To Pattaya With Love.. [1st - 9th december 2006 ]

To Pattaya With Love.. [1st - 9th december 2006 ]

THis blog is set up so that i can share my beautiful experience with everyone.
I hope that through this blog, many others will be touched and inspired to reach out to the unfortunate, and to step out and do mission work.

The kids, especially my blind kid has touched and changed the way i see things now.

MY life today is totally different from what i was before the trip.

Truly, it is simply simply AMAZING!!

Hope you will ENJOY reading!!

Day 1-1st december(checking in)

Day 1-1st december

My beloved pig who went thailand with me..

And the kuala which my roommates think its evil..(TSK TSK Anne-Marie and Genevieve)

Its not evil right!!

Day 1 - 1st december

the new thai airport

I finally took a plane for the first time in my life. On reaching thailand, we took a 2hrs long bus to pattaya. Its a 1 hour time lag in thailand, and that the sun sets and rise earlier then singapore. So 7pm in thailand seemed 9pm in singapore.

Heard some good news from Amplify and the Redemptorist which really made my day. Just see how wonderful God is..like when there was a storm, he calmed it..To me it was simply just amazing to see how God bless each and everyone of us each day.It may seemed that my life was in the midst of a typhoon. but with God around, he calms it all..

Tmr is the start of the mission, don't really know what i am going to see. Only know that God will be there for me always.

Love lots..

Day 2 - 2nd december(babies and street kids)

Day 2 - 2nd december

In the morning-

this phrash keeps appearing for this mission..

"For i was hungry you gave me food

I was thirsty and you gave me drink

I was a stranger and you clothed me

Sick and you vistied me

In prison and you came to see me.."

Matt 25:35

Just went to the orphanage, now i'm in the balcony writing my thoughts down. The orphanage was real cool, and i love that place alot. When i went in, i saw this toddler crying. Somehow when you have a baby brother around in the house, when he cries is either he is hungry, wants your attention or wants to sleep. I tried to feed him, it didnt work, tried to play with him and it didnt work out too.. so i laid him on my shoulders, and after a few minutes he just simply slept on my shoulder.

My first kid

It make me very touched as i was only a mere stranger to him, yet to him he gave me all his love and trust. He trusted me to keep him in safe hands, he trusted me to put him to sleep. He made me felt love. Even though it was just a small simple action yet to me it just made me realised the full meaning of unconditional love. He was just a toddler, yet he was able to carry out something that was hard for me-unconditional love. To love everyone unconditionally for who they are and not what they are.

Just through him i realised the meaning of Matt 25:35-To love everyone as much as we love God..Who knows, it might turned out that the wretched person in our society is actually God alone..

In the afternoon-

Was discussing about my first night with my roommates with bernard.Apparently he seemed to be sleepy as he had a violin and a piano beside him the whole night, so i shared and said i got a flute and a picolo beside me too..

We went to the street kids home in the afternoon. Didnt really expect to have a kid so i went to join the balloon factory to manufacture balloons for the kids with gen and lynette. While making the balloons the kids all started coming to us, asking for all sorts of stuff ranging from doggies to swords. To them just a small little balloon can easily satisfy them, yet to us we will just throw it away..It makes me feel ashamed how much we do not treasure the little things we come across in our life..

My bro and benjamin and their kids

We come from a better background then them in terms of having a good family, which provide us with all we need, yet this street kids comes from tough backgrounds. We often complain how life suck all this, but on seeing the kids, i feel really fortunate to have a wonderful family behind me. We are indeed luckier then them, therefore we should learn from them to treasure every single things in our life instead of complaining. If the kids can do it, why cant we?

Today i also realised the importance of hugs. I dont really like to give hugs, but now i guess i love it. When we hug someone, we give warm to each other. Warm=love . unlike a handshake, it is just a plastic action which doesnt show our love to others. haha.. (Must thank Anne-marie for giving me a shock of my life by hugging me in YISS this year, without her, i guess i will still be unknown to hugs..)

yupp..to be continued

Day 2- Playing for mass

my first song-As we Gather

As We Gather

As we gather may Your Spirit work within us
As we gather may we glorify Your name
Knowing well that as our hearts begin to worship
We'll be blessed because we came
We'll be blessed because we came


Its just a very wonderful feeling to be able to play for mass during this trip.

For me whenever i play the organ, i feel that it is not me who is playing the songs, but God. He is there in my fingers, playing the wonderful music.

I love playing the organ

Day 3-mass

As Bread That Is Broken

Many hearts are hungry tonight
Many trapped in darkness
Yearn for the light
So many who are far from home
And many who are lost
O Lord Your wounded children need
The power of Your cross


As bread that is broken
Use our lives
As wine that is poured out
A willing sacrifice
Empower us Father
To share the love of Christ
As bread that is broken Lord
Use our lives


Help us to begin where we are
Help us love the people
Near to our hearts
Then give our faith a mission field
Wherever You may call
Lord love Your world
Through each of us
Until we've touched them all

As bread that is broken
Use our lives
As wine that is poured out
A willing sacrifice
Empower us Father
To share the love of Christ
As bread that is broken Lord
Use our lives

As bread that is broken Lord
As wine that is poured out
Use our lives


I feel that this song is really relating to us for this pattaya trip.
It tells us about how we are feeling.
It tells us that Lord has called us here for a purpose..
Enjoy!!

Day 3- 3rd december (street kids)

Day 3- 3rd december

LOVE

Love it was that made us.
And it was love that save us.
Love was God's plan when he made man.
God's divine nature is LOVE.
Born of God's love we must love him.
That's why he made is to love him.
But only when we love all men.
Can we partake of his love.
But only when we love all men.
Can we partake of his love.


The majority went to the street kids home today, with faces, hands, legs painted..

The excited kids drawing on each other faces

This hymn came to my mind when i was asked by a couple of girls to write the word love and to draw a heart on their hands or faces. These kids receive no love from their family, yet they came to me and ask me to write that word on their hands. I was thinking..Why of all words do they want me to write love.

Here we are strangers to them in their world, yet they readily give us 101% of their love to us. Like the commandment Jesus gave :" Love one another as i have love you!!" To love everyone with all your heart and soul no matter how that person is to you. Love your enemies even though they may still hurt you.

We are all born luckier then them, yet compared to us, they are able give Love easily to others. what they only wanted was to have our time and company and to them its the best gift for christmas for them. Seeing the Love they give us made me touched, including my brother..

Even though today was the first time they actually have a television set with many channels, sponsored by the thai tv network, many didnt really cared and didnt really watch the tv. When the tv people went off, the kids were asked to thank them. Yet when we went off, a whole lot of them started running as fast as they could after the bus just to wave at us for the last time.

Material things doesnt attract them, its more of the human touch. Its really the opposite of what is happening here in Singapore.

Just feel that i should really appreciate the people around me, just the way the street kids appreciate us. They all knew that we would not be back again, yet to them, they give their all inorder to make us feel loved by them.

Its really a wonderful experience to be able receive Love as we give Love. It just shows how lucky I am to have a family behind me to love me.

Its really amazing to see how God works in those street kids, to let us learn the true meaning of Love. He loves us with all his heart, yet sometimes, we fail to see his love therefore rejecting him. Love is only a simple word, yet in this world Love means alot. Without Love, we will just feel hopeless..

The Street kids running after the bus

Day 3- 3rd december (The Prodigal Son)

Day 3- 3rd december

The prodigal son.

I used to have a brother who had gone astray, but today, he has returned to the father house. I feel very happy today, even playing soccer cant add up to the amount of happiness i have in me.

A few months ago, my father shared with me the story of the prodigal son. That night, my brother just slammed his door, and fell out with all of us. My dad told me that we should just forgive him and let him be, cause nobody can change his mind except himself. He also told me that the day my brother changes is the day where the prodigal son story will happen in our family.

Just a few hours before during mass today, Fr simon was asking my brother to act as the prodigal son and also for the past few months which i attended daily masses, the prodigal son story was told at least 3 times.

Little did i know that my father's word would come true. It was so insignificant that i forgotten about it. It came back to me after my brother shared about his story and how he nows appreciate his family.

These words somehow came into my mind:

"If mummy and daddy was here, they will be very proud of you"

And it takes these few words for my tears to gush out of me and my brother's eyes. Never did i hugged my brother so tightly and closely before. Never did we cry on each other shoulders before. Never did i ever felt so proud of my brother. We just hugged each other and we didnt want to let each other go. We didnt say much to each other, only letting the power of God's love come through us in the form of a hug and our tears.

Somehow all the things that was foretold came through. Just want to thank the Lord for everything he has done. Just want to thank the Lord for my wonderful brother. For many times he didnt seemed to be of any importance in my life, but from now on, he holds a special place in my heart. A place where only me and him knows.

