What a "cool" day?

Today, the Elim Chinese was having their food and fun fair. And it so happened that they were having this blood donation campaign as well. I don't know which one comes first. Anyway, that's not the point.

I'll start the main point.

After our service ended, me and the youths went over to have fun, too. Some of our youths were helping out in filling the form for the blood donation. So, we went there and paid them a visit. Who knows!? All of a sudden, an uncle came by and asked how old were the group of us. After checking our age, we were asked to donate our blood. I was like, WHAT!? But, I gave my IC to my godsister and she started filling the form. I didn't know why I did it. I just did it! So, there I was, with Jenn, trembling and shivering for fear. But, we went through every check-up and stuffs. I thought they might just tell me I don't have enough blood or something. But, they didn't. I passed through every test and I lied on the bed, waiting for the nurse to "poke" the needles into me. And, finally, I DID IT!!! I donated my blood - 300ml if I'm not mistaken. Here comes the important and the highlight of the event (:P). I was resting on the bed while waiting for the blood to clot. Then, the nurse came and asked whether I was feeling dizzy. And being honest, I said no. So, she said I can leave. And I stood up and left. I still had some church members still lying on the bed, so being CONCERN, I went round and talked to them. Until I came to Jenn's bed and she asked me to accompany her. I stood there and talked to her. All of a sudden, I felt the room spinning. I told Ber I was feeling dizzy. She told me to sit down and I did. The next thing I knew I was on the bed lying. I saw the doctor and he was counting my pulse rate. Then, I heard Eliza and the others talking. An uncle was asking the others to stand further to allow me to breathe. Everyone was talking and it was very noisy. When I could talk, the uncle asked whether I was still dizzy and told me everything will be fine. I thought, what exactly happened? Then, Eliza and all were telling me I fainted and they got a shock and stuffs like that. I was like, okay. I was also told that when I faint, my eyes were wide opened (weird!). After drinking a hot cup of milo (it was really HOT you know!), I got out of the bed, sat down for a while and left. I could see that everyone around was staring at me with this weird look. I guess I'm the history - the first to faint in a blood donation campaign? Haha..

I went back to church as my parents were waiting for me. Mum called when I was resting. When my parents got to know that I donated my blood (and fainted) without telling them, I got a talking session from the church to the old folks' home (did a visitation after that). I guess they were just too anxious. :P

Looking at the bright side, this incident was a blessing in disguise. Eliza and I opened up to each other (cause this girl poured out everything.. she thought she was going to lose me or something :P). I knew that donating blood ISN'T easy. And, as stupid as it may be, I know what is the feeling of fainting! All these while, I could only ask people how does it feel to faint. And I experienced it myself this time. :P

All in all, I donated my blood.. for the first time! May it be useful to the community. :)

*Next post.. Indonesia mission trip (Part 2)

Eye-opening experience...

I would say that the mission trip from 18th to 22nd of March was a short one. But, I really gained a lot from it. I've experienced so many first times in this mission trip. Let's start the very brief story.

-House to house visitation in the village-

This is not an ordinary visitation. Why? Because those people that we visited were once lepers. I DID NOT know until the I came out of the last house! (FIRST TIME!!!)

~Fellowship with the youth of the village~

~The host for our group in the village (Pak Ruben and family)~

~Kids Games (handled by Ocep)~

~School visitation~

~our special our item during the school visitation~

Out of the blue, we were asked to go on stage. Out of the blue, I was asked to play the piano for 2 songs. Out of the blue, I just went up there and play after practicing for only once? (FIRST TIME!!!)

~Another school visitation (it's something like our CF)~

~group photo with the Indonesians we worked with (where's Erwin?)~

~these were taken from the rooftop in one of the houses we stayed (Jeanny)~

~Isn't this beautiful?~

~at the airport [emo scene :(]~

This is just some of the activities we did in Indonesia. There's more coming up. There are still things that I haven't share with you guys. The photo is not with me. I'll post it up when I get it! For more photos, check out my facebook. I'll write about it more in the next post. :)

It's here!!! It's here!!!

