The one about the families.

Jamshed and his 2 sisters.

11th May.

Joined the youth cell, and I don't know if I spoke too much, but I felt we were to go deeper than the surface issues. Well..trusting in Him.

Another worship & prayer session. What I thought was the important parts are: everyone got to share about the ministry trips that they were taking, and we prayed for one another, across services. I think symbolically, there is more, and also, we were praying for tmrw's service and suddenly led to pray for broken families, and praying for restoration and reconciliation. To just for that moment catch a little of how God felt for such families....was really breaking.

So we're now committed to weekly. And we'll just take it as it comes. We'll pray, and wait.

The one with the 466 and 644

Sweat & fellowship, it's a guy thing. It's a God thing.

10th May.

4.66km. 6.44 mins/km pace.

Started the day with a run with 3 brothers: 2 of them my cousins. And we had a good fellowship over breakfast. It's only friday, but it's my 4th run since monday! It's amazing how God is using exercise, and being a running partner/ buddy, to create opportunities to get together and to spend 'guy time', or 'Bromance time'. And I love it!

Got invited to Uncle C's birthday lunch, with the family and it was so fun, and such an amazing feeling to be surrounded my family, and with our family, its constant jokes.

Went for a food tasting session, my first, and such a blessing and honour to be there tonight. It felt like an avalanche of food into my stomach, but it was truly an enjoyable time, and to be in the midst of such joy and laughter, wow.

The sister from the 1-year-old lunch texted me tonight as I was returning home, and it is so humbling, yet encouraging to hear of what God is doing, and has done through that one lunch meeting. And as she shared in summary her journey since that day, I'm just so awed to be part of His journey with her, even if it was just one lunch meeting. Yet it will be a lunch meeting I will remember.

On the way home, because of all the drinks I had during dinner, I had a full bladder, and it was really full, and uncomfortable, but I was at the bus stop and with no toilet in sight, and my bus arriving, I pleaded to God to sustain me. And so I arrived at my bus stop, alighted, and as I was walking home, I glanced onto the roads and saw cars zooming by, and I dreaded my walk back in such a state, and I just thought,"If only someone would give me a lift home..."

And after maybe 10 steps, my mum called me, and asked if I was walking home, and she said she was at the bus stop, which was 10 metres from me! I GOT A LIFT HOME!!!!!

Running home to the toilet from the carpark, I was just thanking Him...even something like this.

He loves me too much... :)

What a day!

The one about the question of the past weeks.

Yawn, or, shocked? Do we get shocked much now?

Past week and half.

If,

"All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify."

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NASB)

Then,

The question isn't about whether I can, or I cannot.

Thus,

The question is: Is it necessary?

And as I grapple with this, the Lord is showing me that in place of the unnecessary, there are things that are preferable, and more necessary, for me, from Him. 

And the analogy He gave me was this:

There is nothing wrong with watching shows, or just spending time online at night, and sleep late. However, if you spend less time wasting at night online, and sleep earlier, then, you'll rest better, wake up fresher, and get to exercise & workout. Isn't that something you'll enjoy more?

It's true. I do.

So, in the necessary, there is a preference. 

He prefers me to prefer what He prefers for me, though it is totally legitimate to entertain the unnecessary. 

But, He doesn't want me to settle. 

He has more for me. 

Whether I want it, I prefer it, is down to me. 

My choice.

And I do. I prefer the necessary.

I prefer God.

The one I went for the interview.

Steady, steady. He maketh me ready.

9th May.

Finally, Interview day.

My first formal interview in my life for a job. Ha. To think by 30, we've probably experienced most things.

It was a good time of recollecting, and remembering the journey, and of His faithfulness, for the past 4 years. And as I shared, my interviewers shared of how it was so encouraging, and in turn, they encouraged me so much. aww......I really do love being in the community. Got to catch up with a sister, short, but still impactful and still, so much of God. These conversations, and meetings, everyday.....I am really enjoying them!

Well, we'll see how it turns out, whether I'm accepted, and if so, when I will start.

The next season...coming soon. By faith I say: June.

The one with the random breakfast, the 1-year-old lunch, & the govt sponsored dinner.

Sometimes, it takes tears, before a smile is unearthed.

8th May.

In the randomness of a whatsapp chat, breakfast was suggested for today, and agreed upon. So returned to Choupinette. In the few hours there, there was good catch up and great sharing. And very good eggs and salmon on toast, with hollandaise sauce. I think with this dear sister, God uses each meeting to go deeper, and this pursuit seems relentless.

Then after that, it was a rush to meet an acquaintance, that has asked to meet up to hear about her work as a financial advisor. I was totally not keen at all, and have kept pushing this appointment since May last year. The only thing that made me arrange this lunch appointment was that as we spoke the week before, I felt God asking me:

"What if I have something for her? Would you meet her?"

With that I kept thinking, perhaps I could take this time to share my testimony, or how life has been in missions. So even up to before heading to meet her, I prayed, and asked the Lord to not only prepare me with what He has, but also her, to receive whatever it was. I just presumed that she was a non-believer. 

So we met, and we each got our lunch, and I just asked how was she? So she said she was curious how I could survive 4 years without a paycheck. So I shared with her from where it all started. And just as I was sharing about the kids at the refugee camp singing "Seek ye first", she mentioned, "it's in Matthew..." and I was surprised. Turns out she is a Christian too! So, the sharing went a little faster. Yet as we were sharing, I felt there was so much God was trying to tell her, so I just shared that with her. And as I shared, Holy Spirit brought those words so deep, she was in tears, and even took her phone out to record the conversation.

We ended up praying, and parted ways. But not before empahsizing that by my own ways, I wouldn't have wanted to meet her, but God has been pursuing her so much, and loves her so much.

Then, with the government issued vouchers for appreciation of our service to the nation, I had a good time and dinner with Evynn. Couldn't have asked for a better time of hanging out and chatting.

So, a day full of food, and fellowship. But, so much much of God too!

:)

The one with a free croissant.

*Yawn*

Woke up feeling super nauseous after 5 hours of sleep. 

Yet still went for a morning run with pastor. 3rd run today in 8 days. Hopefully its something he will continue on even when I cannot meet him.

Had lunch with my longest-time friend. Finally got to drop by Choupinette, where Jason works. Haven't seen him for a long time and it was just such a joy to see him again. He shared about his life currently, and his girls are 8 & 4 already. wow..they are such beautiful children, from what I remember.

Well, it was a good catch up lunch, and ended the day with an amazing conversation with a brother. This conversation is one, which I had really hoped to have with many brothers, but perhaps God thinks I wasn't really ready for, until now. 

Exciting times, only with God! 

The one with the cousins for the day.

We were young, now we're old. We're still family.

Monday 6th May.

Morning started with base worship, and it was so good to meet everyone again. Cousin was there too. One point at worship, he was praying for me, and I saw how we needed to start praying our own family as a whole. Something to hold on to, and to keep at.

In the evening had dinner at a friend's place, and soon, there was a rehearsal for sunday's event. I just hung around. Halfway through, a thought that no one prayed yet, crossed my mind, and I agreed but it wasn't anything I had a part to play, coz I was just there. But in the end another friend mentioned it too, about prayer. And I was asked to pray, which was quite a privilege.

It was late, and I was contending how to get home, and morning's cousin's eldest brother offered me a lift home. It led to a good time of sharing and mini catch-up. Got to share and pray. I liked how the day ended.

Praise the Lord!