The sirens wail while blue and red neon lights flash.
It's hard to distinguish if it's from the garrish signs or from patrol cars.
Outside the clouds of carcinogen wafts through.
You become street smart; the addicts, the girls..it's easier to know who's who now.
A row breaks out.
You just learn to ignore and duck away.
The winter chill wheezes through.
The darkness amplifies the glarring signboards.
We get on the bus.
It's almost like a mission adventure. It's even funny how they call this the outreach bus.
The hours are long. Seemingly frightening at first, but the a sort of mutual understanding between them and the service allays fears. There's no gurantee however, cravings can overtake cognition.
Needles, condoms are distributed.
The ignorant me never knew what were dams, the different sizes of rubber, or even the details of men2men s3x or girl2girl action. Or that the going price for full service was a mere 50.
We take our packs and go by foot. Into the "safe" houses.
The girls mill around, at least it's warmer here. Outside some wait, they must be chilled to the bone in their costumes. I am, in 3 layers while they fight the cold in less than one.
It's almost midnight. I take leave, won't want to miss the bus home.
With the stories I hear and see happening, imaginations must be surpressed as I cross the park alone.
But I arrive home safe and warm.
Again, it's amazing I got this placement because IMU students were not given a choice when the rest were cuz we were extras. While others are doing geriatric rehabs or reproductive, diabetes clinics, I'm dispensing methadone.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Thursday, June 07, 2007
A curl
There's just something special in the simplicity of curling up in front of the heater while the rain patters outside, with the guitar and just playing songs that come up randomly. (oh no, is it the cause of the rain? haha)
Haven't heard nor remembered this song for a long long time! But it's the song for this week I reckon after a really weird, fear ridden week (with death, the reminder that I lost another friend that way a few years ago & I prowled the streets alone at 11 pm!).
I have made You too small in my eyes
Oh Lord, forgive me
And I have believed in a lie
That You are unable to help me.
But now, Oh Lord, I see my wrong
Heal my heart and show Yourself strong
And in my eyes and with my song
Oh Lord, be magnified (bis)
Chorus:
Be magnified, Oh Lord
You are highly exalted
And there is nothing You can't do
Oh Lord, my eyes are on You
Be magnified,
Oh Lord, be magnified
I have leaned on a wisdom of men
Oh Lord, forgive me
And I have responded to them
Instead of Your light and Your mercy
But now, Oh Lord, I see my wrong
Heal my heart and show yourself strong
And in my eyes and in my song
Oh Lord be magnified
Haven't heard nor remembered this song for a long long time! But it's the song for this week I reckon after a really weird, fear ridden week (with death, the reminder that I lost another friend that way a few years ago & I prowled the streets alone at 11 pm!).
I have made You too small in my eyes
Oh Lord, forgive me
And I have believed in a lie
That You are unable to help me.
But now, Oh Lord, I see my wrong
Heal my heart and show Yourself strong
And in my eyes and with my song
Oh Lord, be magnified (bis)
Chorus:
Be magnified, Oh Lord
You are highly exalted
And there is nothing You can't do
Oh Lord, my eyes are on You
Be magnified,
Oh Lord, be magnified
I have leaned on a wisdom of men
Oh Lord, forgive me
And I have responded to them
Instead of Your light and Your mercy
But now, Oh Lord, I see my wrong
Heal my heart and show yourself strong
And in my eyes and in my song
Oh Lord be magnified
Thursday, May 31, 2007
While it is easy..
...to gloss over Lina Joy's case cuz
1) it doesn't change anything for me
2) so what?
3) it's good debate and reading material
4) merely something to think about
& especially because our newspapers report it as if it's just merely a landmark case, a test of the judiciary, impersonal...
I forget that behind it all is a woman who's making true sacrifice.
Because more than just the verdict, but the consequence of the verdict.
Would you fight it even if it meant you couldn't get married to your beloved for 7 long years?
What's she going to do now?
A faceless hero.
1) it doesn't change anything for me
2) so what?
3) it's good debate and reading material
4) merely something to think about
& especially because our newspapers report it as if it's just merely a landmark case, a test of the judiciary, impersonal...
I forget that behind it all is a woman who's making true sacrifice.
