My flesh & heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart & my portion forever!


Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Wrong reading!!!!

Oh no, I saw the scale wrongly... My luggage bag is stil so heavy.. about 35kg!!! Super stress.. Took out some other stuff and now it is about 33kg!!! Praying hard that the guy/girl at the counter is lenient enough to let me thru!!! Keep me in prayers to those who are reading this k..

All packed finally!

FINALLY! All packed! After days of mind boggling & stress, I finally managed to squeeze everything I need to less than 30kg. Which obviously is not sufficient but I just have to live with it, well, at least for now…

Yesterday, as I attempted to do my final packing-trying to cramp as many shirts as possible into my luggage bag, with every corner left after the shirts & trousers, I slot in my rolled t-shirts, with every thought of trying to maximize the space so that I can bring as many stuff as I could. After completing it, I tried weighing it for the first time…

Scale showed 40.6KG! Sweat started dripping from my forehead… With a disappointed mood I slowly & tearfully remove my excess jeans, trousers, shirts, t-shirts… Next round of weighing:- 38.5kg!!!!

I was like what?? Still need to take out more? & I repeated the same act again.. 3rd round of weighing:- 34.3kg!!!! Oh no! More stuff to take out… & I slowly took out my toiletries… 4th round:- 30.2kg!!! Ahhhhh! At last… Time was 2.10am; spent 2 hours plus stressing out with my main luggage bag.

Next my cabin bag, which I am using a haversack. Weigh about 20+kg because of my books. I hope the people in the airport will allow me in without checking the size & weight. & finally, my laptop bag, which I cramped in every documents, folders, small books I need to read…. Hope I’ll be able to drag it all to Melbourne without any hurdles. Need God’s favor now!

1 day left…

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Deviation???

It is 10.23am as I start this post from Singapore's glamorous InnCrowd.

Mission in Singapore:- Have fun, sight-seeing, visit friends, shopping

Report on the last day:- MISSION FAILED!!!!! spent most of our time looking around for FOOD, yes food, in Singapore, where food is like the last thing in each and every malaysian's mind... But not us this time.

Most of the cash output went to F&B, places like Seoul Garden, Marche, er... Chuen's fav gelato ice-cream in ngee ann city, fish & co.... see, we sounded crazy but so far, all of us are satisfied with the food we've eaten so far. Ikea meatballs for lunch later before we head back to KL.. more updates to come.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

A different chapter! Chapter of rejoicing + sorrow

15th Jan 2007 marks a new chapter in my life.

Really praise God with all my heart by the tremendous blessings that He had poured unto me. I passed my Finals with flying colours! Indeed He who made the promise is faithful. Paul said indescribable thanks to God. That is what I am experiencing now. I finally and officially can say I am going to Melbourne. The investment that my dad made of me is starting to show profit. :-)

On the other hand, this chapter of life is never the same as previous years. This date was also a bitter moment for me as I sent 2 of my precious brother & sister off to Adelaide.

Many people leave footprints in your life. However, after a test of time, footprints may soon fade, or can be then covered with dusts around, soil, fallen leaves or even by new footprints. But both of them left more than just footprints. They left experiences, joy, memories like a craving on a stone. So refine & permanent! Cravings & marks that will stand above the test of time.
A brother, partner in Christ, friend, faithful servant, super-slow guy, caring & hospitable, KKian (but KL still rocks)… Iron sharpens Iron!!!!!
A sister in Christ, funny & noisy, ever late, my benchmark of lousiness, listener, someone who understands, my SMS mate!!

It grips me tremendously to see them departing away from my life. Not to say we will never see each other again, or keep in touch, but the life sharing that soon take place in my life will never be side by side with them. It is not as if I know both of them for ages.
Chris in IMU, Chuen in Taylors. Less that 5 years but our friendship seems to last since childhood. Tears wouldn’t stop at the sight of seeing you guys crossing the custom. As I was driving home alone yesterday, reminiscing the time we spent together, tears wouldn’t hold. My lacrimal glands were in full activity til exhaustion.

