After so much had happened, i started thinking. For the past few weeks, i had been wishing that things had never happened, that the pain would just go away. Or that i could just go back in time. But then again, another thought came in, if all these didn't happen, so much wouldn't have been learnt! If all these didn't happen, i would still have been in the same state i had been before that.

And through this, i saw how God was truly my guide, my teacher, and my Father. That despite how upset i was, He showed me little miracles to cheer me up. Like holding the rain back til i got home, despite me throwing tantrums at Him wanting to walk the long route home. And that despite how much i hated to be disciplined, He did so, so that i would grow and learn even more.

I still remember how my prayers always had that phrase "Lord, please teach me...", and i guess asking for that would mean that i should have been prepared. Because God does teach and discipline. Just like how a Father disciplines his son out of love.

And honestly, i don't think i've fully recovered from everything. Especially emotionally. But what Ps Michael preached during camp, about the Spirit and the Soul, i guess i should apply it here. About how we should anchor our walk with Christ in the Spirit, and not the Soul. Hence, emotions wouldn't matter anymore.

God taught me how to confront myself and my emotions. To be honest to both myself and the people around me. To approach matters realistically, and with the help of "wise counsellors", instead of just doing things on my own. No longer do i hide in the "i am fine" mode, but yes, confronting the "i am not fine" mode, with the other thought that says "but with God, i can walk through this dark valley".

God is just so good. It is only natural to whine, complain, throw tantrums and keep asking why everything was just so messed up. But God taught me how to see things in the bigger picture, to see how He had plans for me through these situations, and through the mistakes i made. Everything was already planned. And it was necessary for me to go through these "trials" so that He could teach me His ways and reveal to me His rhema word.

And i don't care what people are going to say now, how much rumours have been spread. Because there are things that we need to move on with. And i choose to move on.

I'm just so excited about how God's going to use me. So excited to see that great miraculous things He is going to do. So excited for the life ahead with that closer relationship with God.

We were talking about mission trips over dinner just now, and it really stirred up that excitement and anticipation in my heart. To be able to work towards the dreams that God had for me. Ahh! I 'm so excited! I can't wait to bless the people! I can't wait to use photography as a tool to bring people to God! I can't wait to just take photos of the people there, of the culture, of the things that God is going to do!!

And strange enough, just as i was typing this: No more boring Singapore.

A thought came into my mind, that God is a God of creativity. He designed boring Earth into a planet that contains life! And He designed them so intricately that it goes all the way down to atoms and molecules and electrons etc! How awesome is that. So how can Singapore be boring! I guess i just need to ask God for His creativity. And Singapore wouldn't have to be portrayed as a boring place! I mean if God has placed me here first, i should be faithful in this, and not complain about where i want to be and stuff. I guess God wants me to prepare for the time ahead. And i haven't been doing so, because i kept having this preconceived thought that i would only take photos of people overseas etc, like the people at Kawah Ijen.

And yes, i definitely need to have a lot more preparation before next year's missions trip. Probably more practise with the people around, the environment, and probably also borrowing books, going for courses, getting help from more proffessional photographers. :D I'm so excited!

O God please keep my enthusiasm there. I may not be excited over the months, but keep my enthusiasm and passion and faithfulness there.

God is truly an awesome God. :D His mercies are new every morning.

"and as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord"