Dare you to move

A chorus by 'Switchfoot', one of the christian bands that went mainstream.

I dare you to move, I dare you to move,
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move, I dare you to move
Like today never happened, Today never happened before


This was the song I was listening to before I came over. [Picture: having teabreak and the colleague

in the middle was going to leave us for another department so she made a cake n brought from home. The one beside her have a bowl on her table with sweets & chocolate always. Then the guy beside me is my closest swiss friend. We have been working together for a few saturdays due to a tight project. The senior on on my left is my direct boss who tells me from time to time that I need to visit parts of swiss] Now that I'm here, it does really feel challenging to move after I've flew the 13hrs flight here. Well I guess it's mainly language barrier. But a light went off in me this week & I find it timely also... I was feeling a little tired going to church on sunday since I travel 3hrs for church (ICF Zurich) and spent 2-3hrs there. Also with reaching home at 10 n needing to wake up at 6 so that I can be in office at 7-7.30, I do feel quite tired.

I'm going to join a english cell or small group (ICF St Gallen) from the same church but different location. Thank God it's kicking off next friday. It'll be at my place and would be 4-5 people. It's an additional dream fulfilled. I have always thought of my place as a meeting place for cell since it's so big. =) Amazing also, I was telling a friend that I was planning to switch to the nearer church n she said to pray for me, then my swiss cell leader just called me today during NDP.

The big move to make is to switch to join the ICF church in St Gallen for service and I'm going to listen to german sermon (I tried once n caught very little. But praise n worship was a blend of english n german which is cool). Reasons for the switch was that I wanted to build more friendship, hang around longer after service and participate in various ministries soon. I want to laugh at myself, cause I lack patience at times but now, I'm going to have small group ahead of attending the ICF St Gallen church. It's amazing, me & my swiss cell leader connected thru call n then add each other on facebook. [Picture: ICF Zurich. I'm looking to visit other ICF also when possible, they have daughter churches in 20 locations mostly in Switzerland n Germany plus a few in other countries. They model quite closely to Hillsong. I like their welcome bar after service and they run the bar themselves. They have really nice songs also. I went for the german service n was a little distracted during praise & worship as I was learning german n trying to worship which after a while, I stick to worshipping.]

[Picture: My friend injured his shoulder, thus he a pillow to help rest himself during work. Another
colleague used his mobile phone to take a picture of him after lunch & he was pretending to sleep (in black on the screen).Then after a week, I took this picture of him but he forgot to close his eyes.]

My daily routines? I think I'm spending like about 1-2hrs per day to do many things such as buy food, precook food, cook food, wash dishes. Also washing of clothes, ironing and apartment maintainence. Beyond that, I don't really have much entertainment. At home when free, try to learn some german (you see, I'm lazy thus it's some) once in a while. Also pay a little computer game, chat with people on MSN and watch some TV. TV can be a little confusing as they have channels in english (only CNN), german, french & italian. Thus got to listen carefully to hear german.

Beside that, I'm engaging in more sports. I have not used my rollerblades yet but have been running, cycling n went once to free gym lesson. The gym lesson of body shaping was conducted by a colleague in the village gym. I was half flat after the 1hr lesson especially the sit up portion which I stopped many times. Both running & cycling have been really fun because, I explore new places with each running or cycling trip. I'm waiting for a hiking guide book to come & then along with buying a map, I would go into some hiking. Just today after NDP, I went to a nearby town but took me 50mins of cycling up & down thru roads, dirt tracks & gravel tracks that are both filled with horse droppings every once in a while. I must comment that the swiss have well labelled their signages for adventure tracks (hiking, cycling, mountain biking & canoeing). On my way back, I took a different route as I thought a wrong turn but with memories of some towns & villages and seeing the signs, I got back just on time. One thing I should continue is to climb again and also hike hills, then mountains.



