lup eew lip lip

Just came back from Laguna, Philippines! :) Will update about the trip soon! Anyway, I spent my birthday there and it was amazing!

Another piece of good news.

June Wong will be starting work next Monday! :)

I'll update and post pictures when I can ya? Heh..

revelation

I have to document this.

Satan obviously found us threatening when we're preparing to go to Philippines for a mission trip.

I was extremely discouraged by how people view mission trips or even humanitarian trips. I felt really foolish for doing it because I was "paying to do hard labour". That was the word that came to mind - foolish. Another word that came to mind was loser. I have been feeling useless and incapable of doing anything right for a long while. Ever since I left my last job actually. There are fears that even if I get my dream job (if I know what it is), I'll still screw up. And the devil planted the word loser in my mind.

It was too late to call anyone that night so I talked to God instead. Telling Him how I feel, how people made me feel, what the world is saying. And then something clicked. I am not a loser because God is not a loser. God is my Creator. If I am a loser, that will make God a loser as well. And there is no point worshipping Him. But I know that He is real and He has value. I am a child of child and therefore, I am not a loser.

He said he'll never leave me nor forsake me and He is walking alongside me. Even if the world thinks lesser of me and wonder why I'm paying to go to villages and slums to be with the people or to do hard work, I am not alone. He is walking alongside me and He thinks the world of me. He is on my side! I am doing this not to proof anything to anyone but because His love has compelled me to. I have tasted God's goodness and have seen with my own eyes how He has been working in my life and in others. I want tell people how much God loves them and that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. That they are not accidents.

Spiritual warfare happens when we become a threat to Satan's plans. It's good news because it means that we're on the right track. :)

Leading worship yesterday was different for me. I believed when I was singing those songs that God is great, that God is for us and we need not fear man or circumstances, that He meant it when He said that "it is done"! Pastor Stanley's message was spot on as well. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Advocate.

I truly believed that whatever happened happen for a reason. And my convicted and faith has been greatly increased because of that. I guess Satan's plan backfired! Oops! :P

By the way, I'll be leaving for Laguna, Philippines in 4 days' time. Below is my prayer letter. I do appreciate your prayers! I'm actually short of S$341 for the trip, so if you're led to give a love offering, please contact me and I'll give you my bank details. :)

i knew it!

june wong -- [noun]: A person who makes a living suing celebrities 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Updates

Just got back from KL last weekend. As usual we ate a lot and shopped a lot. But Moo and I didn't buy a single thing at all! I'm serious!

While we were there, I couldn't help but to take the picture below. It says "Traditional Massage. Relaxation, Sliming, After Birth". :P

A Little Advertisement

Elaine and I went to Army Market to do buy some stuff and do up the badges for our mission trip to Laguna, Philippines. Josco, SK, Mel and Eve-Jie came down to meet us and they chanced upon this shop called The Little Shop located at #02-182. They've got the coolest t-shirts and bags! Eve-Jie bought 2 mini tees for $15! And I had my eye on 2 bags which my pocket didn't allow me to buy. :(

So far, Janice, the owner, who happens to be a jovial 4-month-old preggie, sells only stuff for girls because there are very few shops selling girls stuff at the Army Market. The shop is only in its first week. So do go check it out ya? They've got lots of pretty bags, dresses and funky mini tees! Think her website's still under construction though.

That's Janice in the middle!

My dear friend, Saion, will be going back to Bangladesh for good this Friday. So we hung out just now at Clarke Quay. Brought him to Cafe Iguana, where my cell had dinner last Friday, to eat and have a few drinks. We kinda went crazy. We both had 2 House premium Margaritas, 2 shots of Sambuka (it's delish! Licoricey! Tastes like candy!). Then some Caribbean guy from Texas bought us 1 Mars Bar each (it's tequila and chocolate! Yummy!). We had to do our usual and got Baron's Strong Brew from Central and sat by the river to talk. Haha! I didn't feel the wooziness when I was with him but by the time I got home, I just wanna sleep! :P

That's the Dude!

