faithtricia's steps of faith

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Power of Praise 4, 2006

11 Nov 2006

After the long journey overnight, we reached Bangkok at 6.00am. While we were getting off the bus, the sotong me left my niece's pillow on the bus. aiyo.. I felt so bad after that cos my niece entrusted her little pillow to me wor... and I actually left it in a foreign land... *abish*.. so at the end I bought her another pillow... exactly same one leh...haha...

Sister Mai came to the station to fetch us. And we went back to the ministry house straight away. Tired we are indeed... rested for less than 2 hours, we washed up, bathed and went for breakfast at about 8.00am.

Shannen got onto the bike outside the ministry house as the bike is very petite... very suitable for girls.. but guess what?? The bike belongs to bro Tony is I'm not wrong... haha...

And we ate for breakfast and we ate Chicken rice again.. haha.. we are like haunted by chicken... but it is ok la.. the chicken rice very not bad also wat... 25baht wor... lol.. dun expect too much...

Pepsi in bottles wor... i only see this kind of packaging when i was about 3-4 years old. Now already extinct in Singapore le... so it is a must take pic... :P

Outside the stadium... we took pics with the 2 brothers whom brought us to the Indoor stadium. Wow... when I reached there, I thought I was at a hillsong concert... imagine us outside Singapore indoor stadium and all are Hope people... wah.. amazing vision... we will be there one day!

The youths outside the stadium... anticipitating the entrance to POP (Power of Praise)... very FOP isn't it?? hee...

A grp pic of the gals outside the stadium...

The ushers... wow..they look so cool and pretty... wat an impressive sight... imagine our ushers wearing very nice traditional clothes? hmm... like cheong sum?? haha...

We went into the hall and I immediately greeted Shirley and Royston enthusiastically. It is good to see familiar faces and close buddies in a foriegn land... that is for sure! And indeed, me and shirley met up in Bangkok. Too bad, we didn't have enough time to catch up in Bangkok that day.

The choir in Bangkok was really good! I am so impressed with their movements and their singing... they definitely rock! In total, they had 3 attires in all. The first one was the traditional robes, then they changed into a blue polo tee and the last one I can't remember wat colour le... But surely, I understand and know that the choir is really expressive when they worshipped! Their hands were lifted high and they were all worshipping God like never before. I'm inspired.

After POP, we went out to buy some souvenirs and notebooks for our CG pple etc... And after I bought mine, I saw this very cute little girl (above pic) eating her biscuit, with her grandmother and mother of cause. I had a little chat with them and found out that the grandmother attended Hope Bangkok since the church started!! Wow... so which means she has been with Hope Bangkok for 25 years?? wah liew... I'm so thankful that God let me meet one of the pioneers..

Later on, we went to FBT building for lunch, at the foodcourt. And there we met the Malaysia team... Ps Bong's team.

After that, we went on to shopping at Ta Wat Nak... dunnoe if this is the right spelling... anyway it is a shopping market next to The Shopping Mall. Cool place... things are so cheap that I nearly fainted... much cheaper than Chatuchak. Will go there again next year... if I have the time la... too bad, I didn't managed to go Suan Lum. Shirley went and she had pretty good deals. I also wanna go next round... hee... :p

Labels: missions, w.o.r.s.h.i.p.

New Challenge In Yanz's Life

Yes… it is year-end. It is going to be another round of walking around with Santa hats? Haha.. with many youngsters, uncles and aunties selling neon lights along the whole stretch of Orchard road? Or the decors of Orchard is already shimmering and shining through the crowds? And look out for the many different kinds of Christmas trees… they simply enhance the Christmas atmosphere around us…

However, my head is not flooded with the festive mood now but the many unfinished tasks that I have in my mind. Wow… that explains why I am having such a bad headache today.

I just sent out the Christmas cards to the different departments and the management as well. Not just that… I am going to work on the Christmas gifts for the privilege card members.. need to send out the letters latest by coming Tuesday?

Oh ya, did I also mention about the new challenge that I am going to take up? Some asked me, “What challenge?? Got attached is it??” If getting attached is a challenge, haha… I might wait a little while more to take up this challenge. But to me, relationship shouldn’t be a challenge at all. It should be a process to be enjoyed… Anyway, back to the challenge. I started to oversee my current CG le... while my current CL is taking care of our unit now. We are now overseers… no title or role should be assigned at this point in time. Just serve.

But my CG brother and sisters very mischievous… kept calling me their new CL… then I have to keep reminding them that I am not their CL… just a sister-in-Christ la… duh… hahaha… Frankly, I truly appreciate their support for me, as they know that I am really not as confident as yet. I know that they will really accept me as who I really am and also show the most concerns for me in prayers as they would do. I will also do my best to keep all of them in prayers and to impart to them the things that I know and feed them with as much spiritual food as possible. As much is given to me, much will be expected from me… :p I will give my utmost best…

Labels: ministry

Saturday, November 25, 2006

10 November - The Last Bit

After the home visit, we rushed back to the resort... on the way, Pastor stopped the car by the roadside... and for the first time, I saw a traffic light in Maesod... just too bad that I didn't take a picture... haha...

We packed our stuff and Pastor came to pick us up about an hour later.. and we grabbed the opportunity to take a picture with him...

We had dinner at the church... the members cooked for us and the dishes were Arroy-Mak-Mak!! (very very delicious!!) Too bad, I got to rush off to practise the songs with the band, or else I would have ate more!! haha... And when I went down, some members were already seated there, waiting... I was anxious of cos.. quickly called Jui and Bas to practise the songs with me... Bas confirmed the songs with me again and I wanted him to transpose a song's key from A to G. He told me that he don't know how to transpose... so I did the transposing of chords for him. haha... Must teach him next year round...

After all the confirmation of the songs and chords, myself, Noon, Jui and Bas came together to pray and ask God to guide us. I doubt that they really understood what I prayed but I can sense that the Hold Spirit was working in us. After finished prayers, Noon went to take the mic and started the programme proper. I was thinking to myself... "Hey, I haven't practised the songs with you guys yet...." I nearly fainted... Oat started a song presentation for the people... and the rest of the team were not even down yet. faintz...

Then I saw grace coming... thank God man.. she is supposed to lead us into a time of games... and she led well!! She taught the people how to do the greetings of the different countries. And the people enjoyed the session! hehe...

After Grace led the session, I took over the mic and started to lead everybody into Praise and Worship. The praise songs were "We Bring A Sacrifice Of Praise, We Have A Vision, My Life Is In You, My Redeemer Lives..." and the worship songs were "..." hmm to be updated when i check out the songs I led... can't remember le... paiseh...

But I do remember one thing... God touched our hearts and people were praising and worshipping the Lord. :) I was really glad that God used me... And He healed my voice... that my voice didn't even break.. hoho... thank God for that!

During PnW, Shannen had a prophecy for the church... hmm.. can't remember what was that... need to check with her on this again. Desmond started the sharing of God's word with the people... and Chris and Betsy came up to share their testimonies... They shared very well... and I really pray that more people in the church will start committing themselves to God after hearing their stories...

The response time...

We started the service at 8pm and ended at 9.55pm. And our coach to Bangkok is leaving at 10pm... wah liew.. you can imagine the kind of madness we had when we rushed off after the service... 2 minutes taking grp photos... 5 minutes of award giving and 2 minutes of exchanging gifts and cards... haha... and as I ran out of the church to the car, I gave Bas's son a kiss... hee... he must be wondering what's happening man... And during the rushing here and there, I dropped the card that Jui gave to me.. I felt so sad lor.. but didn't dare to tell him... :(

Pastor drove us to the Bus Terminal in 5-10 minutes time and thank God that the coach was still there waiting for us... The "can't-bear-to-leave" moment is finally here... I controlled my tears.. cannot cry...cannot cry... But finally someone started the ball rolling... and she is Jasmine. She can't bear to leave the people.. and Bua started crying... before I left, I shaked Pastor's hand again. He looked at me, as if he had a lot fo things to tell me.. But he just couldn't say it as he don't really know how to speak English. Haiz... But hor, I can sense that he wanted to encourage me a lot wor... :p

After the coach left the terminal, the whole coach was so quiet.. except the fact that me and Shannen kept on talk and talk and talk... that Jasmine have to turn to us and ask us to keep our volume down... hee...