I'm training for some races, one is 23 Aug 5.5km run and the other is a trialathon event (my kind, running, cycling & blading). Hmm, if they have a category for asians, maybe there's a chance on winning since there would be only a few, haha. [Picture: This was part of their national day celebration. The church organized an event in a farm and a lot of people turned up. I got to know a few more people n swiss here so it was cool]


Looking into attending some courses here also like maybe driving, swiss cooking or try a few horse riding. But got to be selective as it'll cost. Hmm, must admit miss home a bit and also some comfort at home like finding $S3-5 food and shops not closing on sundays. I told my colleague my life flipped opposite from S'pore. When I was in S'pore, I go out a lot and seldom eat home. But over here, I seldom go out and mostly eat at home (or bring home coook food). The more funny part was when I was in S'pore, I worked like a swiss (come in on time & leave on time) but in Swiss, I worked like a s'porean, clocking abt 4-8hrs more per week. But I'm quite amazed at my job. This project that is in thailand, they would be sending the machines in December only cause a lot more planning going on still. Thus when I'm back mid of next year, the flour mill would have probably started for 1-2 months (assuming).

Before I go, thank you all for connecting via MSN, facebook and other means. I'm blessed by the sermons in FCBC and learning to die to myself (I do see some changes in my life as in Swiss, there's a need to depend on God, people here and family n friends back at home. I decided not to give myself excuse that I'm a weak language learner thus would learn more german & swiss german which is like learning mandarin n hokkien at the same time, haha). I got a call thru my Swiss number today (from home), my 18 months nephew still remembers me & can call me 'Jiu Jiu'. Thank God for the cell group that is going to be planted, God bless the leader as he leads the international smallgroup in ICF St Gallen.

=)

God of all seasons...

Hmm, just some disclaimers before I start. 1/ I'll minimise the usage of people's names of my blog... 2/ I would also use facebook to post most of my photos as I find it a lot easier to post it there and only friends I know can see my photos. So my blog would be quite wordy and somewhat a biweekly diary, to some extent.

2 weeks ago, a friend from church visited. It was really nice to have someone coming by. She would be heading off to work next week. Unfortunately, I was still in my 2nd week of work so I was testing the water (culture of my company) and didn't took any leave also. [This picture was taken before we set off for Lucern. In Uzwil (letter 'w' would be sounded as 'v'.)] But I did asked my boss if I could fetch a friend from the train station to my place, next thing he said 'U need to take the morning off?' So, no issue, really thank God for nice bosses. One of my

supervisor who worked easily over 30 years in my company told me that I must go to this part of switzerland and also to that part. My mind was quite on my project at times... [Went to this place called Schynige Platte, as it was within our travelling schedule. We wanted to go Yungfrau but I think it takes like half a day to just go up look see for 1-2hrs and return. This train we took only have 1 track, so we waited for the train to go up before we can go down. ]

But work ain't easy. The project I was drawing and planning apparently have started building. I'm still missing a lot of information on the sequence of the various pneumatics, flour flow process and so on, on drawings. I think I would

need 2-3 months to get it completed. So I've a long way to go. On a normal day, I would be in office at about 7-7.30 everyday, do a short lunch of 30-45mins. Then there would be 2 coffee break (15 mins) at 9a.m n at 3p.m. But then I would leave at about 5.30-6 on the average. In S'pore office, I would arrive 1hr later than here in swiss and would normally leave on time. Yet, it's good as I'm learning a lot of things and also understanding the functional aspect of the flour machineries not just planning them. [Ah... First kebab, in swiss. It's still 8chf (abt S$11). So no cheap food in swiss except home cooked food. After Interlaken.]

Then on top of work, there are 2 german classes of 1.5hrs each which one is 7.30 to 9 & the other 5-6.30. So I would need to work some extra hours to balance it off... [Sunset, at my colleague's place. He stays on one of the highest point. If you see the cross (with bell below), my room is like less than 100m away from it and facing it. Then on weekends, the church bell can gong for like 1-2mins a few times in a day. It nearly drove me nuts...]

Back to touring... It was great travelling with my colleague and also church friend. Actually, I wouldn't mind inviting over to my place to stay but I think it's like so costly to come back.

