Hot..hot....

I don't know if I have mentioned it before; but my work can be interesting at times and I am always blown away by the many events/happenings I get to experience when I am at work. Yeah, work does come with occasional occupational hazards to the head and heart at times! So, Yeah, some experience can be nice while others can be quite taxing on this creaky body and fragile heart of mine. Today, I got the opportunity to get into the ground section of the metal melting furnace. When I first got this assignment, I put my palm on the file and prayed for His protection and His guidance because I know, I am gonna desperately need it! I sorta knew the task that is ahead of me and it is going to be one sweaty and sweltering hot place to be. Mentally, I was prepared for the work I have to do but physically, I wasn't that sure. Afterall, you can fake creaks and tweaks on your body,ok? Yes, I have had pains on my left knee ( Sigh! For weeks now) and I just hope I won't have to strain it further. Using the elastic strap band to help the strain, actually!
Anyway, as I arrived at my designated place, I was told to put on the safety helmet. Much to my chagrin and better sense, I could have sworn that they gave me a baseball batter's helmet. It was white, small fit and I think, I look ridiculous on it. Anyway, I was not there to complain but to just do my job and get out from there. So, into the belly area of the huge furnace pit area I went in. It was utterly and insanely hot and I was perspiring like mad. There were at least 3 other electricians working on the countless wiring cables and power cables which had been damaged and melted by the 1400 degrees Celsius metal molten which had leaked from the furnace. It was wickedly hot and the electricians were making fun of my clothing saying that I would come out looking like a chimney worker at the end of my work! I just laughed it off but I was sure that SLing is going to have a field day with me when she sees the stains I have on! Sure, it was dark, hot and stuffy but I was unfazed by all this. After all, I just have a job to do and doing it the very best I can has been my principle. As I was photographing the damages, I looked down on the metal flooring and noted a rather large hole on the metal flooring. Gosh! The unbelievable hot metal molten had melted down the metal flooring causing a hole on the ground. Luckily, I was on my safety shoes but I could still feel the heat from the so-called "cooled" metal molten. Maneuvering my way in the dark, I could sense the urgency to get out of the pit. Anyway, I had to complete my work before I could really get out of it. It was an occupational spa I was having down there! I feel like some walking barbecued meat! I could have sworn some oil fat from my body is drenching my shirt and pants,man! When I finally got out from the pit, it was a real relief. I was drenched wet right to my pants!

I just can't imagine the work these guys at the factory have to do - day in day out. What a way to earn an honest living! It is not only hot but dangerous as well. Afterall, accidents do happen and you can never know how things would end up. I guess, in a way, I am blessed that I only get to experience this probably three times in a year but these guys work in such a place day after day, year after year. I managed to catch up with some "veterans" I know at the factory. We shook hands, shared some jokes and made some light conversations. After that , I headed to the exit and made a dash for fresh air to fill my lungs. It is good to know that there was still breeze of fresh air to breathe in............ It is a hot day indeed .........

Fat & Thin....

Happy days in Seremban is all I could say when we spend time with our beloved nephew and niece. Definitely have grown up and have added up their value as extreme heartwarmers indeed. Ryan and Ashley has truly grown up so fast and started talking audibly instead of being jibberrish! It was really fun to be able to be with them. So innocently sweet in their speech and action. There was this time when my wife was showing a flash card to Ryan and it says "Fat - Thin" and Ryan answered, " Fat like Ah John ( my nickname by this little fella ) and Thin like Ryan! " I burst out laughing together with SLing and we just hug the little fella. Luckily it wasn't "Fat like Ku mah" or else the pillows will feel the wrath of unconsolable woman's fury!!! Hahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa............ Anyway, I was transported back to my childhood days when SLing carried out a deck of flash card on flags of the world. I think, I did some mistakes on the Scandinavian countries but other than that, it was correct all the way. Yup, Impressed the daylights out of SLing indeed and it was fun! Even Ryan quipped " Ah John know...yeah.." Yup, pretty hard to impress little fellas because they have more tricks under their sleeves than magicians,man!
As for Ashley, she is constantly on her toes while walking and she looks like a fairy,man! Twinkletoes Ashley - that's what I called her. So adorable but her engine warms up quite slow. Once she got used to you, she is such a delight. Love this adorable girl but she packs a real crying power when she flex those crying mechanism sacks under her eyes! Just a delightful little baby. She eats well and it is so fun when you get to see children like Ashley eating their food and grow up nicely. So bouncy bubbly and fun.
Yup , we celebrated SLing's mom birthday and had a great time with Ryan and Ashley blowing out the candles for her! Well, I was sure that somehow a good portion of Ryan's and Ashley's saliva did land on the cake as he/she did his/her best to blow out the candles. I am not eating that portion or did I? Hmmmmnnnnnn.........I wouldn't know..........I really wouldn't know.......hahhaahhahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa....... Must have eaten it for my breakfast the following morning! All in all, it was a good weekend. So very very thankful to Wei & Jade who treated us to some of the best food we've ever tasted every time we get back to Seremban and having us over in the weekend. So, thanks again, Wei & Jade!
Everytime SLing and I together with our children take a trip back to Seremban, we are filled not just with good food but endless joy & memories spent with the family. It may not be in so many days but the memories are just so priceless.....

One word of advice - don't be caught up in our world's rat race today or spending time gloating over missed opportunities. Make the time while spending time with family makes it all so worthwhile. You will never know what is in store for family time. Afterall, God always had the family at heart!~ No two ways about it!~ Cheers.

Ham...Yummy

This is my simple & original rendition of Black Forest Smoked Ham Carpaccio with Lemon Vinaigrette. This goes very well with garlic bread actually but Gardenia White Bread will do nicely!

Time Preparation : 20 minutes Ingredients : 10-12 slices of Black Forest Ham / any cured meat for the matter
(You can substitute this with beef or even Salmon or even cured deers meat) 1 lemon ( grate the whole lemon for its zest and squeezed one lemon for its juice)
A handful of Italian Parsley - finely chopped and mixed with vinaigrette
A few twigs of Thyme- finely chopped and mixed with vinaigrette
Olive oil
Grated Parmesan cheese
A small pinch of salt, sugar & pepper
Try it out. It will surprise your tasting palate indeed! I am so proud that my daughter helped me in preparing this dish which was great!~ Happy days!

Hunger...

I was on my way back home yesterday evening when I chanced upon one of the most saddening act of life I've ever seen. It jolted me a bit and it made me really think hard on how fortunate we are each day while there are many others who do not have that "luxury" that we have had.

I was at the traffic lights so absorbed in the days' occurrence in my life when I suddenly noted a teenage Indian boy by the roadside. He was easily between 17-19 years of age. I sized him up easily. He was uneasy, blurry-looking and he looked downright dirty. I just don't know why but he seemed so lost by the roadside and pacing his steps. Then out of a sudden, I noted one of the most saddening action ; that is - this young teenage boy reached out to a dry drain and picked up some scraps of something from the drain and put it in his mouth. For a minute, I was just so stricken in my heart and totally dumbstruck. He then quickly whisked off to one corner of a building and sat down. I don't why but just for a minute, I swerved my car out of the traffic lights queue, drove to the nearest parking lot and parked my car. I then walked towards the teenage boy and he wanted to get away from me. I told him not to run away as I just wanted to talk to him. I came to know that his name is Seelan. Whether that name is correct or a fictitious one he made up, I wouldn't know and I wouldn't care. I noted that he smells a little bit and I caught a whiff of some adhesive gum smell. It was disheartening for me to see such a teenage abandoning their self dignity all for a sniff of the gum. I believe no one would choose this path if they have better things to do. I guess, somewhere along the way, this boy could have been misdirected or even made a wrong turn in his life. This , to me, is the pinnacle of self destruction and it is really shocking. Anyway, in spite of my questioning of my sanity, I know one thing is for sure, this boy is hungry. I told him explicitly that I would like to feed him. So, I took him by the arm, surprisingly, he did not resist, led him to a nearby mini-market. As we walked into the mini-market, everyone was looking at the both of us. Sheez! It was like Moses parting the Rea Sea scene, man! I could tell from their disdained, distasteful and spiteful faces that they don't want us around. I couldn't care less and not that I cared anyway! I asked the boy to get a loaf of Gardenia butterscotch bread and two chocolate drinks. I gladly paid it and we walked out of the mini-market without having people to stare at us like some scum or leper from the roadside. I guess, in a way, I was a little bit cheesed off by the reaction ,reception and facial contortion of these people when they saw us. Yeah, he may have messed up big time ( Surely! everyone had had those type of days, right? ) or even done some crazy things in his life but everyone deserved a chance to redeem themselves or a surprising jolt/dose of reality, right? I am not saying that we must save every Tom, Dick, Harry or Sally who are straying on the street (and btw, they are humans too! ) but if we can show kindness to just one; I think, that they would appreciate that. All the while, I didn't say much to this boy and he thanked me for getting him some food.

I guess, in situations like this, there is simply no need for words. Action speaks louder, I guess. There is no need for sermons when you see a need or a needy person. Sometimes, it is a simple logical move that eludes even the brightest of the brightest and the smartest! I just watched him eat the bread and had the drink. I could tell that he was hungry; very hungry. I asked no question; satisfied that he is okay, I turned to walk away towards my car. Before I could walk away, I heard him called out to me, "Uncle, thank you.". I turned , walked to him, towering over him, looked him right in the eyes and mustered these words, " Son, I don't know what trouble you are in but get your life right. " He muttered something but I did not wait for an answer as I have done my part. The feeding I have done - the building and putting up the pieces of his life, he just has to do it himself!

As I drove home, I just could not get forget what the boy did. I guess, massive hunger, desperation and depletion of hope drives you to do things like that, right? Isn't it just so sad? I can't imagine what we would do during end times then! I guess, reality is staring right at our faces each day. Interestingly, how would you respond? I do wonder sometimes........... I really do......

Slumber Night quips......

Comdr: When you grow up, what do you want to be?

11year old : Eat & sleep in the toilet!

Comdr: When you grow up, what do you want to be?

11 year old : Dunno [ **looking sheepishly ** ]

Comdr: Join in the activity, now!

6 year old : I don't want. They squeezed my hand so tight!

11 year old : Throw me! Throw me in the pool!

Comdr: Aiyah, you are so heavy now! [ Clutching back and feeling the pain! ]

7 year old : Don't eat the green and orange spiral pasta, they are vegetables!

Comdr: Eat it or you'll have to starve!

11 year old : Haiyah! Contact me-lar if you want to know....... My handphone number is XXX - XXXXXX! Aiyoo, so easy. Like that also cannot remember-meh?

8 year old and 10 year old : Repeat! Repeat! [ As though they could remember the number! **eyes rolling**! ]

Comdr: what shall we do with naughty children?

8 year old : Throw them to the crocodiles!

7 year old whispering to another 7 year old : Let's get together and pull.....pants down! [** Snickering and laughing together** ]

6 year old: Comdr, why is there so much food to eat?

Comdr: Don't ever lean over this wall or else you will fall off the building.

6 year old & 7 year old : Cool, then we can see if we have wings to fly and turn into Ben 10.......

Comdr: Whose wet clothes and underwear are these?

6 year old : Haiyah, they are my clothes. They were dry when I had them. So, when they are wet, I left them on the floor.

Comdr: Why do you like to join RK camps?

11 year old: Because of the gifts! [ **Grinning from ear to ear!** ]

Comdr: Is the pasta good?

7 year old : Yes, at least it is not sour!

8 year old : Comdr, I can't sleep last night. You snore so loud. Your nose blocked-ah?

9 year old : Aiyah, wrong answer again! I am eating the waffles!

7 year old : Stop taking my sausages! [ **Putting saliva on the sausage**! ]

Winner With God - Proverbs 16:3

It's that ripe time of the year again, folks! Yup, it the time whereby children in the ages of 4-11 year olds "terrorised and traumatised" their outpost commanders in the Royal Rangers Melaka # 1 - Ranger Kids Slumber Night 2011! Of course , I was joking as usual. In all honesty, there is really no better place I would rather be than to spend time with these tiny tots especially the young Ranger Kids. I am always very blessed with these kids because they make you laugh, cry and feel young at the same time. I have come to realise that these young ones are pretty comical, cunning but pleasant at the same time. I am very blessed when I get to spend time with these children as they are so innocent in their speech and actions. However, like all good leaders, we had to corrected some traits that needed some stern warning and some hard eye-balling. Overall, the children were a real delight.

We gathered at about 8.00am at our church sanctuary and by the way the luggages arrived as the children checked-in for the camp, I thought some of them are running away from their home with their humongously big luggages! Anyway, old habits die hard for these parents in terms of packing clothes and food stuff for their children! Anyway, it doesn't seemed to bother me as the parents are the one who are going to wash all those extra clothes knowing how these young children stuff their clothes in the bags later! Anyway, upon our arrival at our camp accommodation - Tanjung Samudera Condo in Pantai Kundor, Melaka, there were lots of "ooohs" and "aaahhs" from the children. As we took the lift to the 15th floor and alighted from the lift where our accommodation was for the day, the children were greeted with a strong gentle breeze and a breathtaking view of Pantai Kundor town plus the surrounding areas. It was clearly a great sight. From then on, fun filled our days as the children played games after games and resting only for lunch and more food. Comdr. Stefanie and team played games with the children while Comdr. Errol & Comdr. Jessica churned out the pasta meals, tea break goodies and the BBQ meal. It all started out with Crazy Golf Competition under the charge of Comdr. Steven and supervised by the younger commanders like Comdr. Bryan Lee, Stephen Raj, Comdr. John Ng, Comdr. Stefanie, AR Josephine, AR Jocelyn, AR SYuen and AR Julien. After a competitive round of golfing, it was time to chow down some food and "MammaMia Pasta" was the order of the day! It was a sumptuous and delicious meal when you see the children lining up for second helpings!

As the adrenaline-filled and pumped up kids were filled in their bellies, Comdr. Errol & Comdr. Jessica carried out the Siesta Session 2 - Origami. It was fun seeing these children dishing out their talents at this simple art. The very purpose of this activity was to incalculate and expand their artistry talent & to build their confidence. Of late, we noted that these young children lacked the fighting spirit in them. We also noted that they just give up too easily when things don't go right for them while thinking out of the box was something alien to them. So, Comdr. Errol & Jessica decided to do something about it and the easiest way was the origami way which teaches creativity, patience and delicate handling. It was really a fun time.

Then it's off to the beach for telematches -thrown in with a galore of thrill, spills, laughter and joy. After the telematches, it was off to the double swimming pool available at the condominium. What joyful ruckus they made and I laughed my heart out seeing the antics of these young ones. With BBQ chicken wings, sausages, tau kee and fish ball in a royale platter awaiting the children, they ate heartily and there wasn't a sound in the air as they gobbled down the food. As always, I have been given the privilege to share the Word and I spoke on the Camp Scripture - Proverbs 16:3. It was a heartening experience for me to be able to bring the Word to the children.

To cap off a good night, SLing took out our aromatic waffles batter to feed these delightful children. With generous splash of peanut butter, jam and Nuttela chocolate spread, some children had evidence of these goodness combination at the corner of their mouths! That night, as the children lay down to sleep, it was nice to note that they had a fruitful and fun day with each other and with the commanders. I am eternally grateful to the up and coming commanders who are truly the heroes of this camp. The great effort, passion and love shown by Comdr.Stefanie, Bryan, John, Stephen Raj, Josephine, Jocelyn, SYuen, Julien are really applaudable and deserve praise. They did very well and this ministry, Royal Rangers Melaka # 1 truly is blessed to have them. People used to say to me that these young commanders had good senior commanders to teach them but I say, they are what they are because they love God and the children & that's all that matters to me. Their hearts and their passion are right and these are the most important elements as far as I am concerned. I am equally blessed to have Comdr. Errol, Jessica, Jason and Comdr Steven as my family in this ministry. Their dedication, their love and their commitment.... I have no words to describe them. It is always a joy and honour working alongside these leaders.

So, to the parents out, I just want to say that this ministry is all about Him and moulding your child to be a better person. CHANGE and MOULD are what we want to do with your child and what we do BEST. I am so blessed when I see naughty/difficult/pampered or even indescribable children come into this ministry because I know, once, they have experienced the Rangers way, they will know the way! Yes, I am proud and blessed when I see children whom had passed this way, transformed body, mind and soul. It is a challenge indeed but a challenge I cherished a lot because the children are just so worth it -every ounce of my strength , my time and my intelligence! YES, we truly love this ministry- always have and always will!

YES, we will always be Winners with God!~