I thank God for letting me see his wonderful creation around us. I've pinned those cities on the map:
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS . . .
I can still recollect vividly my first "white Christmas." That Dec 25th morning I woke up very early, couldn't wait to see if my dream had come true. I quickly opened my window. Lo, and behold—the garden was glistening white as far as I could see from the heavy overnight snowfall! What an exciting experience. Over the next few days I went out with Invar (one of my buddies from Scandinavia), and he taught me how to make an angel in the snow.
Angel in the snow
We also created caterpillar's(tractor) track around the garden, and made a three-feet snowman--complete with hat, scarf and a carrot nose. And of course, we had a snow-ball fight too, not forgetting the hard labor of scattering gravel on the footpaths around the huge community (to make it safe for walking). Incredible!
However, this year I can only share my dream of a white Christmas with my wife in Singapore, and watch amusingly how some Singaporeans are decorating their Christmas trees with cotton-wool snow!
A Blessed Christmas & New year to all!
Angel in the snowWe also created caterpillar's(tractor) track around the garden, and made a three-feet snowman--complete with hat, scarf and a carrot nose. And of course, we had a snow-ball fight too, not forgetting the hard labor of scattering gravel on the footpaths around the huge community (to make it safe for walking). Incredible!
However, this year I can only share my dream of a white Christmas with my wife in Singapore, and watch amusingly how some Singaporeans are decorating their Christmas trees with cotton-wool snow!
A Blessed Christmas & New year to all!
Monday, December 22, 2008
TAKARA TOMY TRAIN LAYOUTS: CREATIVE MINI-RAIL ENGINEERING
When bored and tired, I find a new way out--creative mini-rail engineering!
A SLICE OF DAVINA’S LIFE (December 2008)
AMAZING RACE . . . AMAZING GRACE!
I was in high spirits when I left for Bangkok, Thailand, on 18 November for the last transitional module of my PhD programme. And when it was over, I would be rewarded with a trip to Israel. The module—Educational Leadership in Christian Faith Communities—was facilitated by Dr. Pieter Theron. We had great time learning about leading change in a learning community as well as leadership principles and practices. We even developed our personal leadership development plan. On 25 November, we concluded Pieter’s sessions with a sumptuous dinner—our last meal together as a cohort. “Great! This time, tomorrow, I will be in Singapore!”
Blissfully enjoying our dinner on
25 November in Bangkok
However, panic and fear gripped my heart as I watched the news that night. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport had been taken over by anti-government protesters. “Oh, no! I need to be in Singapore by 1 December!” By morning, the airport was closed. I was now a helpless victim trapped in the web of Thailand’s political turmoil. When I heard the airport would be closed indefinitely, I told the Lord that I was prepared to bid farewell to my Israel trip. The next morning (27 November), Dr. Allan Harkness suggested that we find alternative ways to get out of Thailand instead of waiting indefinitely in Bangkok. To me, it was a risky venture. My initial reluctance to follow the group to Phuket bent under the strong persuasion of my classmates who encouraged me not to give up my Israel trip so quickly. They even promised to let me have the first available air ticket out of Phuket. By that time, Casey had begun mobilizing many of you to pray for my safe return to Singapore.
Our group’s Amazing Race started in Bangkok at 4:30 pm in a hired van. We arrived at the Phuket International Airport at 2:30 am.
Listlessly waiting for a flight out of Phuket in the wee hours of the morning of 28 November
Because of my classmates’ sacrifice, I was able to get the last seat on Firefly (I had not heard of this airline before) from Phuket to Penang. I left Phuket at 11 am on 28 November. Thankfully, Casey also managed to secure a seat for me to fly from Penang to Singapore that evening. I reached Singapore at 7:30 pm, thankful and relieved after a 27-hour Amazing Race! By God’s amazing grace, I returned just in time to prepare for my trip to Israel. Thank you, friends, for your prayers! I could not have done it without you!
THANKSGIVING
For our group’s safe return from Phuket (PS. The last person to leave reached Singapore on 3 December)
For the able assistance of my colleague, Benson Goh, who taught my Greek 2 class and helped my students while I was away
For Casey’s completion of his initial thesis proposal
For an ‘educational’ vacation in Israel
PRAYER REQUESTS
For strength and wisdom in my ministry at EAST
To design a meaningful Greek Exegesis course for the third quarter that would be relevant to my students
To mentor effectively the girls in my family group for their spiritual and personal growth
To find and read books and articles relevant to my research topic
For a suitable supervisor for Casey who is writing on Contextualization of Theological Education
To all my partners-in-ministry,
Joy & peace be with you this festive season!
Davina (& Casey)
I was in high spirits when I left for Bangkok, Thailand, on 18 November for the last transitional module of my PhD programme. And when it was over, I would be rewarded with a trip to Israel. The module—Educational Leadership in Christian Faith Communities—was facilitated by Dr. Pieter Theron. We had great time learning about leading change in a learning community as well as leadership principles and practices. We even developed our personal leadership development plan. On 25 November, we concluded Pieter’s sessions with a sumptuous dinner—our last meal together as a cohort. “Great! This time, tomorrow, I will be in Singapore!”
Blissfully enjoying our dinner on 25 November in Bangkok
However, panic and fear gripped my heart as I watched the news that night. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport had been taken over by anti-government protesters. “Oh, no! I need to be in Singapore by 1 December!” By morning, the airport was closed. I was now a helpless victim trapped in the web of Thailand’s political turmoil. When I heard the airport would be closed indefinitely, I told the Lord that I was prepared to bid farewell to my Israel trip. The next morning (27 November), Dr. Allan Harkness suggested that we find alternative ways to get out of Thailand instead of waiting indefinitely in Bangkok. To me, it was a risky venture. My initial reluctance to follow the group to Phuket bent under the strong persuasion of my classmates who encouraged me not to give up my Israel trip so quickly. They even promised to let me have the first available air ticket out of Phuket. By that time, Casey had begun mobilizing many of you to pray for my safe return to Singapore.
Our group’s Amazing Race started in Bangkok at 4:30 pm in a hired van. We arrived at the Phuket International Airport at 2:30 am.
Listlessly waiting for a flight out of Phuket in the wee hours of the morning of 28 NovemberBecause of my classmates’ sacrifice, I was able to get the last seat on Firefly (I had not heard of this airline before) from Phuket to Penang. I left Phuket at 11 am on 28 November. Thankfully, Casey also managed to secure a seat for me to fly from Penang to Singapore that evening. I reached Singapore at 7:30 pm, thankful and relieved after a 27-hour Amazing Race! By God’s amazing grace, I returned just in time to prepare for my trip to Israel. Thank you, friends, for your prayers! I could not have done it without you!
THANKSGIVING
For our group’s safe return from Phuket (PS. The last person to leave reached Singapore on 3 December)
For the able assistance of my colleague, Benson Goh, who taught my Greek 2 class and helped my students while I was away
For Casey’s completion of his initial thesis proposal
For an ‘educational’ vacation in Israel
PRAYER REQUESTS
For strength and wisdom in my ministry at EAST
To design a meaningful Greek Exegesis course for the third quarter that would be relevant to my students
To mentor effectively the girls in my family group for their spiritual and personal growth
To find and read books and articles relevant to my research topic
For a suitable supervisor for Casey who is writing on Contextualization of Theological Education
To all my partners-in-ministry,
Joy & peace be with you this festive season!
Davina (& Casey)
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