Sunday, February 26, 2006

God sends 2 angels to me in Kajang

24 - 25 February 2006

Trip to Kajang, Malaysia – Sr. Jacqueline Pan's Final Profession to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at the Church of Holy Family, Kajang.


On 24th February 2006, after attending vocation pray night at IHM, together with Sr. Balbina and Sr. Anna we made our way to Tanjong Pagar Train Station.

We reached the train station closed 10pm to meet the other sisters. Together, there were 6 other sisters (Sr, Maria Sylvia, Sr. Balbina, Sr. Ann May, Sr. Anna, Sr. Danielle and Sr. Theresa Lee) and myself.
This is my first time having to travel with so many sisters.

At about 11 plus… we all went to bed… I tried to sleep … but it was tough… the train was rocky and also noisy… but at least managed to take a few short naps while tossing and turning, hurdling myself up due to the coldness.

Finally at 4.20am, I decided not to sleep anymore. The whole journey took about 7 hours. We reached Kajang almost 6am.

At Kajang train station, Mendeep, a parishioner of the Church of Holy Family came to pick us up in her MPV car to her house.

Mendeep’s house (2 houses joined into one) has very country cottage design. Mendeep have 4 children (3 guys: Roy, Ray and _____ and I girl: Rachell) Welcoming us into the house was Rajvin, niece of Mendeep. Then we went to the bedroom, left our bags there and freshen ourselves up.


After that, Rajvin served us coffee and milo and bread. We set on the dinning table for breakfast. While eating, Mendeep shared with us her encounter with Jesus. She believes very much in Prayers. And Jesus always answers her prayers.

One of the sisters asked Mendeep about her collection of shoes as there were really many pairs of them exhibiting on the stairway. Mendeep the shared with us that she was once very poor. Had to wear broken shoes to office. Sometimes even had to use staple to fasten up the soles of the shoe. The family barely have enough to survive the month.. sometimes can’t… with prayers and hard work, her husband and her managed to start a constructing business as they figured out that they can’t survive on salary. Only after many years, they managed to reach their current statues. With the grace of God, they also decided to be generous in giving because it’s only in giving, that they receives.

Mendeep also shared with us her vision. She wants a direct flight to Heaven and in order to fly directly to heaven, she will have to purify herself here on earth…. So true I felt..

At about 7.45am, we prepared to go for morning mass at Holy Family Church which starts at 8am. At there, we met up with Sr. Assunta, Sr. Jacqueline, Sr. Adeline….. Mass was celebrated in a small chapel. There were quite many parishioners there. It was a difference experience to have mass there. One thing which the priest mentioned had strucked me…. “PURE HEART”. That was exactly what I needed.

After mass, at the church entrance, the sisters were chatting either among themselves or with other people. I was a bit lost… didn’t know what to do… thank Goodness for 2 angels, Rajvin and Rachell. They were sitting along the side of the ramp. I went to join them there. There, I also made myself cleared to them that I wasn’t a sister… ha ha.. we had some conversation about themselves and their school. The sisters then have to rehearse for the profession mass in the evening. Again I didn’t know what to do… thanks goodness of the 2 angels that kept me company.

We chat about many many things such as their admirers in church, there trip to “Paris” (actually it’s because they took a photo with Paris background). The 2 angels also wants to bring me to a shopping place “MINES” to go “Paris” with them… to take picture using the machine with them… I said ok… but firstly need to know the plans for the day first…

After the rehearsal, the whole group of us went to a Indian eating place for brunch. There, I ate Roti Plata. Then after we went back to the church. The plan was, some sisters had to stay back for more rehearsal and some sisters can go back to the apartment or house to rest. So we went back to Mendeep’s house to rest… and the 2 angels and I decided to go to “MINES”.

At Mendeep’s house, after preparing to leave for “MINES”, Rachell took out her video camera. We kind of try to figure out how to use the comera. After quite some time, we managed to get it started… and then we headed for “MINES”. Auntie Mendeep sent us to “MINES”

On the way, they were thinking of what to wear later… then suddenly, they decided to dress me up in Panjabi suit. They were so excited about it and I agreed. At “MINES”, Auntie went to do her Pedicure while we went to DREAMWORLD to take pictures and went to buy accessories to dress up ourselves.

When I was with them… it really reminds me when I’m 14 years old… I did all they do… the craziness as teenage girls. Rachell and Rajvin have a generous heart too. At their age and compared to my age…we are like 7-10 years apart. But when I wanted to pay for the photo takings, Rachell says no! no!... you come to Malaysia, let us pay for you… I was really touched… thinking… hey, they are only teenage students and I’m a working adult… I have income.. they don’t… and for them to say such things.. I was really really touched.. Eventually, I did contribute some to the photo taking, bought a little handphone bear chain for them and paid for Rachell’s sunglass as she didn’t have smaller note.
Rajvin treated us McDonald’s ice-cream and Rachell treated us chicken sausages. They bought accessories like comb, rubber band and even the nose ring… they insisted that I have to wear them too.. my my… Running around with them from shop to shop… can be really tiring but fun too…

Then we had to leave MINES. On the way, Auntie decided to stop over at her friend’s place for a while… she introduced me to her friend Rita. Rita had two daughters. They were watching American Idol and chatting. I joined in their conversation here and there.. while Rachell and Rita’s daughter were checking their friendsters on the internet.

