Draining Out…

Today I was feeling totally drained out. I do not know how to describe what I have been through.

I imagine myself as a sugar cane that have been freshly squeezed out the juice inside, already dried out of juice inside; Or I imagine myself as a dying fish laying on the deck of the dock, trying my very best to flip myself towards the open sea.

The feeling was exactly like that. The living water within me has been dried out, and I am thirst for the living water.

I received call from Sister Sandy from her workplace. She sounds so desperate and asked me to immediately go to her workplace because her employer had just fired her and asked her to leave immediately.

I was shocked by her call and I told her that I was unable to do that because I was still working. I just gave her advise that she should at least took some form of official letter from her employer that should guaranteed her salary. She noted and ask me to look for other people that could go and help her, and hang up the phone.

I could not imagine who else can go over to her workplace in the middle of the day and everyone sure have their own matters to settle and do. I gave Sister Sandy a call back and told her that no one that I know off have time to go over to her workplace. I think she was in the middle of talking to her employer and she just noted and hang up the phone.

After an hour she called again and asked me what is the address of the office of Labour Department is and she wanted to go there and asked me to go together with her. I told her that I was unable to go out because I was working and my bosses were in the office. Again, she asked me to get from anybody else that can help her this.

I was telling her that just calm herself down and drive safely and just went straightway home. She kept on telling me and insisted that she wanted to go and lodged a complaint to the Labour Department, kept on asking me to go with her. I told her that I unable to help her on this.

Later in the evening she WhatsApp me a sample of form and asked me about it. It seems to me was a complaint form sample. It seems to me that she was able to settle herself or there was someone helping her. This gave me a thought that may be her ways of doing things is like this – she will call all the persons she know and see whoever that can help her first.

She later asked me what time I would be off today. I told her that after working hour, I need to fetch the children home, and cook for them and watch over their homework. It would be around 9pm already. Later she asked me if I would be free tomorrow. I told her that I have to work tomorrow as well.

My mind was indeed distracted today. Exhausted. I did call Sister Peggy and inform her about what happened today, so that at least she would know the sisters current circumstances.

Prior to this, I did have discussions with the sisters whom minister or communicate with her, just to know her more. It seems like her strong character has frighten those whom wants to minister her. Today including me as well. I wonder how am I going to minister further after today?

I really do not feel comfortable at all. I feel bad that I was unable to help her today, but to me it is the problem that she should face it by her own. Because she is the one who make the choice that she wants to report to the Labour Department and it is her personal matter.It is not a right way to throw her problem to another person to solve for her. She should learn to solve it by her own.

Her negative energy is so strong that able to suck all the energy I have whenever talk with her. I really feel bad and a little guilt on this. I need to really really pray to the Lord on this, and what should I do? How should I minister further?

I Will Go and Do

After the Church yesterday, I managed to catch up with Sister Anita before she went off as she has relatives visits from United States. Together with Sister Robinia, we handed her a journal which I bought in Mr. DIY. I handmade additional their favourite scripture in colour printing lamination on the front cover, some conference talk quotes in the inner cover pages.

“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

This is Sister Anita’s favourite scripture. She shared with us last November during when we start to minister her. Sister Anita shared with us that this is one of the first scripture that she memorize as a kid. It gives her motivation that when God instructed her, He also gives her way to do what He asks.

At that point of time, I was not really given much thoughts or pondering about that scripture. After the spiritual experiences that I have been through with Sister Yong Yong’s favourite scripture, I start to ponder about the Sister Anita’s favourite scriptures which she shared with me…

Our family were sealed in the Cebu City Philippines Temple in the year of 2015. That was our family first visit to the holy temple. Alvin and I were having our first endowment at the Cebu City Philippines Temple. Both of us did the ordinances for our deceased parents on that temple trip.

Ever since we did not return to the temple, even my heart wants to go back to the temple at least once a year. After I came back from the Cebu temple, I started to do the research and did family history, and now I have 5 names that can do the ordinances for them. The thoughts of attending the temple would come into my mind on and off reminding me that I have not done the ordinances for them yet.

Last year Issac came back home and told me that there will be a Kuala Lumpur District Youth Temple Trip this year and the youth were asked to save a Ringgit a day to go to the temple. The District Youth Presidency was decided to go to Hong Kong Temple.

I was really happy because the Church teach Issac to save for the temple trip and pay tithe at the same time. I was thinking that this would be his first ever temple trip and do the baptism ordinances for the dead and it is very important to him and to us as a family.

May be Alvin can accompany him to the temple and witness his first baptism ordinance for the dead and this would be meaningful to both of them as father and son spiritual trip. Both of them can help me to do the temple ordinances for my both grandfathers, it would be meaningful to me.

I was feeling a little disappointed at the same time as Annabelle would only turn into 12 years old officially in October 2019. The Kuala Lumpur District Youth Temple Trip is going to be on 28th – 30th March 2019, which mean she cannot make it on that trip.

It would be wonderful if all of us can go back to the temple as a family together, and I can do the temple ordinances for my both grandmothers at the same time as well. It was my wishful thinking in my heart.

