Gold Coast - Met with Siang

I departed from Adelaide at 5.30pm for a 56 minutes journey to Melbourne for transit to Gold Coast (2 hours flight). Because of 1/2 hour time different between Adelaide n Gold Coast, I arrived at Coolangatta airport at 10pm. I had to wait for 30 minute for Gemmy (one of Hope London student who is on 6 months student exchange at Sydney) to arrive. Nevertheless, Siang arrived at 10.30pm as well to fetch both of us! It was for almost 3 years that I did not see him and certainly I was really glad n happy! :D So, we were settled down at the brother's ministry house and sister's ministry house.

This is VirginBlue plane ... the yellow luggage is mine :D
The house Siang stays in is really big! I am really jealous, coz of the rent he pays, I can only afford a tiny box-sized room in London. He has big living room, big kitchen + dining hall, big backyard, big rooms (5 housemates).

Exterior of Siang's house - sharing with 4 other people. The Toyata Camry on the left is his.

Siang's bedroom - he sleeps on top of the bunk while I sleep on the airbed on the floor. The super big dining hall + kitchen

The next morning, Siang brought me to Australia Fair shopping centre to have breakfast. He had a day off because today was Jocelyn's birthday (my another potential future sister-in-law). He let me used his Toyata Camry for my stay in Gold Coast (so blessed) while he will used Jocelyn's for today.

Siang, Jocelyn and me

Adelaide - Monday

Spent the morning resting at home. Phin came back around 12.30pm from the hospital and then brought me to Cleveland Wildlife Park - to see kangaroos and koala bears! I was very very excited, coz the last time i saw one was 16 years ago! :D

The first batch of kangaroos we saw - we were scared; scare that they will attack us :P
But they are very tamed - felt very ticklish when the kangaroo ate from my palm
Phin was feeding these 3 kangaroos - they were quite greedy
Me and Phin with Hank the Koala! :D

2007 04 16 - Adelaide - Cleveland Wildlife Park

(Click on the photo for the uploaded photos and video of this visit)

Adelaide - Sunday

Full day at church today! I went to church at 10am ... which is the usual I go to church in Hope London. Service started at 10.30am. Had great praise and worship - especially glad to see Phin was playing the acoustic guitar. He's one of the worship leader in church as well. Then I was given 2 minutes to share a short testimony - i think i did not share well coz i was not compose (it was quite sudden I've been asked to share). Nevertheless, I sent my regards on behalf of Hope UK to the church - exclaiming that we are in the same family - all Hope family have the same spirit and same vision! :D

Ps. Simon preached a great sermon about Paul: An Excellent Volunteer based on Acts 20:17-24. Paul led a radical lifestyle (v18) - he was a tent-maker and was willing to sacrifice all he had. He also possessed the right heart attitudes (v19) - great humility, love and compassion, as well as high perseverance. He fed the Word of God faithfully (v20) - he was eager to preach and to teach, publicly and in homes. He served all nationalities / communities (v21). He was guided by the Holy Spirit (v22-23). Lastly, he completed the race (v24). I wish all my people can hear this powerful message - surely inspiring! I responded to God again and agaiN! After the service, we had lunch in the church, which was prepared by CG (take turn).

After lunch, Ps. Simon met with all those committed people (leaders and visitors) to share about the Core Value of Hope Movement. Again, I was being reminded about what Hope movement is all about! After this sharing, Ps. Simon met with the leaders to continue teaching on the 2nd part of Renewing Vision and Fervour. It lasted until 6.30pm ... and i really thank God for such timely arrangement I'm here in Hope Adelaide to be ministered and challenged!

Went to dinner at a chinese restaurant .... Ps. Simon started sharing again and giving pointers and advices to the leaders about church life! I'm one blessed man!! :D I was so overjoyed in my spirit, listening and learning from this man of God! It went on until 9pm when I needed to leave with Phin.

