CNY: Homecoming for the YGM Team

YGM stands for Younger Generations Ministry. Something that i was part of since... 1992? Of course we kinda disbanded in 1998. They went on to become the Frontliners, i think.

In those early years, there were 12 of us, i was reminded. It took me a while to remember who were the "original" 12 because many others were being brought in as leaders. Let's see if i can recall:

Kevin and Edna, Ken and Val, Raymond and Sharon, Paul and Selina, Lileng, Bryan, Bernard and me.

Along the way, as far as i can remember, our additions include:
Glordia,Joanna, Pearly, Shien, Minyee, Bee Bee, Martin, Victor...

Those were the golden years of youth ministry for me. We journeyed together through those 6 years and watched how God bring us through every stage of growth. We were a bunch of jokers(still are) who were slowly being moulded and had our "butts kicked" from time to time. We prayed, played, worshipped, wepted and laughed together.It's no surprise then that no less than 5 couples emerged during those days of serving together.

Camps were fantastic then.From "The sheep and the goat", Frasers' Hill, Port Dickson, "FM2002" to "Stand alone on Solid Rock", we learnt about Missions, Last Days, BOHS, Deliverance, Evangelism...

Some scenes from these camps have been immortalized, sketched in my mind forever. Like the SBC "Common Scenes", Capstan ball, "drop the blanket games", Raymond's birthday in 94, the "tapping fingers-spiritual" encounter in Desaru, me dropping into the sewage hole in '90, 24 jam praise and worship on bus rides back from M'sia, guys trying tambourine dancing, "Pei-de, this is Baolin"-SDU introduction.

Besides camps, special events like Christmas and Easter also saw us having fun. We did lots of caroling and had overnight table tennis sessions late into Christmas mornings. Then we will zonk out during the service.Those were the fun moments.

Needless to say, God strengthen the bond among us. We gave each other the right to speak into the other's life and challenged each other to very real terms in our faith.

By 96, we were getting pretty serious. I remember visiting City Harvest to find out how to run a purpose driven youth ministry.I also remember how Kevin and i wept,under a tree outside my house after that visit, asking God to use us like he did with the CH leaders. We stopped programs and just gathered to pray and the intensity increased.That led us to Yishun.There we laboured for a year and a half. (7 years for me)We used to go to church at 6am in the morning to lay hands on the chairs to pray for the church. Some of the most memorable moments were those prayer sessions during our leaders' meeting on weeknights. The growing dissatisfaction in our hearts brought about cries in our prayer and greater accountability. Buzz words then were: accountability, simple life, giving up rights.
Anyone remembers "Shut Up and Pray?"

Whether it was late bus rides/car rides home or over the public phone in army camps at 3am in the morning, we spoke destiny to each other. You become what your leaders are.Along the way,some of us took the mold of Yvonne and no one had any lack of exposure in missions. At first, we were leading teens. Soon, we were leading teams in villages,schools,orphanages...Today, 2 of the 12 are missionaries and the rest can't rest. Not without knowing where and why God was going to, or had placed them where they are. This restlessness stirs up once in a while when we get too comfortable. It's happening again i think.

This CNY, we may be getting together for a photo shoot. Yvonne wants to write a book. I think she should. I'm not even a full time minister and i want to write a book. Haha. You're reading the prologue. I guess she wants to feature the YGM leaders in her book. I would, in mine, if i had one. After all, we went through so much together.

It'll be nice to see everyone at one place again. I hope everyone makes it so we don't have to photoshop anyone. This time the place will be crawling with kids. I know i won't be the only restless one next tuesday.

welcome back, team.

"stir it up in our hearts,

a passion for Your Name"

"tenjewberrymuds"

I love this! If only they have a hokkien version...


To get the full effect, this should be read aloud. You will understand what 'tenjewberrymuds' means by the end of the conversation. This has been nominated for the best email of 2005.

The following is a telephone exchange between a hotel guest and room-service, at a hotel in Asia, which was recorded and published in the Far East Economic Review:

Room Service (RS): "Morrin. Roon sirbees."

Guest (G): "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."

RS: "Rye..Roon sirbees..morrin! Jewish to oddor sunteen??"

