Last night was the Canaan Land group Chinese New Year celebration at Tropicana Avenue. The members of the Shop.Com group get together last night and we had a pot luck style of dinner.
There are games for the children and the Chinese calligraphy writing for the adults too. Each of us wrote something so that everyone would have a good business of their own with the start of the New Year.
Finally we had a group photo of us together.
I was just wanted to start to read the General Conference talk that Sister Annie was shared in the Relief Society group chat, as I flipped through the pages on my hand, and my eyes spotted this sentence.
“When serving our God becomes our main priority in life, we lose ourselves, in due coarse, we find ourselves.”
And that sentences lead me to the following scriptures from Matthew 16:24-25 :
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
I remember the chat that I had with Sister Robinia last Saturday morning at Church, she were mentioning something like this as well.
As we are doing our ministering or missionary work, we would face challenges and we know our weaknesses and strengths, it is just like the process of discovering ourselves, and getting to know ourselves better and be perfected like our Savior Jesus Christ.
I am so grateful for the chat that Sister Robinia and I had last Saturday morning.
I really feel the love of Heavenly Father to me and us as daughters in His kingdom. I really can see His messages that come like a stream of water that flowing slowly as I can feel it.
To be honest, I feel myself as I was overwhelmed by the messages that flows in front of me for the past weeks since the day I have been sustained as Relief Society President. My mind was blank and do not know what to do about it.
I was thinking about Sister Sandy these few days and I do not feel good about it. I know I have to do something but I just feel that, that something I should do is the thing I do not want to do by my own. I was troubled.
I gave Sister E Chin a call and told her what was bothering my mind and she listened to whatever I have to say. Then, she advised me that I should do that thing which I do not want to do because it is the Lord’s work. If it is necessary that I should apply a non-paid leave to minister her, then let it be because the blessings that I already see and received are way more than that a day of unpaid leave…
Suddenly I just silence because what Sister E Chin said is true… I have been seeing the blessings that come into my life and my family – going to the temple with a minimal costs; I have been experienced the Spirit guiding me through the scriptures, the ministering of other sisters and I started to learn what the Lord wants me to do.
In Sister Sandy case, it seems as I received the inspirations which I should go and do but my heart is keep on resisting it. Sister E Chin said, that is what the Spirit wants me to do but of coarse it is my agency and choice to do it or not. Thus, she advised me to make a phone call to Sister Sandy just to talk to her and invite her to sit down and get to know more about what she has been through lately of her work issue, after Church this Sunday. Instead of resisting it and fear, let it comes as the Lord’s way. Especially now I am holding the calling now as a Relief Society President.
After my tele-conversation with Sister E Chin, I called Sister Sandy. She picked up the call on my second attempts, from the background I noticed that she was busy with some matters which need to settle. I checked with her, if she will be coming to Church this Sunday, may be we can have a talk after the Church session. She was fine with the arrangement.
I feel as my burden was lifted up. This reminds me that the scripture from 1 Nephi 3:7 earlier this year which the Lord wanted me to keep in my mind:
“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men,save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”
~ 1 Nephi 3:7
I have made a promise with the Lord that I will go and do the things which He had commanded and this including my calling as Relief Society President as well. I should have more faith in the Lord that he shall prepare a way for me too that I may accomplish the things which He commanded me to do!
We were having Bakuteh with white rice for our lunch after we came back from Church. Then, I made some oven baked chicken wings before I left for the Taylors around 2.30pm as the team wanted to meet early.
It was quite a tiring day as I was reaching home around 8.00pm. Both Issac and Annabelle were not yet had their dinner. They purposely wanted to wait for me for the dinner. I called them while I was driving back, and asked them to reheat the rice, Bakuteh and chicken wings.
But it was too late to cook the spaghetti, thus I decided just stir fried the big prawns with green spring onions and the abalone sauce.
Both Issac and Annabelle tasted the dish and so happy and said how nice it is! You can imagine, I have only 7 prawns, then they ate it really so tastefully and eat the rice with the sauce, of coarse with the Bakuteh and chicken wings as well.
Both children were so kind and considerate that they both ate 2 prawns each and let me have 3 prawns. I ate 2 and left the other one to share among for both. Annabelle just mentioned that let her brother have it.
Even though it is just a simple dish and their favourite, only 7 prawns and they love to eat it.. they still think of us.
I saw this big prawns dish and let me think of our beloved children. I messaged Alvin about this and said to him that, we are really blessed that we have both this children in our life.
Alvin replied that he felt the same and we are already blessed to have them in our life.
With a few Primary teachers together with Mr. Heng the principal of the school, today is the Primary Students Pulau Ketam one day trip.
The students took the KTM at Subang Jaya and continued to the last station, Pelabuhan Klang.