"It is important to be aware of any prejudices we may habour towards others and react to these people according to the wat they behave, not to their reputation."

I regretted not being a sister to him all these years, now if you ask me, he is as precious to me as

God treats us all as his children.

To my brother Moses, i love you!! :)

Day 4- 4th december(the blind school)

Day 4- 4th december
the day that marked a great change in me.

The Blind School

I went to the blind school today. Even though i badly wanted to go to the orphanage as i missed Mark, my baby brother alot, i still went to the blind school partly as i felt a strong calling from the Lord to go there and also i have never associate with the blind in my life before. Initially i was afraid to go there, but then when the slots for the orphanage clashed, my heart just told me to just go to the blind school.

We practise some christmas songs so that we would know how to sing some songs if we were needed to put up an item for the kids.It was kind of fun 'carolling' with people that i dont really know..haha..i'm truly amazed by Genevieve who knows the song 'twelve days of christmas' by heart..

Then during lunch, Genevieve felt sicked..At first it was kind of okie..later she threw up big time..I felt very shocked cause she was alright a few hours ago..Then later she went to the toilet and locked herself inside for 15mins. I was standing there and people from outside who was super worried kept asking me if she had fainted in the toilet..When she finally came out, me and Anne-marie were sort of relieved..She was then sent to the hospital for vaccination..

We were not allowed to go to the hospital..So I went to the blind school..We reached the school in time to see the kids putting up some musical performance in commemoration of the king's birthday and also father's day. Even though these people are born without sight, yet the music they produced are beautiful beyond description.

After the performance, we went around helping 'santa' to give out the christmas goodies to the blind kids. The kids were all bowing their heads and saying Khob Khun Kha or Khob Khun Krab which are thank you in thai. Most of them just felt my hands and then took their sweets, but there was one particular kid who was about 5 years old went more than just feeling my hands and taking the sweets. She went to the extent to feel for my arms, my waist and just feeling all over for me. I felt super touched by her actions. To her, i was just a stranger, yet she was there feeling for me. That spilt second, i just felt loved, loved by this wonderful child God has created on this earth.

After giving out the goodies, there was this urge to just go back to that kid. There was just a connection between me and her. So i went to her ears and said "sa-wa dee kah" to her..She didnt react to me, just sitting down there. So i decided to say it louder..Apparently, she still didnt react. Then one of the guardian came and told me in some action language that this girl is not only blind but deaf too. When i saw that statement, my heart sank. I just made me wanted to reach out more to her, to give her all my love and care to her. She is an orphan, born without sight and hearing, was questioning the Lord, :" why did you made her like that"

I let her feet my hand, my face, my watch and my pouch since the only thing i could do was to give my love to her with a touch, a touch of love. There was no form of talking with my mouth, only talking to her with my touch and the warmth from my heart. Touch was the only thing i could do to make her understand me and it was also the only thing she can used communicate with me.

My kid did some funny action which looked like a fish, at first i didnt know what was it, but after asking some other volunteers, it appeared that my kid wanted to go swimming. It wasnt her swimming time then, so i went to feed her some cake. For us with working organs, eating is not really a joy to us, but for her, eating was also a form of joy. As i fed her, she began to laugh. As i fed her, she began to laugh as if someone was tickling her itchy spot. As i fed her, she chewed and swallowed her cake as if it was some rare food she had. Her lovely laughter rang the drums of my ear, i was touched by her laughter.

Then she sort of went to hug me, hug me as tightly as she could. When i carried her, she sort of laid her head on me, that feeling of her lying on me was just so wonderful. She treasured me more then anyone else, she treated me as i was someone very important to her, she treated me like i was her mother.

There are many things in life that i do not treausre. It is only when something that is going to be taken out from our life that we then treasure it. My kid may be an orphan, a person whose life is filled with darkness and quietness but she knows the meaning of the word treasure even more than i do. She knows how to give love much more readily then i could. To me, i'm insensitive to my surrounding, yet to her, she is much more sensitive and consious to the things that takes place around her.

It was only a short while and then we all had to say goodbye. When i bid her my goodbye with my palms jointed onto hers, her face bacame very sad. She didnt laugh anymore, but grew to be redrawn to her surroundings again. On leaving her, i cried. I maybe older and luckier than her but she has gone through even much more sufferings i had for a lifetime.

I finally understand why God has made her who she was today. Its not she who needs her sight and her hearing, but it is us who needs to learn from her how to treasure the many many little things that revolves daily around us. She has taught me the true meaning of love, to love each other with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind with all your strength.

What she has given me is what i can never pay her back for the rest of my life. The only thing i can now do is to give her back the love she has given me, loving her with my whole heart.

The fingers that made me touch

To my kid, i'll visit you again tomorrow..

P.S-Genevieve had to stay in the hospital, being diagnosed with stomach flu..Even though i only know her and laughed with her for 4days, a day without her presence brings torture to my ear as her laughter was ringing throughout the whole night..May god bless her too..I seriously need her around to stop my ears from hallucination..

Day 4-As the deer

I love the Song :" As the deer"
Its my debut song a few years ago.
And it is the song that really touched my heart..

As The Deer

As the deer panteth for the water,
So my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship Thee.

You alone are my strength, my shield,
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship Thee.

You're my friend, and You are my brother,
Even though You are a King.
I love You more than any other,
So much more than anything.

You alone are my strength, my shield,
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship Thee.

look at this wonderful picture..
where all the bishops gather in the vatican city..

To me its because of God's love that they gather together..

Day 5-5th december(the blind school and babies)

Day 5-5th december

In the morning-

What will you do when you touch a balloon..

For me, i throw it about in the air and try to aim it at someone's head..
For most of the blind kids, they would feel for the balloon, hit it. Once they realised its something that they can burst, they will pinch the balloon and "BOOM" the balloon will burst..

They are blind, yet it seems that they appreciate the true joy when playing the balloons more then us. Seeing the amount of excitement in them when they burst a balloon just make me feel sad for not having such an enjoyable childhood..Now its not the blind kids that are scared when the balloons burst but us normal humans who are scared of the bursting of balloons.

My kid was playing with the balloon too, but she didnt burst the balloon, party it was because she couldnt hear that didnt make her want to burst that balloon..She became very excited when she realised that the balloon was able to fly.So this was what she did next..She held my hand on one side, making sure that i stood there beside her..Next she will just throw the balloon at a direction which is totally opposite me of which i had to run after inorder to retrieve the balloon.On realising that i am gone for a long time, she will just jump on the spot, laughing with all her might and strength..





This is the video of her throwing the balloon..

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Even though my kid could neither see nor hear whats going on around her, the joy that she gives really touched my hearts.

On seeing her actions, it sort of make me recall the lesson i had in YISS..

God is always there for us no matter how blinded nor deaf his words may fall past us. He is always there waiting for us to come to him no matter how long he needs to stand there, even it is for a lifetime, he will never mind it. He will be always there no matter what happens, only that we need to do our part by trusting him. Put all our burdens at the foot of his cross, let him take control of your life as life will be wonderful when he is there always in your life.

Even though my kid could neither see nor hear, she does not let them affect her way of playing with the balloon.

I'm that kid in my real life, who does not hear nor see to what God has to say for me. And me in real life is God himself. Maybe God gave me this special gift(my kid) to tell me that i should listen and see more to his call, instead of talking a whole load of rubbish..

In the afternoon-

i went to the orphanage during the afternoon as they didnt allow us to go back to the blind school to play with the kids.

On sitting down,there was this kid who was crying and wanted me to carry him.His name is chocolate after much asking. So he became my another kid.

He pointed to the bubble thingy first..so i thought maybe he wanted me to blow bubbles for him, so i did..But instead he grabbed the whole bottle and started blowing..Then other kids came and they all started snatching..so after awhile the floor became super soapy..

Then some other adults came with lots of goodies on their hands. So my kid started running to them to get the goodies. One goodies after another..Then he started grabbing food from the other people..

At first i felt that his actions were kind of selfish acts as he took sweets and snacks from the adults and sort of kept it for himself. Yet what surpirised me was that he gave away all the food that he took from the adults and gave it to the other children in the orphanage.

I may be a hundred times well-off then my kid chocolate but he has certainly taught me wonders.He taught me that i could not be so selfish but be generous to everyone around me. Being generous with all our heart so that we can be able to give Love to the people around us. Not conditional Love but unconditional love..to love everyone for who they are and not for what they are.

My kid with santa clause

Chocolate!!That's his name!!

Me and moses with our kids..Aob and chocolate!!

Where charity and love are there is God..

God's message to me..
"open your hearts and come to me"

Day 5-5th december (night)

Day 5-night

Candles were lit up..

The lighted candles marks the start of praying over session after that day mass..