Because more than just the verdict, but the consequence of the verdict.
Would you fight it even if it meant you couldn't get married to your beloved for 7 long years?
What's she going to do now?
A faceless hero.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Meeting a celebritiy
Again, the clinic is never short of surprises...
Was in a consult and as he talked, I had a feeling I've read about this somewhere....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6676267.stm
And true enough it was the man in person.
Was in a consult and as he talked, I had a feeling I've read about this somewhere....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6676267.stm
And true enough it was the man in person.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Oversight
The wheels squeak pass and the music blares.
Shinny colourful packages scream "Pick me!"
Rows and rows of dehydrated "bad for your health but you eat it anyway" noodles with every kind of imaginable flavour are on display. You search for a familiar name.
"Ah ha!" It's here after all!
Images of a cold winter night with a bowl of hot steaming goodness fills your mind. Red slurply spiciness is the remedy to all cold blahs.
Woolworth ain't that bad after all you think.
And you pay for it. And bring it home. And put it in your cupboard. Oblivious.
And only after a while when you actually want to cook it you realize with a gasp...
"IT'S NOT MAGGI CURRY!"
The impostor!
Thankfully you're not greedy & only bought 1 packet!
And as a punishment, the impostor sits unopened in a dark cupboard because somehow tomato flavoured maggi just doesn't sound appealing.
:)
Shinny colourful packages scream "Pick me!"
Rows and rows of dehydrated "bad for your health but you eat it anyway" noodles with every kind of imaginable flavour are on display. You search for a familiar name.
"Ah ha!" It's here after all!
Images of a cold winter night with a bowl of hot steaming goodness fills your mind. Red slurply spiciness is the remedy to all cold blahs.
Woolworth ain't that bad after all you think.
And you pay for it. And bring it home. And put it in your cupboard. Oblivious.
And only after a while when you actually want to cook it you realize with a gasp...
"IT'S NOT MAGGI CURRY!"
The impostor!Thankfully you're not greedy & only bought 1 packet!
And as a punishment, the impostor sits unopened in a dark cupboard because somehow tomato flavoured maggi just doesn't sound appealing.
:)
Friday, May 25, 2007
Peel back a bit more
"Oh you are going back even though hols are just for 2 weeks?"
A rush of heat, a prickle of anger escapes.
A dozen of comebacks form.
A sarcastic thought pops "oh, how I wish I was going back simply because I am spoilt and because I have nothing better to do with my money. But I'm going back because she has cancer."
But she decides, just keep quiet, it's not intended after all. Gulp down.
A random article pops in the paper.
An author with the same cancer. Same type even. Same treatment, and twice reoccurance even with treatment.
Another sinking feeling.
People mill about.
How are yous are thrown.
She hesitates.
I'll save my story for another day.
The battle she's fought to be strong.
The distance she deliberately created.
She will not be like other girls who cling on, pester.
No, she won't beg.
She'll stand on her own two feet if he won't stand with her.
The inner wars.
To not blame God. To not blame anyone.
To not blame herself.
To not demand answers.
To still try and try and try to see that there is, there is a silver lining in life.
And maybe that's why the sky does seem bluer, and the flowers brighter,
because when everything has been taken away, the little things become precious.
She knows many will not understand.
But she understands as well why many don't.
She didn't after all, she was far too overwhelmed complaining about exams, about futures of international medical students overseas, where she'll work, about bgrs, about studies, about vista and crappy imu food even! (haha)...about everything worth complaining about until cancer hit her.
And now she truly gets it.
It really hurts.
It really really does.
This is what real pain feels like.
Other things are really frivolous.
She's still tempted at times to think that she has the worst lot in life.
And she knows how dangerous it can be.
After all, no one will fault her for being bitter. Who dares to say anything against her when the word cancer is attached to her last name. She can get away with a lot of complaining! :)
And she knows how judgmental she can be as well when hearing other people's complaints, forgetting that she was once at the same place.
But she knows, she is blessed despite all that has happened.
She won't complain about the cold spell because her patients don't even have a house.
How can she even compare? A man who had swollen legs all the way to his knees because he walked all night because he didn't have a home; it was too dangerous to sleep at night because he'd be raped.
Yes she wished she didn't have to walk alone, yet when she hear the stories of those who were beaten, betrayed and sold on the streets by those they love, she knows their pain is far, far deeper.
Some days she succeeds.
Far more good days than bad now.
Sometimes it still painful. Really painful. She knows most will gloss it over, and again she knows no one understands except those who have walked such paths.
And despite how independent she'd like to be, she knows she can't do it perfectly.
She's still human, she's still a girl.
But because she can't, God can.
A rush of heat, a prickle of anger escapes.
A dozen of comebacks form.
A sarcastic thought pops "oh, how I wish I was going back simply because I am spoilt and because I have nothing better to do with my money. But I'm going back because she has cancer."
But she decides, just keep quiet, it's not intended after all. Gulp down.
A random article pops in the paper.
An author with the same cancer. Same type even. Same treatment, and twice reoccurance even with treatment.
Another sinking feeling.
People mill about.
How are yous are thrown.
She hesitates.
I'll save my story for another day.
The battle she's fought to be strong.
The distance she deliberately created.
She will not be like other girls who cling on, pester.
No, she won't beg.
She'll stand on her own two feet if he won't stand with her.
The inner wars.
To not blame God. To not blame anyone.
To not blame herself.
To not demand answers.
To still try and try and try to see that there is, there is a silver lining in life.
And maybe that's why the sky does seem bluer, and the flowers brighter,
because when everything has been taken away, the little things become precious.
She knows many will not understand.
But she understands as well why many don't.
She didn't after all, she was far too overwhelmed complaining about exams, about futures of international medical students overseas, where she'll work, about bgrs, about studies, about vista and crappy imu food even! (haha)...about everything worth complaining about until cancer hit her.
And now she truly gets it.
It really hurts.
It really really does.
This is what real pain feels like.
Other things are really frivolous.
She's still tempted at times to think that she has the worst lot in life.
And she knows how dangerous it can be.
After all, no one will fault her for being bitter. Who dares to say anything against her when the word cancer is attached to her last name. She can get away with a lot of complaining! :)
And she knows how judgmental she can be as well when hearing other people's complaints, forgetting that she was once at the same place.
But she knows, she is blessed despite all that has happened.
She won't complain about the cold spell because her patients don't even have a house.
How can she even compare? A man who had swollen legs all the way to his knees because he walked all night because he didn't have a home; it was too dangerous to sleep at night because he'd be raped.
Yes she wished she didn't have to walk alone, yet when she hear the stories of those who were beaten, betrayed and sold on the streets by those they love, she knows their pain is far, far deeper.
Some days she succeeds.
Far more good days than bad now.
Sometimes it still painful. Really painful. She knows most will gloss it over, and again she knows no one understands except those who have walked such paths.
And despite how independent she'd like to be, she knows she can't do it perfectly.
She's still human, she's still a girl.
But because she can't, God can.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
A picture or two
I really really love the scene around my hospital.
Paddington/Oxford Street/Darlinghurst is just amazing; retro 2nd hand bookshops where you can buy paperback murder mysteries for Aud1!, quirky small cafes with amazing varieties of coffee (decaf soy vanilla latte anyone?), posh stand alone boutiques. Thai eateries, Italian restaurants, Sushi corners, Indian takeaways, organic foodshop.
Beautiful parks & quaint little houses. Lots of vibe: UNSW art school & the National Gallery nearby. Unique ancient buildings yet only 10 min walk to the city.
This place has the highest concentration of g@y/alternative lifestyle. Mardi Gras starts here every year. The rainbow colours represents the alternative lifestyle & something new I found out: carrying an umbrella with rainbow colours is a symbol of support.
This is my hospital: modern & sleek
& the classical looking medical education building which is the former hospital building. & they r side by side each other
The park opposite the hospital.It's just sooo pretty and nice, I love my walks from the bus to the hospital. But the contrast is unbelievable... while it's quite an expensive area because it's in the city it's also a hot spot for drug use and homelessness. While walking 2 days ago, I saw a dead body & police in the park. Which is really such a shame because the hospital was just less than 20 meters away!
And this doesn't even cover my placement location 5 min away from the hospital, which is even more hip & interesting!
The experience is just confronting, amazing & never boring!
today someone OD in the toilet & thankfully someone else realized & saved the man's life.