After 1 beer

Second shot

My half-drunk, feeble attempt at photography. Haha!

Went to visit Ailing and Baby Sophie on Tuesday afternoon. Had fun catching up with Mummy Ailing and playing with Sophie. She's such a sweet girl! Her smile can melt any heart!

My only "good" shot of her. Think she was camera shy that day. :)

This has nothing to do with anything above. Haha! Just 3 vain pots being ourselves! :P But nice right? :)

interesting.......

This, my friends, is a contestant of Mr. Singapore 2007, representing Bukit Batok! :)
(Psst! If you like what you see, you can check his profile out here. There're other representatives from Bishan, Sembawang, Bedok, Pasir Ris, Sengkang and other local estates as well.)

It's so weird! Is it just me or is it common knowledge that different people represent their own districts in pageants such as this? I know 51 girls from the United States come together to vie for the crown of Miss USA. I just never knew it's done the same way in Singapore. It's so bizarre. Maybe not as bizarre as people drinking their own pee. I don't know... Just feels strange to me. :P

What do you think?

amazing grace

Oh my God! And I do mean oh my GOD!

I've always wondered if I can change the world. A lofty ambition. But not impossible. Because one man and one God can and did change the world.

Elaine called me at 6pm and told me to meet her at 7.30pm at Lido for a movie premiere. She said it's an event organized by Focus on the Family. So I changed and met her, Adeline and Alex from YWAM Kona at Wisma's Food Republic. Then we trooped down to Lido at 8pm for the reception.

Jud was working that night and I was told to keep Xavier company. Haha.

Okie, let's get back to the movie. Amazing Grace, I was told, is a movie about a man's campaign against slavery. So.... Yours truly had the impression that it's about a black man's struggle to break out of slavery. And then I saw the poster and it featured this white guy in Victorian garb. I couldn't put two and two together.

By the way, it is an excellent excellent movie! Please do catch it. It opens today! I don't mind sitting through it a second time. :)

So anyway, Amazing Grace is a story of William Wilburforce and his ceaseless campaign against slave trade. He was a disciple of John Newton and has heard of how John was plagued by 20,000 souls of African slaves he brought on his slaveship. Wilburforce was also plagued by images of slaves in chains and this ignited his passion to exterminate the slave trade in Britain. Such passion (so attractive! *squeals*) exudes from an individual to liberate Africans from slavery and such drive to achieve his goal for a law to be passed to put an end to slave trade in Britain. Such wit exhibited during his show-downs with the opposition in Parliament. Such faith that compelled him to surge ahead, from educating bourgeois about the ghastly conditions the slaves were transported in the slaveships - the Madagascar set sail with 600 slaves from Africa and only 200 were left when it reached Britain, petitioning - he gathered a petition with 360 signatures and presented to the Parliament, collecting data and statistics, speaking in public, to visiting a slaveship and getting a first-hand account from a slave who survived - Equiano. He was relentless in his pursuit for a cause he believed in! That's how inspiring! And he found a woman who, too, believed in the mission that God has put in his heart.

Who says we can't change the world? It's hard work but with God all things are possible. All we have to do is be that person and step out in faith.

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers toils and snares
I have already come,
'Twas grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me Home.

When we've been there Ten thousand Years
Bright Shining as the Sun
We've no less days to sing Gods praise
Than when we first begun.

baby break dancer!!

frailty of life

My school mate from JI died yesterday morning in a freak accident.

reminiscence

Watched Drumline for the third time on Channel 5 on Labour Day and looking at how a band can produce such great music and create such great formations together. Really got me thinking back to the good ol' days in secondary school when music was my life.

Used to spend everyday at the band room just hanging out and listening to music. Kitaro and Phantom of the Opera were 2 of the most-played CDs in the band room. Heh. We'll go there straight after school and stay till about 6pm. Band prac took up a lot of our time - twice a week for normal practices and up to four times a week when we're gearing up for SYF. And then there's band camp (reminds me of American Pie. Haha!) before SYF and before our annual concert. We used to take part in SYF every year, alternating between marching and concert. Bowen, TK and Cedar Girls' were three of the top Gold marching bands during my time. And they still are apparently. :)

Even typing this post is bring back a rush of memories.
Being punished - push ups, star jumps, "praying to the Sun god" standing in the sun at attention.
Practicing for marching competition - going through the formations with our heavy instruments, having drills.
Having our annual concerts, graduating from having them in our school hall to having our very first concert at Victoria Concert Hall.
Making banners - my lower brass section won the banner competition with our black sequinned banner. We actually pasted the sequins individually on this long piece of black cloth spelling out the words "Shuqun Military Band". The lower brass section also came up with the band cheer!
Band investiture - the proudest moment for the ex-co. I received my first rank as Lance Corporal in Sec. 2 and was promoted to Band Major/ Staff Sergeant in Sec. 3. :)
Our instructor, Miss Dorean Tan. She was the one who taught us how to march like the Americans, having studied in the US. It was exactly how they did it in Drumline! She was the one who came up with different gimmicks for our concerts. We had a flying carpet for our Aladdin one and a senoir dressed as the Phantom for our Phantom of the Opera concert. She always encouraged us to study smart, not study hard and that we as musicians have an advantage over other people.
Hanging with fellow musicians - you know, my band senoir told me my first dirty joke! :P
Buying new instruments, recruiting new blood during ECA (yah.. It was still called ECA in my time.. :P) Fair and playing our hearts out, teaching recruits, having sectionals, screwing up solos during concerts/ competitions. Playing together as a full band, that was magical!
I can still remember my parts from the Phantom of the Opera score. :)

Some of the people I know have gone on to become instructors for school band. One even got an overseas degree in music and came back to Sinagpore to coach bands. Some were memebrs of SYO, Singapore Youth Orchestra. Others were so passionate about mastering their instruments that they went and bought their own saxophone, clarinet, oboe, flute, trumpet and French horn.

I had an inkling to join the West Winds, the wind orchestra for the West zone. But I'm so rusty I'll sound like a recruit on my euphonium (don't know what it is? Wiki it).

Memory

All alone in the moonlight

I can smile at the old days

I was beautiful then

I remember the time I knew what happiness was

Let the memory live again

copied Al.. :p

Your Dominant Intelligence is Musical Intelligence

Every part of your life has a beat, and you're often tapping your fingers or toes. You enjoy sounds of all types, but you also find sound can distract you at the wrong time. You are probably a gifted musician of some sort - even if you haven't realized it. Also a music lover, you tend to appreciate artists of all kinds. You would make a great musician, disc jockey, singer, or composer.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

aiyah.. so unambitious.. :P

the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth

My wisdom tooth on the lower left of my mouth was bugging me since last Thursday and was miraculously healed on Friday, so that I could go for Reon's 3rd birthday party. :) Samantha, someone I haven't seen in a long while, was there too! Moo came later, after his event at Vivo.

Mummy LiMay and her 3 precious(es), Feon, Keon and Reon

The birthday girl and I

Rare picture with Ariel "Beautiful Eyes" Toh

The pain started again on Saturday and lasted till today! Finally got it extracted, along with the wisdom tooth on the upper right, this afternoon! I know Ailing and my godsis-in-law will disagree with me. But having watched enough shows on pregnant women in labour on Discovery Health Channel, I now know what it means when the preggie screams "get it out of me!". Okie okie... I know labour pain's much worse but that was the closest thing I could find to describe how I felt! The pain that stupid wisdom tooth was causing me was excruciating! I was even talking with a lisp! You know you can rub a bruise on your leg, or scratch a mozzie-bite on your arm and Daddy can fix my sprained ankle by rubbing some ointment on it. But you can't do anything with a toothache!!!! The pain was so annoying that I wanted my cell boys to punch me so hard on my left jaw just so my tooth will fall out! Thank God they didn't, though I think I tempted them. :P

