24 June 2013 - The start of a new journey

The end of my holidays. Hello work! Thank God for the past 2.5mths of travelling, working..

Started off with orientation in the morning (: Then settled down at my lovely desk before my supervisor brought me out for lunch. my buddy was on leave. 

Met Lynn! She's just a few cubicles away from mine (: 

The pantry is just behind my cubicle! 

Thank God for really nice colleagues and the working environment is welcoming and open too!

The free mrt travel started today but there wasn't much of a difference when i boarded at 7.45am. 

The security guard in the building is so sweet too! when she was registering my ID she called me darling. 

Great weather, great start to my working life!

The Lord is GOOD! 

Another Year is dawning..

One of my favourite hymns sung at watchnight every year (: 

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,

Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

Saying goodbye to unforgettable 2012..welcoming 2013!

2012 has been one the best years of my life, after 2005.

God gave me the opportunity to go on a 6 mth exchange to Budapest. I'm truly thankful for the various experiences - studying, making new friends from all over the world, finding a church/bible study, travelling!!! Looking back, i'm amazed at how i managed to live independently and planned for my travels. God provides and sustains!

I came back early August and was swamped with new and challenging responsibilities. Taking on the role as Peer Helper coordinate took up a lot of my time and energy but i'm thankful for a fun-loving and cooperative team. We made major changes to the structure which we will be executing in 2013. Our wellness centre is also undergoing major construction and is set to be ready by April 2013.
This sem was mentally draining especially in the first few weeks of school. Think i was quite stressed in week 2 and 3 and was still adjusting back to life in SMU. But things got better and crunch time came after break week again! In my 4 years in SMU, this is the first sem i managed to go overseas!! Went to Malacca with the PHCs for recee trip.
This was a different sem - didn't step into the library much. I was in school everyday. Took a horror mod which i didn't know what was happening but God prevailed and i did better than expected!
I decided to sign up for a Campus Mission Trip with campus crusade for Christ to Kaohsiung. We started planning from break week! On top of that, i was involved in the planning of SS camp(as a mentor).
For both, many things were uncertain but we planned and prayed for God's will to be done.
Going to Kaohsiung for campus mission definitely placed me out of my comfort zone. Speaking in Mandarin was a REAL challenge. But God turned my weakness into a strength as students showed interest in listening to me and my broken Singaporean chinese. I've learnt to cast out all fear and anxieties and to lean wholly on God.

Thank God for sustaining my family and that my bro still has his job as there was a scare in Oct. Still praying for my father who needs to rely on the Lord more and set his eyes on things that are eternal.
For all that has happened in 2012, all glory to God! (:

My prayer for 2013: To continue trusting God for His plans for me, that my joy will not be dependent on circumstances but knowing that joy comes from the Lord. To be more prayerful and be a guide to my sunday school students.

                                                       Closest friends made in Budapest!

                                                          Peer Helpers Coordinators

                                                                                  YAF!

                                                     My Taiwan Mission Trip team!

                                                                          Family (:

Psalm 28:7 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."

Be Strong In the Lord

Chanced upon a blog post from Rachel's Blog (in 2008)..a song of encouragement to me even as I await to take my final paper which falls during SS camp..

Be Strong in the Lord

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;
Your mighty Defender is always the same.
Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending;
Victory is sure when you call on His name.

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And be of good courage, for He is your guide. 
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And rejoice for the victory is yours.

So put on the armor the Lord has provided,
And place your defense in His unfailing care. 
Trust Him for He will be with you in battle,
Lighting your path to avoid every snare.

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And be of good courage, for He is your guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And rejoice for the victory is yours.

Be strong in the lord, and be of good courage; 
Your mighty Commander will vanquish the foe.
Fear not the battle for the victory is always His;
He will protect you wherever you go. 
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And be of good courage, for He is your guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And rejoice for the victory is yours.

Blogging for the first time as a 21 year old

Today, I decided to read my previous blog posts, from all the way back in 2004 when i was just sec 2. Reading those posts really brings back memories and laughter (seeing how childish i was then) !

God has been good! I'm finally 21 years old, into my 3rd year in Uni and graduating in 2013. And i will step into working life..what next?

Am thankful to God for many things that has happened all these years..how He placed me in different schools and made different friends - some of whom have been really beloved friends of mine till today. In SMU, i must admit its tough but i'm surviving! Ask any other SMU student and see if they sleep before 12am every night and wake up at 6am? It will be rare to find one. But i am proud to be one of them (: (This doesnt mean i slack okay! ahah) Going into SMU has definitely changed my perspectives. Managing expectations, what do i set to achieve in life? are grades everything? are your groupmates just a means to get good grades?

