Game: One Step At A Time

Yesterday had been a new level of understanding the pre-schoolers (3-6 year-olds) in the church basement. Apart from my earlier experience in China, I realised that E and I really should keep to 3 instructions at the most (1 or 2 directive and 1 hurdle). Many thanks to Ps Y, for being our guide and teacher, so needed by this team made up of teachers and helpers who have been amongst the youngest so far, to serve this generation.

The original intention of the game is to create an experience that is both physical and spiritual. And of course, to facilitate a sense of achievement and meaning for them with due directions, instructions and importantly, encouragement and motivation.

I like this idea as it is able to link to the lesson on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), and it gives me great joy to share with others, even to my life group last Saturday at LammyEve's place. I appreciate them for listening intently; M was able to give valuable feedback with his personal experience having being at the pre-schooler service with his son, S.

I am also thankful to the masking tape, the soft 'globe' balls and mini walking sticks so available for us to use from the backstage. Also, the sports shoes selflessly loaned by P and C.

First Anniversary of SC Earthquake

5.12 - which also happens to be my dad's birthday will most likely be a day not easily forgotten. He told me that when people ask him about his birthday, he will just say it is the same day as the earthquake. And that everyone now knows and remembers. I agree. A Sichuan friend actually sms-ed to wish my dad birthday too.

After news of the swine flu spreading to this particular part of the world, I decided not to go town as alerted by Alfred. I went down the street for a haircut, ate at my most frequent jiao zi shop at '三碗饺' and something more meaningful though brief - patronised a fruit shop with 2 ladies watching SCTV 2 direct telecast of the memorial ceremony for the earthquake last year. When paying for pears and mini watermelon (for reducing heat), I asked them about the programme. They were very much affected when they had watched what happened to their countrymen last year. However this time as they watched, they did not feel the same anymore. Indeed time have levied the pain or healed the wound, leaving behind a scar. As if it will speak a thousand words, I spouted a God bless you as I leave them to continue watching the parade segment.

Scenic Emei Shan

I have returned early morning yesterday, in time for our weekly gathering, from having conquered Emei Shan during the Labour Day Period (a holiday period the locals call '五一', consisting of 3 days, from Friday till Sunday). Some will use these days to return home, affordably a few hours away. It was a rare opportunity for me to join Alfred, his dad and YF to visit this famous mountain which I had heard and seen only on television programmes.

On Friday morning we set off at 8a.m. on a 2-hour ride to 峨眉镇．Due to the holiday season, the price of a single-bed hotel room jumped to 4.5 times its usual rate! We decided to take the bus ride to and fro to the middle scenic area. If we were to climb the mountain, I heard we will probably need 1-2 days.

We woke up and set off from our hotel at 3:30a.m. on Saturday morning to find ourselves amongst hundreds of people waiting to buy their ticket outside the bus terminal. We climbed a short distance to take the cable car which finally brought us to the 金顶.

The view reminds me of the experience I had at Srigriya, Sri Lanka. The experience of His creation -- the traces revealing His presence. How I wished for those who paid their way in to enter into temples to bow their knees to created objects in the hope of having their wishes fulfilled, to be able to reckon the full sacrifice made for them to come directly to fellowship with their Creator who knows exactly the great things He had done, as well as the plans He has for each of them!

We took the same route back to the hotel, and then to the hot spring in the evening which really helped to ease the aching in our leg muscles. It was good for us to rest and set off the next morning at 6:30a.m. back to 新南门车站.

First Cycling Experience

It was exciting to have got on the chinese road for the first time on a bicycle a dear friend lent to me. Haha! To recall back the first time when I first used the pedestrian crossing.. and after I realised that traffic control is different from Singapore.. this is one personal breakthrough.

I rode to a bookstore 30mins walk away, stopped once to buy some oranges from a peddling fruit seller to quench thirst. The bookstore had moved 2 streets further and so I rode again. I bought a photo frame, a notebook, some stickers and a badge. The journey back was as easy as going there. I stopped by Carrefour for a can of cream corn to go with an asparagus dish, and picked up a packet of prunes on the way. I picked up a packet of sweet skin duck along the way to the wet market and returned. I parked the bicycle where it was and removed my purchases from the front basket.

I like the bicycle and enjoyed the freedom of riding it on the road. I wished there can be such a provision for bicycles in Singapore too. I like also these words, by Alfred D Souza, printed on the photo frame:

DANCE as though no one is watching you.
LOVE as though you have never been hurt before.
SING as though no one can hear you.
WORK as though you don't need the money.
LIVE as though today is your last day.

Edge of the Box

Inspiration comes unexpectedly, in my opinion, most of the time. Somehow I had been waiting for this inspiration to sweep me into writing my blog once again, not out of a 'I-ought-to' but that 'I-want-to'. So, thank you, Guo Shi, for that blog entry about us, which gave me the confidence to write again, as honestly, as boldly and as real.

I have been struggling with the writing of a newsletter for the past few months. Same issue perhaps. First, there was fear, due to new ground - new expectations, more unknowns, new infringements that brought about new breakthroughs. I dared not write too much, after thinking too much. So, why do we need to do all this, sometimes I will ask. And I remember the very words I spoke to someone, that 'everything has its purpose'. Many times I realise between 'right' or 'wrong', and 'yes' or 'no', I begin to see the reality of 'yes' or 'no' playing their roles more in the events around me. Somehow, I hate the 'right' or 'wrong'.. for I can be reminded for being wrong for saying this. I seemed to have said this before in a blog posted earlier.. Hm, why surface again. I will probably come back to this again.

Well, something else to think about, I am going to cook nasi lemak this evening for friends to come. Lily's blog had been such a blessing to me, inspiring me to cook. She made it so simple for people like me. :)

Night Dreams

Last week, a friend shared her dream. She saw herself and a friend driving down basement of 30 over levels, of which there are probably 50 over. Perhaps something to do with her flat search.

And then I recalled having a dream on the same night too. A bug with wings and a body like that of the cicada (which I remembered seeing being eaten deep-fried by some local Chinese). And I saw a hand plucking the wings off.

如‘遇见大圆满’

现在已到这儿也有38天了。回想之前到今天，我才明白信心的能力——可使一个以前从不善常使用华语的我也开始改变了。这也是我感到非常意外的呀。。

来到了这个称为‘神州大地’的土地有一个像回到家特殊却熟悉的感觉。尤其是当知道外婆在12日过世后，有时会想她以前在家乡的生活到底是这么样的。。又如何会离乡背井，到新加坡去。这一切我深信都是已经安排好的。我在新来临的一年里，盼望我们家能在这计划里一同成长。我们爱，却需要跟多的力量。

现在最需要的，就是可以把一些美好的体验记录下来，与亲爱的朋友们同享！最后，想分享刚购买到的一本独特书刊——(2003) 谢尔*希尔弗斯坦(Shel Silverstein) 所写的‘失落的一角遇见大圆满’。

网址：http://www.shelsilverstein.com/