It's ironic, but it seems that we, who were told to rest find the least time to do so. Working (or studying) from Monday to Friday, and sometimes Saturday, and come the weekends, we have much more things to do. There's always one more thing to do, one more area to serve in, one more person to talk to. Where do we find the time to slow down, reflect and truly rest without letting our minds run off to the things we have yet to (and never will) finish?

Even here, I find myself looking for things to keep me occupied with, and find it really tough when I have nothing to do. I'll log on the net, surf around, look around the office for something to keep me occupied with, and only with effort do I try to pause and reflect, though it's getting a bit easier. I fear going back, when I'll be trapped in the same rat race all over again. That is, unless I can develope the habit here to do so with discipline. Yes, even resting requires discipline.

Not just us back in sg, but for the people here as well. No wonder we are burnt out. No wonder we gradually forget why we are doing all this. No wonder we cease to become human beings and become human doings...

Itsy Bitsy Giardia Swimming in the Lake

My favourite parasite from the modules infectious diseases and microbiology. Mainly because it's so easy to recognise under a microscope and it has an easy to remember name. This little fellow causes diarrhoea 1 week after ingestion and is spread through contaminated food and water. It's quite common over here so be careful what you eat.

I vomitted the whole night on Sunday. It was probably the bread that I kept too long. Though it was a terrible night, It's a good thing that everything I ate was removed and nothing was absorbed into my system, which would be much worse. The next day was a tiring one, and an aching stomach, having worked the whole night to push everything out. But otherwise, I was ok.

Hahaa, guess what I did to the computers at the office? I set up a wireless network for them, lol. So now, more people, including me, heh, can access the net at the same time. There's a desktop and and laptop here, so at least 2 of them can be on at anyone time.

I found something else to do at the office when I'm bored. Will show you more when I got results from my work, hahaa. I am really settling in.

Got this at a sale. Only brought it to the court 3 times and made less than 1000 shots with it and it died on me. Should spend a little more to invest on something if I'm going to use it for a long period of time...

Didn't know it was so easy to setup a chat box. Realised Larry had one with standard blogger template so decided to look around the blog setup page. Will be removing the moderation for comments too, since most likely there won't be anymore of them, hahaa. Just watch what you say on the chat box or comments should you decide to still do that.

This week was rather hectic. Afternoons are alright, but nights are all burnt. Lectures and small groups with the students of the university. The topic was media influence, and it made me realise how much movies and songs, and esp games. Look at dead space on youtube if you want to see how violent games can get. Warning, extreme gore, digusting monsters and horrible ways of dying. Not for the faint hearted.

Also, you can listen to this ridiculous song.

A couple of my friends and I went for a climb up a mountain. Turns out they had a little park up there. Quite a nice view.

My first photo on this blog, hahaa.

Just a month and He has already shown me so much about myself. There is still a long way to go, but when I start focusing on 'fixing' myself and less on Him, I've already lost focus.

Went to the 'sea-side'. It's a lake but so large they call it a sea. The beach isn't that nice, but I have some close-up pics of flowers requested by WL.

Need to be sensitive about cultural issues. Learnt recently that Xiao Jie (Miss) actually means sex workers for the people here. No wonder a nurse giggled when I addressed her in that manner. Come to think of it, I'm very fortunate to have only earned a giggle. I could easily have earned a tight slap...

Sunday

Did what we usually did on Sundays back at home, except this time it's at the homes of other people. Went for a local and international one. The local one was more sit and listen, unlike the international one, which was a study on Mark.

The international ones were workers from different countries, and their discussion, though starting from simple questions, led to deep discussion. The focus of discussion wasn't what we could get out or learn from it, but to understand and know Him more. As the leader put it, devotion came out of the word devote, that is to be ardently dedicated to a person, loyal to a person, in love with a person. Time spent with Him is not for us to read and find fault with ourselves, to change ourselves, but to grow in love with Him and let Him change us from within. I guess the workers are all theo trained? Makes me feel like taking up part time like Susanto kept encouraging me to, following Uncle Mark's footsteps? Hahaa.

And this answers my question after I read How to Read the B For All It's Worth given to me by Uncle Mark. After learning to study it, it seems everything must be used in context and hardly seems applicable. Probably, like what the leader suggested, finding something to apply need not always be the goal of the reading.

I realised what I said a few posts back might seem to suggest service is the ultimate goal. By no means. Service is good, and you'll definitely mature from it, but the most important thing is still the first and second commandment. You guys know that from the camp we just had. You guys are ready, and that is why I encourage you to step up. But NEVER ever forget Him.

In case you're confused by my posts, most of the pictures are back dated. I'm in Dali now. So here's my 'home' for the rest of my time here. This is my tiny little room. Hahaa.

This is a rack loaned to me by a fellow Singaporean. My things were all over the floor that's why no pics for you before this, hahaa. I got the mug, the tissue paper and even coffee from her too! Hahaa.