I know God has a greater purpose for this separation. I believe the time in Aussie will be another season of equipping from God for me as I am no longer with my brother & sister now… All battles & struggles I’m on my own with God, which is a good thing… but it is different now that you guys aren’t there. Fewer memories will be built together.

My deepest prayers to both of us, that multitude will be done through you in Adelaide. Let God use you guys abundantly for His purpose there… A battalion of armies have been sent to Adelaide!

You both will always have a special place in my heart. Never will I forget, always I will miss, daily I will reminisce. Keep in touch!

Tears…

……………

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Sedentary Sedentary!!!!!

Yesterday was my first attempt to exercise after months of being latent and sedentary. To all who are wondering what did I do for the past months… I was busy trying my very best to revise my entire 2 ½ years of medical sciences knowledge for my finals which happened to be over since last week.

So, knowing that I’ve not been active, I decided to go on a slower speed when I got up to the treadmill… I set my usual time:- 25 mins but my speed was 10km/h instead of my usual 11.2. After about 10 mins, I started feeling incapable of pursuing further, exhausted & running out of fluid. A sense of dizziness came into me & I immediately stopped the treadmill. I quickly find the nearest seat & rested (know I’m not suppose to do so immediately after exercise but at that moment, without a support, I may just collapse & cause a scene)

I bet some of you must be laughing at me, thinking I am some lousy weakling but the fact is, running a long distance is not something foreign to me. I blame IMU for creating such an inactive lifestyle that now I have to find ways to fix it so that when I get to Melbourne, I don’t look so lousy to the point of putting my country into shame. Remember what I’ve said in the previous post, 3 times per week in Melbourne… I’m gonna do it!!!!!

Other than this, I’ve managed to complete about 50% of my must-eat list.

Beef noodles, chee cheong fun near my place, naan & tandoori, ampang yong tau foo, Japanese buffet, some of the hawker food at jln alor, er that’s all for now.

More to come… can’t believe it is 15th tomorrow. Results will be out; Chris & Chuen will be leaving. Sob Sob…

Friday, January 12, 2007

Pre-departure thoughts!

I'm left with 2 weeks... The first week of holidays is so liberating. Slept around 3am, woke up at 9, but yet feel so contented, feel so rested, feel so relaxed, all bcoz revisions and exams are no longer lingering in my mind, at least, not for this 3 weeks...

Been going around buying luggage bag, paying my air ticket, complete my medical check-up, settling my bank accounts, trying my very best to complete my must-eat-list before 31st Jan, meeting up with friends that I know I won't see for at least a year...

But whenever I quiet down, there are so many thoughts running in my mind...

1. I was thinking if all my clothes are able to fit into my luggage bag considering the amount I needed to bring over to Melb. Don't be deceive by the pics below.. It looks alot but honestly, it is just enough for a month... or so..


2. I'll be missing my parents & sister greatly; the noise of arguing among one another (something that we often do out of casualty),my mum constant nagging but yet caring, the loudness of my living room TV, all these in exchange for a quiet night in my room when I get to Melb.. Probably singing "All By Myself" when I miss home.. tears!!!!

3. Worrying about my supper that I need every night. When I get to Melb, with no car & everything is in AUD, I'll be thinking twice whenever I have the desire to eat at night. I can imagine myself thinking about my fav penang asam laksa & seafood which can only be found in Tg Tokong, kuching laksa, dim sum, beef noodles, wantan mee, naan, the list goes on(go back to previous post & check my must-eat list)...

4. Church... Since it is a transition year, I wonder if I ever will find a church as warm & as caring as my spiritual family in ECF... Pastor's analytical sermons, PC's inspiring thoughts, Steven my discipler, Shawn, the LUCT's loudness, my fellow ushers, my LIFE group members.. It has been a great spiritual learning & building together for the past 2 years...

5. My friends...high school, taylors, ECF, IMU... So many footprints left in my life.. Those UKians, esp Jiawen & Nigel, I certainly have no idea as to when we will meet again considering the fact that you guys plan to work in UK.. Well, just have to place my hope on Air asia..

6. Thinking my 2 best friends are soon leaving for Ade.. I still find it hard adjusting that I gotta complete my medical career path without both of you close by my side. I'll definitely cherish the memories that we have built together.

Chris, thanks for being such a great spiritual partner, a brother in Christ and ever unfailing friend.. You're the best!!! Still can't believe you're from KK... hahah, KL is the best le! You just have to live with it.. See, you found your "bestest" friend & your soon-to-be life partner in KL... what more man.. See God is trying to reveal the truth of KL.. Lol... Bro, will miss the talks, sharings, chattings, & teasings that we constantly share.. Oh yah, pls don't go over to Ade & find another lamp post k.. I'll sue you for neglecting your property in Melb... :-)

Auntie Chuen, for being my kaki in lecture, always talking and distracting me from concentrating in lecture.. brain wash me to skip lousy lectures... Really appreciate to have you as a friend since Taylors.. Sleepovers that we have, the time we usually hang out in Chilli's, the trip that we made to Spore.. You'll always be my benchmark of lousiness... For everything, as long as you don't know something I don't too, I won't feel so dumb.. & pls, try not to spend so much when you get to Ade, learn some cooking from Christine k.. & help Steph wash toilet bowl..

7. My car... Still can't imagine that my legs are gonna be my main mode of transportation.. My friend told me once, "My place is not too far from uni, 30 mins walk!" & I was like "What?????" Hopefully everything will be so near to my halls that I don't need to walk like crazy.. Praying that my friend will get a car there.. Not to mention going to church.. Hopefully God will send someone to fetch me there ;)

8. I'll miss KLCC alot alot alot. Walking in the building knowing that you're in the best complex in M'sia (no doubt, pls whoever disagrees, stop arguing back.. check ur facts first)... & my fav washroom in Mandarin Oriental too..

Arrgggghhhh!!!!! 2 more weeks to go..

Results will be out this Mon.. Chris & Chuen leaving on Mon.. Thinking of the Spore trip that we're planning to go on the last week... Trying to find time to meet diff ppl for meals, & spend as much time as possible with my parents...

Oh no, post-sem 5 hols is so short.. kinda sad... Trusting God to work for the best in Melb in 2007... Hopefully I'll pass my exams.. pray for me k!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

OSPE Disaster!!!!

Staring at the picture of the spine seriously, with a thoughtful look, thinking “I know this. It’s at my finger tip, common WH, what’s the component of intervetebral disc. One is nucleus pulposus. What’s the tissue around it?”

BEEEEEEPPPPP!!!!!!! The buzzle rang, & OSPE ended. In my heart, "One down, 3 more to go"

That’s it. Once my paper was collected, I asked the person next to me,

Me:-What’s the other thing besides nucleus pulposus?
Friend answered:- Annulus fibrosus


AAARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

It’s there but it’s not there.. Nowadays I tend to forget what’ve read easily. Never mind, just one mark gone for now. Then, Chuen came to me & burst out sobbing about:-

Chuen:- Argh!!! Brachial Plexus!!! I totally screw it! (She went on and on about it until I told her the answers)
Chuen:- Yes!!! I got it correct after all
Me:- See la, complain complain before checking your answers


Then I asked her about the microbial question:-

Me:- I remembered the bacteria starts with “L” but I can’t remember what it is, so I just tembak “Legionella pneumophilla”
Chuen:- It’s Leptospira interrogans. It always affect meninges, liver & kidney


10 marks disappear for a wrong diagnosis. All my answers that follow is -------------

After quarantine, I overheard some of my friends discussing about the paper. So I went over & checked with them.

