Christmas...Oh Joyous Night

Prior to Christmas, I had spent a glorious week in Bali....soaking in the sun and getting all red like a lobster. The weather there was HOT!!! I was drenched in perspiration wherever I went, and felt really dehydrated despite drinking large quantities of water like a camel. The entire experience was good, though slightly marred by the fact that we were swindled twice by money changers. Like what Ben said, shame on you if you fool me once, but shame on me if you fool me twice.

However, the trip was enough to re-charge my batteries for work. I even went direct to the office from the airport. And this was to tie up work issues before the party atmosphere of Christmas descended upon us. And indeed, what a Christmas this has been.

2006 will always be remembered as the year that Christmas came early for me. I had earnestly 'appealed' to the pastors in charge of the kids ministry at my church for a boy to be placed into my group when they move up into P4 next year. My prayers were answered.......my request was granted. I was prepared that the appeal will not be successful, but lo and behold, it came to pass. I was totally delighted with the latest arrangement. I was also rather stunned when I got Christmas presents from the boys. It's heart-warming to know that my efforts with them have not been in vain, and that I have managed to 'win' them over. It's not so much the monetary value of the gift, but the thought that counts, cliched and trite as this may sound.

And the countdown to 2007 begins....12 days of Christmas?

Contiki Bali

Today's the third and second last day of my trip to Bali. This trip was good...but of course laced with the undertone of some frustration. How so? The naivete in me chose to believe in the honesty of people here. Frankly, with their ready smiles and seeming friendliness, it seemed to bode well for a vacation.

Well, the truth is, we got conned by the 'sleazy' money changers here. Although we had watched them like hawks while they were changing our cash, when we recount the money back in the room, we always end up short. Some expert sleight of hand they must have practiced. This really marred the enjoyment of the trip here. Had I known earlier that all items here can be paid in the domestic currency of rupiah, I would have brought all in rupiah, rather than the greenbeck.

Heading back home tomorrow. Oh well.

Thanksgiving

I know, the title of this entry sounds way too late, as in the American tradition of Thanksgiving took place a few weeks ago. Here in the li'l red dot of an island I call home, Thanksgiving is not a holiday that is celebrated.

Anyway, this entry had more to do with giving thanks to God. 2 - 3 weeks ago, I was prompted to undertake a fast, as I hungered for a spiritual breakthrough among the boys I was teaching in Sunday school. One of them, J, is no longer 'averse' about going for Encounter - a church camp conducted over the course of the weekend for believers to be ingrained with the word of God and to experience Him. Meanwhile, I had also prayed while fasting that L will get into Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) for the Gifted Education Programme (GEP). Previously I had prayed that he'd be able to get into the GEP. This time around, it was to pray he'd land a place in ACS. I was convicted that God would answer my prayers. But when I heard L got posted to another school with the GEP programme instead, I was disappointed but thought perhaps He has better plans.

Then last week, L's mom rang me in the middle of the day while I was in the office. L told me himself that he had managed to succeed in his appeal to ACS. Praise God!!! I was ecstatic and totally elated for him.

On another note, this week had been a struggle......work wise. Struggling to submit to a manager whom I was reporting to. Why? She had seemed supportive of my request to switch portfolio at work, but yet she is not releasing me to the new portfolio. Her reason? My replacement has yet to report for work. I was disappointed with her, and things got to a head when she swept into the office on Thursday and called for a team meeting (with my ex-team) and told us off. I felt the things she said were uncalled for, and really felt so pissed off with her that I made it clear and obvious to her. Somehow I realise I have lost all respect for her. In my fury, I even wanted to go talk to HR about it. But I resisted, and decided that I can choose to be professional about it although I have lost all respect for her. God placed people above us for a reason, and I know there is a lesson to be learnt in this trial.

Hanging in there, and trying to be edifying in my actions and thoughts...