Its sort of wonderful to be able to play the organ for mass. But its even more enriching and exciting to be playing the organ everyday for this trip. Somehow whenever i play a song, i can feel God's presence strongly within me.. That feeling is what i call "simply brillant".. Its even better then the feeling i got after knowing i did 37 incline pull-ups in 30seconds during napfa this year compared to 20 for the previous years..

okie..before the praying over session, Nino assigned me to play the organ during the whole praying over session..to play songs which are slow and to play them many many many times..So i played these songs-As the deer, Seek Ye First and Still..

So it was until my brother shuff me off the organ chair and he started playing As the deer[which i had taught him :)] that i had my turn for praying over. Somehow i know that my heart is stiff and stubborn, not wanting to surrender my all to God even though i've been trying to do that for 6months already..I just cannot open out to Him..Somehow in that process, i felt very worthless and hopeless in the eyes of God..A person with no value..Even though Father gave me a hug and assurance not to worry so much, i just couldnt stop my mind from controlling myself..

When i played the hymns again, there was this unease in my heart, my hands was just very hot. Even though i felt his love, and his love for everyone, i still somehow know that i could not give my all to the Lord. Tears wanted to fall, but somehow they couldnt fall. My heart was aching like crazy, i fell into a state of trama..Kept thinking that i was useless..i almost gave up..

At that point of time, everything seemed very worthless, the faith in me were somehow gone, i didnt feel like talking, i didnt feel like praying..Inside me was another state of chaos..

But somehow in the midst of chaos, where faith was all lost, God was there for me..He sent me friends to stop that flame in me from dying..

First it was Natalie who came to pat me..then it was Anne-Marie, Genevieve and Lynette..

They all tried talking but all i did was just keeping quiet, refusing to talk to any of them..From lying on the organ, i migrated to the back of the chapel and i lied down there, hoping that all of them will just go away as in me..

Instead, Anne-Marie just went up and patted me..she tried talking no matter how many times i just turned her away, refusing to acknowledge whatever that was said..After like a hundred times, i just gave up and told her what happen and that i felt super worthless and hopeless and that i felt very burdened..Then she asked me if i ever heard the story of Jonah and the whale before, being in some kind of trance i shook my head and she started ..

JOnaH and the Big Fish

God told a prophet named Jonah to go to a country called Nineveh to tell the people there that they were sinning and doing bad things. God wanted them to know that if they kept being wicked that he would destroy all the people in there city.

Jonah did not want to tell the people in Nineveh what God had told him to tell them. So, Jonah got on a ship to go in the opposite direction to a city called Joppa.

Jonah did not do what God had asked him to do. Jonah disobeyed God. Because Jonah disobeyed, the ship was in a big storm and the lives of everyone on it was in danger.

The people on the boat wanted to know who had done something wrong. Who was the cause of the storm. Jonah told them that he had disobeyed God. The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "what should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us ?"

Jonah told them " pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you. "Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.

Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.

The Lord sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah stayed in the big fish for three days and three nights. While he was in the fish Jonah confessed his sin and asked God to forgive him, because he did not obey God and go to Nineveh like God had asked him to.

God heard Jonah's prayers and told the fish to go to shore and vomit Jonah out.

Then the Lord spoke to Jonah, again. Go to Nineveh and give the people there the message I give you. So Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. and went to the city where he tell them God's message: "Forty days from now and Nineveh will be destroyed.

The people believed God and they all gave up their violence and evil ways. They went on a fast and began to ask God for forgiveness. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not destroy the city.

But Jonah was angry when God decided not to destroy Nineveh. He wanted Nineveh to be destroyed, because of the evil they had done. God told Jonah that it was not right to be angry and selfish, because the Lord God almighty is gracious and compassionate , slow to anger and abounding in love.

Jonah in the story was now me.. He didnt trust God.He was afraid of what he had to do so he tried to run away.. I'm kind of scared too, scared of what lies ahead for me.. I want to trust God but somehow i just cant give him my all..I know he will take care of my problems, my future, but i somehow just cant stop worrying about everything..

Just lied on the floor with Anne-Marie talking to me..I just love her for treating me like a sister to her..Then she told me something that really shooked me off from that trance of denial..

AM: "Do you know that Genevieve and Lynette are still here sitting down there"

ME: "No"

AM: "Do you know why they are here still waiting?"

