Tour of Home facilities
Clients 2 b paired up wif Cheshire home clients 2 share abt themselves
Performance by clients of TM Inc
Lunch @ Cheshire home / Interaction among clients

16:00 Manila City Tour

19:00 Dinner @ local restaurant

21:00 Debrief & post evaluation of the visit

23rd February '09

09:00 Breakfast @ hotel

10:00 Shopping @ nearby shopping mall

12:00 Check-in @ Manila Airport @ 14:45pm
Depart frm Philippines, Manila via Philippines Airlines

18:25 Arrival in S'pore
Flight number PR 501
Changi Airport, Terminal 2

I will surely miss all the fun and the people in Philippines

HOME SWEET HOME

GG Manila

2009-02-14T22:00:00.004+08:00

Counting down 2 5 days to flying off to do Community work @ Manila for 4 daes. Tis s my 2nd time doing Community work @ Philippines. We had juz started our briefing discussion yest bt there s more discussion 2 b done in our indivdual group as we r divided into 4 grps 2 arrange activities 4 those ppl in Manila b4 we fly on Fri. If any of u wan to send me off I wil b @ Changi Airport T2 @ 10.30am. Hehe... If u wanna send me off u cn cal me if u r really coming. Hehe...

CNY

2009-01-27T18:55:00.003+08:00

2dae s the 2nd dae of Chinese New Year and tat I am staying @ hm. U must b wondering y I am nt gg 4 visiting 2dae. Well, I went 2 my aunties hse yest and I hav collected all the hang bao on the 1st dae alr. Tat was frm my father's side. My mum s a Malaysian so all her brothers and sister (my cousin) s in Malaysia so i nv go 2 Malaysia 4 visiting. Very boring... Wen I resume to work on Wed I stil get ang bao frm my colleagues. Bt it s nt all I wil stil get ang bao tis Sun. Haha...

Making A Commitment 2009 video clip

2009-01-24T19:53:00.006+08:00

Take a look at this video. You will realized that I am in this video.:)

Making A Commitment 2009 (Singapore) from PC on Vimeo.

As part of the U60 celebrations of the recent 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, MARUAH (Singapore Working Group on ASEAN HRM) held an event to emphasize the importance of Articles 23-25 of the UDHR, which deals with fair and just conditions for workers.

This event, Making A Commitment, was held on 13 December 2008 at Speakers’ Corner. Organized by MARUAH with support from partners such as Action for Aids, AWARE, Transient Workers Count Too, HOME and individuals, a number of speakers spoke up on the need for protection for vulnerable communities such as contract workers, the elderly, those with disabilities, migrant workers, persons living with HIV and people who are homosexuals or transgender.

Members of the public were invited to make pledge – a commitment – to affirm their stand which many did by holding up placards with a chosen slogan promoting a workplace issue. These were captured on video by volunteers, Mr Patrick Chng, Ms Stephanie Chok and Mr Joel Kang, as a New Year resolution for 2009 to treat all workers with dignity.

1 dae b4 CNY

2009-01-23T22:36:00.002+08:00

Every yr is nt a gd yr 4 us. For instance wen my mum wanted to pack red packet she juz realized tat she lost 700 dollars and tat she kw tat my dad would hav stole it bt he denied it and he claims tat it s my brothers who hav stolen it. He only pushed the blame on my brothers. My dad wil alway ask my mum 4 money even though he went bankrupt alr. They even suspect tat I steal the money. I am juz a handicap gal hw could I steal the money. Everytime wen she lost her money she accused me of stealing wen she tink tat it s nt my brother who steal the money. I do nt kw y she wil hav the thinking tat I steal her money. Y wld I wan her money wen I alr hav my own money. Wen I said I did nt steal y I hav 2 b nervous and nt admit. I get agitated bcoz I dun like ppl 2 accused me of stealing. If I did steal of coz I wil admit. Actual fact s I did nt even steal hw cld I juz admit the things tat I did nt do anyhw. Sumtime human r so stupid where on earth do ppl keep valuable in the hse. If they do keep the money in the hse the family members would kw and of coz wen he or she realized tat nobody s @ hm of coz he or she wld ransack the hse 2 look 4 money. S it nt true. Coz sumtime wen my dad kw tat there s nobody @ hm he wil come back and who kw wat he hav been doing alone @ hm. Sumtime I wish I cld get out of tis bloody house bt I hav no choice bt 2 stay here.

1st permanent job

2009-01-01T22:29:00.001+08:00

As of 1st Jan 2009 I am nw a permanent staff @ Handicaps Welfare Association. I kw I hate Accounts. Bt come 2 think of it I nd 2 stay 2 1 job already since I am a permanent staff coz nw it s nt easy 2 look 4 a job coz everywhere s retrenchment. Sigh... Poor me hav 2 stay put here. Sob... Sob...

Standard Chartered Marathon 2008

2008-12-07T19:00:00.003+08:00

Today was the day that I took part in the 10KM wheelchair category. Some of my friends also take part, including Dr William Tan. I took 59 mins 08 secs to finished the race. I have a volunteer who help me too. His name is Kok Aun (Boon Pin's friend) who took part with me in the race. We have agreed that I will wheel myself all the way but when I am tired or needed a drink he will take over the wheels. Above is the pictures taken on that day.

Andrew & Grace Home

2008-11-09T22:35:00.004+08:00

On Fri morn while on my way gg downstairs I saw the surrounding was tying wif plastic-Police sign all the way until I was out of my void deck and I was wondering wat happen and I tht something hav happen and on my way 2 the bus stop I saw few policeman car parking @ the bus stop and I was thinking how come there are so many policeman bt aft a while the policeman left the scene and I continue to wait 4 my transport to come and fetch me to work. Sigh... 1st thing in the morning have to see this scenerio. Why so unlucky?

