hotfudgesundae_

has it been less than a month?

i feel so settled here! and this summer break has been rather different from the last one. for one, i hardly felt the 'rush' of being back home. i hardly feel the need to do alot of things, including proving myself.

2008 has been so....incredibly difficult yet incredibly good at the same time. and i will definitely miss this year. it's ranked highly, together with 2006 =)

2008  - aunty ah hua's tragic accident, the recent birth & death of baby grace. they're sad news. and both news i had to receive while i'm away from the people i want to comfort.

but you know what? these two incidents have created an impact on the people involved and i'm seeing Romans 8:28 unfolding before my eyes. mummy and daddy are SUPER open about coming to church. i mean, mummy even asked her students if they wanted to come along to cornerstone. and and mummy and daddy are coming for watchnight  service together with yima, uncle cheng and granny. i still can't believe that they're coming!

i'm finding opportunities to bring God into my conversations with the extended family. and currently, i'm praying for my Porpor especially.  

and i remember the conversation i had with SE. when she said, i have never once asked God why is this happening to me? and the kind of strength that she has shown has really impacted me lots.

2008 - it's like an answer to my prayers in 2007.

our house (melb) is a good house, despite its ugly state outside (courtesy of the landlord). but it's super near school and big enough to accommodate all of us. and we've had fun times in the house! which is one of the reasons why i'm reluctant to move despite the break-in.
 
talking about the house brings back memories of the big black out. but i really appreciated having light after that.

and also, this year, we had an addition to our group of girls! miss JY~ who has taught us so much general knowledge ;) and has brought so much laughter into our conversations! haha i'm reminded of the VERY SILLY conversation i had in Aman's room till like, 3 AM or something? conclusion: i am very Bie Niu. and Aman should be a counsellor to Bie Niu girls. haha.   

and this year, having the opportunity to serve in Focus and being so quickly integrated into the family has been good too! and getting to know all of them, hearing their stories! stories about God's faithfulness =))  

sometimes i wish i was a pai kia and i used to get into gang fights and stuff and i know hokkien. and i wasn't a pai kia after knowing Christ. that sort of testimony is so much more impacting than my 'my parents brought me to church etc.'

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

and also coming back, having the opportunity to visit a place in Changi, which i normally won't be able to go to unless i do something wrong. i didn't do much there. but it did open my eyes a little to life in there and also something that someone said, these guys probably won't hear the gospel if they weren't in here. 

and then, having the opportunity to go back to AMK again. AMK~~~ is a land flowing with souls who need Christ! and realising that nothing has changed much makes me glad and sad at the same time. the kids are still the same 'pattern', except that they've grown taller. 

and even with my sister as well. she has really changed! even though my mum still doesn't really admit it. haha but she has. and i thank God that He brought her to Him and is still working in her life =)) 

so many things to thank God for, really. 

there were 2 moments this year that i thought, can't believe i'm here right now. 

one was in the Focus shed, when i was helping to dry the dishes while Pallas washed them.

one was at the BBQ pit near Ah Yong's house, when i was sitting at the table listening to the rest talking.

and there're probably thousands of memories from 2008 that i'll cherish and thank God for! =)))

looking forward to 2009, although i know i'll miss 2008.