Service today :)

I went to Trinity @ Paya Lebar today because my book in time is 6.15pm. So if I go youth service in Bethel, I'll rush like mad. So yup...went back to have lunch with Cai Jie today and took a few pictures :)


Mel & Me :)


Me & Marc :D


Xiao Hua & Me :)

Dear Jesus I pray that there won't be any rain these 6 days of my field camp and let it not be too scorching hot either. Help me to get along everyone and not to fall out with anyone and give me strength to pass this critical part of BMT. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen! :)

FIELD CAMP!!

Firstly, for those who read my first edition of my "5th book out" post fully, I must say that in actuality, underneath all the fierce, prideful and commandeering rantings and verbal exposition of my more vocal bunkmates still lies a nice person. I somehow know.

I've been thinking...even though they don't have the right to command us and scold us, but by their doing so they have actually made this work out...but still in the WRONG WAY.

Maybe they meant it for good (I'm trying to see it that way), maybe to wayang (must be), maybe just to show that they are the 'leader' (then they have totally missed the essence of leadership) or maybe they really care (nah...if they did, they could've done it nicely and politely)

Overall, my section has a really good mix and nice bunch of people.

Anyway, NEXT WEEK'S my FIELD CAMP!!!! The toughest part of BMT has finally arrived! -.-

So my Christian brothers & sisters, please do keep me in prayer! :)

And today I had an awesome Billy Bombers dinner with Melvin, Jon Wee, Xiao Hua, Zi Hui & Yining :) I bombed myself with fats today as I'll be bombed physically and mentally the coming week in our very own Tekong jungle. Haha...

Seriously, I just can't wait to get NS over and done with. But I also know that I want to make the best out of it and impact as many lives through my stay cos I know that God has placed me where I am for a purpose...

One side of me says "Go and do your best! God will make a miracle out of these 2 years! Jia You!" another side of me says "Come on, just do your least and take every shortcut and get it done with and get on with life." God help me to embrace the former, give me strength to brave this winter and give me faith to know you're stronger :)

5th Book Out...My more truthful reflections :)

I'm out of this island for the 5th time! :) This week has been pretty happening :D

1st highlight of this week would be BTP (Basic Trainfire Package) which is our live range...where for most of us is the first shot of a few real rounds in our entire 20 years of being alive. Haha...

To pass our BTP, we'd have to hit 19 out of 32 targets in 3 different positions and in day and night time. To get marksman we'd have to hit at least 26 out of those 32.

On that day itself, I was confident of getting my marksman :D However, just before the shoot, one of my spectacles leg BROKE!!! Best time for such shit to occur eh? Just like that time when I just stepped into the showers to realise that there was a fire drill......

I was so so pissed. But thanks to my bunkmate Sebestian who brought black tape, we managed to tape my spectacle leg back firmly enough.

Next problem, I needed to find back the screw that once held my spectacle leg to the frame......Finding a screw in a firing range? You need a miracle.

My miracle was Sebastian again who found that little screw amidst all the dirt, sand and dust etc. at our waiting area. It was just below me and I was looking everywhere else...LOLS. Thanks a million Sebastian! :) And of course, Thank you God :D for Your grace is sufficient for all my needs :)

So, I went on to get my marksman. I hit 28 out of 32 shots :D I expected better but the night shoot was really bad. Couldn't clearly see my LAD. -.-" haha. Missed 3 there. Day shoot I "missed" one.....because I shot the target of the adjacent lane..... -_-"

But O well, I did get my marksman! Whoo hoo! Seriously, marksman ain't much big a deal cos half my platoon and I think company got marksman...haha..

2nd highlight of this week is my bunk's recent locker scare....HAHA. My bunkmates got creative w/ unlocked lockers. This is how it unfolded...

I was on the phone chatting away before lights out...And on that day, my bunkmates were especially concerned about my whereabouts. 3 of them came out to "REMIND" me about lights out...FINALLY, I stepped back into my bunk and went to take my shirt from my drawer....

When I opened my drawer, Kian Hong jumped out of my locker and I let out a ear-piercing, heart-wrenching, company-waking SCREAMMMMM!! HAHAHAHA!

This got me famous overnight... -.-" HAHAHA! And guess what? The following day they did it again and I got scared to the same degree with the same scream...this time with other sections there ready to witness it.... -______-" HAHAHA.

Now everytime I enter my bunk I'll ask my section to number off....HAHAHA! They say once bitten twice shy. I'm twice bitten thrice scared! HAHA...

So yup, this is what's still stuck in my head for this week...HAHA!

My field camp is next monday!!! The hardest and toughest part of BMT.

I really pray that we'll make it through without making too much enemies. Haha.

To be honest, sometimes I find my bunkmates can't talk nicely. Shouting, impatient rantings, etc...I have NEVER once did that even thought there were so many instances where I could and have every justifiable reason to.

Some of them can't answer a simple question...finding every reason why you didn't listen instead of just answering you. I mean it's not like we don't want to listen. Sometimes we just miss things. And then they may go on to say..."your sometimes is everytime" and they go on to amplify your faults...In the end. So what? It's not like we're not trying to change.

O well, caring and love is not a prerequisite for being a soldier right? That's what makes the distinct difference between my friends and my bunkmates. Care and acceptance.

Not all of 'em are like that. Even for those 'kao-peh-ers' I believe that they're still nice people beneath all their insensitive vociferations. I still smile and talk nicely to everyone. But the truth is, I LOVE ALL, but I RESPECT FEW :)

Months have passed and I think I can be more truthful. I want to make good friends out of all of you. But it takes 2 hands to clap too.

O well, I guess next week will be the ultimate test. :) I'll survive. I hope our relationships do too :D So God, cover me and strengthen me and give me patience :) I don't want to unleash my high dominance and uber-argumentative side. I'm controlling it :) So God let your love flow and overflow through me :)

My 3rd & 4th book out!

Beads of raindrops pelted down our slouched backs as rivulets of rainwater mixed with sweat streamed down our shaved heads. It was my 3rd book out. This scene had repeated itself consecutively for my first 3 book ins and book outs. -_-"

Thank God my 4th book out had a sprinkling of God's grace with the sun peeking out from behind the cirrus clouds :)

Anyway, THANK GOD for this week! I wana thank God for giving me the opportunity to share Christ with two of my bunkmates :) I simply shared my life testimony and the gospel :) I didn't press them for salvation or anything but I really do hope that the seed sown will sprout in due time :)

And, my section had our very own outing yesterday :) We went to Marina Square's Waraku and had a sumptuous dinner :D As usual, I'll let the pictures depict the experience :D


Me, Nelson & Arwin :)

Oh, btw, check out my new fourskin shirt man! :) Nice right? :D HAHA!


All of us! In waraku :D

After dinner, we headed to the arcade :D


Glenn, Me & Gregory :)

And check out Gregory's para para dance moves man :D



Epic! HAHA! :)

Next stop, the bowling alley! :D We decided to split into a 4V4 team :) With the losers having to do push ups. The difference in our scores will determine the number of push-ups :D


Kian Hong, Me, Chee Eng & Dennis :) - The Winning Team :D


Gregory, Sebastian, Nelson & Glenn :D

And check out our NS form of punishment in civilian clothing! HAHAHA!


Greg, Glenn, Nelson & Seb down-ing their 16 push ups :D

Haha. This is called section bonding :) Haha.

We're getting to know each other better :) As each week passes, we're peeling away more of our masks :D

I'm still not 100% myself yet...but i'm slowly letting more of myself out :D HAHA!

I was chatting with Matthew the other day and he was like "Aiya...you sure go OCS one la given your kind of character." I told him that I super low profile in army one...HAHA. He was kinda shocked. LOLS!

I've been adhering to my ex-NSFs friends' advice to keep low profile in army. But I guess not being myself is killing me and it has printed a different impression of who I am in my friends' brains. So I guess I shall start being more of who God has crafted me to be :)

Haha. Keep me in prayer guys! My field camp's in 2 weeks time! :D

2nd Book Out! :D

A saline waft of sea-filled air graciously greeted my sweaty body as the smell of the sea water permeated my nostrils to grant me relief from the physical training I've encountered over the week. I was at the Tekong ferry terminal. It was a Friday. It was my 2nd book out day! :)

I'm getting to know my bunkmates and platoon mates better :D I really wanna bring out a best friend from there as I always do for every institution I graduate from :)

The past week in BMT was pretty slack. We had 2-3 hours of admin time for 3 days and we could use the annex room! :D The annex room btw has 2 guitars, a fooseball (table soccer) table, pool table, table tennis table, etc..haha. So we went there to chill out, play pool and guitar :)

Once me Glenn & Gregory went to play guitar until we almost forgot our lights out timing. Haha. This resulted in us being unable to wash our clothes. Haha! O well, Jaguar is the very first company to have 3 washing machines for our usage! :D

I went for IMT oredi. It's a rifle shooting simulation, very much like in a arcade just that the gun you're using is the SAR-21 and there are no bad guys in sunglasses aiming at you. HAHA!

My saturday was spent with Daryl, Joel & Caleb :D We went over to Joel's place and we played Warcraft TD and some other mods there. Haha!


Daryl & Me on Joel's swing :)

After that I headed down to Sam's 21st birthday party! :)


Joan, Me, Royston, Sam, Chor Seng & Guang Yao + Sam's bday cake :D


The Botaks-tic 4! HAHA! Chor Seng, Me, Guang Yao & Royston :)


Us again + our future botak member :D haha


My SIP mates Chor Seng & Joan :D


Us again with the bday boy uncomfortably carried. Haha.

Chor Seng's the only botak w/o a cap! HAHA!

Now he's the botak with all the caps :D HAHA!

Sam & myself :)

Had a great time of catching up with my TP friends @ Sam's birthday :) Chatting away in our army lingo and discussing the details of our NS encounters is a good past time. Haha.

Of course, Happy 21st Birthday my dear Sam :) Take care! :D