On Fri nite, Jorina invited me to Andrew & Grace's Home Anniversary dinner. Jorina was frm Andrew and Grace Home and I met her 3 yrs ago and we (Andrew & Grace Home, Asian Women's Welfare Association & Ngee Ann Poly) went to Phillipines to impart our computer skills to the PWD's in illio. I hav nt met Jorina 4 3 yrs liao ever since our trip 2 Philippines bt we do chat on MSN. We were supposed to go 4 the dinner @ Paya Lebar @ 7pm bt she came late to pick me up @ my workplace coz I tht she does not kw the place bt actually she was caught in the jam. When we reached there I wheel past Pastor Andrew and I tink he couldn't remember me. And Jorina push me to the table where Kristie (another gal frm AG Home) s sitting
while settling myself on the table I saw Chealsea and Cecilia (FCBC church member) @ the event, they both work @ Team Challenge, a christian organization so Team Challenge have help church tat is in need and 1 of the churches s Andrew & Grace Home and tat was y I saw Chealsea and Cecilia there. Wat a coincidence?

Mini marathon @ RJC

2008-11-09T22:24:00.001+08:00

Tis is the day I hav been waiting 4, it s a Mini marathon held @ RJC and it was the student (Sin Er, Hui Ehrr, Xiao xi, Chen Lin, Si Kai and Charmaine) project tat they are currently doing bt we need to be @ RJC at 12.45pm coz b4 the marathon there s a motivational talk by Dr William Tan bt I went out with WJ 1st and I left my house @ 10 plus almost 11am and we went Plaza Sing to get hansplast just in case wen I wheel myself for the marathon I wil get blister and after getting it we went 2 hav our lunch. Wen we finish our lunch we proceed to RJC and wen I reach there I call Xin Er and told her tat I hav reached Bishan MRT and she said there are students on their way 2 pick me up and as I wheel myself frm Bishan MRT 2 RJC I realized tat it s nt very near to the MRT and tat it s a very long distance and I push and push myself until I sweat all over and I was tinking since I alr push myself frm Bishan MRT to RJC such a long distance I shouldn't run 4 the marathon alr coz I was alr tired and couldn't do the 6KM (15 round on the track). After the start of the marathon there is a motivational talk by Dr William Tan. He show us a video about his life story. It was touching and inspirational too. The talk ended @ 2 plus and we headed to the track to change into our sports chair and a series of warm-up b4 the start of the race and during the start Dr William was also wif us pushing on the track. He was so fast til I can't catch up wif him and while stil trying 2 catch up wif him I feel tat my hands are tired and couldn't wheel anymore and wanted to give up but I remember tat Dr William Tan talk about ERP in his motivational talk. You must b wondering wat s ERP. It is nt the ERP gantry tat I am toking abt, it is E=Extra-Miled R=Reinvent, Relevant and P=Perseverance. Finally I managed to finished the 6KM(15 rounds) at a timing of 1hr 54min 46sec. I came in second whereas my frenz Amanda came in 1st and Manisha came in last. Well it was tiring 4 me. Bt @ least I manged 2 finished my 6KM mini-marathon. Aft the marathon Wei Jie and I go TTSH to visit Eric bt we went 2 the Kopitiam 2 hav dinner 1st b4 gg up 2 see Eric. Luckily I did nt bump into his parents or else his dad wil offer 2 buy drinks 4 me liao. Hehe...

Visit Eric @ TTSH

2008-10-31T23:51:00.001+08:00

Yest aft work I went TTSH 2 visit Eric. I was the 1st person 2 reached there bt I did nt go up and visit Eric 1st instead I wait 4 the rest 2 come. Bt I went up 1st and I was trying 2 look at the msg tat Shahidah send me and suddenly his dad frm in front ask me if I am looking 4 Eric and I said "Yes". And I ask the father wat exactly hav happen and the dad said tat he cannt breath on his own. And suddenly tears rolled down. And the parents told me tat we can't cried in front of him if not he hav difficulty breathing and Eric too does not want us 2 cried. Finally Tarin, Lynette, Janice, Kai Soon, Shahidah, Jonathan, Asraf and 1 more lady, I tink she s TEACH ME staff came. And so we went in to visit him. Although we see him like this we are sad and wanted to cried bt we stay strong and nt cry in front of him. Today I went to visit him again aft work and before I went there I gav Tarin a call @ 6 plus and she was there alr and she said tat Eric is in the operating theatre. And the operation lasted 2 hr plus. Becoz of his condition he can't breathe on his own anymore and he can't be on a respirator permanently and the surgery on the throat s an opening for the tube to bring oxygen 2 his lungs. Now with the opening on the throat the tube can go into his lungs directly. U may wonder wat s respirator. Respirator s a machine tat pumps oxygen/air. It wil also affect his speech. In future he will hav 2 carry a portable respirator or ventolator wif him where ever he goes. We must be strong and spend the rest of the time wif him.

Encounter Weekend 2008

2008-10-12T23:00:00.001+08:00

After a very very long time, here I am blogging again. Cause I have been busy with my work. Well this is my 2nd time attending Encounter Weekend and after much waiting, I finally going for encounter weekend organised by my church [Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC)]. It is a 3-days teaching sessions held at Marine Parade Touch Centre, from 10 - 12 October 2008.
On 10 October, I reached Marine Parade close to 7pm took my dinner while waiting for Amanda but I also tried to call Pastor Wendy but she did not answer me my phone as I thought she will be busy or that her handphone was not with her and maybe the music is too loud.While waiting I met Christine (Pastor Wendy's 12) and she bring me up and at the same time Amanda just reached Touch Centre, and when I reached I register my name and I saw Pastor Wendy and Pastor Angela. Pastor Wendy was so happy to see me then she arrange a place for me to sit, and at the same time Amanda have reached. When the session starts, we had worship session. during the woship session, while worshipping, i do not know why, but my tears were falling down from my eyes. After half an hour of worship, we had a teaching session on the topic of how to have a true encounter with God. The pastor who was teaching this topic uses a character from the bible, named Job to illustrate about his life and how it had been before and after he had encounter God. After this teachings, we then went back home.

