YES!! He's finally coming... NEXT WEEK!! woohoo! It's been years.. Literally years of waiting..
I was walking to uni for my Pharmacology test today, and I found myself smiling like a dork by myself, because I was just looking forward to him being here! And this becomes more of a common occurrence as next Thurs draws nearer! It'll be fun to share this world of mine with him.

Spent quite a bit of time last month organising for our big semi-backpacking trip down the South Island! All's sorted now, accommodation, transport, bookings and what-not-s! I'm really looking forward to the time we'll get to spend with each other. We get 14 solid days! It's been a while since we've been by each others' side. And we both have God to thank, and the people that God sent to bless him financially to be grateful to. And on my side, God has given me jobs which have paid rather well. If there's anything I learnt in the process of planning for this trip, it'll be to trust God and He will bless, in His time and at his conditions. And the next thing I learnt was "how to look for the cheapest backpackers", even if it meant saving $1-2!! We're travelling with a budget afterall!

And SKY DIVING!! I'm so looking forward to it too! Soon i'll be plunging from 12,000 feet with 45 sec of free fall!! Skiing, glaciers, lakes, cruises, meeting with summer friends.. Guess this will be my big holiday, like how most have it after their degree.

Ok.. I am absolutely knackered. I only had 3 hours of sleep last night, due to some molecular modelling assignment that I had due today. Well, I allowed myself to have 4 hours of sleep, but somehow I haven't been able to sleep too well. Oh well, i'm glad that's done and over with. Everything seems to be flying by soooo quickly.. and I always seem to be in a rush.

But anyhow, I rushed home from uni had yummy Indomie with fried egg, got changed and left for ICF's AGM 2007. It went smoothly, and yes, again the committee beat record time! They ended almost half and hour earlier than we did last year. It's ICF's tradition to try beat record time, keep the AGM short and sweet! It was a pleasure to interview/facilitate the questions session for the outgoing and the incoming committee. Many old faces were amongst the crowd and by old I meant seasoned and experienced past members who came back to support us! It was also really thoughtful of them to treat us pizzas after the meeting.

Anyhow, despite the rush and busyness, I returned home after supper at HK BBQ with the gang, contented. AGM's can be boring, but it is always the perfect occasion to share with each other our heart for ICF, and ministry on campus as a whole. It also serves as a time for the leaders for the term to share their vision and direction. Also not forgetting that we get to bring up/discuss any concerns we have pertaining ICF, usually more to do with how we would achieve the vision. Actually our AGMs are not boring, we have performances, slide shows and "Arr"- and "Nay"'-s. The song Jas, Soo and Fran composed were so apt for the outgoing committee! And not forgetting the free flow of M&M's and Maltesers which must be distributed at AGMs because some genius proposed a motion for that!

On a more personal level, AGM '07 has caused me to reflect on what has happened over the last year. It was around this time last year that I faced a huge dilemma. I was struggling whether to commit to stay on the committee/ step up as president. If there was any period in my life when I was going thru an intense dilemma and possibly near-depression, it was this time last year. (I know it's probably not that big a deal, but I'm hoping that's as close as I'll get to depression!) I was confused, and I had to make a choice fast.. I was feeling pressured by circumstances, responsibilities, and expectations both from myself, and others. And I think worst of all, I was struggling with God. But if there was one thing I learnt from that period, it would have been that God gives us choices to make, and as long as we decide wisely, there is no right or wrong. I know it sucks, because honestly, most of the time, I rather have someone tell me what I ought to be doing. The process leading up to AGM 2006 eventful and I think Leesh and I could testify to that.

So now, a year later, Leesh has served as president for a year, and she is committing another year to be president, another year to submit, and learn. There is this sense of admiration for her courage and obedience! And I cannot possibly enjoy our 5 minutes (x2) on Sundays any more than I already do! As for me, a year later, I have been able to carry out the passion that I had all along in my heart, even before I came to NZ. Prayer. I have always been one who sees the need to gather people to commune with God, to be interceders. I was not able to do it while I was on committee simply because there was too many things on my plate, and I knew if I continued.. it will be put on the back burner yet again.

