I had a dream recently. To be honest most of my dreams fall into two main categories: absolutely mundane (like peeling carrots while my friends chat with me in the kitchen) or totally freaky (like being in a stadium and running away from people who think I've committed a heinous crime) . This one however I thought was quite poignant.
I can't really remember how it started off, but there seemed to be a reunion of some sort as I saw some ex-students gathered together. Later on I went out of the building and I was in charge of a market stall in quite a nice quadrangle. Displayed for all to see were miscellaneous objects on a trestle table. I was stood at one corner on one side and on the same side I could see my wallet at the other corner. People came to browse at the objects on the table. I started to become quite concerned whenever a person would be standing by the table blocking my view of the wallet. After a short period of time, I looked again and the wallet was gone. I started searching and asking people if they knew where my wallet was or if they had seen who had taken it, to no avail. I went back to the table and started thinking to myself. I thought," I know that my ID card is in my little red wallet that I have in my hand." I realized that the objects of any value were right there in my hand whereas the other wallet really had nothing of value (like old receipts and namecards) in it and I really wouldn't miss what it contained.
I talked about this with my friend, Nancy as she had had an interesting dream too. Well, we reckoned that maybe I should think and pray about my identity in Christ and realize that all that other stuff I really am not going to miss.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Holiday :Madrid
This has been really annoying. I've tried twice to create a new post and attach photos, only for Safari to shut down. Yes, I also insist that I don't add any other blogs until I've posted something about Madrid.
I went to Madrid in the summer for about 4 days with my mum, dad and aunty. Communicating with the taxi driver was quite funny as I'd forgotten any Spanish that I had learnt over 10 years ago, and I don't think my mum's 'Learn Spanish in a week' CDs quite did the trick! Well, we managed to keep fed and watered in the heat. Thankfully our hotel was in the centre of the city, so we just walked everywhere and it was easy to return and have a kip in teh afternoon.
The very glamorous post office with loads of counters inside for a multitude of purposes.
The cathedral
The royal palace
I went to Madrid in the summer for about 4 days with my mum, dad and aunty. Communicating with the taxi driver was quite funny as I'd forgotten any Spanish that I had learnt over 10 years ago, and I don't think my mum's 'Learn Spanish in a week' CDs quite did the trick! Well, we managed to keep fed and watered in the heat. Thankfully our hotel was in the centre of the city, so we just walked everywhere and it was easy to return and have a kip in teh afternoon.
The very glamorous post office with loads of counters inside for a multitude of purposes.
The cathedral
The royal palace
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Holiday:Wales
One day, mum and dad decided we'd take my aunt to Wales. Actually, we only have to drive a mile down the road and we're there. We hadn't been to the Horseshoe Pass or Llangollen for a while, so off we went.We went to the Horshoe Pass first. My last memory from when I was a kid of it was being surrounded and trampled on by goats as I had some bread in my hand. Thankfully my brother and his friend managed to scare them away.
We didn't see any goats this time but there were a few sheep around and plenty of bikers who stopped at the cafe for a bite to eat. We stopped there too for a coffee and a scone with jam and cream and chatted to the nice lady on the till who had been to Hong Kong.
Beautiful hills in Wales at the Horshoe Pass
What's Wales without sheep?
Surely Dad didn't forget where he parked the car?!
Llangollen station
We didn't see any goats this time but there were a few sheep around and plenty of bikers who stopped at the cafe for a bite to eat. We stopped there too for a coffee and a scone with jam and cream and chatted to the nice lady on the till who had been to Hong Kong.
Beautiful hills in Wales at the Horshoe Pass
What's Wales without sheep?
Surely Dad didn't forget where he parked the car?!
Llangollen station
Monday, August 07, 2006
Holiday:Edinburgh
I thought I'd try to put a few quick notes about my summer holidays. Dad did all the driving and we managed to get to our travelodge with me navigating. We went to see my parent's friend's daughter who I had known when I was younger. We went to the Chinese restaurant that she and her husband run to have dinner with her and her three kids. She drove us around to have a quick tour of Edinburgh sites, while her cute but inquisitive son asked me all manner of questions! We walked around Edinburgh, took photos and went to the art museum - with a collection of Rembrandt sketches.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Diversion
I took a flight from Manchester to London after bidding farewell to my father at the airport. My aunt and I caught the 1830 flight from heathrow. On the plane we heard from the captain that we would be following a new route that would actually get us to HK about 30 minutes faster. Great. The flight continued as smoothly as can be expected with not much sleep achieved and a couple of movies watched. V for Vendetta pretty poor British movie, but when you start watching some films you just want to see how it ends as predictable as it may be. There was some rom com film – Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Bates but because Matthew McConaghey is so ‘watchable’, I watched it.
We began our descent into Hong Kong after turning a mighty big loop over the South China Sea and were experiencing turbulence. I prayed for the pilot and that he would land us safely on the ground. He did … in Taipei. The winds were too strong in Hong Kong to land safely considering it is August and typhoon season. Hence I am currently sitting here typing this out when I should really be asleep in bed in Happy Valley. I’m also typing into word and will transfer this later as yet again I would have to pay for the internet. Why am I not doing that? Simply by the time I sort out payment and get the internet up and running on my computer, my battery will inevitably run out considering I didn’t have it fully charged.