On the following day, we are supposed to be @ Marine Parade @ 8 30am. We then had our breakfast with all the other ladies who attended the encounter after which is a long day of teachings like 'Repentance' of our sins, and after repenting, to enjoy the 'joy of forgiveness', 'plan of redemption', 'water baptism', and the 'breaking of curses'. Throughout the whole sessions, the presence of the Holy Spirit was so strong that i wouldnt control myself but seemed to wept during the session.

Finally, it had reached the last day of the encounter. during this time, we learn about the 'faith to heal the soul', about the importance of 'family', 'baptism of the holy spirit', and the 'vision of success'. At the very last part of the session, was a "Family Small Group" sharing session. You might be wondering are we having a Small Group sharing session with our family. Well the answer is we are have a "Family Small Group" sharing session with our spiritual family, my cell leader Pei Ee. During this session, we were supposed to share about what we have learnt throughout this whole 3-day session. Over at this point, while I was sharing about what I had learnt, and that I have learn to Forgive and Forget. And I said I forgive my father for what he had done to the family. But seriously even if I forgive I need not express myself by telling my father that I forgive cause it will only cause me to remember the past but the Pastor told us not to remember the past and look at the brighter side or else your heart would not be really be open and to forgive that person. Well it really took me 23years to really forgive my dad and forget the past. I encouraged those who see my blog that you would really be able to forgive your parents or people around you that have hurt you by saying those nasty words that you do not wish to hear and that it is not true that they said about you. When I almost falling asleep my dad came home and they were talking till I could hear them talking and just wanted to tell them not to talk loud when I am sleeping but I just did not tell them as if I ask them not to talk my dad would shout at me saying "Shut up and go to sleep" and I overheard my dad blaming my mum that she have the custody of the children and my mum tell him that he is a bankruptcy man and that he do not admit and I was thinking to myself that if "he have the custody of the children would he be able to take care of us.

All in all, I am also very grateful for Pastor Wendy who help to allocate people like Christine, Yvonne, Pastor Angela and Pastor Wendy, herself to help me throughout the whole sessions of the encounter. Also thanks to Pei Ee who even took time to come to the encounter to accompany and help us out.

Items 2 sell

2008-09-30T23:55:00.013+08:00

BABYDOLL CHIFFON TOP
worn before but in good condition
with beads and chiffon.
$22

CASSANDRA DRESS
brand new
100% cotton. can also be worn as a top.
$27

Gel Series - $6.90 each

Ideal for Office, Doorgifts, Parties, School, Decoration, etc

$3.90 each

Very Busy...

2008-09-20T21:13:00.003+08:00

Hi, I have been busy with work in my new workplace and that I do not have time to update my blog as I have transport to fetch me at 6pm so I do not have the time. Since now I am at home I can just update my blog. I feel that I am not up to standard to work in the Accounts Department as I gradually make mistakes twice and I feel that I might lose a job again. But I hope instead of losing a job I hope they will transfer me to another department. But even if I do not want to work there anymore now I also cannot quit just like that cause I have not work there for 6 months. Cause I am on probation period now so they would not let me quit just like that.

Last dae of work in TH

2008-08-18T19:24:00.001+08:00

It's been 2yrs and 1 month that I already work in Temasek Holding and 2dae it is the end of a chapter working in Temasek Holding. Tomorrow start a new chapter working in Handicaps Welfare Association. It is pretty sad to leave Temasek Holding but it is nice knowing everybody here.

New Job

2008-08-14T11:19:00.003+08:00

Sorry for not giving updates about my job. Well the workplace that I am working now Dhoby Ghaut, they will not renew my contract cause they do not have anymore projects that need my help already and so I am not working in Dhoby Ghaut starting on 19 August. My official last day working here would be 18 Aug. When I heard that the company will terminate my contract on 10 Jul 08 I have not found a new job at that time while searching on my own I call Handicaps Welfare Association and ask Gladys if there are any job opportunity for me cause my official last day working here is 18 July but they extend for 1 more month which my contract would be 18 Aug officially ended. And so Gladys ask me to send my resume to her. And the following week (14 Jul 08) she called me and ask me if I want to work in Handicaps Welfare Association and so I told her that I will work in Handicaps Welfare Association cause I don’t know if I really could find a job within 1 month when I leave my present job and so I went for job interview on 24 Jul 08. I will be working in the Account Department. The salary wise they are paying me $1000 which is less $300 then my present job which I think they pay me $1000 is good enough already cause they actually wanted to pay me $900 plus CPF. And that I will be under probation for ½ a year and they will see how I mange and if I do well they will convert me to permanent staff and my pay will also be increased. Thanks God that I found a new job within a week.

Contract ended wif TH

2008-07-16T13:21:00.002+08:00

Sob... Sob... Sob... My contract is officially ended this Friday but they extend my contract till next month cause I told the Human Resources that it is such a short notice for me to look for another job. But now I don't know what job to work as. Sigh...

2nd year in TH

2008-07-14T14:00:00.001+08:00

This coming Friday would be the 2nd year that I have work in Temasek Holding. I don't know if my contract would be renewed for another year or likely to be an on-going job for me. I hope that I could be converted from contract staff to a permanent staff. But I think I would still be a contract staff if I am still continuing to work here as they think that I do not have kids to look after and that I need not support the family that is why I think they will not convert me to perm staff on this aspect. I really don't what to do if I am not working in Temasek Holding anymore and that surely my mum will nag at me again and still she would thought that maybe my performance is not good that is why the company does not want to renewed my contract. She is more anxious then I am. Sigh....

