Thursday, April 29, 2010

This is HOME

This is home, truely, where my senses tells me......

It's so nice to be back in Singapore... familiar ground, flats, roads and church...

Yes... Singapore air.... ai yo... just to happy and grateful that i have the opportunity to come back home.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Singapore, I’m coming!!

Time just flies….. have been in Malaysia for almost 2 months. It’s time to visit my beloved country again. I’m all excited to go back that the thought of the long journey didn’t exist at all. Thinking of it now, makes me worry alittle, so better not think at all. My family and some friends are all excited to await for my return. Of course i'm very excited too.

After being in Malaysia for about 2 months, I managed to learn a little about the culture, the politics and the government. Coming from a country with very stable and “OMO’ government, plus knowing nothing about politics, I’m still very confuse about the political system here. However, it can be very interesting as I discover little by little.

I wish I could meet up with all of you when I’m back in Singapore. But it’s impossible and not very healthy for me because I’m still undergoing formation and it’s not my HOME leave. I’m already very blessed to be able to make a trip back and meet my family. The Lord is extremely good to me… that is also worrying… maybe it’s to prepare me for longer missions in future.. OH NO!!!!! better don’t think so far… live in the presence….

Hope all of you are doing well. I still miss you very much.

:Live every moment without regrets”

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Bonjour

Bonjour. Comment allez vous?

Ha ha… as you can tell, it’s French! I just started my French lesson with one of our parishioner. She was bought up in France but she’s Indian. It’s really difficult. Can you just imagine even table and chair has a masculine and feminine word to it. Pronunciation is worst. I hope it’s just only the beginning.

Why French? It’s because our institute has 3 official languages. English, French and Spanish. Our foundress, Blessed Mary of the Passion was from France and most of her writings are in French. Therefore, the sisters feels that my English is ok (is it true!!!) so I can start picking up French. Ermm... think can forget about Bahasa for now....

No time to be bored!!! This week was really hectic and distracting. I had 3 new ‘challenges’ if I may call it. Besides my French lessons, I had to lead the liturgy(divine office) once a week and also play for Sunday mass (whenever needed). Phew! On top of that, I had an extra work day because of our school’s outing at Terengganu Museum. It’s very tiring but I enjoyed the time spend with the children and it’s also an opportunity to see Terengganu’s places of attraction.

Monday, April 05, 2010

Alleluia! Jesus is alive!

My dearest friends, wishing a holy and blessed Easter.

May the Risen Christ who light up the world be the source of peace and comfort in your lives.

How was your Easter Celebration?

Over here at Kuala Terengganu(KT), the diocese had send a priest to celebrate the Easter Triduum while our parish priest Fr. Fedinand Magimay who runs 3 parishes in Terengganu went to Dungun. So we are blessed with Fr. Gerard Theraviam. Celebration here was pretty simple but complete. On Easter Vigil, we had no baptism and had only 3 readings (minimum requirement), therefore, it’s pretty short. Then we had makan session after that. I particularly appreciate the get together as it was a very good opportunity for me to pick up courage to get to know and interact with parishioners.

Throughout the Easter Triddum, I kept comparing with the ‘grand’ celebration I always had in Singapore. I had difficulties accepting the way things were done and I became like the liturgical police woman (in my heart lah… didn’t say anything out). I had to keep reminding myself that I’m in KT and not IHM.

I realised that I should be appreciative that I am able to celebrate Easter Triddum together with the rest of the world rather then at another timing which some mission land would have had. I also realised that although celebration was simple, everyone was participative and importantly (I think), no one complaint about any Boos Boos made. Ai ya… Still I miss the ‘grand’ and full liturgy I always had…. I miss IHM. Sob! Sob!

During the Easter Triddum, there was also a funeral wake at our formation house. Funeral service was on Holy Saturday. What a timing!!! There are hardly any funeral here. This one was special. The deceased lives at Dungun but was hospitalized here in KT and the family are very close to many here including the sisters and the priest. It’s also difficult to transport the body back to Dungun. There was no Christian funeral parlour and so the best place is our formation house. How blessed are we in Singapore that big hospitals are all over our little island.

I asked the sisters a question 2 days ago: “Where does the Catholics here gets their spiritual food?” The replied was, through homily, Herald News and own reading. I was thinking how blessed are we, Singaporean who have endless choices of courses to choose from and having the pastoral institute just beside IHM. (double blessing for IHM parishioners). I am deprived of attending course too… sigh…. But thank God, I’m under formation so at less there’s something. So… considering that there’s not much spiritual inputs here, KT as a mission land, I think it’s really very good. I shouldn’t be complaining.

Ok… it’s getting very very long…. I think that’s about I would like to share with you. I’m still doing well, not being challenged yet, still in honeymoon stage. I still miss the active ministry life but I have to keep reminding myself that I have to focus on formation….. but sometimes I’m a little bored.. hee hee.. But it’s ok lah… I find things to do and learn…. Like reading books, newspaper, helping in the kitchen, housework and enjoying doing nothing with God.

Ok…really that’s all… please write to me to keep me updated about your lives too. I’m KayPo about your business too… hee hee.. no lah.. so at least when I think of you… I can imagine better lah…. Help me lah..