Eating has never felt so torturous! Just closing my mouth to chew was painful. I didn't even finish the nice fish beehoon at Little Jumbo. By dinner time at my Aunt Gean's, I was famished. But eating steamboat wasn't easy as well. :(

I was praying so hard that they were able to remove the lower wisdom tooth by extraction because the price list at the dental clinic said "Surgical Removal of Wisdom Tooth: $400 - $500". Like I told many of you, I'd rather spend the money on a luxury commodity than pulling out my tooth! Thank God Almighty that the dentist only needed to make a minor incision on my lower wisdom took before extraction and my upper one just required a no-fuss extraction. All in all:

Extraction of upper right wisdom tooth: $80

Minor surgery on lower left wisdom tooth: $200

Medication: $20

Good riddance to annoying pain caused by a useless tooth: Priceless

Now I'm experiencing a different sort of pain. One which doesn't allow me to talk much. That's a good thing, right? :) Can still taste blood and I've had some blood clots falling on my tongue already. Quite gross.

Mummy dearest has been the most empathetic. Really! Knowing that I had an appointment to remove my very wise teeth, she asked me before she prepared dinner whether I can consume rice. I told her my wounds are painful and requested for porridge. She told me to go get it myself! Furthermore, she made stir-fried beansprouts with salted fish (I had all of 2 beansprouts) and steamed fish eggs, which thankfully are quite soft. Naturally I was still hungry after a sumptuous dinner of no rice, 2 beansprouts and some fish eggs. So I went to buy Maggi Mashed Potato from 7-Eleven. The price inflated by 20 cents! Cheater-bug!

So that was today. Moo assured me that tomorrow will be less painful. 明天会跟好!

lost and found

I had 2 very sobering conversations today. One was in the afternoon with Elaine at Island Creamary, about turning 30, acting my age and finding God's direction for me in the career aspect of my life. The other was with Moo, in the middle of the night, about my direction in work and assessed my interview style. He gave me 3 points out of 10. :( He also brought up that maybe I should look more to God and pray more for Him to reveal His direction for me. Maybe I've been looking at the wrong industries, wrong jobs.

I admit that I haven't been spending much time with God in regards to the career path He wants me to take. And it is sobering and humbling to hear it from 2 people today.

Okie. I will seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and things will fall into place.

Pray for me to perservere and be disciplined.

attack of the blogthings

Inspi(red) by XH's blog, I have started doing online personality tests again. :) These are from blogthings.

You Belong in Summer

Energetic, creative, and very curious about the world... You're not going to let anything hold you back, especially a cold day. Whether you're chilling out at the beach or partying all night, you live for the warm weather.

What Season Are You?

Your Inner European is French!

Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything - at least, *you* think so.

Who's Your Inner European?

Oh.... That's why I like Delifrance. :P

You Are 40% Lady

You tend to make up your rules of etiquette, throwing all conventions aside. And while you try to be a lady (sometimes), your behavior is often quite shocking.

Are You A Lady?

*BURP*

You Should Be a Song Writer

You have the ability to evoke emotion, tell a story, and hook someone... In a very small amount of words, perhaps with some deft rhyming. Even if you can't write music, you can sure write compelling lyrics. Lyrics so good, people will have them stuck in their heads!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Ooo... Is that right? How rousing...

You Are 26 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Whew!

On Average, You Would Sell Out For

$305,505

At What Price Would You Sell Out?

Hey.... That's cheap!

You Are 32% Spoiled

You're barely spoiled. You may have some nice things, but you never let them go to your head. You appreciate each gift you're given - and you don't dwell on what you "deserve" to have.

Are You Spoiled?

Who says only kids are spoilt? :P


And in lieu of Tuesday's B&J's free ice-cream day,

You Are Chunky Monkey Ice Cream

Truthfully, you're too spazzy to be chunky - you cheeky monkey!

What Flavor Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Are You?

aw... so sweet!

Wedding on Saturday


Janice's and Gideon's wedding on Saturday was so sweet! The couple met in China, when Janice, a Singaporean, was there on her DTS outreach, and Gideon, a Filipino, was a missionary there. They had a long-distance relationship, not without their struggles. I'm sure Pris can totally empathise with them. :) Being away from the one you love is hard enough. Allowing your family time to understand and accept the man you love is another obstacle they had to cross. Having an inter-cultural relationship isn't the easiest thing either. The couple shared in the video, made lovingly by Papa Sam, Lynn and Tee, that communication was tough because of the differences in culture and family background. But they made it through 1 and a half years of courtship. It is indeed a divine match intervened by the Divine Matchemaker. Across cultural, geographical and physical barriers.



They managed to spend their first Valentine's Day together this year. Gideon, being a romantic Filipino, gave her flowers which he planted himself and made her sushi.



The wedding was beautiful. Janice look so beautiful in her halter gown with a long embroidered 1920s lace train. Gideon also sang the song when she walked down the aisle. And her eyes were just fixed on him when she was making her way towards the altar. He also sang her a song he wrote for her, called Promise You. It was utterly sweet!!



It was a great time for us to catch up with the multitude of YWAMers who were there. :) Jillian then brought us, Alisa, Saion and myself, to The Tea Party at Six Avenue Centre. Spent out time there having tea and scones, just chilling and waiting for the rain to stop so that jill can go back to study. If I haven't told you about his place yet, place do go check it out. It's a great place to sample the different kinds of teas they have, try the delicious, and I mean DELICIOUS, scones, chill, read a book and watch life pass by. Seriously, go visit the place. Let's go together! :)

Alisa and I while waiting for Saion, who was late :p

Easter Sunday

This year's Easter had been a really reflective time. Reflecting on the reason why we celebrate Easter at all. Reflecting why we believe in what we believe in. Reflecting why we worship Jesus Christ. Coming back to the foot of the cross. Coming back to the heart of worship. Proclaiming God's awesome power and work on the cross. Conquering death so that we can have eternal life. Rejoicing in the resurrection of the Son of God. Even if one doesn't believe that he took the sins of the world upon Himself on the cross, isn't an empty grave prove His resurrection power? I mean, who, other than God, can conquer death and rise again?

In other news, someone left a very sweet testi for me. :)

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.



who the heck is Bonnie Pink?!

lao zha bor

Check ot this blog man! She is how happening! Raps somemore!

i don't get it!

Just some stuff I don't quite get...

1) BK's Mission Statement:

If you can't read it it says: "You have the right to have what you want, exactly when you want it. Because on the menu of life, you are "Today's Special". And tomorrow's. And the day after that. And... well, you get the drift. Yes, that's right. We may be the King, but you my friend, are the almighty ruler. "

What?????? A bit blasphemous, don't you think??


2) Spotted at NTUC FairPrice

Why, tell me why, in the world would I pay $4.95 or any amount of money, for Spam??

happi days

I'm finally connected!!! Yeah!!!

Managed to catch up with Jud last Thursday. :) Went up to her place after lunch at Cafe Cartel. Nice and cozy! Her bedroom's beautiful with a nice aubergine purple wall. Pretty! They've got nice slick furniture and pretty curtains as well. Feel really at home. :) Thumbs up, Xavier and Jud! Borrowed a bag from her for my Aunt Gean's wedding. Heh.

We then proceeded to Peninsular Plaza where she need to get her eyebrows threaded and then walked to Wisma and then to Far East. Saw a nice halter top at Topshop which costs only $16! Wanted to buy it but Jud stopped me with 1 question: Where are you going to wear it to? I couldn't give her an answer. Haha.

Friday was spent at me God-bro's place helping my God-sis-in-law do her 2007 accounts. :) Spent the day with my god-nieces and nephew as well. Fun fun!