Singapore Bay Run

2008-07-10T18:33:00.003+08:00

I really have no idea that there is Singapore Bay Marathon coming up. I got an email from Boon Pin yesterday saying that Toa Payoh SAFRA is having a Singapore Bay Marathon and that I tried to call the person-in-charge but there are nobody answering the phone and so I call them this morning and still nobody answer the phone. And at last there is someone answering the phone and I said I would like to enquire about the Singapore Bay Marathon that is held on the 24 Aug (Sun). I ask them if a wheelchair-user can participate in the marathon and I ask if I can take part in the 21KM but they told me that it is not advisable to have anything that s related to wheels to be on the track. And they said that I can only run the 6KM or 10KM run cause for the 21KM run it is a competitive run whereas for the 6KM and 10KM it is a non-competitive run. Competitive run means to run for the medal and non-competitive isn't getting a medal cause if I run for the 21KM it will be dangerous and they said they will confirm with me if I can run the race. And so in the afternoon the organizer call me back with regard to whether I can take part in the marathon. Hurray... The organizer said that I can take part in the race but I will be the last in line with the rest so as to be safe. Well this is my 2nd time taking part in the marathon. The coming up 4 the next marathon which is the Stand Chart Marathon will be on the 7 Dec. Asian Women's Welfare Association is incorporated with NCSS for the Stand Chart Marathon. If they agreed that wheelchair-user can take part in the race of cause I will be taking part again. But this time maybe I will take part in the 10KM run. Please pray that I am still fit to run for the race.

MagicBox

2008-07-08T19:05:00.007+08:00

This article was featured on Monday’s Straits Times:

Everything about Lawrence Khong, from the many hats he wears, right down to his choice of shoes, screams unconventional.

This is a man who does not conform to normal expectations, and his red-rimmed spectacles, red Converse sneakers and stylishly gelled hair are testimony to that.

His appearance is not something you would expect of a 55-year-old, and certainly not of someone who is a senior pastor, social worker, magician, businessman and national athlete all rolled into one very energetic body.

When you compliment him on his trendy appearance, he replies with a boisterous laughs: “I’m just a lao hiao.”

The Hokkien term means old vainpot.

“We shouldn’t be afraid of who are. Flamboyance is not wrong and it depends on how I use it. I can use it to flirt around and be immoral or I can use it to just add colour to an occasion.”

Still, it is hard to reconcile the image of a God-fearing man delivering a heartfelt sermon with that of an illusionist who has performed magic as shocking as “decapitating” his daughter and walking down into the audience, holding her head.

“The young people love it. It is our version of a horror movie,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes.

Pastor Khong may not be a household name but his resume is so long it can be an article in itself.

He is the senior pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC), which he started in 1986. One of the megachurches in Singapore, it has a congregation of about 10,000 and holds services at the Singapore Expo’s Max Pavilion.

He is the founder and chairman of Touch Community Services, a non-profit welfare organization which has 18 centres in Singapore helping the under-privileged and the needy.

He is a magician and has performed in sell-out shows to more than 200,000 people in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and the United States.

He is a businessman, the creative brains behind his production house, Gateway Entertainment, which produces magic shows and makes drama feature films and television movies.

To top it off, he is also a national polo player who won a silver medal with his team at last year’s South-east Asia Games.

“I’m someone who cannot sit still,” he says. “When I was doing my master’s in theology, I would be working on three papers at the same time.”

He demonstrates his yen for multitasking by pretending to type furiously on the table, then suddenly turning his attention to something on his right and then thumbing an imaginary stack of papers.

He adds: “I can think of nothing worse than a beach holiday where I do nothing.

“When I go on a skiing trip, I find out what time the ski resort opens and I will be the first in line, and the whole day will be packed with activities.”

It goes without saying then that the past few months have been pure bliss, as he squeezes daily rehearsals into his already packed schedule.

From Saturday till July 20, he and his 27-year-old daughter Priscilla will be performing in a magical theatre show called MagicBox at the Esplanade.

They have also teamed up for the popular magic musical, Magic Of Love, which debuted at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2001 and has since toured over 15 cities.

Pastor Khong, who has been performing magic since he was 13, has a well rehearsed answer when asked if there is a disparity between his roles as a pastor and as a magician, since some Christians frown upon magic as it is deemed to be demonic.

He says: “Yes, I’ve always been asked this question. ‘Pastors are supposed to tell the truth, and here you are bluffing me’.

“Actually, the most honest person in this world is a magician because I tell you I am bluffing you and then proceed to deceive you. I’ve warned you.

“There are some people who deceive you without warning you at all.”

His kids can do magic, too

THIS interview is conducted over two days, first at his office in Serangoon North, then over lunch at the Singapore Polo Club a few days later.

Charismatic and forthcoming, he is the sort of person whom you will never feel bored being around as he is, in the words of his wife Nina, “full of surprises”.

Dr Khong, 55, who gave up her medical practice six years ago to help him run his production house, says: “He’s not the kind to be contented with the status quo, doing the same thing day in, day out.”

Besides Priscilla, they have three other children, who can all perform magic: Anthony, 26, works in the IT industry; Michelle, 25, is pursuing a degree in architecture at the National University of Singapore and Daniel, 21, is doing his national service. They live in a condominium in Serangoon.

Describing her husband as a very easy-going man who never sulks, she adds: “Lawrence lives life on the cutting edge and brings a lot of fun into our family life.”

For example, when he turned 40, he decided that he wanted to learn how to ride a horse and promptly enrolled the entire family in riding school.

Six years ago, he developed a passion for snow skiing and, of course, everyone in the family ended up loving the sport too.

He brings a lot of fun to this interview too, as he has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve – literally.

One moment, he is telling you about the two horses he owns, Indio and Sandy, and then the next, he is coolly switching coins surreptitiously from one palm to the next as you watch on, wide-mouthed.

He can be munching hungrily on a hot bun with his left hand, and before you realize what is happening, he is already producing one card after another using his right hand, seemingly from thin air.