I really hope this does not become an annual event. In the summer of last year after visiting Vancouver for a week in order to go to a friend’s wedding I was similarly delayed. The plane was taxing to the runway when the wing tip of our left wing knocked the tail of another plane parked at the side. This meant taxiing back, passengers were trooped off and the waiting began. It took a couple of hours to osrt out the wing rip, only to then test the equipment and find that a computer wasn’t working. Comp[lications. We also ran into the problem that we would be able to fly to Calgary but then the cabin crew and pilot would not have had the sufficient rest required between flights so we wouldn’t be able to fly back to Manchester. There was also mention of a hotel on arrival at Calgary. Unfortunatley by the time we got there, the people in charge announced that the hotel airport was full and the other hotel which was booked was too far away to make it worthwhile. So they prepared a room with drinks and snacks and people tried to get what little sleep they could. Oh…that is after having a large group of people have a major rant at the poor man making the announcements on behalf of the company.
We arrived at HK airport and waited at the carousel for our luggage. We were so happy that the luggage appeared - except that it wasn't ours at all. We were then told the luggage would arrive at 2:30pm - another hour to wait. The hour passed and our luggage didn't arrive. We were then told that the plane with our luggage would arrive at 4:10pm. After two nights where we had little sleep this was all we needed to hear. My aunt and I finally went out for something to eat, were escorted back in to wait at the carousel and were finally reunited with our luggage at about 6pm at which point I got on the train and fell asleep.
We began our descent into Hong Kong after turning a mighty big loop over the South China Sea and were experiencing turbulence. I prayed for the pilot and that he would land us safely on the ground. He did … in Taipei. The winds were too strong in Hong Kong to land safely considering it is August and typhoon season. Hence I am currently sitting here typing this out when I should really be asleep in bed in Happy Valley. I’m also typing into word and will transfer this later as yet again I would have to pay for the internet. Why am I not doing that? Simply by the time I sort out payment and get the internet up and running on my computer, my battery will inevitably run out considering I didn’t have it fully charged.
I really hope this does not become an annual event. In the summer of last year after visiting Vancouver for a week in order to go to a friend’s wedding I was similarly delayed. The plane was taxing to the runway when the wing tip of our left wing knocked the tail of another plane parked at the side. This meant taxiing back, passengers were trooped off and the waiting began. It took a couple of hours to osrt out the wing rip, only to then test the equipment and find that a computer wasn’t working. Comp[lications. We also ran into the problem that we would be able to fly to Calgary but then the cabin crew and pilot would not have had the sufficient rest required between flights so we wouldn’t be able to fly back to Manchester. There was also mention of a hotel on arrival at Calgary. Unfortunatley by the time we got there, the people in charge announced that the hotel airport was full and the other hotel which was booked was too far away to make it worthwhile. So they prepared a room with drinks and snacks and people tried to get what little sleep they could. Oh…that is after having a large group of people have a major rant at the poor man making the announcements on behalf of the company.
We arrived at HK airport and waited at the carousel for our luggage. We were so happy that the luggage appeared - except that it wasn't ours at all. We were then told the luggage would arrive at 2:30pm - another hour to wait. The hour passed and our luggage didn't arrive. We were then told that the plane with our luggage would arrive at 4:10pm. After two nights where we had little sleep this was all we needed to hear. My aunt and I finally went out for something to eat, were escorted back in to wait at the carousel and were finally reunited with our luggage at about 6pm at which point I got on the train and fell asleep.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Grey day in the UK
Here I am - finally - in England and having access to the internet. Unfortunately my parents are still in the dark ages and have no internet access at home. Well, at least they have a computer and iPods - even though they still couldn't load music onto them until I came home to do it for them! Bless!
So I'm in Starbucks and had to pay for internet - there's possibly a place a bit up the road where I might have access for free. Hmm...will have to check it out.
Since I landed at Manchester airport and came down to Chester I haven't done that much. Well, the first day I was here I pretty much crashed after a few hours - which was nice as I hadn't slept much on the plane. I've managed to go jogging about 5 times - pretty good since I''ve only been back just over a week. I've watched quite a bit of footie - England just making it through after being plagued with injuries. In HK the commentary was pretty poor - so it's been nice to have some decent commentary and listening to Gary Linekar pre-match, at half-time and post-match (especially during the Eng-Ecu match where he made a slip at half time and said the score was 1-0 when it was 0-0 but the full time score was 1-0! Gift of prophecy?). It was also quite interesting when the camera was in the tunnel for the England Ecuador match- where you could hear a few f words being spouted out of the players mouths - tut tut - hope those little boys who they hold hands with to go on the pitch weren't present!
I've managed to speak to a few friends on the phone. I rang an old school friend who lives down south and she told me she'd just had a baby - i didn't even know she was pregnant - a lot can happen in a year!
I went over to catch up withg the senior pastor over here - he only lives around the corner from me - and I was glad to see his son Garetrh who'd had a stroke the year before - he was looking in good health. We had a good conversation about worship as he's normally down in Chorleywood, London and focussing on worship with folks down there. I've known him since he was about 13 and it's great to see how he's getting on and maturing, but still with that cheeky boy side of him intact. It was good to worship with the people at Northgate church - I only know about 10 people there now, but it still has that family feeling, and I like to catch up with the few that I know.
There was a couple from the States preaching and they were talking about what you focus on becomes your future. I find that I tend to get pulled into different directions with church, school, hockey and socially - especially in terms of having resposibility. It's difficult as there are obviously things that I have/need to do but then what about the rest. I always find that difficult. i feel that right now I could go any way, but it's all a fog - I need clarity in what God wants me to do so that I can get that focus right. I think once I have that focus then I can concentrate on it and I can leave the other stuff. I don't want people to be pulling me towards one thing or another - I just want to know for myself. It's between God and me - I don't care what everyone else thinks I'll be 'good' at- that kind of pressure doesn't help. so, I'm very thankful I can get a break from life in HK hopefully collect my thoughts and pray.
I'm off to Edinburgh tomorrow - must charge up my camera battery! I've not been there before...heard it's very beautiful - hope the weather brightens up. It'll be busy with all the festivals going on.
Okay - I've been sat here long enough - I will go and see what Chester has to offer.
So I'm in Starbucks and had to pay for internet - there's possibly a place a bit up the road where I might have access for free. Hmm...will have to check it out.
Since I landed at Manchester airport and came down to Chester I haven't done that much. Well, the first day I was here I pretty much crashed after a few hours - which was nice as I hadn't slept much on the plane. I've managed to go jogging about 5 times - pretty good since I''ve only been back just over a week. I've watched quite a bit of footie - England just making it through after being plagued with injuries. In HK the commentary was pretty poor - so it's been nice to have some decent commentary and listening to Gary Linekar pre-match, at half-time and post-match (especially during the Eng-Ecu match where he made a slip at half time and said the score was 1-0 when it was 0-0 but the full time score was 1-0! Gift of prophecy?). It was also quite interesting when the camera was in the tunnel for the England Ecuador match- where you could hear a few f words being spouted out of the players mouths - tut tut - hope those little boys who they hold hands with to go on the pitch weren't present!
I've managed to speak to a few friends on the phone. I rang an old school friend who lives down south and she told me she'd just had a baby - i didn't even know she was pregnant - a lot can happen in a year!
I went over to catch up withg the senior pastor over here - he only lives around the corner from me - and I was glad to see his son Garetrh who'd had a stroke the year before - he was looking in good health. We had a good conversation about worship as he's normally down in Chorleywood, London and focussing on worship with folks down there. I've known him since he was about 13 and it's great to see how he's getting on and maturing, but still with that cheeky boy side of him intact. It was good to worship with the people at Northgate church - I only know about 10 people there now, but it still has that family feeling, and I like to catch up with the few that I know.
There was a couple from the States preaching and they were talking about what you focus on becomes your future. I find that I tend to get pulled into different directions with church, school, hockey and socially - especially in terms of having resposibility. It's difficult as there are obviously things that I have/need to do but then what about the rest. I always find that difficult. i feel that right now I could go any way, but it's all a fog - I need clarity in what God wants me to do so that I can get that focus right. I think once I have that focus then I can concentrate on it and I can leave the other stuff. I don't want people to be pulling me towards one thing or another - I just want to know for myself. It's between God and me - I don't care what everyone else thinks I'll be 'good' at- that kind of pressure doesn't help. so, I'm very thankful I can get a break from life in HK hopefully collect my thoughts and pray.
I'm off to Edinburgh tomorrow - must charge up my camera battery! I've not been there before...heard it's very beautiful - hope the weather brightens up. It'll be busy with all the festivals going on.
Okay - I've been sat here long enough - I will go and see what Chester has to offer.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Freedom...nearly!
Yesterday was the last day of school - WOOHOO!!!!!! Students were busily writing in each other's yearbooks as I was trying to figure out what was going on that morning, and struggling to drink my coffee as the requests for yearbook signing came in. We went for our final grade 8 gathering where a couple of homerooms performed Dr Suess' "Sneetches'. We bid farewell to those students who are leaving our school - tears. Then we practiced the entry of all (just under 200) students in the 'Remember the Titans' style - very amusing. Then we rehearsed the dance to Black Eyed Peas 'Pump it' - with only a few reminders for some of the boys to keep it clean.
Before the actual final assembly, Michael told the grade 6s and 7s that we had decided to go to Disneyland instead of the gathering as we had been to Ocean Park the day before. Then the grade 8s entered and it was the best that they had performed that dance.
After the assembly we all went downstairs and many tears came forth and students hugged as we tried to usher them towards the buses for the 'Big Wave'. They finally got on and the buses departed as we waved them off to have a good summer - and no moonies this year.
I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening eating and then trying to pack up my room for summer school. I now need to go back, finish the job, sign my new contract and sned my goal sheet to admin. Fun.
Before the actual final assembly, Michael told the grade 6s and 7s that we had decided to go to Disneyland instead of the gathering as we had been to Ocean Park the day before. Then the grade 8s entered and it was the best that they had performed that dance.
After the assembly we all went downstairs and many tears came forth and students hugged as we tried to usher them towards the buses for the 'Big Wave'. They finally got on and the buses departed as we waved them off to have a good summer - and no moonies this year.