Tomorrow's 18th of March!!! So fast! Anyway, I'm so looking forward to this trip. I wonder whether it's different compared to those mission trips I attended during the course of RBS. I wonder whether there will be proper toilets. I wonder whether I'll be able to converse in Bahasa Indonesia. I wonder so many things. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to share the gospel and encourage the believers there. I'm sure God will use each and everyone in the team to do something miraculous.

Tonight will be the final rehearsal+briefing+get together with the parents, etc. in church. So, I guess it's bye bye to the computer, msn and internet. Hello!!!??? I survived for 5 weeks. Can't I survive for a few days? I'll be leaving Ipoh tomorrow at 8am (if everyone is punctual). If I'm not mistaken, the flight is at 1.40pm. I'll be back on Sunday night.

What do I specifically look forward to? Hmm.. I heard that there's an overnight prayer on Friday. I've not been to any of these things before. So, I guess it's a new experience for me. That day's activities is quite packed. And we're suppose to wake up and 6 in the morning, which means no sleep till the next day from 6 onwards. That's cool! And another thing - once we touched down, we're going into a a village to spend a night there. And I think there's more to experience than in OA. Hope I can still sleep tonight despite of the excitements. Haha..

Prayer! Prayer! Prayer! (just to remind you to pray for us :P)

Thank you for the verse

Isaiah 41:8-10

"But you, O Israel [try putting your name in =)], my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, 'You are my servant';
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Read the RBS forum or my youth blog (www.ipohelimyouth.blogspot.com) and you'll understand. :)

God's blessings..

I will remember that all these don't come from me
I will remember that all these.. they're God's provision
I will remember that God taught me about humility
I will remember to thank God for all that He has given to me
I will remember the people God has placed in my life
I will remember that God has His very own plan for me
I will remember that all good things come from God

And lastly..

THANK YOU GOD!!!

How I spent my 5 weeks..

Just in case you don't know. I've spent 5 weeks in Residential Bible School (RBS). And yea, the 5 weeks definitely changed me a lot. Being in RBS and being at home is totally a different thing altogether. In RBS, I'm not allowed to have my handphone and any electronic gadgets. I'm not allowed to surf the internet (except on Sundays.. that also to check mail ONLY). All I have is God, Bible, 46 students like me, 6 staff and the whole HCC (plus Tanah Rata and Brinchang :P). Back home, I have everything that I want. I don't have to do my own laundry. I don't have to clean up (unless asked by mum or if my mood is good). In other words, I'm living in a SUPER DUPER comfortable place. Going to RBS really forced me out of my comfort zone. And I did things I've never dreamt that I would do. For example, during my mission trip in Kuantan, I actually ordered food after counting how much I can spend on that day and stuffs like that. That's not the usual me okay? And despite of my low confidence in piano, I actually encouraged people to play the piano and taught people how to play the piano (indirectly?). Somehow, I feel that if it wasn't God who gives me the strength and the affirmations, I wouldn't have done that. I did a lot of extraordinary things in RBS and because of that, I settled many personal issues. My broken friendships are mend. My confidence in piano is getting better. Thanks to all your prayers. I know people back home and also RBS are praying for me. THANK YOU PEOPLE!!!

In RBS, I learnt how to commit myself to the Lord. Do you know SPM results will be out tomorrow? And me being me, I'm not worried at all? That's so not me. I remembered crying for my PMR because I got 7A's and not 8. On hindsight, I think I'm so crazy. What's PMR? Haha.. Anyway, learning to submit myself to God is really.. AWESOME!!! Haha..

I'm missing you guys and the fellowship we had in RBS. I read this this morning. Just a little something for you guys..

Colossians 1:9-14

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of the light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Let's keep our fire for God burning!!!