And this ended our trip at Maesod... I hope to go there again...

Labels: missions

Christian Children's Home

Thought that we will be going back to the resort after visiting Sumalin. haha.. too bad... it wasn't as expected. We went to a Christian Children's home to meet the kids.. and once again, (just like previously at the school), Pastor saboed me to lead songs again... haha.. and I played whatever I know... while the rest started on their Jigsaw Puzzle Game Competition...haha...

This boy is cute isn't it... he obediently stood there to let me take pic... of him holding a very BIG bible?? haha.. hmm.. a Pastor-to-be??

A little boy sweeping the floor.. to get ready for the games later on...

Boys one side... girls one side... and the girls are sitting at the more sunny area... haiyo...

Our turn to introduce ourselves again... "Hi Everybody... My name is Yanyan and Yan yan in Thai means.. cold cold.... hee... and I am from Singapore!!... " *clap...clap...*

While I was playing the songs, Pastor picked up the drumsticks and started playing alongside with me.. you can see that my face changed when I heard the drums... cos... my guitar beat must be accurate... or else, Pastor will have headaches... and he did have headaches man... hahahaha....

And the winning team is ..... the boys!!

First-runner-up... the girls!! haha... that is why Eve is created later than Adam.. we are always slower by one beat?? is it true?? haha... just kidding la.. before the girls start to throw stones at me... hehe...

Uncle Desmond told of a very imprompt-to story of 3 little pigs... and a very distorted one.. haha.. he don't care one la.. so long the principle is correct... but hor, poor Chris, Shannen, Betsy amd Jasmine.. they have to be the props... the big bad wolf and the 3 piggies... haha... And Desmond never even give warning in advance lor.. Thank God I am the guitarist... haha...

We ended the visit by prayer. We held hands together to pray in unity. As I was playing guitar, I could see very clearly the faces of the children... seriously praying and seeking God for guidance... I was really encouraged by their desire to seek the Lord. And I know that the Lord will be found by them... cos of their child-like faith.

At the end, before we left, a Karen tribe girl came up to thank us in english... she represented the home and said that we brought much laughter to them though it was only a short while... :)

And the rest dashed off after this to go to the car... but hor, don't know why the Pastor kept talking to me and I can't leave... haha... at the end, I got to apologise to him for not being able to talk to him more...Got Praise n Worship session later... my goodness... "God, please help me!!" And I prayed...

Labels: missions

10 November - Surprised by the Twins Power

Surprised vy the twins power!! Yesh... we visited one of our member's place after the school visit... realised something?? We haven't eat our lunch yet... and we didn't even realised it!! The one and a half bowl noodles did a great help to me!! haha... The member that we visited was Sumalin and her husband, who was a pre-believer, is Mr Net, a Thai-Chinese. They have a pair of lovely twins... and we were all surprised by their guest appearance... they are indeed a pretty and hyperactive pair...and they are not shy at all... I managed to carry one of them within a good time of 2-3 minutes? haha... amazing hor...

Even Uncle Desmond can't resist the temptation of taking picture with them... and we were all crazy about the 2 of them...

One of the girls kept wanting to eat the mandarin oranges.. and Betsy was busy peeling the oranges for them...

While we babysitted the 2 of them, the rest were spilt into 2 groups, to share with Sumalin and Mr Net... The girls encouraged Sumalin to trust God in her husband's salvation.. and that Mr Net will know God soon.. even though Mr Net's parents strongly objected to Mr Net's faith in God... We prayed that Mr Net will not be fearful but to leave everything into God's hands.

And after sharing for an hour... of God's goodness in our lives in mandarin... we managed to close the deal!! Mr Net finally accepted Christ!! And the good news didn't end here... Wee later on emailed me and said that Mr Net, Sumalin and the twins went to church that very sunday as a whole family... And Sister Wee babysitted the two of them so that the parents can pay even more attention to listen to God's Word. Our No.1 convert in Thailand.. for the first mission trip we have... it is a blessing!!

And we prayed for their Salon's business to pick up and be striving always... .. oh ya, if I had enough time to do rebonding, haha.. I might spend 6 hours there?? oops... hee...

Labels: missions