“These are all tricks. Everyone can do what I do. It’s not like you need some spiritual powers,” he says almost nonchalantly.

Then, in a more serious tone, he adds that he sees the art of magic as “just a medium to communicate good messages of love and family”. He says: “This is why I feel very integrated. As a pastor, I want my members to value family. As a social worker, I realize that (the lack of love) is an issue behind most social problems.

“As a magician, if I can have a great piece of entertainment that makes money for me, puts me onto the path of success and yet allows me to do something very valuable for society, why not?”

That last part refers to Project Smile (Sharing Magic In Love Everywhere), a programme which he pioneered and conceptualized in 2002. It trains youths and adults in magic, and they then entertain the under-privileged in hospitals, day-care centres and homes.

That, along with his gentle persistence, constant dialogue and explanation and growing success in the positive aspects”, has helped him gain more acceptance from his church members about his love for magic.

But he acknowledges that there are people who find that this is something they cannot reconcile with and have left to join other churches. “Given my profile, there will always be people who don’t like me.

“It’s okay. Don’t make life so difficult for yourself, go find something that you like. I’m not the only pastor in town.”

From riches to rags

THE son of a successful businessman and a housewife, he has a younger sister and a younger brother. Phyllis, 53, is an executive secretary and Kin Mun, 51, is a bank.

His father, a general commodities wholesaler who came from Guangdong province in China, has another family in Hong Kong with four children, but married the pastor’s mother when he came to Singapore before World War II broke out.

As a boy, Pastor Khong was naughty and had the worst conduct in class when he studied at Catholic High School. His mother had to transfer him to St Michael’s Primary when he was in Primary 4.

“I was one of those hyperactive kids. I would stand up in the middle of a lesson and walk around or I would suddenly push my classmate for no reason,” he recalls.

At home, he was always running into trouble and getting caned for things such as jumping down from the tallest cabinet.

“My mother used to say: ‘When I gave birth to you, I was in a lot of pain. Now, you’re still giving me so much pain’.”

When he was 10, his sheltered life was over. His father died, sparking a bitter fight over the inheritance from his family in Hong Kong. His mother was left with little and was forced to work as a seamstress.

Overnight, he went from being a pampered rich boy who traveled to school in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz to a poor kid who had to learn how to take the bus for the first time in his life.

Life became hard as his mother developed high blood pressure and started blaming him for it. She would say things such as “If I die tonight, it will be because of you”, prompting him to wake up in the middle of the night to check if she was still alive.

He also remembers how, when he was about to take his O levels, his frail mother told him: “The future of the whole family depends on your exam results. Our fate lies in your hands. If you fail, I will kill myself.”

He says: “I was an angry child back then and I was very angry with my mother.”

He says he has long since gotten over his anger and his 83-year-old mother now lives with his sister.

But at the time, he found support and peace in his church. Grace Baptist Church in Silat Road, which he joined in Secondary 1. He also found solace in magic – he had a pack of cards with him all the time – which he taught himself by reading books.

“I’m motivated by levels of difficulty. The more difficult the trick, the more I loved to do it,” he says. “Anyone can collect stamps. But how many people can make things disappear?”

Fortunately, he did very well in secondary school at St Joseph’s Institution and went on to National Junior College, where he met his wife, Nina.

But he turned rebellious in the army and became a chain smoker, lighting up three packs a day. He also stopped going to church.

But he cleaned up his act when he had a spiritual awakening at vacation time during his first year as a business administration undergraduate in the University of Singapore.

He had followed Nina to a church camp in Port Dickson, Malaysia, where a boy drowned on the second day. That shook him up and he “felt a calling” to become a pastor.

Focused and goal-driven

AFTER graduating from university, he worked as an intern pastor in his church. And three weeks after he and Nina tied the knot, they left for Texas in the United States so that he could study for a master’s degree in the Dallas Theological Seminary.

About five years later, he returned to serve in his church, then set up FCBC. It has 10,000 members today and it was at one point the biggest church here, although other megachurches such as City Harvest Church, New Creation Church and Lighthouse Evangelism (Singapore) have since overtaken it.

Reverend Kong Hee, 44, of City Harvest Church, which has a congregation of 24,000, has worked with Pastor Khong on a couple of inter-church religious events.

“I know him to be someone who is passionate in whatever he does and he has helped many people through his community service,” says Reverend Kong.

Indeed, Pastor Khong’s most significant contribution – and one that he is most proud of – is setting up Touch Community Services in 1992.

With 132 full-time staff and 800 volunteers, the non-religious charitable group has helped more than 100,000 people through activities and programmes.

Among other things, it provides free meals, offers counselling services and conducts health screenings for children from low-income or single-parent families, people with special needs and the frail elderly.

He admits that with their Christian roots, he and his colleagues were greeted with suspicion initially. Now, he says they have established themselves as a genuine welfare group “with no strings attached”.

Touch won the Outstanding Non-profit Organisation Award from the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre last year.

“I’m a very focused and goal-driven person. Some people see this as arrogance. So in the church, you either love or hate me,” he says.

“But this is me. The other day, Priscilla fell from a height during a rehearsal and the first thing I asked was: ‘Did you damaged the prop?’”

Mr Eugene Seow, 52, executive director of Touch, says Pastor Khong is a leader who is open to new ideas and gives people the freedom to try out different things.

“He’s also a very transparent and honest person. He shares things about his personal life so that people can understand him better,” he adds.

One of the very personal things that he volunteers to Life! without any prompting is that Priscilla is a single mother, with a five-year-old son born out of wedlock.

“I’m not ashamed of talking about it. In fact, I told my church members when it happened,” he says.

But he says it broke his heart when he first knew that she was pregnant and he was so mad that he wanted her to leave the family home.

However, his wife talked to him and he forgave Priscilla. His grandson Isaac is now the apple of his eye and he sends the boy to school every day.