Phin later fetched Meng Hui (a sister from JB, now doing a double degree in law and accounting, n possibly my future sister-in-law ... Oppss) to have supper with me! Fired up by the vision, I started sharing and challenging them! They might be thinking I was challenging them ... at the same time, i was challenging myself again! There are so many things that I feel like I need to do ... but i'll continue to seek God and committ all these into His hands!

God, here am I, use me!!

Ps. Brandan, Ps. Simon and me after the service

Ps. Brandan celebrating his 45th birthday (he's very funny all the time) Phin, me and Ching .... i'm the shortest! :P

Adelaide - Saturday

As mentioned, I'm busier here in Hope Adelaide than I was in Hope London for the weekend. Ps. Simon is here to encouraged and challenged the church - and I am being encouraged too.

We had a time of worship and prophesy. And then Ps. Simon shared from Genesis 18:16-33 about how Abraham pleaded 7 times to God for Sodom and Gomorrah. In order to have a powerful and effective prayer (James 5:16), it's important for us to have the right life quality; pray with right interest, right approach and right temperament! It's so inspiring ... inspire me to committ myself in prayer for the nation! I'm really challenged to pray until I weep for London, coz of the compassion and the love for the nation and city! Gee... i've got so much to share! :P

After lunch, Phin brought me, Ps. Simon and Arthur (a young Uganda brother who is so on fire for God) to Glenelg. I really enjoyed the time spent with Ps. Simon n Phin.

We went for street evangelism. Really encouraged by Ps. Brandon, he actually played the guitar and sang on Rundell Mall (equivalent to Oxford St. in London) and we'll be sharing gospel to the passerbys. Thank God for the 'training' I had with Peter Truong, sharing gospel was not as difficult! I was even more excited because one of the brother who was there, did not dare to share; i simply told him that 'it's all about Jesus, not about us!' .. and praise God, he started to share fervently! His leaders was amazed how this brother really took up the courage to share! Hallelujah! Ps. Simon shared as well :D

In the end, had dinner at Dumpling House again, with Ps. Simon n Ben. No photos this time ... but we ate 30 dumplings and 1 bowl of noodles! I tell you ... i'm soooo full! :D

Ps. Simon teaching at the leader's training. He is still very 'active' and 'comical' :D

Phin, Ps. Simon and Arthur and Glenelg
Me and Ps. Simon
Phin 'basking' at Rundell Mall - street evangelism

Meeting with Ps. Simon n Ps. Brandon

I thought my visit to Adelaide will be a casual one ... touring and having meals with my brothers! God has better plan .... Ps. Simon is here ministering to Hope Adelaide! I was here a day earlier than Ps. Simon and we will be leaving on the same day! A day earlier - so that I can make a brief tour to various attractions!

Me n Phin went to Ps. Brandon's house to meet with the leadership team of Hope Adelaide and Ps. Simon. Really glad that I'm in Hope family because all of us click immediately because we share the same vision and same spirit! Glad to see Paul (who visited Hope London in 2003), Alison (Connie's best friend), Helen (pastor's wife), Dr. Eddy, Joe, Ben, Andy, Alan .... etc. We had wonderful 'chicken-themed' dinner - it was potbless dinner but such was the coincidence that everyone prepare chicken dishes.

We had worship and Nic led. It was really awesome! Then Ps. Simon taught a lesson on "Renewing Vision and Fervour". My prayer for my trip this time is to renew my vision and God is good - immediately I has the opportunity to listen to the man who envisioned me, right from the beginning! He shared on Isaiah 40:28-31 about how we can depend on God and not grow weary, shared about how we can be refreshed in vision through reminding ourselves and live out the vision. I am one blessed guy!

Today, there will be another 3 hours training session, followed by lunch fellowship. After that will be the street evangelism at the high street! Tomorow will be a full day of Sunday program! Hahaha ... no different when I'm in London - weekend is dedicated for God as well! God is good!

By the way - Phin went to work at 5.45am as milkman every Saturday! He slept maximum 6 hours a day everyday - such is a life of a medic student who is fervently serving God in Adelaide! :D