ME: "No"

AM: "cause you have touched their them"

ME: "NO..i'm just a worthless idiot"

I doubt i have touched people..But i know that i felt seriously guilty after knowing that there were people waiting for me. I'm just touched that even at the point of time where i wanted to stray away from God, he was there sending me friends to help me..Genevieve and Lynette, i have only known them for like 5days yet they were there waiting for me..i was touched, really touched..somemore Genevieve just came back from the hospital today morning and she needed to rest yet she was still waiting..

On my way back, Natalie was there and she gave me a hug..I went up to the room and went to the balcony to stare at the stars..My heart was still stubborn..only that my mind was dead..Then AM went there to drag me to sleep before she went out to do stuff..Then Genevieve was there patting me..then she fell asleep..and i decided to pend my thoughtes down

Even though i was in a midst of a chaotic situation..People were sent by the Lord..and because of him I truly felt loved by the people around me especially my roommates, lynette and natalie..

May God bless them abundantly..

Day 6-6th december(king's birthday!!)

Day 6-6th december-king's birthday!!

Since it was the King's birthday, it was a holiday so there was a visit to the zoo in the morning and the cabury in the night..but we needed to pay..so not everyone went..

The zoo was kind of fun..just that i felt very sad for the animals as to me the zoo keeper are just ill-treating them..It was the first time that i actually saw an elephant crying when the trainers hooked and tore his skin..OUCH!!Tears was dropping like rain from the sky..when i saw it, i felt like crying!!

i took picture with the tigers and the orang utans!!

Was afraid if the tiger were to bit me..
Was shocked when they just dumped the orang utan on my lap..

Me and moses with the Orang Utans!!

then we went to have a ten course lunch..Where Benny and my brother ordered a scorpion..

Scorpian

Its kind of gross eating it..I only ate a small piece of scorpian leg..It taste like chips or the oil they used..so it seems that they flushed out the actual taste of a scorpian..

Then at night we went for the cabury show where transvestites performed..I mean those transvestites are so pretty that i couldnt really imagine that they were guys..They are better then me a hundred times..even their dressing is super super WOW!!

Transvestites performing some dance!!

What bugged me was that..Why are they so proud to be a girl when they are born guys..I dont even treasure myself for being a girl as much like as they do..For me..i'm just another TomBoy!!being boyish is my forte!!

they can really dress up!!wearing 5inches high shoes..Being very graceful..its really super amazing to see them being more lady-like unlike me!!

I must learn how to accept the things i see in life..

In God's house there is love.
In God's house there is peace.
In God's house all is accepted.
In God's house all are welcome..

As God love them for who they are, i must love them too..Not discriminate but to treat them equally like i treat other people..

For our God is a God of LoVE!!

Day 7-7th december (the devil draws near..)

Day 7-7th december (the devil draws near..)

I have always heard this phrase..

"When people are gathered to do God's work, it is also where the devil is the strongest.."

Even though i have heard this phrase many many times,still never would i have expect to experience this kind of situation..

I was walking in the corridors from the chapel with a few people at 3am in the morning..A few of us went there to pray as many felt that the many things which had happened seemed to have been caused by the devil..Then there was this image of the devil which flashed past my head..

I thought i saw things..It was only until when i went up my room where Genevieve told me about her experiences with the devil that i shared my image with her..And she replied:"i felt the devil too while walking and also in the chapel.."..Then sharing with Teresa about it after the trip..Teresa too saw the devil..

I'm kind of amazed by what i have seen and heard cause all the while i have thought that when a place is blessed, there the devil will never be present..But now i know..

So according to my friend..My night of trama was probably the work of the devil..

When we have little faith, it is when the devil can easily take over us. So we must constantly be involved in prayer inorder to built up our faith..

Without God we are Nothing
With God we are something

Day 7- 7th december (MacDonalds with the orphanage kids..)

Day 7- 7th december -A day at MacDonalds with the orphanage kids..

I felt very tired after only like 4 hours of sleep, was somehow sleeping on the bus on the journey to the orphanage while being squashed in between my two roommates with us occupying only 2 seats..

When we reached the orphanage, some went to the babies place while the rest of us stood down there waiting to be assigned to a kid..So i now i got this kid called MONT!!

This is MONT!!

He is around 5 years old and he is super clever..Was kind of surprised that he knows how to sing "ABC" and "if you happy and you know it". Taught him what's a car and after a few minutes he knows how to say car when i pointed a car at him..Teaching him all this things just made me feel how lucky i am to be able to learn english, when the kids here hardly learnt them..

Here's Mont and me!!

Me and Mont sat with Anne-Marie and her kid in MacDonalds and i tell you her kid is super pretty!!