I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening eating and then trying to pack up my room for summer school. I now need to go back, finish the job, sign my new contract and sned my goal sheet to admin. Fun.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Marking break
I'm feeling rather sad right now - as in my life is currently in a state of sadness due to infernal marking!!! Last week I was mega busy but managed to mark some websites. I still have about 50 websites to mark, 94 worksheets, 94 homework packets, 94 labs and end of year reports to write. My first plan of action is to get the websites finished - thankfully the kids have an algebra exam tomorrow during which I will do some marking. It's quite annoying as I have a cold too- ugh - kept sneezing today.
I'm still not sleeping properly either - keep waking at about 3:45am. I blame the muggy weather.
Good news today - my and my aunty's flights back to England are confirmed. I can't stand the waitlisting thing...thankfully I didn't have to endure that for long.
So here's the countdown:
8.5 days to the end of term
6.5 days of teaching left
12 days to my friends' wedding
13 days until I fly back to sunny Manchester
Okay - back to marking with the help of Jacqueline du Pre.
I'm still not sleeping properly either - keep waking at about 3:45am. I blame the muggy weather.
Good news today - my and my aunty's flights back to England are confirmed. I can't stand the waitlisting thing...thankfully I didn't have to endure that for long.
So here's the countdown:
8.5 days to the end of term
6.5 days of teaching left
12 days to my friends' wedding
13 days until I fly back to sunny Manchester
Okay - back to marking with the help of Jacqueline du Pre.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Day off
Well, I'm managing to write more posts than I did on my previous site - I do believe this is my 8th. Only 2 weeks of school left - I can taste summer! It probably has to do with the end of year meals I keep having - MS hockey team dinner which was yesterday, MS hockey parents dinner tomorrow, HKIS end of year teacher's celebration and grade 8 celebration dinner dance. This means that in about 2 weeks time the seams on my clothes will be splitting. I must go to the gym...maybe it can help save my wardrobe!
I managed to watch "The Notebook' today - quite a weepy towards the end. Very much a chick flick - good to do the ironing to. Those kinds of films really aren't worth going to the cinema to watch. I think my cinema viewing is reserved mostly for action/ special effect movies e.g. X-men, spiderman etc...unless of course it's a $25 showing where I think I'd allow myself to watch any movie - usually cheap summer before 11am films...always good!
I managed to watch "The Notebook' today - quite a weepy towards the end. Very much a chick flick - good to do the ironing to. Those kinds of films really aren't worth going to the cinema to watch. I think my cinema viewing is reserved mostly for action/ special effect movies e.g. X-men, spiderman etc...unless of course it's a $25 showing where I think I'd allow myself to watch any movie - usually cheap summer before 11am films...always good!
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Mutant Powers
Saw X-men 3 on Thursday night. I was excited about it as soon as I got the e-mail asking if I was interested to go. So, my random question to my students on Thursday was 'What would your mutant ability be?' Most went for flying and teleporting, there were a few mind readers and one x-ray vision (but not all the time - I recommended eyewear like Cyclops'). However, the best was definitely Jack from my homeroom. He said that he would want Storm's powers. Now a 14 year old boy wanting Storm's (who is a woman) powers, seemed interesting. So I asked him why - and he had a good reason. He said,'So that I could control the weather and make tornados and storms. Then I could make a typhoon come and we could have a day off school.' Brilliant logic.
I had my hair cut and dyed red today. Wonder how many people will ask me if I want to be like Dark Phoenix/jean Grey. Truth of the matter is, I normally get my hair done like this but it takes hours - actually today it took 5 hours. So, as I usually play hockey on Saturdays I get my hair cut about twice a year! Anyway, I'd want to be Lady Deathstrike (the alive version!).
I had my hair cut and dyed red today. Wonder how many people will ask me if I want to be like Dark Phoenix/jean Grey. Truth of the matter is, I normally get my hair done like this but it takes hours - actually today it took 5 hours. So, as I usually play hockey on Saturdays I get my hair cut about twice a year! Anyway, I'd want to be Lady Deathstrike (the alive version!).
Sunday, May 21, 2006
31
Okay...so I'm 31 now...all those younger than me...you can be quiet now.
Well, I got to feel special at school - three of my students (Rach, Brooke and Tash) posted photoshopped pictures of me around school wishing me a happy birthday. They also baked a cake and got the hockey girls including Deayton to come and celebrate with me at break - nice.
Tanja Kerbs - she's a champ- organised a whole spread of goodies to make ice-cream sundaes at 9:30am in the morning. The grade 8 teachers were singing me happy birthday and I couldn't take my eyes off the colourful spread - m&ms, fresh fruit, canned fruit, nots, shredded coconut, ice cream, hundred and thousands, choc curls, MAGIC SHELL, maple syrup, brownies...it was crazy......get the teachers on a sugar high or what?? I laughed when Maureen from grade 7 said that you could smell the sweet stuff as soon as you walked into the room...but she was absolutely right.
My poor students had a Science test on my birthday....but now I have to mark it...D'oh!!!
Well, I got to feel special at school - three of my students (Rach, Brooke and Tash) posted photoshopped pictures of me around school wishing me a happy birthday. They also baked a cake and got the hockey girls including Deayton to come and celebrate with me at break - nice.