God has showed my that He is able to give me beyond what i expect, though at times i get upset with certain things that happen. In year 1 sem 1, i managed to get into the Namaste IV team despite so many people signing up! God allowed me to forge new friendships and up till today we are still close friends (: In the beginning of this year, I was looking out for summer internships. Applied for a few, went for 3 different interviews..God closed the first 2 doors, BUT He opened a better door for me! And that was an internship i felt that i had the least chance of getting. On top of that, I was able to apply leave and go for church camp in June - something the other 2 companies didn't allow. The experience and friendships forged with my colleagues were simply amazing and God-given. Next, I applied for exchange(Hunagary being my first choice). When i applied, i wasnt confident of securing a space in Hungary because there were only 2 slots. But God prevailed and I gt a space to study in Hungary! I'm sure as time passes, God will continue to show His power and that He is in control of my life.

I have to constantly remind myelf to count my blessings and see what God has done, rather than dwelling on failures and missed opportunities...

Till then...

Jaime

Theme song for year 2011

I decided to stick with the same theme verse and song for the year 2011! (:

Close to Thee
Thou my everlasting Portion, more than friend or life to me,
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.

Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.

Lead me through the vale of shadows, bear me over life’s fitful sea;
Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee

Colossians 3:23-24 (King James Version)
23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

My work and travel experience!

My work and travel experience!

Did a video on my summer 2010 in the US! will post up on FB in a few days time. Whoever passes my blog within this few days have the privilege of seeing it before the rest!!! (:

Give me your comments because im sending it for competition!

WORK IN US!(:

Finally found time to blog after 3 weeks spent in the US! Time really flies man. Lots of things have happened over these short 3 weeks here! work has been fine so far..was given a lot of hrs the past 3 weeks! God has been my provider ever since i gt my money and camera stolen, losing my HP and IPOD at HK airport. My first paycheck came in, and indeed God has been gd! (:

Made new friends, bumped into both nce and nasty customers. I work at HOT POTATO in cedar point and i practically do everything there! slicing potatoes, frying fries,carrying, washing and handling the cash register!! (:

I finally found time to go to the park and enjoy the last 2 days! (: having loads of funnnnn! shopping at walmart is another joy!

Attending church the past 2 weeks was awesome too! glad to meet christians in the US and have fellowship with them! they are really friendly ppl! (:

But planning my travel after and during work is a hassle....still planning!!

But i know time is gna fly and soon i'll be back in Singapore! (:

OOO-HII-EEE-OHHH

I'm all set for work and travel USA!! just did most of my packingggg! (: thank God my suitcase is not bursting yet! haha.thank God for the past few days spending time with friends whom i have not met for agesss!! although im quite bored of going out, slacking at home...this feeling is much better than studying and project meetings!!! haha.

I managed to skype with serene last night! and i saw the surroundings of our housing! (: (: looks cool! I can't wait to start work, meet new friends and enjoy the summer! (:

But 3 mths may seem either really long or really short. it depends..but i'm so gonna miss all my loved ones here in sg!!!

OHIO HERE I COMEEEE!!

Kota Kinabaluuuuu

I'm blogging in my Kota Kinabalu hotel!! (: its called Grand Burneo hotel! It's a really cool hotel becos its inside a shopping mall!
Took a 2 hr flight this morning, touched down and tour bus drove us to hotel! Today was free and easy! (:Had crocodile meat for lunch! tasted super gdddd(: mum and i walked arnd the whole mall and it was still early,,so we decided to catch a movie! we decided to watch When in Rome. and they had student price..i had to show my SMU ezlink card! thank God i brought it with me.hahah! movies here are so cheapppp! like 6RM(S$2+) movie was gddd(: popcorn not so.hahha! oh yes..when the movie theatre started showing the movie, everyone thought they were in the wrong theatre becos it was showing a cartoon movie for 15 mins! ppl had to go out to inform the person in charge! so funny(: my first movie in malaysia and it had to be like that!HAHA

After that, went to Manhattan's fish market for dinner!! ate so much todayyy.

It's gonna be exciting tml! visiting an island and rainforest in the mountains!