Yea, basically I'm at a s3x & drug clinic at K1ngscro$ (symbols r deliberate to prevent search engine spammers)
K1ng's Cro$s has for a long time been known to most Australians as the drugs and red light capital of Australia. Most Australians who have visited $ydney at one time or another have wandered through the Cross, if only for a look at how the "other half" live and play. In recent years, however, this sleezy pocket of Sydney has started to evolve, albeit ever so slowly, into a richly vibrant part of the city. The strip clubs, tople$s waitresses, adult bookshops and tacky nightclubs are still there, but small, trendy cafes have sprung up on the fringes of the Cross that are attracting a different type of visitor. The Cross is most sleazy at night, when the bright lights come on and the action hots up. During the day it can look a lot less threatening.
Visitors to the area should be careful, especially at night, as people do get mugged here. The other thing to be careful of is the spuikers outside nightclubs: they can be intimidating and aggressive and have been a problem in recent times.
from: http://www.sydney.com.au/kingsx.htmWednesday, May 16, 2007
God given
Guess where I am at for 6 weeks for my society & health placement?
And what's really amazing about this is that I was not given a choice on where to go and was randomly placed BUT, you can't escape where God wants you to be I guess.
There's just so much to see & experience, to reflect as a Christian on how much love is needed, on how confronting it can be, and yet precisely because of this so many Christians are needed in this field. I thought I have seen everything in KL, but no I am proven wrong!
Was both nauseated by the scale of things but also so much more aware and in awe of Jesus because this is where he would be, this is where he would have ministered. It's a good jolt to the system, to be reminded and to be soft hearted.
Yup, would want to put in pics of the place and all so I won't want to spoil the surprise of where my placement is at...haha, though some would probably guess already.
Just a teaser: On the 1st day of my placement we had a sit down with the manager to be briefed on the policies we have to obey. Expected it to be: be professional, turn up on time etc, the usual....
BUT, no...turns out my partner and I had to sign a form that..........we will not have sex with our clients (patients) or solicit sex from them.
yea...
And what's really amazing about this is that I was not given a choice on where to go and was randomly placed BUT, you can't escape where God wants you to be I guess.
There's just so much to see & experience, to reflect as a Christian on how much love is needed, on how confronting it can be, and yet precisely because of this so many Christians are needed in this field. I thought I have seen everything in KL, but no I am proven wrong!
Was both nauseated by the scale of things but also so much more aware and in awe of Jesus because this is where he would be, this is where he would have ministered. It's a good jolt to the system, to be reminded and to be soft hearted.
Yup, would want to put in pics of the place and all so I won't want to spoil the surprise of where my placement is at...haha, though some would probably guess already.
Just a teaser: On the 1st day of my placement we had a sit down with the manager to be briefed on the policies we have to obey. Expected it to be: be professional, turn up on time etc, the usual....
BUT, no...turns out my partner and I had to sign a form that..........we will not have sex with our clients (patients) or solicit sex from them.
yea...
Monday, May 14, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Never payable debt
A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~ Tenneva Jordan
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Such is..
Don't know if to write about this or not; don't want to sound really wonderful or anything because it's totally not because of me but inspite of me...
but it's been hanging around in my head for the past few days because it's so unreal when God actually moves that it's hard to actually believe...
Anyway, 2 weeks ago I went to sit in with the geriatrician for the his day clinic. His last patient was an elderly woman who's facing a lot of stress since the death of her husband 2 years ago from cancer. It was an assessment consult so the doctor spent considerable time doing history taking, diagnosed her with affective depression and started her on SSRIs.
She left the room, I had a quick round up with the doctor and then went to the toilet with the intention of going for lunch after that.
It so happenned that I met her in the toilet and started chatting to her a bit more (hmm..ladies and toilets=long wait, haha). Just as I was walking out, she said that she was going to have Japanese for lunch nearby and asked if I would like to join her.
The first thought that came to my mind was that it wasn't such a good idea to have overly personalized student & patient relationships, especially with a depressed patient. Plus, Japanese lunch=$$, not particularly economical. Was about to call my friend to meet up for lunch like we normally do too. (Oh and I should add, I actually made lunch but forgot to take it out of the fridge which is not something I usually forget to do)
So I declined her offer and tried to call my friend.