However, if anyone who would be here for work or in Germany, just let me know. Also, for those

who want to tour Europe or ski also. Haven't fixed anything but would want to go eastern Europe and elsewhere. [In Geneve... There's like this big jet of water behind me that shoots above 5 storeys into the sky, amazing...]

Friends, I need to make more friends (both local & foreigners, within 1-2 km) who reside here in Uzwil also. Town is small, it's a bit like heartland mall back in S'pore cos there are only a few big supermarket. I think weekdays are still pretty
alright, it's weekends that's challenging. Also to be careful on sunday when most of the shops don't open. [Spiral stairs below. This is one of the church in Geneve, we went on top to the lookout point to see the city.]

There are already some nice & friendly colleagues. Like one of them sitting beside me, he got me a brochure from Appenzell as he stays there. Maybe next time when he's free, he may be able to teach me skiing. Then in my little town, another colleague does housing services for foreigners and also conduct a bit of gym lessons in a gym also. She invited us along for free lesson but on that day, I worked till 8+... (normally by 7, I think it's like a ghost town in company already). [a photo from the lookout point of the church in Geneve] So I think the strategy would be to make friends and join them for sporting & outing stuff....

[TGV train from France. I also saw ICE train from Germany and Eurostar. I think maybe a few other countries train passes through swiss also...] Also, not forgetting church. I think work and church made me feel more at home. I hung around a bit longer in the auditorium last sunday and when they drew back the curtains, I saw that the church would have a sitting capacity of 600-800. More than that, I think they are strong in fellowship. Smallgroup (or cell group) is mentioned everytime along with connecting zone in service. Connecting Zone is for everyone just to connect after church service and there's 2 rooms for it. The first room is for fellowship and then the makan room that opens after like an hr after service serving simple little meals.

[This would be a tough picture if there wasn't any caption. This is the pot holder of the fondue pot. I had fondue with my colleague in Geneve. Thought to take picture of these 3 cows with cowbells. You can see the fondue fork as the bottom right.] Hmm, I have not joined a smallgroup yet, a little restricted by distance. But would get in touch with their daughter church's pastor for more information. Maybe end up joining a german cell if have to.

In ending, I thought I would want to explain my heading. It's definitely nice to be in overseas again, just that learning a new language and being in a small small town made it challenging. Then I recalled the verse that I wrote in this blog and also received before I head here (in the midst of where I'm, that God would mould me & strengthen me to be the kind of person He wants me to be). Also learning to praise Him and view things in His perspective, indeed there'll be rivers in the desert and roadways in the wilderness. So for anyone of us who may be in a cold bitter winter season of life or bright sunny summer of life, we need to continuously walk with the God of all seasons. [A photo of the food before we have our cheese fondue meal in geneve. I think I didn't exercise my smile muscles for a long time, always seemed to be in a state of cramp, haha].

There was this bit about green pastures from Ps 23 that I visited on some time ago. It was just totally amazing, in the midst of learning to eat home more and eat out once in a while. I sort of bought too much food last week and I think I'll be only shopping for groceries once this week as my supply can really last me 2 weeks if I don't complain about variety. The slightly more amazing part is, I thought I would slim down when I'm here due to pricy food but haha, I gained a little, it's a blessing (but time to exercise... STOP SLACKING... hehe). Best of all, I think I've like more than 5 treats last week from the food in church, berries from a big big boss by the pantry, colleague who is switching department (she made and brought a cake from home, it was probably half an hr of train ride & walking) and even german teacher who made chocolate cake.

So I would need to keep God's word in my heart continuously, 'That He is my shepherd and I shall not be in want.' Whether it's food, friendship or fun. Thanks also for friends who wrote little cards. I would also continue to keep in contact and prayer with friends & all. God bless...

Hmm, latest update, my email have been changed to lawrence.koh@live.co.uk

1st week (favourite is Sunday)

Wow, time has passed so fast. But...


I want to thank all of my friends back home for their prayers and also sending me off at the airport, with smses or phone calls. It was embarassing that many were waiting for me to go in thus I decided to check in at 11.30. I wanted to add a departure picture in but just realised that about 50 pictures of mine are stuck in a 4GB SD card (it could store pictures but couldn't transfer it to any laptops that I've tried).


Breakdown on a week with some photos...





Montag (Mon) - Arrived at airport 7:50. Me & colleague waited for luggage and then walked abt 10mins before coming to train station. Then we got our half-rail card which gives 50% discount on most trains, buses and ships (It's still $$$ after 50%, haha). Pictures for Mon to Wed relied on photos taken from Thu onwards as new SD card didn't work. [The 3 'tall' buildings (12-stories) are Buhler or more or less highest building point in Uzwil.]


Then reached Uzwil at 9+ and awaited what I feared most, my apartment as I've no idea at all how it'll be like. Actually saw my colleague's one first, his has got a nice view but thou shall not covet... Haha... Then mine was... GREAT. No view but I like the space, 40sqm man along with a balcony. Thank you Lord for the wonder provision of the place and space. Also, almost everything needed was available. Then off to grocery shopping. After that unpacked and knock out. Gradually, realized that now that I'm staying alone, I've to have a certain level of competency in household domestication and it's so time consuming, haha... But it's good.





Dienstag (Tue) - 1st day of work [insert is the customer centre at 7.30a.m but I think half the company would be in by about 7.45 each day. They start and end early which I like also). Met colleagues and saw the many new software to be learnt. Also got a project on hand but was fiddling with just software on day 1. There's an official coffee break from 9.15-9.30 and maybe 3-3.15 where everyone meet at pantry to chat and so on. Had a S$20 lunch of a meal with coke... After that went to buy somemore stuff, so much to buy initially. Realised that I would be under going a high level of domestication as I've to clean up the apartment, cook most of my meal and so much more. [my desk and the building seems to be pretty new, was taken during lunch thus the absence of people]. It's a norm in company to work with dual screen as we have to look through a few drawings as a time. My project is under the charge of a grandpa who has been in company for almost 40 years. There are also a few who would hit their 50th year in the company.





Mittwoch (Wed) - Tried out lunch in Buhler canteen and it was value for money at S$10 for staff, so happy. Then my internet was only resolved finally. Thus can do a bit of other stuff. But had to leave work for like 1-2 hours to get some other admin staff resolved.

Donnerstag (Thu) - Shipment came in after leaving S'pore on tuesday. We rushed back from office again to handle it for a short while. Then after work & dinner, started to unpack the many boxes till late. I think I stopped at abt midnight after tearing the some of the boxes apart as they are serious about recycling... They even have glass bottles divided to brown, green and white.

Freitag (Fri) -
[insert a basic train line to get machineries to hmm airport. Maybe port also but would pass through some countries.] Didn't do much on friday but continue to unpack, there was just so much stuff lying around. During my 2nd hike, saw these beautiful signpost. They have detailed routes for cycling, hiking, blading and canoeing. Did some research, the 'simple' routes would be 3-5hrs. There are some serious hiking routes that takes a week which cut across like the breadth of Swizterland.






Samstag (Sat) - Did a day trip to St Gallen. Found the half-rail really useful as it gives 50% discount for most train, bus and boat rides. However, it's still not that cheap after 50% discount but better than nothing. (a 20mins return train trip to St Gallen is at 8.20chf or abt S$11).

However as time pass, I have found some other options via the railcard which is really good also. For example, I can travel one day around switzerland on the main trainlines at S$70 which is really a good deal. I think I may have found such similar deals for friends who would visit but do let me know earlier as those tickets are hot. [Looking at my railpass, these was a short moment of sadness, I would only be back after a year. Seemed like so far but thank God, so far, time has been passing by pretty fast. Then with handling of a sizeable project, I've to put in additional focus during working hours. Which equates to sleeping early like by 11 or 10 everyday if possible.]








Sonntag (Sun) - This was the best day in my first week in Switzerland as I went to 5p.m church in Zurich. It was just totally amazing... Having some little signs that this would be the church to attend, it still required effort. Thus the amazing story goes...
My home was 20mins away from Uzwil train station and I left only at 3.10 (train leaves at 3.30 sharp). Thus I had to run a bit and it was drizzling and cold. So I was running with my slingbag, holding an umbrella and trying to catch my breath, haha... Having arrive at the station at 3.20, I still had to press like 5 options before my ticket finally showed up, but in the end I board the train, hallelujah.
[insert is the entrance of the church. The only visible thing was the red standing signboard] Then for the first time, there was train delay and my connecting platform was from 1 to 21/22 (thank God, seeing signs helped). So by the time I was at the connecting train platform it was 4.30 and the train took just 4 mins to reach the station near church. It took some 'courage' to find the church. I was walking passed a carpark which I felt I had overshot. Thus, I went back a bit and saw like some warehouse area with no people at all. But then, I decided to just walk through the warehouse somehow and hope a church would appear and yes, it appeared (just that it uses the warehouse as their building).
It was a little similiar to Expo as they used disco lightings and also collapsible air-con ducting. The 5p.m international service was abt 100 people but from everywhere. [insert is a thanksgiving session to God which was posted on the screen at the end of service. People just started sending sms, so cool.] Service was in English/Spanish. After service, they have a welcome reception actually like for everybody just to connect. Then they also have a simple dinner (hehe... my heart and stomach was blessed). Met a s'porean couple also and the swiss pastor in charge of the international congregation (whom I contacted on facebook).

Thus this wraps my my 1st week. It's strange, somehow I felt that I'll be busy for 1-3 weeks as also a church friend is visiting (need planning when we tour). But it's good. My main adjustment is to learn german n swiss german as soon as possible. I think about half the people I get in touch (not including office) can't speak English, so it's exciting. Finally, a thanks to all friends who gave suggestions to improve my blog (honestly, it's still very messy, haha). Should settle it within the next blog entry. I was a little busy at times also as I do enjoy chatting on MSN with friends back home. God bless and keep in touch.

Packing and farewell season (Guess the heaviest item!!!)

The packing was pretty fun, loading in food, personal hobbies (climbing gears and rollerblades), clothes, books and all the necessary items... A bit of a joker, as I wondered what was to be put into suitcase and what was to be put into airfreight. Thus, I sort of brought some things to office and then take it home the next day. Anyway, packing is the small item...


Wow... I really really do not where to start thanking and who or whom to start thanking also. But here it goes, in no order of preference (maybe sequence of events but my memory fails me).

1/ Almost 2 decade old friends... What a loving bunch. We finally got our photo of KL trip (5 years ago) and it came in an album.

2/ Close christian climbing bro, whom we've spent great times together on the wall and off the wall. Also, happy that he's married to a great and fun-loving woman.

3/ A sister of my former church whom we manage to catch up for a meal or 2.

4/ The movie times (big or small screen) with the various cell brothers and sisters.

5/ 2006 Cambodian trip brothers... A nice brother got me along to have a meal with the cambodian pastor when he was here. The other brother whom we meet every once in 6 months but connect reasonably well (taught the yellow light).

6/ Faithful climbing friends, whom I recalled held on to the rope in Diary Farm during my worst fall (I saw my life flashing pass me as the spilt-sec fall seemed like eternity). Hopefully, I'll slim down enough and keep climbing over there.

7/ Colleagues, for all the wonderful lunch times together, I'll miss that so so much (including a lady from our next door company). Hmm, feel more like sisters and brothers in a family at times. Also, my nice boss and other swiss/german colleagues. Also, company for this rare opportunity (1st time in 3 decades of the local office). Ah, also those who scrambled together to make it comfortable for us to be there.

8/ Financial planner, whom I thank God for her salvation and exchanges of wise thoughts.

9/ Colleagues of former company. It was so good that we managed to catch up. Such a funny group of friends, I think the laughter filled half my stomach during our dinner.

10/ Cell sisters... Really wonderful group of godly women. So touched by them initiating the bbq. Also, for the video recordings, the gift and the wonderful words of affirmation (would keep me warm during the bitter cold winter). Hehe, all the old n new friends made...

11/ QQS team. Got to know and work with some old and some new faces. Though there has been a postponement, looking ahead, I would hope to still be in it for the 2009 one. Also a PRC brother, great catching up with you, jia u on your studies.

12/ Old friends of the overseas cell group. Long ago blading kakis, whom 2 if them are gettined married. Sorry, the best man was sent to a land flowing with cheese and chocolate... Also a lady who didn't join our overseas cell group then but we've managed to keep in touch...

13/ Cell brothers... Wow, a few have been so long time friends and also new ones. Haha, I think the variety of combination makes the cell interesting. I think I would have to switch from corniness to cheesyness for the new swiss cell in my area to understand me (Hmm, then again, I better polish up on my german or swiss german language). Oh, also the dinner with the variety of gifts. Great stuff, from the polar bear (remind me not to hibernate during winter) to the baseball (stressball!!! hmm, maybe I can make a hole in the wall after a year through the throwing) to the cookbook (send me the ingredients, haha, just joking) to inspirational book (learning to be successful & victorious) to streams of praise (along the streams. So therapeutic to walk/stroll beside the waters. From S'pore Lokang to Birmingham's [U.K] endless water channels [ greenish water though =( ] to swiss rivers [maybe can fish for my meals too, hehe]).

14/ Leadership guidance of leaders and pastors. Thank you for believing and praying for me. Also for guiding me which I need so often.

15/ Cell boys... I'll definitely miss them all quite a bit. Had wonderful time together memorising scriptures and growing together. Prayer is that we'll all grow more to be like Jesus and in love with Him, knowing Him and loving His word. Keep in touch...

16/ Hmm, due to my bad memory, anyone whom I may have forgotten.

17/ The friends to be made in the Swiss church. Contacts have already been established. Looking forward to be in their smallgroup and to be in church service too.

18/ Family. Mother especially who took on a dual role of fathering and mothering me. Also sisters, brother and the in-laws who have been great. Not forgetting my many nephews and nieces especially the youngest one, so cute and pretty...

19/ GOD. For salvation, grace and favor. Thank you for listening to my prayers (those I prayed for and some unspoken ones even). Can't comprehend grace at times but can only receive it. An example of gracem would be my job, took me a year to find it. Wrote down 10 criterias which most are fulfilled except the 2-3 which are time-based. Then only after a year working inside, was offered a chance to work in Swiss HQ if I want. Also for church, found an english charismatic speaking one in Zurich. Along with starting an English smallgroup (cell group) in my town area, Uzwil (I though I would just join a german speaking one some 10-20mins in some other town). Thanks to friendly swiss pastor & leader too...


=) The heaviest item was not the physical stuff of my airfreight. It was the friendship (old and new) made everywhere loaded with goodness & love. There's so much richness in it. Let's continue to keep in touch. Last thanksgiving would be to those who would be visiting. Would be glad to sleep on the floor and cook some food (but do take a while to be a reasonable cook).

Finding a home church away from home church

I was initially disheartened for a few days knowing one of my priority before agreeing to go has to be settled, which was finding a church (March). The first few days on the google, gave me results of some centuries old building. After more effort, found churches which hopefully would have English speaking service. Then after more filtering, I narrowed down to International Christian Fellowship or ICF for short. They have a main church in Zurich with abt 20-30+ daughter churches in mainly swizterland and germany.

Then I tried to contact them through email and youtube but no reply (April). Then one fine day, I decided to try to find them on facebook and haha, there they are. Thus I contacted with one of the leader in the english/spanish service. Hallelujah... He responded too.

Back at home church, one of my pastor wanted to recommend me to a church which she visited during her holiday in swiss. She talked about the church having a bar counter and using a warehouse for service. Then I went to http://www.icf.ch/ to look at their photos in the media section (the guy with wineglass n sunglass). I, for a moment saw a small sign/confirmation. It was exactly as to what she said. Thus I emailed her to confirm it and she replied that this was the church she visited (May).

Haha, coincidence, maybe once but not twice. My church just finished the reading of Psalms at abt the end of May. The swiss church, started preaching on Psalms from end May till mid July.

Tired, thus that's all for now. But really thank God, for providing fellowship. My home church is in a year of Sabbath... To me, it's a rest in some way heading there but also to continue being in church, in fellowship and in service while I'm over there. But lots of growing also, in language learning, polishing on my rusty cooking and most of all, to be rooted in Christ.

A month & no more

Hmm... Started blogging again as my days in S'pore are few and some things are still floating. Shipment of some personal belongings is an important one. Otherwise, I do wonder how my room would be like??? Thus now got to dream/imagine by faith how it would be like (1 bedroom, 1 toilet, 1 kitchen &/or 1 balcony of abt 35sqm). [Haha, my colleague one is like that]


Otherwise bought quite some stuff already but constantly reminding myself before purchase if each item is a need or a want. Went on quite a shopping spree over this week. At least I checked through my cupboard, and realised I can use some old winter jackets till 0 deg since my last test was 14 deg with short-sleeve at night waiting for bus for 10 mins. Also, on myself, there are some ultra insulation.


Short story of how I arrived here or rather be heading to Swiss soon?
Jan - Had review with bosses and they stated that there maybe possibility of heading to Swizterland for training. Also it maybe me or my colleague. So it's like 1 in 4 [25%] chance of happening.

Feb - Struggling hard through it. During my meeting with my cell group in worship, God spoke personally to lay it down. My reply, "Your will be done. To go & be trained or stay put & serve cell, I lay dead for whatever will come."

Mar - Received the verse Isaiah 43:19 a few days before offer to be trained in Switzerland was told. Left me puzzled thus I scratched my head. Offer came, thank God yet struggled again (human of habits & comforts, resistant to change) [This would be 200% since both of us are offered and we have to decide if we wanted to go or not]. Ask God & leadership about posting with which they are fine. I also asked boss, with regards to china volunteer trip[between posting or before posting] which she was ok (I'm blessed).

Apr - Went to search online for an english church but initially church would be some centuries old building. Didn't give up & finally found one which was located in Zurich (a 1-1.5 hrs by train every weekend to church). They have a evening spanish-english service for the international congregation. Their style is similiar to FCBC back home, so that's cool. Thus my flight to Zurich was confirmed end July, which gave me time to serve the china volunteer trip & see a great magic show.

May - Due to unforeseen circumstances, the china volunteer trip was cancelled. Thus I informed my boss and would also need to head to Zurich end June instead. This caused my heart to accelerate quite a bit as what used to be 80+ days left in s'pore became 50+. I did run through my mind what happened to me(bits of reluctance to leave now) as I was like so excited when I departed for studies in U.K. I guess the environment was a lot more different (language, a few s'porean there & $$$ country [more ex than U.K]) and also having formed many solid friendships over the past 6 years (2002-2008). Not to forget the weddings of my close friends in church & other friend's wedding. Oh, almost forgot about the testimony of a small sign that I should join the church which I found during Apr (share in next blog).

In summary, Hallelujah... =) Have been so blessed with supportive church friends, colleagues, family and also God who made the path so straight. It's also a humbling experience, working, starting cooking again and do the daily/weekly routines (cook, laundry & marketing). The bits of excitement is making new friends (colleagues, church & climbing/hiking) & yes, the great outdoors along with cold weather. But I'm so gonna miss the MagicBox and the return of my sister's family from overseas. Nice to start blogging & remind myself also of Psalms 23:1 "God is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want."



Not that I would become a chef but with things just falling into place, I admit that I've been truly blessed.




=)