Lil Darlings

This was taken by her 3-year-old sister :)

Caught Daphne, my friend from secondary school, on Saturday for lunch at Ramen Ramen and shopping. Wanted to meet my cousins who were at Pacific Plaza for makeovers but didn't in the end. Went down to church to meet Boon and the rest for dinner at Crystal Jade before going down to Jurong East for Bea's grandfather's wake.

Daphne and me, after 13 years :)

Was my Aunt Gean's wedding yesterday. She looked beautiful and it was great seeing my cousins dress up! We took lots of pictures together! White was the theme for day and black for night. :) Shin actually dreamt of my Grand-dad 2 nights before the wedding. We were sitting at a long table celebrating, perhaps my Aunt's wedding. And he was the last to sit down. He looked really happy when he did. During the tea ceremony, Grandma also reminded my Aunt to serve my Grand-dad tea. Brought tears to our eyes. Wished he was here! :(

Ok.. So my tube's black.. But I wore a white skirt :P

Check out my Aunt's pretty bouquet of pink roses with some kind of berry and little pearls :)

Shin left all her make-up at hostel. So as good cousins will do, we met her at the toilet at the restaurant to give her a full make-over. Powder, eye-liner, mascara, blusher, the works! See what a little colour on the face can do? :)

Wong cousins pretty in black!

Missed out on the gender-based discussion in church yesterday tho. Hope it went well. :) SJSMers, please tell me all about it ya? :)

Stoopid Singtel!

finally got my mio installed last tuesday. problems began with the technician sent by former telecommunications monopolist - Singapore Telecoms.

1) The technician they sent is 58 years old. he was configuring my dad's com when he discovered that the window was too small and started to adjust my dad's monitor. i had to tell him that all he has to do is to close the window at the side and the current one will enlarge. he was thus enlightened.

2) we had to call Singtel to get my dad's user-id and password when they should have sent it via snail mail. we went down to apply a month ago, mind you. after calling 1610 a dozen times and listening to horrible music for 45 minutes, we finally got his user-id and password.

3) the so-called technician tried to install the wireless USB adapter we bought on my comp but my comp failed to detect wireless connections. he gave up and told me that i've got to delete some programs before i can do anything else. AND HE LEFT! isn't he suppose to make sure all computers involved are properly configured before he can leave the site???!!!

4) so i was trying to configure my dad's outlook express so that he can access his email. found out that the password's not working. called 1610 and was put on hold for 30 mins because of their "high volume of calls (complaints)" before i got to speak to a human being. she was rude and demanded that she can only reveal the password to the subscriber. i was really pissed and passed the phone to my dad. she then repeated the same password and said she'll reset it and told us to try 10 minutes later. i was like shouting in the background that i gotta dial the damn number and waste my time waiting if it doesn't work. that was exactly what happened.

5) dialed 1610 3 times because if was automatically cut off after waiting 20 minutes. reached the operator who tole me i should be calling the mio helpdesk. why the bloody hell didn't anyone tell me i can call this number direct???

6) called the mio helpdesk. same situation - got cut off after 20 mins. gave up after 2 tries.

7) the last i know, the password issue is still not resolved.

the inconvenience of not being able to check his email. if my dad's a rich businessman, would Singtel be able to afford to pay the lose of time and money because my dad has no access to his email???? what kind of bloody service is this????
no wonder they're forever "experiencing high call volumes" because people are just so unsatisfied with their service and wanna complain!

dad's friend promised to come over to fix my comp and my wireless connection, or lack of, last night. but he didn't turn up. dad came back and told me he'll come tonight (which he did) because he got home late. he could have just called and tell us that he';ll postpone instead of mum and i waiting at home like fools! decided not to blow my fuse at dad coz he'll just be affected. i'd already done enough screaming regarding points (1) to (5) and he knows i'm really really unhappy with Singtel.

should have listened to Moo and persuaded daddy to apply for max online instead :(

********************************************************************************************************

met up with judith on thursday! :) will blog about it another day. :)