Ivy's Blog

2007-03-04T21:04:00.000-08:00

More zoo pictures.. Now that I think of it.. I look terrible when I go back to Singapore!!!

2007-02-23T15:07:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't updated in a bit.. anyways.. here's a picture from my trip to the zoo when I was back in Singapore.. MONKEYS!! Hahahahahaha... guess who the real monkey is.... :)

2007-02-04T03:06:00.000-08:00

I've not updated in AGES.

Been busy. Came back to Melbourne. School started. Will find some time to post pictures.

Going to see my supervisor tomorrow.. think I am not doing enough on the wards.

Anyways.... I think it is time to exercise my will power and rely on the strength of my God. It is time to... rebuild the temple of God.. to be more beautiful than what it ever was before.

2007-01-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged since I got back to Singapore. Actually, I haven't blogged this new year.

Soo I am sitting back in my room in Singapore with puffy eyes and a runny nose... getting a little better thanks to the wonder of anti-histamine. Yay.

Came back from KL yesterday... not very happy with shopping but I did manage to get my shoes.. heehee...

My eyes are super super itchy. So is my nose. It looks swollen. Going to the zoo today...

2006-12-27T01:25:00.000-08:00

Blessed Christmas everyone.. hee.. I know I am late.. had a crazy crazy Christmas.. let's see.. here's how it went

Tuesday 19th Dec: Peninsula Christmas Party.. roast turkey breast roll number 1

Wednesday 20th Dec: Nothing much.. sent Ian to the airport in the morning.. got stuck in the jam on the way back.. strangely enough there was a jam at 12 noon.. and we got stuck in the tunnel! I kept thinking to myself.. what would happen if we actually got trapped in the tunnel.

Thursday 21st Dec: Met up with Trina.. went for the last bit of the other care group's Christmas party.. went carolling... went to this house that had heaps of funky Christmas deco.. even a Christmas choir of singing stuffed toys.. I like

Friday 22nd Dec: CG 6b's Christmas party.. roast turkey roll number 2 and 3.. I actually went to invest in an electric knife to crave the turkey and ham. Ruth and I have unanimously agreed this Christmas that turkey breast rolls are the best invention ever even though they do not look as good and taste as good as real turlkey.. hey.. they are easy to cook and cut... considering last year I splashed gravy all over the kitchen floor on a 36 degree day.

Saturday 23rd Dec: Frankston Christmas Service.. Ruth did the cooking but I had to heat up all the food cos she was chairing.. grrr... oh.. this was the day Snowy ran away and it took us an hour to catch him. We even enlisted Michael's help. He ran under the fence into 2 other gardens before we cornered him and caught him. This was also the start of my sleep very little nights cos had to be up early for worship prac.

Sunday 24th Dec: Waverley Christmas Sunday Service... played for service.. nearly died of heart attack when Kei's guitar went out of service for a while... This is what happens when all the keyboardists go home on holiday at the same time.. My free worship is still bad.. I have decided to memorize songs.. I can now sort of play So You Would Come from memory. Helped Mei and Mary wrap sweets for a bit.. konked for a little while cos I was so so tired... sent them home.. went for dinner at Jason's.. came back.. cooked pasta for Christmas lunch... fell asleep under my laptop... woke up long enough to wish the people back home merry christmas.. konked again...

Monday 25th Dec: Christmas Day!!! It was pouring!! That was the best Christmas present ever for Australia.. RAIN!! It even snowed in the alpine region where it had been burning for so long and causing a terrible haze down here.. had lunch in church.. came home to sleep.. had Christmas dinner/Care Group affirmation/Dom's birthday dinner...

Tuesdasy 26th Dec: BOXING DAY SALE!!!!! The biggest sale in Australia.. heeheehee... i woke up at 5:30am.. picked the girls up at 6:20am.. reached the city at 7am.. to go shopping.. shopped for a good 6 hours.. but wasn't satisfied.. came home and zonked... Gary's farewell in the evening.. left early to give Jacinta's mum a ride to the airport.. and i counted.. all in all this is how much I slept over the Christmas period..

Fri Nite: 3 hrs
Sat Nite: 2 hrs
Sun Nite: 4 hrs
Mon Nite: 4 hrs

Which makes a grand total of 13 hours in 4 nights.. even I am proud of myself.. cos even with the 4 hrs.. they weren't consequetive hours.. I am training myself to be a real doctor!

I slept 6 hours last night.. then went the Chaddy again today.. been looking at the CK stuff on sale.. the quality is really quite good.. but I think that means I need to handwash my stuff.. the machine is wrecking a lot of my clothes..

2 weeks to home.. I really want to go home this time.

Will be in self-imposed exile over the next few days.. I need to pray.

2006-12-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

In 11 months, I will be a doctor. I FINALLY got my results. I passed, not fantastically well, but I managed to get through. And I really have to thank Someone up there for being faithful whilst I have been so so faithless. I guess it's about slowly coming to see the promises of God coming to pass in my life. I remember when I was whining to Him about my exams and not being able to finish studying, God reminded me of this verse:

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 1:6

Don't you marvel at the wonder of God?

2006-12-14T14:44:00.000-08:00

It rained!!!

Thank You God!

2006-12-12T05:57:00.000-08:00

I was reminded of something tonight.

Recently someone's been scolding me a fair bit. Ok.. I do deserve it some of the time.. but usually it winds up in the 2 of us getting fed up with each other for a while.

I've been asking why she scolds me so much. And God placed a reminder in my heart.

When I was a little younger.. Mummy used to tell me..I scold you because I am your mother. If you were not my daughter.. I would not bother.

It's true you know. You only bother to scold or get upset with someone not because you want to get back at the person.. but because you really care.

The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference.

2006-12-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

The weather here's really really really bad!

On Saturday morning, when I opened the front door, I was greeted by... HAZE! All the Malaysians who had lived in KL before spent the rest of the day saying.. wah.. this is like back home! Australia's burning... bushfires galore. It is terrible. When we drove down to Rye and back later to Frankston, the road was so so hazy you couldn't really see very much. And we are actually quite far away from Gippsland and the north-eastern parts of the state where the bushfire hot zones are. We are going through a drought. It has not rained very much. And the heat is scorching. Had a couple of 39 degree days. It went up to 42.1 on Sunday! Then it became cold again last night...

Melbourne weather has to be female. Only a female can be that temperemental!

And I am also car-less. For those who do not know yet, I got rammed from behind at a red light.

DISCLAIMER: It was NOT my fault!!!!

I was actually sitting in the car, waiting for the light to change, and had been for quite a while.. then the RACV tow truck behind me decided to accelerate while the light was still red.. and voila, I am not without a car as the back windscreen shattered and the boot got dented. They called yesterday, said it would take 9 working days to fix. They even told me that it would be back before Christmas!! So now I am car-less.. which is not a good thing here cos you can't just walk out to the road and catch a bus to anywhere you want to go to.

My Mac is also in hospital. As I have been telling every one that my car is in hospital. Sent it in to get a key changed. Apple care is so nice. Free service. :)

I have been nua-ing at home. Thinking about my life. Sometimes I wonder why I get so bothered when some particular people say certain things or get upset at me. I just can't help it but I do.

It's one thing to give advice and say something positive, it's another to live it out.

2006-12-10T06:14:00.000-08:00

God, please send rain!!!!

2006-12-05T06:08:00.000-08:00

1 thing God really placed in my heart tonight during care group was the word 'holy'.

1 thing I always thank God for is the ability to be able to hear from Him. I've never struggled with this aspect of my walk with God.. and He has been faithful, especially in the many times I have been faithless when I hear from Him and do not cling on to the words He said.

What does it mean to be holy.

Many times, as Christians, we use the word holy. We describe God as holy and we know that we are called to be holy because He is holy. But do we really know the real meaning of the word holy.

If you had asked me before tonight, I would have told you that being holy meant being like God. The image I have in my head is the throne room in heaven where all the angels are bowing down before the Lord and surrounding Him, just as the prophet Isaiah describes in Isaiah 5.

But tonight God revealed to me that I never really understood the meaning of the word 'holy'.

I checked it out. The word holy basically means to be set apart. We are holy because we are set apart by God for a special purpose. God is holy because He is God. He is the great I AM, He is perfect, He is flawless.

For us, it is a privilege to be called holy. For God, it is His right because holiness is His nature. I heard somewhere (sorry, going for more than 1 church service a week has started to confuse me) that at times we take God too lightly. We focus on His grace and mercy so much, we focus on the fact that He calls Himself our friend and our brother, that we forget that He is also God. And in that aspect, He is set apart from us. We are merely His creation. He is the alpha and omega, the creator of the universe.

Sometimes, we forget to give God His due honour and respect. We forget that as part of our relationship with Him, we need to fear Him. And that's when we become blase about what we do, because the attitude we have is that God has grace anyway, a bountiful amount of it as well. But God is still holy and righteous and He cannot stand sin.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."
Romans 12:1

2006-12-04T05:21:00.000-08:00

Jason said something to me tonight which reminded me of a principle I was taught years back.

When you have a problem, do not go to your shepherd right away. Seek God. Cos God will always be there for you. Humans won't.

And God never ever fails you. With humans, sometimes when you expect a kind word or just some encouragement or even a smile, you get brushed away, ignored or maybe have something hurtful said at you. Yes, even from those you love and who say they love you back.

People will always fail us, but God never fails us.

Love should be sought from God. Comfort should be sought from God.

Oh God, please help me in my current situation.

2006-12-03T18:19:00.000-08:00

My Clayton Care Group 2006.. Some of my favourite people here in Melbourne whom have made such an impact on my life.

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them

2006-12-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

My first collage.. of the trip....

