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Heart Matters! ♥

2011-02-12T02:25:00.004+08:00

It's 2.30am here now and it is insane that I am still up blogging but there's just so much in my heart right now that I need to put down. This week I pretty much had a lot of different things on my mind - some really great and some troubling. But I really feel like God has been challenging me in the past weeks about really this idea of how because I have Jesus in my life, what my reactions and responses to situations should be like.

So the basis of this is from a story I shared over the pulpit in a message that I preached at the Edge just 2 weeks ago (I KNOW, like God, WOW I preached). In my previous post, I spoke of a grandmother that was in critical condition and on 18th December 2010, she passed away. She is so dear to my heart and I remember her as such a beautiful woman (:

Miss you so much, Mama!

This came just 2 months after my maternal grandfather passed away of a stroke. I have such fond memories of this old man who was just so proud and supportive of my ministry and even missions! He saw me leading net in my house once and was amazed at how I could command the attention of my net that he couldn't stop telling my mum and relatives! (: He even came to send me off when I went off to Timor at the airport and spent his last sunday at the Perfect 10 party at VFC Tampines (: WIth his recent passing, it really wasn't easy when my grandmother passed away too. I remember on the day of her cremation, I was filled with so much grief and had tears rolling down my cheeks as we left the crematorium. But what I cannot forget was the song that my heart kept singing over and over again. It didn't make any sense and it didn't seem to be something that someone would normally feel going through something like that. But the song that kept repeating itself was "Good To Me" by Desperation Band:

"I will be still, In the arms of my Savior
You calm my soul, As you sing over me
All of Your goodness, Follows me forever
I will live under Your wings

Chorus:
You are good to me
You are good to me
Oh Your love fills my soul
And my heart will always know
God, You are good to me"

And it was really the chorus that stood out for me. It wasn't like He took away the sadness and tears, but it was like He put comfort and assurance in my heart that I needed for that time. I started thinking about just how powerful this really was that in hard times, because I have Jesus in my life, my response can be entirely different. That by having this Jesus, when I enter into His presence, He can transform my entire situation and somehow give me the strength to smile at the storms in my life!

What a lover! What a Father! The quietness and gentleness of His approaches are so tender and loving (: I know I am safe placing my heart in His hands - the fragile parts, the weaker parts, the crazy parts, the stronger parts and the parts that no one knows about or understands (: - He lifts it up when I can't even lift myself up! Even as Valentine's Day approaches, seek for love! But not for something that will give you temporary satisfaction or that has no depth, seek for this Jesus who is in pursuit of your heart and is eager to love you unconditionally! My prayer is that you will find that this is a Lover that you will be completely captivated by and sweeps you off your feet the same way He has captivated me and definitely swept me away! Never met anyone who has loved me this much and who knows clearly the innermost depths of my heart so well and is just so eager to touch it (:

Thought I'd end this with a wonderful video that I took off one of my friends' blogs by one of my fav worship leaders (: Enjoy!! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

Love,
Gladys (:
"Oh what love, no greater love.."

Finishing up 2010!

2010-12-16T22:52:00.009+08:00

We are just 9 days away from Christmas and a mere 15 days away from the new year!! I'm terrible at up keeping this blog (as you can see the last post was in May) but I thought since the end of the year was coming, I wanted to take some time to just reflect and give glory to God for all the things that He has done in 2010! And to update everyone on what's been happening this second half of the year (: Here's my tree for christmas!

17th December will mark exactly 1 year since I got home from spending 10 months in Timor and God has just been amazing! It was definitely a struggle in the beginning trying to get used to everything and jumping back on to lead the best youth ministry in the world! I had my struggles and difficulties with many challenges and testings that came in every direction, but God is so good to have sustained me and the R5/6's youth ministry that is still alive, kicking AND GROWING! Here's a latest picture of just some of the wonderful youths I get to lead in R5/6 in our recent outing to Universal Studios in November! (:

If you haven't met this God I'm talking about, YOU HAVE TO!! (: No one loves me like He does, no one cares about me like He does, no one knows me like He does and no one has died for me like He has (: I mean, what a God!!

One of the most exciting things that happened this year was attending my very first Edge Conference! Well, we started this conference in 2009 but I was in East Timor so I missed it. But this year, I had the opportunity to serve in the conference working on Programmes. It was pretty insane because I didn't know what to expect and it was right before my exam period! But when you serve alongside a God that will not disappoint, you are sure to know that everything's going to work out just fine! (: Here are some shots (some I took from Conference Photographer - Jacky Woo) and from my own stash!

The theme for the conference!

Best opening I've seen! Here the drummers (James, Joshua & Sam) are getting ready to blow our minds with their mad drumming!

The countless of young lives touched and transformed at the conference!

Worshipping God!

One of the speakers - Ps Jude Fouquier, Powerful man of God!

Another fantastic speaker - Ps Henry Seeley of Planetshakers! He led worship on the last night too (:

Here's the committee I worked with throughout the conference, what a great bunch!

The highlight of the conference for me was on the last night as I was worshipping. One of my friends tapped me to say that Ps Jeremy wanted to see us at the soundboard and my first thought was, "Oh no, what trouble are we going to get into!" because he called all the committee members together. Then as we gathered, his first words were, "I want you guys to stop singing for a second." And i thought, "Oh man, we can't even sing?!" HAHA but!! He said, "I want you guys to stop singing for a second and look at all the young people who are lifting their hands worshipping God. This is what it's all about. All the time, work and effort - This is what it's all about." WOW, that was probably the que for my tear ducts to open its floodgates. I couldn't stop crying just in awe of what God was speaking to me. Sometimes, when you have given so much to the ministry, thoughts like "is it really worth it", "why am i trying so hard", "why do i sacrifice so much" etc. would come and haunt you. And this year, I had to make a very difficult decision to give up something that I really wanted to do and it has been the biggest struggle trying to come to terms with it. But as I stood there that night and looked at the hundreds of young people lifting up their hands to worship, tears started streaming down my eyes because I knew - IT WAS WORTH IT. The assurance and peace in my heart, knowing that no lucrative job opportunity or brilliant exam results would replace that kind of contentment and satisfaction I felt serving in God's Kingdom. That the more I poured into His Kingdom, the more God poured into me! I am so blessed to be doing what I am doing in His Kingdom!

Tomorrow, we will hold a youth encounter where our young people will commit 2 days to consecrating and encountering the living God! Next tuesday, I preach for the first time in my life at a youth camp with Agape Baptist Church (I know, "OH MY WORD.") and in the same week, christmas net outreaches will take place all over the city. I have an action packed life! (: Never a dull day!

The past months have been challenging - from my Thyroid scare, to an insanely tough school semester, to my grandfather's sudden passing, to making very difficult decisions and even right now, my Grandma is in the hospital in critical condition (we are believing for a complete healing, pray with us!!). But I have SO much to thank God for! (: To praise Him in the good times, and to praise Him even in the bad times! WHAT A YEAR! I have learnt so much in this one year and I know I am a changed person because of what God is doing in my life (: Looking forward to a greater year ahead in my life, family and ministry in 2011! (: In the meantime, Merry Christmas everyone! (:

The Underdog

2010-05-26T01:29:00.009+08:00

Just yesterday, Lee Dewyze was declared winner of American Idol! (Good choice America, his eyes are like woww.. okay that's not the point here) And really, what made me so happy was that no one really thought he would win because he did so badly in the performance round. Everyone thought Crystal was definitely going to win given alll her amazing comments from the judges compared to Lee's. But the underdog won! Woo!!

Well for many of these young people, they would think they are not doing much and not making any difference. Maybe in school they are not scoring the highest marks and are not the popular ones whom everyone adores but here's what is so cool! God roots for the underdog! Or at least that's what the world would call them.

But you see, that's not how God works. God doesnt see them the way others see them and because God is the authority of their lives, He can take a seemingly insignificant life and propel it to a level that would be mind-blowing! The Bible says, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:16" - How cool is that!! Just thinking about what God has in store for these young people just makes me so excited!! All of them are stars in God's eyes! What a privilege to lead future champions for Jesus!!

