Tag: thoughts

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Overwhelmed…

That’s how i am feeling at the moment…

My poor husband has been unwell since November last year. He had Legionnaires Disease, recovered slightly but continued to feel terrible. After multiple visits to the doctor, he was finally diagnosed with Hyperthyroid. We were relieved, it is a well-documented and treatable condition. Now he is suffering from pains in both arms and legs. After a trip to the ER, a late night call to our family doctor, and an appointment today, it was concluded that the pains are a side effect of the thyroid meds. But it is still not getting better – sigh! – yet…

We can’t seem to catch a break with these health issues. We are also dealing with other issues which i am not ready to share. But it has indeed been one thing after another, all while trying to keep daily life on track.

A dear friend sent me this video to encourage me (Thank you my dear!):

It is a beautiful song. i have had dark times in my life before and focusing on the Lord always made it better and again it has worked.

But still it is human nature to ask, “Why Lord? Why?”.

Then i am reminded of this blog-post i read some time ago – God will give you more than you can handle: i guarantee it.

“…Actually, when I realized the simple fact that God can–and will–give us more than we can possibly bear, it got easier…”

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me…for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28-30)

“…in that one verse he simply states the reason why we are given more than we can handle: It’s so we can come to him. It’s so we can trust him enough to hand over our heavy, crippling burdens and let him carry the load…”

What she says in there is so so true and really lifts my spirit. Because i don’t have to be strong all by myself. i can lean on God’s strength. i don’t have to be brave all by myself. Jesus is with me always. i don’t have to figure out what to do all by myself. The Holy Spirit is here to lead me.

i can, and i pray i will, come to my Lord and give Him all my cares and i will bless His Name… because…

“…he’s the only one who can make it bearable when life is simply anything but.”

Amen.

i thank God for dear brothers- and sisters-in-Christ who stand by me in prayers and in spirit.

syc

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Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014…

Today is the last day of 2013! Thank you for reading and being with us in spirit through 2013.

So here’s our annual summary of the year for us (our Christmas letter)… click on the links to see specific posts about specific events!

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HiHi

How are you? We hope this finds you well and enjoying this Christmas season with family and friends, remembering that it is the Christ who has made celebrating Christmas possible.

 2013 has been a year of stepping up to changes.

 Sandra is into her second year of advocating and fundraising for special needs orphans. Many of you who are FB friends with her or read our blog would already have heard much about this ministry. Well, the Lord has given her a more focussed area to pray for and work with; Asia. She has been helping to highlight families who are adopting from Asia as well as Asian special needs orphans. This year also saw the first 2 orphans she prayed and advocated for home with forever families and it truly warms the heart and spurs her on to continue, even though there are times when it seems her efforts has made little difference but the Lord knows and the Lord works in His time and in His ways.

 She is no longer involved with Day Association for Women as a team member because the Bern team closed this Spring. But she stayed on as a web content update person for the association in general. The weekly BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) in Bern has also closed this June.

 Both of which has opened the door and freed up time to pursue yet another orphan related project. Sandra is setting up a social enterprise, selling handmade crafts where 50% of the sale price would go to special needs orphans. The hope is to have the online shop open in early 2014. So stay tune for that news!

 Tobias is in the 3rd grade this school year. He has more time in school now, 5 mornings and 3 afternoons. It also means that the work has become more challenging but he still enjoys school and looks forward to going each day.

 He continues going for Judo trainings on Mondays with his best friend. And recently took part in his 2nd internal competition. This year there were much tougher opponents, although fewer of them. He still managed a 3rd place and we are very proud of him.

 His passion for playing the violin has grown and this year he has been motivated to try songs he has heard, either on the radio or on YouTube. So Sandra spends a fair amount of time searching for scores to certain songs for him to play. They both played in a Christmas recital recently and their teacher has a few more concerts planned in the next few months.

 Walter has had to travel quite a lot this year and mostly to different parts in Africa. He came back in November and fell really sick. We thank God that he made a fairly quick recovery after a week of being ill. Just in time to make the trip back to Singapore in the first week of December to help his parents move into a smaller flat. And of course, when he is here, he continues to lead worship at church.

