Photos of Newcastle, Australia

Beginning to really feel at home in
this wonderful place- the pace is really 'relaxed' and the weather (atm) is wonderful- sunny and breezy....




all these beaches are within walking distance, spread out with its sandy beaches and also walking path that leads up to Kings' Park where you can see some breath-taking views of the ocean




so you have the Nobbys beach, where there are many para-sailing on surf boards- wow! wish I could do that....



there's this Ocean Baths- where there's an outdoor swimming pool which you can swim in only when the tide is in...









the Newcastle Beach has surfers dudes and many bathers- temperature of the water is below 20 degree in the evening- and yeah water is really salty but clear...










This is the walking path at the harbour front- the Foreshore- it reminds me a lot of the Quarry Bay near Tai koo Shing in Hong Kong.... there are some good restaurants here too... on weekend nites- you have many people partying...



The Uni Hub in the City- the place where I do all these... thank God for this place- my lifeline to the outside world in terms of communications..heheehe...


some of the older buildings in the city of Newcastle main street- dating 1855.... mixture of old and new but no sky scrapers....

Memory Lane

One month has since passed.... where did the time go?? you can hold on to many things but time is one thing you just need to let it slip pass I guess... after the initial rush and settling of things- I guess other things are settling in as well and I am allowing my mind to be nostalgic and be free to flow to forbidden areas nowadays...

I am beginning to feel a little 'homesick'- not really the physical or logistic aspects like Malaysian air or soil but rather the people I have left behind, the relationships and the bridges I have built.. the many laughters and smiles, even the tears and pain , the long talks and the long walks.... the many words of wisdom and encouragement, the prayers and concerns shown....irreplaceable!


Pastor Julie - always been my 'unofficial shelter and shepherd'...always there to pray for my family and I




farewell lunch with the vision of a sunflower and morning glory for the big one... rose and lily for the small one and a deep well for me...

the Taman Midah cell.. 'long but not lost' family who cared and been a strong foundation when I first launched out into building relationship.... just proving that distance does not really matter - such fine and wonderful brothers and sisters who took care of me even after so many years...





The many wonderful and great experiences being given the opportunity to work under these anointed pastors who flow with the power and the Spirit of the Lord... PKS and PLKM



I miss 'slow cooking porridge sessions through the phone' ... have much over due quota for speech outstanding... hahahaha!!

All In My Mayang Jaya Cell Family

It is so wonderful, and utterly amazing to be able to have family members.... I am so happy and so honoured to have a new extended family into which I am 'adopted' .... In the year 2008, I acquired a new family in the Mayang Jaya Cell... Wow! and double Wow!

I will always remember the initial 'toiling and plowing', but most importantly I will always treasure the support and the ' patient endurance' being gracefully extended to me... the first CNY meeting in 2008, the sweat and energy shown during our Philea Homes visitation, the LIITA and yesterday, the wonderful sumptuous meal that we had together... Not to mention all the Fridays that we have had- thank you for coming so faithfully despite your hectic schedules, thank you for listening and participating, thank you for the encouragement each week... these will become very precious moments stored in my heart....

In all good things , there are some regrets too...

Well I guess, at this moment, my regret is that, I'm to be on the go just as I am beginning to be accepted and bond with this new family of mine ;o( ... I can most assuredly say that, each has impacted my life one way or the other... it has been a great year and I dare say that I have definitely 'grown' in this family... anything and everything that draws me closer and nearer to my Lord, I consider as gems and treasures and I truly thank each and everyone for 'imparting and releasing these blessings into my life in this short span of time that our paths have crossed...

Hahaha!! Of course not everything is a bed of roses- but still grateful even for ' emo times' I have gone through- my desire is that as each day, each week, each month and each year passes by, we can walk 'hand in hand' and grow closer to Him, bringing a smile to our Father's face....!!!... We are all related to this wonderful big family bec we have the same ABBA !!! Let us therefore cheer each other on....

It has never been easy for me to form relationships bec I am an introvert and to add on to it I have a "too serious default outlook" , lol !! , but thank you so much for those who have opened up and those who have shared their joy and pain with me , for those who have offered me their ears and shoulders to 'rest and lean on'... even for those smiles and greetings and most treasured are the prayers offered for my family and I- *big THANK YOU to you*- and I appreciate each and everyone very much... to be accepted is never an obligation that one can demand for bec it is totally 'free willed'- I understand this perfectly well... I know I have my rough edges, { lol in fact many of them! but He is slowly but surely molding and polishing :o) } .... that's why I really am grateful for the support and the grace extended and I know, many times - mercy instead of judgment, shown and exercised over me.... wah! thank God for His love that covers multitude of sins....




Thank you dear brothers and sisters for walking this path with me for this season of time, thank you for impacting me, each in your own special way, both big and small... I don't think my appreciation can be expressed in my limited usage of words ... the brothers and sisters who have stretched, expanded and added into my life....

SL-thank you for being the faithful 'mother' all this time
ML- thank you for your patience n endurance
KY- thank you for being the 'tai ko'- being present or in your absence
AK- thank you for your faithfulness and frankness
MC-thank you for always being 'on call'
AF-thank you for your help and affirmation
GK-thank you for your sweet and gentle spirit
NC-thank you for rising up and the time shared
JT-thank you for making time n effort and your support
EO-thank you for being matter of fact and efficient
AC-thank you for adding spice and whole hearted support at all functions
DC-thank you for your constant support despite the constraint to come
DL-thank you for spontaneity and support..keep up the zeal for Him!
SL-thank you for sharing and your trust
CC-thank you for your willingness and enthusiasm
Agi-thank you for your kindness and generosity
LT-thank you for refreshing us to be 'child-like in Christ'
PW-thank you for being teachable but u are surely missed on Fridays
SC-thank you for being a part of the cell and I pray for you to join our family in Christ!

Please do extend further grace and also forgiveness to me if I have stepped on your toes or have offended you in any way....' and hope you would keep in touch with me too....

God is Good and He has sent each of you into my path and you all have indeed been a blessing to me.... !!!

Aaron, Hur n Si fu !

What defines a fine dinner? Is it the food, the ambience or the company? What if all the three factors were present- does that constitute a "perfect dinner"?

Was so privileged to be invited for a home cooked dinner and ate in the midst of my 'Aaron, Hur and Si fu !!!'... looking at each individually, I am so thankful to God for sending them along my path to mould, strengthen and mentor me these years... to be counted as a friend and sister to them is indeed an 'honour and privilege for me'.....

God is really good to me and in the process of my walk, especially when I am going through the 'trying and stretching path', He sends me Aaron and Hur to hold me up and walk through with me ; picking me up , brushing and polishing me , lending me their shoulders to lean on and even to cry on ... the support , care and love poured unto me is truly from God and I am grateful for their unceasing encouragements, advice and their helping hands... especially thankful for their acceptance and patience when I was 'hard of hearing' or 'unlawfully knocking down walls', also 'suffering my wrath" and pulling me back.... for adding flavours and colours into me....



The saying goes that ....the land is first to be plowed , the ground tendered and prepared before seeds can be scattered to grow and bear fruit...It requires a very patient and conscientious gardener to water, prune and grow the plant... never giving up but continuing to pour in and to anticipate with great expectations to see the fruit...
Again through His grace and mercy, He sent me 'si-fus' who have so selflessly poured out and imparted- teaching me so much, showing me so much, giving me OJT n DIY sessions, grooming me, trimming me in various aspects- praying for me, nudging me, cheering me on....indeed how blessed am I for these wonderful and God sent 'si-fus' who have invested much in growing and building me up! The many priceless tips and cues, the many books n materials, the many many training and development sessions given me..... how else can I say this ...hmm ! They have truly added spice and aroma into my life....

Be Fruitful. Multiply. Subdue and Fill the Earth.

The Mission Convention (16th-18th Jan) speaker, Rev Dikran from Jordan is really good - he highlighted that God has a purpose in everything that He does and this purpose will be established despite circumstances, whether it is 'embraced' or through 'reluctance'... He said that we are created in His image for the purpose to ' be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth' but men so enjoyed His presence that we erected the tower of Babel ('bab'- also means 'door to' and 'el' means God) to be in God's presence -like most pentecostals- the oohs and aahs about the feeling in God's presence etc etc {and the speaker likens us to a 'kebab' turning and turning in the roasting fire and feeling good but slowly eating into itself...}so the people refused to be scattered (as opposed to God's will in order to "fill the earth) and built babel instead, but God intercepted, confused their tongues and dispersed them...
He also gave an example that when a couple married and after some months, the rest of the relatives will be anxious and will ask 'when is it coming? meaning when will a baby be born ' because through that intimacy, a fruit is to be produced- so if we have these experiences and intimacy with the Lord, then where is the fruit that we bear??... meaning no excuse not to live a fruitful life- bearing and showing the expected fruit... the check point then is , if you say you are intimate with God yet there's no evidence of any fruit, then he will doubt your true intimacy with God.... ( I think this will silence many who 'propagate about just soaking in His presence yet opposing those who are doing... we are each to take a personal acid test on this area of obedience )

He highlighted another fact that after the flood, Noah and his ki ( the only ones who survived the flood which had wiped out the entire face of the earth) were again commanded to 'be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth' ... there is such a significance when he emphasised this point and let our ears be opened to hear what God has intended for us is to fulfill His purpose for us- the essence of our lving..!!

Into the NT, the believers were commanded to 'go into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and unto the utmost parts of the earth... but they got complacent and just stayed in their comfort zones. The result was that persecution came and they were dispersed, and the gospel spread nevertheless... so he said if you don't do Acts 1:8 then Acts 8:1 will come upon you..

Precious Sisters !!

Farewell lunch... not sure how I should feel about it especially when I am the one who will be leaving, I guess...