It's Official!

2010-05-18T11:59:00.005+08:00

Wow, finally managed to get this running and going! (: I kinda decided to start blogging again and I know it's all pinky and girly, but it's MY blog, so I get to choose how it looks :p If you are looking for the most updated scoop on the people around me, you'll find it here! BUT it is purely for the glory and honor of my Lord Jesus Christ (:

Just had the most amazing 2 weeks and I feel like I am falling in love with Jesus so much more. Bad things still happened and not everything went my way but I have never felt so much joy in my heart before (: God is just doing amazing things in the youth ministry and in my own personal life and I am crazy excited for what is going to take place! If you haven't personally known this God i'm speaking about, you've got to!!

The Good News!!
He laid down His life for you by dying on the cross so that you can find life in Jesus to its fullest! (: He rose again on the 3rd day and today, He can be living in your heart! Well, not in some weird way like you need to feed Him or talk to your heart when you talk to Him but it's like having your best friend there 24/7! I have never looked back the day I decided I was putting my life in His hands and have no plans on turning back to my life before. I have experienced love that no man can give, joy that no pill can administer and hope that gives me faith to take one step further! Talk to me more about this, ask Jesus to come into your life so He can cleanse you of your sins and you can accept Him as your personal Lord and savior! (: Go to a church near you or you can always come to my amazing one! :p [www.theedge.org.sg]

I had a whole bunch of other things to say about my awesome leaders, ATCEM classes the last 2 weeks, the prophetic meetings and just what God is doing in my heart but I'll save you all the words by ending off with this - God is going to do a new and radical work in this nation, it's a new season that we are entering to and I am just excited typing about it!
So GET READY, DON'T BE LEFT OUT and DON'T MISS OUT! It'll blow your mind!! (:

Love,
Gladys (:

A New Chapter!

2010-05-05T16:12:00.003+08:00

Thank you (:

In the midst of reviving this blog! Keep checking back for updates, in the meantime, thanks for bearing with all the mismatched pictures and colors! ;p

you'll never forget where you left a big part of your heart at

2010-02-23T17:29:00.007+08:00

It's been 2 months now and I've been trying hard to adjust back. Friendships and relationships change, Families change, Schools change, Your perspectives and attitudes change, even Church changes, Ministries have changed. You try and grapple to find a way to place yourself in all of the changes.

But you go off to a country like that and you come back also changed, the country changed you, the experiences changed you, the people you meet changed you (: I realized today how much of my heart is still for them and with them.

Been doing research for a final essay paper I am doing on East Timor so I've been looking up tons of sources that would help me in understanding better this very young nation. I chanced upon a video called "Answered By Fire" about a policeman's view during Timor's struggle for independence. And just watching like the first 8 minutes of it have pulled out so much emotion from me - Looking at the scenes that I used to go past daily, listening to them speak in Tetum, seeing the rawness of this infant country. And then to think WOW, I was there for 10 months living in this very same place. Put down everything I was used to and loved and moved to another country. And still, I am not the best person to speak like that because there are many who have lived there for 8 years or more and I was just there for a mere 10 months.

I saw the full movie in Timor using a projector that we borrowed from the church and projected it on our white wall. But coming back and seeing it again, it's insane. Reminds me too of the things that God did in that place and His love for the people there (:

Anyone interested in this movie, this is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=J9zRfMNO6yI&v=xPsHbN5EILg

Because words alone will not be enough...

We took our English classes out to the beach and this particular girl made me cry so hard when I left because she lost her father and was just telling me how her uncle was taken to the jail for violence. That was when I really felt "Compassion" in it's purest form. My heart was so broken for her. She is such an amazing and brilliant girl!

A group of girls that would always play around us when we visited on of our contacts in Lahane, Dili (:

Amazing view taken from the car on the way to a place called Com in Lautem, this is apparently the best place to be at for this view (: The sea glitters in the sun, very beautiful!

I've posted sth about her before, the girl on the left is Akoko, who eats ALOT. And she is one of my fav kids because I love how she loves me :D She is always the dirtiest but loves to touch my face, my bag, my hair, EVERYTHING! Everyone else always scolds her, "Akoko!! NOOO, go bathe first! You see she is so clean!" But she hates it when they ask her to go take her bath because she prefers to be in her dirty self and run around without a care in the world (:

I would sit here and talk to some ladies here while their children run around with no shoes on because the whole place is their home (: (Maubara, Liqiscia)

Wanted to get some pens at a local kiosk in a mountainous district called Latefoho and I chanced upon a young boy with a really cute self-made "crown" that kinda reminded me of Jesus' Crown of Thorns that He had to wear :|

We were up on a high mountain where it was a little chilly and I saw this boy who was helping to sell these donated clothes to earn money for his family. I love the smile on his face (:

Well, I still can't believe I was there. What an honor it is that I got to do this and be in a culture and country that is STARKLY different from my own - to learn from them, to love them and to gladly leave a big part of my heart with them - Of this strange Singaporean Chinese christian girl who wanted to be their friend... (:

"Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."

Habukkuk 1:5

For You, My Dad & King (:

2009-12-14T15:05:00.002+08:00

This would be my last post from Timor and last post ever from this blog!

Well, I'll be leaving in 2 days from this beautiful beautiful place and it is with such a heavy heart that I have to leave. Don't get me wrong, I am too happy to go home to my friends and family but yet knowing that I have to leave the friends, who really became family, here is just too hard! Yesterday, one of the young people from our Tetum church was about to leave and he came up to me and said with all sincerity, "For us, we have nothing much to give to you, only to keep you in prayer that God will bless you." Seriously I nearly died right there, I could have burst out crying! So much has happened this week, it was such a rough time but God really is so good. And I don't say that lightly, but really I look back and so much has happened.

Tears, joy, laughter, pain - but I am so thankful that I have a God that never changes and He always stays the same (: What would I do without Him! So this last post is for my Father in Heaven, the one who never leaves me nor forsakes me and never fails me (: I cannot ask for anyone better and really, I'll live for all my days, to put a smile on Your face (:

I love You! (:

Tough times, but rejoicing always!

2009-10-21T12:39:00.002+08:00

God really works in mysterious ways, you just decide "Ok, I'm just going to step out in faith here and obey God here and see what happens." You don't expect very much, you don't really think very much about it maybe but God just shows up in the craziest way possible! That was random but I don't know, maybe because it is close to the time that I'll be returning to Singapore that now I'm getting all emotional about things you know. Missing home very very much and cannot wait to get back to my youths!! Just having our Edge Conference being so close is getting me all excited too!! So if anyone one of you is a young person reading this and is excited about Jesus and want to see yourself being equipped better to serve your generation, you should definitely sign up for this conference! (: It's going to be so crazy insane and I very much wished I could be there, but I can't, so those of you who can, take just 3 days out of the 365 a year to attend it!! Sign up at www.edgeconference.sg (: NOW NOW NOW!! (:

So just a couple of days ago I prayed for one of my contacts because she said she was sick. I just told her, believe that Jesus will heal you because only He has the power to heal and that He will hear our prayers (: So I prayed for her and left it as that, then 2 days later I met her and asked her how is she feeling. She just simply told me, "If you have Jesus, you will be healed very quickly." and that she was feeling all better already! And today she sent in an application to World Vision (a CHRISTIAN organization heh) for a job! (: I thank God because I believe God is slowly working in her life and one day she will be crazy about Jesus too! (:

Another family that has so kindly opened their home for me to come into in Lahane is really God-given too (: They are EXTREMELY opened to me being a Protestant although they are actively involved in the Catholic Church (there has been problems with the Protestants and Catholics, bad baaddd :( ) and whenever I go to their place, they serve me so much food and drinks!! Okay, that is a good sign to me not because I'm hungry but because that shows me they are willing to GIVE TO ME (: Not just because I'm a Malai (that's foreigner in Tetum) that they can get something out of me instead! Plus I have given them a Bahasa Indonesian bible and really praying for a connect group to start in that house! (: The husband and wife were both in Indonesia and were exposed to Protestants and have good impressions of them (: So please continue to pray with me that a connect group can start there before I leave! (: I really believe in them!!

