Friday, February 13, 2009

Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day.

Therefore I would like to take this awesome opportunity to wish everyone a,


VERY MERRY HAPPY AWESOME FULL OF LOVE VALENTINE'S DAY!

Wishing every couple, and couple to be, those who wants to get attached, the single and available ones, the sad, lonely and depressed ones, the "It's Complicated" status ones to have a great Valentine's Day ahead!

From,

Kevin "The Cupid" Lee~*

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Last Sunday :)

Well last Sunday I had a blast joining this youth service nearby my area. After service they invited me to join their Annual Amazing Race (what timing!), so I kinda like put me in a group consisting of this cute girl named Dianne (one of the group member who won the Race last year), a chubby, cute looking 13 year old kid named Josh (he looks like a cute teddy bear! really!) and this Australian Hong Kong dude named Jason. I truly admire what our leader, Dianne, did immediately when she gathered us. She kept insisting that we are going to WIN, and WIN , and surely WIN this race. It magically sets all of our mindset to go on becoming the champions for this race (though we sadly didn't, you'll get to that part later on). Pretty good leader I must say.

Just like any Amazing Race, they gave us the first letter, and off we go to the a mall nearby, taking the infamous jeepney, and there we had to find one of the marshals, take a group photo, to get the letter for our next destination. Next stop was one of the famous markets around the area (forgot the name though...) and there we had to find a stall where the marshal is and our "ROAD-BLOCK" was to count how many peanuts there are in a container. After our speed counting (111 total of peanuts, our leader kinda like shouted the answer to the marshal despite knowing there are other groups there counting the peanuts as well, she must have been to anxious and excited ...hahaha)

Next destination, to another mall, getting there by means of a taxi, and DANCE like never on a Dance Dance Revolution Machine! WOO HOO! The best duo in a group who gets the most points get a 10 minutes advantage! So yeah, me and the Australian Hongkee volunteered ourselves, cause we both had experience playing (dancing) with it. So we danced like never before, and to my and your surprise (hopefully you are), I got the highest point among everyone who danced. Not bad huh? Hehehe... Got myself an A and only one MISS step. Hebatnya aku! BANGGA BETUL! Hmphhh!! *Hidung super tinggi like never before* So yeah, our team won the 10 minutes advantage. Heh.

So next, we gotta go to another mall at the main city (Manila of course..)by taxi, go to one of the many many Pearl Stalls (there are like..100 + of them in that section of the mall itself! CRAZY!). So yeah, Pearl Stall number 19, still not easy to find though, since the arrangements of the number seems to be, of all things, RANDOM? (wants to go and bash up the person who is in charge of the mall), so here we are, at the Pearl Section, crazily finding that stall, and we praise God for finding it, and to make things worst, we gotta HAGGLE the price to buy one of the bracelets there. From 50 pesos, to 40 pesos. Well, good thing we have our leader, Dianne, to do her smooth-talking, cause us, the guys, will definitely do a bad job at doing it. Thanks to that, we kind of lost our advantage and got overtaken by other groups. Oh well..

Moving on, now we had to take a BUS to ANOTHER MALL (why are there so many freaking malls in Philippines!?) and get to ChowKing (it's a famous Chinese fastfood chain restaurant in here, but the Chinese food they serve, well, it sucks! Can't beat the real thing back in Malaysia!). Well, another funny and weird thing is the challenge that we had to take there. If you think the challenge is to eat any of the Chinese meals there, you are wrong, cause our challenge was to finish up 2 large bowls serving of the infamous ChowKing's Bobo ChaCha Ice-Cream (Halo-Halo was the name) and I was like "What the heck!? How in the world there is such flavor for ice-cream man!"

I immediately scooped nearly half of a bowl serving..and this is what happened...

KEVIN HAS FINALLY EXPERIENCED "BRAINFREEZE" FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE

is still in awe seeing one of the guys from another group putting the whole bowl in his mouth...amazing...aku kalah habis...sobs..