My long awaited summerrrr is here! (:

THANK GOD for seeing me thru one year at SMU! can't believe i'm no longer a freshie. Anyway, i was smiling so widely after my last paper! i even said a prayer before i handed in my paper! I was praying and thanking God for seeing me thru such a hectic sem. Truly, i'm amazed how God has seen me thru this sem.

Thi sem was kinda stressful. the mods i took this sem were so time consuming! I remember breaking down a few times in the beginning of the sem. I guess God had a reason for me to feel that way..because after the mid term break i gt used to sch life and started taking each day at a time. by exam break i was so relaxed. Exam break and exam period were my most relaxed periods ever, and it's all by God's grace. (: I must say that this sem has been an exciting one for meeee!

I thank God for christian friends in school who constantly encourage and remind me! Indeed, they have been a blessing to me! Not forgetting my dearest brothers and sisters in christ in church too! thank you for praying for me!!!

Here comes summmmeerrr! lots of gatherings coming up and kota kinabalu with mum then WORK AND TRAVEL USAAAAA! (:

Answered prayers! (:

Thank God i secured another interview slot with the US embassy! and there was no mentioned for me to pat $50! praying that it is true! (:

God is goooddd. I thought i didn't have enough time to complete my biz law midterm exam..and felt that i wld do badly for that paper! but God gave me better than what i expected!! Praise God! (:

THank God for YF retreat, despite the few who came, i thank God for the precious fellowship we had! LTB execution would be considered a success! thank God everything went smoothly. no hiccups!! (:

Thank God for last sunday's jp outing. went tracting at teban and came back for games! though the turnout was low, i thank God for these little ones who brightened my sunday esp since i had to go to sch after that for meeting! I was really stressed that sunday...but these kids just lifted my spirits! (: THey are such a joy(:


Jaime is a happy girl in this post (: (: (:

Felt so stupid today ):

My first negative post in years! Today was an extremely bad day for me. I can't believe i didnt read the instructions propoerly before i went for my US visa interview!!
I was supposed to head to speedwing first in the morning to collect my documents before heading to the US embassy for my interview. I didnt read the part..collect docs at speedwing first. So, my interview was at 9.30am. I reached the US embassy at 8.30am. one hr early. nice. then, first stop, security..he asked me for my appointment letter( i was like what?! of course i didnt have it becos i didnt go to speedwing), and he told me to go home and print. But somehow he managed to call the front desk person to check if i had an appointment, and i did of course. so he let me in.
Next stop: Front desk lady. She asked to see my docs(which i didnt have with me), I said it was with speedwing, then she told me to go in to get queue no. AT THIS POINT OF TIME, IF SHE HAD TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED THOSE DOCS, IWLD HAVE GONE QUICKLY TO SPEEDWING AND TAKE THE DOCS! BUT SHE LET ME IN. nice.
Waited for 20mins for my turn to see the officer to hand in my "docs". Was rejected since i didnt have anything. 9.15am..no docs, how to go for interview at 9.30?
So what i did was i called speedwing and they told me to go down to take my docs and try my "luck" to see if the us embassy wld allow me to go for the interview. I cabbed down and cabbed back. And was rejected. And the front desk lady for super unreasonable and fierce! i was kinda scared if not i wld have persuaded her to let me in since i was only 15 mins late(according to speedwing, there is a grace period)

I seriously felt so stupid today. Like why didnt i think abt the situation whereby if i have no docs with me, how can i even register. I shld have known to go down to speedwing first. WHY AM I SO BLUR. Or why wasnt i thinking? I felt so devasted! I've never missed or turn up late for an interview before. speedwing has to rebook another interview slot and this may cost me $50. Praying that they will waive the fee.

I feel so down now. I was looking forward to a busy and exciting weekend. Now this has kinda dampened my mood. Off to Yf retreat soon! Ltb execution tml. Jp outing then heading to sch for filming of CT proj.

I was asking God why? as i waited for the bus. I felt that it was sth i cldnt bear at the moment in time. I cried. I trusted that He wld make a way when i was in the cab. Now, i'm not sure if i may get another interview slot but I'm trusting that God has His better plans for me.

I'm didnt expect myself to blog before exams. But i felt i needed to pour everything out. No smiley faces for this post. A lesson which i learnt it the hard way...

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

My song and prayer for 2009

Thou my everlasting Portion, more than friend or life to me,
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.

Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.

