Archive for the 'People' Category

Mr Lam Ah Kow

Published
by
Zz85
on June 17, 2008
in Beliefs and Church
. 0 Comments

Mr Lam passed away last Tuesday morning at the age of 90. Our hearts throbbed when we heard the news. He loved us and the people from the church and we in turn loved him. His wake held over only that night was the shortest and funeral I’ve attended. The simpleness reflect upon his life and faith he had.

Ah Cek and Ah Cim

His name “Ah Kow” means no.9, likely referring to his position among his siblings, but we addressed him “Ah Cek”. He was a construction worker until he lost his sight and his wife took care of him thereafter. Despite the lost of sight, he senses were amazing sharp. He knew the monetary value of notes by touching them, and was always happy and generous to give out “ang pows”. When we used to take the bus back together, he always knew when the bus arrived home without anyone tell him. “Kam Sia Zhu” (感谢主, or “Thank God”), the phrase he never failed to say in Hokkien as he prepares his walking stick as the bus makes turns in the carpark to his block.

Always excited when we visited him at his home, he asks and talks events which happen recently and the people who visited him. Never do we hear him grumble or complain. Each time, he would reside the bible verses he memorised, sing the favorite hymns in dialects (十字架，主我赐平安 etc) and pray.

Mr Lam sense of time is very good. Even with my sight to see day and night, calendars and time, often I am ashamed that he could tell and remember dates and time better than I. Not too long ago, Mr Lam fell sick, stayed in a hospital before staying at a home. About 2 weeks back the last time I met him, we visited him at the home. Not being able to see, hard of hearing, without the appetite to eat, I thought that was a difficult time for him but alas, not a sign of complain or murmuring he shows us.

Instead he sings, gives praise and shared his testimony with Hokkien mixed with some other dialects. 91 years old he says he was (thats quite accurate). And he shared how he was saved when Rev Ang reached out to him in the 80s. While he was speaking, I noticed tears flowing from his closed eyes. I thought he was perhaps in pain and because we just woke him up from his sleep. But I now know his tears were of hope, and somehow he knew he was going his meet his Redeemer soon.

Burial Service

There may be many reasons why we loved him, but the faith he had was why we have to look up to him.

p.s. This is the 3rd elderly men I know passed away in the past 7 months. I wrote this post earlier in my book. After numerous procrastination I decided to post it online.

DVBS

Published
by
Zz85-nds
on June 7, 2008
in Church
. 2 Comments

前几天真高兴能够参帮忙儿童们的假期圣经班,能接触许多可爱但顽皮的孩子们！

这一回与”佳*老师”帮忙手工。

首先折纸星！

也折纸心！（有押韵呢，哈哈）

“张先生”和”大姐”在竞争比他们的微型纸心

剪刀

胶水

针线

金属丝

手工完成了！

想起来，本人与学生身份参加应该有六年了吧！也想起第一次帮忙弹琴时擦一点出大祸，呵呵。


虽然我也许不再是小孩子了，但能够与孩子一起同享幸福也很不错！

A Letter from Prison

Published
by
Zz85-nds
on May 10, 2008
in People, Stories and Thoughts
. 0 Comments

While going out from home a few days ago, a neighbor approached me asking me to translate a letter she received. So began my attempt to be a english-chinese translator while reading the letter simultaneously. Following is a rough impression of its contents

Dear nephew,

I’ve been recently sentenced x years imprisonment and will be release on xx.xx.20xx. As you know I’ve did not study much in the past so this letter was written with the help of my cellmates. I hope you would study hard and not follow in my footsteps.

Do not worry about me as I’m well taken care here. Let my children know and give them my prison cell id, so they can visit me or write to me.

… … …

The letter, was written on a “prison paper” letter format with very neat handwriting. My neighbor, not understanding english and worried something bad had happened, decided to clarify with me.

Fortunately (or maybe not), it turned out the letter was sent to the wrong destination. The block and unit number were correct, but the recipient’s name and street address was wrong, so I suggested returning the mail.

Although this few short minutes was insignificant, it provoked a few thoughts of mine.

1st, it made me realised how personal letters were. Emails are still personal, but perhaps not at the same level as written letters. Perhaps the early believers would have been very encouraged when they received letters John wrote to the church while in prison.

2nd, it shows the prison in another light away from Prison Break and Mal Selamat saga. Its sad if you know if a friend or relative is in prison but jailed time spent would be worth if it is able to change a man’s life, and the lives around the man.

