Thoughts from me

Hey guys. Seems a while since I posted any thoughts…..

I have some news that I do need to share.

I’m getting married!

Hahaha - nah. But it’s got a few people excited @ the prospect, lol.

Nah - what I mean to share is, I’ve been asked to relocate to KL. I’m finishing @ SA at the end of May, but I’ll still be hanging around Melaka for the month of June and hopefully moving to KL in July sometime.

I’ve loved being in Melaka with all you guys, and each of you have made is special for me (whether through memorable trips (to the waterfall), jokes (that horrible prank Sebastian, Jeffrey & Corey pulled on me 2006 April fools, lol), sms’ (Corey - u mean Roger is the horse??), horrible things you’ve given me to eat (otak otak) lol). Each of you have made a difference in my life and I really appreciate you all for that.

Roger made me promise to visit Melaka at least once a month - so when I do I’ll do my best to catch up with as many of you as possible. But you are all free to visit me in KL

Just remember this is not goodbye forever - but c u l8a (& I mean that).

People will always come in and out of your lives. And while it hurts sometimes to let them go, the important things is that they were there - leaving footprints in your heart.

I love all of you so much!

Ok, some happenings @ the youth department.

1) Tchoukball (I’ll let you know how to pronounce it later) - We’ve been invited for a game the weekend of the 14th March against a team from S’pore and one in Melaka.

I hear what you are saying ‘HOW DO I PLAY?’

Well problem solved, we’ve got a teaching day either Friday or Sunday, then I’ve been invited to some practice sessions these next 2 weeks.

So don’t worry, I don’t know how to play either. But come along for the fun of it, make new friends, and we can all learn how to pronounce that word together…

2) Easter Celebrations - For youth group, we’re having a Easter fun day this Saturday… I think there’s chocolate involved and the next weekend (8th April) we’re having a whole day out , eating, playing games, and discovering what Easter is about.

Still confirming times and cost etc, but what we have planned is sure to be heaps of laughs. So it would be great to have you all with us.

I’ll keep you updated, or better yet sms me that you are interested and I’ll keep you posted.

I feel really compelled to share a bit on single life. Mainly with a few situations that I’ve had to deal with recently.

In these last couple of weeks, I’ve attended one friend’s wedding, miss out on 2 friend’s weddings & had 2 close friends announce their engagement. I told my Mum, to which she replied ‘You’re getting left behind aren’t you?’

Thanks Mum.

I have to admit that comment really did hurt. Perhaps I am getting left behind? I’m 21 now, shouldn’t I at least have a boyfriend? But then I make the excuses to justify my singleness. I live in 2 nations at the moment, so either way wouldn’t work. I’m focusing on my passion as a youth worker etc etc.

Then catching up with old friends from high school & college has also brought about that dreaded question ‘Michelle, do you have a man in your life?’… I can’t remember how many times I’ve been asked that in the last 2 months back in NZ! Each time bringing back the painful reality that I’m still single.

So after a few tears of feeling lonely and rejected, and a huge complain (or to make it sound better, self-centered prayer;) )to God, I’m coming to a conclusion that I don’t need a man in my life to define who I am. I’ve been focusing heaps on my friends who are getting married or are married. When I stop and think, I have plenty of friends who are happy, content & not phased by their singleness.

A friend (who just got engaged yesterday:) ) said to me that it all seemed to happen when she stopped trying to impress men and started being comfortable with her singleness.

When we are comfortable with who we are, others find that attractive. We don’t need them to define us.

So especially to all you single girls out there (and the guys… if they get my drift, lol), please don’t allow your lives to be ruled by a desire to have someone special. I remember hearing once ‘Did you think you were going to find the man of your dreams at 16?’

Enjoy the blessing it is to be single (and if you’ve got a squeeze, enjoy them too).

See you all soon.

Yes that title is good news!!! I am coming back:) My ticket says 19th March, so by the time I fly there… and hang in S’pore… some time after that:)

Well I’m having a break from home at the moment. I finished my job (crazy cows) last week, sadly no more income… and yesterday I drove 8 hours to Gisborne (look on a map - and Sarah it is in NZ;) ) to visit my brother. It feels like Malaysia here, except dry heat. Lucky it’s early in the day, so the heat hasn’t started yet.

I’m staying in a guys flat, and yeah, it smells like guy. Dirty clothes smell covered by man deodourant… Well at least the room I got smelt nice after I sprayed Why can’t boys be clean?