But something inside of me prompted me to cancel my plans and have lunch with her.
The phrase "for such a time as this" just flashed past me, somehow.
Ran after her a bit, and off we went for lunch.
Talked about family, her daily routines, hobbies, about her husband.
Ordered lunch, talked some more.
She was facing a lot of stress from grief and also as her children were not in Australia. Her children also had marital problems, she was very concerned for her grandchildren.
While I was eating (a nice sushi lunch btw!) I was thinking of ways to try and slip in something about Jesus & praying for a suitable/appropriate opportunity. Yet it was hard, because I didn't want to take advantage of a patient's illness (esp depression) and forcefully push it.
but yea...God does have a sense of humor and works when we least expect Him to
cuz just as we were about to finish, suddenly out of the blue she says
"So what do you think about Buddhism and Christianity?"
Seriously it was totally unexpected because no where in our conversation prior did we come close to even talking about religion!
Went on to have a bit of a discussion about on what she thought and what I thought. Shared a bit about Jesus and the cross. A bit about my family's crisis. I must confess I'm still not really good in these things. I don't know if our conversation made a whole lot of impact, but as she mentioned she had a bible at home, did ask her to read if she had time.
But it was just the way God orchestrated the whole lunch which amazes me.
Just a side note: She even paid for my sushi lunch, even after I paid the waitress. She took the money and gave it back to me.
Yea, God does have a sense of good humor and wonder. :)
but it's been hanging around in my head for the past few days because it's so unreal when God actually moves that it's hard to actually believe...
Anyway, 2 weeks ago I went to sit in with the geriatrician for the his day clinic. His last patient was an elderly woman who's facing a lot of stress since the death of her husband 2 years ago from cancer. It was an assessment consult so the doctor spent considerable time doing history taking, diagnosed her with affective depression and started her on SSRIs.
She left the room, I had a quick round up with the doctor and then went to the toilet with the intention of going for lunch after that.
It so happenned that I met her in the toilet and started chatting to her a bit more (hmm..ladies and toilets=long wait, haha). Just as I was walking out, she said that she was going to have Japanese for lunch nearby and asked if I would like to join her.
The first thought that came to my mind was that it wasn't such a good idea to have overly personalized student & patient relationships, especially with a depressed patient. Plus, Japanese lunch=$$, not particularly economical. Was about to call my friend to meet up for lunch like we normally do too. (Oh and I should add, I actually made lunch but forgot to take it out of the fridge which is not something I usually forget to do)
So I declined her offer and tried to call my friend.
But something inside of me prompted me to cancel my plans and have lunch with her.
The phrase "for such a time as this" just flashed past me, somehow.
Ran after her a bit, and off we went for lunch.
Talked about family, her daily routines, hobbies, about her husband.
Ordered lunch, talked some more.
She was facing a lot of stress from grief and also as her children were not in Australia. Her children also had marital problems, she was very concerned for her grandchildren.
While I was eating (a nice sushi lunch btw!) I was thinking of ways to try and slip in something about Jesus & praying for a suitable/appropriate opportunity. Yet it was hard, because I didn't want to take advantage of a patient's illness (esp depression) and forcefully push it.
but yea...God does have a sense of humor and works when we least expect Him to
cuz just as we were about to finish, suddenly out of the blue she says
"So what do you think about Buddhism and Christianity?"
Seriously it was totally unexpected because no where in our conversation prior did we come close to even talking about religion!
Went on to have a bit of a discussion about on what she thought and what I thought. Shared a bit about Jesus and the cross. A bit about my family's crisis. I must confess I'm still not really good in these things. I don't know if our conversation made a whole lot of impact, but as she mentioned she had a bible at home, did ask her to read if she had time.
But it was just the way God orchestrated the whole lunch which amazes me.
Just a side note: She even paid for my sushi lunch, even after I paid the waitress. She took the money and gave it back to me.
Yea, God does have a sense of good humor and wonder. :)
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Who says we are all nerds?
I'm in the library right now killing time but when I read this, I can't help but log on just to blog about this!
