The great thing about this particular YWAM base is that we try our best to involve the kids in all that we do. I’m finding myself leading quite a bit of the family events e.g games, intercession, worship etc. I’ve not really done these things before with children coz I used to work with youths more. It’s really quite different working with young children and some don’t even speak English well. But I’m really enjoying it - singing Who’s the King of the Jungle?, pretending to be able to play the guitar (hiak!) and being silly… secretly loving it!

Last week, we had class intercession and we made prayer posters (making collages of prayer items) for our outreach locations and had a time of popcorn prayer (one sentence prayer).

If anyone has more ideas of how to involve the families in prayer and worship, I’d really like to learn more! Pls email me!

Right outside the church we attended on Sunday

Sophie attended Sunday School at our church for the first time yesterday!

Our church has a Sunday school class for those turning 3 years old. Previously she would sit with us in the service or hang out in the toddlers room with us but this year, she can go to Sunday school! Since we’ve been away the past few months, we weren’t sure if she would fit in or feel comfortable since the rest of the class have been together from the beginning of the year.

Anyways we were very keen to let her try so I started telling her about it before we went to church e.g "You’ll be going to Sunday School! You’ll do colouring, play with toys, meet new friends etc etc…" in the super hyped up voice. When we arrived, all we had to say was "Bye!" and off she went to play with the toys and when the teacher asked for her name, she just said "Sophie". That was so easy! Unbelievable! She really enjoyed herself. They played with toys, sang songs, did some colouring, listened to stories and she even made a friend - Joshua! My friend who was the teacher told me that she asked for me a few times but she told her that we’ll be back after the service ended.

Looks like we can sit in the service on our own from here onwards! Cool!

P/s Sigh… no pictures…

Day 3

We spent yesterday helping out at Christmas@Dover event which our church organised for the Dover residents. There were free food, fun and entertainment for all ages.

Prior to the event, we packed up a lot of our stuff to contribute to the flea market for this event. Some of our stuff were still in very good condition but we figured we can’t keep hoarding stuff so we decided to give it away. I actually felt quite happy seeing one of my favorite shoes being bought by someone, being able to bless someone with something so pretty and so new at a low cost.

Sophie had a moment when she spotted one of her old toys in box for sale and she wanted to take it back. When we had to explain to her that it was for someone else and we can give it away, she actually said ok and put it back. We are hoping that thru this Sophie will learn to bless others in her giving and sharing.

Other than that, Sophie had a great time being showered with lotsa attention from her godma and Yiyi and everyone else. She REALLY enjoyed herself.

ML n I organised a little Christmas party at our church mums grp yesterday.

The turn out was so good! We had more than 10 mums and more than 20 kids from 7 mths to 8 years old running around. We set up three tables - 1 for craft, 1 for cookie decorating and 1 for the food and drinks. After singing some carols, everyone took turns for craft and doing the cookies coz we didn’t have space for all.

Last year, we did the same activities but I had to do almost everything for Sophie but this year, she did both activities almost on her own. Cool beans!

Sophie REALLY enjoyed decorating her "gingerbread" man, with the help of Auntie SA n ML coz I was busy manning the craft table. All the kids were eating their chocolate chips, sprinkles and I caught Sophie eating off the icing that fell off even before they finished the decorations on the cookies. Sophie decorated three cookies and finished eating them all!

At the craft table, we made Christmas trees as Christmas tree decorations using foam. Some turned out very pretty but I was too busy, forgot to take pictures!

Left: Josh, sophie’s football partner

Right: Sophie in her new baseball cap, crawling on the ground sheet


We took the kids to the park this morning at 9. It was fun but super hot.

Sophie got to play a bit of football with Josh. Sharon (Josh’s mum) n I prob had more of a workout than the kids!

Sophie n I knocked out after coming home. I took two naps along with her! It’s just so wrong to have a picnic in Singapore, in July. But I’ll still do it again. Love the space n trees lah…

This time last yr we were on stage, originally uploaded by ailingnjames.

We’ve been missing for a bit! Busy busy busy…

Hope everyone’s had a wonderful time remembering Good Fri and Easter!