2006-11-27T03:35:00.000-08:00

We went on a trip down the Mornington Peninsula last week after I finished my exams and before Rachel went home. We had a really exciting time. We didn't get to pick strawberries because the fruit was hail-damaged from the terrible hail-storms we have been having. We didn't get to go to the wineries because they were closed on week days!

We did get to buy strawberry wine, pick cherries and go to the beach though. That was quite fun. It was good fun and fellowship in the sun. :)

The clearest prettiest water I have seen in Australia.. Singapore comes no where near.

At the beach...

Among the cherry trees....

Cherry Farm.. we found the place where you could pick your own cherries.. I've actually been there before.. I think

BIG berry.. and it tasted fantastic too.

The largest strawberries I have ever seen.. coated in chocolate.

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm.. no picking of berries.. they got damaged by hail.

At Arthur's Seat.. some look out on the way up.. long a dizzy ride up

2006-10-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

I think my parents have forgotten once again that daylight saving has started once again in Melbourne. So right now.. the birds do not start chirping as early.. yahoo.. but they continue chirping past 6pm!

I am so tired. Trying to finish my assignments, study for big exam. Urgh...

I have also concluded.. my flesh is very very weak...

God.. HELP....

2006-10-15T02:20:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia is hilarious...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singlish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffles_Junior_College

They even describe how the guys' uniforms differ from the guys' uniforms in RI...haha

2006-10-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

It's 31 degrees here today. I checked the Singapore weather and it is a max of 31 there too. I can't decide which is worse. The hot dry scorching heat or the humidity. Then again there's the haze back home thanks to the slash and burn season in Indonesia. But then again, back home, there's air con in every single room in the house! Over here, the fans are all in the garage cos it's still supposed to be cold season. Global warming.

Oh phooey.

I'm stressed. It's 5 weeks to the end of the semester and the largest biggest exam of all my medical school years and I still have 4 assignments to do! Aiz, and people ask why I am cranky and grumpy and hiding away from everything.

I'm in the library now. The entire library is chocker-blockers full, probably because the rest of sane society starts their exams in slightly over a week, plus it is broiling out there. I walked to and from uni twice today cos my skirt was coming loose and I felt for the sake of decency I had better change it.

It's even too hot to eat. I would really like an ice cream or an icy pole though.

Excuse my rambling. I'm just going through one of those I am so stressed I think I am unravelling at the seams phases again.

Too much has been happening I guess.

It is at these times I just want to be back in Singapore. Cos I can just study. No need to worry about meals and laundry and how messy your room is. No need to worry about people cos your family accepts you for who you are bar the scolding and the nagging. It's strange. We don't seem to get hurt as much by our own family as we do our close friends. Have you ever wondered why that is so?

I miss Daddy's herbal chicken, Mummy's soup and her clean clean clean kitchen... I miss my TVB... I miss my choir days... I even miss that sister of mine.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.........

I think doing psychiatry hasn't helped me too much cos I think I am going as crazy as the patients. Some guy broke a plastic chair with his bare hands yesterday. The consultant felt it might be a good idea to let him loose on the open ward cos he felt it was the stress of being cooped up in seclusion that was causing the aggra behaviour. All of us went... UMMMMMMMM....

Oh God, just help me let go. I just need to let go.

2006-09-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. " ~ Romans 12:2

2006-09-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

Many people upload pictures on their blogs. Something I do not really do. But since I am feeling really what I would term to be boh liao today... here is another picture of me...with the cherry blossoms.

My doctor did not show up today.. which is why I am sitting at home.. I was thinking of not turning up on him.. so I called the clinic.. and lo and behold.. he wasn't around.. still on holiday apparently. So good for me.. I climbed back into bed. Trying to finish my psych case. I am probably gonna lug my psych books up to Whittlesea later to study tonight. Will bring a camera too. Take pictures for once. Haven't done so in ages and ages.

Summer's nearly here. Been sneezing a lot.. which is my sign that it is well and truly into Spring. The white flowers in the garden are out.. along with the butterflies and the not so nice flies.. Un-buttery-flies. We let a big one into the house yesterday.

I am eating as much rice as I can now because I think I am gonna have to stomach ang moh food again for the next 2 days. Bleargh... Now I understand why my daddy must have his rice.. and most unfortunately.. I seemed to have picked up that trait. I need my rice and soup to survive!

I like this passage that I came across in Romans 12:

Love

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Yes Ivy, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. And as such, pray, pray and PRAY!

2006-09-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

I think God has a sense of humour...

In my great distress last night, I asked for a word.. and this is what I got...

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." ~ Romans 15:7

2006-09-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

darn you!!!!!!

I know this is really not me but darn darn you!!! It's 5:10 in the morning and I cannot sleep because of something someone did.

DARN YOU!!!!

I trusted you!!!!!

How much more of this God?.. How much more....

2006-09-09T02:02:00.000-07:00

I've actually not blogged properly in some time. Just been too too busy.

It's one week to the opening of the Frankston Centre. This is my last free Saturday afternoon. It's a really exciting time for the church cos we're starting a new centre about 40 mins away in a new suburb. Umm.. this would be equivalent to starting a church on Jurong Island if you lived near Changi airport I guess. :) So yeah, been pretty busy with that. Going down to look at the place, doing evax, doing the paperwork stuff, care group, Alpha. Then there's also care group in Clayton.

1 million churches by 2015...

In less than 18 months I'll be a doctor.. hopefully.. Hooi Ling came and told me that when I'm called Dr Ong.. if you say it fast enough, it sounds like Dr Wrong.. grrrrr

I'm surrounded by crazy people twice a week. They think they are Jesus, the Prince of Wales and all sorts of other crazy things. It's not just on the movies that you see such things. It's actually real. I got flashed at this week. The other day I got told I have really nice teeth. Haha...

I need to start studying for my VIA at the end of the year, because I want to be a doctor... and I need to see Prof Doherty this coming week to see if he can offer me some job in the department.

Well... I guess in times like this, God is the one person you really need. In every situation, remembering that no matter how big the situation, My God is much much bigger.

God does all things for the good of those who love Him.

And here's a picture of me... haha... taken by Anto.. thanks Anto...

2006-09-06T23:21:00.000-07:00

True Companion: "Bone of my bones"

“So when choosing a companion, look for the man who is as related to you as a brother. Look for the one with whom you can communicate without words. He is the one who knows what you are. He knows what you are going to say before the words leave your lips. He knows what is in your heart because it is in his too. You were cut off the same material. You sense things about each other as twins do. He is your brother. Undoubtedly you will face challenges and problems in life, but you will seek solutions in the same place. You will both turn to your Father.”

-T.D. Jakes (The Lady, Her Lover, Her Lord)

2006-08-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Oh dear God.. keep me from going insane....

2006-08-23T22:55:00.000-07:00

You know what I think tastes better than Krispy Kremes? Tau sar pau.. tau sar mooncake.. tau sar bun.. oh how would I kill to go home now that Mooncake Festival is coming up!!!

My mooncake with eggyolk, snowskin mooncake, my turtles and little piggies in a basket......the flaky skin mooncake... ice cream mooncake.... pomelo.. lanterns.. sitting in the balcony under laterns....

Honestly.. Chinese New Year with all the ang pows is actually not my favourite festival of the year.. Midautmn Festival is.

I love my tau sar.

2006-08-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

Oh joy! It works!!!!!!!

The only problem is that I am hopelessly addicted to it... arghhh!!!

Oh Daddy, the reason that Ida is not updating is cos she has a new blog..

http://sepiamemories.blogspot.com

Okies.. will update more later.

2006-08-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Singapore!

National Day once again.. this year... it was a Malaysian who reminded me about S'pore's National Day. I seem to be drifting farther and farther away from Singaporean life. Well, I still love my bak kwa.. heehee...

Went to the airport this morning with Anto, Jeffrey and Ian to see Osi off. He went back to Botswana for good. It was a 4 hour round trip.

Time to go. Need to make a pot delivery to Hogan.

2006-07-26T00:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you think you are really close to someone then that someone decides to hurt you. What do you do then? What do you do when the person seems to treat you like a punching bag, has no regard about your feelings or your physical state in this matter and just rails and rants at you about things that aren't even in your control, or even less your fault?

Aiz.. life is full of questions ain't it.

2006-07-22T00:56:00.000-07:00

Ah... I am finally updating my blog.. still no proper internet at home.. but I am actually getting used to it. Hardly turn my desk top on nowadays.. cos no internet to access... if I need stuff printed I do it at the hospital... free printing is always a good perk.

So I am now sitting at Hogan once again... where I come when I need to do online work....

Week 3 of uni for me starts on Monday.. another LOOOOOOOOONG semester.. doing psych.. I have concluded.. u need to be nuts as well to be a psychiatrist. Though I like paeds and O&G more, I must admit that psych is frightfully interesting. We are always hiding in the nurses' station.. cos that's the safest place to be. It's like being in a big fish bowl.. the patients are always staring in.. that is when they are not banging on the doors or rattling the main door to get out. We actually have special keys that unlock every door in the psych dept.. and we are instructed.. watch when you leave the wards! Don't let anyone out. We have tutes every morning when we are on rotation. One of the tutors is really quite funny. He can imitate all the various psych disorders really really well. I have been really tempted to stand at the glass pane and stare back at the patients when they come and stare at us. Unfortunately, I have been advised not to.

Went for my first GP placement as well. My GP told me I can go in whenever I like, leave whenever I like and do whatever I like. He even told me if I wanted NOT to go in, I could. He said going for GP placements won't help me pass my exams. Studying would. Anyways, he sent me home after 1 hour. Mind you, I went in at 2pm! Most of my friends had to go to their GPs at 9am!!! His practice nurse has promised I can draw as much blood as I want next week.. heehee.... Oh.. and just about a month ago.. one of the GPs at that practice got STABBED and MURDERED by a psychotic patient... sheesh.. thanks Monash!