Anne-Marie and her kid!!

We had lots of fun playing the balloons..MacDonalds gave balloons to the kids, unlike most of the kids in singapore the kids all deflated the balloons and went to blow the balloons by themselves. The way the kids treasure the balloon is somehow like my brother treasuring his gameboy. It makes me realised that i'm realised that i'm really a very very lucky person..

Then their food came..Both ate french fries..Then my kid started feeding me with fries as he could not eat finished his fries..I was quite full so Anne Marie's kid took all the fries and ate them all..haha..Then they had milo while i had a cup of coke from Nino..I felt kind of bad drinking it cause they had only milo, so i let my kid, anne-marie's and genevieve's and many many more drank the coke. It was kind of funny seeing them putting the milo aside and getting addicted to the coke i gave them..Then icecream was served and the way they eat it is really amazing..For me, i will just eat. For them, they really really taste it and enjoy it while they could..

Fries Girl!!

Nice Icecream!!

After eating we went to the play the playground..It was like a tunnel..so most of the kids practically hid themselves in the tunnel, refusing to come out..If they did came out it was probably being shoved by the other kids..So at the end me and anne marie just went in to push everyone out..hahaha..

I love these kids!!
Long Live the KING!!

Leaving MacDonalds!!

Yes..this is Ronald MacDonald!!

Girls say Sa-wa-di-ca!!
Ronald says Sa-wa-di-carp!!

On the way back to the orphanage i let my kid play with my camera..

This is his best picture!!

Genevieve and her kid!!

On sitting the bus i sort of 're-wore' my pouch..My kid saw me doing it and he just took the pouch from my hands and help me 're-wear' it..At that moment, i felt very loved..A touch of love which i never felt before as the nerves in me started flying..and they flew really really wildly!!

When we reached the orphanage, my kid face had a turn of emotions. His face totally changed from being happy to being really really super sad..Seeing him feel sad makes me even sadder.

These kids give their all to love us as though we were the most important person in their life, arent we being unfair to them if we are only there for a short time..For we have loves ones around us, therefore we dont see the need to treasure them, yet for this kids, even it is for that 2hours of company, they still gave their all to treasure it..

Walking back to the orphanage was the saddest thing. My kid started straying from me, from his face i could tell he wanted to cry, therefore straying away to him was the best option to make me think he is happy..i went to give him a hug, he hugged me for that moment and ran away..

I went back for lunch feeling quite sad untill we heard that we could visit them again..

I rushed back to the orphanage..My kid was happy on seeing me.From his face he was almost giving up hope when he didnt see me, but once he saw me he immediately went to hold my handsa and gave me some bread which he couldnt finish eating..We played and played and played..

Then the toddlers came out too..i saw chocolate and held his hand..What surprised me most was that Mont knew him too..And what he did really touched my heart..He broke of from my hand and went to grab chocolate other hand and we walked together..

Even though there is an age gap between them, these people treat each other like their brother and sister.They care for each other and they look out for each other.The older ones will be there to oversee the younger ones..How cool is that..when we with a full family dont even know how to care for each other..

Mont and Chocolate!!

I had to leave chocolate inorder to be with Mont even though he insisted me on staying with chocolate..i felt bad but i just wanted to give my all to Mont..giving him my company and my time as it may be the last time i ever see him again..

Mont on the slide!!

Time past really very quickly..It was time for the kids to go and bath..Mont had a big smile on his face..Yet beneath it it was really a big sad smile..He hugged me for the last time and before he left, he kissed me on my lips..To be kissed by a kid i only knew for a few hours really made me feel really touched and loved.That kiss almost brought tears into my eyes.It was especially heart wretching when i saw him entered that door..

Just as much i really want to delicate my time to him, i have to let him go..

I really love him

The love he has given me is more then what i have gave him.If there is another chance, i would love to be with him..He taught me what was LOVE..

Love is the most wonderful thing that you can ever give to a person..

To Mont With LOTS OF Love..

Day 8-8th december (last visiting day)

Day 8-8th december (last visiting day)

Its our officially last visiting day in pattaya..

Went to bring the blind kids to MacDonald even though i wanted to go to the orphanage in the afternoon as i fell asleep on reaching my bed after breakfast therefore not being able to visit the orphanage for the last time in the morning. Somehow i learnt from aunty jassica that even though my feelings are important, it is important to go to the situation where we are needed most as there were very little people going to visit the blind school..

