Pengkalan Hulu Trip (12 September 2009)

Last Saturday was our home cell's 6th anniversary.

Instead of the usual feasting we decided to be a blessing to the folks at Pengkalan Hulu instead.

We budgeted RM1,600 for the bus + food for the people + offering for the pastor but collected a total of RM1,900! God is so good.

That's me with Vatthira (left) and Junika (right).
They are sisters and are of Siamese descent.

This little kiddo stole our hearts.

The kiddo and his teenage mom. They marry at the age of 15!
We met one 41 year old lady who is pregnant with her 13th child.

Pastor Low interpreting hubby's message on the salt of the earth

Pengkalan Hulu is situated on higher ground so
there are lovely flowers due to the cooler climate.

That banner, at a Pasar Ramadhan in Baling town,
was a reminder to us that we were in unfamiliar territory

The famous Baling hills - Chin Peng's hideout

A Night at the Opera

A Teochew opera, that is, and all the way from China.





I was hit by a wave of nostalgia in those few minutes when we stopped by a teochew wayang performing at the Batu Lancang Road Market for sis to take some photographs for her project.

The theatrical make-up, the the high pitched singing, the dazzling costumes and the scent of joss-sticks transported me back to those by-gone days when we would park ourselves in front of the opera stage whenever the lunar 7th moon comes around.

We didn't understand what they were singing but we could roughly guess what was going on. We were more captivated and impressed by the spectacular costumes, the stage make-up and the stylized moves of the actors.

The Chinese opera is one of our cultural heritage and it would be great if someone could write a Chinese opera in English or one of the Chinese dialects. Just imagine transforming the parable of the prodigal son into Chinese opera. Awesome!

After all, the cultural background of the Bible is oriental so maybe it's about time we intentionally make the medium, other than language, for the communication of the gospel message oriental as well.

Natural Botox

I read this today: To prevent sagging skin, eat till the wrinkles fill out.

So if you're looking for a natural botox treatment, just "plump up" a bit when age catches up on you.

Unfortunately it is very hard to juggle the "a bit" part. Most people end up with too much, and all at the wrong places.

That's the context for conversations like this:

Two women are talking on their daily walk. One says, "It's really hard to lose weight as I get older. I remain apple-shaped no matter what I do."

"I know. I exercise all the time and there's still too much fat. Funny how you have your weight in the stomach. Mine is on my backside and thighs."

"It's true. The lard works in mysterious ways."

Dressing for the Weather

It was cloudy this morning when I was picking clothes for the day so I opted for something warm. Then, while I was having breakfast the sun came out and it became unbearably hot. Now it's all cloudy again. Even the weather is indecisive!

I really don't know how to dress for such freaky weather. Sometimes I end up sweltering in warm clothes on a hot day. At other times I end up shivering in skimpy clothes on a cold day. All because of the changing weather.

The best solution would be to layer my clothes. Pile on the layers when the weather gets cooler and remove the layers as the weather gets warmer.

I would never imagine having to go through so much trouble living in the tropics.

Cannot Decide

Firefly, Aeroline, Plusliner or drive?

Firefly to and fro at the moment is RM419.80. Firefly to and Aeroline back is RM302.90. Aeroline to and fro is RM226.00. Haven't checked Plusliner yet but to and fro should be around RM160.

Money aside, driving down gives me flexibility in terms of time and I don't have to be stressed over people being late sending me to or picking me from the airport or bus station.

But then I may have to contend with heavy festive traffic even thought I am going against the flow of the balik kampung crowd.

Too many choices are also a problem.

*****

Update at 6.40pm:

Firefly too expensive. Plusliner all sold out. Hubby against me driving down without him. That leaves Aeroline. Decision made.

Numbering My Days

I am 19, 393 days old today. My days are numbered and so are yours.

Based on an average lifespan of 70 years a person has a total of 25,500 days. What are we doing with our days?

Nowadays, with longer life expectancy, the problem is not a lack of days or time. As Dr Randy Carlson has correctly discerned, "the challenge is to use your time effectively, in a Godly, mature way."

I invite you to find out how many days you have lived using the counter here and to read the accompanying article to find out how important and biblical intentional leisure is for life.

*****

This post is especially dedicated to my babee
who is 9,058 days old today.

May you honor God and enjoy His abundance
as you make intentional leisure a part of your life.

Love,
Mee

Disappointed

It is disappointing to discover that men (and women) of God have feet of clay. But having said that, all is not lost, because there are still men (and women) of integrity who seek to do what is good and right in God's sight.

We just have to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (He. 12:2, NIV) and make sure we are found amongst the latter and not the former.