Friend A:- Neh, the pituitary adenoma, what else to describe? I don’t see any changes besides the pituitary enlargement

After hearing that, I went hysterical and quickly asked my friends to tell me which question they were talking about as I remembered correctly, I never came across any pictures, graphs, models, what-so-ever that resembles pituitary adenoma.. & my friend replied:-

Friend A:- It is the one where the bodyguard had an accident. He had swelling of soft tissue of hands & feet.
Me:- WHAT??? I thought that was because of the accident. It leads to soft tissue swelling. OH NO!!!!


Another 10 marks flew off my palm. Feeling extremely low & depressed & irritated & moody & I can’t describe how I felt anymore; my friends & I decided to head to Sri Petaling for lunch. As we were walking,

Friend B:- Hey, the cancer in the brain is because of melanoma right???

Having heard that, I suddenly remembered the question mentioning about melanoma & I totally answer the question wrongly by saying the lesion in the brain is because of cerebral hemorrhage. NOT AGAIN!!!! 5 marks gone…

Lunch over, drove home, & can’t resist but to screen through my notes to check my answers to salvage any hope left for my OSPE paper. & so far I found I lost additional 15marks. Now, looking at my OSPE condition, I don’t stand a chance for an A anymore. Hopefully I’m able to pass. Only pressing upon God’s miracle now. My only hope to Melbourne…. 2 days to go.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

I’ve spent months, day & night, while eating, driving, sleeping, etc preparing for tomorrow.

I’ve spent days running to IDP Subang checking my offer from University of Melbourne.

I’ve paid my first payment for my 1st semester in University of Melbourne.

I’m gonna pay my deposit to secure a place in International House.

I’ve swiped my credit cards dozen times for applications, visa, clothes, etc.

I’ve spent nights dreaming and thinking that I’ll have lots of fun in Melbourne.

My only nightmare for this year is when I couldn’t pass my End of Semester Exams.

The only thing that keeps me at peace is having God by my side. I’m pressing upon what He said in Jer29:11” For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

To say I’m not worry, that’s the biggest deception to you all. I’ll probably be called a hypocrite. I was initially. I was complaining to Chris the other day of my fear of not being able to make it. But now, it is by His grace that I am at peace. Although even til this moment, as I attempt some PYQs, there are many many info that I’ve forgotten. I need to refer my notes all the time.

Like I said, there is no way I can pass this exam without God’s provision & help. It is just too impossible for me to do so. During service, this Ps said “It is when impossibles set in that you will begin to see God’s miracles. For if we face difficulties, we still can try harder, but when we face “the impossible”, we see God’s touch begin to set place” I was like “Amen to that!!!”

As for now, I’m excited to see what God has prepared for me this year. Last year was all about equipping & learning. It is my prayer that God will do greater things in my family & in me as I embark my journey in Melbourne. I believe it will be a greater challenge as I dunno if I could find another church like ECF, and not having like-minded people around, things may happen.

Gen8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though [a] every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.”

It is my desire that 2007 will be a pleasing aroma to God as I faithfully walk in His way. I pray that He will stretch me even more, to do things that now I am unexpected to do. Let this year start right so that at the end of 2007, God will say “Wenhao, you’ve lived this year well. (With a pat on my back)” There won’t be any resolutions from me coz resolutions will never take place, but I am filled with anticipations to see how this year will take place as God strategically place miracles & challenges in my life.

Kinda sad actually that I’ll be leaving my family. Can’t imagine how’s life in Melbourne without the usual noise at home, my sister talking, my mum nagging & my dad’s loud TV. My best friends will be in Adelaide. My spiritual family & my Life group members. My high school & uni mates. KLCC. My Malaysian food will be left behind. I can’t spend money like how I do over here. My only transport is my 2 lower limbs. But I’ll keep God with me wherever I go.

Father, thanks for a blessed 2006, and I hope let 2007 be lived according to your will! Just wanna honour & glorify You in all things!