Away from parents are awesome but…Living away from parents never felt so painful until you realised you are spending what you’ve earned!

Away from Singapore is awesome but… Maintaining a proper skin condition in other countries that are much more dry is much tougher! Also, cold weathers are shiok but wearing more layers and spendng more money on clothes aren’t shiok!

Away from school is awesome but… When you realised you aren’t being spoon fed anymore ain’t awesome. You realised everything must come from your own knowledge instead of your leacturers ain’t awesome. But feels shiok! haha.

Away from home is awesome but… Cleaning up your house and buying daily isn’t. For my case, away from home in a tiny hotel room is BOREDOM!

Hmm… Just a short post from my workplace! Oh to those from hope and read my blog, shall reward you guys with a sneak preview of something i’ve been working on. Of course this is just the 1st version of what will be the awesomest youth church website! It will be edited and changed!

I’ve have been settling surprisingly well over here! Life’s good! Other than almost falling sick in the second week (due to lack of fruits and air pollution) and a bit of financial problems, I havent met much major problems!

After 3 weeks, I’ve really learned a lot in work and in life!

In work, I’ve been treated like a small boy/ student! So they never really give me real job to do. They have only been giving me certain assignments to help me to learn and grow. I was thinking, ‘walao i can also learn all these in school what.’ But oh well, it’s really out of their good heart to help me improve. On my second week, they asked me to do a book layout. Just 2 spread(4 pages). They have done it. But ask me to try and see if i can come up with better idea. If can, they will use mine. And i done it and they really used it. But they edited a bit:/ But well, my colleague was very encouraging. She said “its very nice! Sometimes we need young interns like you because you guys can give fresh and new ideas. So it really encouraged me. The following task was photo editing. I dread doing it! It was made worst by the lousy screen i have. Black looks like grey on the screen -.- My eyes literally went like this *.*

Recently, there’s a new project and im happy that i can be part of this project from the start (hopefully until the end of the project). We have to design a marketing campaign for a brand. We need to make it suitable for chinese in GZ age 18 -24.  So during briefing, when they realised i fall in their target audience age group, they all stared at me! Then i say “不要看这我。哈哈哈！” Yea so… they broke into teams for brainstorming. I wasn’t allocated a team. However, i shared among all the teams. They literally take me as their target audience and see what people at my age like and what we are thinking about. So i went for all 3 teams brainstorming session. And i learned a lot during those session! I saw how people of different characters/personality work tgt.

It was really enjoyable in a team where they jsut speak up and listen to each other and splash out ideas non stop. The idea could be realistic or stupid or impossible or funny or cheesy or sick they just splash out and laugh and talk normally. The team had 2 guys(3 including me) and they are really good friends. And i saw how their chemistry made the brainstorming session more enjoyable and comfortable. Next was a team made up of 3 young girls. They are those kind that will think more before they talk. And that held back the brainstorming session a little bit. But wel it was 3 young girls ^^ HAHAHA. But they are still much other than me! :( Anyway, next was 2 older ladies in their 30s, this time round, they have totally different personality. One is more of the ‘D’ type. She’s really determined on her set of ideas. She’s the only one that didn’t really ask me about anything but just stood firm with her set of ideas. (which i sorta disagree) I had a tough time in that group because she just killed every idea she think that it doesn’t work. Well that isn’t that bad either. But through this, i learned what kind of people and working environment i can work best in.

Oh well, at the end of those brainstorming, ideas given by me were quite well received. Praise God and praise my age! HAHA. It was well received because it was really ideas given to them from the way i feel. The brainstorming session still on going. So maybe i can update more soon!

Oh well, come to life. Hmmm i realised i don’t miss home! >< LOL. I’m enjoying my independent life here! Haha a lot people was saying “it must be because u no girlfriend la that’s why u dun miss Singapore.” Haha maybe uh >< But anyway i think i grew a tiny winy bit here. Taking care of myself and mixing with people of older age group. Coming here really open my eyes to the world. Saw more people and mixing around with more people. I can actually stay here if i have friends and money here! Of course taking my last poly semester and NS in account:( I thought chinese are rude. and i thought only part of shanghai is well developed. But well im wrong. Shanghai chinese are quite educated and WHOLE shanghai is VERY developed! Hmmm so ya actually aiya learn nth much la  basically im just enjoying life here! :p HAHAHA

I went for my first service in shanghai! People here are really nice. The family spirit was evident through out. After service everyone was finding chance to talk to each other and me heehee. I repeated what im doing in shanghai at least 4 times! And oh, they are really encouraging in their words too! Saying “God bless you” And “trust in God” and prayers are everywhere! Nice! Oh and they have a bible conference soon! A whole day event. Which ps claudia and some other people from Hope singapore will be coming over! Talking bout bible conference, I had my first “bible study class” haha. I mean like had other classes on bible in singapore like ‘word for life’. But this is the first time i simply attended “bible study” I mean i heard of such things since young. Even before i convert but i nvr been to one before. So when i went, i was like ‘woah!’ They simply read a passage (10 – 20 verses) and they just interpret the passage. And its not like how we do it in our lifegroup. They really go in depth and interpret each character like what they are thinking and why they do what they did. Like interpret their actions etc. They can make a study bible out of it! Really got me thinking!

