First 2 Weeks of Jan 2008

I have already attended 2 live Arsenal matches at Emirates Stadium - and i'm going to probably another 2 matches in February: Arsenal vs Blackburn (11 Feb) and hopefully Arsenal vs AC Milan (24 Feb). The Arsenal vs AC Milan one is a CL match, so prayerfully I can get a ticket! Oh yea, the Blackburn's match, i'll be seating at the 2nd row behind the goal! Hopefully able to take some good photos of the players as wel as catch some balls! :D

I've already blogged about the West Ham match - so i won't bored you all with that! I went to a even better match on 12 Jan - Arsenal vs Birmingham. The result was 1-1 :P I totally enjoyed the experience this time - even though we drew with a weak team - but the atmosphere in the stadium was really 'great', especially in the 2nd half after Birmingham scored the equaliser. As the gunners were pushing for a winner, the Blues defense hold on. The fans were getting so nervous and frustrated that every actions that Blue players and the referee that caused the game to stop - they jeered at them. It was done in 'unison'! I couldn't help but getting nervous as well, particularly during the last 10 minutes! It was sooo exciting! In the end, although the result was disappointing with a draw, i truly enjoyed the experience!

Emirates Stadium

A sell-out match at Emirates Stadium Players shaking hands before the official kick-off

I was so busy yesterday (16 Jan), sorting out the new church van (2nd hand)! A bigger van - with altogether 6 seats! Finally, after few months of lobbying and requesting - Pom, Herman, Kar Mun, Jessie and Esther do not need to sit behind the small church van as we come back to London from Hatfield. We normally put cushion and up to 5 people will squeeze behind for the 1 hour journey every Friday. Those days are finally over! :D

My journey started at 8.30am. I went to sort out parking permit at Finsbury Park - rush to IC to meet Prof. Duncan - went to Neasden to collect the van, which had to be delayed for few hours because the paint on the body has not dried - went back to Caledonian to cancel the old church van parking permit and renew its road tax - parked the old church van to the sister's ministry house - rushed back to Neasden again to collect the van - fetched Pom and Esther to Hatfield - met Chen Xuan and gang for steamboat dinner - had Hatfield core team meeting - sent Esther and Amanda home ..... reached home around 1am! Very tiring but very fruitful day. At least i do not need another 1/2 day gone jst to sort out these things!

And now, i present to you the new church van - Ford Transit crewvan! It's very very high and huge, compare to the tiny Citroen Berlingo that I've been driving for 3 years! I'm really really glad! :D Let's really pray that God will protect this van - as it was parked along the road. Also pray that this van will be a huge blessing to the church, to Hope IF Hatfield - bringing people to Christ! I am thinking, we should promote our church by putting some designs on the body. At least the church website and contact details, since i'll be travelling quite a fair bit! :D

A Treat from me

For those who read my blog and you are in UK ..... I've found McD and BK's voucher from http://www.hotukdeals.com/. This site is introduced to me by KP- my PhD colleagues.

Go to these sites to print the vouchers!

http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/offers/ (valid till 5 Feb 08)
http://www.garyrip.com/HUKD/bk/evoucher.pdf (valid till 10 Feb 08)

I guess my life will be revolved around BK n McD until 10 Feb! :D

Arsenal vs West Ham

I went to watch my first ever Arsenal's Premier league game, LIVE, yesterday! I paid £60+ for the tickets. It was good! Because I am an Arsenal's red member, I can almost get ticket to every home match now - the con is I have to attend alone! Nevertheless, it was good! Haha ....

Eduardo volleyed home at 72 seconds - thank God I was not late into Emirates! Then Adebayor scored the next one at 18 minutes!

"Clichy’s long pass picked out the scampering Adebayor. He nodded the bouncing ball past the onrushing Robert Green and, from the acutest of angles, sidefooted a delicate shot across the goalline, off the far post and into the net. A wonderful finish. "

I thank God that I stay so near to Emirates - just need to walk there 20 minutes before the match! My next Premiership match will be next Saturday - Arsenal vs Birmingham! Pray that is will be a goal fest - for Arsenal! :p

Another year has passed .....

Time flies ... one year has passed.