G: "Uh..yes..I'd like some bacon and eggs."

RS: "Ow July den?"

G: "What??"

RS: "Ow July den?...pryed, boyud, poochd?"

G : "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry, scrambled please."

RS: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"

G: "Crisp will be fine."

RS : "Hokay. An Sahn toes?"

G: "What?"

RS:"An toes. July Sahn toes?"

G: "I don't think so."

RS: "No? Judo wan sahn toes??"

G: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means."

RS: "Toes! toes!...Why jew don juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder?"

G: "English muffin!! I've got it! You were saying 'Toast.' Fine. Yes, an English muffin will be fine."

RS: "We bodder?"

G: "No...just put the bodder on the side."

RS: "Wad?"

G: "I mean butter...just put it on the side."

RS: "Copy?"

G: "Excuse me?"

RS: "Copy...tea...meel?"

G: "Yes. Coffee, please, and that's all."

RS: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin we bodder on sigh and copy....rye??"

G: "Whatever you say."

RS: "Tenjewberrymuds."

G : "You're very welcome."

Cows

i think this is really cute, though you've prolly read it before. One of the better email jokes i've seen. Enjoy!


A Tale of Two Cows

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM. You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION. You have two cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when the cow drops dead.

A FRENCH CORPORATION. You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION. You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. You then create clever cow cartoon images called 'Cowkimon' and market them worldwide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION. You have two cows. You reengineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

A BRITISH CORPORATION. You have two cows. Both are mad.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION. You have two cows, but you don't know where they are. You break for lunch.

A SWISS CORPORATION. You have 5000 cows, none of which belong to you. You charge others for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION. You have two cows. You have 300 people milking them. You claim full employment and high bovine productivity. You have the newsman who reported on the numbers arrested.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION. You have two cows. You worship them.

A MALAYSIAN CORPORATION. You have two cows. You signed a 40-year contract to supply milk at 0.06 per lit. Then midway you raised the price to 0.60 or you cut supply. When the buyer agrees to the new price, you change your mind again and now want 1.20. The buyer decided you can keep the milk and they go look for milk that comes from recycled cows. Your two cows retire together with the PM.

A SINGAPOREAN CORPORATION. You have two cows: One "cow-peh" and one "cow-bu".

Top 5 Events of 2005

I need to finish the top 5. That's like my new year resolution for the 1st week of 2006.

5. Worship
I think that as i took on a new role in the team this year, i had to search deeper than before where my worship fountain was flowing from. It's quite scary actually when sunday arrives and you know your fountain's not flowing so it's quite a heavy responsibility. But thank God for those wonderful moments when He drops a song in my heart and leaves it lingering there...There it flows.

4. India
I 've always wanted to go to India because it's no soft landing. I've been to many a trip with soft landings and i know they won't stretch me. Hyderabad's 40 degrees afternoon naps can. They don't just stretch you, they literally bake you. I think we had a great team and though my leadership skills were thoroughly stretched too, i think we grew as a community. The stories i heard from our OM brothers and sisters were heartwarming and inspiring. It was also at one of these homes that i saw how to build and strengthen the family unit. Simply gather everyone after dinner to sit together at the living room to sing hymns and read the Word together. If the values of worship and word are not instilled in the home, that unit is gone. The stark constrast is apparent in Singapore. Pls remind me if i ever forget this in future ok?

3. Babies!
No!Not mine. Haha, maybe that's the problem. Anyway, my good friends have been fruitful, Rachel, Winston and Jo, Billie. All my age. When i'm not being bothered by that, i've been admiring God's creation. Jeff is my favourtie baby so far. I must say Ian, Jachin and Abi are really adorable too...sigh..the problem when you hang out with old friends.

2. Weddings
Those who are slightly behind the mummys and daddys are walking down the aisle.Too many in 2005 i must say. Too many for my wallet's liking. But many are good friends so there was no way to say no. Among them, a few stood out. Danny's wedding had a weepy moment when he thanked his dad. Wah, cannot take it. Michelle's wedding and her tribute to her mum was touching too. My mum had lots to say about it. She didn't know other mums made breakfast too. And so she despaired when i rejected her breakfast again. She was worried that without breakfast, i'll have nothing good to say about her during my wedding.haha. and that awfully embarrassing introduction to the bridesmaid. oh man! Lyn's wedding was also interesting cos i met Jo again after 4 yrs. And of course embarrassing things happen during weddings, so i made a boo boo again. But it's always good to meet up with old friends.

and the number 1 event of 2005...