I did'nt regret going out with the blind even though it pains me not being able to say goodbye to my toodler and kid in the orphanage. The blind kids there were more of the older ones, therefore the kid that i took care of wasnt there. I joined this group of boys whom i guessed were about 11 years old.

Blind people move most by hearing..They can tell when their friends need their help even without communication.There was this blind kid who couldnt open his macdonald toy then his friend just took the bag from him and helped him open the bag..When they ate fries, they told each other that there is chilli sauce on the table, and somehow they were able to get to the sauce without having any trouble.

When they had finished eating, the blind boys got into their van first leaving the girls at the carpark. We were all playing with them and suddenly they started singing you are my sunshine in their own english version..

"You are my sunshine my only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are grey

You never know dear, how much we OWE you

Please dont take my sunshine away"

For us, it is not owe but love.

On hearing the word owe, i felt that it is not them to say that word, but for us. These kids gave amd taught us more then we gave them. Many of us before this trip did not know what was love and how to practise love. It is only because God works through these amazing children that taught us what His Love was all about and how can we give love to others, a love that is unconditional.

In a relationship, love is a sacrifice. Inorder to love others, one must put aside all differences inorder to love the other party. If differences were retained, how are we going to love the other party.

These kids may be handicapped in some ways physically, but that does not stop them from giving all their love to us. They make me realised that even though material is important in this word, Love is more important. Being materialistic makes you look good externally, but knowing how to love others unconditionally makes you look good both externally and internally. Without knowing how to love in the long run, no matter how nice we look on the outside, we will never be complete as we are cold in the inside.

I went back to the blind school for the last 10mins. I was unsure if i could see my kid, but God is so wonderful that my kid was there sitting down alone in the hall. Even though she was left alone, she was contented. She had a face with no worries as if having surrenderred her life to God. I let her feel my hands, and in 5 secs she was laughing like crazy..Her face lit up like a flame being ignited on a candle. She stood up and hug me, hugged me really very tightly.

I was very touched as it shows how much she had treasure me even though i saw her for only 2 days. I just carried her around with her hugging me really tightly. Before i left i gave her a kiss and a cross on her forehead. I made her sit down and went off, putting my hand against her tiny hands moving it left and right hoping that she knows its goodbye..

I almost cried when i board the bus, but when i saw her still sitting down, it just show me how strong she is compared to me. The bond i have with her is really special and i really glad that God had sent me this girl who was not only blind but deaf into my life.

Because of her, she had taught me to treasure what i see and what i hear. It showed me who i was in God's eyes, where i was a girl just like her, blind and deaf to his words. It taught me that i must open my eyes and my ears, to trust God. To trust the plans he have for me, plans to prosper and not fail.

My kid had trusted him to take care of her life therefore it showed me how wonderful life would be if i too trusted Him. With him around, he gives her the assurance and support. With his presence, even the blind and deaf kid can see and hear, just how wonderful God is..

For her, Love is something she gives without expecting people to return Love to her, to love everyone for who they are and not for what they are which is none other then unconditional love..

my girl with the guitar..

piggy bag!!

She is laughing!!

I love my girl.

With her, my life has changed..

my kid and me..

Day 9-9th december (the last day)

Day 9-9th december (the last day)

Father Ray-The one who have touched many lives

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life."

The long dusty road..
The slow pace of pattaya..

9 days have past with a touch of love
In the midst of this journey we all have changed
Changed to be a better person
A person who is more loving, who is more appreciative.

The street kids, the orphans
The blind, the handicapped
Room 308, the swimming pool
The chapel and the various institution

A spark has been embarked on us all.
To owe our experience
To claim our experience
To use our experience to carry out what we are called for by the Lord..

I will miss playing the organ for daily mass.
I will miss my kids, i will miss playing and taking care of them.
I will miss the cool swimming pool where we tried to slide down the platform.

To all my kid, Mont Chocolate and Mango.
Thanks for teaching me what is called unconditional love.
I love you guys lots..

To my roommates.
Thanks for the night laughters.

To Father simon.
Thanks for making this trip possible and journeying with us

To everyone.
Thanks for making it memorable for me in ways special and beautiful for me...

To God, thanks for being there by my side always.

You put light in darkness
You put love in hatred
You loved me even though i was ignorant of your presence

When i am down, you raised me up.
When i'm sad you cheered me.
What more can i ask, when you are here beside me

To Pattaya R.O.M.E
I salute you!!

My Group Members

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,Your spread the love to everyone.
You want to pass it on..