“I don’t hold grudges. Whatever you’ve done, whether you’ve taken drugs or committed a crime, if you say ‘I’m wrong, please help me’, I will bend backwards to help you,” he says with quiet resolve.

“This is my job. But if you continue to sleep around or beat up your wife, then I’ll say, leave my church. I will not help you, but I will help your wife to get a divorce.”

Wheel, Walk & Jog

2008-07-07T19:58:00.005+08:00

Yesterday at about 6.30am I woke up early to get ready to go Handicaps Welfare Association before 8am cause the last shuttle service at HWA ends at 8am. HWA organised Wheel, Walk and Jog event at Botanic Garden. When we reached there it was so crowded with alot of wheelchair people and volunteers. When I get my T-shirt from the registration counter I wanted to change my church t-shirt into the t-shirt that they give but I was being pushed to the starting line of the walk. I realized that there was no volunteer attached to me. Then I said to myself "Well if there is no volunteer attached to me then I just have to wheel myself." When the bell goes off I just wheel myself but then I realized nobody is moving and I think to myself that since the bell has go off why is everybody not moving. And one of the volunteer said to me I am the first one to step out of the starting line and I said to her I know I am a bit fast but I don't know why is everybody not moving when the bell goes off. And I pushed myself until one of the volunteer saw me that I am wheeling myself alone then she came to help me. But I told her not to push me until I am tired. And so I wheel myself until the slope where I have no strength to push already then someone came to help me cause the slope was very steep. And when it come to a downslope I told the volunteer to let go as she does not know how to slow down. And so I went downslope myself and I was faster then the volunteer that she cannot catch up with me cause I was very fast. And so at about 9 plus we reached to the finishing line and we get our goodies bag. We though the goodies bag can get from the registration counter but they told us to get our goodies bag from the finishing line. And so we mingled around but I don't know where and what should I do. After coming out from the Ladies I wheel and wheel myself and I saw Julie and I told her that "Actually I wanted to come to church but Francis from HWA called me and ask me to come for this event." And she asked me "which service do I attend" and I said "I am attending the Youth service" and I said that "the shuttle service can only send us back to HWA between 12pm to 1pm and that I have no time to go for my service." Then she tell me that she will also go off early then I said if you go off early then I go off early with you. Then we left at 10am and on the way out wanted to get a cab I saw Gladys boyfriend Samuel when I crossed the road and I ask him "Are the two of you going to church later after Gladys have finished the event. Then he said "Yes, we are going then I said maybe I can go with you guys to church. And so I told Julie that I am going to church with Gladys and her boyfriend and I ask her and her boyfriend to go first. Then Samuel and I head back to the Botanic Garden to wait for Gladys to finished. And the whole event finishes at 12pm and I told Samuel that I go to the ladies first. And when I came out I thought of going to the stage area as I thought Gladys and Samuel might be still there. But luckily I saw Samuel and I thought they already left without me. And so we went to church together and we went to the petrol station to get a cab and it was hard to get a cab as the cab are on "Hired" And finally we got a cab and on the way it was drizzling and I said since it is drizzling where do you wanna stop the taxi then I said "we can stop the taxi at the taxi stand where it is sheltered and that it is easier for us too. When we went reached Expo I called Amanda and ask her where they are and she said "She is at Cosmo 4. When I reached Cosmo 4 I am just in time to have cell as they have not started yet. And Pei Ee and Andy was surprised to see me there as I told them that I am not coming as I have an event going on. And when we have finished cell we wheel ourself in for service and that I saw Joanna and I tap on her shoulder and she was surprised that I came for service and she tell me that there is no transport to send me back and I said "it is ok, I will go home myself" then she said "she will try to ask the driver to send me back" And so I went in for service and we started out by singing worship songs and took our communion. When we finished worshiping God with songs then Pastor Eugene invited Pastor Bray to come up on stage. And started singing songs which I don't know what he is singing. Through the whole service I do not understand what Pastor Bray is preaching and that the sermon was so little of things to be copied down. Through the service I felt like sleeping as I was tired cause I woke up at 6.30am. Then when the service ended Tommy came up to me. When I know what Tommy wanted to tell me I alreay know what he is going to said. And so he told me that the driver cannot send me back as he is a person who do not like to send us back. And so I stay in until the service ended and Pei Ee offered to send me back but then she realized that she have Faith's baby stroller with her and that the booth might not have space. And so she wanted to give me money to go home by taxi but I told her I will take MRT but she said I will still need to take a cab from the MRT but I said I still have money. Then I sms Gladys and ask her if she want to walk with me to the MRT but she did not reply me and so I know that her phone is on silent mode and so I called her instead and I ask her where she is and she said she is walking out of the hall and I ask her if she want to go off with me to take MRT and she ask me where am I and I said I am inbetween Hall 8 and Hall 9 and so I told Andy that they can go ahead while I wait for Gladys and Pei Ee said she will wait for Gladys with me. And when Gladys came we went off together and coincidental I saw Ming Chun at the platform and he asked me where I am lighting off and I said I am lighting off at Potong Pasir as there is only taxi stand over there and that Aljunied MRT do not have taxi stand. And so he asked me to think of where to stop as he and his member, David wanted to stop at Eunos cause there is direct bus for him and he ask me to take a cab back from there. But I said I have not eaten my lunch as he said he wanted to go for lunch and so we stop at Aljunied MRT and we went to see where can we eat. And we have found a place to eat and the stall uncle was so kind that he did not charge us for the food and Ming Chun feel bad about it. I am happy that I can eat with Ming Chun again. Hey... Ming Chun, remember to arrange for me, Gladys and Andrew to go makan again hor. Don't forget. Hehe...

Christian One Liners

2008-07-02T09:10:00.012+08:00

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a

basket case.

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their

pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and

the back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should

you?

Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it

make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members who are singing 'Standing on the Promises' are just

sitting on the premises.

We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious

nuts!'

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions - - just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect

you.

We don't change the message, the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

Dream tat I cld walk

2008-06-26T14:59:00.021+08:00

As I have told some of you that I have a dream and it seem so real to me. Well if you

want to know what is the dream I will tell you what is the dream about. It was on my

birthday on 26 Apr which fall on a Sunday in the year 2009 and I tell my cell leaders

that I am not going to church as I am sick but I did go to church but I did not show

myself up in the cell group and I went to look for my Senior Pastor and tell him

"Pastor Khong, today is my birthday and that I have a miraculous sign happen to me",

and Pastor Khong ask "what is the miraculous sign that happen to you" then I said "I

will let you know when the service starts". And so the service starts and everybody is

rushing in for service and so are my cell leader and member. But I hide myself behind

the backstage in order for my cell leader not to realized that I went to church when I

told them that I am not going because I am sick. So the service start by having worship

songs and everybody came in front of the stage to dance and as for me I am still

waiting at the backstage for the worship songs to finished and when it is ended. Pastor

Eugene made the announcement by asking "whose birthday is today" and Pastor

Eugene said "one of the birthday girl is behind the backstage and she would want you

to guess who is it. And I started to talk on the microphone and telling them "Is there

anyone of your friends who went missing and did not come to church". And I ask "Can

you guess who am I"? Eventually I come on stage and instruct them of what they need

to do. And so I ask everybody in the auditorium to close their eyes except those asher,

those playing for services and all the Pastor need not close their eyes and I ask Senior

Pastor could I have two female pastor to help me and so I called for my network

Pastor, Pastor Wendy Kang and I also requested Pastor Khong if I could request for

Pastor Nina to help me and Pastor Khong said "Of course you can ask Pastor Nina to

help you and I told everybody in the auditorium that I wanted everybody to speak in

tongues but keep their eyes still close and when I said open your eyes then only you can

open your eyes. Then I said to Pastor Khong "Pastor Khong, if you see something

miraculously happen please pray in tongues loudly and all the people in the auditorium

please follow Pastor Khong to pray aloud and Pastor Khong agreed. And I too ask the

people that are still in Hall 9 or at the entrance of Hall 10 could they too close their

eyes and pray aloud when Pastor Khong do so. So now everybody closes their eyes and

pray in tongues while I tell Pastor Nina and Pastor Wendy softly that "Could you hold

my hands and leave me up away from my wheelchair and I ask one of the Pastor to

push my wheelchair away and so Pastor Khong saw me standing on my legs he began

speaking in tongues loudly and everybody follow Pastor Khong to speak loudly, when I

am able to stand straight I ask Pastor Nina and Pastor Wendy to let go of my hands

and I ask everybody in the auditorium to open their eyes and when they open their eyes

they were shocked to see me standing on my two feet and they started to broke into

tears cause they are happy for me that I could stand on my two feet. And Pastor

Khong, Pastor Nina and Pastor Wendy broke into tears as well and each of them gave

me a hug and to where I am standing on the stage I look at the direction of where my

cell leader and members are sitting and I saw my leader broke into tears. And I ask if

my friend Bee Ling, Gladys Tang and Ming Chun are you here in church and could you

please stand up so that I could see you. And they are happy that they broke to tears

and I thank them for being my friend all this while, may we still continue to be friends

till the end. And so I began to praise God and thank God that I could stand on my feet

after 24 years of relying on the wheelchair. And I told the church that I have been

praying the Jabez prayer all this time and whenever I pray I sense that there is

something pulling my legs and I know that it is a sign that I could really stand on my

two feet one day and I hope that the dreams I dreamt about will come true.

Working in TH, Finance Dept

2008-06-25T19:21:00.019+08:00

As you may or may not know that I was in Finance Department since December 3 2007

till today. Everyday was a busy week till I will forget the time to go for my lunch or

forget to visit the Ladies. But sometime I never go for lunch is not because I was busy

but because I don't feel like eating or because my church is doing a fasting month. So

whenever my colleagues ask me to go and eat I will just said that "Today I am fasting".

But I do not know why sometime if I am not eating I will have gastric pain. For the past

three weeks I have been busy helping my colleagues to photostat three boxes of

documents so if you were trying to talk to me through MSN but I did not reply it

means that I was away from my desk since the time I step into the office till seven plus

in the evening. So allow me to apologise to whoever that wanted to talk to me in MSN

but couldn't get me. "Sorry folks". If those of you who are in the working force and

that you are in Finance Department you will know how stress and tiring it is to be in

Finance Department. Till today (25 June 08) I am still in Finance Department but I will

be going back to Human Resource Department on Monday (30 June 08) to help them.

You might be wondering why I said "I am going back to Finance Department". Well

when I started working in Temasek Holding I was working in Human Resource

Department. Till then take care.

Special speaker coming 2 FCBC and a rude taxi driver

2008-06-23T19:30:00.021+08:00

Well I will have two entry but I am writing as one entry. As the first entry took place on Sunday and

the second entry took place yesterday. On 22 June (Sun) I went to church and we have a special

speaker coming to Faith Community Baptist Church to preach sermon to us. He is from South

Africa. In the beginning of the he started off by telling us his life story. He told us that his wife died of

cancer and that his three children got married and that he have two grandchildren. After that he ask

his son to tell us about his mum passed away and how he overcome with it. After that he started

with the sermon. The title of the sermon is "Having God's Heart For The Multitudes". His essence

when he speak I cannot understand cause he tend to speak very fast and we cannot catch what he

just said when we are too focused on what he just said. He is just like a machine gun. And worst of

all the points that he just mention on the powerpoint slides it was not copied down by some of us as

it was too fast. And that it was only two points that he just said. It is not like any other sermon that

other speaker had preach. Rev Wes Richard's sermon was short and so we do not know what he

was trying to said.