Anyways, 2 months more and I'm home!! (: Missing home so much recently! But God is so faithful and so good teaching me so many things and opening my heart to love so much more (: God knows the tears I've shed and all the laughters too. Through the tough times and the happy ones, God is just so good. Learning to be faithful in Him even when things are difficult!
I'm sorry guys but pictures will not be posted as much because I lost my camera :( Extremely bummed out about it because it was kinda new and I can't believe my carelessless seriously. But somehow I really believe God will work this situation out, He knows exactly where my camera is right now and He can bring it back to me I'm sure! So guys, please pray with me :( Seriously so sad about it :( But still praying and believing! (:

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thess 5:16-18

Love you guys and can't wait to see you all,

Gladys (:

I have half a toe nail!!

2009-10-05T09:44:00.002+08:00

So just 2 weeks ago I did something really scary! I was just really scared to do it because I've never done something like that before. Like months ago, I was playing a game at youth group and I kicked my toe against the leg of a chair while running. It turned really blue and slowly it started turning black. BUT THEN! It started turning white in the middle. I was extremely confused and really couldn't figure out what was going on! But like a month back, I kicked it on something at the beach then the left side of my left big toe nail started coming out. But the right side was still stuck on my flesh. It really hurt especially when I would accidently kick it on invisible objects on the floor. So finally a good friend of mine who knew some doctors here decided to take me to the hospital to pull the whole toe nail out! Here are some pictures that you might puke at, but I mean if I'm going to keep a blog, I might as well update you guys on EVERYTHING right :P I even kept the toe nail!! HAHA

EEEEEE... look at that!

The really nice Cuban doctor really pulling out my toe nail there with all his might and strength!!

Trying to pretend I'm really all calm and collected when I was really quite nervous!!

But now it's all good and growing back nicely, hopefully in time for November so I can paint it! (: I've been really dark also! How do you know when you've become really dark? When people start asking you if you are Chinese-Timorese or Indonesian!! Yup, I'm that dark now, you guys will see when I get back! Ha

Anyways, I shared in Tetum for the first time at youth service just 2 Saturdays back!! I spoke briefly about Worship and was kinda hesitant to speak in Tetum because I knew I would not be able to express myself as easily as I wanted to. But with the encouragement of some friends, I continued and finished everything in Tetum! Haha, man I was thinking these people will not understand what in the world I am speaking about. But at the end of it, one of them said that God really did speak to him during the sharing so that really encouraged me! It really showed how the Word of God speaks for itself, it doesn't care how good you are or how well you deliver it, it just seeks for a vessel willing to be used (: Glory to God!

I had other things I wanted to say too which I completely forgot so maybe another time! (: Missions Sunday was yesterday and we had such a good time! We rented some place facing the beach and decorated everything (: More pictures next time because I didn't bring them with me today! Missions is just so much the heartbeat of God! (: I was just preparing some pamphlet things for this Missions Sunday so I had to refer to our 30th Anniversary big booklet that updates our missions work. Just flipping through it, my heart just got so excited, I just cannot believe God has called me to part of this big movement all around the world to extend His Kingdom! What an honor!! (: And one day I'm sure many others would go too!

Missing everyone alot, cannot wait to see you guys in less than 3 months' time!! (:

Love,

Gladys (:

Somemore pictures!!

2009-09-14T10:02:00.003+08:00

This is Akoko, she eats SO MUCH! I've started cooking sessions with a lady in Lahane and these kids are always hungry so they come and sit with us too (: This girl is only 5 but she eats like a 12 year old! She finished the whole bowl of rice!!

Saula the famous All Blacks rugby player in action!!

Dinner at EarliSun with Pastor Tony and his team and Pastor Sam and his team (:

A little protest I witnessed outside the hotel lobby at Hotel Timor on Referendum Day! We had many delegates from countries all over the world come to celebrate it that stayed at that hotel so I guess that is why they decided to hold the protest then haha it was very exciting!!

Went to a museum that talked about the history of Timor-Leste, it was very interesting! A little bit small and couldnt understand most of it that was in Portuguese but I read the entire English timeline and it was very interesting!!

This is Martha on the left and Zelia on the right. I met Zelia first at the university one day while waiting for another contact. She was tending her pushcart stall and I decided to talk to her and so every since then, I would meet her at her pushcart whenever I can to teach her English and we've started on discipling too!! Oh, please pray for her because I want to believe to send her to Leader's Training end month! But I'm afraid her uncle might not allow because we're Protestants. So do pray!!

These are my fav kids in Lahane (: They would pull white hair out for me, carry my belongings EVERYWHERE and walk me to take the taxi, sweet kids (:
[From Left] Amelie, Maria Corenti, Annisa and Akoko

Inside Kafe Aroma (:

Kafe Aroma - Our new favorite place for the drinks, cake and ambience! (: It's really beautiful!

Knock Knock Knock!

2009-09-07T13:47:00.003+08:00

Many have left for the mission field in VFC, MANY.. I cannot even begin to count! But the place at which they were at when they entered the mission field is all very different. For example, some may have entered when they just got a job promotion but let it go to come for missions, or some maybe been through a horrible tragedy and then came for missions. Everyone's point in life when they entered the mission field is different. And it really determines the way how God moulds the person in the mission field. Of course, that is not the only determinant, but also what God wants to prepare for the future!

In many ways, have I seen how God is moulding me and it's been a really bumpy journey I must say but God is still so good. I still have to praise the Lord for His goodness! (: But I have to admit that at many times I would rather have Him give up on me because the process is too difficult for me to bear. It is not just a very painful process, but it is a very lonely one too. Sometimes it's long, sometimes it's so quick! But that's the only way to go if you want God to make you into such a beautiful masterpiece (: And sometimes we tell God, "God, hang on! Don't knock that out! Are you sure that that is an area that you want to remove?" and try to take control over His refining process. It takes alot of knocking here and there to remove rough edges but it's all just part of the preparation process for the greater things He has in store for the future! So if you are in that process right now, hang in there!! There is "rich fufillment" [From NKJV version - Psalm 66: 12] that will come your way at the end of it! (:

"He trained us first,
passed us like silver through refining fires,
Brought us into hardscrabble country,
pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out,
took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us
to this well-watered place."
Psalm 66: 10 - 12 [Message Bible]

Got to check this out people, you'll love it (: Take some time to look at it:
God's Chisel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXut0HxncvY

[No pictures on this one YET, takes too long to upload!!]
And pray for me because I have to declare my major at school by 30th Oct!!

In His great love,
Gladys (:

In His Great Love..

2009-08-31T10:19:00.005+08:00

These are the kids at Lahane, our main sub-village that we do ministry at (: They are such sweethearts and the girl on my lap is the girl who LOOOVESSS to hold my bag for me (: She makes sure that I never get it dirty or lose it, how cute is that!

The young girl in pink is Martina whom I talked about in my last post that I've been discipling. She's been amazing and even agreed to attend Leader's Training in September! (: But continue to pray for her because it really is a constant spiritual battle here for souls, so keep praying for her! That she'll be crazy and serious about Jesus at the same time :p

[See, that girl is still holding my bag! :D]

Just a big smiley picture! This is the tree that we always sit under in Lahane outside someone's house, it's very nice! :D

Mutiara! She's so cute right! This is Ps Israel's wife's new dog and she's like only a month old, probably just as big as my lower arm! We got a new dog too but I don't have pictures yet :( Anyways, I think I'm going to want to get a dog when I get back!! :D

Can you believe it, I've been in Timor nearly 7 months now!! It's amazing how everything is playing out and I've got more pictures this time so you can enjoy them!! (: God is doing much in the lives of MANY and indeed, nothing we do has no impact! I'm sure it's touching someone's life in some way!

This is more of a picture post so I'll save on the words (: But continue to pray for us and the works here, because every single prayer God is hearing them and it means so much to us (: Missing home, missing my youths, missing oh lua haha.

Tonight we are going for a dinner event with the Singapore Ambassador who has invited all the Singaporeans living in Timor so that'll be pretty cool! (: Till next time!

