Quiet, empty.

It's after 9.30 pm at the hospital. Most patients seem to be asleep with the only light source coming from the hall way or their television sets. Imagine if you were one of those patients. You admitted yourself into the hospital for a small surgery. No one visits, no family or friends. Feels lonely. The only people you meet is the doctor or nurse who talks to you in that authoritative-u're-the invalid-but-trying-to-be-nice voice.

Just remember what my brother was telling me about my grandfather who asked my dad and my brother, why didn't they come and visit one night?

Walking through the lobby after hours was a little strange too. Hardly anyone is around, most lights have been turned off, the shops are closed...the day has ended. It feels a little sad.

Quiet, empty.

You know, I reckon heaven would be a place where it's always daytime. Daytime brings sunshine. The world comes alive. There's noise, and chatter and all sorts of musicality. There's hustle and bustle and lots of colour.

Darkness is just unbecoming. It's when the whole world goes dead.

Well, I guess some people would argue about night time being dead.

Anyway, guess what today? I passed my driving exam!!!! yayyyyy!!!!! i'm so relieved because it's my 2nd time. Finally I can drive the car on my own wherever I want. It's so great. Yay :)

a full weekend of eating

It started on Saturday with a carbohydrate filled brunch with the girls (entree, mains and dessert), followed by afternoon tea and dinner at 3 different locations but it was so fun as I went along with SJ (church friend who stayed with me for a few days but went back to S'pore today). It was nice to have her with me even for a short while...nice to have a housemate! Now getting used to being on my own again.

Sunday was with Aunty Kim, and Aunty Yen and my cousin, Jessica. It was great. I love eating with them and spending time with them. It's just nice to be with family and this time, I'm feeling more mature. Before I was the one who was more looked after, but I'm beginning to want to look after them too. At lunch/dinner, they would put stuff on my place, but this time, I wanted to make sure they had enough. Do they need a lift? I can't wait to be able to drive my car on my own and get out of my NSW learner's licence.

Our conversations yesterday also involved people (Esp. old people) being admitted into hospital. Jessica's grandfather had to go to hospital yesterday morning coz he was having breathing troubles and high blood pressure, and Aunty Yen's friend's father is also in hospital and he has a WHOLE HEAP of problems. And other ppl are going into hospital too...And people dying in the news from this deadly flu. It makes me think that whenever I dwell on stupid self-pity, I seriously could use my time better on serving others and asking after people. There are just so many people to serve: family and non-family.

Yesterday's sermon at church was fantastic(preaching from Jude 17-25). I brought Aunty Yen along with me since it was at 4.30 pm, and we had time to spare till dinner.

I will forever remember this illustration. Jude 23 tells us that we need to look after others. Our fellow brothers and sisters who are playing with fire and starting to accept falsehood...we need to snatch them out of the fire as they are in danger of being alive. We don't kindly open the door, and ask them nicely "would u please wake up and kindly walk out the door?". We give them a few slaps on the face and shake them to get up and if they don't, we drag them out of the door and out of harm's way. Why? Because we love them. We care for them.

(Jude 23b)...Hate even the garment stained by the flesh.
Hate the clothes (the immoral lifestyle) but love the people who wear them.
Hate the sin, but love the sinner.

Because aren't we all sinners too.

Taipei one year ago!

It's now been EXACTLY one year since I first arrived in TAIWAN...wow, I think we already dragged our luggage into our dorm rooms by now and I think at this time last year, an international student studying there who was looking out for us, took us outside the university grounds to go buy some food and I remembered how many 7-Elevens there were. Two on-campus and there were like 3 outside.

So many people are going to Taiwan or stopping over there.... my friend just went there for Lily's wedding on July 8th, Tim & Anna who got married yesterday have flown there since they're originally frm there, my work+uni mate went to Europe and she's stopping over in Taipei on her way back to Sydney.....I can't remember who else

I want to go to Taiwan toooooo...

This morning at Kid's church

Josh's (our church pastor) twin daughters, Laura & Stephie came to help out today. They even brought some treats to share, "mice" which they made out of sugar, egg white, some colouring. They're turning 12 next week and they usually go to another church for Sunday School. Jordan, Josh's son comes to our kids' church though and including him, we have 5 kids in our class (4-7 yrs). There are more kids at creche (under 4 yrs).

Anyway, these girls are wonderful and they're really good with kids. Josh has brought his children up so well, and when I mentioned to him how good they are, he said they're good SO FAR. Don't know about later. But I think, he and Karen, his wife have been a great example of godly parenting coz I just see the fruits of their labour in their children.

These girls are pretty mature for their age. If you speak to them, they're polite, friendly and willing to talk to you. And when you see them with kids, you realise they can just run Sunday School all on their own. They're creative, adaptable to different situations, calm, know what to say to the kids who are not behaving or listening or sharing, know the importance of our lessons and reinforcing what we've learned....they just handled the kids really well.

I learned a lot from them today.

Little girls with amazing talent and big humble hearts!