Working on day off 3

Phone rang about 730am. Meliza came in and said, Jonathan was on the phone for me. Another episode in the series of Kitchen Horrors was about to begin.......

Jonathan: Are you coming to prepare the breakfast with us?
Me: No. I left you and Jay the instructions to make chicken pot pie. Didnt you see it? Just follow them and you will be ok. It is very easy.
Jonathan: I am not really confident and I dont see the chicken pie recipe. I dont know where things are.
Me(annoyed): This is my day off....
Jonathan: Ok...

Click.

I went back up to my bunk. I wanted to sleep more....my bottom bunkmate moaned whole last night and this morning...whine whine whine whine whine and whine....

I jumped back down and went to the kitchen. They were both looking at the Nasi Lemak recipe, probably almost in tears. I told them...no, we are not making that. The instruction you were supposed to look at is on the counter as I pointed and to my amazement, it wasnt there. Good thing I came down. So, the next few minutes I was looking frantically for the instructions. Then I gave up. I went to the computer and reprinted the recipe. I could not understand how the paper just disappeared. The strangest thing happened. I didnt know how I was suddenly inspired to look under the microwave. There I pulled out the instruction that I left on the counter the night before.

IMAGINE MY FURY!

This joke was NOT FUNNY. I dont want to find out who did it because forgiveness is very challenging now.

Anyway, I ended up staying with them until the pie was out of the oven. Instruction wouldnt have helped anyway. They didnt know how to boil the chicken...how to tell if the chicken was cooked, where to look for frozen vegetables, where to look for anything!

In the afternoon, I spat all the fire and brimstones at Faby. She finally said, they will continue to rely on me as long as I am in the kitchen. I need to just not be around, and they will HAVE TO figure things out by themselves.

I took the advice. Afterall I want to be by myself today so that people are safe. Cant even remember the last time I went to Yuen Long completely detached from business.

So I went there and decided to be generous on myself after all my hardwork....I bought 3 amazingwears and 4 scandalouswears. The base will get to see the amazingwears but only my husband gets to see the scandalouswears.

Finally, my fury subsided.

My SR (only used this term in ywam)

5 months post engagement, and 4 months towards the big day. This long distance SR (since Nov 2005) is getting so REAL. What they said about the hardship of intimate relationship is true to me experientially (<--no such word).

There were disagreements;
There were issues of the past;
There were failure of seeing from the other's perspective;
There were unintentional offenses due to PMS;
There were misunderstanding due to ineffective communications;
There were long arguments;
There were tears;
There were sleepless nights; and
There were even the occasional fear of "what if I could get along with anyone on the face of the earth except my only husband".

But, there was never malicious words;
Never unforgiveness;
Never disrespect; and
Never a doubt about this coming marriage.

There was always love;
Always joy;
Always peace;and
Always trust;
But especially love.

Working on day off 2

This is far worse than the first.

I knew I could not possibly have a real day off especially when that was a less than 24 hour notice. Today was a food run day, not just any food run but Culture Night food run. I wasnt ready for this yesterday. Could have done everything last night but I was dead by dinner time. So, I thought..better come in after a night's rest to pick up the ends.

My anger tonight has everything to do with Wellcome Delivers. They dont. I was expecting this delivery yesterday afternoon! I missed it because I was in class. So, I had to come in today for that too. I waited the whole morning till 2pm and I couldnt wait any longer. I called them up. They rescheduled the delivery till 6-8pm tonight. That was fine. Got a check from Joe and was ready for it.

I finished organizing the food run and sent the crew off by 4. Things were normal in the kitchen too. Just when I thought I could get out of here and come back before 6, it started raining. By the time it stopped it was almost 6.

So I sat in here and waited. And waited.

Its past 10 o clock now. I am so angry. This has never happened before! I could just ignored them and go to bed but the dilemma is, I ran out of milk, rice, cereals.... If I missed them again tonight, there will be a famine tomorrow.

So angry.

Like Jonah said, I am angry enough to die.

Nyaahhhhhh

Snakes

Ok. I was born in year 1977. According to the Chinese zodiac, that was the year of the lucky snake. As you know, Chinese new year never falls on the first of January. They are usually between around end of January to mid February every year.

Anyway, mom delivered me two weeks before schedule so I was born right before the Spring Festival of 1977 and closely but slickly avoided the year of the snake. So according to my own superstitious intepretation, throughout my whole life, I am supposed to slickly avoid snakes. I hate them!!! They are ugly, creepy and scary.

Tonight as I was going on a walk, I saw three dead snakes within 1 mile!!! If I were 11 years old, I would be crying in fright. Since I am not, I am just disturbed.

Snakes...Ugggh.

Na qi ya

Last year while we were on outreach, Fifi and I discovered a long historical drama about Nurhaci, the hero that unified the warring Manchurian tribes and established an empire that eventually evolved into the Qing dynasty. The drama was based on true history but kinda twisted with romance and stuff like that. Among the fictional characters, my favorite one was the one called Naqiya (picture), playing one of the many Nurhaci's women...but was never married to him because he executed her father (his excuse for not wanting to marry her).

Anyway, recently I discovered the blog the actor that plays Naqiya and impressive to me, she is so down to earth just like any one of us, non public figures. She writes lots about her family, her work, her friends, and even posted candid shots of them.

So for the sake of it, I linked her blog to my site...to remember a favorite character from my most favorite historical based soap opera.

:)

Old pictures (click on them for larger view)

Judging the age of the little baby his mom(second from right) was holding , Angeline was probably just 2 years old. Notice that there are a few things that have not changed since...
She still thinks she is cute.
She still insists to sit on laps.
She still plays with fluffy toys.



Now from the date stamp, Angeline was 13. A few things have changed...
She has a lot longer hair now.
She weighs a lot more than that now.
She doesnt have the habit of wearing extremely large mens tshirts anymore.

My prominent weakness

I usually blog about my external life. I am a superficial person. Maybe I can have a change today.

Here is my heart, which almost feels like death because there seems like a wall surrounding it. There is hindrance in worship times, I cant concentrate. And there is hindrance in quiet times, I cant concentrate either. I am not exactly sure what this place is. Usually when I am lost, I can feel God's presence relatively quickly. But I think now I am just wrapped in self-sufficiency.

God, I am here to repent. Give my heart a life.

The clock is ticking. Do I have enough time to get to know myself deeply? Only you know this heart, where it has been and what it has gone through. I dont want to recall the past struggles, the threatening voices, and of course all the hurt that went unspoken. Why cant I just admit that I hurt? Why cant I just own up to my own feelings? Now, I cant be this way. The more I try to avoid, the more I am distanced from myself and so the more I am lost. It is disastrous to bring a superficial self into a permanent union.

He has given me his heart to which I have vowed to protect with my own life. But how do I give my own heart to him? How will I respond if he ever hurt me? How do I hold myself from the temptation of hurting him back?

God help me.

A random visitor

Yesterday, Man Lok from last year's COR came to visit the base with her dad and brother. Because everyone else was engaged with business, I had to chat with them to be polite.

Man Lok's dad introduced himself as KK. It was alright. We continued to small chat. Apparently he owns some property in Shui Mei Tsuen, and he is not a Tang!!! He bought over the land from the Tangs in the 70s but never really did anything with it and now he is trying to draft some papers so that the property can be rented properly.

I thought that was interesting.

When I told them my wedding date, he was intrigued. He said, hey that's my wedding anniversary. I then replied, hey you know, I am marrying a KK, in fact a KKK. He said, those are my initials too..KKK. So, is he also a computer engineer????

I thought that was interesting.

See Angeline, connecting with strangers wasnt that bad....

Joe's birthday today

I wanted to make him a boiled egg but I couldnt get up early enough. I had practice session early in the morning because he was leading worship.

So, I made his favorite dinner, fish and chips. I needed to make tartar sauce but we dont have sweet pickled relish. Yesterday I sent Sebastian and Jayakumar, my foodrun crew to get them but they came back with chinese pickled cucumber!!! They said they couldnt find them and the ones they have are in radish which the kitchen already has like a dozen jars of those.

So, I had to carefully wash the radish off the relish. That was the craziest thing I did today-all for Joe.

God bless the good guy.

Yasmin

That is the name of my contraception pill. I have been taking this for 6 days now. No headache, no abnormal period, no cramps, no baby.

I just need a chronic habit to take them.

July 11th....Frank says, in four more months, my life will be over...

Frank: So will you remember us after you are married? Most people just lost their friends after being married because they are too busy with their new life....