In His wonderful love,

Gladys (:

Fungust August!

2009-08-17T09:44:00.003+08:00

Haha, okay I don't think there's such a word as Fungust but oh well! I just wanted it to rhyme with AUGUST :D Soo here's the mid-August update!! I'm so sorry I always have no photos, photos takes a million years to update here so maybe I'll just steal from Joanna :p [thanks joanna!]

We started August amazing with a Dili Youth Rally where Jeremy spoke at and had the song "I Believe" translated to Tetum just 15MINUTES before the service started to sing. It was really awesome and Ps Jeremy Seaward spoke about reaching the youths in Timor. We invited youths from all the Dili churches and we had an AMAZING AMAZING time there! God really moved in the youths and that was the service that I felt like it was the closest to our Edge services since I got here (: Jeremy and Saula even had a dance off which was probably the FUNNIEST thing I have EVER seen! [Anyone who wants to see the video can ask me privately buy I might be forever condemned because IT WAS SO FUNNY and they are very embarrassed!] Anyways, I think alot of the youths never attended a service like that and felt touched by God like that (: We have so so so many youths in Dili, if we can activate each and every single one of them, you can really imagine the impact it will have on Dili for Jesus!! (:

1st August - Youth Rally [Change Your Generation!]

Ps Jeremy preaching & Ps Israel translating.

Update on the works here!! Well, the place that we are working on in Lahane I can really see how God is moving in that community. Like how they've really accepted us into their homes and made us part of them (: Just last Saturday, one of the families had a funeral. Someone's wife had a miscarriage and lost their twins. They invited us into the house to see the babies [which they displayed on a table in house which I was quite taken aback by] and to eat and talk. It really was such a gesture that made me feel like they've accepted us as part of them to invite us to events that mean very much to them. Also, I've started discipling another girl called Martina whom I happened to meet on the same day and asked her if she would like me to disciple her. She immediately said okay and just last thursday we had our first discipling session and she accepted Christ! :D WOW :D For her I can really see that she really wants to learn more about the Word of God and she is excited about the things of Jesus!! :D So i'm really praying for her and please pray with me because I really believe she might be one of the leaders we are going to see being raised up! (:

Also, last Sunday I held my first connect group in that same village and I invited 3 of my students to come. Only 1 showed up but because I was playing on my guitar, a whole bunch of other kids came to join us too. So there was about 15 people in total, Praise God! I taught them a song that one of the missionaries wrote here in Tetum and my word, they loved it and caught on to it SO quickly! And when they started singing, I kid you not, that i felt such a strong and calming Presence of the Lord in that room that I couldn't wipe off the smile on my face (: It was such a beautiful presence (: And I managed to share abit on the Bible too and it was so well received I couldnt ask for a better 1st connect group! But I believe because the work is getting on so well, the Devil will be looking for ways to destroy it! It has not been an easy week for me to be honest in many ways and even for me, dreams have been extremely frightful. Joanna was just telling me that 2 nights ago she woke up finding me talking in my sleep and saying "I'm very scared..." over and over again. She got quite a shock and it scared me too just knowing that. Also, that place that I used to hold the connect group now they used to let some guy live in it so I couldnt use the room. That is not a good thing because the other alternatives are in the open outside the house of a man who is a strong Catholic and has a very influential role in the Catholic church. And I'm not about to antagonize him as yet because recently the government has been very strict about clamping down on people and NGOs and use the guise of social works to preach the gospel. So we just need to be wise on these things! So please please keep us in prayer!! :D It would be very much appreciated :D

So, I miss you guys still very much. God is really teaching me so much here that makes it really challenging sometimes that I miss home so much :( But at the same time, I love what's happening here and am very excited to see what God is doing here (: Miss and love you guys much! Till the next update! :D

I want to be like David!

2009-07-20T16:43:00.003+08:00

How good it is to be able to give thanks to the Lord indeed! (: And I’ve got lots to be thankful about (:

That's us and the team at the airport sending part of the team off!

These couple of weeks we’ve also went up to a village in Los Palos called Luro where the Hawaiian team from First Assemblies of God have been living for a year over or so. They had a short-term youth team that came so we went up for a time of fellowship. Living there is completely different from living here in Dili! First of all, the weather is COLD :D I love it! And of the nights we walked to this big field to see the stars (: And the stars just completely covered the night sky, twinkling gently and almost softly, and then I saw a shooting star! (: It was such a beautiful night and we sang songs under the stars! (I would have sprawled on the ground if I could see what was on the ground haha) Also, the kids in the village are so friendly and so curious to find out everything about you! In the early mornings, we would devotions with the rest and we would all just gather in the living room worshipping, sharing and praying. The kids would just stand by the door, watching us (: The team there is doing an amazing job! Extending the Kingdom of God right here in Timor (: Very encouraging to see the work they have been doing!

It’s been awhile since we’ve started classes at Lahane and we have been praying for contacts to come out of the classes. We talk about the Bible and about Jesus in class already and so far it’s been very well received (: Really thank God for that! And yesterday in service, I really felt impressed to ask one of the girls in my class if I can teach her the Bible so then after that I went and asked her. She was really excited and happy! She said she would love to! (: I was extremely happy, and even more so when she told me that she is now also attending classes at World Vision! God is just putting her in places where she will be able to know Him, beautiful orchestrated by God (: So this Saturday, I am going to start with our VFC Discipling Foundations Notes and start teaching her the Word of God. God’s Word has power that I believe one day will open her eyes to see the truth and accept Jesus into her heart. Really would ask that you guys pray with me about her, that God will continue to open her heart and eyes to see the truth and that there will not be opposition. Her name is Laurentina and she is the same age as me (: There is also another girl that I have yet to ask and her name is Ime, please also pray with me for her salvation (: Oh guys, I really wish I could show you pictures, maybe another time I’ll just add them on here so check back (:

God has really been challenging me with the life of David and through this book called "In the Meantime" by Rob Brendle. It talks about why God liked David so much and how he waited to develop into his calling. And it talks about the reason why God liked David so much, because - "day after day, year after year, tirelessly, reliably, relentlessly, David sought the presence of the Lord." WOW, I LOVE THAT! (: It was like David was so seriously hungry for ANYTHING God all the time! Other young men were probably out horse racing, or seeing who could herd their sheeps the fastest or checking out the girls in the next pasture but not David, David was insane about God! Constantly hungering and longing for His presence, WOW :D I want people to speak about my life like, " Oh Gladys! I know her because she just cannot seem to pry herself away from seeking the presence of God or just being in His presence!" :D

My prayer is that you would seek God out the way David did, that insanity of craving for God 24/7 :D Only in that will you find real joy, peace and contentment for your life (: Really, you won't regret, look where David landed up :D

Love you guys and miss all of you so much (:

Updateddd

2009-06-22T14:42:00.006+08:00

Hey all!

Some pictures (:

That's my fav girl in red, Lila, who is a major tomboy! She's super cute! (:

Global Day of Prayer in Timor! (:

Ps John Tan preaching and Sergio from our Tetum service translating.

This is Francisco, and this is the family we helped set the chicken coop up with! (: There it is behind him! (:

Still at Francisco's house checking out on the map where Tonga is! (:

It's been quite amazing these past month as we've finally started our English classes in Lahane!! I'm teaching those 20 years old and above who have little knowledge of English and just this past week, we started our first 2 lessons! (: Wow, it was a real challenge because of my still extremely rocky Tetum!! But God has been so good to bring these people to the class and when I speak about Jesus, they are really accepting of it (: So keep praying for more ideas and open doors for the class k! (

This is registration for the class (:

More to thank God for is that last tues, we were on our way to Prayer Meeting and so we took a cab right outside our place. The cab driver asked if we were from Korea, so i said nope, Singapore. And he said, "So you know Sis Lucy?" We were like, "YOU KNOW SIS LUCY?!?!" (Who, btw, is one of the missionaries in another district in Timor ha) So we started talking and he said he went for her English classes there and then we invited him to church! Upon arriving at church, we tell the rest excitedly about what just happened and guess what! Jen (Saula's fiancee) said she ALSO met this guy on the cab who knew Sis Lucy!! Well, either Sis Lucy is so popular here in Timor ORRRRRR it's the same guy!!! :D Haha so coincidental! (: Must have been a divine appointment!!