From: Multiple Choice Questions in Clincal Examination (Talley & O'Connor 1996)
Question 2-10:
The clinical term 'shock' has a rather different meaning from that in common use. Causes of medically defined shock include:
a) coming across a completely unexpected question in the final examination
b) myocardial infarction
c) anaphylaxis
d) angina
e) Gram-negative sepsis
I hope you get the touch of irony in the question!
Haha.
Reminds me of the story Prof Allistair Randwick told us to an answer a student wrote in an exam paper:
Give the defination of shock.
Ans: Unexpected surprise.
From: Multiple Choice Questions in Clincal Examination (Talley & O'Connor 1996)
Question 2-10:
The clinical term 'shock' has a rather different meaning from that in common use. Causes of medically defined shock include:
a) coming across a completely unexpected question in the final examination
b) myocardial infarction
c) anaphylaxis
d) angina
e) Gram-negative sepsis
I hope you get the touch of irony in the question!
Haha.
Reminds me of the story Prof Allistair Randwick told us to an answer a student wrote in an exam paper:
Give the defination of shock.
Ans: Unexpected surprise.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Feels a bit more like home
DUMC Cg in Vista used to be really fun sometimes, where I'd laugh too much or drink caffeine in mamaks & become too alert to fall sleep...(yea guys I really do miss you all!)
But thankfully bible study group is becoming more familiar and comfortable now.
It's still different; we don't sing songs in bible study and it's not a topical bible study, don't have all the testimony/sharing slot too..and although most of my bible study is Asian (which is the exception in Unichurch), they are all ABCs...
....it's actually a good sign that I can't sleep at 1.11 am now even though I have to wake up at 6+ plus tomorrow cuz I had so much fun screaming & laughing while playing monopoly.
Red Pizza night: where every1 brings random toppings
Monopoly at my place
But thankfully bible study group is becoming more familiar and comfortable now.
It's still different; we don't sing songs in bible study and it's not a topical bible study, don't have all the testimony/sharing slot too..and although most of my bible study is Asian (which is the exception in Unichurch), they are all ABCs...
....it's actually a good sign that I can't sleep at 1.11 am now even though I have to wake up at 6+ plus tomorrow cuz I had so much fun screaming & laughing while playing monopoly.
Red Pizza night: where every1 brings random toppings
Monopoly at my place
Monday, April 16, 2007
Choice
After nearly 2 months of visiting around and sometimes attending church in the morning at somewhere else, at night at another.....I've finally made the choice to be at Unichurch.
It was really hard to make this decision. The "style" of churches here are very denominational based; it's either all....
I do miss DUMC, where there's a good balance of being charismatic yet bible based with good sermons.
Church A is very worship based; famous, great music, big.
Unichurch is the complete opposite; where people rarely clap hands but with solid sermons; almost like bible college!
It's not easy to decide which because both had their advantages. I didn't want to miss out on the freedom to express & my charismatic roots but at the same time I wanted good word. For a few weeks I was running around confused! Some Sundays I'd say I want to be here, yet at other times I wanted to be at the other.
But that's what choices are all about. It finally dawned upon me that sometimes I can't have everything. At least not in this world; where human systems and even church systems are not fully perfect. Not in Australia, not in Malaysia even.
And the importance of focus & season.
I realize that this is the only few years I can actually join Unichurch because I won't be at uni after that. And this is also the time to dig deep into the word; especially for a noob like me...
To join a "mixed" church as well, to be humble enough to learn to adapt to different cultures.
It doesn't make the decision any easier because it's quite different (not necessarily in a bad way, but simply because it's different from what I'm used to) where there's no lifting of hands; let alone the other more "charismatic" beliefs. I don't even know most of the songs they sing here...a bit of hymns, their own EMU music (I've never sung much hymns in church before)
And it's 80% white and the rest of the Asians are ABCs. I'm still tongue-tied at times because the topics of conversation are so different!
No more laughing at lame jokes; bye to the lahs...
But I guess that what choices are all about.
To be decisive & to be brave enough to accept that for this season, there are certain things I'll miss because I'm making this choice. Yet to trust God that He will grow & bless other areas as a result of this decision.