I like my day back in uni... feels good to be back having lectures and sitting in CMHSE once again.. after so many years....

I am so tired... it's Saturday... I want a longer weekend.....

2006-07-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

I've been back here a week.. and I am still sick... grrrr... coughing up copius amounts of yellow muck.... think it's the weather.. my skin is peeling like crazy.. and oh mum.. the good news about your expensive trip to Dr Tay.. I've not really had many new spots appear...

It's my last weekend of holidays.. boohoohoohoohoo..... I'm going back to school next week!!! uck.... we have church conference this weekend.. starting this evening... in the city.... another boohoo.. but I heard this time's conference is supposed to be really good. Ps David who's speaking supposedly has fantastic testimonites....

Been having a sort of crazy messed up week. Trying to deal with some stuff.. orientation.. meeting people... did Born to Fly last weekend with the kids.. they were uber cute!

World Cup fever is still on... I haven't watched a SINGLE match.. muahahaha...

Okies.. I better go... it's freezing down here...

2006-06-28T01:46:00.000-07:00

My last afternoon in Singapore...

I think I must have put on like 5kg while I was back here.. but I never once had fast food... not even Mos Burger.. aren't you all proud of me? :) I am highly addicted to rice and dishes. Which is massively cheap! Like i pay $2.80 for rice with tofu, veg and a meat! In Melbourne.. dream on ah.. they don't even have such stores ah.. don't even talk about pricing.

Let's see.. I met up with Hui Min, Yvonne, Teresa, Jolene, Qihui, Kah Yong, Penny and her care group... the Wesley Chorale... which means I also got to see Mr Toh and his family... my own family.. except Ah Mah.. that was quite a lot of meeting up...

I also got sick... I had a fever with aches and chills and now I have a massively productive cough....

I shopped and shopped.. 2 things that I will never stop doing... eating and shopping... I got new glasses and the crumpler laptop carrier I've been wanting

I had satay, bak kwa, sotong mee, sambal stingray, sambal lobster, sambal kang kong, chwee kueh, prawn-paste deep fried chicken, curry puff, baby squids, nasi lemak, chicken rice, laksa, lots of rice with dishes, crab, prawns, preserved vegetable soup.. etc..etc..etc...

I need a diet and the cold weather now.... hopefully the cold weather will cure me!

Thank you Mummy and Daddy for the holiday.. I really enjoyed myself. And yes, I know you read my blog... and thank you Ida for reminding me what it is like to have a siblig!!!! Grrrr......

Okies... I will be back in Melbourne in slightly over 12 hours... :)

Sayonara hot weather... you are one thing I will not miss.

2006-06-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

This is paranoia at it's max!

Been sitting in front of the comp for the past 2 days waiting for an email I don't want to receive.

Oh Monash.. why are you just so plain WEIRD?

2006-06-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Singapore.. and missing Melbourne's weather. I hope it's really really cold when I get back next week cos I really really miss the cold. Well, that's not the only thing I'm missing about Melbourne! I'm missing care group this week as well... church.. well... I'll go to Hope Singapore.. but it'll be different.. anyways...

Food's lovely here... been eating and eating and eating... have had bak kwa.. my favourite lucheon meat buns.. cheng tng....cereal prawns... yam basket.. sambal kangkong... deep fried baby squids.... fried carrot cake.. the sorta rice that u can pick out what u want on it and 3 dishes with rice only costs like $3 bucks... nasi lemak.. yummy yummy... I have been indulging... just want to go to the MNG sale now! I'm so glad I make the sale every year...haha...

It's boring when most of your friends have finished uni and are all working... no one to meet up with u during the day...Huimin came over yesterday... caught up with her... asked her if she was still interested in being my bridesmaid when I get married cos Auntie Daisy asked me the other day who would be my bridesmaid when I got married. She said of course.. haha.. Von will be back on Sunday.. will probably meet up with them again... meeting Flora tomorrow... maybe Seowhui.. still waiting to hear from her..

Tomorrow is D-day... and God.. it is in YOUR hands.

“ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ” ~Ps 91:1

2006-06-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

1 Day more...

Dear God,

May You carry me through this day. There are many things I do not know about tomorrow, but I know 1 thing stands. You will be there tomorrow. Tomorrow lies in your hands. Heavenly Father, take my exam into Your hands. Carry me through. I can't do this by myself, I really need You.

Thank You Jesus.

Amen

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to share
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful?
Who will all our sorrows bear
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
~ Matthew 19:26

2006-06-11T01:19:00.000-07:00

The weather is freezing! But the house is nice and warm thanks to a modern invention known as ducted heating. The internet's still not working. But I guess it's actually been a good thing because then there's less of a distraction. Considering that the bed is already a big distraction, that's a big plus.

Studied with some classmates just now. 1 more night and 1 more day to study for OSCE. Will get back to it once I am done with dinner and a quickie nap. The life of a medical student. Was reading someone's blog about her deciding whether or not to accept her place for NUS medicine. Well, coming from the point of view of someone who did not get into NUS med, I think it's more of the depriving someone of a place that is sad. I was lucky that I have parents who could afford to send me away to study what I wanted. But I also have friends who had to give up a life-long dream just because of money. Now that is quite sad. Honestly, bar the prestige, medicine isn't for everybody. Even after 3 and a half years I have days when I ask myself why I wanted to do this so badly. And seriously, if you think being a doctor is cool, it isn't.

On another note, pastor shared in church today that God wants to break you such that His light can shine through you, just like light coming from within a cracked pot. I think 1 thing I asked myself today is how much do I trust in the promises of God. Even if situations may point away from what God has promised. And that in all situations, to believe that God really has the best plans. When it deals with matters of the heart, it always hurts. Trust me. But that's when you have to learn to give it up.

So yeah, give it up Ivy.

Standing on the promises of God my King.
Standing, standing
Standing on the promises of God.

2006-06-10T02:19:00.000-07:00

1 week to the end of exams
2 weeks to going back to Singapore
3 weeks to coming back to Melbourne....

So exciting.. have an action-packed time ahead.

Heard some news recently that got me a little upset and I did something I promised myself I would never, ever ever do. But I did it. Oh well. But it's really all in God's hands now.

Please God... let Your will be done in my life....

2006-06-03T00:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Me!

Haha.. I am studying on my birthday. Exams are in slightly more than a week and I am really nervous about them cos we didn't get proper structured teaching this sem.

The internet at home's still not working. There's only the main server that has internet.. and that is also the most dysfunctional comp in the house.. with no microsoft office whatsoever. So I spent the entire afternoon sucking off someone else's network. Thanks guys. It is much appreciated.

Went for yum cha with the care group at lunch. Going for dinner later.

I just hope something is actually true.. please please please....

Oh wells... God bless everybody who is slogging away for exams!

2006-05-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

I NEED THE INTERNET AT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aiz.. that's about all I have to say.. when you have to wake up early to come to hospital to use the comp.. u do get cranky and tired.

2006-05-08T08:12:00.000-07:00

I guess this is just one of those days where you just wish things went a little better. It doesn't help that it's Monday.. it's 5 weeks to exams and I just can't seem to retain data in my head as well as I used to. It seems to leak out here and there. Then other things have to happen as well.

Sometimes, I just wish people around me understood things a little better.

2006-05-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

Ok.. PAP won 82 out of 84 seats. No surprises there. I'm glad the opposition won some seats though. I mean, we do need a balancing party in parliament. Today Elaine and Jason come to me very excited after service saying, " She sure will know the results one!".. meaning election results. Haha... I actually was so excited about reading the Straits Times this morning that I abandoned my normal daily bread.. oops.

I think I'm probably going home for a week and a bit in June. Wanna meet up with some people before they vamoose off again.

I think 1 thing I learnt about my relationship with God today is that I just don't take time off just to be with Him. Sometimes I'm just so caught up with the doing and the doing.. that's where Ruth calls me a workaholic.. that I forget to come back to Him. 1 thing I was reminded of today was that God doesn't really judge us by how much we do for Him but our heart for Him.

Father, take me back to that secret place. Where I can rest in Your sanctuary and meet You face to face. Take my burdens, take my pain. Fill me with your joy and peace that overflows. Speak to me with loving whispers and I enjoy the sweetness of Your presence. There's no greater joy Lord, than being with You. Amen.

2006-05-05T22:04:00.000-07:00

Today's polling day in Singapore. I was initially quite excited. Cos this is the first GE since I turned 21. There was a presidential election, but it was a walkover. Singapore is forever having walkovers. And I found out that I was actually eligible to vote cos technically, I hadn't, at the time the registry of voters came out, had been out of Singapore for more than 3 yrs.. now I have lah... Then I found out that the voting centre in Australia is in Canberra.. cos that's the only place with a Singapore High Comm. Then I found out that my area was being contested.. they carved out a new single seat niche in Bukit Panjang.. so I got excited again.. then my dad calls and says.. our block comes under Holland-Bukit Timah... grrrrr..... so walkover.

The Straits Times has been FILLED chocker-blockers with GE news.. it's quite entertaining to read.

As for my life... hmmmm....

Those who sow in tears wull reap in joy.

2006-04-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from OC 2006.. in Brisbane

Rachel, Ian, Christian & Jon

Ruth

2006-04-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

God showed me something a couple of nights ago. That would be 2 nights ago. Ruth and I were having this conversation in church just now and she was saying people need to learn that a couple means two.

A pair of feet was walking on a beach right at the water's edge. Each foot caused a depression. As the waves came, they washed the footprints away bit by bit.

I think 1 thing I have learnt as a Christian is that God does fully intend to do His good work in our lives. However, many a time, the waves of life from our carnal nature and the devil will wash the marks God leaves upon our lives away.

We need to desire and endeavour to make the prints stay. This may mean digging in deeper, it may mean walking back on that same print to ensure it stays and does not get washed away with each wave, it could also mean training others to walk the same path such that they make the same prints and soon, the wave of print-makers will outnumber the waves.