And as I hear Leesh share about her experiences and the tremendous growth (sometimes painful. And FYI, it's non-literal. Sorry Leesh!), encouragement and challenges she has faced... I do wonder if I have missed out. But when I sat down and thought about it... No I haven't. I have made a choice, and from that.. I was able to serve in the avenue where God has given me the heart for. Running along with ICF's vision and serving from off committee has been a great pleasure too. The joys and rewards of being involved in God's vision for universities? To hear that people do care despite the negative presumptions that we may have... To be reminded that there is hope...to realise that it will be worth it even if it was to impact one life... It is worth it because we all are worth Jesus' death on the cross.

And so the eventful night ended with the girls driving home in the "orange limo" laughing about scarves as decoration as opposed to accessory!

He's on the bus now!!! He's on the bus from Akld to Wgtn now. That poor fella's gotta endure 11 hours of bus ride to Wgtn. He's been travelling since Tuesday!! Can you believe it?! So, all i have to do now is make sure i finish my Psych readings, got to bed, get up at 6.15am tomorrow, and meet him at the Railway/Bus Stop!! This time tomorrow.. we'll be where we belong, next to each other!! Ok, that sounded wayy too cheesy... After a few years of practice, we're doing alright with LDR, not without it's ups and downs of course. Nonetheless, I have a suspicion that I don't realise how much I miss him until we're with each other agian!

Currently feeling: excited!

Woohoo!!>. We're into our 8th day of our travel here in the south island.. it's so pretty!! WE'RE at Lake Tekapo now.. it's so gorgeous, the church, by the lake..and the McKenzie ranges..

 

ok.. runing out of time! Bye!

 

We had a scrumptious meal at Amy's. Original Chinese (GuangZhou) food by her mum. Paua (NZ Abalone) soup, chicken, steamed blue cod, chicken, tu khar chor (pigs' trotters vinegar dish) and all.. it was a lip-smacking meal indeed! We were full to the brim by the end of dinner. And Tim's so adventurous with Asian food, he actually liked tu khar chor!! Amy;s family has been sooo kind to us.. We're so blessed. We also saw the lunar eclipse briefly just now.. albeit with clouds in the way.

The big semi-backpacking trip is coming to an end soon. We have another day tomorrow, which is mostly a 5.5 hr bus ride from Christchurch to Picton, followed by a 3 hr ferry ride across the Tasman to Wellington! And then, 2 more days with Dan in the midst of much catching up on lab reports and work training.. and i'll have to wave goodbye to Dan once again. *sighs* But it's been great! Exciting! Gosh.. i never thought I would backpack.. neither did I think i would snowboard by the edge of the ski fields, nor jump out of a moving plane 12,000 ft above sea level, giving in to gravity at the speed of 200 kph!

Ok.. time for a good rest now.. Till then!

 

ps: go to www.skydivenz.com and look for My Pictures on the 22 Aug, and see if u can spot me!

Dan's leaving in less than 24 hrs,  but he's playing monopoly with my flatties upstairs. And i'm supposed to be marking the 1st year lab reports now. But i really dont feel like it. I rather spend time with him.. or go to bed. We had a restaurant-class meal just now, at home! Spaghetti bolognese with cheese baked mussels or wochester baked mussels topped with bacon and some salad and sauvignon blanc to go with the meal. It costed less than $5 pp, but we would have forked out $15-20 if we had it at some fancy restaurant!

So I'm back in wellington now. I think i'll be able to cope. I think *crosses fingers and prays really hard* By the time dan's gone, I would have lots of lab reports to preoccupy my time, and not to mention the application for internships, or the search for funding for honours next year. Heaps to do between now and when i graduate. Future? only in God's hands.. and Im hoping he will reveal it to me soon!!!

Sighs* Life.. oh life!