Lead me through the vale of shadows, bear me over life’s fitful sea;
Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee

when i sang this song on 1 jan2010 at leaders' conference, i teared. Loved this song since!! (:

2009

Today's the last day of 2009! gives me a reason to blog(: well, 2009 has been quite a gd year but can't be compared to 2005! haha(: Thank God for a job for the first 6 mths! totally enjoyed the experience. thank God for the 2 trips with mum before sch started. not forgetting church camp too! (: thank God for A lvl results and getting into the course of my choice. Thank God for the new environment ( frens that i take modules together, CCC, project namaste IV!) It has definitely been an enxciting year ahead. Thank God for Ladies grp ( we had a blessed time doing so many things tgth!) so many things to thank God for!! God is good! the nepal trip was truly a blessed one! Not only did i bless the people there, I myself was blessed too. I wrote my reflections that has to be submitted sooon!!

So many gatherings the past few days and still more to come! Sch's starting. New mods, new grp mates (:

New year ahead,new roles and challenges and I'm wholly depending on God!(:

A memorable first sem in SMU!

One sem is over. how fast! My exams just ended(: thank God for His guidance. I can't believe how much i've gone thru in uni! everything squeezed into 3 mths. WOW.

Thank God for the different grps i gt to work with during this sem. God has given different grps with different talent! (: And im glad i gt to work with each one of them. Technically, i only had 1 week to study for my exams..due to the projects.....but thank God, managed to study as much as i cld!

Project Namaste IV is setting off on thurs and after 3 mths of planning, we are finally setting off for nepal! the team has gone thru so much fun and exciting stuff along the way..choco drive,book drive, t-shirt mess, logistics packing, chalet, TEAM BONDING! We are a great family(: But i missed out a lot during the study break! hhaha..But i gt to study with my DG!! had a great time of studying and bonding too(:

CANT WAIT FOR THURS!!!! (: and will be back on 24th! just in time for christmas! cant wait to spend christmas with my brothers and sisters-in christ(:

Trust His heart

Thank God for the 2 recent songs the choir sang recently(: they really spoke to me esp since life in SMU has been gd and bad...
God has spoken to me thru various circumstances. Yes, i know it is gd to be very helpful and understanding as a grp member. But there are limits to how much shld one do for a grp...it comes to the pt where sometimes we have to be firm, and not let others take advantage of our goodwill. Oh wells, grp projects are like that! but God is good. He has granted me different project grps, with different strengths and weaknesses. As i hear of how my friends have grps that the members totally dont help in anything, i start to thank God for whatever grp He has given me(: I was supeeerrr stressed in the morning today. Never in my time in SMU had i felt like that before. am so glad its over(: I Cant STAND last min work! so, whoever is reading this(: make sure u dont get me to do last min work. I dont mind doing just that when its really last min,i get really anxious, and i dont do my best. I do not like not giving the best work.
THank God for my DG in SMU(: We had prayer walk today. We spent time walking arnd the campus, observing anything arnd us, people having grp meetings, eating, chating, slacking..and we prayed as we walked. It was really relaxing, esp after my presentation!!! We went to SMU wellness centre to get a chair massage for 5 mins! hahaha..the place is really gd for calming down and relaxing man(: totally loved the massage chair(: must go there more often to make my tuition fees worth the money!!

More projects and assignments due soooonnn....but Nepal is coming!!! (: thank God for a wonderful Nepal family!

when you don't understand, when u don't see HIs plan, when u can't trace His hand, Trust His heart....

God is indeed in control!! (:

Finally back to blog after a long break(: that becos i gt good news to share!! Thank God i passed my driving TEST!!! whooohooo! Actually im not happy abt the fact that i can drive now but rather, i dont have to waste my time gng BBDC and waste more money. Hhaha! Its really by God grace. In the morning at abt 7.30am..the skies were so red and dark(like as if some tsunami or whatever was coming) at abt 9 i left house for my 9.50 lesson. it was still drizzling. after my lesson..ate at BBDC's canteen for the first time(: and waited for my warmup time at 1230. at abt 135pm i had to go into a waiting rm to wait for the traffic police tester to ome and call me. and guess what, i was the first to be called to sit for the test!! (: and it was SO SUNNY BY THEN!!my tester was really very nice as in extremely nice. even better than some instructors(: i had test route 10 if some of u may know.hahah. roads were not too bad but i came across many obstructions along the way in which one of them i had to cross the double white line( supposed not to, but the tester say okay) the test was so fast! really enjoyed the journey. Knew that God was with me so i didnt feel very nervous! Thanks for praying for me people!
I had to cab down to sch after that to attend 2 mtgs. ( I usually don't cab but i was too happy to be bothered)

Life in SMU is hectic and busy but thank God for gd frens and discipleship group which i have! So many project mtgs..presentations..getting used to it. I have also joined the Nepal CIP trip which will be in Dec. lots of planning to do...but great company!

Taking each day at a time....just doing my best for ultimately, God is in control(:

My warm-up paper! (: i drove car 54 for test!
Management Comm grp(J cube C square)!! WE love F1!!! (: Our F1 package for the class! NICE RIGHTTT

Stepping into Uni life!

It's mid aug already! wow wheee..mixed feelings abt sch though! but i'm definitely excited!
Firstly, i must thank God that the application to Uni( those matriculation stuff) went well! just awaiting for the TFL application and my ezlink card! THank God for the last week of july which was the most hectic one! attended the first camp(SMU CCC) frm monday to wed. It was enriching and fun except for the worship.hahah! but thank God for new christian frens made in SMU! I attended like 3 workshops after that in that wk! on 31 july was my FTB camp!!! thank God for a great grp! really international grp man. ppl frm myanmar,china, india and S'pore! my faci was coool too! she really guided us after the camp on the bidding stuff!
I am so happy!!! THank God i gt all my biddings successful after the 2nd window! i dont have sch on monday and thurs(: hahah!
And cant believe im at my 4th stage in driving already! my driving test is coming up! 24 sept(: cant wait!!! praying that i will pass on the first try..heheheh!
I have been helping out at galilee kindg..since i have nth to do besides driving..so ya! there was one day which i helped out in the class since a tcher was on MC. gt to interact with the kids! so cute(:
Last week was meaningful! on fri, went out with lydia,sq,rachel and jasmine to picnic! lyd and i went to sks in the morning first. we were all supposed to go the marina barrage. And i went to GOTHERE.SG for directions. but it seemed that instructions were wrong? haha. it said get off at tanjong pagar and walk to the busstop at synergy hub. and when we reached there, no one knew where snergy hub was. and we were stranded in the drizzle but thank God we found a sitting place at the underground exchange to eat our packed lunch! after lunch, we decided to head to esplanade for our picnic instead..hahah! had a great time there! great weather!!!

On sat, ladies grp went to HORT PARK! nice scenery though most of the time we were sitting at some sheltered area.haha! we had a bad experience man..a lizard suddenly dropped frm the roof of some shelter when we were eating..it went to lydia's foot and she lifted her leg up...guess what..the lizard JUMPED ONTO MY THIGH!!! lol..i used my hand to brush to the floor and jasmine was screaming so loudly although it was not on her!! haha..nice one jasmine!!! we were so scared that we headed to another place to continue eating.(:

i still cant believe its aug and im gonna start sch...looking forward to start sch with God guiding me!(:

A different week spent..

Really thank God for a well spent week! got to get down to doing many stuff! Had driving the whole week frm mon to fri(: same instructor! thank God for good instructor! (: ON monday, after driving, met SQ at her house for discipleship at the pool side..great cooling weather! After that, headed to city hall to meet mum and settle tuition fee loan. thank God its settled!! later, headed to orchard to watch 'Threads of Destiny' with yiqing..bad show!! ahhha..
Tue, went for my medical check up! process quite fast(: another task down!yay!

Thurs..went to meet jasmine at JP for dinner before heading to the wake service of Sister SimRou Ling(a church member's niece). Thank God Sister Rou Ling accepted Christ just few days before her death. This young lady is only 28 years old, and she suffered frm stomach cancer 4th stage.Through this, it impacted me more and reminded me how time is short, and if God wants to take away someone in His timing, He will. But this young lady is resting in heaven, free from all pain. I thought to myself, what if one day my heart suddenly stop or my breath is taken away. I've taken for granted that life isnt long on earth...

Fri, went to church after driving to help out with the kindergarden(: After that, attended the funeral service of Sister Sim. It's my first time going down to CCK cemetery to send someone off.
Came home and did my Uni matriculation!! One more down!(:

Saturday was a Happy day!!! My dear cousin Charles got married to Lynn! (: they are such a beautiful and sweet couple(: Church wedding at Wesley methodist church before heading for reception at the pyramid club.headed to church for YF after that(:

Yest was the wedding dinner at fulleton! more relatives came frm this one! all aunties and uncles present but not the cousins...great atmosphere and food(:

Praying for another blessed and fulfilling week spend this week!