Press on.. life may be tough, things will never go your way 100%... but I know my God is faithful and true.

2006-04-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

I am now in Brisbane. OC 2006 is over and I had a great time.

Now I'm sitting in Joan's office.. cos she's doing her experiment. Then I get chinese food for dinner. Ah.. blessed chinese food. Going back tomorrow. Hopefully I can go shopping tomorrow. :)

Then I need to go back to school!!!!!!!!!

2006-04-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone!

2006-04-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for Brisbane in a couple of hours....It's the every two years trek up the east coast for Oceania Convention. I'm actually getting excited about it.. Just that tiredness is kicking in again. Might go back to sleep for a bit. Flying up at around 4pm.. but need to leave around 1:30. Preparing myself to brace the heat! Need to drop the rabbit off too.

I finally uploaded some old pics.. so here there are...

2006-04-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

Today was NOT a good day.

Do you know what is worse to have a neighbour who always parks the car in the driveway and thus blocking you from getting to your parking spot? That neighbour.. actually not even the neighbour but the friend.. parking and blocking you when you need to go to the toilet urgently!!!!!!

Ruth, please call the housing agent. That guy is driving me nuts.

Drove all the way to Frankston to find tute cancelled. Could not see the kids cos it was their rest time and so went to the shopping area.. and bought a pair of shoes.

Was late for this morning's orientation at MMC cos I was so tired I shut off my alarm clock.

I love the little kiddies. I love the neonates. I love carrying them. I so love this rotation.. except for the fact that I need to wake up at 6 plus.. drive down.. walk 10 mins to the hospital to get there for ward rounds at 8am.

The upside.. the student quaters have beds!

Going to Brisbane this weekend for the yearly Oceania Convention. Should be exciting.

2006-04-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Apple sold out!!!!!

I should have waited for the macbook pro...

But I still love my powerbook....

2006-04-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

RJ's having their official opening ceremony this weekend. I sure wish I could be there! They have a special website for it. And there's this sengment where Rafflesians get to post their memories of RJ. I shall write mine here.. and if I feel like I'll submit mine. Haha

The 2 years I spent in RJC at the Ghim Moh campus hold the fondest and dearest memories I have of my 12 years of Singaporean education. I still remember the first day of school as I entered the concourse with an eager anticipation of starting in a new school. I still recall the excitement I had of swapping pinning my first RJ school badge onto my dark blue pinafore that I later swapped for my water-proof, fire proof purplish white top and green skirt.

Orientation was the start of my 2 years. Algoroth was the theme for my year and we had Askkar and Maldor strutting their stuff. The games, the mud pit with the centipedes, the very same mud pit that caused a terrible stink in our classroom the following year, Orientation night with the fire in the netball courts.

I cannot really pinpoint a fondest memory I have of my days at RJ as there are just too many to choose from.I remember the LT 1 that was freezing cold during the monsoon season and how it corridor outside used to flood during that time as well. I remember during my chemistry lecture test in LT 1 after the air-con broke down and having lectures cancelled because it was impossible to have lectures in there in the heat.

The library where I used to hide in whenever I did not finish my tutorials was the place I remember getting thrown out of when some other student decided to make a tad too much noise!

I remember the pond outside the room my class used to have most of our tutorials in and having to save the tortoises after the got swept out due to the raising water levels during the rainy periods.

I remember biology practicals on Tuesday afternoons and having to draw gazillions of slide pictures and Mr Nah going, " Draw what you see and not what you think you are supposed to see!" I remember chemistry practicals on Thurday afternoons with the many broken burettes and a table sloshed full of potassium permanganate.

My class of 2S03I, 2001 was probably what made my time at RJ such a fantastic one. I remember the lunches we used to have at Ghim Moh market with all the duck rice and claypot noodles and the one and only time we ever bothered to line up for the famous char kway teow. I remember how we used to fight in line for the sweet and sour fried fish from stall number 2 at the old Mt. Sinai campus.

All the hours I spent with the RJ Chorale also hold fond memories in my heart. I remember how we used to stay back and sing in LT 2.5 while painting the chorale banner and the pink shoes I wound up with because someone spilt paint all over them. I remember the container classrooms we used to have extra sectionals and committee meetings in.

All in all, I know one thing about my days in RJC. Even though 4 years have passed since I left the school. My memories of my Rafflesian days still live on in my heart.

Auspicium Melioris Aevi

2006-04-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

In the name of uber boh-liaoness.... But honestly.. I think the 5-fold personality test is quite accurate!

People Envy Your Compassion

You have a kind heart and an unusual empathy for all living creatures. You tend to absorb others' happiness and pain.
People envy your compassion, and more importantly, the connections it helps you build. And compassionate as you are, you feel for them.

What Do People Envy About You?

2006-04-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion:

You have low extroversion.
You are quiet and reserved in most social situations.
A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you.
You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people.

Conscientiousness:

You have high conscientiousness.
Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life.
Most things in your life are organized and planned well.
But you borderline on being a total perfectionist.

Agreeableness:

You have medium agreeableness.
You're generally a friendly and trusting person.
But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism.
You get along well with others, as long as they play fair.

Neuroticism:

You have medium neuroticism.
You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic.
Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy.
Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is medium.
You are generally broad minded when it come to new things.
But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it.
You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

The Five Factor Personality Test

2006-03-29T21:25:00.000-08:00

Watched Grey's Anatomy.. finally. It's bad cos I'm not supposed to be spending time like that. But well.. I like the show.

It's made me think.. what does it really mean to be a doctor.

When I started medical school slightly over 3 years ago.. I had some idea. When I bugged my parents day and night to send me abroad to study medicine, I had some idea. Now.. I still have some idea. But the ideas have changed. I guess now a lot of the time, I think of what life is going to be like when I am a doctor. Ok, I still think a lot about the getting there with the work load and all. But yeah, I have a grand total of 4 holidays left before I graduate. We don't get mid-sem breaks.. so you can't count that. I get 3 weeks mid yr, under 2 months at the end of the year, 6 weeks some time next yr and 1 month before I start work. It's a very scary thought.

Brrrrr.....

2006-03-29T06:36:00.000-08:00

I am trying to apply for my elective for my final year. That would be next year. This neverending course of mine is actually coming to an end! Whopee!!!

So.. I really want to go to a 3rd world country. Top of my list are India and Thailand. India cos it supposedly has really good medical schools. Thailand as the church is there cos I cannot imagine being unchurched for 6 weeks. My problem.. finding websites for the medical schools for these countries. The Indian ones are hard to find.. the Thai ones are in Thai.

ARGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to do infectious diseases. Tropical. Cos you don't get that at all here in squeaky clean, first-world, very liveable Australia.

My next choice would be Vietnam or Africa. Africa's really expensive and apparently they don't know what to do with med students in Vietnam.

Last resort.. Kuching.

Last last LAST resort... go home. There I save on accommodation... cos I will be back in my own room. I just hope I can get used to public transport again.

I think I'm actually a little more inclined to Thailand. Haha.. as I was telling Swee today.. that means I might have to wear the Thai Unis uniform for 6 weeks! Save me the daily stress of what to wear.

India is very tempting too.

I also am looking at UK.. Scotland. Maybe I should try Ireland cos they say Irish medical schools are fantastic.

Choices choices....

2006-03-26T23:18:00.000-08:00

I just sliced my thumb with the peeler. So now I have a Casper bandaid on it cos there was this entire box of them on top of the microwave. Very sad. Yes I know. It's a purple bandaid. But compared to Keith who wound up at the A&E again last Monday cos he sliced off a whole chunk of thumb, I think I'm quite ok.

Last night we went to the city to the banks of the Yarra to watch the fireworks for the closing of the Commonwealth Games 2006. I got to see the fish on the Yarra! :)

The city.. the fireworks came from the tops of the buildings and the fish on the Yarra.

Us.

The MCG

2006-03-24T05:35:00.000-08:00

Been grumpy today. Not having a fantabulous day especially when people snap at you. I HATE it when people snap at you. It's like.. when they are in a good mood they laugh and joke at you, but when they are in a bad mood they snap at you. It becomes very hard cos it's like you need to tread on glass around the person, Aiz.. people...

On a different note.. I've actually managed to watch some of the Commonwealth games. I'm like one of the least excited people where the games are concerned. But I've figured one thing. Even though I say I might want to stay on here in Australia, and that I want to reside elsewhere in the world, I think I'm still a Singaporean at heart. Haha.. cos I will still support Singapore no matter what.

Some interesting facts of the games...

Australia keeps winning! I know they are on home turf.. but they have won like 70 over games medals!! I think having the home crowd cheer for you plays a part. I mean.. they sure have achieved no mean feat.. especially since Thorpe and Hackett are both not swimming

And the Australian TV channel only shows games Australia wins. So it hasn't been THAT interesting to watch as well.

Melissa Wu... their little 13 year old diving sensation is cute.

Sierra Lorne has lost more than half their team. They've absconded.

There are 71 Commonwealth nations. China is NOT part of the Commonwealth. Neither is the US. Which explains why Australia is having the ball of a time.

The Australian and the NZ flag look very similar!

I still don't know what the Australian national anthem is.

We're going to watch fireworks on Sunday!!!

2006-03-23T04:50:00.000-08:00

No Need Is Too Trivial
(From Our Daily Bread Devotional)

Isaiah 49:13-18

13 Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me."

15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!

16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.

17 Your sons hasten back,
and those who laid you waste depart from you.

18 Lift up your eyes and look around;
all your sons gather and come to you.
As surely as I live," declares the LORD,
"you will wear them all as ornaments;
you will put them on, like a bride.