Finally, we went back to Mendeep’s house to get change while Auntie sends some of the sisters to church first. Rachell lent me her orange Punjabi suite & shoes, and Rajvin pleated my hair, make up for me and fixed the nose ring… they were also joking that… if the sisters see me dressed like that they might not want me in the convent… and Auntie joked that it’s either I would be influence by the girls… and not entering the convent… or I would influence them in to the convent…

Finally, we were done and off we went to church for the profession mass which starts at 6pm. At church, some sisters were shocked with my dressing. The 2 angels also introduce me to some of their friends…

I sat with the 2 Angels with the other youth in the church. Thank goodness for the 2 angels… otherwise I would be so lonely I think…. Thank God for sending the 2 angels into my stay at Kajang.

During the Professional Mass, I was a little distracted.. but I tried to focus… I wondered would I one day be there in Sr. Jaqueline’s place, to give myself completely to God and ready to serve God through His people her on earth. Nothing really came to me… although I teared a little during the ceremony.

After the mass, there was buffet dinner being served. I ate with the 2 angels, run around with them…. went to take pictures… They said we only spend about 14 hours together.. and yet like so close..they will miss me… I told them I would miss them and thank them for all they have given me for the day.

The 2 angels told me… you surely going to be a sister…. and I tell them.. if I enter… I will wait for them to join me..

Really, there’s nothing I can give them… I’m just purely receiving from them and being with them. At about 9 plus, the sisters decided to get change and head for the train station… that was the end of the day at Kanjang… we went to the toilet… get changed, chat a little, have fun, bid farwell and hugs… and off we go.

At the train station, the train was delayed for about 40 minutes.

On the train while trying to sleep, the song “Sarahey Danshinne no” (love you) kept playing in my mind… because during the day, Sr. Balbina and I thought Mendeep and the 2 angels some Korean words such as “Na Ipoh” and “Aun Yong” then the evening we thought the 2 angels “Sarahey Danshinne no” and the song… so the 2 angels were so happy saying and singing to everyone they meet… and it just can’t get off my mind while on the train.


Overall, the trip was really a great trip… though short but really full of God’s presence.. I was glad that I decided to go.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Fact Finding Trip to Tanjung Balai


I MADE it.

All I said was Lord, if it is your will, let it be done


I almost couldn’t reach Habour Front in time for the ferry to leave together with the group.

With traffic jams everywhere…. I was so tempted to give up going.


Lord Lord… surely you want my friend and I to go… please Lord help us get there….

But Lord, if it is your Will and your Plan, Be it done to me according to your Will.


And We made it there….. WE FINALLY MADE IT… Thank you Lord…. Thank you…


The whole group.. think about 16 of us… In the ferry, we prayed the rosary. We also went to the upper deck to get fresh air….that would help my friend to avoid getting sea sick… She told me.. she really like the wind blowing at the upper deck… I was really happy that she’s ok…

As we reach Tanjong Balai… I thank God for the smooth journey…

We started off by having mass celebrated by Fr. Brian and Fr. Kenny at St Joseph Church, It was a simple church and it was nice.

Then we proceed to the St Joseph Primary and High School. On the road in from the gate to the school, the road were very uneven and rocky.

The teachers/people there were very hospitable and served us with tea, bread and some kuei kuei. After having breakfast, the committee discussed some stuff with the people their while few of us went out to have fun with the Primary school children.

The children there were quite rough but they seems to have fun playing among themselves. When we started taking photos with our digi cam, they were so amused….and wanted to see the image on the screen…. Then they started to ask us to take more pictures… They even started posing with funny and cute actions.....once the photo have been taken.. they would all rush to me to let them see…

In that way… they were pushing and pulling me… crowding round me…

My my….. I almost couldn’t control them…. but soon I asked them to line up one by one… they kind of listened… and I was glade that I managed it a little better…

And as soon as I run to another place… they would follow and run after me.

It was tiring… but fun…. Seeing them having fun and happy especially by taking their photos, trying to call up their names (becos one of the children suddenly tried to introuduce to me her friends)…. It’s my greatest joy.




Then we proceed to the high school to see the classroom, library and computer room. Some of the members were there trying to find out the standard of the students there through interaction so that they will know roughly what books to get for them.

The computer room has 20 very very old computers which are not working very well.

After that, we proceeded to Emmanuel School and Our Lady of Guadalupe site. That’s also the place where the dormitory. There’s also a convent and the Station of the Cross there. There is a really beautiful Our Lay of Guadalup Grotto, heard that part of it is sponsored by Singaporeans. The Station of the Cross is a life size one along the hill. It's currently undergoing construction and asking people if they would like to donate one of the station.

After that, we proceed for lunch at a seafood Kelong restaurant. On the journey, Pauline asked my friend if she’s coming for the June’s mission trip… Praise the Lord… she said “YES”

Then we left Tanjong Balai at 3pm.

The Weather at Tanjong Balai is really very hot…and glade that the ferry was well air-conditioned.

Overall, this trip, it’s not only a fact finding trip for me…. It’s really a trip that I learned to have more faith in the Lord, to trust the Lord for if it is His Will, Let it be done to me.

This blog might not really descibe why i learned to have more faith because there were many small encounters which are very personal to me. The encounters taught me to really trust the way and allow him to lead. He doesn't do how I thought it would be done.... but he leads me to what He know it's the best way. So Thank God for the gift of awareness... to aware how God is leading me.