Last year this time, I was bracing myself in the cold at Embankment for New Year countdown (firework at London Eye). This year, I am smarter: stay at home and rest! :D I have been sick throughout the festive period - cold and cough - causing myself to be quite moody as well. Come to think of it, I always sick at this time of the year - when I have nothing to do for church. I rarely sick when I'm busy. Nevertheless, now I am taking times to rest, to reflect, listening to worship songs, enjoying the presence of God - while welcoming 2008!

I have been in UK for 5 years, 3 months. I have been away from home (Kuching) for 9 years 7 months - that time I was still 18 years old bloke. Now I'm almost 30 years old (2 more years). Time flies. These 9 years has been really my 'life defining' period of time. Joined Hope of God movement, received the vision - and now dedicating my life in fulfilling it! I have seen many life transformations; I have also seen lifes been wasted away. I have brought many to cross the line of faith; I have also disappointed many throughout due to my immaturity and pride. I have gained many new skills, talents and giftings - simply being humble and willing. I would never thought of myself doing what I'm doing now when I first joined Hope. Time flies.

My family has grown as well - parents serving God in Hope Kch, Fabian pioneering Hope Gold Coast and getting married next Aug, Nicholas almost finishing his medic course, Oliver jst wrote an amazing email about his life in Cairnes as trainee as well as a person, Daphne jst got her PMR results - straight As - first in the family and Stefanie, going to Lodge school for her secondanry education. My prayer for my family would be God's protection as well as my two sisters attending church and care group.

I mentioned before I love to do new year resolution - this year is no exception. I have done one! The thing about new year resolution is: it is getting easier to do every year. You just need to update your old one with better strategized plans or set bigger goals (if you achive those goals). You can refer to my 2007's resolution here. Things that I have achived -

Here's my 2008 New Year Resolution:

I will have enough sleep and exercise at the same time! :D Well, not forgetting healthy diet - yes, lots of water and fruits.

2008 ... WELCOME! Looking forward to a greater year - to glorify God in a greater way!!

Hope IF Hatfield and Hope IF IC

It has been 3 months now since the new term start in University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield and Imperial College (2 weeks later) - also the period of time we have our Hope IF.

Hope IF Hatfield

In Hatfield, with a humble team of 4 people (Eldos, Esther, Jessie and Tom) in the beginning, today we have grown into a centre status of 11 core team members and 35 average attendance every Friday. Everyone was amazed of how God actually grow this group. Since 15 Sept, every week, I need to restrategize the CG plans: from establishing the core team, running the Friday IF (dinner, sound n multimedia setup, visitors, programs, teaching etc.), arranging ppl into newly form CGs .... I am so excited! Even now, even though the uni is officially off for term holiday, but we are still planning follow-up activities and Christmas breakaway trip to Epping Forest (with the objective to build relationship)

For 2008, until the end of term in June, we will try to stabilize the CG (to about 40 average attendance) and bring as many people as possible to cross the line of faith. Our bigger goal will be by end of Dec 2008, we will upgrade our status to a church, where we will be looking to run regular Sunday service - maybe in bilingual!

Hope IF Imperial College

This is my 3rd year in Imperial College - and only now I manage to pioneer a care group! :P

Nevertheless, with the help of Anita and Jacey, we had our very first Hope IF IC care group in the chaplaincy on the 2nd Oct with 12 people attending! Throughout the months, all 3 of us were extremely busy with various responsibilities - we even admit we have not done alot of follow-up and evangelism - but God is faithful. Below is the photo taken at our last care group (11 Dec) and these are the regulars in our Hope IF IC! We so enjoy the company of each other - even though most of them are not Christians yet!

I really hope this Hope IF will continue to grow - more people attending, more salvations! Our goal for the end of the term (June 08) is to grow and contain 15 people! And of course, by the end of Dec 2008, we pray for a strong 5 people core team with 25 attendees! :D

Hope IF UK: London, Bristol, Birmingham

Beside the above 2 Hope IF, I am entrusted to oversee the other Hope IF: London, Bristol and Birmingham! We have Michelle and Sohan from Bristol; Nong, Kyu and Michel from Birmingham; Kenny and Yanti from London (UoL)

Because of time constraint, I am not able to visit every Hope IFs, therefore I organize a monthly Hope IF UK meeting. It is really good, because these brothers and sisters will be able to fellowship and learn from one another.

Big plan for Hope IF. If we work hard and God is with us, by the end of Dec 2008, we will see a total of about 110 people for combine total of Hope IF UK! It can be done and it will be done - with all these mighty men and women of God! :D

All glory to God! :D