I was drinking water and eating that stuff man! Hahaha... Oh well, next stop, we had to go to one of the marshall's house, but along the way, we got lost and got overtaken again -__-... Anyways, the challenge was for the Australian Hongkee dude (and for all the Australian Hongkee people in the other groups that came for mission trip here) to eat a horrendous local dish, which I remembered , cause I ate it too when I was back here on 2002.. The taste is just too memorable already (sarcasticly saying). Its basically boiled pork, and served with pig blood as the gravy. AWESOMELY GROSS. The locals seems to love this dish a lot though...oh well.So Jason pretty much whalopped the whole dish instantly, for the team of course (maybe being hungry was a factor too, or maybe the Chinese tongue can easily endure any exotic foods served for them?), and the next and final stop - back to church! /yosh. Here we go!

Ahh finally back...church, sweet, church. Everyone basically rushed to the toilet, groomed themselves back, changed their shirts that is full of sweat (couldn't change mine since I didn't expect to join a RACE on that day, *Sobs*). So every group waited, while getting their time counted, and

FINALLY, FOR THE MAIN EVENT, ON THE LEFT CORNER, WEARING THE CCCAM T-SHIRTS, THE AUSTRALIAN HONGKEES!
AND ON THE RIGHT, STUCK IN THE EGGSHELL WAITING TO BE EATEN - THE REIGNING FILIPINO GROSS FOOD CHAMPION - BALUT!!!! (Please Google it if you dont know what it is)

So this time, whichever Australian representative from the group that finishes eating the BALUT fastes will get a 15 minutes advantage for their group! 15 MINUTES IS A LOT! Basically saying, whoever wins it, would make their group the champions on the spot (simply because nearly every groups time have about 5-10 minutes difference from each other). Apparently, the top two fastest eater (which took both of them only 2 seconds, well for me, in a blink of an eye...) are girls. AMAZING. Put to shame all the guys..how sad!

Anyways, despite everything, we all definitely had a great time together. Took a group photo, and got their contacts as well. Just gotta say this - Dianne's so pretty!! Too bad she's got a boyfriend already. OK, IM JUST JOKING ALRIGHT? I'm not trying to imply anything ok? Ok ok?

Went back home with a jeepney, and praised God for a wonderful day. I'm still waiting for a reply from Shirley regarding any affliated CHC churches back here, if not I would definitely join them again next week. It's quite a good church I must say, just that they don't have the culture of praying in tongues back in CHCKL. Doesn't stop me from speaking it though ;)

Monday, February 2, 2009

Goodbye Gina

Gina Lee Yeok Jang

She was one the first person I've got to know when I first joined City Harvest KL.

Together, with the rest of E6, the CG under the leadership of Theen Kin, you have helped me to grow in the Lord. You were among those who helped open me up from a shy, introverted, few words person, to who I am right now. You often gave me encouragements in and out of CG. You were actually the first person who texted me an encouragement sms, after the first CG session that I first join together with you and the rest of E6. I thank you and God for that.

We had Bible Study together under Gregory Chee, finishing the Christian Lifestyle book from lessons to lessons. You were the one who helped fetch me there, waiting patiently at the Subang KTM Station with your Perodua. There was once when I woke up late, due to sickness, yet you were so patient and calm and concerned on the phone, despite being late already in class waiting for me, calling me several number of times. You did not even sounded angry nor impatient at all. Instead, you kept asking me how I was, whether I've been to a clinic to see a doctor and so on. I thank you and God for that.

We celebrated Chinese New Year 2006 together with Sherene, Eng Kim, Theen Kin and Keng Fong, and all 6 in one inside Eng Kim's famous yellow mini-cooper, we went around visiting. We had to cramp ourselves up inside that mini cooper, but it didn't matter, cause we definitely had fun together. In Sherene's house, we ordered Dominoes Pizza, and it was on that table, you, Sherene, Keng Fong, Theen Kin and Eng Kim made a vow to get attached, from the oldest to the youngest (I wasn't included due to underageness).

When Church first announced it will be having a Chinese Service, it was you who was among those who wanted to help Pastor run that vision. To see you depart from our CG to Sally's CG (and now Xin Hui's CG) was heartbreaking for me, but it was for your own good, and you were able to grow so much with her. Together you and Xin Hui had Bible Study together, and I was simply rejoice and was glad to see that tremendous growth in you.

EMERGE 06 - You, me and Xin Hui formed a group together for WORD POWER. You had me amazed by being able to memorize so many verses just within one day. You basically was the top scorer in the preliminaries, helping our group to qualify for the finals. Sadly, due to some technical errors, our group suddenly was not included among the rest. You and Xin Hui definitely taught me a great deal of being positive regardless of the dissapointments we faced. That was certainly your strength. I thank you and God for that.

March 2007 - CLT Batch 11 - You were among those who were in that batch. I remembered you for being the top-scorer in the entire Batch, scoring mostly 90's and + (I think ALL) for all the exams, and was certainly one of the best preachers in East Zone. You preached with fire and passion, and I certainly admire you for that.

Somewhere around late 2007, on a Sunday afternoon, after service, and after serving the Church cafe, I was eating my meal alone on one of the tables there, and you suddenly came and joined me. Honestly I don't know why, but I teared at that moment, which I myself have no idea why it happened. I guess I was just touched for the simple matter of fact that you accompanied me eating lunch together. Though we seldom kept in touch already, since both sides are busy with their own ministries, we manage to share what we are going through on with life. I thank you and God for that.

The whole 2008 was a definite busy period of my life, and yours too. I couldn't get to meet up with you anymore during Sunday's, since you were busy with the Chinese Church, and I was busy serving in the Cafeteria. But I am so assured you are doing well with all of them, and I still remember, during one Saturday night, I joined you, and some of Chinese Church core members, for a short prayer meeting. Though everyone was praying in Mandarin, I somehow understood some of things that you guys have prayed. Even then in there,you potrayed to me great leadership skills, on how you did explain what the core members have to do on the next day, and how you led them in prayer. I thank you and God for that.

I was shocked when I heard that you had cancer...you battled through it with a great and positive attitude, still being able to smile and laugh when people visit you. Even your photos shows so much joy...the joy that you have in the Lord..that is so precious to Him..

Two weeks before I left Malaysia, in the church office, when I spoke to you on the phone...and little did I know that it was the last time I was going to speak to you...we asked me how I was doing so far right now, and after all that before I said goodbye I said these words,

"Hey Gina, let's believe God that you will be discharged from the Hospital soon! I'm looking forward to see you back on your feet, back in church and doing alright!"

I can hear her laugh and smiled when she said back to me,

"Yeah, definitely! Pray for me ya!"

.....


Today, at 6.45pm, while logging on my facebook account for updates, Hazel Hor sent me a message in my inbox.

Title: Gina passed away...

Dear all, thank you for the prayers & love...Gina has passed away peacefully at 5:42am, 2nd Feb 2009 at University Hospital.

Being shocked, angry and sad at the same time, I tried to hold my tears in this public place that I am in right now. I deeply regret not being able to see her before I left. I deeply regret saying what I've said to her on the phone.

However, God comforted me with His words (from the Book Of Job 1:21b),

He gives and takes away,
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Thank you Lord for placing Gina in my life. It is definitely not by mere chance and coincidence, for she was a great blessing in my life. I will always treasure and remember the precious memories I have for her, being a friend, a sister, a teacher, and a great role model to follow.

Thank you Gina. Please continue to smile at me back in heaven. Will be seeing you there soon, someday. If there's any chance I'm slacking, please give me a kick in a butt, or scold me or do whatever.. I don't know...just..thanks again. Love you always.

From your growing lil' bro,

Kevin~*