Kraing Thnong I'm in love

As some of you may know, I went for my first mission trip to Cambodia a couple of weeks ago. The exact destination was Kraing Thnong, a small village nestled in the outskirt of the town about an hour drive from the capital Phnom Penh. We were there for almost a week, teaching English, playing with the local kids, and interacting with the youths. While I'd love to share about the trip in detail, it's gonna take hours for me to put it down to words. So, I'll share only the most important takeaway from the six days I spent in Cambodia.

Surprisingly, God gave me a mindblowing revelation not on the last day but on the start of the second day when we had a Christmas session with the kids. As usual, I was the guitarist for the day. The session began with games and singalongs before one of our friends, Heidi, made the children sit down and listen to her animated storytelling of The Prodigal Son from the Bible. Kids being kids, they struggled to sit quietly and listen to Heidi. That was when the rest of the team was dispatched to watch after the kids and give out lollipops to those who behaved themselves and listened attentively.

This was the room we used, only packed with close to 200 children

As I made my round, I saw myself and the rest of humanity in how these children react to the control system we implemented. The kids who had their eyes and ears on Heidi were rewarded with lollipops we bought in the market earlier. For one thing, it was tough to decide if a kid deserved a lollipop. Yet what struck me was how the other children near the lollipop kid reacted. Some begged me for lollipops too. Others kept quiet but stared at the lollipop kid with envy. But one thing was common: all were distracted.

But one thing was common: all were distracted.

That was when God reminded me that more often than not, I am like that too. When God starts pouring blessings to people around me, I would feel jealous. I would start asking God why him or her? Why not me? I would start praying for blessings for myself too. But then God told me that what He desires the most in a moment like this was not prayers. Don't get me wrong here. God loves it when we pray and seek Him but sometimes what we need to unlock the windows of Heaven over our lives is to do exactly what the kid with lollipop did: stay focused on God and His story for our lives. If God calls you to be a cell group leader, do it with all your heart and your soul. If your calling is to be a teacher, give it your best and let the love of God flows through you to your students. When you focus on your calling and nothing else, God will reward you when you least expect it. Do not get distracted.

Sometimes what we need to unlock the windows of Heaven over our lives is to do exactly what the kid with lollipop did: stay focused on God and His story for our lives.

God also gave me another revelation from the same session. Among the clusters of distracted kids, there were a handful of overly attentive kids, mostly sitting in the first few rows, who didn't even notice us and our lollipops. To my surprise, I found myself not wanting to give any lollipop to these special children. Why? Because I did not want them to get distracted by the lollipops and lose their eyes from Heidi. The same goes for us too. Sometimes, we do not see God's blessings in our lives not because He does not love us. Perhaps He is sooo happy that we are sooo focused on Him that He chooses not to bless us right now because He knows that we might not be able to handle the abundant blessings He has in store for us yet. But does that mean that He won't bless us at all? Of course not. Just as how I would hand these special children two lollipops once Heidi finished her storytelling, so would God give us double portion of the blessing if only we are faithful to what He calls us to do, regardless of what it may be.

Perhaps He is sooo happy that we are sooo focused on Him that He chooses not to bless us right now because He knows that we might not be able to handle the abundant blessings He has in store for us yet.

So yes, I feel very blessed by the experience I gathered in Kraing Thnong, and I wish to return there again one day (next year maybe?)

God bless you all :)

Love is patient, love is kind. Love never fails.

April 4th, 2013. Here I am, sitting in front of my computer, trying to pen down my thoughts. It's been a while since the last time I blogged. More than two months ago, to be precise. Now, I'll try to write about something that's very dear to our hearts: Love.

As a child, all my notions about love came from songs and movies:

"Love is romantic."
"Love means holding hands with the girl I love."
"I will cross the ocean for love." 

... and many other cheesy lines. As a matter of fact, I didn't (and still don't) really talk about the matters of the heart with my parents, so I had to figure things out myself. Not that I was totally wrong, though. It's true that being romantic is one expression of love, but surely it's not everything. Fast forward ten years from then, the 21-year-old me now knows a little bit more about love. Many of what I'm going to write might still be wrong, but hopefully it's able to better portray love as what it really is.

Love means taking care of your better half, even when you don't feel like it

Yes, I'm also human with flaws and weaknesses. As much as I cherish my good days, I have my bad days too every now and then. In fact, despite coming across as a very rational and logical person, I often use my heart more than my head. Problem is, feelings do not always tell us the truth. It's so easy to be angry, even at someone we love, in one of our not-so-good days. The key to a lasting relationship really is understanding that our better halves have their own bad days too, and so to love them and take care of them anyway, regardless of whether we feel like it. After all, that's when our loved ones need us the most.

So, the next time your mom yells at you, please don't yell back. Maybe she just had a rough day at work, or maybe it is her time of the month. Or if the boy/girl that you like is not replying your text, please don't assume that he/she is not into you. Perhaps he/she is struggling with school work or family issue. The bottom line is: "Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

For love to last, don't build its foundation on things that don't

One thing I discovered as I grew up is that love is more than just loving feelings between boy and girl. Some of you would already be thinking that love is about commitment, wouldn't you? Sure, commitment is important to make any relationship works, but actually what you build your love relationship on is what matters the most.

"... what you build your love relationship on is what matters the most."

Okay, let me give you an example. Say, you base your love relationship on loving feelings and thrills, which is what many people will do. Sure, all these lovey-dovey feelings do feel good (been there, done that yup). But the question is, how long would the feeling last? One month? One year? How confident are you that you will stick with that person no matter what for the next 50, 60 years?

I used to think that any feelings that last longer than 4 months (yes, I WAS that shallow) are considered to have passed the test of time, and thus must be real feelings. I was wrong. Things eventually took turns for the worse, and the feeling was gone just like that. I learned that the length of the relationship / loving feelings should not be the foundation of my relationships.

So, what should a good foundation be? As an engineering student, I function most of the time by logic: what makes sense and what doesn't. Having said that, doesn't it make sense that if you want to build something that's supposed to last for the rest of your life, you will take extra care to build a solid foundation for it? This is where my points come in:

1. Don't seek love. When the right time comes, it will find you.
2. Instead, use your time to build a strong foundation for it.

As quoted from the wise King Solomon: "Don't awaken love until it pleases". Have faith that, when God thinks that you are ready for it, the right person will come at the right time. Meanwhile, focus on improving yourself in all that you do. If you play guitar, be better at it or pick up new instruments for your better half in the future. If you can't run a marathon, go out and train yourself to run for him/her. I believe that the best expression of love you can do if you are still single is to be a better person, if not for yourself, then for your significant one in the future.

"Have faith that, when God thinks that you are ready for it, the right person will come at the right time."

"... the best expression of love you can do if you are still single is to be a better person, if not for yourself, then for your significant one in the future."

As for the foundation that would last, I myself am building mine on the rock of faith. For me, it's not religion or Christianity that would remain at the end of the day. Instead, it's Whom you believe in that makes the world. I've been a Christian all my life, yet I discovered how true He is, the Person I place my trust in, only a few years ago. I've had experiences and encounters that can only make me very certain that He is real, that He exists. It's on this Person that I would build the foundation of my love relationship. After all, it's the only thing I know that would last.

Yes, love never fails, but only if it has a strong foundation. I know that when His time has come, the right person will come into my life. She might already be here, or is going to appear soon, that I do not know. But I know that she will come. I hope you will build your love relationship on God, too. Jesus bless you.

"Love never fails, but only if it has a strong foundation."

All About Your Heart

 

All About Your Heart

by Mindy Gledhill

 

I don't mind your odd behavior
It's the very thing I love
If you were an ice cream flavor
You would be my favorite one

 

My imagination sees you
Like a painting by Van Gogh
Starry nights and bright sunflowers
Follow you where you may go

 

Oh, I've loved you from the start
In every single way
And more each passing day

You are brighter than the stars
Believe me when I say
It's not about your scars
It's all about your heart

 

You're a butterfly held captive
Small and safe in your cocoon
Go on you can take your time
Time is said to heal all wounds

 

Oh, I've loved you from the start
In every single way
And more each passing day

You are brighter than the stars
Believe me when I say
It's not about your scars
It's all about your heart

 

Like a lock without a key
Like a mystery without a clue
There is no me if I cannot have you

 

Oh, I've loved you from the start
In every single way
And more each passing day

You are brighter than the stars
Believe me when I say
It's not about your scars
It's all about your heart

Family Portraits

2008

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

How did Bryan get back in the United States?

The Number One question I had after watching Taken.

Answer:

Granted, Bryan just killed, shot, maimed, stabbed, electrocuted, dumped overboard, and knocked out over two dozen people in his search for his daughter, but all of them were involved in the sex trade ring. Jean-Claude (Olivier Rabourdin), his old friend from French Intelligence, was on the receiving end of graft money for covering up the ring. The Albanians were the ones running it, and the remaining people were the buyers of kidnapped women for purposes of prostitution. None of them dared to turn in Bryan lest they implicate themselves. Only Jean-Claude's wife might be willing to talk, but to do so would cost her husband his cushy job and probably land him in jail. By the time anyone would have spoken up, if ever, Bryan was likely on his private jet winging his way back to Los Angeles. Once back in the States, the U.S. government isn't about to hand over one of their CIA operatives.

THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER WATCHED

Can anyone guess what movie it is?

Bryan: I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.

Marko: [after a long pause] Good luck.

Simply the best movie ever. Can't wait to watch the second sequel.

How To Stay In Touch

From Huffington Post

"I don't often get to see or even talk to my closest friends from various stages of life (including the 16 who were my bridesmaids). But I stay connected with them -- and the thousands of others in my BlackBerry. The key is managing your friending: The more organized and accessible your friends' information, the easier it is to stay in touch. So you have to set calendar reminders for birthdays (I do it for anniversaries, too), and keep your address book up-to-date. And when someone pops into your mind, let them know, even if it's just with a 'Thinking of you' text. Don't let the moment pass; treat it as a reminder to reach out." 

-- Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, cofounder of the five-million-member Gilt Groupe; keeper of 16,500 BlackBerry contacts