This luncheon is however very significant and this group of precious sisters are from the days of my 'humble beginnings' in my walk and progress in GT.... there were new ones added in the team that has blessed me along the way but saying goodbye to those who have stood by me through my trials and hard times, who have cried and laughed with me, who have rebuked, admonished and built me up, who have cheered me on-(wow!) I guess no words can ever describe how blessed I am to be placed along side these strong powerful praying women of God , these strong Godly counsels , these women of faith and these precious vessels of God who radiate the presence of God and these intercessors who desire nothing less than the heartbeat of God in the presence of God.... All glory to God!! and how God is always waiting and bring us into His presence each Monday and I mean each time we meet on Mondays...how God uses each to mould and to sharpen yours truly.....

I've lost count of the number of years since I joined the Monday group but I will always remember the first few times I went ( was it after Y2K???? can't really recall the year)- not knowing 'anything, not hearing not seeing etc etc' and looking back, I am so happy to say I have grown so much and intend to grow more each day in HIM..alleluia!! There was this presence of God that has drawn me to go each week despite the traffic jams and all the what nots... the best group I have ever belonged to... my 'watering hole'- I received so much and am so grateful to God who has placed me there..

These are the people whom I have learnt so much from... there isn't much restraint or pretense because we will just enter into prayers and intercessions.... not even looking at each other...I will always remember those times when the Lord came and filled us up , refreshing us and strengthening and speaking His Word of Life through words of prophecies, the many visions He has enabled our eyes to behold, of His glory and His majesty... also those times where tears will just flow freely and hearts broken when we cried and interceded and prayed for many many things who have been heavy in our spirit and how we saw the LORD answering the prayers right before our eyes... oh!! those glorious moments when He revealed that He is always in control... the Lord of the Universe, my Lord and my Master...

There were just so many wonderful testimonies from and through each of our lives... how we have all grown and how the Lord led our team ... remarkable and awesome!!! Each of us, I would dare attest to, has certainly grown a step at a time, a level at a time and eventho' each were blessed with different gifts, and functioned differently, we are one in His Body and served with one purpose and that is a Wow Factor....!!

It surely wasn't a 'happy-go-lucky' journey at all ; quite the opposite. in fact it has been 'hard, trying and stretching' as we witnessed each other being 'moulded and pruned' by a very 'steady Gardener', as we 'struggled and shadow boxed...' but the 'outcome' after the 'polishing' displayed the 'radiance and the shine' of the Potter's handiwork and just when you think you are done, another session begins.... surprised??... well you should not be because we are all work in progress afterall- there are definite stages and levels in our lives where we are meant to be moulded and then elevated to... As I will always say ,"....the faster you die to self, the faster you will be resurrected- cease struggling and just surrender because the One that has started a good work in me, He will bring it into completion and His Purpose for me will be established... does it mean I have made it there already? of course not... it just means that I have got a step closer.

Still, WIP (Work in progress) ^^

The Merlion got smaller...

3 days and we were in and out of Singapore.

One of the places we stopped by to visit (The Merlion Park)

Seriously can't believe that we have left the country for almost 11 years ... for the girls it has been such a long time- barely can they remember living there for 6years more than a decade ago....

Gotta love the cool island breeze!

We went on a marathon walking spree and covered many areas and I must say that: "boy, was I tired!" and my bones need some resting despite having some pre warm up sessions at Bukit Kiara and also Bukit Gasing...

I find it so amusing to hear Nerissa commenting that the Merlion was so small.... well the logical explanation is that she has grown as the last time she took pictures with the Merlion must have been when she was 4 years old???

Small wonder that the Merlion 'got smaller' really...:o)

Us (and the Merlion that got smaller) in Singapore

This time round, many memories flooded my mind- good and sweet memories of the good old days- how we would go to Marina Square and then to meet up with SR at the then Suntec Project site, how I would push the pram and "comb" Orchard Road walking from Tangs to Robinsons and always sneaking into Takashimaya along the way (the 'in place' then)...

The fountain of wealth at Suntec City.
(SR was the project overseer of SC. i.e. his "baby")

Well, this time, I was quite impressed with the Esplanade, and also enjoyed walking endlessly underground (I mean walking the City Link, literally linking all the major areas like Raffles Place, Marina Square, Esplanade and Suntec City)- all in the comfort of an air conditioned environment and window shopping, and more window shopping all the way- guess there's where the term 'shop till you drop came about, until I have exclaimed to the girls that I can't make it any more....but my 'hard walk-out' was rewarded with those lovely hawker food that I missed so much, you know the totally Singaporean flavoured chao-guo-teow- the sweet one!!, the dry mee pok-with vinegar n cili sauce , rojak, pan mien and the newest in town apparently the beef ta-tou mien( big-knived mee) really yummy!!... and also the Burger King's turkey-bacon burger (have always wondered why we don't get the bacon burger in Malaysian outlet)...

Nerissa posing with her shopping at the underground CityLink

Well as for Vivo City and the Harbourfront - looking across and seeing Sentosa Island with the cable car also brought back many memories but we didn't attempt to go over , so we again did our walking round the Vivo City while waiting for the Aeroline back..

It was "bye bye" to Singapore

That concluded our journey... am glad that we were able to say "bye bye", to Singapore who has hosted us, during the wonderful 6 years we called her our home, a decade ago..