Me: silence

(Dont have to be true...Ive never lost Neek even though he has been married for 2.5 years now. Actually I dont have that many very close friends that got married.)

Soccer

World Cup Final, Italy vs France.

Coincidentally, we served pasta with garlic baguette tonight.

I dont watch professional soccer. My personal soccer heroes are Chad, Kevin and maybe Keith. Bethany, Natty and Sophia were quite entertaining too. But Eugenia's kick one time (ended up hitting someone's groin and then his head) was spectacular.

Anyway, I hope the mafia wins.

Working on day off

Today, July 8th must be the most stressful day I can remember.

I woke up with a gasp. Almost 7:00 am. Thank God for 6th sense. I had that feeling if I dont go down to the kitchen and check, something really sad is going to happen. So I dived from my bunk in my pajamas (thank goodness I still have the habit of wearing a full set of undergarments), my sleeping breath, and soggy face, and dragged myself to the kitchen. Nobody was there. So I dialled the Light House really quickly. Took forever for someone to answer and finally Nicky did.

Me: Is Rebecca and Anny coming to prepare the breakfast?
Nicky: Yea actually just gonna be Anny and it is only 7am and breakfast is at 8. I told her she can go at 745. She is in the shower right now, why?
Me: Uhhh...I kinda need them to come and make some pancakes. I think they need a little more time than that. We have to make it nice because the OTF (Olympic Task Force) people might show up.
Nicky: Oh, I didnt know that. I thought it is just gonna be Feeters who arrived. We will come now!

I went and check the pantry. Not enough fruits for lunch. Panic.
I checked all the ingredients for weekend menus. Slightly short of sour cream. Panic. It started to pour. Well, twas still early. I resolved to go to town and pick up all the missing items before lunch.

Breakfast was smoothly over.

The leader of the Kona Dts came to the kitchen.
Zach: Would there be enough food for all of us (13 people)? We are thinking about having lunch here.
Me (panicked...did I miss out on this one too? Anna said to prepare for 40, does it include them? Come on Angeline, do the math....gosh, i m so dead, so confused): Uhhh....have you told Anna about this? I thought she said she only got confirmation for 6 but not the whole team.
Zach: Yea, I was having trouble getting some of the people to confirm about their meal plans until today, but I guess if there's not enough then, that's okay. We will have lunch somewhere else.
Me: I am not sure if we do..maybe just for half of your team. I am so sorry.

Sigh. That's Kona.

I checked into my little office and started ordering online for the following week so that food will be delivered to me on Monday am. It dried up. So, I left to go into town, got everything I needed. Things were starting to go right. Even the sun began to shine too. So, time to take a nap and have an afternoon off.

The phone rang. Grrr...

Me: Hello.
Ms X: Hello. Could I speak with Miss Yong?
Me: Hey Karen, stop it!!
Ms X: This is Wellcome Delivery service,.....
Me (angry): No no no no..no Wellcome today, I didnt order for delivery today!!!!
Ms X: Uhh..Miss Yong, you ordered from our website this morning?
Me (oh no. not Karen giving me a prank call. gasp) : Yeaa....
Ms X: We are sorry, we are not able to deliver on Monday morning because many of the items you ordered are not available.
Me: Well, can you deliver the ones that are availabe on Monday and the rest on Tuesday?
Ms X: Too many items..but let me check and I will confirm with you later.

I went to the kitchen and check how the lunch went. Becca said there were some leftovers. Sebastian took four servings. Greedy..but the food was enough, that was the only thing I cared.

Ms X called again. Wellcome will deliver on Tuesday only!

Check the pantry. Not enough milk, not enough cereals, not enough bread to last for Tuesday. Sigh...what kind of a kitchen manager m I? Looks like another food run is coming up tonight.

Hmm...since I have a little time, I better write up my long dued newsletter.
Interruption. Becca called.

Becca: I cant find coconut milk. I only found one can.
Me: Yea, I am sorry, I forgot about the coconut milk but there are some coconut milk powder we can use. They are all in the curry spice boxes that I bought. Just open it and you will find two packet of things inside and one should be coconut milk powder...
Becca: Uhhh.. I dont understand...
Me: Never mind I will go down and get them for you.


5pm. I went to check the kitchen crew again. I dont even want to describe how stressful it looked. I felt really bad for choosing such difficult recipes for Rebecca. Faby and So Young came to visit. Another emergency meeting in the pantry.

Me: I think this is tough for Rebecca. All her helpers are new Feeters.
Faby: Isnt Anny supposed to be here to help??
Me: The schedule says Brandon and Rebecca for dinner prep. Anny told me she is doing cleanup.
Faby: No!!! I already changed that schedule. Anna and I made it. Anny was supposed to come.
Me: I guess the Feet Staff themselves must have changed things around again. And I dont have the new work schedule in that case.
So Young: Look (pointing to the Sunday's schedule). Rachel will be mad. This is not fair. She is on all prep and clean up.

Anyway, I had to go to town for food run. While I was in Park N Shop, 6pm....
Gasp. I forgot to tell Rebecca where to find the cheese for the saag paneer. I was sure she had no idea what ricotta was. So, I quickly dialled the kitchen. She answered.

Me: Did you find the cheese you are supposed to use?
Becca: No. I couldnt find it.
Me (regretfully): I m so so so sorry I forgot to tell you. They were all in the bag in the same fridge with all the things you used today.
Becca: Oh really? I didnt know that. I wanted to call and ask you but I was too busy. So we just decided to use the regular cheese.
Me: OK. So everything is alright?
Becca: It looks bad but tastes kinda good. The mango casserole is not done yet though. But I think it is alright. The OTF are very late anyway. We havent started eating.

I have to think Greek in order to use of the really expensive but left behind goat cheese.

I think if I were my boss, I would most likely fire myself after this weekend.
What a day!. 830pm now. Gasp. Time to take the pill.

Food

I am back ruling the food service again.

To welcome myself back, I tried two things that I've always wanted to make but never before. Nasi Lemak and fried rice vermicelli (the Filipinos called it Pancit, and the Singaporeans called it Mihun). Both entrees gained huge popularity, especially pancit. My roomate from the Phillipines went crazy over it. On the other hand, my nasi lemak has lots to improve. My other roomate from Korea loves it because it is spicy and she misses Malaysian food. Note to self: soak the anchovies longer and more coconut milk on the rice next time!

Besides that, I think I accidentally discovered how to make Nigerian meat stew. I gave a recipe for dinner to my kitchen crew one night and the stew came out tasted just like the one Tayo made. Coolness!

Fettucine alfredo is my next new project.

Pre Wedding Shots

...like i said before, i will be a really cute bride.

Preparations

Itz the end of my very condensed week in Malaysia getting prepared for my big day. Here are some of the pictures we took throughout the week.

Food on the wedding banquet.











The bouquet...












The makeup....




















The gown...




















The new bedroom













The rings















The dowry















and...the lucky groom!

Angeline in Malaysia

It was the first time I was asked to scan my luggages on the way out.

The first disturbing sight I saw was a Chinese woman trying to bribe the customs guy with RMBs...she speaks very little Malay and he understood no Mandarin. It seemed like he wasnt impressed...I couldnt tell if he were not happy with the amount she offered or just embarrassed because I was watching. If I werent busy trying to get my luggage which was bigger than myself off the conveyer belt, I would have taken out my camera and start snapping pictures. I was really mad!

KK came and picked me up. On the way to dinner, he took me sightseeing at Putra Jaya, the new administrative capital. I have to say that place is really impressive. For once, I am quite proud of the country.

We went to have street food because I ran out of ideas of what I feel like eating. Tofu fa and lok lok came up....delicious. It is nice to do fun things with a boyfriend. It has been years....

KK treats me sooooooooooooooooooo well. He made me feel greater than a queen. I am his beloved. I am still quite bewildered at his obsession of me. My pictures are all over his room!!! He puts a girl like me to shame. haha...I really really really really really need to get used to this. I believe I will.

Today, we started off our day praying together. I met up with his dad and siblings at breakfast. Then we drove to the studio house to pick my dresses and to talk to our photographer. I am allowed two wedding gowns for the prewedding photo shoots and a traditional chinese wedding dress. Then we went to meet up with his mom and went for hi-tea at a really fancy cafe. After that his mom and sis helped me to find a pair of shoes for the photo shoot as I have no eyes or couldnt care less for those strappy stiletto fragile and sexy looking stuff..real sigh.

Suddenly I am back and present in this family again...after 3 years. How did it all happen? It was quite simple on my side. I simply told KK what God did in my life for the past 2 years and one thing led to another.

