Reflecting 2006

2006 seems to be the longest year in my life thus far. What started out to be the most unproductive first few months suddenly turned into a whole new ride of exposure and new experiences. I started my year doing practically nothing. I was donating my time and money to World Of WarCraft. Oh the sweet war raging land of Azeroth. Life seemed stagnant then. Everyday was a routine but my feelings were anything but routine. God knows what happened then, i went through a roller coaster or emotions thus naming myself Emo-Boy. I doubted God, I was angry at God, got tired of Church, basically i was one bitter gourd. Then i came to the conclusion if i left this ****ing place perhaps i'd meet new people, i'd love that new place better and mayb i'd be happier. To cut a long story short i chosed to come to Switzerland.

After months of routine-life, i was taken out of that routine and put into another in KL. i went for French Class. Wake Up, Go French Class, come back, Eat Sleep Shit. after 2 months of French Class came the Moment Of Truth - I'm Leaving For Swiss. My grandparents actually went to KL just to see me off. A part of me actually wanted to leave real bad. and i remembered not feeling any sense of anxiousness, i was having that 'If I Can Set My Mind To It I Can Do It' mentality, was so eager to leave. I remember being so full of energy at the airport. It wasn't even a teary departure for me.

However i got disappointed time after time in Swiss. All that enthusiasm and energy started to run out and things really got bad when my grandma was in Critical Condition. And when i came back to Swiss after my grandma's passing i just didn't wanna be in Swiss at all. It's a freakin long story but let me just put it this way. I was actually told that Swiss may not be what i really want, yet i was self-righteous, i was all about self effort thinking that there's no such thing as unsuitable as long as i set my mind to it. How wrong i was. My self-effort world came crashing down when everything wasn't going according to My plan.

But God is Good. My shepherd found me in Switzerland. From being bitter at God He actually gave me the message of Grace and Favour to me through my bro Eugene. Ps Prince and his ministry has blessed me so so much.

Today, it's Christmas. I started the Christmas with a spirit of thanksgiving thanking God for everything. somehow i ended up getting all frustrated about stuff. but i know God is Good. I know i've been telling my 06 story many times but it's through all my trials and circumstances that i truly see how great and how much God loves me. 06 is ending and i'm more than ever uncertain about 2007 due to many reasons. I'm learning about life and love. I'm sick of trying to define love, instead i want to learn to love. i want to love my family, my friends and a special someone even more. i'm also learning that life is tough, work is tough, earning money is tough... but i'm hopeful for 2007 for i know God has already been through 2007 for me. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Rome

Rome the Eternal City, is now all but a shadow of it's former Glory.

okay la, its not that bad. The Buildings and Architecture of Rome is simply amazing. Pictures wont do justice, you have to see it in front of you and i guarantee you'll be in awe. You can't help but be amazed by the skills and talents of those who build them hundreds of years ago. On the darker side of Rome though, you'll see Heavy Traffic in ever corner of Rome and everyone car is as impatient as the other. Traffic Rules doesn't seem to apply in Rome and if u think a Zebra Crossing is useless in Malaysia wait till you cross one in Rome. The people in Rome aren't the friendliest lot of Europeans u'd meet. Suspicious looking people seems to creep around most dark corners or alleyways. There are also some really annoying and sometimes forceful salespeople. They are everywhere, trying to force people to buy their bracelets, roses, toys or whatever. Rome is a very romantic place considering its beautiful buildings and locales, however the really dangerous traffic, and 'scary' people makes it not quite ideal for a honeymoon destination, for me at least.

my best experience in Rome wasn't exactly in Rome itself. on the 2nd day i went for an 'ArcheoTour' and archeology tour to the archeological sides outside the City Centre of Rome. I went to the Catacombs of St. Callisto thinking it must be some saint's grave. it turned out to be a burial groud for thousands of christians a thousand years ago. The catacombs is made of numerous tunnels spanding 20 kilometres underground. We were told that this was the burial ground for Christians who died persecuted. It was constructed in the outskirts of Rome during the time when Christianity was illegal. The earliest Popes were buried there. inside the catacombs were volcanic rock walls with a rectangular 'hole' made to put the bodies of the dead. Also there were ancient graffiti and pictures depicting Jesus and His teachings. One which really meant alot to me was 3 pictures who told the story about how Jesus had died for us and Death is longer the end. Those pictures were painted there to remind those who came to bury their loved ones that there is Hope for Jesus has given us Salvation. This shows how far God has brought us. from Secret Gatherings of Believers to huge Megachurches around world. God truly has blessed us, and with Jesus as our Saviour, Our Strength, Our Hope, Our Future there's nothing we can't do. Christmas is coming, Christmas may have became a Holiday to the world but we know it's more than a holiday, therefore let us not look to Santa but Jesus for everything in our lives and a great 2007. Merry Christmas!