Last November after Sister Anita shared her favourite scripture to us, the news of age changes for youth progression and ordinances announced. I still remember on that Saturday morning when I received the email from the Church, I was reading the mail through my IPhone. I was reading the email again and again, it seems so unbelievable! My once a wishful thought might become reality! The Lord knows my desires!

First, Issac can go to the temple at RM300 only and the rest would be subsidized by the Church; then, now after the changes that the Church announced, now Annabelle also can go to the temple at RM300 too. It is a blessing for me! Both Issac and Annabelle can perform the baptism ordinances for my grandparents. Alvin and I can witness their first baptism in the temple, and that is the reason why both of us wanted so badly to join the youth temple trip. That is the reason why I wrote to President Van Cott and Sister Claire on this.

I was thinking that it is already a blessing from the Lord that both children able to go to the temple with our limited financial. Then, it came the good news that Sister Claire brought to me last week as I can able to help out to assist the Young Women leaders during this KL District Youth Temple Trip, and the Church would cover my flight and accommodation. It is indeed another mercy and blessing which the Lord has for me and my family.

I was preparing the little journal for Sister Anita the other day, I was searching online on her favourite scripture. The scripture verse was in front my eyes all the time. I was not so sensitive to it at all.

Suddenly I realized that the Lord really have a work for me to do in the temple. And He is so mercy and gracious that He indeed prepare the way for me to go to the temple! The Lord is waiting for me there!

I was so touched by the Spirit when suddenly I opened my eyes to see this verse – 1 Nephi 3":7 that the Lord wants me to see and the things He wants me to do! The Lord is waiting me to go back to the temple, He has a work for me to do. I know I have to do the temple works for my ancestors! I know He will have further instructions for me.

It was such a spiritual experience that I have been through. To reaffirm what I have in mind, Sister Shiyu too shared with us the same scripture verse 1 Nephi 3:7 as her favourite scripture. It is really not a co-incidence that two sisters share the same scripture at the same time!

I shared with Sister Anita my testimony and I encourage her to write whatever the thoughts and experiences down, because that is how I discover the things that the Lord wants me to do. Further more, we would never know the things we write would be the light that lights us up when we need it.

From now till the time our family go to the temple, 1 Nephi 3:7 would be the light that lights my path bright.

A Simple Meal

After last week successful try out of the baked chicken chop, potatoes and vegetables, I prepared the same for today Sabbath’s meal as well for the children.

Sometimes I feel so blessed with these two little angels besides me all the time, even though my cooking skills still has a lot of rooms to improve.

Both of them just so supportive in whatever cooking I make. I feel so touched with these 2 very understanding angels God gifted to me in my life. And, of coarse sometimes they too, have their own mood as well.

Ministering

I was preparing a framed “Family: A Proclamation to the World” for Sister Peggy and wanted to give to her today. We have a talk before the Sacrament Meeting started.

We were talking about one of the sisters that are under Alvin and my care list as both if us are her ministering couple. After my release from the Primary calling, I want to improve my ministering work to the sisters under my care list.

Since Alvin is not around here due to his job is posted in Johor, thus I think it would be good if I could take up the ministering job and do our part as ministering couple.

Sister Sandy came to church today as she wanted to pass her tithing, she went off before the sacrament meeting end. I just managed to talk to her for awhile only. She asked me to go over to her workplace after church to visit her.

I told her that I can only able to go over after I came back home and settled with children lunch then only I would be able to go over. I did tell Sister Peggy about this and I would update her as well because she is the Relief Society President.

I went over to Sister Sandy’s workplace after I settled down the children and their lunch. Her workplace is a beauty saloon which is located at Bandar Puteri, opposite the Puteri Mart wet market.

It was about 3.13pm when I was there. Sister Sandy was busy with customer. It seems that there is a walk-in customer. So she asked me waited for awhile at the reception. She came out and we chit chat for about 10 minutes.

She mainly expressed her dissatisfaction on the things she facing on her works. More on relationship with her colleagues not so good. It seems that her colleague jealous for her sales. More on HR issues.

I just listened and asked her to be patience unless she would want to change a work environment. She told me that her previous job is less stress and she was getting along well with her boss and colleagues. But the pay there not so much.

Current job here is higher pay and may be that’s why have this sort of problems. I just told her that, may be just treat it as a learning path.

We did not talk much as she need to continue back work. And her lady boss was there too. She said she will call me tonight again after work. I advised her to be patience. And if got time, before sleep, write something. Something that remind us of the Savior, such as what are you grateful for today the Lord have done to you? Even a few lines is ok everyday.

She was troubled with the current issues related to her works. I think she just need a channel to express her unhappiness as I believe she has few friends. What can I do is be there for her to express all the negative or uneasiness within her at the moment, then only she can absorb what is positive and think about the Savior.

I did WhatsApp to Sister Peggy in the evening about my visit to Sister Sandy. She encouraged me that it is a good counsel that we just treat everything as a learning path, and most of the time we do not get anything we want in life to run smooth, the trick is to go along with it and get better in time.