We took this pic in the baby’s room on Easter Sunday coz this time last year all three of us were singing on stage! We were all pregnant n looking like whales. I took a similar picture. And this year we’re all in the baby’s room! Wahahah… ML’s Elizabeth n S’s Josh are both about 9 mths.

During the Holy week (last wk), James n I tried to take some time off our work n fasted from TV, com, shopping, fancy eating etc. Some downtime to meditate n reflect. BUT it was hard. We got addicted to Heroes instead. (BUT we’re off the TV, wahahaha) So we did less of everything BUT didn’t manage to avoid it together.

On Good Fri, we introduced Sophie to the cross. We told her stories about Jesus using the Walk with Jesus cloth book (yes… the book has a Jesus soft toy that can be velcroed to every page that has a miracle story… Jesus walks thru the books… heh) and finally told her about the cross. We let her play with a little wooden cross and then stuck the cross on her cot.

I pray that she’ll come to know the power of the resurrection n the deep love of the Father in time. At this point i feel a bit like Mary and how the angel told her everything about Jesus’ coming and she held them in her heart. Feel like there’s so much to tell Sophie about but right now I can only hold them in my heart and pray them into her life.

Woah!!!!! We visited Kum Yan (KY) yesterday, got invited by Ben Wu. We went for their youth service (Youth Connection, YC) and spent the whole afternoon catching up with them - Joel, Vicki, Noelle, Krystal, Ben etc. I’ve been wanting to do this for the longest time but never got the chance coz i’m always at HeartBeat. For the record, we’re not thinking of changing church, we’re just visiting different churches for a different perspective and hear what the Lord is doing. Heh. And for the record, just because we had dinner with Auntie Lilian (Youth Pastor) doesn’t mean i’m going to join them! Better get this straight coz people have been asking…. heh.

Check out KY’s new church building! This is commitment to youths and to the call of God upon their church! See… they are located next to SMU.

Top left: This is their new youth worship hall… and it opens up to a patio (Right)! Can have garden parties! (ViCKY!!!!) Oh btw, outside their worship hall is a full floor for youths. They have a youth room that looks into the worship hall and a room for their youth min staff. They’ve got 3.
Bottom Left: This is their, can you believe it!, JUNIOR YOUTH WORSHIP HALL! They are going to get their own instruments etc… and they already have a separate service for them.
Bottom Right: Rooftop basketball court!!!!!!!!!!! Ah…. it’s always been KY’s culture to have basketball in their blood so this is a MUST. So getto hor? The graffiti is on its way…

Woah……………………. really excited for them!!! New season. Lord BLESS THEM!

Thank you to all of you who made yesterday so amazing. I cried and laughed so much. Thank you for all the love, the sharing, the songs, the tears, the cards, the gifts, the hugs…. I’m going to miss ALL of you very much.

Here’s an old old song for all of you

Everytime i think of you
My heart is filled with joy
I thank God for all you’ve meant to me
You have helped me serve the Lord
In many many ways
We are friends for all eternity

Thank you for your fellowship
Thank you for your partnership
Thank you for the love we’ve shared
In Jesus Christ
Thank you for your fellowship
Thank you for your partnership
I thank God each time i think of you.

See photos

Today was my last day with the cluster. It’s really quite hard to pen down how i really feel or think so i guess i’ll just leave it at that for a while.

Our place is sooooooooo small but we managed to squeeze the cluster in last Sunday.
Told them they can only sit on one tile each. haha. About 20-30 of them i
think, at diff points. Some were in the kitchen, some at the dining
area and some in the baby’s room.

We had good old egg mayo (thanks to eve) and spag (the only thing i
know how to make quickly), lotsa chips and sweets. Played taboo for a
really long time… so fun. Took pics with them. It was great to just
hang out with them and catch up with some whom i haven’t caught up with
for a while.

I’m gonna miss these times. James seriously thinks i’ll have HeartBeat withdrawal symptoms.

Pic: Quiet time and breakfast at the park
Me kicking angie… heh… they asked for funny pose.

Anyways… we had great fun at Interchange, our annual HeartBeat
Leaders Retreat. Er but we missed it last year. As annual as can be.
Heh…

I had a really good time.. prob my last with HeartBeat for a while…
it was great to see the newer interns and leaders attend as well.