On top of that, we were in the universities evangelizing last week and we were quite tired of approaching people so we just decided to stand around for abit. Then a guy approaches us and starts talking. And as we talk we find out he knows Sis Lily!!! (Who, btw, is another one of our missionaries in ANOTHER district!) This guy used to help them with translations and so we also got his contact and invited him to church (: How amazing is that! Almost like how God just put these people in our way to follow up with the seeds that have already been planted! (: Indeed God WILL complete the good work He has started in these lives back in the districts! He didn't forget them! (:

Last wednesday, we made a trip up to the mountains in a place called Letefoho. We were there to meet one of VFC Dili's very own missionaries called Grace who is currently living up there on her own. So we went there to spend the day with her and see how she's doing (: She is doing an amazing job up there alone (: It is a beautiful place, very cold but so beautiful (: More pictures below! I was really encouraged by her strength, as a missionary to live alone is VERY difficult I can tell you that. But her spirit and love to do the work of God was really encouraging (: Such tenacity to carry on with passion the work of God all by herself was a real encouragement to me! Thank God for such amazing people like that (:

Beautiful scenery!

A Church on the hill

Looks like where Jesus died on the cross at Golgotha

This is Grace with her dog called Ah Lian HAHA

That's us taking in the scenery with a picture! :D

That's a cute kid in Letefoho! (:

Love and miss you guys! (: God bless!

I AM A MISSIONARY!

2009-06-01T14:21:00.002+08:00

My word, 3 months just flew past so quickly! Sorry I’ve not had a chance much to update because I don’t really get a lot of time on the Internet and my blogger was down for a long time here. I'm now at a $1/hr Internet Cafe so i'm so happy!! HEE :D So updates! Now our territory has expanded to not just Lahane (where the church is planned to be planted at) and Maubara, but it’s to the youths in Dili too! (: It’s exciting, as we’ve already entered the universities here planning to start English Corners to help the students improve their command of the language and for us to interact with them. In Lahane, English classes for all ages will be commencing very soon! What’s cool is that we are helping set up chicken coops for families in Maubara to start with! (: Pictures soon! Okay, only the boys are helping to build ha. I also teach this lady called Magarita and her sister English there. Magarita is one of the leaders of a small church there so being able to teach her how to say “Jezuz hadomi hau”(Jesus loves me) and to sing “Hau Hadomi Nai” (I Love You Lord) in English has been really awesome! [I'll upload the pictures another time!] Here are some others of the kids at the Lahane Kindergarten! -

I know I looked like I kidnapped him to take the picture with me, but I didn’t! Haha, I drew his face!! Maybe he didn’t like it :(

This is Lufia, it was face painting day! (: Beautiful girl (:

Rodrigo & Nilton coloring! They are the cutest!! (:

Super excited to see what’s going to take place in the months to come because I seriously believe there is going to be a shift in the spiritual atmosphere here. In 6 months, I truly believe Timor will be transformed by the love of God in a way we have not seen in the years before! (:

Furthermore, one of the Brazilian pastors here will be kicking off crusades in all the districts our VFC missionaries in Timor. IMAGINE THAT!! That is just revolutionary for VFC works here because I think there has been a lot of hesitation in speaking out about Jesus due to the perceived religious sensitivity. Sometimes even fear of what may happen if we move from hiding behind the NGO cover to coming out as people of Jesus Christ spreading the gospel. Of course, we still have to be wise because Catholicism is very strong here. But with these crusades that will take place all over Timor, things are definitely going to change! The name of Jesus will be heard in every corner of Timor as it should be and we will see a breakthrough in our VFC works here! (: It is an exciting time to be in in Timor!! So please keep us in your prayers as persecution is inevitable but beyond that, we want to see multitudes of souls entering the Kingdom! (:

You guys who’ve known me for long would know my utmost desire to be sent into the mission field since a thousand years ago heh. And when I finally got a “Go!” from God and my family, my mind almost couldn’t comprehend the reality of it happening! Those even closer to me would know how I really struggled the first month here spiritually, emotionally and even physically. I kept thinking, “God, ARE YOU SURE YOU SENT ME HERE?? Are you sure I’ve been called to the mission field? Because I’m not feeling the way I thought I would be in the first country I’ve been sent to!” But of course, silly me! God is NEVER wrong! However, that didn’t take away the immense difficulty that I struggled with the first month here. All I thought of was going home. But now, I see God’s hand upon my life and how victoriously He brought me out of that terrible time. Today, I feel like I’ve been living here for YEARS and I’m getting so accustomed to being in Timor (: I love every moment of it! I just think about how amazing it is that I AM A MISSIONARY. I can actually say that now! It’s something that you’ve waited basically all your life for and when you finally do it, it’s really quite insane. Now that I’m on the ground, I see first hand God’s heart for the nations. Especially God’s heart for Timor Leste and her people! I’m so grateful to be a part of God’s plan for this nation! I think what excites me more is that I know it’s just the beginning of the things to come in my life (: I’ll be 21 in November and there truly is no other better way to spend my 21^st year given to the Lord in His will, doing something I’ve dreamt of for a long time (: WOW, I am just in awe of how God orchestrated the whole chain of events to this day (: Just yesterday, we were at Bethany Church in Dili for Timor's Global Day of Prayer. Yes, Timor also has GDOP! (: And at one point they called out all the Pastors and Missionaries to come forward and hold hands in a circle. There was a whole bunch of people who walked down and formed the circle. It was amazing as we started interceding for the nation and I just felt such a strong presence of God there (: Truly, this is a year of change for Timor spiritually, I know it! You can just feel it in the atmosphere you know (: And even as I was looking across the circle, I looked like I was the youngest standing there and I was so overwhelmed. God used me. ME!! I won't deny that being so young sometimes makes me feel a little less adequate but standing there, I was just so amazed that God used me for the furtherance of His kingdom here in Timor!! God is so faithful and God is truly so good, there is no other God that I would rather serve! [More pictures next time!!]

I live for all my days, to put a smile on Your face (:

FINALLY :D

2009-04-14T19:00:00.002+08:00

I know, it's been like what, one month and two weeks since I've blogged. Ha that's because I couldnt access this!! But here it is (:

God has been so good and so merciful to me (: Admittedly, it was the most difficult having to come here the first 2-3 weeks. Really missed my family and just everything back home SO MUCH. It was a huge culture shock for me in many ways - slept with only the fan, used buckets to scoop from a tank to bathe and no flushing system. Ha, yes it does sound like a typical Singaporean complaining in a 3rd world nation. But these were real challenges I faced, on top of the EXTREME heat. Plus, I got sick in the second week which completely did not help AT ALL :( Thought I had malaria or sth which kinda scared me and made me wish I was at home.

BUT, we do serve a faithful and merciful God (: Really could have carried my bad perspective of wishing to come home constantly but God pulled me right of it. I still miss home, church, ministry, the food and SO MUCH MORE! But I starting to love Timor and getting used to living in Timor, it does feel like home alot more now! Thank you for all your love and prayers (: You have no idea how much I think of you guys back home and just being in the company of you guys (: MISS YOU ALL MUCH!

Alot ALOT has happened since I've came here! I've met the most amazing people who have selflessly given their lives to the mission field from Brazil to Hawaii to Singaporeans (of course) to TONGA (saula :p) to Korea to even the local Timorese! Been greatly encouraged by how they've given their lives in such a manner to the Lord and the passion they have! Sometimes I think wow, being in the mission field is crazy, but the things they do here for the Lord is EVEN crazier! Really been so blessed to have met them (will put pictures up when I can (: )

As a team, we will be planting a church right here in Dili in a subdistrict called Lahane where we already have a kindergarten (: Honestly, it's scary but I believe if the Lord has called us here for such a time as this, He will allow His work to be accomplished here. Missions is really a whole new level to what I used to do in Singapore, but through that, my faith and my trust in the Lord has really been tested. And I thank God for that! I am really excited to see what God is going to do more in the months to come :D

Sorry guys, had to rush this out abit cos I have to leave already! Will keep trying to blog more!