Faby in Hong Kong

She is back.

Joy to the world and peace on earth....

DTS 2006...and something about them

Here is Caryl, the Grand Pooba...
C for Courageous and strong-she survived 5 months with us!
A for Adventurous-she is willing to go "DEEP" into China and trek up the Great Wall in a lightning storm.
R for Really good at keeping her socks bright white and keeping us all in time during worship with her shaking egg.
Y for Young-the only YWAM leader in the world to have led over a dozen outreaches before the age of 17.
L for Loving-she shows the love of Christ to everyone she meets and regardless of the time, place, or how she is feeling, she will never fail to give you a hug that melts away your worries.

There is Keith, our Grandma...
K for Kool enough to let us call him Grandma even though he's a 21-year old guy with a beard.
E for Entertaining in every situation, especially when you feed him or if there is jiaozi in the room!
I for Incredibleat packing-the ONLY guy to be able to take no more than a day's worth of clothes on OR and make it last 2 months.
T for Talented at Chinese-even more talented at making them think that he knows what they're saying when he has no idea.
H for Hot...on fire for God-a real man after God's heart with a passion for the Hui people.

and Angel, who is blogging this...
A for Always provides entertainment with her cat-like ways (the way she purrrs her "Rs" and pounces for a snuggle.
N for Never fails to try to get us where we need to go, even though she has no idea how to get there.
G for Gorgeous-with her long, long flowing hair, especially when she wraps it around her head as a turban.
E for Extremely good at ignoring the Chinese paparazzi during OR even though she's got wicked awesome Chinese skills.
L for Leads-her words are few, but her heart speaks volumes, she really exemplifies that actions speak louder than words.

Now the students...
Bethany the Encourager,
B is our Encourager. She always looked for ways to encourage her team members through words, notes, gifts, and big hugs despite claiming to be a non touchy-feely person. God used her to speak truth into our lives. She is also a good leader, leading out during Bible studies, intercession and worship times.

Gena the Congenial,
Gena is our Miss Congeniality/Gullibility. She is really fun to hang out with because she is so easy-going. She is also very generous, often offering her snacks, belongings, service, and encouragement to her team mates. Gena was super sensitive to the well being of the team and always strived to maintain right relationships with everyone.

Liz the Caring,
Liz genuinely cares about people’s feelings. She noticed people when they were down and never hesitated to pray for them on the spot. She also has a big heart for the lost and prayed passionately for them. On top of that, she is a fun loving person and her laughter is contagious.

Joelle the Conscientious,
Joelle remembers details like no one else does. She is an attentive listener and her conscientiousness had been a precious gift to the team. Even though she’s quiet, she was not shy during evangelism times. She was always on the look out for opportunities to share the gospel. She brought the gospel puzzle with her everywhere she went!

Natalie the Worshipper,
Nothing, no one, no situation stops Natty from worshipping her God. Her life speaks volumes of her adoration of Him. Her intimacy with God and unreserved devotion to Him was a huge encouragement. She was also selfless, always reaching out and putting others before herself. She is a beauty inside and out.

Sophia the Good Listener,
Sophia has normal sized ears, but watching her you would think that they were enormous because of the way she loves people and is always willing to listen. She liked doing things behind the scene i.e. reaching out to people, praying for them, and not expecting anything in return.

Chad the Go Getter,
Chad is a diehard adventurer. He did not hold back anything...speaking Mandarin, trying “strange” food, meeting strangers, and most importantly, sharing Jesus. He was also an encourager. His jovial disposition and childlike temperament brought refreshment to weary souls.

Kevin the Evangelist,
Kevin was our dedicated evangelist. He loved telling people about God and he did it very well. He so earnestly desired the lost to know Christ that he would spend days off and free time with them. He was also faithfully walking in the confidence that God placed in him.

Jesse the Sensitive Spirit, and
Jesse is caring and sensitive to people’s feelings and needs. When someone was hurting, he hurt along with him. He was there to reach out to the team. He also loved to serve and always displayed a servant’s heart.

Sebastian the Faithful Servant.
Sebastian displays quiet strength and determination. Those around him knew they could count on him to give his best no matter what the task was. He was loyal, trustworthy and diligent. He also showed willingness to grow in new areas especially in personal evangelism.

DTS 2o06 is over.
Chad is already in Nebraska, planning to go to college in Omaha.
Joelle is leaving tonight, her 21st birthday's eve...needs to rush home to celebrate.
Natty got admitted to Graduate School doing Masters in Chinese Studies. She will be living in London.
Sophia finally decided to do FEET. She is flying home for a couple of weeks to say hi to mom.
Jesse is leaving but also coming back to HK for FEET and COR...according to the 'rumor', he is applying for DTS staffship.
B is coming back in August to be my roomate.
Sebastian is staying for SOFM. Small school....I bet he is thrilled.
Gena is going back to sweet California, so is Kevin..but he has to go visit Beijing with his parents first.
Liz is flying back home to sweet Texas.
Keith's friend is coming to visit him in HK. He has all their meals planned but have minimal ideas for sightseeing.
Caryl's going home to Omaha to visit Caryl, her mom.
and Angeline is going home and get legally married.

Reentry to HK

It started to make sense why I feel unangeline these days. My mood has been unstable since I got back from OR and I was not sure why I am this way. While I was sitting here talking to Faby, the light bulb came up. Re entry is rough and it does affect unemotional people sometimes.

Here is a collection of oracles that came up during OR.

1. Have a heart for the lost, not just a desire to be involved in missions. What is your real motive, Angeline? (CS)

2. One who denies god, denies his own humanity. (KM)

3. One who put his faith in science and its discoveries will never discover his purpose in life. (KM)

4. Build a relationship with an unbelieving friend, get to know the person enough that you can envision what kind of believer the person would be. (KM)

5. It is beneficial, even crucial that a new believer should own a good study bible. (KM)

6. Compare to eternal life which is the absolute reality, the difference in age in our present life is negligible. In the light of eternity, we are all considered infants. (LZ)


都是你 词，曲， 唱：王光良

谁改变了我的世界没有方向没有日夜
我看着天这一刻在想你
你是否会对我一样思念

你曾说我们有一个梦等到那天我们来实现
我望着天在心中默默念
下一秒你出现在眼前

想念的心装满的都是你
我的钢琴 弹奏的都是你
我的日记写满的都是你的名
才发现又另一个黎明

这是我对你爱的累积。

kk, 你可知道啊，我是没有一天不想你。 可是想着的都是开心的事情！

Its time to go

Leaving tomorrow for the outreach I have anticipated for.

I dont have much to blog about but I dont want to leave without saying goodbye.

So bye.

My dichotomy

One thing.

Recapitulating what happened during outreach last year, even though I know it is impossible, I decided to try getting this sorted through before I leave. Defining this was the cause my insomnia last night. Now, let me astound you with the complexity of my simple mind.

There was me. Angeline and Hua Jing. There was us and them. And there was us and them. With them, I was Angeline, trying to forget Hua Jing. With them, I was Angeline except Angeline was trying to remember Hua Jing. Angeline had to be part of us because everyone of us could not be part of them. Angeline rationalized and emotionalized in our language. Hua Jing used to be part of them. She felt and reasoned in their language because our language was foreign. But Hua Jing is no longer that. She has become Angeline. And when Angeline was with them, Hua Jing wanted to come back. Hua Jing wanted to temporarily forget Angeline, afterall Angeline didnt exist till Hua Jing was 18. Hua Jing itched to be returned to them. Angeline missed the days she was only Hua Jing. Yes, there were days she was only Hua Jing and today she is totally Angeline. Hua Jing was unhappy with the insensitive remarks that were being spoken about them because she was one of them. And Angeline was unhappy with the insensitive remarks that were spoken about them because she was also one of them. Angeline couldnt blame them. Hua Jing couldnt blame them. Angeline saw the divergence of these two worlds, practically impossible to unite yet colliding and clashing in her own life, seeking for a resolution and closure.

Angeline or Hua Jing?

Hua Jing or Angeline?

It is really hard to be both at the same time. If you really want to understand, take up a second culture now and in the next decade speak think and feel only in that language, then go back and interact with the people that reminds you of your past and tell me how that feels!

The reward is, it can be insanely fun.

Where I am

This is only the 6th entry of the month. Sad to say, the record is embarrassing. So finally tonight I decided to give a more down to earth update about where I am.

I am still on the planet. I realize I havent been vocal about the DTS this year. Not that I am not enthusiastic about it or anything. I like it lots, as excited if not more than I did last year. This is the end of lecture phase. I find it hard to believe we are leaving for outreach in 12 days...my last outreach before I become Mrs Kah Kheng Khoo....which means I need to start thinking about my expectations for this very special 2 months, eh?