Tanja Kerbs - she's a champ- organised a whole spread of goodies to make ice-cream sundaes at 9:30am in the morning. The grade 8 teachers were singing me happy birthday and I couldn't take my eyes off the colourful spread - m&ms, fresh fruit, canned fruit, nots, shredded coconut, ice cream, hundred and thousands, choc curls, MAGIC SHELL, maple syrup, brownies...it was crazy......get the teachers on a sugar high or what?? I laughed when Maureen from grade 7 said that you could smell the sweet stuff as soon as you walked into the room...but she was absolutely right.
My poor students had a Science test on my birthday....but now I have to mark it...D'oh!!!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Vine Album recording weekend
It's now 10th May, and the recording took place last weekend - 5th to 7th May. Friday 5th and Saturday 6th may were the two days of live recording at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre.
On Friday I arrived at about 1230 to start my service managing duties. Well, to be honest there wasn't much for me to do. I ticked that the people who were supposed to be there were - easy. However, on the way to the venue, Anna Gardener had called me about a cold pack as Carmen had hurt her foot in a rehearsal that morning. So by the time I arrived, her foot was elevated and iced. The dancers were busy having their hair and makeup done in the dressing room.
To be honest, there really wasn't much for me to do. I went around trying to find little jobs for myself to keep me busy. I didn't really want to read my book as I just felt it would get me out of the mood of it being an exciting day of recording. So, I did little things like fill the water boiler for the singers (so they could have warm honey water), display the food and water, get more ice for Carmen etc. Part way through the afternoon I felt like it was really useless me being there - I was quite frustrated as I felt like my role was unnecessary. I was backstage thinking this and I felt God just prompt me and say' Is this about you? It isn't about you. What are you here to do?' The answer? To serve of course. After that, I felt like God used me to pray for Carmen who was rather upset about her injury and not being able to dance. I also had an opportunity to encourage and pray for another dancer - Elein. Things didn't go according to the rundown sheet, as the soundchecks (all 3 of them!) took longer than the scheduled time - but it was important considering the worship was being recorded after all. The dancers finally got to rehearse their dance on stage a couple of times. The different teams prayed separately that night due to time constraints.
At 7pm the doors opened and people entered. At about 7:30 Derek introduced the evening, got the crowd pumped up and shouting. The show opened with the cool dance with 12 dancers , then we had the first set of songs, John sorted out the offering and introduced Ned Davies, Ned spoke about our wonderful creator God, made an altar call (where several people became Christians) and then there was the second set. At the end of the evening we went to in and Out for some grub and a drink.
The following day (Saturday) I got up, had breakfast and got ready for the day. I rang Victor to see if he needed an 'errand person' as he'd expressed that the previous day they had needed someone to do a few things. So, I went there earlier than originally planned and saw Michelle repetitively thumping on the bass drum and Victor sorting out sound things (yes...I have absolutely no clue whatsoever!). I talked to Michelle and we got the lunch orders from people...I managed to get orders for Chinese food and Starbucks, and needed to get drinks from Park n Shop. Thankfully I had a mini brainwave and rang Anna (bless) and she got the Starbucks on her way. I managed to find a Dai Pai Dong to get the Chinese food and got the drinks from PnS.
Later on I had to go and get water for the worship team and dancers - we reckoned on 3 boxes. Adam went with me and had quite a hilarious time trying to carry these boxes back to the theatre a)without dropping them and b)in the fastest time possible. Well, we had a good laugh and you should see how toned our arms are!!
Due to having experienced one day of recording, the soundcheck and set up went well and we prayed together that evening. Ned was great talking to us and encouraging us that this was a new night, and it was not to be a repeat performance. We were also encouraged that this was a team effort to glorify God in whatever role we were playing and it wasn't just about the worship leader or worship team.
The evening started with Derek giving the intro. The Carmen, Nate and Adam performed their dance which was great - it had cheers in the right places! Then the second dance started. In the middle of the dance water started falling from above the stage, towards the front. At first I thought ' Wow that looks cool!' then it was 'That wasn't in the rundown...AAAAAARGHHHHH!!!!' I quickly ran backstage and saw the backstage lady communicating with someone else, so I reckoned they would be onto the problem. I ran back out to the corridor and thought, "What do I do??? Mops and buckets!!!" I ran through the theatre while the dancers continued and asked the people for mops (thankfully it is in my Cantonese vocabulary). The cleaning lady appeared and I repeated that we needed mops, she opened a backstage cupboard and got a few mops out and some buckets. The dancers had come off stage and the lady said to me,"We can't mop this - there's too much water!" at which point I grabbed a mop, gave it to Vinny, took the buckets and started mopping. All I knew was that we had to get the water off the stage. Soon, more help arrived - the Africans from Togo were great. Mops were placed to catch the water that was still falling. More people from the Vine helped clean up using mops, cloth and toilet paper. I remember turning to Aaron Rogers and saying,"If this doesn't show teamwork, I don't know what does!' While we were cleaning up the last bits, trying to work out how long it would take the electrics to be checked and the possibilities of recording the following day, Ned spoke to the audience and led them in worship.