1. Mt Ophir
Where else can i go? I feeling really horrible now that there's no training. I'm feeling tired after work and can't find the motivation to pick my body up to run. And it feels worse cos we were really fit and tough in Dec. You can read about ophir from the other entries. Thanks Team 2! Maybe God's showing it though you all.

This is like journalling. I'm really sorry if you didn't find this too entertaining enough.
I'm trying to rush to bed so that i can wake up in time to watch Man Utd play Arsenal.If they beat the gunners, then i'm sure they'll be up on this year's top 10 list.

Top 10 Events in 2005

This is kinda like my reflection as i step over the new year
I've listed these things down because:
- i remember them and
-they're possibly very important and
-they're possibly weepy moments where i have to fight my tears and act macho(wat's wrong wif me!!?)

10. Changing cars
Traded in my Suzuki Jimny for a 2nd hand Peugeot 206 1.6A. Probably the most expensive event too. I think i've given up trying to convince others that it was a good buy. I think i've also tried to confuse people by throwing in lotsa jargon like PARF, ARF, COE rebate, paper value, OMV, depreciation. At this point, i just love my peugeot. It's really fun and zippy. The ride up to Segamat was fun.Why did i change cars? Because i like!

Quote of the moment:"Continental car how can don't have continental sound system?"

9. Reservist
I was called up twice in 2005. Once in May and another time in Nov. It's really tiring and i didn't get much sleep. People aren't very impressed when i tell them the mouse is my main weapon. It gets better when i tell them i have to kill them if i told them anymore.hehehe. One good thing that came out was that i passed my ICT IPPT. Didn't clear my chin ups in Sept and was feeling really low. Thank God i did.Was so surpised that i jumped off the bar with glee! Thanks for the $100!

Quote of the moment:"and subsequently, we can all return to see our loves ones without leaving anyone behind..."

8. SPE friends
It means School of Physical Education, not some department in the poly. We met twice in 05 for volleyball and it's always good to see the gang. One of my greatest wish is to play in a soccer match with the BA/BSc team(without having to organising it). Yuo know how hard is it trying to bring teachers together? But volleyball's great too. Wonderful to see them bring their kids(fanny, hanseng, idayu-my dive-buddy-now-mother-of-cute-boy) along and everyone just clowning around again. Loon& Sharon got married and Kaycee too. MC-ed for them and happy to see them move to the next phase of life. We're all growing up and older.

Quote of the moment:"If i'm there,i'm there."

7. 5B1 graduated
I had 3 years with them and i thank God i started out with some wisdom in 03 saying something garung like,"My aim is to get all of you to Sec 5 and clear the O Levels!" But i wasn't so garung during the last lesson with them. I remember my voice cracked after i said,"We've come to the end of our journey together." Although some of them were difficult, many were wonderful kids. What was most regretable was that they were soo quiet and difficult to open up to. Maybe it was me. Trying so hard to set the class culture and discipline them, that i could no longer befriend them at an informal level. I wonder if they'll remember me years later like i remember my teachers? thanks for journeying with me guys!

Quote of the moment:"We've come to the end of our journey together."

6. Singlehood
Sometimes it happens when you least expect it. But it's not too bad after all. It shouldn't be. I'm back to meeting different groups of people in 1 night and asking questions like, "Shall we climb a mountain next month?" and "Shall we try to climb the mountain AGAIN next week?"It's important to maximise your time, energy and availability and mobility as a single. This was big but not too painful. I get bothered every now and then, but it's good to get some space to think about how you want to spend the rest of your life.

Quote of the moment:"I think we'll make better friends than a couple."


This blog seems to be getting very serious and straightforward. I think i need to get some sleep and spill some creativity here again later.
The Top 5 Events of 2005 will be right back!