It's been just so good. I've such great fellowships with family and with so many good friends... it is beyond how I can express my thankfulness. The love, the catch-ups, the late-night chats, the random coffee-shop breakfasts, the unplanned and planned crashes at Daphne's place... I am so blessed and thankful for all the friends.
This one particular group of friends - have known each other for about a decade, and were brought together by serving in church. :) It started with the security guys only, and slowly, each one found their better half. This group of friends stay close through serving and fellowship, and through caring for each other, and of course through eating at the usual "Boon Hwa Family Restaurant".
I had a wonderful time of meeting several cg folks too. Big Group Fun, HTHT talks, walking at MacRitchie... all these make my life simply just very happy. Some things really don't change. :) Simple things like connecting and living life together - they make me feel life is meaningful.
Caught me a little bit by surprise. :) The fellowship grew in size. Thank you folks for everything.
I think... 2 of my oldest Christian friends. :) We come from different backgrounds, met at IAL, did some projects... and became great friends!! We talk about faith, China OBOR, ministry, etc.
1st time I had lunch with Kaitlynn. :)) What a big girl now. I remember playing silly games with her like when she was 6 or 7 years old? Now, she is in Sec 1.
N with my parents in law. I thought we were supposed to wear red to celebrate National Day. :-p
Family - is most important. :)
Super happy to catch up with Jacelyn... just a walk at MacRitchie, just catching up. She lives at Braddell Hill too. She is the ε°ε€΄θ。
HTHT with Zeal at my fave MacRitchie. :)) She "self-jio" and we spent many good nights together at "my" house. But time never seems enough with good friends. π
Work was really engaging for me too this August month. We partnered AMPLFYI and learnt much about the Deep web, and web harvesting, pulled together a group of 25 of us to do 5 projects relating to the Future of Work, Skills and Learning, and I know it's going to be a great one year ahead. We also met with so many "jedi" masters to learn about blockchain, deep tech, health-tech, went to Google Campus to meet with the young people who want to innovate for the next billion users, being in discussions to innovate and to re-imagine, etc, etc, etc.
With the UK AMPLYFI team and colleagues. :-D
I found time super-sonically fly by. I found that I was so engrossed and engaged that the best thing for me is to simply just immerse. I found myself missing all these f2f engagements and being literally "present". But still, I thank God that - my current remote arrangement plus the trips back to Singapore - have worked out pretty fine and well.
The next huge highlight was of course the mission trip to Taipei and Xiamen. To be honest, when MH asked if I could join in, and if I could help interpret, I just said "yes", without much consideration of what it would mean. As the time drew near, I had my nervous pangs... I wondered if I could interpret well (for it's been such a long time since I speak, let alone interpret, in Chinese). So I rehearsed the sermon, went through it several times, tried to imagine how it would be like in the actual session, etc, etc, etc. It was such a thankful experience, because in the end, I think it went well, and then, I knew - it wasn't me. It was the HS in me. If I think and try to memorize, I realised it doesn't work for me at all. If I relax and "let go", I find myself being able to do it much better, and enjoy the whole process! SUPER THANKFUL TO GOD!
And of course it was also about fellowship, prayers, getting to know the church friends in Taiwan and Xiamen too. Super thankful for Rui and MH. :-D Wonderful time of sharing and learning together.
While it was really tiring physically - a short Fri - Sun trip, through Taiwan and Xiamen,we did 2 leadership training sessions and 2 services, and flew back on Sunday, and started work on Monday. It's really about the abundant life in Christ. :)
And honestly, I think I have so much more to say - about that heartfelt note, about the BKTs, about tennis, about this about that... but life is just so much to talk about.
The most amazing thing happened at the start and end of the trip. I got upgraded to Buisness Class at the start... and was upgraded to First Class at the end. I think... this was just too incredible and too "OMG". That was really my first response. It was "OH WOW" for Biz, and then truly π± for "First". Steve was with me and only I got it?! Haha. Haha. I later learnt from the airline staff that the most important key criteria in upgrading passengers is how they dress and they demeanour (determined by ground staff). As there are paying Biz and First class passengers, they cannot afford to have someone in slippers, or who are uncouth, join those sections, as that might run the risk of complaints. So wow, I learnt something new. :-D
I don't think I dressed very well though. Perhaps it was my politeness and beautiful Tumi. :D
And if you ask me about the experience, I would say that it is of course the best flight I have taken. It was spacious, personalised, the seabass was fatty and delish, I could lay flat and I really slept, and there was a massage function on the seat (albeit not strong enough for me). I wished this were a flight to.... say US. :p
I am just super thankful, super grateful. So.. amazing August it has been. Super super amazing August it has been. :) Now, it shall be Spectacular September.
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