I am at least half-packed for outreach. The more challenging task is to get Fabys place more immaculate than when I moved in. I am not a very fast cleaner. Let me correct that, I am not a cleaner. And I was warned of hurricane Faby, which is scheduled to hit should I fail to clean up my mess before outreach. Very sad. So this weekend, I am having sweet Fifi over to assist me.

And oh, I am moving back to the Lighthouse it seems. Nancy said so at least. And, I get to be the Dining Service Director again in the summer. The additional challenge is to produce a disciple out of this to take over me after I am gone.

This week, I managed to watch the whole season 1 of Mash by myself. Cant think of any more highlights. I want a nap.

My past life

In two weeks I will be moving out from Fabys. The apartment looks like it just got hit by a tornado. So, I have been organizing my properties (again) and I saw my thesis....no one here knows how much trouble I went through to get this.

Anyway, the thesis is titled Analytical Method Development for the Cleaning Effectivenes of Residual Peanut Protein on Stainless Steel in Particular Ara h1. The abstract reads.... (if you dont plan to fall asleep, skip the next paragraph)

The peanut allergen, Ara h1, can potentially become part of a different food system due to cross contamination from processing with campaigned equipments. To prevent cross-contamination, studies must be completed that demonstrate the effectiveness of standardized cleaning procedures for removing the allergen from product contact surfaces. In the pharmaceutical industry, cleaning validation consists of surface residual sampling, recovery and detection of the recovered material. Based upon this model, a sampling method that recovers Ara h1 from a stainless steel surface; and an assay that is capable of selectively detecting and semi-quantifying the recovered Ara h1 allergen were developed. These analytical techniques were able to recover up to 78-99% of peanut proteins and to detect the recovered Ara h1 protein at levels of 80-122 nanograms.

I took about a year to develop my sampling and recovery procedures, smooth and steady. The detection and quantification was a bizarre story. Spring 2003, I decided to graduate by hook or by crook so that I could come to HK for DTS. I implemented my detection scheme and ran experiments after experiments that entire summer with no substantial result. My research director never saw a protein behaving like that on the detection instrument. My other research committee member were basically speechless. YWAM HK called and asked if I was still interested in their Performing Arts DTS. I was never interested in Performing Arts and I wasnt able to leave my project anyway. Later they cancelled the school because almost no one wanted to go (afraid of SARS). So I applied for January school instead.

October came, we decided to collect enough data for our bizzarre findings and moved on to a new alternate scheme, not as glamorous, but with other advantages. Besides, I could actually run the method in my sleep because I did it so much before I came on to the grad school and the only thing practical to do so that I could graduate by December. Things seemed to go well until one day in the middle of November I had reasons to suspect my water system was contaminated. If that were true, the bottomline was, I had no results. Water purity was critical for my aim to establish nanogramic detection limit for contaminants. Imagine my fright!

However, in two weeks we found out the water was fine. Something else was interfering with my controls and we got it fixed. By then, it wasnt realistic anymore to graduate in December, I had to apply for May graduation. So, after editing my thesis for about 10 times, I was scheduled to deliver an oral defense. Much to my chagrin, just when everything was set, I received a notice from YWAM HK that they were moving the DTS a week earlier than it was scheduled.(STUPID YWAM HK!!!) So I had to cut down on my breathing and rescheduled my final oral exam two days before I left NE. I didnt have enough time to do much in one and a quarter day...I didnt have much time to think I was leaving NE for good. I thought perhaps one day, when I am not busy anymore, I will come back to NE and say goodbye properly. More than 2 years had gone by and I havent done that.

Anyway, the point of my post is actually that being a missionary is much more fun than being a scientist.

An obnoxious question

I wanted to blog this the other day but I didnt because my keyboard sensors are losing it. Sometimes letter like h would not come out. Very annoying. As much as I love my faithful Inspiron 8000, I am preparing for its funeral.

Anyway, about that obnoxious question that I was pondering a little while ago......before I am aware of the human function called sex, the only reason I could think of why people regard the pubic area as dirty (after Deans teaching, I know sex is not dirty anymore) is because that is the area we associate pee and poo with. So, why did God in His intelligence created sexual organs in proximity with our poo and pee organs and for guys, the same organ?!?!?!?!

After lunch on Monday, I posed the question to some intelligent people like Fifi, Catherine and Anna. Fifi of course just busted out laughing. Both Anna and Catherine, to my amazement came up with a similar answer - convenience!! Anna said there is an incentive to keep that area clean. Catherine said, when we wear underwear, it automatically protect all of them together. And, that is smart!

Why didnt I think of that before??

Anyway, I found the answers satisfying. So I closed the case in peace.

A Long Pajama Day

This is Happy Saturday. The only day in the week that I get to sleep in. The more I sleep, the sleepier I get.

I know I need to get more creative. I want to. I really do. I can make a long list of what I should be doing instead of sleeping but I dont think I can give up sleep yet.

And I am even blogging in my sleep. If I have to mention the word blog in my blog, thats when I know my creativity is not awake.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Trinity

I almost gave up writing blogs. I am too lazy to do anything. I am not excited with life. I dont like watching tv. I dont feel like shopping for anything. I dont feel like listening to any chinese songs or reading anything thought-provoking. I am just not up to anything. I kinda like my life like this, uncomplicated and boring.

Maybe I am just pmsing.

Wanna be my friend and hang out?

Speaking of friends, I have a series of 'Trinity's ever since I remember having friends. I think triads are great. Whenever two argues, we have a tie breaker and one gets to pick a side. I don't have any pictures of my 'trinity' further back than Lincoln NE...but here are the rest...


That's the most prominent 'trinity' during the days of Lincoln Revival Team. Me(Hua Jin), Cherh Kuan, and Hui Wan, whom we dearingly called Ah Hui. In that relationship, I was definitely the cockiest of them all...but they loved me well.


There's my other social circle that ran parallel with my CK and Ah Hui circle. We were pretty exclusive as in having special meetings to talk about nothing. I liked Neek and 'disliked' Budi. In that relationship, I was known as the Cat. Usually Neek wouldn't call me Cat...it was just Budi.


This happened after the other two circles left lincoln. I knew both Erin (the blonde one)and Jessica before the millenium but 'suddenly' got close in 2003, right before I came to Hong Kong. They are both in Omaha then and now. I needed to drive to Omaha to meet up with them. Jessica still send cards to me occassionally...and Erin wants to be a Missionary.


And here in Hong Kong, I continue my tradition to trinitize my relationship. This is the most updated one. On my left, Caryl, the Grand Pooba, and on my right is Grandma Keith from Hoserland. If my wedding is just about myself, I would have Caryl be my flowergirl and Grandma the ring bearer...but unfortunately, it is not!!!!!

The Reality of My Heart

There's this beautiful thing called love. One of the things mentioned about it is that, it covers a multitude of sins.

My heart is hurting like crazy, yet I find a simple reason to rejoice-a revelation that I am actually more intensely in love with KK than I think I do. I love him jealously and passionately with my heart, not just my head.

Only by continuing to choose love, healing will come to a completion.

I felt like I've grown up so much. And the exciting thing is that I am willing.

The Reality of Life

There's this beautiful thing called sex. With that comes along issues like pregnancies, and parenthood. Putting marriage and sex and pregnancy together, I, the bethrothed have now to be concerned about birth control because I want to be the only baby for the first year at least.

Most of my research resulted in 4 distinct methods.
First, the natural method which I personally find more appealing than others. Basically it involves thermometer reading. If my body temperature rises, it means I am ovulating. So, that means avoid sex during those days. If there's a thermometer that not only read temperature but can give an instant advice such as 'today is your unlucky day', I might consider getting one. Natural method is very much a hassle because I have to take temperature and kinda monitor my body temperature everyday to chart a trend. Yawn.

Then, there's this hormonal method (the pills, patches, injections etc). Pills are common. I even heard there's a male pill. Besides the side effects, the thought of 'lowering the sperm count to zero' feels wrong and murderous, just like the thought of using spermicide. I just feel wrong to kill.

Then, there's this barrier method (condoms, diaphrams etc). Condoms are common. I even heard there's a female condom. But because, it is not part of our bodies. Involving that is like involving a third party. So, that feels wrong too.

Then, there's sterilization, the permanent method. Of course this is not an option now.

Considering the fact that the chances of me getting pregnant is only high for about 2 weeks in a month, and considering the general frequency of sex is only like once a week, someone should just tell me birth control is no big deal. Chances are I will not get pregnant without birth control that easily.

But of course, nobody is willing to give me such an advice.

Sigh.

The last one

Out of curiosity, I took this test. And this is what I found out....

Your Seduction Style: Au Natural

You rank up there with your seduction skills, though you might not know it. That's because you're a natural at seduction. You don't realize your power! The root of your natural seduction power: your innocence and optimism. You're the type of person who happily plays around and creates a unique little world. Little do you know that your personal paradise is so appealing that it sucks people in. You find joy in everything - so is it any surprise that people find joy in you? You bring back the inner child in everyone you meet with your sincere and spontaneous ways. Your childlike (but not childish) behavior also inspires others to care for you. As a result, those who you befriend and date tend to be incredibly loyal to you.

What Kind of Seducer Are You?

Anyway, I am done with blogthings.

Take a break for Quizzes

These are ME

Your Brain's Pattern

You have a dreamy mind, full of fancy and fantasy. You have the ability to stay forever entertained with your thoughts. People may say you're hard to read, but that's because you're so internally focused. But when you do share what you're thinking, people are impressed with your imagination.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

You Aren't Scary, You're Scared

Probably even scared to see how this quiz came out!

How Scary Are You?

Who Should Paint You: Gustav Klimt

Sensual and gorgeous, you would inspire an enchanting portrait.. With just enough classic appeal to be hung in any museum!

What Artist Should Paint Your Portrait?

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved. You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred. In this moment, you think of love as something you can get or discard anytime. You're feeling self centered.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Slow and Steady

Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It'd really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment. They expect you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then usually decide against it.

How Do People See You?

I am so grown up!

Tampons are the bestest invention ever and Caryl's such a cool 'mom'.

I am so excited to go on outreach with them. 7 more weeks!!!!

Pads...NEVER AGAIN.

Bloody Painful

Caryl said I will be blogging about this. Therefore, just so that she is right, here I am.

Today, I ventured into something new. I made use of a gift given to me by Catherine during my last visit to the Lighthouse. Even Fifi tried it. So, definitely being naturally competitive and didn't want to be left out, I needed to do it at least once, just so I could brag about it.

So, I did. It was bloody painful. I tolerated the discomfort for about 3 hours and said NEVER AGAIN.

See, I know I could brag about it. Bravo to me!

Be Near

Be near O God of us, your nearness is to us our good. -a song by Shane Barnard written based on Psalm 73:28, which has now become a resounding prayer in my heart....

I have been "freaking out" internally with the changes that are taking place in my life right now. Even my relationship with my God is changing, you know. There is this season that I relate to him as a little child to her father. I love, think, act, speak, eat and play just like a child because that's how I feel my God sees me. It is a place of comfort and safety.

After being espoused to Kah Kheng, God begins to reveal to me that there's another dimension of a relationship with him, of which I have neglected, of which a lot deeper and richer than a Father to a child - the relationship between the Lover and the Beloved. Now, that is awkward for me. I am comfortable being a Child, but not quite a Beloved. Marriage has to be the boldest thing I will ever do. When people asked me "when will you ever get hitched?', in all sanity, I had always replied "when I grow up" and so the growing up time is now. It is amazing how God has led me in such a way, until I am at this place, and of course he is still preparing me and taking me further and deeper into himself.

4 days with Kah Kheng was like 4 days with God. I saw the reflection of my loving God in my fiance. He just couldnt stop blessing me with affections and gifts and attention to an extend that I felt stressed and guilty receiving this overload of love expressions simple because there was no way I could recipocrate that love. God said, that's how I lavished my love on my people, and do you think they could ever recipocrate my love for them?

But then, this is exactly the purpose of my life. I am living simply to recipocrate my God's love for me. Eternity is designed for that.
God's love everlasts.

Let me brag...

This weekend...let me tell you, it is quite an honor to be asked by a man like Kah Kheng to be his wife. It happened in Faby's living room (Faby you are blessed), no flowers, champagne nor candles nor a life violinist, but a few pairs of my semidry bluestar socks laying around the armrest of the couch as witnesses. He got down on his knees and asked the important question with all sincerity. I tried quite hard not to laugh because I knew that moment was sacred and thank God, I didnt spoil it.

The rock is quite impressive. Well, it is 0.21Ct, Round Hearts & Arrows, colorless E, VS1 clarity, sitting on a 4-prong solitaire platinum ring setting for the detailholics.
He, whose heart is more precious and beautiful than the rock he got, did way much better than I expected. He is my real treasure.

You see, both Gena (my Dts student) and I are shy. I knew that both her and Bethany (her roomate) must have heard the news but they must have been too shy to ask if they could look at it. I was shy to show it off to them. So, I said nothing. Then this morning, I saw Gena discreetly took a look on it.
So cute!

About a cat and a dog

This happened this afternoon while I was waiting to catch a bus to Yuen Long to get a bus to the airport to pick up Kah Kheng.

About 4:30pm. I was waiting under the tree by the lapsap. There was a dog laying outside the gate staring at me. I couldnt pick up whether that was a friendly or a hostile stare as I dont read dogs very well. I tried not to keep much eye contact with it because I didnt want it to suddenly come attack me.

Then came along a cat which I supposed just woke up from a nap. It sat just beside the dog. They seemed to get along. As a cat lover, I started to 'talk' the cat into coming near me, but I guess I didnt have the right cat accent. It totally ignored me.

After meowing several times, the dog got up and started to come towards me. Whether it thought I was calling for it, or it was just being sensitive and sorry for me for getting rejected by the cat. So I ended up petting doggy instead of kitty.

Cats are arrogant and selfish. But one who loves cats knows unconditional love.

Family

So, what do we have here? Aha, the Yong Dynasty (yeah right!). From left, me- Hua Jin, dad - David, sis - Hua Mey, mom - Sii Ing, and bro - Hua Yeo. If I remember correctly, that was Chinese New Year 1987, the one last time I had my hair like that...cute huh? I was barely 10 and I wore silk stockings....must be one of those weird influences I had!!!!!

A little dilemma....

There's this Malaysian Chinese singer name Fish Leong. She is VERY POPULAR in China, outrageously. Her songs are great. I like a lot of them. But her singing voice....ermmm...just like mine, a little better. I am enjoying the torture listening to her. That's what I mean, a little dilemma.

I am gonna put in Michael Wong's CD, another Malaysian Chinese singer who is outrageously popular in China, who was my hero and 'boyfriend'....actually just one of my many 'boyfriends' - Alec Su-the Taiwanese Singer, Lawrence Lau-my ex huskermate, Jason Tang-the meat delivery guy in KamTin.... Then Kah Kheng came into the picture. The 'scandal' finally stopped.

The Return of Rahel

Rahel (we couldnt say her name right, so we call her Rachel) came back with her Antoinne. She has never looked so beautiful. So, that's what a husband could do to a girl...

Wow.

And, by the way, I finally watched Narnia. It was cool...but, I am suspecting myself having a interest-in-movies-pause. The symptoms have been getting more obvious by days!!!

Changed

I am a lot different than I used to be. One of the changes that I have realized, that I have not expected is liking Jay Chow's music. I am still not sure what category his music goes...maybe rap.

I first started to listen to his famous 'Nocturne' and caught myself wanting to listen to it repeatedly. The lyrics are weird enough. For me, it is like trying to explain Picasso, so I wouldnt even try to describe....gosh it is growing on me.

Talking too fast

I learn something new from my DTS student, Jesse yesterday.

Verbal diarrhea.

I have that problem.

Birthday

I turned 17 today. But sometimes I still act younger than that.

God is sweet to me! He gave me more than what I asked for. I have clarity. I have His Word to move on.

Caryl took me, Nicky, and Fifi to Fat Angelo's to get fattened.

Faby left birthday messages all over my cyberspaces. She misses me.

The aswesome DTSers wrote me a card and bought me a pair of hair clips.

Catherine made me a journal filled with cat stickers.

My mom asked me why didnt I eat an egg. I was supposed to because it's my birthday.

Kah Kheng put up a picture of me years ago on his blog. I still looked the same today.

Ams remembered my birthday. I m getting really spoilt.

Happy birthday to me. I had a good day. I am loved.

Rain Down

Looks like tonight, the sky is heavy
Feels like the winds are gonna change
Beneath my feet, the earth is ready
I know its time for heaven's rain, it's gonna rain
It's gonna rain, again

Cos it's living water we desire
To flood out hearts with holy fire

Rain down all around the world we're singing
Rain down can you here the earth is singing
Rain down my heart is dry but still I'm singing
Rain down rain it down on me.

Back to the start, my heart is heavy
Feels like it's time, to dream again
I hear your voice, and yes I'm ready
To dance upon this barren land
Hope in my hands

Do not shut, Do not shut, Do not shut the heavens
But open up, open up, open up our hearts

Give me strength to cross the water
Keep my heart upon your altar
Give me strength to cross this water
Keep my feet don’t let me falter

Written by Martin Smith/Stuart Garrard ©2003 Curious? Music UK

The sound of rain is the most beautiful music to my ears. I like rain. It is so refreshing, so comforting, so cleansing.

It is raining in Hong Kong. My laundry is still on the lines outside. I cant collect it until the next sunshine. Oh well...happy almost birthday to me.

Cherishing Singleness

I was at the Lighthouse briefly this evening collecting some random items that were left behind since my last week's exodus to my now apartment. I heard Rebecca said the funniest thing that I promised to remember forever.

Fifi was wetting a rag and started to wipe the floor of the bathroom and then their bedroom. Katja was there as well. We were astonished so we started to ask why was she doing that. Then out of the blue, Becca said "she ate something tonight that made her wanting to clean". Needless to say, we roared and the laughter didnt end there.

I realized I am so much in the mood of collecting memories, remembering what people said as though my life is ending soon.

My single days are numbered alright. Soon enough, I will be a married woman. For more than most, it is a lifetime excitement to look forward to. While I am sure being married to my wonderful Kah Kheng, life will be very exciting, awesome and filled with purpose, but I will never be the Angeline today, a single woman. The difference similarize life and death, a one way entry, absolutely irreversible.

I have spent majority of my adult life being involved with someone, idolizing marriage and all that. Only two years ago, I started to experience the greatest pleasure and privilege, even to point of a habitual sense, belonging only to my God. Hitherto, we are still guarding this relationship jealously. I have so many golden memories to be thankful for. I feel almost unwilling to let this end so soon. I know I will always have my God but somehow life will not be the same.

I am not so much fearful of the new change that is going to take place because I know my God is with me in this. I am just REALLY REALLY missing my relationship with my God as a single woman.

Quote of the day

...I trust you, Angeline. In fact I trust you with my life....

Defenses melted. Misunderstanding dissolved. Truth revealed.

Wow. That is probably the highest compliment I have ever received in my life! Thanks Caryl.

So Young Kim

So Young is my good friend. She is a peculiar funny person if you know what I mean. You could never predict the next thing that would come out of her mouth, which then makes her really special.

So, of course, being a good friend, she also gets to hear about my recent hookup with Kah Kheng. I find her response most outstanding...it was just one of those that has to be recorded and remembered.

This was how it happened....
This morning, in our intercession group. So Young said to Rachel in her most delightful Korean accent..."She (refers to me) is getting married. That's omayzjing". Rachel laughed silently and nodded in agreement. Then she continued... "I think it is more omayzjing that she wants to get married. I still can't belieb it! So omayzjing"

SO YOUNG IS SO ADORABLE!!!!!!

New Year Already?

That's taken in Summer 2002.

The Old Navy backpack is still with me now in HK.

Zoom in to those clunky shoes. Well I left that pair in NE. Those were the ones I wore when I stomped to Neek's apartment. I am fascinated with that detail he wrote in his recent blog about me.

Guess what. I bought a similar pair of those guys in Thailand last year. And I stomped up my way up to the office with those as well. Caryl seems to love it a lot!!!

It's good to know, there are certain things about me that people noticed and still havent changed.

I am going to be 29 soon. Happy new year. It's gonna be one heck of a year.

Zoe, do you remember....?

You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons

Spring 97
You, Lay Sar, Jennifer, Wee Kuan, Wee Kien, Cindy, Regyne, and many names forgotten. Selleck Basement. Most of them were Selleck residents but You and Lay Sar would come from Piper to hang out, so would I. I lived at 2221 S Str #22.

Then TGAN started. You, Lay Sar, Cindy came on board. We gossipped so much about Kerk Fong. Then you disappeared to Toronto.

Summer 97
I went back for 3 months of summer hols. Kerk Fong took over #22. Then I came back to Lincoln, but moved to 526 N26th #3. Kerk Fong moved to Cather. You took over #22 from Kerk Fong.

Fall and Winter 97
The most unforgettable winter storm. University closed down for 3 days. Your birthday that year, I got you a big teddy bear from JC Penny. Party at #22 that night. 1st TGAN's Christmas Carol. I remember getting so mad at Jen and Lay Sar but You sang with your whole heart. You kept me from losing it.

Spring 98
Malaysian Night. Forced into dance performance by Numsa. You coached the chinese fan dance. ..did my makeup.

Summer 98
You became my 'beauty consultant'. I would go stay over at #22 all the time. You polished my nails and put colors on them. My boyfriend got freaked out and asked me not to hang out with you so much because I was 'losing' myself.

Fall/Winter 98
Went to IVCF Fall conference together with Brian and Kah Kheng. You withdrew from TGAN, so did Kerk Fong, so did I... all for different reasons. Christopher became a christian. Winter break 98/99. Kah Kheng, you and I became close friends, ate meals together(in or out), played together, did everything together. One night, in KK's room, I quietly told you, I was strangely drawn to KK. Both of us freaked out together. 2nd TGAN Christmas Carolling. I was a part-timer.

Spring 99
Spring break 99, trip to Brownsville Church, Pensacola Florida. Tayo in his shock found out KK wasnt after you, but me. May 8, 1999. On a trip to Omaha, visited ConAgra Global Office campus, on that ground you shared with me your vision of The Blessing Channel.

Summer 99
We moved in together to 501 N25th #4. Requested to dance for Missions Conference at Christ's Place. The last time you coached me in dance. I sworn off dance 'forever' until FEET.

Fall/Winter 99
Going through lots of drama with KK,and with CC, you just watched silently. But I knew you were always there for me.

Spring 00
More drama continued. I started working and you were trying to graduate. We grew silent on each other almost but I knew you always cared. Malaysian Night 2000. I bought you a prom dress. Both of us unintentionally started the tradition of wearing big gowns to Malaysian night. Who didnt want to be hot like us? Nata came to visit us and we thought how much he looked like Kerk Fong.

Summer 00
You graduated and moved to California.

Spring 02
Visited you with Anna Bouc. Fell in love with Sausalito.

Fall 02
You returned to Lincoln for Thanksgiving. We plotted to give Judy a big surprise.

Spring 03
Visited you again and asked you to be my Maid of Honor. Then broke up with KK. Made plans to go to Hong Kong. You promised to be the Blessing Channel. Unofficially, the partnership was activated. You send, I go.

Summer 03
Visited you with the Boucs. Last time I saw you in the States.

Spring 04
I departed for Hong Kong. You departed for Lausanne Switzerland.

Winter 04
I settled in Hong Kong with YWAM. You got a green card and returned to the Bay Area.

Fall 05
You visited your 'cat' Hong Kong. I met your parents and relatives in Jakarta. You strategically 'patched' KK and I back and hence resumed your position as the Maid of Honor. I tasted roasted goose the first time and found out it is Yuen Long's Specialty.

Jing Jing, what is life without you?

wows..i believe this is the longest entry I have ever posted. i m happy its all about you.

Acknowledgement

Kah Kheng is a mega awesome man.

I am a blessed woman.

:-)

The Day Angeline Freaks Out.

So I scanned and put all the people who are coming for DTS in Jan 06 this morning.
In two weeks, they will be here.

For the first time, I feel like I am freaking out for real.

Pray for me....

Thank you.

My presents

Calvin and Hobbes full collection from amazon.com. weigh 2000 kgs.
A Starbuck tumbler, and a scarf.
Some Australian Honey roasted macadamia nuts
An Indian purse and bangles

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek, where is my present, the post???????
Carrie, WHERE ARE THOSE TAMPONS?? My period is waiting for them.

The Journey of the Magi (1926) - T.S. Elliot

A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.
And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging high prices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
hat this was folly.


Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation,
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky.
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, so we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory.
All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we led all the way for
Birth or Death ? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.

Responses

My dad's - *smilessssssssssssss* "I am satisfied with KK."

Caryl's - "Wow. Remember not to compromise what God has called you to do."

Nancy's - "Praise God. I am excited for you!"

Zoe's - "Finally..."

Faby's - "I knew it. I knew it"

Godwin's - "Are you inviting me to the wedding?"

Tryfina's - *shrieks* "Oh my gosh!"

Nicky's -"I am so excited. Even during our dts, I knew you still like him from the way you talked about him. I asked God, why dont you just put them back together?"

Liz's - "I've gotta call Kristy up."

Catherine's - "I was so happy that I cried"

William's - "Holy canoly...everyone's been drinking love potion."

Neek's - "Hahahahaha. I gotta hear the stories from both sides."

Craig's - "Is he leading youth and leading worship in a Mosque?"

Brandon's - "You've got to show me the pictures of him."

Anna Banana's - "I am shocked..."

Tina's - (still silent)

KK and NG

So the kitty cat dragged in....

I remember sometime in July I wrote prophetically that the later half of 2005 would be interesting for me. Whatever happened during that time would determine what I will be doing the next year.

Well, with prayers and anticipation, I waited for the 'whatever'. However, I never would expect one of those things could actually lead to an expiration of my very celebrated bachelorhood. Better than that, he is none other than the only person with whom I ever had the desire to spend my life with. Not always, but only.

I was barely 22 when I started to like him. He was barely 21 when he fell in love with me. With that age, we learnt a lot of things the hard way. It took us a while to finally get to this place. Only God can come through for us like this.

Kah Kheng... you are worth the wait.

Boon Kheng.... you and your '8' mood!!!!!!

December no kidding

God cleverly tilted the planet earth 23 degrees and 27 minutes to rotate around the sun such that it causes some part of the planet to move away from the it. In december, the part happens to be northern hemisphere. Hong Kong 23 degrees 26 arcminutes and 22 arcseconds lies on the tropic of cancer, northern hemisphere.

The weather is broken. My feet are cold and my brain is frozen.

I resolve to learn how to use tampons next year. My good friend, Carrie (bless her heart) is sending them over for Christmas. I hope she sends them with step by step instructions.

It is going to be a Christmas to remember no less.

Death of my iPod Random

I took it to Malaysia and Indonesia. Never used it the whole time.

Today I reinstalled its driver and iTunes. Everything was fine. Loaded songs onto it. Everything was fine. When I tried playing, no sound came out. Checked the earphones, nothing wrong with them.

Flabbergasted.

December already

Furlough is over. Thank God.

I am happily back doing accounts. I recently developed the love for money. Just Joking.

Suddenly the world shrunk. The first day, I couldnt see floor space in my bedroom. I had to remember to not flush the toilet paper. (When I first got back home in Malaysia, I was looking for the trash can and later realized I could flush them down).
Nevertheless I am glad to be able to cuddle with Pooh again...although the first night he ended up sleeping on the floor.

We even have new staff in the Lighthouse that would now make the house on full occupancy.

So everyone's back. Cant believe it is December already. It has been exactly a year since I got on staff. We are getting the SOFMers' Love Feast and Report Back over with so that we can prepare for Christmas Outreach. Work, Work, and Work. Angeline loves it.

My 100th Post !!!!

My beginning and my end are in your hands.
There's nothing in between that I can hide from your eyes.
I will never be forgotten.

My name is permanently written in your book, where it records the memories of a Sacred Romance. This romance has no end.

This is the reality that surpasses all the tangible materials on earth.
It is The Reality I live for.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, and whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Therefore, it is not okay for a single soul to perish thinking he's never been loved and has no value.

It is not okay that he died without knowing the King of universe had laid down his life just for him.

Furlough 3

Sigh.

It's day 3 today in the Land of Mansions. Seriously I have never seen so many designer big houses anywhere in the world like I saw in Sibu. People here seems to have a competition who builds the biggest. So, this is what they toiled their life for. Angeline zzzzzzzzzzz.

The world outside YWAM is pretty strange.

I wish I packed that green couch from the Lighthouse...oh and that gross coffee I got at Wellcome.

Long sigh.

I have started to sneeze funny. My eyes and nose itch constantly. I complained that I am allergic to Malaysia...and someone ( I dare not mention) thought I was being funny. :-)

Things have changed. I have changed. I wished that I have never left town so that coming home doesnt feel so complex.

Long long sigh.

For the one asking about food....
I almost forgot this wonderful snack called 'rojak'. The closest comparison you can get is a salad except the dressing is black. Food here is great and cheap...it is for people like my dad (food critic). I already feel stressed at the thought of bringing him out to eat in Hong Kong one day.

I have not been excited about eating this time. I was expecting durians to await me but they are not in sesaon. That pretty much kills half of my excitement. The other half was destroyed by my fear of growing into a mansion!!

Sigh.

Home at last

My dad struck a very interesting conversation to break the ice. He asked me if the fruits in Hong Kong are expensive. I mentioned proudly yeah! 4 Fuji apples only cost around 5R (10 HKD). Then he said, no! That's too expensive and asked me how big are those apples and so on. Darn it, I thought, should have bragged about the persimmons.

'My' dog didnt bark at me when I got in. We had him for 10 years already but to me he's always a puppy. And by the way, I dont normally build relationships with dogs.

This is the first time I laid my eyes on the newly renovated house..new furnitures, old furnitures..they look odd together but I am happy that mom didnt get rid of them because it wouldnt feel like home if everything was new.

I took a look at my brother's bridal suite. My holy goodness! It is as big as Anna's apartment. Sad that my brother hasnt decide on the bride. Today it is still unoccupied. I wouldnt mind sleeping there but I took the room with the computer....

And somehow the computer is possessed.

Furlough 2

Being alone sucks.

Angeline has more than enough of solitariness.

She has to cook and force people to come and eat with her at the Lighthouse.

Lighthouse needs some noise.

Angeline wants all her roommates back!!!!!!!!!!

Nicky, Rachel, Scala and Jeremy....

She and a dozen of toilet paper rolls awaits their arrival.

3 more days.

Just 3 more days....

She has to wait.

To Roseanne Washington

She is a famous artist.

She did dts with me and I slept on her bunk with her once in Baise!!! She never knew why I did that. Not only I am selectively affectionate, I can be very random.

So Rose, I heard my blogspot is now your home page. Wonderful.

This is an instruction for you to leave comments. Click comment at the bottom of the entry, a window will pop up. Then leave comment and check 'other', leave your nickname or real name. Publish.

Unlike Xangas, you can leave comment on my blog without having to sign up for one. So, we the blogspotters are much cooler.

And.....you gotta read this one, you are on it.

Chee Chien

I've just talked to him an hour ago. I told him I will write an entry on my blog about him.

He is a friend I have known for almost 10 years which during that whole time, apart from the first 4 months, in long distance.

One amazing thing about him is that, he never forgets a single friend. We were housemates along with 8 other people at the House of 80,in Subang Jaya, the place I studied for 4 months before I went to Lincoln NE. Until today, he can still tell me what is happening with Badak, Kham Bey, Aunty Suzy, Chee Sin, etc.

I remember those 4 months in Subang Jaya was the worst time of my life ever. I hated my classes, I hated how tiny my room was, I hated the food there, I hated how expensive everything was, I hated the air I breathed, I hated the cruel weather but I loved my housemates. If not because of them, hell would be a better option.

I had so many good chats with Chee Chien. He and Badak were my closest buddies at that time. I remember we went to the US Embassy together to get our student visas that summer. We parted road, I went to NE, He went to Purdue University in IN. Badak and I wrote sporadically when we left House of 80. Chee Chien and I talked continuously... first on Telnet, then on ICQ, and now on MSN, as technology develops.

Then we graduated. He got a job, a girlfriend, and now a wife and a permanent residentship. And I got none of those. I have been aware of almost all of what's going on with him, and him the same of me.

It was lame that for all the times we were in the states, and how many times we've talked about it, we've never visited each other, not even once, although there was once I almost saw him in Chinatown Chicago. I was so bummed because I forgot to bring his phone number with me. He happened to come to the same restaurant an hour later after I left!!

He is the most outstanding heathen friend that I have, whom lasted longer than my own ex boyfriend, whom ironically was born on the same day as he was, and also with whom, shared the same initials!!!

Next year, if we meet up (better action than talk now), it will be 10 years since we last saw each other.

My words to Chee Chien...bless you my friend. Thank you for all the lovely memories.

Furlough

It is my first time ever, so it gotta be special.

Yesterday was the first day, I socialized with Jing Jing, Kah Kheng, William, and Catherine on MSN back to back almost the entire daytime. Went to Anna's to have dinner together. She made Green Curry wonderfully and I watched Alias for the first time ever in my life.

Today I decided to leave my cave and venture out. I went as far as Yuen Long!!! Reapplied my HK identity card which got stolen in May. Was happy that there wasnt a long queue and was able to get it over with in 20 mins. The last time I applied an ID card, I had to wait outside the door 2 hours before the office was opened. I brought my yarn and knitted the whole time.

Speaking of yarn, I saw some cool ones out but didn't get any.

I had Caryl and Anna over for dinner tonight. Interestingly, they were both boasting about their inability to throw up, which I pretty much can't relate to because I am a non bullimic frequent barfer. Well, I guess one day when they get pregnant and have morning sickness.....oh boy!!!!

John Snelgrove

Currently he is pastoring the Vine, the church I am attending.

I really like him a lot. This morning in his preaching/teaching, he quoted people like J.B. Phillips, C.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis...etc. WOW. Besides being very detailed and resourceful in his teachings, he has a great sense of humor too!

He is indeed my favorite preacher.

Oh....another thing, his co-pastor Tony Read quoted Henri Nouwen!!

I love people that source great Christian literature. They are so humble.

Things taken for granted

I have never appreciated my well functioning keyboard (on my laptop) this much before. Today, there were three times for unknown reasons, 6 letters and 2 numbers did not respond to my input. I havent figured out why...(bird flu perhaps????) Anyway that was enough to make me unable to login to my emails and so on. And thus, render this machine useless.

Uncertainty sometimes stresses me. Not to say just now, when I restarted my computer, scary messages like error on some system files that needed to be repaired came out. But then, the machine seems to function ok now.

This laptop certainly needs to be fixed!!!!

KK, I almost smoked you a HELP signal for that.

Truly Human Truly God

When I saw Zoe's post on the title. I know she has been reading the book we are both obsessed with. In fact we are obsessed with the same dude...err, i mean Jesus.

I mentioned quite a while ago in my blog that I discovered myself more attracted to his humanity than his deity. These thoughts still lingered on.

The all powerful one decided to become like me. This is such an understatement. I dont suppose being God who became a human being, he didnt need his mommy to take care of him, to teach him how to talk, to give him a hug when he hurt himself, change his poopy diaper etc. I dont suppose he wasnt tempted to tell lies, fight back when he was being picked on, or use his superpowers to impress his friends...you know, being God!!!

I dont suppose he lived his life without struggle. The staff studied on the Temptation of Jesus just yesterday on bible study. I believed it wasnt just an isolated event, pondering on the nature of the tempatation itself. Basically Satan was testing him, if he could really be a human without sin, without using his divine powers, without cheating. The temptation didnt just end at the desert. It was an ongoing struggle throughout his ministry, even until the very last moment in Gethsemane, it was evident. Jesus was vulnerable. He struggled but I know he never gave in. In fact he was very open with his struggle. He asked his disciples to pray for him.

God asked his disciples to pray for him. (Doesnt that blow your mind away?) He needed their support, even when the spirituality of his disciples were questionable then. He was humble. Real. Down to earth.

Today there are lots of people who love and worship men who CANNOT be gods.

But I naturally love my God who CAN be a human.

Indiscriminate Ramblings

While Neek's emotions are still stuck in Gaza (since August), today I was pleasantly surprised by some early Christmas gifts. Caryl got me a Lorie Line Christmas CD to thank me for taking care of her apartment while she was away, a book "Sacred Pathways", by Gary L Thomas and Hanes white shirts for Christmas along with a pair of socks which she wouldn't wear because they are too .....(cant remember the word she used). How funny I thought, only if I could stuff all the loots into those socks.

It's so nice to have Caryl back.

We went to church with the Bertrands this morning. Tammy told us a wild story. This morning, for no reason Craig grabbed her hand and bit on it while he was in the middle of his sleep. Tammy said his eyes were opened but he wasnt responding to her. Kinda scary. She still has the bite mark.

Craig treated us lunch, so that was great!

We went to Fortress to check out iPod Nanos and found out that all of the nanos had been recalled by Apple. Weird!

The staff is planning to go to the Disneyland sometime next week or so. Apparently there ARE tickets for sale contrary to the popular belief that it has been sold out till Feb. The only rumor remaining now is that I am bringing a giant mouse trap and cheese.....

Priority

Love is patient
Love is kind

It does not envy
It does not boast

It is not rude
It is not self-seeking
It is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs

Love does not delight in evil
But rejoices with the truth

It ALWAYS PROTECTS
ALWAYS TRUSTS
ALWAYS HOPES
ALWAYS PERSEVERES

I Cor 13 v4-7 (NIV)

Hair and other things

Ok. I've got mixed responses regarding my hairy legs. No, it is not a life choice. It is simply FREEDOM. I am still loved the same degree (by people that I care). But I will choose to shave it for the sake of Caryl who might struggle seeing this condition, who is coming back tonight. Because of love and not wanting to be a stumbling block, I submit myself to the goodwill of my sister in the Lord. Does it sound like a good principle?

Life in YWAM can be quite interesing. I have been in YWAM for almost 2 years now. If each task that I am doing here represents a song. Then they are all like being loaded on iPod Shuffle. One day I could be preaching the gospel in slum areas in North India, or cooking three-flavored chicken for lunch, or getting a word of knowledge for a student, or burning old accounting records all day long, or going to the train station two times in a day to pick up guests, yadda yadda yadda.

Tonight is the first time I had someone over to the Lighthouse since the FEETers left. I made Anna her favorite rendang. We will have that for lunch again tomorrow! Anna is soooooooo great. She is the only westerner I know of that loves Durian.

Oct 12...today is such an interesting day for Nancy, Anna, and myself. We started our period!!! All three of us girls that are here now...talk about unity and insyncness. If you feel like we are a cult here, I dont blame you. Just go with the feeling.

Hair

Those who know me, know how well I am obsessed with mine.

Despite the perfect texture, thickness, and quality, it is shedding everywhere in an unbelievable rate! People have a love-hate relationship with my hair. They like how soft it looks and feels (even Joe, at one time couldnt resist playing with my hair!!!!!!), but dreaded the amount I left on the floor of the bathroom, kitchen, living room, stairs, bedroom, worship room, staff lounge, library, and in food (NO!!!!)

The rate of it's growth seems a lot higher during summer months. Now it is at the waist length again. My bangs have grown too that now I have to peg them sideways so that I dont walk into walls and such.

Speaking of hair growth, the ones on my legs have almost curled up. The last time I shaved was in August(I think). I now probably need to get an extra blade to take them out. How I wish they could just fall off by itself too!!!

Of course, life is never easy.

An Email from Judy

This is too funny. I just had to archive this in a special place....

LeLe, Sorry I missed your call the other night.

Thank you for telling Joe to send back info. Please have him call me to get together to collect the stuff. I will try to get in touch with Caryl. When do you go on furlough? Are you staying the whole time in Maylaysia? I hope that it is a good stay for you and not too stressfull.

Just know that you are more than welcome here in the states at any time. You could always have your old room back. We love you and miss you, too and yes we still call Moriah Ghee. She said that Anna and Jim can call her Ghee, I have to call her little sweet heart and Molly has to call her Moriah. She is such a character. Sunday was her fourth birthday. We celebrated in the park with friends. It was fun and she had a blast.

One funny thing I have to tell you is that Anna has to dress up tomorrow for homecoming week at school. The theme is Disney characters tomorrow, she chose to go as Mulan. we bought a long black wig and when she put it on at home we asked Moriah who that was and if is was LELE. She laughed and said, that's not LeLe, that is Anna, but it looks like LELE. I will try to send you a picture of Anna in the outfit. Im sure you will get a good laught out of it. and I am sure some of the others on base will too.

Love you lots, Judy for now.

Nobody's at home

Sheeesh.

This is what I would say of today.

Craig has to go on surgery this morning to get tusk implants. It is his long time dream to be a mammoth. And Tammy has to go to town for some unknown reasons, so Nancy is babysitting Caleb and Grace this morning.

I offered Anna healthy vegetable soup for dinner last night but she insisted on having curry instead. This morning she called in sick!! Having flu-like symptoms it seems.

So, apparently I am the only healthy person available this morning.

We have planned a staff BBQ tonight. Since Joseph, Catherine and their girls are here, they will be joining us. I thought since I dont need to go to work this morning, maybe Catherine and I can go do some shopping for tonight but she has to go to Shatin to meet up with someone. So, that crashed too.

Sitting on my couch, I thought why dont I make a phone call to Nebraska. It is good, timewise.

So, I called Judy. Nobody's at home. So I chatted a little with their answering machine.

And I called Caryl. Caryl the mom said Caryl the daughter has gone out too.

Sheeesh.