The Shack

I've been given this book by a dear friend to read, after I got home from my asian trip. I cannot remember the last time I had a christian book in my hands. I was rather complacent in wanting to read the book at first. After reading through it, this book has been such an inspiration to me. The first 3 to 4 chapters consists of passages are rather difficult to comprehend and you start to wonder if that is really worthwhile reading it, but until you get past those chapters, you are not able to comprehend the scene that the author is trying to set you into. I could not put the book down and I have to say that it is worthwhile reading The Shack.
It has given me a new prespective of how creative this author illustrates the relationship of the Trinity and why tragedies happens in our lives. There are so many heart felt conversation that dive right into your heart and soul in this book. I had to take occasional break to take it all in at once.

Here are some review to the book:
When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of The Shack. This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!
Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus Of Spiritual Theology,Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.

Do you ever stand by the ocean, just close your eyes and breath deeply, filling your lungs with purity? That’s what The Shack is like. I’ve filled my lungs with clean, fresh air, after choking on the stifling smog of religiosity. At times I had tears in my eyes, and others I was laughing out loud.
Dale Bruneski, corrections counselor (Canada)

Small beginings in the family business

As you can see, Andrew's small beginnings in our family business. He is so keen to learn new things and love cooking too. He is being taught by his dad.

In this video, you see my mum training him up to fry his own noodles.... one has to work hard for a bowl of rice ;-)

My time in Chiang Mai

Here are some pictures of my teacher training in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Some of the photos taken in classroom and with a few with my adult students. I have taught intermediate and elementary students in this school resort. It is a great place to learn and in the evening, the students arrive at the resort to study english. Exciting time of my life.

Home .... back to the roots

At last, I can find time to update my blogs. I really miss keeping in touch with all of you and just wanting to inform you what has been going on in my life. The asian trip has been such a fruitful and educational trip for me. Just being there and to experience the hands of God on my life has been such a life changing experience for me.I have been transported and moved into one wild ride and been finding that changes has been taking place in all facets of my life. Praise God.
There has been moments I felt like a total stranger in a strange country, speaking their language and communicating to be understood. It is quite a challange especially when I have not been expose to the thai language in this measure before. But I was able to speak survival Thai to mingle along and to be a part of them and their lifestyle.

So I finally finish my teacher's training course and am waiting for my results. It has been a tough 4 week of such intensity, it is hard to describe. CELTA is a teaching certificate to enable me to be a certified teacher to teach english worldwide to Adults. It is Cambridge certified and there fore holds a prestige level in the teaching world. I am so proud of myself that I am able to finish the teaching course,which consisted of teaching practice to adults. So my students were thai adults ranging from elementary to intermediate level. It was a roller coaster ride and indeed a hair raising experience, but it has been such an enriching experience and a desicion I will never regreat making. 4 weeks of diving into the world of education, lesson planning, preparing exercises, feedback session, input sessions, writing assignments, students,other teacher trainee from all walks of life, coming together to attain this prestige certification.
We live on site and therefore had 24 hours access to the resources and computer room. My world consisted of books, students and much planning, not to mention the stress of giving in your assignments on time, being punctual for input classes and feedback session. Getting ready to teach for the first time is very very nerve racking experience for me as I stand before a classroom and all eyes are on me, including your tutor who will be grading you on your classroom management and how you deliver a 40 minutes lesson. My collegues also observe me and gives me their feedback on my teaching.
Living together with other teacher trainee has been interesting, many are in their mid twenties, thirties, some in their fourties. Some had never taught before, and some has been teaching for some years and does not have the same fear of being a first time teacher. I have been expose to the teaching world and interesting stories of how other schools and students in the world are and how teaching in a foreign country can be scarry yet rewarding, esp in south east asia to teach and travel.