Dear family and friends,
Warm greetings for a Joyful Christmas & a 2004 full of His presence.
Josiah (5+)
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Josiah in a Power Ranger suit |
I am growing by leaps and bounds, sadly physically only in my height. My pediatrician said I burn out 3,000 calories when I only consume 2,000! So I am always underweight!
My mum always says that I am destined for a good life as my constant vocabularies are toys, play and friends. Almost daily I have to go to some buddies' home or bring someone back to play with me. Much would be achieved if only I am learning through all these plays.
This year I did my 2nd year in kindergarten at our church. ‘Familiarity breeds contempt', so I am going to a Chinese based kindergarten next year to prepare for Chinese primary Ed. Guess my “good life” days are numbered. But have no fear, dad made mum promised to “study” along with me!
Josiah & Co. performing a Rock & Roll
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Josiah & Co. performing a Rock & Roll |
My big achievement is learning how to cycle without the supporting wheels! Our neighbor passed me a BMX kid's bike and I was determined to try till I cry ….. from the falls, and crashes when I do not know how to use the brakes! I also enjoyed my VBS entitled 'perfect 10' at GMC and more recently 3 days' holiday day camp at Calvary Church entitled “Champions for God” that climaxed with a concert “ Good Kings come in small packages' on young King Josiah. I miss my akka Jojo very much and can't wait for her to return home.
Jocelyn (15+)
It has been a great year for me. I survived a major government exam which will determine my going to the science or the arts stream! Josiah's 5th Birthday celebration
Am catching up on my “rest and relax” at least till my result is out after Christmas.
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Josiah's 5th Birthday celebration |
During this 8 weeks year end holiday, I have gone to 6 different cafes (Starbucks, Coffee bean, etc) to get a part time job but was rejected by all because of my age. Finally I am helping out at Zilian Beauty House-managed by Auntie Shanti of our church. Here I am learning all sorts of things from washing hair right down to waxing. I have yet to find a guinea pig I can test my new skills on. Even Josiah keeps away from me.
I am still very involved in our church MYF and am currently the prayer coordinator. Thank God for our recent MYF Camp at Broga that went extremely well.
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Jocelyn with some Birmingham Players |
My interest in football and their various matches have taken a back seat as I had to focus on my exams. Nevertheless it was a rare opportunity to meet the players from Newcastle, Birmingham and Chelsea at the invitation of the British High Commissioner to my dad. My interest in children grew! I still help out in Sunday school and enjoy every minute with them.
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Jochebed |
Hi everyone, greetings from Perth! I decided to stay back till my graduation in March and am spending Christmas here in the heat! Phew, this year has been so full on, especially the final semester with my dissertation, finals, waitressing , working at the copy center in Uni, being a residential Assistant, organizing events for our housing and all the surprise birthdays we had for one another. The worst part was that my 21st was right smack in the middle of it all, but despite that I had the best birthday of my life because of all the surprises my friends threw for me. Hehehe they threw a few other things at me as well, like water mixed with eggs and flour, as well as cake right in my face, but was all good fun.
For now, I am gaining some work experience with ISADD, a service provider for autistic children. I basically go to a couple of children's homes and give them therapy for about two hours a day. It is very challenging but the improvement in the children's behavior is extremely rewarding.
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Rose visiting Jochebed at work at Mikasa Restaurant, Perth |
Well, I guess that this chapter of my life here is coming to an end. These past 2 years have been a wonderful experience and I have the best memories to hold on to as well as the best friends anyone could have made. I really thank God for blessing me so much in terms of finance, accommodation, studies and the wonderful people I have met. I am not sure of what the Lord holds for me next but am looking forward to going home and just being with my family again.
Rose
A thanksgiving service cum dinner for Denison's clear arteries after an angiogram in conjunction with our 21st Wedding Anniversary took place in January. We limited the 100 odd crowd to family, GMC, YKPM and YSS.
In April I spent 10 days in Perth with Jochebed over Easter season. The trip down south of Perth to Margaret River, Lake Caves and Cape Leewin, Agusta was a treat, not to mention the great time meeting up with old friends and their different ministries.
The charity dinner for Help Home (temporary shelter for abused women) in July netted about 50,000 RM. There was a Treasure Hunt drive and Fashion Show to go with it. Redeem Center's work is pretty much the same as last year's. YKPM or FOCUSED celebrated the 10th Anniversary in September. We are grateful to God for His Leading and Provision all these years. Am still part of the management team. I am stepping down from our church kindergarten chair after holding the post for 3 years. We had a good Family day on May 1st that attracted some amount of community participation with the food and games' stalls.
A village pastor and his wife at their 'residence'(outskirt of Chennai)
A recent 2 weeks' trip in November to India covering Puna, Bangalore and Chennai was much looked forward to.
The main purpose was to attend the Golden Jubilee of Union Biblical Seminary in Puna where Denison spent 5 years in training (then at the Yeotmal campus) and I did 1 year as a special student. It was wonderful meeting up with some friends after 22 years! Life is hard in India for the majority especially having reached 1.1 billion in population! We are reminded again to 'live simply so that others can simply live!' We are also reminded to review our comfortable giving of the tithe, since as Christians now under ‘Grace' as oppose to being under the ‘Law'. As we observed some ministries in a harsh and hostile environment, we are availing ourselves to help raise some funds to subsidize some projects and supplement some workers' income.
Denison
It has been a very busy year and also a very fruitful one with major breakthroughs at the policy and practice level. In a pre-Mid Term Review meeting on the 8th Malaysia Plan, the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister's Department accepted YSS study on lack of skills' training opportunities for academically underachieving Indian youths who have either dropped out of school or are doing very poorly in school. EPU negotiated with relevant agencies to provide skill training opportunity at Giat Mara and Community colleges. Likewise access to small business loans was possible through the savings' bank.
At the practice level we are playing a key role in the curriculum development of the community module for the National Service and the training of facilitators. Over 85,000 young people will take part in this new government initiative from Feb 2004. Together with a number of other NGOs, the YSS team helped develop the community module for National Service Training. Our neighbourhood based social work is making much headway and we are developing community based approaches in strengthening social support and social control mechanisms in the community. Do read more of this in our website (www.yss98.com) As usual, seminars and conferences do entail some traveling overseas - Delhi in January, Northampton, UK in August, Bangkok in October, Puna, Bangalore & Chennai (India) and Hongkong in November.
This year also saw more opportunities in televised forum speaking eg. Infofokus, Point of View, Bicara Siswa and Selamat Pagi Malaysia.
(Submitted on 20th December 2003)
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