Shiok Like Magic :)

After the archery on Sunday, I woke up the next morning with aching shoulders... mainly on the left shoulder blades. I held the bow with my left hand and I suppose my body wasn't used to the sport and the position that I have to hold the bow at shoulder level, keep it still and hold it in position as I aim and release the arrow using my right arm.

Hmm... was lamenting upon arriving at office on Monday morning that there is no one to massage my aching shoulders for me :( it was especially painful on the left shoulder... Just then, I recalled I could have some medicated plasters in the drawer of my office (I always keep some medication and stuff, in case I might need them). I was so happy when I found my Tokohon medicated plasters!!

I pasted 2 plasters with the help of my colleague and by evening, the area which I pasted were almost ache-less!! Woke up this morning with some areas of my left shoulder blade still achey. I realised that those were the portions which I had not covered by the plasters yesterday! After having pasted yet another 2 more plasters this morning to cover the uncovered parts from yesterday, the achey parts are almost painless!! The best part was that the aches were done without any massages!

Go try it! The bit of heat activated by the plasters relieves the ache. There is a tinge of medicated smell if you don't mind. But I think people beside you won't be able to smell it. For me, the bit of heat and slight tinge of medicated smell makes me feel good :P Tokuhon plasters are available at all pharmacies and its quite cheap... like $2 for a pack of 12 plasters!!

The Hunting Game

It was not the men hunting for the women. For half an afternoon, my DG (both men and women, single and married) became Leogolas wannabes.

At Tampines SAFRA club, we learnt archery - basics of how to load arrows, shoot, aim, safety issues and we had a team competition to round it off. It was a tie. The best 2 male and female scorers were also identified. But unfortunately, I was probably only the 3rd or 4th in place amongst the 7 girls.

The difference between my first (left) and second (right) attempts. Hee... I made improvements ;)

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who wins but the great fun and fellowship we had in learning a new sport together, challenging each other in our hunting of 'animals', laughing at each others' silly miss-takes and the friendly competition :)

We were supposed to aim for the wild boar's nose... but erm... okay lah, they were close enough :P

Girls vs Guys - We won!!

After all the fun and dinner, we hung out at Coffee Club. Quite strangely, towards the end of the evening, the conversations suddenly drew to some discussion on our washing machines and the load that they can take!?! E and I were just commenting how we probably have grown older to be talking about such topics and not about the latest trend and fashion like the youngsters. I can't remember how we then got to the method of folding clothes. We then realised XC has a hidden talent in this and he folds all clothes at home! Here was his demonstration using my Dano sweater...

And the girls began to practice how to be domesticated :P

Hunting was fun. Fellowship was great. All of us enjoyed ourselves... it has been some time that the DG gathered like that. It was a good time to catch up on our lives and building relationships. Bible study will begin next week and I hope that we will continue to learn God's word and never stop encouraging and spurring one another in our walk with Christ :)

The Green Vest

This is finally completed! Finished this in 25 days in April but I left out the ends of the vest hanging around. Only just managed to complete the ends of the vest, tugging and hiding the ends of the yarn. Took so long because I have been procrastinating about it... Well I'm most happy because the receiver looks very good in this :)

4Fs

In case you may be thinking that I'm rude.... no I'm not trying to be rude. The 4Fs I'm referring to are Friends, Food, Fellowship and Fun.

It has been a whole month of 'holiday mood' since my super duper busy period at work in late May, followed by church camp. Post-busy period and now back to work... really not quite in the mood to do so. But I really need to pull up my socks to prepare for the coming half of the year.

One highlight was to have a few good friends from overseas who visited in the past month. For the past 4 weekends, I went to the airport 3 times. The last will be leaving this Sunday. We had a couple of gatherings to catch up and fellowship over food and games. It was nice to know that although we all have moved on in our lives and despite our physical distances (Australia, Indonesia and Singapore) we could still maintain our friendship and being able to encourage each other in our walk. Being in the family of Christ is such a wonderful thing - to experience the love of God for us through His people.

J and her hubby A visited from Indonesia. J is one of our overseas camp committee member. She designed the name tag and t-shirt. The couple came specially for church camp. M visited from Down Under. M's getting married to D (not in photo) in November and hopefully most of us will be able to fly here to attend the wedding. W from Aussie Land also came for holiday and church camp. I'm sure he missed (at least) the food and fellowship with us :P

Thank God for giving me friends - those whom we can not only have fun with, but those whom we can count on in good times and bad times... friends whom I know will share my joys, laughter, disappointments and grief... friends who truly care, who will pray with you, laugh with you, cry with you, giving you a shoulder to cry on, shares your excitement and care for those who matters to you.

In more practical ways, friends loan kitchen for you to mess up (oops! I mean to cook in), offer car rides from one end of Singapore to the other, put up with the 'homeless', talk over long distances with, gives you a hug when you are down, makes you laugh till you roll on the floor whilst playing taboo (and cha-boo), gives encouragement when you are discouraged, gives assurance when you are uncertain, cleans car for you (better than the petrol attendant at the kiosk), offer to drive when you are really worn out, putting up with your idiosyncrasies and accepts you for who you are... the list is endless.

I guess through it all, it spells L-O-V-E. Thank you, my dear friends :)

Joy of Serving

Look at the joyful faces :) This photo was published in last weekend's bulletin and I thought this was a nicer version of the one which I had posted some months ago. Our overseas members J, C and M are missing in the photo. Looking at the these people whom I served with for church camp, my heart is filled with thanksgiving for this bunch of servant-hearted brothers and sisters in Christ who had displayed the love of Christ through their tireless giving of time and effort just to serve God's people.

Amongst these, 3 of us have been in the committee for at least 5 years. For most others, it is either their 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of service. Having worked with various people for the past 5 years, I think this is one of the best team of servants that I've worked with - humble, cheerful, servant-hearted, other-people-centred, kind, gentle, generous, forgiving, accommodating, tolerant... all because they love God's people. Although we have had our fair share of dealing with difficult, sinful people (yes they do exist in church!), thank God for helping us to deal with His love and loving them even when they are difficult.

John 13:34-35 says "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"

Personally it is a joy to be able to serve in the camp committee. Besides 'enjoying' the benefits of being in camp committee and some 'power' (cos I determine whom you room with ;P), it is seeing people being ministered by the little things that you do that brings cheer to my heart, even if it were small little things... sometimes small things can create a big impact to them. And when they are satisfied and grateful, the greatest return is the joy that you can bring to them. The ability to be able to do that... all glory goes to God! :)

So... does anyone wants to have this privilege of joyfully serving and being able to minister to God's people in this way? (Read: join the camp committee :P)

"Thin"

Some months ago, friend helped me buy "丝路" cd for a very cheap price. It was probably a parallel import. Was listening to the cd whilst driving this morning and realised that the lyrics to "瘦瘦的" speaks a lot but it is rather cute way of expression =)

在童话很远的世界漂流

完美是个多奢侈的念头

终于搜集够多的伤口

才懂　八十分的幸福已足够

你让我感动是多过心动

踏实却比浪漫来得持久

朋友还在怀疑我的选择　

而我 不当仙女已经很久了

我的心　现在瘦瘦的

很容易　就饱了

为了抢快乐　搞得不快乐

为什么人总那么傻呢

我的梦　现在瘦瘦的

一下子　就满了

你的爱或许不是最美的

你的手却很厚　很念旧

如果一个人　一辈子　只能分到　一块叫做幸福的蛋糕

宁愿一小口　很小口　品尝味道　不想过瘾的一口吃掉