Rachelle, mum, dad, Jeff, Raphael, my sis

Dear Fay,

Its been almost 10 years since you’ve been away but still remembered so dearly in our hearts. Just wanted to let you know that my family and I had a wonderful time with your husband and 2 kids last December in Marysville. We spent most of our time in the outdoors, just as you would – fishing, barbecuing, trekking up to the waterfalls, playing with rabbits.

Your husband and kids still talk about you and we had a good time catching up with one another, though for just a few days. Raph is still as lovable as ever, impressed us by preparing breakfast for us and entertained us with his dance. Rach writes very well and is now entering her first year in high school. I still have pictures of them when I was still carrying them in my arms!

I’ve always looked up to you as my most talented eldest cousin who conducted musicals after musicals, yet gave up your music career to go into missions - even to the point of laying down your life for Him.

By the way, I can still remember one of your last musicals using ‘black art’, just before you went to Mali entitled “Young Miracles.” The kids in that musical have all grown up but I’m sure they still have your name engraved in their hearts, when they walked down the aisle at the very same hall to pay you their last respects. Your grand piano is being made to good use at my church back home.

You have been such an inspiration to many all around the world – Malaysia, Japan, France, United States, Australia, Africa and many more.

Will keep Jeff, Rach and Raph in prayer and will try to meet them as often as I can when I’m here in Australia.

Your cousin,
Cheryl

This shall be my last vacation before uni starts this semester!

Being with nature is so much fun.....

caught birds at sea.....

climbed up the sandy hill and sandboarded....

dipped in clear water....

watched spider lilies bloom.....

(this is how they look before they're fully opened)

(were told to gently prick them to make them 'pop' open)

gazed at the sky....

fed wild dolphins!!!

My JUDAH family

My 1st time celebrating Chinese New Year (CNY) away from my family! Well.....all I can say is that this is my busiest CNY ever!!!! Back home all I do is eat and eat and collect ang pow and eat again.....but this year I had to cook and prepare food to feed my entire Judah family!!!! Exciting though! We had steamboat with the foundation students with approx 40 mouths to feed on new year's eve and another 20 mouths to feed our own Judah family on new year's day. And, yeah I've been with the cooking team both days......and was so tired at the end....but fun though! Also.....got fake ang pow...haha!

Children preparing house deco on CNY eve

Making the Fijian "Chinese" - "Say something nice and I'll give you ang pow"


Let's eat and talk about our grandchildren.....

"If you've not worshiped regularly in the sunshine of your life, you probably won't be able to worship in the darkness. If you haven't been intimate with God in life's ordinariness, it's not likely that you will know how or where to mind Him should life hand you some real hardships. But by the same token, if you have worshiped often and regularly, then you will undoubtedly worship well in the hour of your greatest need." -Richard Exley

Just last week, I was reading a book by Philp Yancey, ‘I Was Just Wondering’. In Part 1, it talked about the Human Animal where he elaborated on God’s creation and His care for them. Among the questions raised were:

-Why are there so many kinds of animals? Couldn’t the world get along with, say, 300, 000 species of beetles instead of 500,000? What good are they?

-Why is the most beautiful animals on earth are hidden away from all humans except those wearing elaborate SCUBA equipment? Who are they beautiful for?

-Why is almost all religious art realistic, whereas much of God’s creation – zebra, swallowtail butterfly, crystalline structure – excels at abstract design?

-Why are dogs much easier to train than cats? Why are African elephants almost impossible to train? Which does God take most pride in, a dog or a cat?

-Are human beings animals? Are they anything but animals? Why aren’t human beings easier to train?

As I came to end of the Part 1 of the book, I looked out my window, and Lo and Behold I saw parrots feeding on the nectar of the flowers in the tree! How timely it was that as I was reading and pondering on His creation, He revealed to me His love for His creation in ways that I don’t see everyday……parrots, feeding off the tree out your window?

Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

A month an a half back home seemed to pass in the blink of an eye! I had a wonderful time just catching up with friends and family. Haven’t been away from home for such a long time before actually, but it was great to be back and to be reminded of my home country again….not forgetting the food haha!

Returning to Aussie meant that I had to adapt myself to the quietness again. But it’s different this time as I am more or less certain of what I’ll be doing and have friends to look for! Unlike my first arrival where I had no friends, no church, haven’t even seen my room or flatmates……everything was fresh to me then. Looking back, it was amazing how I got through that stage….but through it all I know that God was guiding me and I thoroughly enjoyed my 2006.

One of the things that I truly enjoyed in Aussie was being able to do things that I liked, at my own pace without having to rush through the traffic or being immune to noisy surroundings. I get to go to the library, borrow books, read them by the beach, at the park, and just enjoy the peace and nature. I have ample time to seek God, read His words and be refreshed each day.

As I was reading one day, this was something that struck me…..something that I’ve not really thought of….

Loneliness vs Solitude. Loneliness comes when we are forced to be alone; solitude is a voluntary withdrawal from other people. Loneliness sweeps over us and hangs on in spite of our best efforts to cast it off; solitude can be started and terminated at will. Loneliness is painful, draining and unpleasant; solitude can be refreshing, rejuvenating, and enjoyable.

I recalled last year, there was a time when I felt most alone….or rather I chose to be alone was when I decided to travel on my own up to Sunshine Coast to visit a friend. I was trying to be adventurous and actually wandered on my own for the 1st time for about the whole day as I had to wait for my friend to pick me up only after work. So, meanwhile I stopped at different places along the Coast and this BIG Pineapple plantation. Boy, that was the quietest 2 hours there I had all alone!!!! But it was then when I spent the whole 2 hours just reflecting and talking to God.

These are some moments of solitude that a found refreshing….. “There’s no greater joy Lord, than being with You.”