You guys are in my prayers and i miss you guys so much!! :D

In His phenomenal love,
Gladys (:

THIS IS IT.

2009-02-28T01:33:00.000+08:00

oh my word, it is seriously overwhelming.

ONE MORE DAY!!

2009-02-26T11:37:00.002+08:00

Since the day of my graduation on the 21st all the way up till today, been feeling lots of different feelings! Watching my dad and mum cry at my graduation really encouraged me (: Not in a sense of me being gleeful at the sight of my parents crying but that I knew that as hard as it was for them to see me leave, they were proud of me (: and they knew they had to release me (: This is a long way from the day I remember first telling them about God speaking to me to go into the mission field. They thought it to be absolutely ridiculous and one of the many outrageous things that I would suggest to them that I wanted to do. It was a difficult time for me to see how my parents didn't support me but just seeing them cry that day, I knew that God softened their hearts already. My parents said YES somewhere at the beginning of November and I can see God really moving in their lives! They took a step of faith to do something many parents would probably never do - allowing their little girl to be sent to a place where they cannot see but can only pray for me and allowing me to stop school for a whole year just so to obey the call of God on my life. They have been crying every time I'm prayed for on the platform! Forever will I thank them for taking this step of faith even though I know how difficult this is for them, I LOVE YOU MUMMY & DADDY (:

Wow, it's crazy when you consider how in just a day's time my life would completely be changed. It's not a 5D4N camp where I can come home if I didn't enjoy myself, that at least I would go home soon. 10 months! New bed, new home, new family, new church, new life but same God (: It is scary to think how I will be leaving all these behind for 10 months and yet this excitement I have that I cannot explain or express is bubbling in me! It's like this sadness and nervousness of taking this step of faith but knowing for sure in your heart that this is one step that I will never EVER regret. I want to know God like never before and I know during this 10 months, it'll be just me and God really. He'll comfort me in times of need and when I start to miss home and everything back here, He'll be the one to embrace me and give me strength and focus to press on (: Or when I start to get discouraged and question what in the world am I doing here, God will be my loudest cheerleader!

Will I miss home? Yup I will. But I am so honored and privileged to know that I can partner with God in this wonderful plan He has for the land of Timor Leste. To be able to just play my little role in His grand scheme of things. Sometimes God calls us to things so much bigger than ourselves, it can be ending a wrong relationship that you thought you will never make it out of, or a call on your life that you cannot imagine being fufilled through you or even just being a net leader this year! But when God calls, be sure that He will be faithful and give you sufficient grace to see you make it and come out victorious! He uses all those weaknesses and turns them around for His glory! When He works, He doesn't need our help! But what an honor that He would want us, these little dumb things that constantly disappoint him, to partner with Him. Sounds so funny, but knowing Jesus has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm not saying this lightly because I've KNOWN OF Jesus for coming 21 years but really known Him personally only when I was 14. The changes He has done in my life and where I am today is solely because of the continuing work that Jesus is doing in my life. Surrender is the toughest thing to do but once you allow God to take full control of your life, it'll be a life surely worth living!

Haha sorry I talk too much sometimes when I get carried away! Go crazy for Jesus and watch what happens! (:

God's heart for missions

2009-02-16T11:48:00.015+08:00

Pastor Boey (Asst Pastor of the JB church) & The Team! (: He really is an inspiration,
A man of God!

As the last week of training approaches, there are a number of fluttery butterflies in my stomach combined with lots of excitement too! God has been showing up so much more this week, it gets better as the weeks pass :D Been very blown away by the things He has been doing through confirmations and visions from others. Remember during one of the intercessory prayer sessions (happens daily instead of lunch time) where I was just standing there feeling tired, distracted and not very focused. I just stood there and then the presence of God just swept through that room of 9 people! I was so overwhelmed by how God would come in the midst of us despite how we disappoint him and despite all our imperfections. He shows up! I was truly in awe and almost felt arrested by His presence, got straight into prayer right after that. That time of prayer that day became so powerful (:

On friday, our teams got an opportunity to see the fruit of VFC's heart for missions in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The church there was set up in 1980 and now has a congregation of 3000 people! We were there to visit the social works that the church started there, 32 in total. They are fully supported by the government which is rare for a church because it is a muslim dominated country. But the government has acknowledged that the homes and rehab centres they set up works and have such a high success rate that now, even the government is behind them! (: If God is with you, who can be against you!

That was what VFC used to be called in the old days!

While waiting for the pastor to come back we went for Prata!
[left] Yuan Yee looking happy!
[right] Pei pei really wanted a picture like this to show how she does not have a body or something like that, it was quite hilarious :D

Picture of the ladies who are in their 30s! HAHA okay if they see this I am doomed.

The JB Church:

All the vans we saw that was owned by them had these words like, "Jesus is Lord", or for those that we used by the homes had, "Jesus is Hope". Pretty cool (:

On the way to the first home, we drove past a really cool home with this driveway! Wasnt fast enough to catch the house itself but it was NICEEE. Very Orange County-ish.

The first home that we stopped at was a Drug Rehabilitation Centre. Outside they had these signs!
[left] The name of the centre - Calvary Care Centre. Was really proud of being from our church seeing the name of our church everywhere! (:
[right] Chinese for "Jesus Loves You" (: He really does! (:

This room I THINK, means Prayer Room, I THINK. It's for those who just entered, they'll be put there to pray, separated from the rest until they are ready to live with the rest of them. Inside there, the chinese words are a verse i think :D

Two extremely beautiful puppies on the compound!

The guy in blue is Bro Raymond from the R3/4 team to Remexio. The other guy in brown beside him is one of the head supervisors of the place. This place takes in addicts and also mentally unstable individuals. This guy in brown used to be from this centre as an addict, but through the transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ, he was completely set free from his addiction and came back to the centre to serve those who are still working their way there (: His testimony will surely encourage those in the centre that there is hope for them too! On one of the walls right at the front of the centre, it says "Nothing is impossible for Jesus". How powerful for each of them to know that there is hope! They learn and memorize verses everyday because the supervisors can stop them anytime along their way to test them. The Word of God is life for these people and they believe that if they can continue memorizing it that one day this very Word will become so embedded in their hearts and mind and be the key to transforming them!

Combined home - A stretch of houses for the elderly, the adults and the children of every need:

This guy serves at the combined home, heading it if I'm not wrong. He also used to be living in this home but all Glory to God who changed him and now he is married and back here to serve those who are still struggling (:

Looking at this granny makes me sad already :( She is the oldest female in the home, 95 years of age. She was spreading kaya on the bread when I walked in and I smiled at her, said Hi and shook her hand. To my surprise, she speaks fluent English! She told me she was Eurasian and she started talking about her life (: Very sweet lady who is so grateful for what the home has provided her (: When I had to leave, she was like "SO SOON?". I mean I'm not very good with old people but I think for her to have someone talk to her and spend time with her meant alot to her already (: So I just had to say bye with a smile and ran off quickly :( Jesus take care of her from the top of her head to the toes on her feet! May she be able to stand up and praise You! (:

Kids who were preparing for school (: The little indian girl beside me probably couldnt understand 99% of what I was saying but she kept smiling at me whenever I said anything! She's a little shy here (:

Pei Zhen (: This extremely intelligent young lady lives at the home with her aunty. Her birth mum had triplets and she was the oldest, but her birth mother didn't want her. So her aunty took her in and now she's inseperable with her! The aunty lives in the home and loves Pei Zhen like her own, I'm thinking she'll eventually adopt her! (:

The boys there do this curriculum called the Alpha & Omega. It is one where they learn their subjects and also bible lessons at the same time (: So they get free education and education on the Word of God too! (:

In another classroom, they were very fascinated by the camera. Kept wanting to take pictures! Jesus loves the little children!!