It took quite some time for the Primary students and teachers to get there, but their laughter rarely ceased along the journey so it was definitely a lot of fun.
Some even bring cards game along with them,that the Primary Students were sitting on the floor of the coaches and played.
Upon reaching the Pelabuhan Klang station, they just walked a short distance to the jetty.
While the teachers bought the ferry tickets and they waited at the jetty, they took photo with the giant golden crab at the jetty.
It is the signature landmark at the jetty before you travel to Pulau Ketam. The Primary were queing at the jetty for their turn to board to the ferry.
The ferry is a closed air conditioned. The students were so happy with the companionship of each other in the ferry.
When they arrived, they did some sightseeing, and cycling around on the bycles for those whom rented the bicyles.
There were electric bicyles too, but of coarse cost a little more. It was really nice to see the different culture as there is no motorcycles or cars at all on the island.
Everyone simply cycles or walks. They took some photos. And there were quite a lot of photo spots if one would want to explore the whole island.
They would stopped a while just to grab some ice creams or snacks during their exploration on the island.
After some exploration, they had lunch at one of the Chinese restaurant on the island. Then after some time, they headed back to the school.
Go back through the same route, ferry back to Pelabuhan Klang then took the KTM back to Subang Jaya station.
So, that is pretty much for their one day trip. And yes, they were having fun because of all the friends and teachers together!
I have read an article in the February issue of Ensign magazine “Developing Empathy to Minister”. I was drawn to the first few sentences that strike my eyes.
Ministering is lifting. We can lift others as we try to understand what they are experiencing and show that we are willing to walk with them.
What is Empathy? Empathy is understanding another person’s feelings, thoughts, and condition from their perspective, rather than our own. Walking in someone else’s shoes. Being emphatic is important in our efforts to minister to others.
Honestly I was a little bit of exhausted for the past few weeks, struggling on what I needed to do and supposed to do. This article have gave me a new insight on how Jesus Christ ministered with empathy.
When the Savior appeared to the Nephites. He taught them until He perceived that they could not understand everything He had to teach them. But as He considered them, He knew that they didn’t want Him to leave, but He felt compassionate for them.
He responded by shifting from expounding on the gospel to ministering to their temporal needs, inviting them to bring forward those who were sick, lame, blind, or maimed. He healed them. Then He prayed for them and ministered to their children, spending them with them individually to bless them.
When I have read this, I am starting to ponder about what can I learn from the Savior’s example of empathy in ministering to the Nephites. It is indeed troubled me with this due to what I have experienced and I personally find that it is quite difficult for me to apply this principle when it comes to minister to temporal needs.
During I was at Church today while Annabelle and Issac were having their seminary and violin classes, I have the opportunity to sit down with Sister Robinia and we have a little conversation about this.
I shared with her this article and what troubled me on this principle especially the ministering to temporal needs. How sometimes it seems to be difficult for me to do. After listening to my concerns, Sister Robinia gave her opinion or what she understand about this principle.
Sister Robinia shared that, ministering work is just like missionary work. When Jesus ministered to the Nephites, He knows and aware of what their temporal needs. In this context, when we minister to the sisters, they might have their own temporal needs which they think they need, and most of the time the temporal needs they think they should have are not the things which the Lord think they need.
As we minister to the sisters, we would rely on the Spirit guidance to know what we see or feel that the sisters’ temporal needs. She counselled to me that, if the temporal needs which the sisters requested are beyond my comfort level, it is ok to decline it. Sometimes, every each individual has their own challenges or trials that they need to face it of their own.
Sister Robinia shared with me her experience during her missionary. She said that, during when we minister to others, we will rediscover ourselves, we realise our weakness and we try to make it better. As we serve others, we get to know ourselves.
I was comforted today and the uneasiness and what was troubled in my mind for the past weeks. I thanked her for her counsels and her testimony.
The article also shared how we can develop empathy by understand, imagine and respond. As we consider the circumstances of those we minister to, imagine being in their situation and what we would find most helpful if we were in their shoes. Pray to understand how they feel and follow through. Our response may be simple, but it may be more meaningful.
Last two Sundays, 27 January 2019, during Relief Society class, Sister Sylvia did ask and check with me on how to use the new manual New Testament 2019 Come, Follow Me – for Individuals and Families to teach her children.
I messaged Sister Sylvia that it would be a bit troublesome for her, as she might need to do some research online and print out the materials, but I assuring her that I know that her family will be blessed if she follow this Come, Follow Me program.I was sharing with Sister Robinia that I have a feeling as like every each time after ministering, I myself is the one whom feel more edifying than the sisters whom I minister with.