Several mothers of small children were sharing encouraging answers to prayer. One woman admitted that she felt selfish when she troubled God with her personal needs. "Compared with the huge global needs God faces," she explained, "my circumstances must seem trivial to Him."

Moments later, her little son pinched his fingers in a door and ran screaming to his mother. She didn't say, "How selfish of you to bother me with your throbbing fingers when I'm busy!" No, she showed him great compassion and tenderness.

As Psalm 103:13 reminds us, this is the response of love, both human and divine. In Isaiah 49, God said that even though a mother may forget to have compassion on her child, the Lord never forgets His children (v.15). God assured His people, "I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands" (v.16).

Such intimacy with God belongs to those who fear Him, and who rely on Him rather than on themselves. As that child with throbbing fingers ran freely to his mother, so may we run to God with our daily problems.

Our compassionate God doesn't neglect others to respond to your concerns. He has limitless time and love for each of His children. No need is too trivial for Him. —Joanie Yoder

No heart too small, no world too wide
To feel the Master's touch;
Dear Lord of all, we give Thee thanks
For Thou hast sent so much. —Michael

God bears the world's weight on His shoulder, and He holds His children in the palm of His hand.

I've been taught to pray since I was a little girl. I don't think I'm quite so little anymore. I'm turning 23 in a couple of months. But to me, prayer is one of the most beautiful, powerful things in the world. It keeps me connected with my Heavenly Father who is always available to chat and who hears my cries and answers my prayers. I think nowadays, when it's sometimes hard to get someone to understand your point of view, or when someone just hurts you with what they say or do, going back to God is one of the best things that I can ever do. And what's more, I live in the knowledge that God hears my prayers and petitions and answers them in accordance to His will and perfect timing.

2006-03-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just feel like you could go crazy.....

We went down to Frankston again yesterday for care group. This year, the church is embarking on a plan for local missions... meaning we are trying to start new churches all over Victoria in line with fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) in our own backyard. It would be quite a big backyard. So the whole church has been divided in 4 groups covering 4 areas in metropolitan Victoria. City Centre has 4 other areas and our area covers Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.

So, since there is a Monash campus in Frankston we decided to start CCM there.. which was really quite a piece of cake cos there isn't a Christian club on Monash Peninsula. It was a piece of cake to start but has not exactly been a piece of cake to run as well.. it is a 30 min drive to get down to Frankston... petrol prices in the world are skyrocketing... my car now eats more than I do... this is an additional care group on top of the care group in Clayton that has just expanded at the seams again...etc etc etc...

At the same time, God has been really good to us. We've got really keen Peninsula students in the group. We get a good 7-10 students each time we have care group.. the matter is now retaining them and stabalizing them since we have been there 3 weeks... we also went out to dinner with them tonight.. or actually it would have been last night...

So yeah.. that's life for now....

2006-03-16T05:50:00.000-08:00

I am so convinced Macdonalds is bad for you. Cos after 2 days of eating it for dinner due to evax training.. I have a very sore throat! I love fried. I love fries more than any kind of food.. ok.. except maybe baby porridge.. but now my throat really hurts.

Urgh...

2006-03-12T04:44:00.000-08:00

Oh and daddy...

If you want to see pictures.. cos your daughter is too lazy to upload her own.

Ron's Page
http://www.pbase.com/ronong/narnia_night

Robby's Page
http://www.pbase.com/svenstar/narnia_night

2006-03-12T02:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at worship team meeting, something was shared..

David Builds an Altar
18 On that day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." 19 So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. 20 When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
21 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?"
"To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped."

22 Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23 O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you."

24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels [c] of silver for them. 25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. [d] Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

It was something that I had been thinking about recently. I sign off everyone of my emails with the line "Never give God anything that will cost you nothing", a spin off from this passage where David says that he will not give God an offering that cost him nothing.

I use it for 2 reasons. Number 1, I truly believe God deserves our everything. There is nothing in our lives that God doesn't deserve. When you understand that God has given us everything in life, giving ourselves up to Him becomes much easier, whether it be time, money or even intangible things like our own will and agenda. It hurts, oh boy it hurts, especially when you are already so tight for time and other things, or especially when you want something else so badly, but when you look at a bigger perspective and not just the here and now benefits, I think I can say assuredly that it is all worth it.

Number 2 reason is for the person who first taught the phrase to me. Shook Fund. She used to tell the Wesley Chorale this. I've been thinking about her lately, even before yesterday. Been thinking that Darryl would have been in Primary 1 this year, probably in ACS just as his dad had been. Shook Fund was a person who lived that phrase out and she was a person who exemplified Christ in her life. There was always a smile on her face and the love of God exuded from her to everyone around. She was about the nicest person I ever knew and one of the greatest Christian leaders I ever had.

2006-03-10T04:41:00.000-08:00

I normally TRY to start my day by reading the Bible devotional Our Daily Bread.. note the word try... I have a bad habit of reading it, then jumping on to read the papers. I am such a newspaper addict. Today I read all the papers in the Cabrini theatre tea room. I read the papers especially when I am stressed out. I find it a good stress relief... but people seem to think I am crazy. Pons used to say it made her more stressed watching me read the papers. I end my day my reading the Connect journal.. something Ps. Wilson came up with... it's another devotional.. but it goes according to a book in the Bible. This season's one is on Judges. And it goes for 3 months.

Anyways... Daily Bread has actually been really good.. even though a lot of people tell me I should read meatier stuff... cos it's too simple... but I just like browsing through it every morning. It's a nice way to start the day... as well as the fact that I believe that God can speak to you in many many many many ways.. doesn't matter how simple...

Couple of night back... think it was Wednesday night.. I was talking to Hui Min on MSN after shepherding with Ruth and telling her about all my problems.. as usual.. she never seems to have much problems.... then I read this

The Good That Pain Can Do

1 Peter 4:1-3

Living for God
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

Affliction, when we accept it with humility, can be instructive, a discipline that leads us to a deeper, fuller life. "Before I was afflicted I went astray," David said, "but now I keep Your Word" (Psalm 119:67). Peter would agree: Affliction leads us not to live for ourselves "but for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2).

Far from being an obstacle to our spiritual growth, pain can be the instrument of it—if we're trained by it. It can push us closer to God and deeper into His Word. It is a means by which He graciously shapes us to be like His Son, gradually giving us the compassion, contentment, tranquility, and courage we long and pray for. Without pain, we wouldn't be all that God wants us to be. His strength shines brightest through human weakness.

Has God set you apart today to receive instruction through suffering and pain? Endure this training patiently. He can turn the trial into a blessing. He can use it to draw you close to His heart and into His Word, teach you the lessons He intends for you to learn, and use it to bestow His grace on you.

God is making more of you—something much better—than you ever thought possible. —David Roper

By faith a Christian can have poise
And rise above all that annoys—
Sustained and strengthened by God's power
To live in victory hour by hour. —Hess

Whatever God teaches us through pain is gain

I think it really touched my heart that night cos I spent almost an hour trying to talk to Ruth about why I don't like talking about my problems. She says I like to sweep them under the carpet. I told her sometimes I just try and keep myself busy so I don't think about things. But I think that so nicely sums up everything... especially when I feel so frustrated at people when things just don't turn out as they should.

2006-03-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

Doing O&G, I have learnt that the world out there is one big funny farm. Or maybe it's just that I live a very sheltered life. All I do with my life is to do school-related stuff or church related stuff. That is all I have time for these days. No shopping, watching tv or anything like that.

Well, yesterday I witnessed a caesarean birth... to a couple of the same sex. Female of course. It was her own egg but a donor sperm, done via IVF. This was after I saw a 14 year old get an abortion and a 17 year old get the 2nd abortion. You really
wonder what is going on out there these days.

Oh wells.... I'm having a late start today and that is very very nice cos I've not had one almost since I started this rotation. :)

2006-03-06T05:28:00.000-08:00

I just realized to my immense IMMNESE HORROR!!! I DON'T HAVE A MID-SEMESTER BREAK THIS SEM.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-03-05T00:26:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday night already. It's also the 5th of March. Argh!!! Where did time go??? I'm so tired. We went to Phillip Island yesterday as the CCM Orientation trip. It used to be a trip to the Great Ocean Road, affectionately known as GOR. But that got scrapped last year after a really bad trip 2 years ago when people spent their entire trip throwing up. So yup, we made a day trip to Phillip Island yesterday. Went to Churchill Island, the Koala Conservotory and of course the Penguin Parade. Wound up driving at the last minute due to transport issues. People popped up etc etc etc.. so 6 cars went down with the coach cos they couldn't sell out the original 2 coaches so they cut it down to 1 then 1 wasn't enough.

So yuppers. That was that. Will post pictures. Was quite an ok day till the end. Then I started thinking it might be a good idea to start taking high blood pressure medicine due to circumstances around that raise my blood pressure. Saw a lot of sleeping koalas in the conservatory. Koalas sleep 20 hours a day due to their low energy diet. I think I would like that kinda lifestyle. There is the original homestead at Churchill Island. A lot like the old English country we visited in England (UK's better though) There was a horse there called Sophie.. we found this out cos her name was on the barn door.. so we made Sophie the human take pictures with it. They had animals and a lavender paddock as well. The paddock overlooked the sea, it was really really pretty. There were peahens and a peacock wandering around too.

Penguin Parade. It wasn't as cold as I rememebered it to be. We stood right at the back cos we walked down the beach, back up and down again. There were quite a lot of penguins, though we spent most of our time talking. Waited over an hour for the penguins.

Then there was the looooooong drive home. Ruth drove but had to stay awake to make sure she was ok.

Pitures soon. When I can be bothered to upload them. Mentor week starting tmr....