*this is a personal observation on churches, and is not a comparison on which church is better than the other or which style is better/should be adopted. Both churches are good. Neither a Australia or M'sia church comparison as different places have different cultures & cater accordingly to the needs of its people. *
It was really hard to make this decision. The "style" of churches here are very denominational based; it's either all....
I do miss DUMC, where there's a good balance of being charismatic yet bible based with good sermons.
Church A is very worship based; famous, great music, big.
Unichurch is the complete opposite; where people rarely clap hands but with solid sermons; almost like bible college!
It's not easy to decide which because both had their advantages. I didn't want to miss out on the freedom to express & my charismatic roots but at the same time I wanted good word. For a few weeks I was running around confused! Some Sundays I'd say I want to be here, yet at other times I wanted to be at the other.
But that's what choices are all about. It finally dawned upon me that sometimes I can't have everything. At least not in this world; where human systems and even church systems are not fully perfect. Not in Australia, not in Malaysia even.
And the importance of focus & season.
I realize that this is the only few years I can actually join Unichurch because I won't be at uni after that. And this is also the time to dig deep into the word; especially for a noob like me...
To join a "mixed" church as well, to be humble enough to learn to adapt to different cultures.
It doesn't make the decision any easier because it's quite different (not necessarily in a bad way, but simply because it's different from what I'm used to) where there's no lifting of hands; let alone the other more "charismatic" beliefs. I don't even know most of the songs they sing here...a bit of hymns, their own EMU music (I've never sung much hymns in church before)
And it's 80% white and the rest of the Asians are ABCs. I'm still tongue-tied at times because the topics of conversation are so different!
No more laughing at lame jokes; bye to the lahs...
But I guess that what choices are all about.
To be decisive & to be brave enough to accept that for this season, there are certain things I'll miss because I'm making this choice. Yet to trust God that He will grow & bless other areas as a result of this decision.
*this is a personal observation on churches, and is not a comparison on which church is better than the other or which style is better/should be adopted. Both churches are good. Neither a Australia or M'sia church comparison as different places have different cultures & cater accordingly to the needs of its people. *
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Food craze
(smoked salmon with cheese, mushrooms, greens and olive oil.......all for less than Aud 2)I'm becoming a domesticated old lady: I love to go grocery shopping, love to *cough* cook.....and have started to arrange my clothes by their colour when I hang them! (ugh..)
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Red
It''s turned red! and my flowers have not died too..... :)Palliative care has a way of invoking the most hidden feelings. Even had a tutorial where they brought in a woman who loss her husband to colorectal cancer to talk about their journey. And she sobbed and sobbed.
To always be heard
To not be abandoned.
To always be heard
To not be abandoned.
but anyway.
if u r wondering, that's the balcony from my room. Yea, my place rocks..haha..pics of the place sometime later
Sunday, April 01, 2007
It's Good!
"Do you realize you are in a profession paid to love people, paid to serve people?"
"50% of med students drift away from church in med school, and another 5o-70% from the remainder drop away during internship years....are you going to be part of that statistic?"
"Our calling is just not to be a convert, but a follower"
"I am thinking of being a GP because I can have more time for my patients and even work 4 day weeks so that I can minister in church." from one of my friends.... & I am so blown away because in the Malaysian culture, being a GP is the leftover option we take if we can't get speciality training
"To have compassion for your patients, you must first have passion for God."
I've just got back from a camp specially for med & dental students in NSW & ACT and
-To have doctors and doctor-missionaries share their lives; specially voluntering to come to speak
-Doctors who really love their work, the people we normally read about in books speaking in person & who are so eager to help us blur students
-To have & be under an organization (CMDFA/Transfusion) that has a mentor-doctor list & lots of contacts so that students can go to Africa/Asia
-Students who are really eager to go the extra mile; my 6th year seniors went to Africa and Papua New Guenia last year!
......it's all really good
For a "i'm so new i don't know any1" noob like me it was also good to get to know the UNSW ppl a lot better as well...we the 4th year girls are thinking of going to either China or Africa for electives together! (if we can get the same elective block though..)
And now the dilema is not "how to arrange elective/trips overseas" but rather "every place sounds really challenging and exciting..how do I make up my mind?!"
(the towel represents servanthood)
PS: Do continue to pray for my family though...while I'm having things good here, it's still a struggle at home......
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