It’s kinda weird. I got nothing to do! Ha, what a change. My brother said I can help him with some Milo promotion this afternoon. Should be interesting. He said they were giving out Milo lip gloss… I might have to get me some;)

My goodness, so long since I’ve blogged or anything. So slack of me.

So you are all probably wanting to know how I’m going. Well if not, too bad, hahaha.

Anyway, I’m doing ok. Working hard (finished in like 2 weeks, yay), chilling out alot more and yeah, stuff ;). Good news I sms a friend and borrowed his gat (I left all mine in M’sia), so that brought back some sense of sanity. I missed them so much! My finger’s hurt heaps. I guess when you don’t play for a month, that’s what happens.

So for my return….. early March. Not confirm yet, but it’s looking good my end to go back then.

And for those of you who know about Parachute… I had an awesome time! The bands were great, I slept through one of Shawn McDonald’s performances (doh), met up with the Lifeway crew, got our tent flooded, and got sunburnt a little bit (tanned now ). Topped 27,500 people this year!!!! (just to fill you in, Parachute is an amazing Christian music festival - 4 days of bands, music, friends and Jesus).

Uh, I need to go to bed now - some of us have to work early in the morning

Love you all

Well I’m back in NZ, supposed to be resting, but I think not……

I started my job on the 9th. Some were worried that I wouldn’t have enough work, but I haven’t had a day off yet, and I start @ 6:30am, about 9 hrs a day…..

Resting? Yeah right. Not that I’m complaining. I’m getting good money - but it’s like going from one hectic lifestyle to another.

So the cows are fine…. I’m feeding them pellets. Then cutting grass with sheep shears. Washing the grass, drying it, then weighing it. Labeling containers for milk samples. Yay for my job, lol.

Funny thing though - I did manage to puncture a good sized gash in the ute tyre, hahaha. Although I now get blamed for every incident now, coz I did the 1st one;).

My goodness, it’s so hard to believe I’m back in NZ. It’s all happened so fast, that my mind hasn’t had time to sit down and comprehend it.

Well it is freezing - I’ve been wearing jerseys and brought a nice pair of (blush) pink slippers (yay for Warehouse sales, only $4.87 Sarah). It’s supposed to be summer though;). The sun did come out yesterday and I got to see my mountain, but the wind has returned. I’m sleepig with winter sheets and an electric blanket (now for all you Malaysians who have no idea what an electric blanket is - it heats up the bed when it’s cold, funny that )

I haven’t started my new job yet - wanna know what it is? I’m not too sure either, but I’m watching cows again, this time for a nutritional study. Hahaha. I always knew my life was a little strange

And just so all you guys know, I do miss you so much. I am beginning to feel more Malaysian than Kiwi. Everyone here mocks my accent and laughs at me when I ask who wants to go makan and say ‘aiyo’. And I’m frustrated with everything closing at 5pm, no mamak stalls and so many white people, lol.

So there you go, I make a public confession that I am Malaysian on the inside, hahaha.

Hey guys, just thought I’d share some news.

I’m off to New Zealand a little sooner than originally thought. 1st January I leave. I got a flight for a job that I had, but couldn’t get to. So I’m taking it and I’ll be away for 2 - 3 months.

I’m still around on e-mail, msn etc - so it’s not like I’m disappearing entirely. But I thought I’d let you know, so you can miss me

Hey guys,

@ Salvation Army we’ve got 2 events coming up @ the end of Dec.

On the 30th, we have a music gig with our music students plus others from the local schools. Tickets RM5 or RM7 @ the door - can get them from Seth, Corey, Jeffrey, Jayson & myself. 7:30pm till 10pm.

Then to welcome the new year in… we have a bbq gathering. Also @ Salvation Army. Tickets RM12 - bbq buffet styles. See Amanda, Evonne or myself.

More details as events unfold. Or better yet - contact me!

Your support is appreciated as we run these events.

Thanks

Ok - now I gotta type something.

My thoughts….

Well, I don’t know where to start really. Nothing’s changed really. I’m still in Malaysia, I’m still busy with youth work, I’m still wondering where my life is heading to.

It’s cool being given opportunities like I have been presented with, but I’m in real need of some definate’s in my life. I know I’ve got God, and I’ll always have Him. But this year has been a time of people close to me leaving me for other interests.

Don’t get me wrong, I want my friends to be happy and pursue their hearts desires, but everyone in the same space of time??? People in leadership that I look up to, close friends. That’s a little too much.

I am thankful, however, that God’s been really good to me. He is that definate. I can’t depend on people, but God’s been stepping in and filling that gap. It’s in this time of need and weakness that He’s been showing His love to me more stronger.

That’s what I like about God. He knows when to step in.