2006-03-02T06:16:00.000-08:00

My dad told me m blog was outdated. Well, I don't have time lah Pa! I just finished my tute, it's 1:15am in the morning, I need to be up at 6:45am cos I have theatre tomorrow in Cranbourne at 8:30am and I have no idea whatsoever how to get there. Then I need to be back in Dandenong by 1:30pm for a tute, then I need to go buy food to cook for church lunch, I had to come home, prepare for care group, cook for care group, practice for care group (the keyboard I mean), have care group, evaluate care group, then do more school work.

That's life... I wanted to be a doctor so I guess I need to get used to it.

I got my baby quota! Ruth was asking me how I could take all those deliveries, I told her I have gotten used to them. She said that's terrible cos I am trivialising something very important to the families. Oh wells, I'm still not put off having kids yet. :)

I'm still ploughing through the book of Judges in the Connect Journal. One of those rare books I have never ever read. I just got a new book today from my sheep too. Shall read it soon.

Okies.. my eyes are sore.. going to lie down in the heat.

Good night world.

2006-02-28T05:23:00.000-08:00

Teach me Your ways
O Lord, my God
That I may walk in Your truth
Give me a totally undivided heart
That I may know Your ways

Purify my heart
Cleanse me Lord I pray
Remove from me all that is standing in the way
Of Your love

2006-02-23T06:03:00.000-08:00

It's happened. It's done. Now I just have to learn to deal with it. Aiz....

2006-02-20T21:22:00.000-08:00

Congratulate me. I am sitting here eating up Swee's wasabi and soy chips.. this is the packet I bought to replenish her previous packet that I finished. This is really bad.

I didn't sleep at all last night. I was at the ward from 9pm-6am, I delivered one baby. One baby means I also delivered one placenta. 1 yucky, bloody placenta. You should never ever have to smell a placenta in this lifetime. Then I went to the airport and worked from 7am-12noon. Then I came home and tried to sleep. But I had things to do. I lay down for abt 45 mins, then I had to go pick Ian up. So now I am sitting here, zombified, not too happy cos someone yelled at me again and very very very very tired. There's prayer meeting later. Then tomorrow morning I need to be up early to go to Casey for gynae theatre then I need to go to Frankston to settle the CCM Peninsula stuff.

God.. I need you to keep me alive.

2006-02-19T05:16:00.000-08:00

My dad says I don't blog enought. Well, he blogs at least once a day and I don't think I have that kinda time. He was talking about his 30 year old cacti in one of his latest entries. My parents have heaps of cacti in little pots back home. If I am not wrong, they have a specially built shelf in the service balcony just for that. And I was so horrified when I read that entry. I never knew those prickly spikey things I used to love to play with had sentimental value. I used to pluck them off!!! ARGHHH!!!

Anyways... Wasn't having too good a day yesterday.. had a conversation with someone and found out somethings that really made me quite mad. Then God somehow prompted me to read the daily bread entry for the day. I don't do it as often as I used to nowadays cos I don't necessary switch on the computer early in the day and sit there and read stuff like I used to.

Here's what it said...

Inside Out

While giving a sermon, missionary Hudson Taylor filled a glass with water and placed it on a table in front of him. As he was speaking, he pounded his fist hard enough to make the water splash onto the table. He then explained, "You will come up against much trouble. But when you do, remember, only what's in you will spill out."

That's worth thinking about, isn't it? When we are mistreated or misunderstood, how do we respond? With loving words, patience, and kindness? Or are we inclined to retaliate in anger?

In Ephesians 4:25-32, we see the contrast between what a person is before he is saved and what he is afterward. When we live under the control of the Holy Spirit, we will show it by the way we react to the jolting trials and temptations of life. How we respond to trying, embarrassing situations that are suddenly thrust upon us is a good test of how much we have grown in grace.

It is possible to suppress frustration and anger, and to appear undisturbed to people around us. But if our heart is full of the Savior's love, we will respond to the jostling of an unexpected trial with genuine patience and kindness. Like a full glass of water, what's inside of us will spill over on the outside. —Richard De Haan

Lord, help me flee all sin and shame,
Lest I disgrace Your holy name;
And may I live so others see
The Savior's love revealed in me. —D. De Haan

When trouble grows, your character shows.

2006-02-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

Hee.. I delivered my first baby yesterday afternoon. It was a baby boy! Born to Macedonian parents. Their 3rd baby. I got to catch the baby, clamp the cord and deliver the placenta. I also got to take his obs later. I don't really like the smell of fresh placenta and I just found out newborns smell just like fresh placenta. Oh wells.

O&G is driving me nuts. I am so tired. I came back home today to rest and catch up with the other stuff I need to do. Will go back to the ward tomorrow. Dr Mary has agreed to give us more tutes. She's so nice.

So far my number of births stands at 5. I still need to see a forceps delivery. Not having luck with that one. Oh wells.

2006-02-13T04:04:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here waiting for my parents to call. Looks like they forgot again. I really hope they haven't.

Anyways, I now spend my days in the hospital waiting for babies to pop out from their mummy's *ahem* you know what part I am talking about don't you? I actually think I've been quite lucky, I don't need to stay for like the full 12 hour shift. Today I got there at 7am for handover, and my lady delivered by 8:53am, with an addition of a medical emergency, post-partum haemorrhage! She was a primigravida, and she didn't receive any pain relief. She is also 24 years old. She had a little girl. They didn't know the sex of the baby before it was born so it was a surprise. I think that's sweet. I think when I have kids, I'll let it be a surprise. Ok, I might seriously re-consider that statement after having seen all these livebirths.

Today's baby was really cute, she started blinking her eyes even before her shoulders got delivered. She's got blonde hair. She got really pink after a while and her mum was showing her to me after. That was after they managed to stop the blood from pouring out after like ALL the doctors rushed in to stop the PPH.

In Dandenong, the babies are all delivered by the midwives when it is a normal birth.

The first livebirth (I saw a stillborn before that) was a lady having her 2nd baby. I didn't have to wait too long for that one as well. Went in at 7am, she delivered at 11 plus.. nearly none. The baby girl was soooo pretty. Curly black hair, big black eyes and long eyelashes. Who ever said that newborns were crinkly and scrawny and covered in goo?

Well, the next time I go, I can get my hands in. :)

I haven't seen a caesar yet. Might go stick my head into OT tmr.

Went for clinic today and got to palpate a lot of pregnant tummies, feeling around for baby's head. There was a lady with twins. I love the kids that come in with their mums. There was this really really really sweet baby girl. 6 months old. She was gorgeous! I got to carry her and she drooled all over me. She was such a sweet baby. She doesn't even cry at all. Then there were a few little boys, one who was stuffiung his face with lollies. So so so so so so so so cute!!!!!!

Ok, long day again tomorrow. Finally getting some tutes. Better go to bed.

2006-02-03T23:02:00.000-08:00

I have ONE day of holiday left before I start another crazy 19 week semester with hardly any breaks and long long hours. Starting with my O&G rotation on Monday. I'm actually pretty excited about this one. At least in Year 4, you know what to expect with clinicals. And O&G and Paeds are actually topics I am interested in. In Year 3, you just have to do everything and anything, and while I like oncology, renal and gastro, I really don't think I am a cardio person, nor a respiratory person. I can't imagine myself spending the rest of my life ripping out veins from the arms and legs and reconnecting them to the heart in 5 hour surgeries. 2 per day. I can imagine myself listening to little kiddy hearts and tolerating screaming kids. I can imagine myself delivering babies. Hmmm.. I dunno. We'll see how the year goes. Apparently I need to stake it out at the hospital to meet my required quota of babies delivered cos babies don't choose when to be born. The good thing is that this time, I chose a hospital that is near shops! So I won't starve to death. Oh, and in Australia, the medical staff actually call pizza delivery in the hospital. I saw it the night I sat with Keith at the emergency at MMC.

I really wish I went home for the hols. It really doesn't feel like a new year cos I didn't go home. Oh wells, I will be back in June. Fingers crossed.

Need to go to church for set-up soon. I really feel like having a bubble tea. Will see about that one.

We're doing the book of Judges for devotional as a church using the new CONNECT journals. It's a pretty interesting book. Different from the previous ones. It's lot more deep and hard to follow. I have been falling asleep hugging the book and my bible. Recently it's been talking about the Israelites. The different tribes of Israel who had a command from God to take over the promised land and chase out the Canaanites. Instead, a lot of the tribes invaded the promise land. But instead of taking it over entirely, they allowed the previous occupants to share the land with them, and some even used them as slaves. Partial obedience. It may seem like an ancient story, but it really does exist in our world today. A lot of times, we compromise with God cos we want to choose the easy way out.

Recently, I guess I really have come to a point where I think following God wholeheartedly is not as easy as it seems. A lot of times it will cost us where we feel it. Our time, our money or even giving up something or some part of us that we do not want to.

Ruth talked abotu Frankston today. She says she needs people who can go all the way. Not people who will back out on her halfway. Cos starting a new cg is serious business.

God....

2006-01-29T14:16:00.000-08:00

We have declared Chinese New Year as students in Melbourne a very sad affair. We don't get the whole CNY atmosphere, yeah well, I went to Springvale the other day and nearly killed a little girl whose dad let her run around the car park while I was reversing my car into the lot. We don't get new clothes. We don't get ang pows. We can't exactly afford the CNY goodies cos the price is like ridiculously high. I have not tasted a piece of bak kwa in like ages and ages. You don't go house visiting. Actually, all we did on the first day of CNY was to go to church as per normal, then I came home and collapsed. I spent my day in church baby-sitting 5 6-year-olds. Boy was it a challenge!

Oh, last night was also thhe finals of the Australia Cup. The Men's Finals. Federer won. Yuka wanted Marcos to win. I sort of agree with her. That would have been more interesting. It's like Makybe Diva winning the Melbourne Cup. You know they are just so good, and they are really really likely to win, but yet at the same time, you want to root for the underdog. Well, but Federer will still be playing more games, unlike Makybe. Makybe has been retired from racing. BTW, Makybe Diva's a horse for all my non-Australian friends, :) She's really pretty too.