The other end of the room. The office's medicine cupboard. You can see the edge of the bed at the lower left corner.

Where I use my computer.

Oh, it's cleaner than it looks. But it runs on solar powered water heater. So cloudy day = no warm water = cold shower in a cold evening =S

Food Stuff Kunming Style

I found these in Kunming, good stuff. The coffee's even better than most of those I had at home.

There's Korean food as well at another shop, the Wicker Basket. I got my bread supply here as well.

Got to eat a lot of local food, thanks to my friends here. The guy is a relative of the sisters, the 2 on the extreme right. The girl in the middle is a friend of the sisters. I got to try the girls' cooking.

This is the famous guo qiao mian xian. It was good. No layer of oil though so it didn't feel authentic to me. But I learnt that's because this place has started to be more health conscience, with increasing health issues found in developed countries, high BP, heart problems, stroke and the like. Wonder if I'll ever find a real oily version.

Thanks for dying on me over here, my beloved Sony Mp3 Walkman. You haven't served me well. I'll help you RIP (rest in pieces) when I get hold of some orthopedics surgery equipment...

Flowers, Zoo and Cherry Blossom Festival

What a wondrous time is spring
When all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing
The flowers start their blooming

Flower pics requested by HY.

Streets of Kunming.

From Dali. Those below are from the Kunming Zoo, celebrating the Cherry Blossom Festival. You can see why.

This is the Peacock Garden. The one below has opened up it's tail feathers. We were waiting for it to raise its tail up, but it was just grooming itself and had no intreast in the female in front of it.

Amusement park in the zoo!?

I hate formatting paragraphs with pictures in blogger...

Surgery room

Finally uploaded photos. Guess what are these used for? Drills, chisels, hammers...

They're for an orthopedic operation. Once you've seen one, you probably won't want to go for one. Hahaa. Sawing, drilling, hammering... not your ER kind of delicate surgeries...

I was doing translation, but I know enough to keep away from the sterile areas.

Translation was tough, had to remember both Chinese and English names and think on the fly. Most times, the doctor's hand gestures did the trick. Most of the translation I did was when the American doctor conversed with the local doctors. Ops were very successful!

Discipline and Servanthood

I enjoy being able to just sit around and listen to the wealth of wisdom of the adults in their conversation. As they talked about the things they do and went through, the topic shifted to the military. They're not all Singaporeans, so I guess it's not just us that talk about NS? Hahaa.

The key thing was servant leadership and how it inspires the men to serve the commander. But how often is that practiced even in the cooperate world, let alone uniform groups? You know how leadership works in this world. Authority is not earned by respect, but by fear.

Which leads me to another thought. Discipline is part and parcel of our lives. Spending time with Father, reading and studying His Word, watching our own thought patterns and actions and steering them to be more and more like His aren't simple matters. They require discipline. When the enemy attacks, is our training enough to help us overcome or will we fall? Our Father helps, that's true, but we still need to play our part.

To my brothers back at home in Bethany:

I'm glad Amos has taken the step to lead a group and Larry has willingly joined the comm. All of us however has a role to play in the family and that is why each of us has to step up and take the lead when there's a need. Our sisters have been doing most of the work and they are doing a good job, but I'm sure they would like to see you guys come up as well. Don't be afraid that you aren't able to do it or that there are better people for the job. What is needed is a willing person. Nothing kills the man in you like passiveness.

Take your faith seriously. It doesn't matter where you stand now as long as you are willing to move on. Start serving and you'll be surprise how much you can grow. Watch what you do cause people are looking at you. No matter your age (unless you're an infant), there are people younger and they will be looking at you (yes, I'm talking to you who think you're to young to be leaders). No matter what, you're a leader in some way. Our uncles, we need more than just your advise on how to do things. Sometimes, we need you to show us. And don't forget, your sons are looking at you too.

Amos, watch your group. Especially those who have not had a father to look up to. This may be stressful to you, but you're the father in those cases. Always lead them back to the Father and do your best to care for them. You're already doing a good job, keep at it. Watch the amount of things you take up and don't overload yourself. Remember to study as well, that is your testimony as a student. Start training someone to assist you.

Ben, train up people to have the commitment and discipline you have each Sunday morning. Build a team to lighten your load. Glad you got Amos and Kevin Ku to help.

Kelvin, Samuel, Qing Long, Jason, you guys are ready. Keep growing and always be ready to give what you can. There is no such thing as 'not good enough' with the Father if you give off your best. And there is no such thing as a perfect servant. I have tonnes of flaws if you guys haven't noticed.

That was longer than I intended it to be, Letter to Bethany? Hahaa.

Uncle Mark or David or anyone, if there's anything that is wrong in anyway, please tell me.

China sun for Jason :p

There weren't stars in the night sky in China though, kind of disappointing...