TEH TARIK :D SO NICE :D

The couple who takes care of a boys home somewhere else, very selfless, all for the furtherance of God's Kingdom! (:

It was there that I'm like people need to see this to see where their Missions Faith Pledge money is going! Because of their giving, the JB church was started and through them all these lives were touched! (: God's heart is to see the nations of the world touched by His love, through His people. How will they know if nobody tells them! We had the opportunity to speak to Ps Shane Comiskey and he shared with us something that really changed my perspective of missions. He shared about how when his wife and himself were in Uganda, they had a translator who were with them the whole time. The couple was there to check on the churches there and the translator wanted them to go to his village to tell his village about Jesus. So Ps Shane agreed and the translator warned them about how his brother was quite anti-christian so he may be a little hostile. They accepted that and just went in, so halfway while Ps Shane is sharing the gospel, this brother of his broke down and started crying! WOW, he asked "What took you and christians so long to tell me the truth?" because Ps Shane told him he has been a christian for then, 20 years and this brother wanted to know why he kept the truth for 20 long years without telling others about it! WOW, missions is not just a programme or something that VFC pushes you into doing, it is really an expression of passing on this freedom of knowing the TRUTH about Jesus Christ! That is why we need to go and tell others, whether in school, your family, at work or out of the country! Not because we need to make numbers for our cell groups or the church, but because they NEED to hear it! (: How can we keep it to ourselves!

What I've learnt even from the short trip to JB was the reality of the transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ to affect lives and completely turn them around (: You dont need to be someone big with a name to yourself to make a difference! Many of those who serve, you might never know who they are, but to those whose lives have been touched by them, these names they will never forget (: All they did was allowed God to do His will in their lives and look at how many children now have homes that they know are safe to go home to, or elderly who now know they can have a bed to rest on or just men and women who can live in a place where they will be cared for (: God is truly an awesome God!

[By the way, i'm flying on the 28th of Feb instead (:]

Love God, love others, that's all (:

Never thought

2009-02-09T01:14:00.007+08:00

Never thought I would be able to run every morning, but I did. Never thought I would be able to see the lights of 5am, but I did. Never thought I would be able to cook meals, but I did! (: Never thought I would be able fast (not eat for a whole day!), but I did. Never thought I would wash cars, but I did. (8 cars and 1 van to be exact!!)

In action!

Madeline & Jesse were so sweet to individually prepare a little token of appreciation for our hard work! (: Totally made my day (:

To be honest, all of the above are things I would have never done on a normal basis. So in a certain way, God is really taking me to places! (: Learning how to do all these things really is quite amazing! You do feel a sense of satisfaction too ha. Running in the morning is probably one of the hardest things. I quit floorball in JC because I really detested running and now I'm here, running every morning at 5AM!! Training a lot of my discipline. (which I sorely lacked!)

At the same time learning to face rejection in the worst way possible. During one of the street evangelism, we were quite sad already because we faced quite a number of rejections. We walked past a community centre and I spotted a whole bunch of line dancing aunties! I'm thinking to myself - THIS IS IT! At least ONE auntie will be saved! So I strode over with a stack of tracts in my right hand and go, "Hi Auntieesss.." and before I could say anything else, ALL 8 OF THEM TOOK OFF! "Oh sorry! My bus come already!" or "Oh sorry, I need to go home!!" I stood there, in a blink of an eye, it was an empty piece of land before me. Could have almost heard the crickets! Hurt.. HAHA not really, was very very amused more like it! So if anyone of you feel rejected when you go out to evangelize, take comfort that I exist.

Been very blessed at the same time to have been able to lead someone to Christ just as we went out to do door-to-door to invite people to Good News! Singapore. This young girl called Angel greeted us at the door as we opened and her heart was so open and ready to receive the Lord! So we quickly jumped on it and asked if she would like to accept Jesus into her heart and she said YES! We were ecstatic!! I was so excited yet nervous to lead her in the sinner's prayer and so just in case I missed out anything, after the prayer I was sure to explain properly to her what she just did (: God is in her heart and life right now! And many more will be saved too in Timor I'm so so excited! God has been putting into my heart His desire to see signs and wonders being accomplished in Timor through our lives and I am nervous but I am very sure that I will be able to witness the extraordinary! Not because we pray good prayers or because we are so spiritual, but because we serve a GREAT God who can work through anyone! (:

At the same time, I really am feeling so fortunate to be surrounded with people who have been so supportive! (: From Chilli Crab dinners (OH MY WORD I'M HUNGRY!) to gifts, I am really too blessed! Sis Helen, a lady from church, gave us little presents to just say she appreciates us and that she is behind us (: Completely made my day with a simple gesture (:

Charis Wong also made me some oreo cupcakes! They were delicious for the record Charis! (: Added some fun to breakfast! (:
ON TOP OF THAT, Estherf, Dorothy & Joash bought me a pair of strapped sandals things from Havaianas that I've wanted to bring to Timor!!! :D It was already not sold in Singapore and somehow, they popped into this shop that had a last pair left by someone who came to exchange their footwear and IT WAS MY SIZE! ALL GOD I'M TELLING YOU!! :D Thank You so much guys! (: I'll be wearing it often!

In about 15 days I'll be leaving for the land of Timor, but tomorrow, my dear friend Esther Wee is leaving for Melbourne to study. Been pretty hard to think about the reality of it happening. I have known her since I was in primary school! I remember when I switched schools in Primary 5, I prayed very hard to meet someone I know in the class because I was so nervous! LO & BEHOLD, I see Esther Wee in my class! Been through so much together since (: As we were going through 2008 knowing what could happen in 2009 with both of us separating, it was a very hard thing for both of us. But we knew God was bringing us in a different season together and we prayed hard for each other for peace and open doors (: God heard them all and we are really going our separate ways! She has been such a blessing to me and I am going to miss her so much, I don't even know how am I going to see her walk towards the departure gate :( Thank You Jesus for giving us such a precious friendship that we know will last a lifetime (: I LOVE YOU ESTHER WEE :(

It is never easy knowing you are leaving and seeing and knowing all these amazing things that God will be doing in Singapore. Youth camp, GC Conference, Reinhard Bonnke & our own youth conference possibly would be one of the many things I would be missing. Still is hard to think about it because I know for a fact how God would be moving in those places (: But I know that all in all, knowing you are in the will of God is the most contented place to be (: I know God has called me for such a time as this and making my dream of going to missions come true (: JESUS YOU ARE TOO AWESOME!

A little bit more of training this week - (:

Gorgeous young lady!

Jabie the live demonstration during our First Aid class on how to "unchoke" a choking person!
Brendan, Joanna & me: "Ermmm doctor, can you please show us again, we didn't quite catch it!" "Quick take picture!"
HAHA

Jane loves taking pictures!

A very common sight and pastime HAHA

THE TEAMS: 3/4 team to Remexio, Pei Pei to China & THE CORPORATE YOUTH TEAM!!

sorry it's another long post! :D

(:

"Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4

3 more weeks!

2009-02-02T02:14:00.008+08:00

This is probably THE latest time I've slept in a looong while but I only get to post one entry a week so I must do this! So the 3rd week of training has just passed which effectively means I'm about halfway done with my training in Singapore (: that also means I'm another step closer leaving to Timor! Really mixed feelings about it, it's a mix of - WHOOOPEEE! :D and whooopeee :( Really excited to leave so that I can get on the ground and do the work but at the same time to leave my Singapore life for 10 1/2 months! So it's confirmed, I'll be leaving on the morning of 24th Feb. Scary to think I only have 3 Sundays left, how quick!

But God has been doing some crazy amazing things :D Thank you to those few souls who actually read this and I apologise for the upcoming loooong post! Today after evening service, I met some of them from R11/12 to have dinner and we had so much fun! (: This is the nicest picture of the night!

Thank you esther, dot, desmond, joash and john (who was only here for today :( )! SYDNEYY!! haha, I miss those times tooo much I'm telling you!