It's a cloudy day out there today. Such a change from the sizzling heat we've been having. The Melbourne heat is terrible as it is dry and scroching. Apparently it is this bad during January. I think I won't stay here another January. I will probably go back to Singapore next year. The heat is too much to bear.

School starts in 7 days. My last week of holidays.

2006-01-27T05:07:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post some pics, but to my utmost horror, my camera is flat. Grrr.. means I need to charge it in order to be able to upload pics. Oh wells. I am so tired right now but I can't sleep cos I am waiting for someone to come pick up dinner.

Had care group tonight. Spent most of my time in the kitchen trying to figure out how to make tang yuan with the wrong kind of flour. No one bought glutinous rice flour, so we had to make do with tapioca flour. Thankfully Auntie Pansy came to visit tonight and she figured out a way how to do it. Most of the tang yuans still exploded though. Had too much to eat for dinner anyhows.

This is my 2nd CNY away from home. And I REALLY want to go home. Ruth told me tonight that she has never been home for CNY since she came here to study. I cannot imagine not going home for CNY for so long. Swee just told me today that next year's CNY is in mid Feb. Which is bad news for me. Cos it means I can't go back again. Argh! I so regret not booking a ticket earlier this year. Cos there are absolutely no flights back to Melbourne at the time at which I am supposed to start school.

I got a new piggy bank today. It's so cute. I got it for free. Will post a picture of it soon.

2006-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Well.. we are getting a 2 day reprieve from the heat. It's nice and cool now but tomorrow temperatures are soaring above 30 again. It's gonna be 40 degrees on Thursday, Australia Day. We are going on local mission trips. Thankfully our group is going to Frankston, which is by the beach. So hopefully we will get nice sea breeze.

And guess what?!?! After going through the heatwave, Muffin died! She wasn't looking too healthy already and I think the heat really did it. So poor Muffin went to heaven. Snowy looks quite sad by himself but I would really have to consider before getting him another mate. It was quite traumatic to find Muffin's body. She was such a pretty rabbit. Oh wells. if I go to VicMart I will consider.

Life's a little messy right now. I wish I could go back for CNY. I might be tempted enough to call Singapore Airlines tomorrow actually and see. The flight yesterday afternoon wasn't full at all. The problem is just getting a flight back in for school.

I will be home in June! Really looking forward to that. Making a stop in Kuching as well. :)

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!

2006-01-20T19:35:00.000-08:00

I would give ANYTHING for an aircon in my room now. It is 36 degrees and the temperature is still climbing. it's gonna be 41 degrees tomorrow. Woohoo. I am really gonna melt this time. But oh wells. I survived a 42 degree day. Apparently Australia is the next driest continent after Antarctica. Well, at least it is cold in Antarctica. Australians also hardly recycle their water. They are surrounded by big big oceans which they can desalinate. And I think it might be time they started thinking about using some of that ocean water. I mean. The garden is starting to look rather brown. I feel like lying down again but it is really very very very very very very very very very very hot. I remember when I was young I used to play this game with my parents. I would tell them I loved them very very very very very very very very very very very very very very.... very very very very very very very...... very much. Would try my best to say as many verys as my little mouth could fit in. To me it was the more verys the better, cos it means more right? :P And yes daddy and mummy, I still love you that much. Wish I could go back for CNY, not just for the ang pows and the air con, but just to go back. But there are liek zilch flights back to Melbourne.

I will continue melting....

2006-01-19T22:12:00.000-08:00

This is gonna be the back logo of our new CCM T-shirt. Boon Harn designed it. Thanks girl! I am still trying to send your boxes back.

Today, after the longest time ever, I watched 7th Heaven. I used to love the show. The only thing was that they showed it at the weirdest times. Like on Saturday afternoons when I had SYC practice or on Sundays at 11am when I had to go to church! Anyways, for those of you who don't know, 7th Heaven is like the only uncorrupted American show there is on TV these days. The father is a minister aka church pastor. The wife is a home-maker and they have 7 kids. Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon, Ruthie, David and Samuel.

The show has changed A LOT. There is no more Matt, Mary and Simon. They all don't stay at home anymore apparently. The twins aren't babies anymore and Ruthie is no longer that cute little girl with curly hair. She's about 11 now and even has a sort-of boyfriend. Luch is MARRIED! And there are heaps of new characters.

Anyways, in the show today, everyone was whinging about all the things they had to do and were all taking advantage of Annie, the mother. Dad wouldn't pick up the laundry, Lucy wanted her pecan pie etc etc. And in the show, Ruthie gets lost, with that guy, and she meets these 2 guys from Sudan. They're called the lost boys.

http://www.lostboysofsudan.com

It was really interesting. The way they highlighted the lives of these child refugees from Sudan who had escaped their homes, lost their families and walked by foot over 2 countries to a refugee camp. Most were only 6-7 years old. Half of them died. Makes you feel guilty about whinging about your life. They ate mud to get by. Now some of them are in the US. Schooling and working. In hope of a better life and returning to the land they call home.

The one statement that struck me was when one of them said, "There were times when I was lost, but with God I was never lost."

It really made me think about how recently, I know God is here with me but on so many instances, I have chosen to ignore Him or leave Him aside for various reasons. It struck me that the importance of God in our lives is so so so so great. Cos He's always there. People of vision, excited for Jesus. Are we really? Or are we only excited when we get on a spiritual high?

2006-01-19T03:55:00.000-08:00

My dad blogs more than me. It's unbelievable!

Melbourne's going through another heat wave again. Sheesh. It's gonna be 41 degrees on Sunday! I am so gonna melt! Don't really like the heat very much.

Haven't been doing much. Slacking around. Feels good waking up late every morning with nothing much planned to do. Need to pack the cupboard outside that is jam packed with my school stuff though. Rachel's moving in.. she's actually staying over for the next couple of nights already.

It's so hot my brain isn't functioning so well....

2006-01-17T05:28:00.000-08:00

I'm finally back from Perth. Feels good to be back in my own room.. all alone. 1 thing I really missed whilst being in Perth was being alone. The only time you get to spend alone is when you are in the bathroom or the toilet. Somehow I never felt this way on all the other mission trips.. esp Bangkok where we were always together.

I'll post pictures soon and the pictures of wilsons prom.

Perth was an enriching experience. Ps Stephen & Hannah are such lovely people. I love thais. They are so hospitable and polite and yet all these thai pastors are so on fire for God. I could just sit there and listen to them share for hours and hours. They fed us every morning. We fasted lunch and had care group dinner every night. I really think I put on a lot of weight.

We also went to Busselton. A rural town. We stayed 30 mins out of Busselton out in the bush with Nigel and Sandy and their 5 kids. I really respect this couple. Planting a church and raising a family. Oh my. I am never having 5 kids. And I am really appreciative of my baths now. :P

Oh btw.. things to note about Perth. Coles and Woolworths close at 5pm!!!! ARGHHHH!!!! The water tastes funny. I think I am a melbourne person much more than a perth one...

2006-01-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

I am so burnt now I look like a lobster it's not funny. Boon Harn, Veng, Ian and I went to Wilsons Prom today. BH's leaving for good on monday.. the day we leave for Perth for mission trip so we took her on a day trip.

Wilsons Prom is a national park over here.. it's at the southern most point of continental Australia and is a HUGE place. There are over 2o walks and many beaches and rivers. We went to Squeaky Beach.. so named cos the sand squeaks as it is very fine and all the grains are the same size, we took a 4 hr return walk to Little Oberon Bay and then we visited Tidal River.

Ivy Ong was very smart. Ivy Ong didn't wear sunblock.. well actually Ivy Ong didn't expect to have to walk so much, but as Swee said when I got home, where got people go Wilsons Prom and don't walk one? So now I am hurting and aching. I am sooo unfit. Think I will start going for aerobics this year.

Had dinner at a Thai restaurant in Cranbourne. Got lost a couple of times today. Was napping on the way back and everytime I got up, Ian & Veng seemed to be lost.

All in all it was a pretty enjoyable day except that I am dead tired now. Had a bubble bath when I got back. Washed the totally unused bath tub to do so. :)

Was talking to Ruth last night about stuff again... and she said something that really stuck.. she said that in all things we do, we need to be convicted about it. No point in just listening to other people.. we ourselves need to be convicted. Like being punctual... you can remind people are they are punctual for a short period in time, but then they revert back cos they don't see them value of being punctual themselves. Words of wisdom... she has agreed to feed my rabbits if I promise to behave in Perth.

2006-01-03T06:26:00.000-08:00

I have a new toy.. I finally got a mac! Yay! Got a powerbook really cheap.. well as compared to the normal price. Got it for AUD$1999. So now I have a wireless connection in the house. Had to get an airport. Was quite funny calling Ruth from the store and asking if she had an airport. She was like WHAT?? on the phone. An airport btw is the wireless hub for the mac. Can use my printer wireless as well. But now the wires are really messy in my room.

The mac version of msn quacks...

Need to see tutor tmr morning.. aiz...

Life is getting complicating again...

1 word.. WOMEN!

2006-01-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

You know what would be nice right now? Hawker food. Nasi lemak wrapped up in banana leaves with that fish that you can never get here, the brown fried noodles with fish cake & lap cheong, hay mee, mee pok tar, hokkien mee... YUM.... fresh chin chow.... ice jelly.. that would be very nice. Sadly enough, none of these are available here in Melbourne. Oh yes, please throw in my prata and my fresh guava juice.