Travels for us this year consist of the usual; our trip to Singapore to see family and friends and enjoy food we miss so much, and our ski trips – this year we did 2 trips instead of 1 week-long one. Which was great as we got to see / experience a new place – Saanenmoser and enjoy an old favourite, Wengen.

We did not do a farmstay this year but did a number of day trips instead during the Autumn school holidays (Week01, Week02, Week03), this enabled Walter to join us on at least one occasion which is great!

 Last year we related the sad news that we lost one of our Gerbils, Nox and this year Puddles passed away (likely of old age issues) early November. We were much sadden and had considered for a while whether or not we would have more pets.

 We very recently decided, after much persuasion by Tobias, that we would but because of some strict rules here, we found out that actually the cage we have was a bit small for Gerbils and so took a recommendation to adopt some little mice instead. So we welcome Patch, Patches, Ruby and Sam into our home.

Us having fun at the Singapore Discovery Center in July 2013.
Us having fun at the Singapore Discovery Center in July 2013.

Well, that wraps up 2013 for us.

How was the year for you? Do write and let us know.

 Wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a Fulfilling 2014,

 With love,

walter, sandra and tobias

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As i look forward to 2014, i’m excited to see how the hopes planted in 2013 will come to fruition in 2014.

Hoping that 2014 will be a year filled with much hope and fulfillment!

syc

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There IS Still Good In This World…

… i want to believe that… i have to believe that… i need to believe that…

because yesterday i saw this video and this morning i read this news article (yes, it’s from May 2013 but still relevant).

Please read at least the article before reading the rest of my post… be warned the video is so very heartbreaking, no one i know personally has watched it till the end. i could only watch 30 seconds of it!

My heart is once again broken and my tears have not stopped and my spirit is so sad i’m not sure i know how to face Christmas this year, now that i know about this.

i mean, i have heard about the abuse these precious children suffer but to see it… i have no words…

My first instinct upon seeing that video is that the woman in the video and others like her are downright evil and should be given a taste of their own medicine. Then another advocate told me that woman is actually also an abused orphan herself. And then i read the article. It is just such a sad sad sad situation; a vivacious cycle which hurts everyone involved and can only be stopped by others; people from the outside, by responsible government and law, by love!

This is just one orphanage. There are many more like that BUT… of course there are also good orphanages with very caring helpers /carers but in countries where the label of orphan means you are worthless, these good places are too few.

i cry to the Lord about these children and tell Him how i feel about the abuser woman. The Lord tells me to pray for that woman; for her heart to be changed, for love to grow in her, for her to turn 180 and become a champion for these orphans. Is it possible? Not by human powers, ONLY GOD can do this. So i pray, with a heavy heart, i pray for these precious ones and that woman.

This morning, the Lord also told me that Spring will come.

How is that related to these orphans?

Well, we have been under a thick constant fog for 2.5 weeks now and it’s depressing. But in the midst of it, the Lord has shown me beauty.

The buds hang on even in the bitter cold, even when ice covers them. Even the ice itself has a certain beauty.
The buds hang on in the bitter cold, even when ice covers them. Even the ice itself has a certain beauty.

And the Lord says, the ice and snow will melt and the plants will bring flowers and fruit again.

So the Lord is telling me to hold on, stay the course, stay strong. He will hold on to these precious ones and there will be hope cos there is still good in this world.

And i believe it. i have to, i need to… otherwise… the alternative simply can not be…

So believe with me… and pray for these precious children, share their story, they need the world to know about them and care for them and do something to help them.

The little something i do for these orphans is to shout out for them, especially for the ones with special needs who are even more at risk of abuse. i know i can not help every single one but if even a few come to know love, my small part is done. It takes lots of small parts to form a whole. Would you be a small part too?

This Christmas my efforts include helping Jasper (Asia) to get as much exposure as possible and to increase his adoption grant by US$1000 by year’s end (we are US$644.40 from our goal at the moment). Here and here are my 2 current events for Jasper. Please do take part and share them with your friends and family. Thank you.

syc