This is the second entry that took place yesterday. It was 8.32pm when I was going home after

work. I was at Potong Pasir MRT to wait for a cab. Interestingly when he drive me home he told me

that I could wheel myself from Potong Pasir MRT to my house. He told me that it will take 5 minutes .

just to reached my house. I told him that it is impossible for me to wheel myself home as the road

are not even and there are lots of obstacle that I encounter cause I have tried to wheel myself home

and that I tel him that it took me 1 1/2hr to wheel myself home and he was so angry to hear that I

said I took 1 1/2hr to wheel myself home. But I tell him that people on wheelchair are not so mobile

compared to people that are walking. And I told him that if my house is just next to the MRT I could

just wheel myself to the MRT and not rely on taxi and he told me that Potong Pasir MRT to

MacPherson Estate (that is where I stay) is very near. And I was thinking to myself, if he does not

want to fetch me then in the first place he shouldn't have stop for me when I flag for a cab. and I also

think to myself that since I am the passenger and that I wanted to take a cab shouldn't he be glad

that I let him earned money. I really hope that my house is next to the MRT and that I could just wheel

myself to the MRT. He is the first taxi driver that I come cross who tell me this sort of things. Lastly I

know one thing for sure that is whenever the taxi driver saw us (people on wheelchair) they will not

stop for us as they think that it is troublesome for them to help us. I really don't know what other

transportation we can take except taxi's. The wheelchair accessible bus around my house is not yet

accessible for us to take. If the bus is ready I would rather take bus then to take taxi.

About my family

2008-06-20T15:57:00.024+08:00

My name is Yuan Ping aka Ruby. I am twenty-three years old. I am a girl since birth

both legs cannot walk, handicap. I am a cheerful, easy-going, out-spoken, helpful,

jovial and conservative girl. I am currently working in Temasek Holdings as Admin

Assistant officer. I have been working here for almost two year, this July 18 will be my

second year working at Temasek Holdings. I have four members in the family, they are

my mother, two brothers and me. Both my parents are divorced when I was twenty-two

years old. My first brother is staying at my auntie's house so now my second brother

and me is staying with my mother but sometime my second brother did not come home

and sleep. He will stay out late the whole night. My mother is working at Ritz Carlton

Hotel as a Housekeeping Co-ordinator. My first brother is in the army but he is

studyiing at MDIS at the same time. My second brother is a police at Changi Airport

Terminal Three. Me and my brother do not get along well especially my second brother.

I alway get bullied by my second brother but I don't know how to fight back when he

bullied me. I just let him bullied me. When I wanted to use the computer he will ask me

to stop using and that he wanted to use the computer. Sometime I feel that I am better

off dead then living in agony with the family cause my brothers never respect me as

their eldest sister. I know I am different from them (in a way sitting on wheelchair). But

I know God has a purpose for me to be placed in this family but sometime I was

thinking what is the purpose that God has placed me in this family. I think nobody

knows the answer and even myself I also do not know the answer. Only God knows the

answer cause he is the one who placed me on this earth.

My testimony

2004-05-29T17:30:00.003+08:00

My mother calls me a miracle because when I was born, the doctors said I would not live beyond the age of 3. I was born with a hole at the back and fluid I my brain.
My mum was devastated when the doctors told her that her 1st born would probably end up mentally-disabled. Now I have proven them wrong. But my journey has not been an easy one. When I was a tiny infant, I needed two operations to close up the hole and to drain the fluid out from my brain. There was only a membrane covering the hole at my back. When I was barely 2 years old, I underwent my 1st operation to remove stones from my kidney. When I was 4 years old, I underwent yet another operation, to correct the shape of my deformed feet so that I could wear shoes properly. I also have bedsore at the back of my buttock. I had done 8 times operation on the bedsore. When I was only 5 years old I went for 3rd operation, a shunt was inserted into my brain to drain out the fluid. I was in and out of hospital a lot of times, hence my mum calls me “sick child”.
In 2002 I went for a major operation the doctor expanded my bladder bigger as it is very small and can only contain very little of urine. The doctor used my intestines and appendix to enlarge my bladder bigger so that it can hold a lot of urine and the doctor open a hole on my belly button for me to insert the catheter to help me urine cause I can’t do it from below as it is difficult for me to do so. Hence after the operation I do the catheterization myself without my mum doing it for me, but I get infection very easily hence the doctor water-balloon the catheter in my belly-button and that I have to go to and fro to the hospital to get it changed every month. While others my age were running around, I could only sit on the wheelchair or crawl around using my arms or depend on my mum to carry me. Since young my family and I was not a believer, but Buddhist. I remembered when I admitted to hospital at the age of 10 my aunt and her friends came to visit me a few times and without failed they prayed 4 me before they leave and at that moment I felt something stirring in my heart and tears starts to roll on my face.
One day my aunt and her friend came and visit me in the hospital again and they ask me if I believe in Jesus and I said “I believe” and they ask me “why I believe in Jesus” and I just simply said “I believe in Jesus because when they pray for me I felt something stirring my heart.” Gradually I accepted Christ when I was 10 years old. My aunt, her husband and her friend bring me to Benny Hinn’s conference twice at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and too I felt something stirring in my heart and tears start to roll down from my face. Since then I never ever step into a church before. In 2003 I was invited to a CNY countdown party at Fort Canning Park by my friend Zhi Wei aka Jie Wee a member of Faith Community Baptist Church. When I was there then I realized it was not really a real CNY Countdown Party but a Christian CNY Countdown Party. Suddenly I remember since I have accepted Christ at the age of 10 years old and that I never been to church before and right before me are all Christians and so I ask Jie Wee to help me arranged transport to go to church in Faith Community Baptist Church. Since 2004 I attended the Encounter Weekend in May and after the Encounter Weekend I was baptized on 29 May 2004.