I think 1 thing I am learning these days is how to take things in your stride. You can't control people, you can't always have what you want. So guess what? You just have to live with it and trust that God has the outcome of everything in the palm of His hand. Easier said than done. Even in terms of the church. Trust me, it's so true. A lot of things in this life I cannot guarantee, but there is 1 thing I can. People are definitely going to rub you up the wrong way, people are going to do things to you that you do not like. But I think I am learning there's no point in getting frustrated anymore. Yeah, you might bristle at that point in time, but there's no use holding onto it. Letting things go to God is the only way. Not losing your temper and flaring up.

Peace my friends. The peace from God that transcends all understanding.

2005-12-30T14:42:00.000-08:00

It's gonna be 42 degrees here in Melbourne today! Or at least that's the forecasted max for the day. If it does hit 42, it will be the hottest day in like 186 years! Oh boy, the house is started to heat up. I have the fan blowing away in my face and I am still feeling the heat creeping in through the window of my room. It's a pretty big almost ceiling to floor window too. Wonder where to go today to stay cool. The beach or shopping centre. Was thinking of watching a movie cos cinemas are air-conditioned. Wish we had air con in the house.

It's also New Year's Eve. Another year has passed... gone

Was thinking about New Year resolutions when I got up this morning. How I always set goals for the new year and somehow never achieve them properly. Somehow I desire to see change in my life, change that somehow never happens. Then I read today's entry for daily bread and it talked about how difficult it is to get rid of sin in our lives at times, how hard it is to break that old habit away.

Romans 7:15-25 (NIV)

15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

2005-12-29T15:37:00.000-08:00

Ok.. I think I really am not going home for CNY cos mum concluded that I will be sitting at home alone most days cos they don't have holiday. So I'll be back in June definitely. Want to do an attachment with a Singapore hospital, hopefully KKH.

My dad's blog has gotten more happening. He added photos. I guess I know what my dad wants to do when he retires in a couple of years from now. Daddy, when you retire, can you come over here and keep me company?

Oh wells. 2 days to the new year. I am still doing my assignment. It's so hot. Going swimming in a couple of minutes. It's 37 degrees today!!! I already thought I was going to melt yesterday in the 33 degree heat.

New's year's eve tomorrow. Going out with Mavis in the day.

God.. this new year.. I just want... hmmmmm...

*that's a secret!*

2005-12-28T16:36:00.000-08:00

Another day....

I can't go home for CNY.. boohoohoohoo.... I can get a flight home but not a flight back here!

Okies.. need to go Clayton town for a bit...

Oh.. we found a new housemate :)

2005-12-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

Blessed Christmas..

All I want for Christmas.. is to sleep.....

2005-12-20T15:49:00.000-08:00

wanna go home....

2005-12-16T14:51:00.000-08:00

Ok.. I can't believe I need to redo a 5% assignment before the faculty relents and gives me my results. Why? Because the pass mark was 75% and I got 60 plus! ARGHHH!!! And the best bit of it... I did this assignment 6 months ago!!!! Why did they have to wait till now to tell me? Plus I have absolutely NO idea how to do it anymore cos I totally cannot stand medical statistics. Everyone who knows me knows I hate maths which is one reason why I am doing medicine. I was so wrong.

On a lighter note, I cleared my paper and my OSCE, which is a huge relief. I have 1 month to finish my assignment. No hurry.. cos the faculty is closed from this coming Wednesday to the 3rd of January cos Australians have a massively long Christmas/New Year break. This is also the time we need to go stock up on food or else there will be nothing to eat. Then again, there's always food at our place. Just a matter of whether you want to eat it or not.

We went carolling yesterday. I think I can honestly say I don't really want to hear the line "5 golden rings" anymore. The afternoon session was fun. At the Clarinda Centre aka Old Folks' Home. There was the most beautiful dog there. White, huge and shaggy with a pink nose. She was really friendly too.

At night, we sang at Keith's place and at Wes' place. Wes' mozzie colony surely had a feast last night.

Oh wells... so now I need to do my assignment.. book my ticket to Perth and probably book a ticket back home. I also need to re-think my life, settle church reception stuff and CCM stuff.

I jsut want to sleep.

2005-12-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

I was just looking at the pictures on my sister's blog. Darn it! She's soooo skinny you can see all her bones! Her clavicles.. her scapula! Oh my... I wish I could lose weight. I actually want to be 45kg.. but I think for now 48 will be good. Maybe it's time to throw all my junk food out of my room and actually start eating properly at norml hours. Ah.. the life of an overseas student.

My results might come out today.. or else it's just more waiting... and waiting and waiting.... that's life isn't it. I need to count the CCM files today as well...

It was International Graduations yesterday at Monash. The place was mobbed. A LOT of people graduated: Keith, Ian, Antonius, Sophie, Dhany, Zynne, Boon Harn, Sue Ann, Lay Teng, Sylvia, Rachel Chong, Joy etc etc etc... oh and the place was full of flies as well. If you opened your mouth a fly would have probably just zoomed in. So many families are here this week for the grads as well. Woke up early to go to Dandenong Market to get cheap flowers and had to babysit in the afternoon.... was quite an interesting day.

Gotta run more errands today.

In the meanwhile I need to think about life.....

2005-12-11T15:25:00.000-08:00

It's gonna be another hot hot day today with a max of 35 degrees. Hope I don't melt. Need to go out in a bit to meet Zynne's best friend who jsut accepted Christ on Thursday during care group. The only unfortunate bit is that she doesn't really speak english.. only chinese.. and ummm.. sharing the gospel is chinese isn't exactly my forte. Zynne's mum will be there to rescue me if need be.

Then will be off to Caulfield to return DVDs.. and get new ones! This is bad.. I am addicted to Desperate Housewives. But the show is really good. Haha.. I actually like Mrs-Plastic-Personality.

Might go to Spotlight for a bit. Wanna see if I can make my own hairclips cos I can't seem to find nice ones around.

Okies.. will be back in a bit.. need to cook dinner tonight.

2005-12-11T05:19:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah..

My dad has a blog!

Go visit it.. heehee

http://ivyidaong.blogspot.com

My dad's wish is probably to be a travel writer as you can tell.

2005-12-11T00:41:00.000-08:00

Different kind of animals...

2005-12-11T00:38:00.000-08:00

Timon!

2005-12-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

Bears.. Swee commented their fur not very nice cos they don't eat fish. The keeper was feeding them pieces of fruit and some nutrigrain lookalike thingys.

2005-12-10T20:18:00.000-08:00

Big Big Tortoise

2005-12-10T20:03:00.000-08:00

We went to the zoo yesterday and I took pictures. The Melbourne Zoo isn' fantastic. The Singapore Zoo is much much better. Got a good work out walking around though. My calves ached like crazy when I got back.
We played spot the animal a lot. Saw heaaps of ferns and shrubs and bushes and leaves.. and not many animals...

Turtle

2005-12-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

I can't believe she's gone home! Ok.. I am still waiting for reality to set in even though this is already the 2nd day. The other 2 of my housemates seem to be taking things better than me, probably because they are always at work and busy, Swee has a presentation tomorrow, the boss is just generally busy. It's so sad to say goodbye. It's just too sad. Ponsy, if you are reading this, can you please come back??

2005-12-01T07:04:00.000-08:00

Today I paid $16.15 for my cheese prata, nasi kandar (with fried fish, rendang and veg) and a teh tarik. It was YUM... but oh my.. so expensive. Finally found the way to Kayu Nasi Kandar. Thanks Aliaa! It's supposed to be this pretty well known place in KL. So we made the trek to Boxhill to the place.. even made a reservation cos the place is apparently very popular. Ruth was horrified when she found out how much I paid for dinner. But hey, it's once in a while and I thought it was really yum. I miss such food. Maybe I should go home hey? I just love prata for breakkie in the morning. Mmmm... egg prata.. they call it canai here as it is called in Malaysia. My dinosaur.. Roti tissue... fried chicken... yum yum yum.....

2005-11-30T21:27:00.000-08:00

It's one of those 34 degree days. It's so hot it's stifling.

I've finished exams, gone to church seminar, gone to camp and come back and now I am rotting in the heat smelling my leftover breakfast of tuna and oats. It's quite yum actually. Going out for dinner later.

It's been a mixed up week. It's slowly sinking in that I am on holiday. Trying to use this time to sort my thoughts out, sort myself out and run the errands that I need to run. I finally called ING today. Just need to mail the thingy out tomorrow.

Time really flies. Yvonne is leaving this Sunday night. For good. I'm still trying to let that fact sink in that on Monday, there will only be 3 of us left. I guess it will take some getting used to that she's not on some holiday but she's really not coming back. Her stuff's all packed and being boxed, even though a lot of it is lying around the house. Yeah well.

The people I started year 1 with who are doing other courses are graduating, most going back. Those whom I met when I did my first orientation are also going back.. cos they do twinning from Monash Malaysia. With Keith graduating as well, practically everyone I knew since year 1 has finished.

God has a perfect plan for each of us. We may not see it at times, neither may we understand it most of the times. Many times we gripe at God, be in strife with people of God just because the magnitude of things are too large for our own comprehension. We like to mess around with God's plans by deciding to do things our own way. Are we really willing to trust God and release everything to Him? Are we willing to let Him come and empower us and guide us to that true victory He won for us on the cross?

Honestly, I struggle. I struggle a lot. When the rubber hits the road, you really learn about things. It's not just about smiling and having fun it's about really pressing on with God, crying out to Him and understanding His purposes and deciding to stick to them no matter how hard they may be. I've learnt one thing this year. The righteousness of God is definitely not the righteousness of the world.

God gives each of us 1 life and 1 life to live. However we use it is up to us. I just want to use it well. To use it for my God and my God alone.

Empower me, like a rushing river flowing to the sea
Lord send Your Holy Spirit flowing out through me
Till I'm living as Your child, victorious and free
Send the power of Your love
Empower me

There's only 1 and 1 alone we can rely on. Not our friends, not our shepherd, but God. Cos God will never fail us.