I feel the spirit speaks to me while I am ministering the sisters. Most of the time, it is not on the spot kind of things, but it is the realization that I had and only know that I learned about them. And I feel spiritually uplifted.
I hope the sisters would feel the same as I feel when we minister to them too, because I think and feel that it is very important to have the spirit to be with us and that is the reason why and we are striving for.
I asked Robinia, how can we minister to the sisters till this extend? Meaning help them to achieve that? It is not easy because I myself still learning how to listen to the spirit and do what was prompted? Sometimes I am still not sure how to differentiate spirit prompting and my own desires.
Sister Robinia replied, “When you feel the spirit the other also would feel it too unless they choose not to feel it. What you are doing is fine. They did said, before you convert other you have to first convert yourself; It is the same principle for ministering, if one feel the spirit then they too will feel the spirit. My Mission President once said, speak to inspire yourself then you will inspires others.”
I feel as I am edified by reading her messages on phone! See how can I make it better.
Initially I wanted to pass the journal that prepared to Sister Shiyu last Sunday, 3 February at Church, but she was already left when I came out from the President’s office.
So today after Church, I managed to pass the journal to her together with Sister Robinia. I thanked her for the scripture that she shared with me, and I have learned a lot from that and I testify to her that the Lord was sending the His words to me through her and reaffirmed about the things which He would wants me to do.
As we do not have much time to sit down and talk, I promised Sister Shiyu that I will WhatsApp to her then on the experiences that I have been through, and how her favourite scripture enlighten me in certain way.
Last night I shared with her about our family first temple trip and my desire to go to the temple again. I shared with her how Sister Anita favourite scripture had opened my eyes to the word of God, that I was touched by the Spirit reading and realize the meaning of 1 Nephi 3:7.
The Lord does not stopped His revelations there, but continuing flowing in to my life by sending Sister Shiyu to our ministering list. When I got to know Sister Shiyu shared the same favourite scripture with Sister Anita, I was kind of shocked and pondering the scripture 1 Nephi 3:7.
This really reaffirm on the things that the Lord wants me to do! It is really not a co-incident that these two sisters share the same scripture at this point of time. Both Sister Anita and Sister Shiyu were bringing the word of God to me, that it seems clearly to me that the Lord wants me to return to the temple, and I have work to do.
I was teasing Sister Shiyu that, even though she is just in our list for almost 2 weeks, but it is no co-incident that she was just ‘misplaced’ by Sister Peggy, our Relief Society President then to me and Sister Robinia.
I was pondering and thinking what was I thinking about the temple after I got to know Sister Anita’s favourite scripture, was my impression true? Then God send Sister Shiyu to me with her favourite scripture and it really reaffirm the thoughts or impression that I have is true.
I thanked her again for sharing her favourite scripture to me. And I indeed feel the power of ministering, because I have been strengthen by my ministering assignment sisters.
I shared with Sister Shiyu that, I try my best to write whatever thoughts and what I experienced, by doing so that is how I discover the things that the Lord wants me to do. That is the reason why I encourage sisters to write it down, because we would never know, the things we write would be the light that light up us when we need it the most.
Today I received Sister Shiyu’s reply. She is so happy to read and to know that her favourite scripture helped me a lot. She is being frank that she does have a lot of favourite scripture, but in the end she still choose 1 Nephi 3:7, and she believe that the Lord wants her to share it again to me!
I told her that, she is indeed beautiful angel that ministered to me. I shared with her a General Conference talk – O Remember, Remember by President Henry B. Eyring on October 2007.
I shared with her that, I started to write more frequently after I read this talk. And, writing the experiences that I have, bring me to remember Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me and my family.
These are the homemade ‘Bak Gua’ that I did at home today at home. It is the pork grilled meat that I make using oven. The ingredients and recipe is from Alvin of coarse.
We made a few during the Chinese New Year Eve night, were planning to make it another round but unfortunately he already left for Johor Bahru due to his work.
So I decided to bake all the ingredients that we have as now still is the Chinese New Year holiday. It looks not so bad too! I am happy with it! The children also love it! It is so yummy!
Today is the 3rd day of Chinese New Year and Alvin had to leave to Johor Bahru due to his job site.
The children and I are feeling like this year is the loneliest Chinese New Year that we ever have, because this year their daddy and my husband only accompanied us for just that short 3 to 4 days only.
Despite the challenges that our family been going through right now, I decided that tonight will bring the children go to the Main Place USJ21 see the mall Chinese New Year decoration theme.
The theme is quite attractive and not bad because it is quite a small mall but still manage to come out the theme and limited space the mall has.
We had our dinner at the Texas Chicken as it is considered the cheapest meal that we can have there.
This is how we end our 3rd day of Chinese New Year with 3 of us.
