Some lovely people from church!

There are so many things I want to share with my friends back home about my life here. So many experiences and stories and "life" in general that I wish everyone back home could be a part of. I feel like I've lived in two "worlds". Now I'm so happy and comfortable in Sydney that I can truly call it home. When I go back to Singapore during my summer holidays I'll be going home. But yet, I'll be missing my other (newer) home and the people and friends I have here. Praise God for how I've adapted and assimilate so well! :)

Last week Jess, Helen and myself went to morning service at St Andrew's Cathedral to experience a high order Anglican service. It was AWESOME. The speaker Phillip Jensen was great (he ususally is) but the whole experience of the service was enjoyable too. It was a Holy Communion service so it was full of rituals. We had to read from the liturgy book (I think that's what its called) and there were cute choir boys wearing robes haha! Their voices hadn't broken yet, so they could reach higher notes than I can (haha) and and and, instead of having a band they use the organ for accompaniment. Like not the organs we have in Singapore but the huge church type pipe organs that make "Phantom of the Opera" sounds. It was cool!

I can see why some people enjoy going to such services cos it feels very "holy" and going through the rituals make you feel like you're "getting closer to God". But of course, its none of that which saves us and nothing that we've done that makes us right with God. Thank God Jesus did all that for us!

But anyways, the service was such a delight that we're going to go one a month just for fun. Haha.

To add to my already joyous Sunday, we (Jess, Helen and Daniel) went for CHINESE lunch after church! I had CHICKEN RICE!! YAY! And if that wasn't enough we three girls went factory outlet shopping after that just before we went to regular TBT church. Life doesn't get any better than that does it? haha.

(Its easy to forget that I'm actually a full time post grad student. Heh. I'm not actually doing much work. But I'm passing so THERE!!)

Yesterday I hung out with Chew Chern. We cuddled up (not, you know, each other) on the sofa and watched Dreamgirls. Then we had fried eggs for supper. haha. Simple things please simple minds. :)

I'm so thankful there are snippets, or rather, huge chunks of joy, in my life to keep me going. The week that just ended was an emotionally difficult week for various reasons, but we should always count it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds for the testing of our faith produces perseverence. And that is good so that we may be perfect and lacking nothing when Jesus comes again! YAY!

I shall end this posting with pictures!!



Jess and myself waiting outside church for Helen to come. It was a lovely sunny day!



Helen and myself at the chinese restaurant. We're going to go dragon boating in a few weeks hopefully!



Dan and Jess and the chinese restaurant. Kudos to Dan for being adventurous enough to eat pig innards during lunch! haha



Jess looking wierd on the bus on the way to shopping. haha. DUH!



Shumin and myself!! Its such a pleasure to see people from home. Especially when they've brought stuff for you haha. Thanks Kev and Cari for the gift. And thanks mom for the bedsheets and clothes!!!

A series of firsts...

I've been told I need to update my blog more regularly. Apparantly once in 2 weeks isn't enough. Some people are just so demanding.. Heehee :P

The reasons why I don't update as regularly is:
1. I'm rather busy (yes, really, I am)
2. I like to write "quality" blogs (though that is subjective haha) and inspiration takes time. Heh.
3. Blogging is a joy when its not about frivolous topics and done only periodically. Seriously, do you want to know what I have for lunch everyday?

But anyway, here I am, detailing the going ons of my eventful life in Sydney.

So here goes.

The past few weeks have been a series of firsts. In no order of merit or chronology:

1. I drove an expecting mother (Deb) to the hospital for her delivery. Early on Sunday morning my telephone rang, waking me up. I thought to myself, which idio* calls so blo*dy early on a Sunday morning???

Sarah (In a disgruntled voice): Hello?

Caller (In a lot of pain): Hi Sarah

Sarah (Not knowing who the caller was): Er, yah?

Caller (In MORE pain): Hey, Deb here. Can you come over now please. I'm in a lot of pain. I think its labour.

Sarah: OH CRAP!! (Actually I used more explicit language but "oh crap" will do for now) Alright coming over now!!

Rushed to their house, without breakfast, make up or wash up. (I only changed out of my PJs and brushed my teeth) Drove them to the hospital.


2. Saw a half hour old baby for the first time in my life.

While Denesh and Deborah were in the delivery room delivering Elijah, I was occupying Ethan on the hospital grounds. We read stories, pretended to be horses, ran in the park, watched kids play soccer and walked up and down the carpark slope (at one point Ethan asked me to sing him the Liverpool song, which I don't know. Haha trust Denesh to teach his son such things heh). Denesh called and both of us (Ethan and myself) ran to the delivery room to see baby Elijah!! Yay!!


3. Went to work for the first time in Sydney.

I FINALLY got my work visa. So on Monday I spent 8 hours in a childcare centre changing nappys and putting babies to sleep. By the fourth soiled nappy I was seriously reconsidering having kids.


4. Cooked "Ba Ku Teh" with Deb.

Actually, Deb cooked the ba ku teh. I was just there to eat. haha. We both owe much to April for graciously sending me yummy Ba Ku Teh spices all the way from Singapore!!! THANK YOU APRIL!!!! :)


5. Study the bible with such a diverse group of people.

My Bible Study group at church comprises Naomi, Laetitia, Tim, Graeme, Michael and Trevor. We range in age from 24 (me) to 60+(I'm guessing). We've got an accountant, airplane repair mechanic, retiree, IT person and a Milkman. How cool is that? We're all so different and the only thing to bind us together is our love for God. Praise God for his family!


6. Playing for my church music team.

This Sunday will be my first time playing the piano for church! Yay! Thank God for the opportunity to serve.

That's pretty much my past few weeks in a nutshell. God has been so good too me. I'm really very thankful. There are days where I feel emotionally very drained and tired, as is the case for everyone at every point in life, but on the whole I'm really very happy and content with life here. God is good, all the time! :)

I shall end my posting with some random pictures.




Standing: Michael, Sarah, Naomi
Sitting: Laetitia, Trevor, Tim and Graeme




Ethan posing with his gingerbread man




Deb and I posing with the "Ba Ku Tek" packet!!