Another little incident that day for thought: While looking at when the rain would stop, a passerby threw the classified section of the newspaper on a bench and walked off hurriedly. An inconsiderate or courteous action? Well, I took that newspaper to shelter my head back home, then dump that into the recycling bin.

Reading Week Updates

Published
by
Zz85-nds
on April 21, 2008
in School and Technology
. 4 Comments

Its now the reading week, and since my polytechnic days, the reading/study week is usually most relaxing to me.

So before the exams start, its time to catch up with some updates.

+ NOC Application got approved
NOC Scholarship Offered
NOC is the opportunity that NUS gives for me to study entrepreneurship modules at Stanford while working me to work at Silicon Valley a startup for a year full time.

The company who offer me the internship position is Copacast, a company with a revolutionary online advertising model. I accepted the job because Copacast’s president Clement was enthusiastic it would be much beneficial to both myself and the company to be an my intern there.

+ CS2250 Video Project
Video Project
The fictional documentry we created.
Cast

+ CS2261 Project
Enterprise Java projects with use of RMI, IIOP, EJB 3.0, Servlets, JSPs, and Message Driven Beans.
First Cruise Enterprise Web App

Uninstall Java EE SDK
And uninstalling Java EE SDK as soon as my assignment presentation was over :p

+ 2 Piano Performances
Piano Teacher and I
Winnie, My Piano Teacher and Me.

+ Piano Exams passed!
Piano Exams Passed

+ Completion of CS3216 Assignments
My Music and Poster
My Music Facebook Project teammates.

My Music
It was a great experience, although at times it drive us all cranky.

As usual, some plans for my “holidays” start even before school term ends. I try again not to over pack myself with activities, and I hope there would be a balance for my schedule.

But right now, I just know I really blessed.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Eventful Weeks

Published
by
Zz85
on March 6, 2008
in School, Thoughts and Updates
. 0 Comments

The past weeks (not over a month) have been pretty eventful (writer’s side-thought: eventful sounds more positive than busy?).

(usual projects, schooling, concerts, performing and weddings… yadayadayada…)

So to shorten, the more important events (to me) are:

  • NOC interview
  • New facebook application: Boombasheep
  • NUSSO Concert: Flame of the Night
  • NUSSO Elections
  • Piano Exams

NOC interview
I’m grateful to be able to attend the 2nd interview. Questions asked were similar to the 1st, but I felt my responses were better during the 1st interview. Still, the interview teaches me lessons and gives me experiences, and the least I tried was to show my determination. Lesson from my dad remains- pray, try my best and expect the least.

Boombasheep
Screenshot
Boombasheep
is the name of the latest facebook application I developed together with Lester Chan, and my Zi han, my OG-mate. The objective of the game is simple and in fact brainless: a bomb is created with a time to explode, and so the parcel gets pass around. The idea came from Chua when we were sharing ideas, then I decided it was feasible. Although it was meant for my 3rd assignment, my personal objectives deviate from the assignment’s, but I believe our team were largely satisfied with the outcome.

Flame in the Night
Mr Lim and Me
Photo with our conductor, Mr Lim
Before this concert was NAF Opening concert, but this concert had the orchestra and committee preparing at least half a year ago. Although some might expected better, it was still a great experience for everyone and myself at YST’s concert hall and comments have been positive. The concert was also reviewed on The Straits Times. A pleasant surprise was I personally didn’t really expect my siblings and friends made out over 10% of the hall’s capacity (thanks for coming!). Photos here.

Elections
I got voted for Welfare Secretary post. Its my wish that I’ll be able to contribute as in the best of my capacity for the best of everyone.

Piano Exams
Something that I wanted to be over and done with since last year, and today’s the day. I feel indebted to many- first to the many friends who often encourage me. Auntie Fong who first persuaded me to take on, and buying the exam book for me, Uncle Yeow Whye, Auntie Alison who sponsored the exams, and recommended my teacher to me, my teacher Ms Winnie for her care and patience in these few quick and brief months, my parents for sponsoring the lessons fees, and my mom especially for encouraging me so much beyonds words and actions. The first piano exam in my life, things feel far from ideal, what only was familiar is the courage had to gut down failures when it comes again: hence preparing the worst is my unwritten plague to try again until success. (However, Auntie Alison cheerful declared my exams pass over the phone :p)

Closing
These are the times, stressful, challenging and trying. I ever thought if I would lose my sanity. Thanks be to God whose grace is sufficient for me. Battles continue with mid-term exams and assignments for the next 4 consecutive days. While the future and the many outcomes lies unknown, trust and hope needs to be learn.