Someone To Share With

I'm in Swiss, I'm seeing snow for the first time, I'm going to new places, trying new things. Whether I like it or not you could say its an experience. Whenever i'm having one of those experiences as fun as they may be it always seems 'lacking'. I'm always thinking if only my family or friends could see this with me, in other words 'Wish You Were Here'.

I've always hoped that I could share my life with my grandma for as long as I could. Everytime my grandma says 'I'm Happy That I Can See You Up Till Now', I'd say you're gonna see me get my first job, you're gonna see me get married, you're gonna see me have kids, see my kids have kids. Haha, but anyhow I thank God for blessing me with my grandma for 18 years. As I went to that Cheese Trip I really wished I could tell my grandma how bad the cheese smelled and how right she was when she said European food looks like Pig Food (She saw Jamie Oliver's cooking). I miss my grandma very much, and the only thing that I'm believing right now is that God loves my Grandma alot. It's almost 2 months since her passing but even though there are times i miss her alot, she seems close to me. I've never had one of those Dreams people talk about ; dreams where my grandma would appear and talk to me but i still feel very close to her, like whenever i wanna share something with her it feels like she knows it. Again, i'm forever grateful, if God can bless me with someone who loves me so much how much more does He love me?

This got me thinking about God's love for us. I've been listening to sermons about how Gracious God is and how much He just wants to bless us. I believe what i was told that God would not be lonely even if he didn't create us - Humans. He however created us because I believe He truly WANTS TO SHARE HIS GLORY, HIS LOVE with us. God knew we were gonna cause trouble since the beginning, yet he still created us and even more died for us just so He might be able to be with us. I find this rather similar to parenting or perhaps relationships. I'm sure every parent ; before becoming parents, know that parenting isn't exactly easy, yet they still longed for a child to love and care despite knowing all the sacrifices that awaits them. I believe this is love. Same goes for a 'Serious' relationship, choosing a person to be your life partner for life does require every little bit of commitment and sacrifice. And by choosing to commit to that particular person, i
believe that has to be love.

Along the way problems will arise, kids may go wayward and parents may get disappointed and eventually give up. Life partners may end up divorce. That initial love and commitment may seem foolish. But rejoice knowing that our God has never and never will give up on us. I believe that inside every disappointed parent, inside every broken relationship there is still love. God is love and God will never leave us! Therefore love never leaves us, if only we look away from our problems and look to God, it's impossible not to find love ; For GOD IS LOVE.

My grandma may have left me but that love we have for one another is still keeping us close and that love is God. If you think God is out to judge you, God is not gonna save your family or friends think again! If you haven't found true Love in life thats perhaps you haven't given God a chance to show Himself to you. You may have suffered broken relationships or may be in a broken family. Just know that you're current circumstances aren't Final. The only Final thing is Jesus overcoming Death for us on the Cross crying out 'It Is Finished' so that we may have Life and Love forevermore.

Lord Of The Cheese

Yesterday the entire First Year had to go for a mandatory Cheese Trip to a town called Gruyere. The Cheese was terrible. It's nothing like KRAFT Cheese, oh you odourless KRAFT. It smelled like Cow Puke! They also made each of us pay 20CHF for Fondue. Yuck. I dun understand why do they enjoy bread dipped in Cheese + White Wine so much. I prefer my Steamboat!

so the cheese factory and fondue was a disappointment to everyone but later we were brought to Gruyere Town Centre which happens to look like a really small medieval town which is so cool. It looks like Rohan from Lord Of The Rings. A little Kingdom on its own. The town in located inside 'Castle Walls' and in those walls there really is a castle. Haha. Also the thing u least expect to find in such a Medieval Setting is an Alien Museum. Know the movie Alien? the disgusting Alien who looks like a Woman movie? It seems the creator of Alien is from that little town so they have a Museum and Bar dedicated to him and his 'work of art'. had to pay 8CHF to enter the museum so forget it. i took alot of pics but due to the slow upload times i 'll just be showing some.

it WAS snowing

It was snowing like 2 weeks ago. Today it looks like beginning Autumn. It feels kinda like Autumn to which is good, not so cold. Snow is fun the 1st or 2nd time after that i dun think you could really bother thanks to assignments and schoolwork. Still i'm looking forward to making a snow man in the face of my Agent who lied through his teeth to bring me here and push him down the hill.

anyway some pictures i took.