Sister Peggy further encouraged for my efforts being an awesome ministering sister and a tool to Heavenly Father to reach out to one o His daughter. She asked me to stay faithful and steadfast in the gospel despite my challenges, as I will be guided and things will get better in time.

I know that the Lord will reveal to us and that is true especially when we seek His divine help to serve others.

Puchong Branch Young Women The Owls Cafe Outing

This year Annabelle has advanced to Young Women and today is her first Young Women activity. They are having an outing – The Owls Cafe at Bukit Jalil.

All these are some of her photos that she took but she did not take any of her own.

She told me that she was having carbonara spegethhi and ice chocholate and all the girls did share one ice cream waffle.

Finally, she told me that she think she likes the young women. And, I am so happy that she likes that!

Ministering Is Powerful

What is Your Favourite Scripture?

This is the first question which we asked the sisters which are under our list, after we have the special ministering council meeting last 2 week ago.

Both me and my companion sister were thinking that we should get to know the sisters better, in order for us to do something more for them.

But you never know that from that very favourite scripture - only few lines of words could, eventually turn into something special and encouraging in your life!

That verse of scripture kept on banging on my door for past 2 weeks, but I did not notice it at all...

Until I faced a little trial this week, then only I realized that the Lord is so patience and merciful enough to let me know that, He was already there for me before I anticipate it.

And that favourite scripture would become something that the Lord wants me to know that He loves me so much!

So, take your courage and step out your first tiny step and do the ministering work! I know it sound hard and difficult to some of you, it was the same for me in the beginning.

Instead of I was ministering others, but eventually I was being ministered at the same time. I have been strengthened while trying my best to serve others.

Sister Jean B. Bingham said, “Sometimes we think we have to do something grand and heroic to ‘count’ as serving our neighbors. Yet simple acts of service can have profound effects on others—as well as on ourselves.”

As we commit to being flexible and then prayerfully consider how to best love and serve others, we will be blessed with the inspiration and knowledge we need to minister as the Savior did.

I testify that it is true. I started to feel the power of ministering!

So, let's go and put it into work. Take out your hand phone and message the sisters or brothers under your ministering list, "What is Your Favourite Scripture?"

What is Your Favourite Scripture?

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

~ 2 Nephi 31:20

This was the scripture that Sister Yong Yong shared with me on the last two Sunday of the month, 13 January during Relief Society Presidency organised Special Ministering Council Meeting on the 2nd hour of the Church.

I got to know that Alvin and I are her ministering couple on that Sunday as I asked Brother Adrian to check the directory list. I was thinking because Alvin is working at Johor and he can hardly come back and do the ministering work. I as his wife have to take up the work that the Elders Quorum Presidency entrusted us.

During the meeting I asked her, “What is your favourite scripture?” Sister Yong Yong replied, “There are so many… I need to see and choose.” Then, in the end of council meeting, she showed me the verse, and I wrote in down on a paper.

I did not give much thoughts about it, because at that point of time, I know that I need to know her better first if I want to do ministering work. I was thinking that I should prepare a journal for her, then I started to search the scripture picture over the internet and managed to do a descent one for her.

It was last Sunday that I was going to give her the little journal gift that I made to her, to encourage her to write journal, just a few lines or simple words each day to thank God for what have the Lord does in her daily lives.

And last Sunday I remembered that I encountered something spiritual to me, and I did write it down in the journal. The closing hymn at the Sacrament Meeting was Hymn 81 - Press Forward, Saints. It was exactly the hymn that I was humming in the car that morning.

During yesterday I had the tele-conversation with Sister E Chin, she ministered to me and she was telling me the same thing – to have faith and to have hope, and love God as how God have loves me, trying my best to do His work, and about reading the scriptures.

Last night before sleep, I had a thought of want to share this scripture with the children – 2 Nephi 31:20. As now I have change a little bit of the scripture study at night as I found out that we read a verse and ponder about it. The outcome is much more fruitful than we read the whole chapter of the Book of Mormon.

When I read it with my Gospel Library App then I only realized that it is as the Lord is talking to me. This simple scripture sum up it all for the things that the Lord wants me to know. At that moment I was really touched! It happened again I feel as it is the Spirit is whispering to me!

Sister Yong Yong was the first person who bring out the scripture 2 weeks ago when I was asking about her favourite scripture. Then, this scripture was in front of my eyes for 2 weeks but I did not notice to it.

Until this week I was really frustrated and feeling down, and the Lord is talking to me… asking me to press forward even though whatever circumstances I am in and facing now. The Lord even prepared me before hand to face the trial that I would face through Sister Yong Yong’s favourite scripture.

I shared with Sister Yong Yong in WhatsApp about what I have experienced this morning. I told her that instead I ministered her last Sunday when I encouraged her to write gratitude journal or personal journal or study journal, but eventually I was being the one who ministered by her.

Sister Yong Yong WhatsApp me : Sometimes it is through this kind of way that we strengthen each other in the Church. She is so glad that I did ask her about her favourite scripture, and the Lord through His ‘special’ way that I have been strengthened.

I am really touched and I know that Heavenly Father loves me very very much! He is always there for me and He wants me to know that.