We later found out that the guy came down, checked the electrics and decided it would be fine to continue once power was back on. Some of the worship team, started some acoustic worship and the rest of the team joined them on stage. After a little while, the power came back on midsong. A few things were checked and the announcement was made that we'd run through all ten songs which we then proceeded to do. It was sooooo cool - everyone was so up for it and worshipping their hearts out. Seriously - Satan tried to stop this, but God had bigger and better plans for the evening.
On Friday I arrived at about 1230 to start my service managing duties. Well, to be honest there wasn't much for me to do. I ticked that the people who were supposed to be there were - easy. However, on the way to the venue, Anna Gardener had called me about a cold pack as Carmen had hurt her foot in a rehearsal that morning. So by the time I arrived, her foot was elevated and iced. The dancers were busy having their hair and makeup done in the dressing room.
To be honest, there really wasn't much for me to do. I went around trying to find little jobs for myself to keep me busy. I didn't really want to read my book as I just felt it would get me out of the mood of it being an exciting day of recording. So, I did little things like fill the water boiler for the singers (so they could have warm honey water), display the food and water, get more ice for Carmen etc. Part way through the afternoon I felt like it was really useless me being there - I was quite frustrated as I felt like my role was unnecessary. I was backstage thinking this and I felt God just prompt me and say' Is this about you? It isn't about you. What are you here to do?' The answer? To serve of course. After that, I felt like God used me to pray for Carmen who was rather upset about her injury and not being able to dance. I also had an opportunity to encourage and pray for another dancer - Elein. Things didn't go according to the rundown sheet, as the soundchecks (all 3 of them!) took longer than the scheduled time - but it was important considering the worship was being recorded after all. The dancers finally got to rehearse their dance on stage a couple of times. The different teams prayed separately that night due to time constraints.
At 7pm the doors opened and people entered. At about 7:30 Derek introduced the evening, got the crowd pumped up and shouting. The show opened with the cool dance with 12 dancers , then we had the first set of songs, John sorted out the offering and introduced Ned Davies, Ned spoke about our wonderful creator God, made an altar call (where several people became Christians) and then there was the second set. At the end of the evening we went to in and Out for some grub and a drink.
The following day (Saturday) I got up, had breakfast and got ready for the day. I rang Victor to see if he needed an 'errand person' as he'd expressed that the previous day they had needed someone to do a few things. So, I went there earlier than originally planned and saw Michelle repetitively thumping on the bass drum and Victor sorting out sound things (yes...I have absolutely no clue whatsoever!). I talked to Michelle and we got the lunch orders from people...I managed to get orders for Chinese food and Starbucks, and needed to get drinks from Park n Shop. Thankfully I had a mini brainwave and rang Anna (bless) and she got the Starbucks on her way. I managed to find a Dai Pai Dong to get the Chinese food and got the drinks from PnS.
Later on I had to go and get water for the worship team and dancers - we reckoned on 3 boxes. Adam went with me and had quite a hilarious time trying to carry these boxes back to the theatre a)without dropping them and b)in the fastest time possible. Well, we had a good laugh and you should see how toned our arms are!!
Due to having experienced one day of recording, the soundcheck and set up went well and we prayed together that evening. Ned was great talking to us and encouraging us that this was a new night, and it was not to be a repeat performance. We were also encouraged that this was a team effort to glorify God in whatever role we were playing and it wasn't just about the worship leader or worship team.
The evening started with Derek giving the intro. The Carmen, Nate and Adam performed their dance which was great - it had cheers in the right places! Then the second dance started. In the middle of the dance water started falling from above the stage, towards the front. At first I thought ' Wow that looks cool!' then it was 'That wasn't in the rundown...AAAAAARGHHHHH!!!!' I quickly ran backstage and saw the backstage lady communicating with someone else, so I reckoned they would be onto the problem. I ran back out to the corridor and thought, "What do I do??? Mops and buckets!!!" I ran through the theatre while the dancers continued and asked the people for mops (thankfully it is in my Cantonese vocabulary). The cleaning lady appeared and I repeated that we needed mops, she opened a backstage cupboard and got a few mops out and some buckets. The dancers had come off stage and the lady said to me,"We can't mop this - there's too much water!" at which point I grabbed a mop, gave it to Vinny, took the buckets and started mopping. All I knew was that we had to get the water off the stage. Soon, more help arrived - the Africans from Togo were great. Mops were placed to catch the water that was still falling. More people from the Vine helped clean up using mops, cloth and toilet paper. I remember turning to Aaron Rogers and saying,"If this doesn't show teamwork, I don't know what does!' While we were cleaning up the last bits, trying to work out how long it would take the electrics to be checked and the possibilities of recording the following day, Ned spoke to the audience and led them in worship.
We later found out that the guy came down, checked the electrics and decided it would be fine to continue once power was back on. Some of the worship team, started some acoustic worship and the rest of the team joined them on stage. After a little while, the power came back on midsong. A few things were checked and the announcement was made that we'd run through all ten songs which we then proceeded to do. It was sooooo cool - everyone was so up for it and worshipping their hearts out. Seriously - Satan tried to stop this, but God had bigger and better plans for the evening.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Album recording 5th May - Day 1
Here I am at home and out of bed at 9:27am on the first day of the Vine Christian fellowship's live album recording. I've just printed a map to show me how to get to the venue - Sheung Wan Civic Centre and I'll need to print my service manager's sheet. Last night I went for dinner with Anna, Mandy and Yan and then went down to the Vine for the prayer meeting and just chilled out there. I managed to find out more about times of arrival for various people for today, so hopefully my checklist is fine, so I can help make sure everything runs smoothly.