Besides trying very hard to not fall asleep by amusing myself with transforming notebook papers to worm like creatures,

I attended very interesting yet controversial lessons, and even did house cleaning at the RMD's house (of which I cleaned my heart out and that my mum would be so proud of). It was really quite a nice place (: (okay, I used my phone to take these so I may not have really captured the beauty of the home)

mock fire place!!

so pretty! (:

Had fun doing that with the other girls from the 3/4 team, Jane & Pei Pei (: Amazing women who have such a servant heart towards the things of God and carrying such joy with them at the same time was very encouraging (: I'm learning so much!

This week has been a shorter week due to the Chinese New Year and it was also when I experienced some interesting reaction to me going to missions. The first person who spoke to me on CNY was my uncle, whom upon finding out that I took a year off to go into the mission field violently put the idea down as irrational and not clever (to put it nicely). I don't normally talk to him much but this time he really had a lot to say regarding this issue. Of course, I felt really hurt and was almost angry too. PERSECUTION!! Felt close enough to that and didn't react much too.
But I remembered talking to God and trying to calm down. I was reminded that they are not going to be able to understand it when we do crazy things for God, not because they are bad people, but because of the scales on their eyes that prevent them from seeing the Truth. But later on he suddenly became really nice again (: ha the amazing thing is the exact things happened with Joanna and Brendan too!

With Saula not around, as a team, we've been forced to step up in terms of prayer and devotions. It is hard to not have a leader on the team but it has been a lot of learning for us to live together and to lift one another up. I can see God really moving in everyone of our hearts and we are very excited to see signs and wonders in Timor! Healing and salvation will surely come to Timor because the same God that performed miracles in the New Testament is the same God we serve today! If it can happen then, why not today!

I've been so blessed in many ways (: On thursday night we were to visit a Divisional Overseer's House and so we went to the Wong Brother's house. We didn't expect much but we walked out overwhelmed. The food was of course GOOD :D swedish meatballs!!

The fellowship was amazing, we could sense a genuine love and care for us as a team (: I guess it does feel lonely sometimes as we train because we feel quite cut off from the world la haha. I won't deny that training has been challenging on many levels, emotionally and spiritually especially. But being with the family really encouraged us! With their prayers (and red packets! :p), it really lifted our spirits up and we left feeling really encouraged and blessed (:
Thank You Uncle Chee Keong, Aunty Juliet, Elijah, Tim & Jerry for hosting us! (:

One of the most memorable things that happened this week for me was attending the Bahasa Service on Sunday Afternoon. Before going, I was honestly not very excited. I knew I was pretty much going to sit there and let the Bahasa words float around me. But as we walked in and saw them worshipping, I could have just been so embarrassed about what I previously thought! It was basically like this - 1 classroom, 1 worship leader, 1 guitar and 8 people in the congregation EXCLUDING the gideonites. I, of course stood there not understanding a single word they were singing and was furiously flippling through the song sheet trying to figure out what song they were singing! haha. At the same time, so humbled by their worship unto the Lord. It was so pure and earnest. No need for a sound check or a full band. No need for every chord to be played correctly. No need for a stage. Just pure worship unto the Lord (: Makes me think about how even in church with everything to facilitate worship, people are still nonchalant about lifting their worship to Him. I am guilty of that too! Getting distracted by every small thing! But this is really the heart of worship, it's not about the songs or the people singing the songs, it's about WHO we are singing these songs too (: Because we serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, then we should worship Him with all our heart (: Plain and simple!

It was held at Chatsworth International School.

The lady in pink down the first row recognized me!! She said "Hi Gladyss!!" haha I think because she was one of my CW Kids' domestic helpers who always sat in my class! :D

cute kids HAHA

Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory! (:

Gideonite Training!

2009-01-27T16:19:00.006+08:00

Yes! So I am a Gideonite! The name is taken from the Bible in a book called Judges. This man called Gideon led his men to fight the oppressive Midianites, "understaffed" with only 300 men. But with God on their side, they were victorious! That's what God has called us to do as Gideonites as we conquer the nations - with four people in the team to take the city of Dili for Jesus! (:

God has really been so good to bring the team together so easily in such a short time, with Joanna, Brendan and our Mission Pastor (MP), Saula. We've had tons of fun together, both playing and praying very hard :D I remember how once we were sitting around discussing plans for Timor and I just sat there thinking, OH MY WORD these people are sooo talented with such awesome giftings to bring to the table as a team! Really feel very honored to be able to work and learn with them. Their heart for God and desire to obey His calling is inspirational! Have been seeing how God's been weeding out things in my heart that are displeasing to Him and highlighting areas in my life that needs change. Still amazes me that God would take the time to do that for me, to interrupt my life so that He can change me for His glory and purposes!

Classes have been quite a struggle with much need to put toothpicks at my eyes to keep it opened ha but I am very determined to not have that happen anymore!! Besides that, we've been doing street evangelisms, serving the church in various ways and of course COOKING :D haha I am honestly a very umm simple cook haha I produce the food but of course the quality is very questionable. Also, my team members don't cook except Saula! So you can sort of predict the kind of food we have on the table every dinner time! However, I would like to proudly say that I BELIEVE that I am a much better cook now :D I've learnt how to use the stove! WOOT! haha okay not much of an achievement but it is something! I've cooked some things too la, with LOTS of oyster sauce. We've probably used 2 bottles of oyster sauce to date and it has only been two weeks! Very unhealthy haha

I think in the simplest ways God is really moulding my character and person. In loving others and even in things like being independent to cook and live away from home. Although my bed is definitely not as comfy as my bed at home but this is really good training for me to not be so spoilt and sheltered haha. I now cook meals, wash my own clothes (ok, I'm learning!) and FAST FOR A FULL DAY!!! (the agony!!!) HAHA but I am very thankful and glad for this opportunity really (: I am scared and fearful at times still for what's ahead. I have never done this before, to live in a whole new country like East Timor for a year!! But I know God has called me and for that, He will not leave me (:

WARNING: The following picture might be slightly disturbing, SORRY! :D

I fell while running at 5.30am :( SUPER LOSER LA

Then after it was all nicely patched up by Nurse Joanna (:

We made a cool coat of arms for the team!!

Okay Saula made it mainly HAHA. I failed art, so would not have been much help!

THE FOOD (:

The very famous and extremely amazing tasting creation of some CHICKEN DRUMLETS drenched in dark sauce concoction! (so I say laa haha)

The boys did this.. which I was quite suspicious about cos they looked very cheeky when they served it. But Jesus has blessed the food, I didn't have diarrhea!!

THE one and only coffee machine to take us through the food-less days! Mocha and milo :D

Street evangelism in Pasir Ris

HAHA MY ALL TIME FAV SONG NOW THANKS TO BRENDAN :D hahaha ask him why! (I can't say or I might not come back alive :|)

Beautiful Loooord, Woonderful Saviorrr..
HAHAHAHA

You guys are awesome la (:

At Your Word Lord, I receive Your faith to walk on oceans deep (:

All Glory to You

2009-01-26T23:34:00.004+08:00

Well, this serves the purpose of mainly to update on the goings-on of my missionary journey! It is the first blog I have ever had, the first post I am making on this blog and the first time I can say I AM A MISSIONARY! Always been in my heart to go into the mission field since I was probably 14 or 15 and I have never thought I would be going out this soon and spending my 21st year in the mission field. It was a long and hard journey since God called me into the field in Feb 2008, lots of ups and downs and testing of my faith but God has brought me here today already in my 3rd week of Gideonites Training, even more excited and ready for what God wants to do! For all that He has done for me, His name must be lifted up and glorified (:

Of course, I write all this with the assumption that people will be reading! Ha, well hopefully it will encourage you (: I am very blessed to have wonderful people in my life and one of them, Esther Foong PUI SEE :D , kindly helped me to set this up (: LOVE YOU!

There was much struggle in many hearts and in my own heart if this was the right time that God has sent me to the mission field. But God confirmed it in Ecclesiastes 3:1-11:

" [v1] There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
... ...
[v11] He has made everything beautiful in its time."

There really is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you are in the will of God, walking according to what you know pleases His heart, no matter how you feel (: God holds the whole world at the palm of His hands and knows exactly what He's doing, thank You Jesus for that (: