Prayers for Daniel

Dear Lord,

• With the busy-ness of preparing for the state funeral this week, that he would be able to find solace to seek, study and be filled with Your Word.
• Lead him as he chooses songs for worship and chairs this sunday.
• Continue to filled him with Holy spirit as he finalizes the details for the Youth Evangelistic Meeting.
• Restore his strength and health as he recovers from his bout of flu.
• Lead him and keep him strong and healthy as he sees his patients everyday
• Give a good and undisturbed rest each night.

Prayer: Dear Lord, keep faithful in praying for my husband and help me to fully understand his work, in and out of church.

My Ponderings in Chiang Mai

How should a Christian respond to the bestowment of honor and reward? Should we shy away from it to remain humble and spotless from the world? Or should we be like Daniel and Joseph of the Old Testament who accepted their lot in life as part of God's larger plan and used their position to fulfill His great purpose?That was the tip of the iceberg of my thoughts as I spent my time in Chiang Mai. My instinctive natural reaction is to reject all semblence of honor and glory. It was a time of questioning, exercising of the mind and the searching of God's will in my life. But first, I had to align myself according to His word.

Where am I heading to or what do I hope to achieve out of my vocation as a teacher? Accepting this position would mean that I would not have a form class. Sigh...it is a great privilege to be a form teacher. I have always relished the opportunity. It was not often easy...it takes up much of your life and sometimes, the 'sins' of your classes are deemed as a result of your lack of guidance. But nevertheless, it was a clear avenue and wonderful opportunity to communicate and hopefully impart good values and reach out to the lost teenagers. In place of these responsibilities, a greater part of the time will deal with planning and organizing programs for the school at large. It was a struggle because I have always wanted to be at the ground. The change in job scope was a struggle for me.

Though this was my supposed barrier, the more important things I needed to consider was :

• Would taking this up affect my commitment to my family?
• Would taking this up affect my role as a wife to my husband and home?
• Would taking this up affect my ministry in church?

Thank God for His creation - Another view of Chiang Dao Nest. That's where I did my premlinary sorting of thoughts.

Final verdict: There was no resounding No or Yes. That made it all the more difficult for me to punch me fist in the air and say Amen! But it was a very peaceful conclusion - to follow where He leads and through the opportunities He gives. I feel that while I am aware of His leading, I cannot steer it. Just like drifting along the currents of the river. But all I know now is to be faithful with what He has given me and to continue to glorify Him in all that He has given me as long as my basic responsibilities are well covered.

16-20 March Holidays - Chiang Mai

With Opening Ceremony preparations hot on my heels, schedules, rehearsals, post mortems, prospectus - going off for a holiday did not seem to be much of a reprieve initially. But nevertheless, it gave me a real excuse to dump everything aside and just escape for a while.

I left for Chiang Mai feeling really pensive and thoughtful - not from OC but from an offer of a position in school. While it was universally deemed as good news (very good news in fact), I felt really apprehensive about taking up the offer. But that offer set me thinking about where the Lord was to lead me in the next few years. I had to realize what my role was and what it would mean. So it is with these searching questions, that I, my hubby and my dad and mom in law travelled up the road to Chang Dao, Chiang Mai.

Wednesday

Arrived at Chiang Mai at about 5 pm Thai time. Boarded a chartered van from Chiang Dao Nest (where we were staying). Before heading to our place of stay, we went to the famous Night Bazaar for food and night shopping. Amazing - things had the price tag of Bangkok but there was so little of the Bangkok pollution and crowd. Shopped and ate and shopped and ate.Went to a handicraft centre and saw very very beautiful sketches.

These pictures are mostly me cos everyone was just too lazy to pose for pictures or take them.

Me in the plane. Nice sky-high view.

The van and me hubby boarding it. 4 of us in a 10 seater van...pretty comfy.

Very realistic portraits by the talented Thai artists at Handicraft Centre.

Boarded the van again at 9:30 pm and headed to Chiang Dao Nest. Arrived at 11 pm. Wonderfully cool weather. Reminded me of Awana Genting. The only difference - Outdoor living. Imagine, travelling up the hill and finding a lodge in the middle of tall trees and howling dogs (shudder shudder). But apart from the spartan room, dim lights, no flush-system toilet, a super loud gecko roaming around our roof, and a door which could not be locked, it was really a cosy little place. Really.

This is Chiang Dao Nest. A 1.5 hour drive from the city. I like the simple decor. The menu for dinner is gourmet. Pretty surprising to find all of this in the middle of a jungle.

The view from outside our spartan room

A fresh posy greets you at breakfast. Breakfast - An All American breakfast for 75 baht

Activities [Thurs -Sat]

Daniel riding a baby elephant. I am just right behind him. It took us to one of the villages. Me on a raft cruising along a river.

Trekked up a nature trail just behind our resort. Left our mark - DJ. Look out for it when u go there!

How can we forget the food? First stop - delicious beef noodles at the Chiang Dao - 25 baht. Next stop - was a eatery at Chiang Dao Cave. We ate there about 3-4 times during our stay. Cheap and good food. Each dish - 25 baht.

Interesting and Heart Stopping Excerpts from the trip

Background: On our way back to the resort after dinner. BTW, have I forgotten to mention that there were very few lamp posts and many many many dogs (guide's honour)

Characters: Me, Hubby, Dad and Mom in Law

Genre: Horror

Placing my step cautiously, I gripped my stick tightly. Looking at the lonely road ahead, my eyes flitted quickly to the left and right. "Where are those creatures? Show Yourself", I demanded beneath my breath. I felt that my mind was slowly severing itself from my body. My actions made absolutely no sense. "Walk on", urged my pragmatic and fearless husband. Then, the first howl rang through the deaf silent night. I let out an instinctive scream. This was pertifyingly followed by a barrage of howls and yelps. As I tried to drag my feet along, I could hear the desparate rustling of leaves at the sidelines. I think there were close to 7 or 8 of them. The fear was overwhelming. I felt breathless and a pain in my head. But wedged in the fearless group of my husband and my in laws, I had to move on. The road seemed endless and for once, I wish that I was somewhere else.

Synopsis - Anyway, that was one of the most traumatic experiences I had during the trip. Stray four legged furballs are rampant in Chiang Mai and they bark at each stranger with much gusto. And most of them hope to intimidate humans by appearing in a pack. What sly wolves! Tsk! Tsk!

Blog Burst

Call mine mrstanjoann.blogburst.com.

Entering this blog and seeing OCOCOCOC for the past 5 weeks is truly frustrating, I believe. My sincere apologies. But somehow with a deluge of responsibilities, concerns and acitivites, blogging is the last on your mind. Well, the dust has about settled and before the next truckload comes along...I would like to record God's faithfulness in my life for the past few weeks. Treating my blog as a record of His faithfulness makes my time and your time more worth the while.

*rubble*rubble*tremble*quake*

*BLOG BURST*

Blog Block

OC OC OC OC OC OC OC

Just for those who are not aware - OC means Opening Ceremony. Well, that is really taking up most of my mind in these few days to come. I enjoy it but I wish it would be over soon...

I enjoy seeing students from FTP whom many think are students who are neighbourhoody and cannot make it - rise to the occasion. They have surprised many, even myself. I wish it be over cos I miss my life.

Dear Lord, please grant me the strength and wisdom to make sound decisions. And that through it all, You will be glorified. Not I, But Christ.

Blog Hols

AWAY

To all the ardent viewers of this blog (as well as naggy Naz),
This blog has not been striken by another coma, neither has it been struck by a lightning. I have simply decided to abandon all burdens and fly off to a quiet place...but I will be back to fulfill the following:

1) Claim the milo dinosaur from Omar
2) Arrange an outing with trusty ole Eunice who is ever willing to rescue me from the difficult-key-changing-arrangements always selected my hubby
3) Set Mid Year Exam Papers
4) Sleep less as Opening Ceremony draws nearer
5) Visit one student's parent
6) Go out with Jean and Ally [my sec school pals]
7) Come to a decision - Where is the Lord leading me in the next 3 years of my life?

Daniel's Tentative Itinerary

Notwithstanding any mishaps, this is Daniel's itinerary for tomorrow. Please continue to pray for safe journey and flight

1130 Daniel leaves Mumbai for Singapore
1900 Daniel arrives at Changi Airport, travels to SGH and settles procedure
2300 Joann to pick Daniel up

Daniel in India Again...sigh

4th March 2005

1700 Joann returns home
1800 Daniel returns home
1840 Leaves for Novena Square for Dinner
1900 California Bistro. Orders pasta
1925 Daniel receives call to leave for airport
1930 Doggy pack pasta and leave
2000 Calls and more calls
2030 Collects air ticket at Middle Road
2100 Settles car
2230 Calls and more calls, email
2300 Packs bag to India

5th March 2005

0100 Sleeps
0500 Wakes up and leaves for airport
0545 Joann confronts the Major
0600 Breakfast at Macdonalds
0645 Daniel enters through the gates
1100 Daniel reaches Mumbai Airport
1300 Joann's students arrive at home
1650 Daniel leaves for hopsital in camp. Patient is stabilized.
1700 Joann's students leave and clean up begins
1830 Dawn comes over
1900 Sisters Dinner out at Swensens
2130 Bumps into youthie girls at Parkway Parade
2200 Sends sis home
2230 Returns home

My Afterthoughts of O Levels

28th Feb 2005

Tearing the result slips at 10:30 am, I was at a loss for words. Confused. Excited. Disappointed. Having been with this batch since my days in NIE, things were a little more nostalgic and perhaps more emotional. Haha...these were my students who had addressed me from the days of Miss Teo to the confusing days of Mrs Teo..Ms Tan. I wanted them to do well or maybe deep within me, I hope that I could make a difference and help them out in life. From 'Beauty and the Beast' at the omnimax theatre, to 'Show and Tell', to IPW at Bidadari Cemetery and to 'Short Cuts', we have worked hard, real hard, well at least for the majority.

It was a true blessing to see some cry and scream for joy. But my heart ached to see faces fall and tears shed. Could I have made more of a difference? I really don't know. But dear Lord, I do really hope that I have been faithful to the calling which you have called me to.

Dear students of 4E3 and 4E6, choose your future and path carefully. Tread wisely. Whichever way you decide, use your youth to your advantage. Pursue, Learn, Fall and Pick Up, Pursue, Learn, Fall and Pick up...[you get the picture] There are no short cuts in life. But along your way of life, you will learn more lessons. Lessons beyond the books, lessons that deal with life and the true meaning of life. Remember, when that time comes and you are searching....I am still your teacher, Mrs Tan.

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul?

Matthew 16:26

Awoken from a Blog Coma

Point of View: 1st person Narrative
Narrator: Blog
Genre: Recount

For the past 18 days, I laid in the computer paralysed. There were so many things I wanted to display but I couldn't. Visitors came and left. One came from down under. I heard you. G'day Gaya. Some came from the dear BFC youthies. Hi Darren, Sandra, Van and Rel. I wished I was on hand to welcome you to my life in school. Some tried to knock on my door ...stop that, Naz. Not to forget, my girls from 3E4. Hi there gals, but Mrs Tan is no coffee drinker...unnecessary addiction. haha. But I heard everyone of you.

In simple words, I'm back! Stay tune!