Okay its late now -.- i think i shall stop here! Before i go, let me whine a bit. Germany offered me a internship opportunity after one week of working in shanghai! -.- Haha. If only they told me earlier, i would be in frankfurt now!!! >:

Wanted to talk bout food and shopping but leave it for next time. Again, please pardon me if my “the” was typed as “they” or what so ever typo errors, tell me! haha. I suck at typing. heehee so if u cant read what im typing, ask me! =D

Shanghai is actually quite safe! There are like 11 different metro lines! On top of that, there’s maglev and all… So it’s really quite developed and easy to travel around. Modern and beautiful buildings pop up from no where. But down the next street, it may be some 1960s shop houses. So its really quite interesting. As for safety issue, girls can go home on metro at like 10+ 11? And people use ipads and iphones everywhere they go. What do you think? Furthermore, Shanghai portray itself as a nightlife city. So even late into the night, its quite safe! Some bad things are… The DUSTY AIR AND THE ENDLESS STREAM OF PEOPLE! :( Hate crowds! But everywhere is packed here! I will explore shanghai more soon. My exploration thus far is around my work place and my hotel. It’s getting boring after 5 days :( Shall post bout food another day!

As for my working environment, felt the hatred towards working again! Never liked working. If only im damn smart, i will study for life! But okay la got to face reality and start being positive.

First few days was really boring and a little un easy doing works that deal with chinese. I CANT READ FOR NUTS! Speaking (even speaking with slang) wasn’t a problem, it was just the reading. So when they gave me the first assignment in creating a travel guide layout, I was doing it happily thinking how i can make a travel handbook interactive (maybe have pockets to insert passport etc). It was okay until they pass me the copy writing… I cant read! As a result, i dunno what images to find etc… Luckily the project was handed over to another guy too and he took over the whole thing when i had another project. I was disappointed that im unable to do it and add it into my portfolio but if i would, I would most possibly delay the submission trying to read the chinese words.

After that, i was asked to do some gift mock ups and changing a layout of a web page. Quite easy but it did help me settle down better and now im prepared for more! The people in the company are generally nice! Just had a Creatives department meeting today (thursday) They had prep talk! Encouraging us to give our best, make a portfolio for ourselves etc… Hate to say this but these are the stuffs our “boring” lecturers told us in school! So lecturers arent that uesless after all >< lol. They intro-ed me to the team too! The creative boss was like “I always see interns wasting their time doing useless stuffs like typing and all. I believe interns are here to learn so lets help shipeng and let him learn something” He said something like that la…. I felt quite assured. They further add on, we have a live specimen of our future TARGET AUDIENCE those born in the 1990s! They really treated it seriously. One of the head say “go understand him(me) see what these people like and all. He(me) is live here for you to ‘study!’” That once again show our lecturers aren’t useless -.- Just like in school, they emphasis on THE IMPORTANCE OF TARGET AUDIENCE. Though at the moment i felt like lab rat -.-

Just for laugh, i have a malaysian colleague he has almost the same hairstyle as me. So my china colleague was saying, is it the people in SoutEastAsia ALL spike up their hair? haha. Stereotyping! But cool team we have here! And oh after the meeting the whole creatives team went out for lunch together in a hotel! The boss paid! Cool team uh! Really hope to learn something and build my portfolio here!

Thank God thus far uh. Everything seems well and going as planned! Im still healthy and havent been late for work!! =D

On tuesday just 2 days after i touched down, I went for my first lifegroup in SH! It was really tiring and i dun feel like going. But well, i still went and took the metro alone etc…It was 6 stops away but again the crowd made my energy level drop -.- But i really learnt something from the lifegroup. I felt the sincere family spirit. In singapore, we have gotten use to everyone around us so we tend to take it for granted and start shotting and suaning people playfully. It has been long since i went for a lifegroup with little suaning shooting here and there (im one of those that shoot uh ><). Here, they meet up weekly i think but not everyone come every week. Maybe cuz too far to come etc? So when they come, they will be like “ohhh so long nvr see you” and talk alot about life! And most of them are at most 2 years in christ? Most la. Not all. So they are really child like in the things they shared! They just believe God and want to serve God cuz God bless them. As simple as that! So yea.. nice….

今天就说到这了。改天再见。=D

P.S If got typo or any part sounds weird, pardon me. I tend to eat up words and i type incoherently! I type the way i speak! So maybe if u know me well, u will understand! =D Pei Ning, am i right?? Haha. Furthermore, its so late! Okay maybe my english sucks too :( Aiya Haha so any major part got mistake please tell me! Or wait till i spot it! =D

So, i stepped onto shanghai at approx 1:25pm today! It have been a interesting day. I’m stil trying to get use to it. Many thoughts went through my mind as i spend most of my first day here in hotel alone! Not very positive thoughts… But im sure everything will be alright once i get use to it! =D Check out here for more updates to come!

After 4 years of serving in pastoral ministry, I have been dealing with people day after day. We always tell people actions speaks louder than words. We always aim to set an example to the younger believers. Sometimes, it becomes sucha routine. As I entered this new life station in my chrisitian walk, im serving KOG more. (As in im serving in creative ministry; like serve full time in ministry and not really the pastoral side.) Dealing with ppl is lesser. At this moment I realise what counts for a christian is not just words or actions. But faith. Actions can be acted out to convince ppl. But faith determine the substance in me. Faith is the answer to the question – Will you last in this walk with God? Lastly, how strong is your faith level?

What I learnt from this, is not just 2 perservering blind men. Or 2 persistent blind men. But what I saw is 2 men with the mentality of “I’ve nothing to lose!”

Sometimes, we gotta ask ourselves if we prioritise God &  stand firm in our faith, what will we lose? Lose friends? Lose face? Or temporal sufferings come our way? Or anything else. But you see, these are nothing compared to an eternal happy life! If we are able to realise that what we may lose is nothing compared to what we will gain, we will be like the 2 blind men. Acting out with courage and faith because they have nothing to lose!

We must have this mentality that we have nothing to lose as long as what we are doing is for God and his kingdom! This will greatly enhance our courage and faith in God! Let’s grow and learn together! Ciaos.

Also on neaonetwentyeleven.wordpress.com. 

“Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course?

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing against “tomorrow.” You must live in the present on today’s deposits.

Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in life. The clock is running. Make the most of today.”

Came by a blog that posted this! And i thought to myself “wow, nice!”

All along i have been comparing time with money and vice versa. Weighing the importance of each in different circumstances.

Saving more money now can be good for the future. Spending more money now and saving more time, can be good for good for the present. I have been in such dilemma all the time! Everytime my sch end late and i gotta rush for Lifegroup or wat, i got to think to myself “should i take cab or just take bus and save money?” But well that’s not the point. The point is, i just realised, time and money can be interpreted this way!

If only we treat time like money and we will lose it all at the end of the day, i think everyone on earth will be really decisive really urgent people. Everyone will make full use of every single “cent” they have!

Question:

How have i invest my time each day?

Am i a good steward of the time God has credited to me each day?

Every one of you was made for success – that’s what God intended.  He has never created a failure.  Why some of you have not yet succeeded is because you have let confused emotions or a lack of purpose lead you astray. – Mrs Belinda Charles last morning devotion with St Andrews.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=163908966974938

It start to make me think. 19 years old. So how have my life been so far? hah. I think i wasted and fooled around for 16 years. Another 3 years i lead a more joyful lfe but i think i didnt reach the maximum out of it. Birthday to me is really not being just numerically older. But more of physically older(haha ignore this), mentally older, emotionally older and spiritually older. Looking back i think i have grown really little :/ Not gonna say in details. But im certain that for the past one year, i have grown in the area of thinking. My brain is constantly thinking. Whenever i have nth do i will start to think. Think all kinds of weird thing. Like why did God created devil? Why did the person act that way. Why am i doing what im doing. Why do i and others scared of death. Why some people dont scard of death? Why this and why that. Many WHYsss. And i realised i can nvr reach a conclusion for any of these question until i relate it back to the bible and back to God. I wont ever dare to say im the most spiritual person on earth i wont dare to say i will never sway at all. But i dare to say no matter wat doubts i have my tinge of faith in God will forever be present. It because of this foundation of faith, whenever im in deep thoughts and doubts, i will sitll turn to God and ask him why? And he nvr fails to give me a convincing reply. For example. If God is so almigthy, why did he put us on earth? Why cant he just bring us all up to heaven? My answer is that cuz heaven is too holy a place for any tom dick and harry to enter. You want to enter? Prove ur worth prove why u deserved to enter.  So God is giving us all a chance to prove that we are worthy. Thats to me la that just part of the answer though. If u got other answers please voice out.

Yup so after talking so much, i think as christians, we must constantly link our thoughts to Jesus. There’s What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) i think there should be WWJT too! What Would Jesus Think. Sometimes going into deep thoughts is a form of worship and prayer too? You will keep keeping God in your mind u will keep quesitoning God. I think its quite good for a christian which really want to care bout their own life!

It has been long since i last blogged always wanted to blog but cant be bothered. Shall update bout my life! Haha. Life have been quite interesting haha i categorised all unhappy stuffs as interesting too! haha I think i have been very joyful and optimistic or rather im simply SLACK! haha. Well, it isnt doing much harm so i suppose it quite okay? I went to a relative funeral not long ago and it made me think alot once again :/ My brain almost burst when see the monks and all doing rituals i keep thinking and thinking. haha. Sometimes i think too much… Before i end, i shall make u guys think again! Stare it this a guess wat is it!