It's actually the day of the recording - it's quite surreal and exciting all at the same time. Well, I have my Vine shirt clean and ready and my clipboard ready...better go and get myself ready!
It's actually the day of the recording - it's quite surreal and exciting all at the same time. Well, I have my Vine shirt clean and ready and my clipboard ready...better go and get myself ready!
Dumaguete Easter Mission Trip
Thursday – fly from HK, arrive at hotel, pray on roof top and rest
Friday – Open Air Clinic – pray for patients, pastors, church outreach and pray for pastors and outreach team
Saturday – house building, swim in sea
Sunday – ICM church kids from children's home – Anna preached, went to lake
Monday – devotion at care ministries, minister to pastors of Dumaguete, outreach in field 800
Tuesday – ministered to care workers, special cases video, visit special cases -= pray for Antonio, Arnold’s AOG place- worship and minister, pray for healing for Dwight’s mum
Wednesday – team meeting shopping and leave
The Dumaguete, Philippines Mission Trip seemed like one huge exercise in trusting in God. From start to finish our team was constantly reminded to lean on God. Our first reminder was arriving in Manila and transferring ourselves to the old domestic airport. Half the team were taken to the new one, when we were finally reunited, Nicky’s bag went missing. We realized we had to pray and it was like God asking us if we intended to do things in our own strength or in his. Thankfully, in the last minutes of checking on our luggage, the bag was retrieved having been stuck in the X-ray machine.. Interestingly enough, the Vine’s verse is:
I am the vine you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15 v5
For me, this was not just another mission trip. I didn’t know particularly what to expect as we hadn’t been given an agenda and we were partnering with International Care Ministries. I felt that this was a huge exercise in trusting in God. There were some outreach events, but this trip had more ministry time than I had experienced on other trips. We prayed for patients in a Care Ministries clinic, for care ministry workers, pastors of Dumaguete at a pastors meeting, people at a worship meeting and some special cases for healing.
I think that when I’m on a mission trip I know and am reminded by our leaders that we are there to serve in whatever capacity God leads us to. I also wondered what my part in the team would be as I believe God created us as individuals and we each have our specific part to play. Our team prayed for some specific cases of healing and were truly believing in faith for the healing of a man with a dislocated hip and also for the healing of one of the Care Worker’s Dwight’s mum. Many people were reduced to tears due to anger against the sickness and the fact that we were believing but did not see the healing directly. I realized that as a recipient of healing I could easily relate to the person being prayed for – having faith for healing yet being frustrated with not seeing it happen instantaneously. However, as a recipient I could also encourage the team in the fact that we had intentionally come to pray for people – to minister God’s love – this reminded me of the time people had repeatedly done this for me – and how this had overwhelmed me with love – that it encouraged me to persist in prayer, to cling to God and to step out in faith by continuing to ask for healing. I know that on the journey to healing God taught me many lessons – but the main one was to trust in him, for the timing of my healing and for everything in my life.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3 v5 and 6
Amen!
Friday – Open Air Clinic – pray for patients, pastors, church outreach and pray for pastors and outreach team
Saturday – house building, swim in sea
Sunday – ICM church kids from children's home – Anna preached, went to lake
Monday – devotion at care ministries, minister to pastors of Dumaguete, outreach in field 800
Tuesday – ministered to care workers, special cases video, visit special cases -= pray for Antonio, Arnold’s AOG place- worship and minister, pray for healing for Dwight’s mum
Wednesday – team meeting shopping and leave
The Dumaguete, Philippines Mission Trip seemed like one huge exercise in trusting in God. From start to finish our team was constantly reminded to lean on God. Our first reminder was arriving in Manila and transferring ourselves to the old domestic airport. Half the team were taken to the new one, when we were finally reunited, Nicky’s bag went missing. We realized we had to pray and it was like God asking us if we intended to do things in our own strength or in his. Thankfully, in the last minutes of checking on our luggage, the bag was retrieved having been stuck in the X-ray machine.. Interestingly enough, the Vine’s verse is:
I am the vine you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15 v5
For me, this was not just another mission trip. I didn’t know particularly what to expect as we hadn’t been given an agenda and we were partnering with International Care Ministries. I felt that this was a huge exercise in trusting in God. There were some outreach events, but this trip had more ministry time than I had experienced on other trips. We prayed for patients in a Care Ministries clinic, for care ministry workers, pastors of Dumaguete at a pastors meeting, people at a worship meeting and some special cases for healing.
I think that when I’m on a mission trip I know and am reminded by our leaders that we are there to serve in whatever capacity God leads us to. I also wondered what my part in the team would be as I believe God created us as individuals and we each have our specific part to play. Our team prayed for some specific cases of healing and were truly believing in faith for the healing of a man with a dislocated hip and also for the healing of one of the Care Worker’s Dwight’s mum. Many people were reduced to tears due to anger against the sickness and the fact that we were believing but did not see the healing directly. I realized that as a recipient of healing I could easily relate to the person being prayed for – having faith for healing yet being frustrated with not seeing it happen instantaneously. However, as a recipient I could also encourage the team in the fact that we had intentionally come to pray for people – to minister God’s love – this reminded me of the time people had repeatedly done this for me – and how this had overwhelmed me with love – that it encouraged me to persist in prayer, to cling to God and to step out in faith by continuing to ask for healing. I know that on the journey to healing God taught me many lessons – but the main one was to trust in him, for the timing of my healing and for everything in my life.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3 v5 and 6
Amen!
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Home sweet home
After having been to the ASCD (don't ask me what it stands for - I always forget!) teacher's conference in Chicago, Singapore - with the Middle School hockey team and Dumaguete, Philippines mission trip, it's nice to be back in Hong Kong and get back into the routine of everyday life.
I was in Chicago (my first trip to the US!!) with Melita - my grade 8 Science buddy. We were there for the pre-conference on Differentiated Instruction - or as we know it 'DI'. Carol Ann Tomlinson was great and we learnt a lot....now all we have to do is apply it!
My first impression of the US was passing through immigration with a huge guy shouting out 'Go to A!!!' Thankfully, he wasn't addressing us as we visitors needed to go to B. On approaching the officer, he explained that the shouting guy, if he was telling you a story would tell you it in the exactly the same tone and volume. He then explained that that guy was a New Yorker - definitely not from Chicago.
As we went around Chicago - to our hotel - Hotel 71, shopping(Old Navy, American Girl Place, Bath and Body Works) and the conference people were as friendly as could be ....very impressive. They would just make conversation- just really nice. Apparently the mid-west is like that...cool.
Melita and I managed to get to the Chicago Institute of art - loved it - really loved being able to see the Seurat Park painting with all the little dashes - love it!!! We also managed with Jennifer Sparrow to go to 'Howling at the moon' - a bar where there were dueling pianists, and another night we went to a small jazz bar. Oh...I remember - that was the day I was wearing my England shirt as it was HK's rugby sevens weekend...and England won again! Bless!
Singapore was a good trip - Gail and I took 15 girls down for a hockey tour. thankfully, Jude Felix was on the ball and had our girl's playing the girls he coaches as their school on Friday. Then on Saturday morning was an early 8-9am match against some of those girls and he gave the girls training on the Sunday. We also managed to see Ice Age 2, go to the night safari and take a boat ride to the Merlion. Oh...and we had lunch at Raffles - VERY nice! Gail also went in the bungy cage thing and got catapulted into the air - crazy lady. I point blank refused to do that...I really couldn't imagine telling my parents that I had done that - plus I was scared stiff!
Ah...Dumaguete - that will need a post of it's own. However, that will wait as I have a really bruised finger on my right hand after having played a hockey match today - it's quite swollen and painful....maybe I should post a picture!!!
I was in Chicago (my first trip to the US!!) with Melita - my grade 8 Science buddy. We were there for the pre-conference on Differentiated Instruction - or as we know it 'DI'. Carol Ann Tomlinson was great and we learnt a lot....now all we have to do is apply it!
My first impression of the US was passing through immigration with a huge guy shouting out 'Go to A!!!' Thankfully, he wasn't addressing us as we visitors needed to go to B. On approaching the officer, he explained that the shouting guy, if he was telling you a story would tell you it in the exactly the same tone and volume. He then explained that that guy was a New Yorker - definitely not from Chicago.
As we went around Chicago - to our hotel - Hotel 71, shopping(Old Navy, American Girl Place, Bath and Body Works) and the conference people were as friendly as could be ....very impressive. They would just make conversation- just really nice. Apparently the mid-west is like that...cool.
Melita and I managed to get to the Chicago Institute of art - loved it - really loved being able to see the Seurat Park painting with all the little dashes - love it!!! We also managed with Jennifer Sparrow to go to 'Howling at the moon' - a bar where there were dueling pianists, and another night we went to a small jazz bar. Oh...I remember - that was the day I was wearing my England shirt as it was HK's rugby sevens weekend...and England won again! Bless!
Singapore was a good trip - Gail and I took 15 girls down for a hockey tour. thankfully, Jude Felix was on the ball and had our girl's playing the girls he coaches as their school on Friday. Then on Saturday morning was an early 8-9am match against some of those girls and he gave the girls training on the Sunday. We also managed to see Ice Age 2, go to the night safari and take a boat ride to the Merlion. Oh...and we had lunch at Raffles - VERY nice! Gail also went in the bungy cage thing and got catapulted into the air - crazy lady. I point blank refused to do that...I really couldn't imagine telling my parents that I had done that - plus I was scared stiff!
Ah...Dumaguete - that will need a post of it's own. However, that will wait as I have a really bruised finger on my right hand after having played a hockey match today - it's quite swollen and painful....maybe I should post a picture!!!
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
A new bloggining
Well, I once signed up for one of these sites and never put it to use. However, I think it would be nice to let people know what I'm up to without having to send lots of e-mails. Yes...technology is helping in the advancement of my laziness!!! Hurrah!
Let's see if I manage to actually partake in 'blogging' on a regualr basis!
Let's see if I manage to actually partake in 'blogging' on a regualr basis!
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