Issac Yu Ivan >> 2021, I Will… Our World Art Exhibition 2020

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and new norms, Jane Yap Atelier decided to make the biannual art exhibition virtual. Like a torch relay in the Olympic Games, the baton pass on one by one. But the baton here is the artbook. It will be named, "2021, I will …" - Our World Art Exhibition 2020.

Issac was the second student in this album no. 8. The title of the album is "If a fierce/friendly tiger is in front of me, I will …". He got the album on 10/10/2020 Saturday morning, as the previous student did it quite fast, here was the video and photo of the handing over of the album.

 

The parents of each participate student would have to help the Atelier to video the torch relay journey. There are specific camera settings of the video requirements which needed to meet. And for each of the videos or photos to record down includes receiving the album, starting drawing or while drawing, completing drawing the car journey to the next student, and handing over the album.

Here is how Issac opened up the album to check what he should be drawing.

Here is during Issac was drawing and coloring the tiger and himself in his artwork. Here is Issac's artwork.

There are some gentle reminders for the students to adhere to this relay. Some of these reminders are: the students need to sanitize their hands before drawing. Place cardboard behind the assigned page so that the marker ink does not get through to the next page.

Do not vandalize other students completed artworks. Sanitize the front and back plastic cover of the album and the plastic Ziploc bag before handing it over to the next student; each student is required to complete the artwork within three days, etc.

Here is the video on handing over the album to the next student on 15/10/2021 Thursday night.

 

Here is the photo of handing it over to both siblings.

Overall, Issac feels satisfied with his artwork because this is the first time he can complete a painting within a few days. It is a fun experience for him as well.

A Small Journal for A Sister

I received a text message from Sister Sophia last two weeks ago. It was a Sunday night. She told me that she might need a new journal book, as her current one already filled with her testimony.

This message brings some joy to me. I have been encourage the sisters in Relief Society to write down their testimonies ever since I have been called as the Relief Society President.

Our baptismal covenant is to remember Jesus Christ, by writing down our testimonies is one of the ways that we remember Him. I believe that writing our own testimonies into the journal or any kind of gratitude journal is a way to remind ourselves, what God had done for us and how we can see His hand in our life.

I did tell the sisters that they can ask from me anytime if they want a second book after they finish their first book. Sister Sophia is the first sister that asked me for a second journal book. I feel so encourage as there is someone indeed listen into her heart and writing her testimonies become an important part of her life.

Buying a simple note book from shop, searching for their favourite scripture versus and general conference quote online, getting to print it out and plastic laminated and paste them as the cover of the journal, decorate the inner cover page with some other general conference quotes – that is how I normally do for the journal that I want to gift to the sisters.

It cost a little may be is RM10.00 per journal book, but I feel joy when I see and hear when the sisters benefited from this small little journal book that I gift them.

After Issac’s art class at Citta Mall, I drove to Puchong Mas where Sister Sophia lives. I met with her mum Sister Teresa, to pass her the journal book as she was still working and not at home. We have a brief chat as the Condominium Building Management, just checked on each other how were things going on lately.

I received a text from Sister Sophia in the evening that she likes the journal book very much. I just replied her that she is most welcome to look for me after she finish this new journal book of her.

I am grateful that at least I have a chance to serve the sisters in the branch, hope to bring a little bit of light to the sisters in the branch.

Extraordinary Daughters of God #8

How I Learn to Love Others through Him ?

~ Sister Robinia Tan

"We can change our behavior. Our very desires can change.

How?

There is only one way.

True change—permanent change—can come only through the healing, cleansing, and enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

He loves you—each of you!

He allows you to access His power as you keep His commandments, eagerly, earnestly, and exactly. It is that simple and certain.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of change!"

Sister Robinia Tan shares with us her testimony how she learns to love others through Jesus Christ's example.

Please do come in and listen what she would like to share with you, how the gospel of Jesus Christ change the way she sees others and love others.

Issacs's Meows… ^^

The shoes had been bought quite some time ago at Fufa Shoes which is located near our house at Meranti Jaya. Initially, we were looking for casual outing shoes for both children. Eventually, we found out this pair of white shoes which we felt was pretty good for Issac.

The idea of want to paint the shoes came to our mind, and we suggested to Issac that we can do that with these shoes. After some thoughts and get some ideas of what to draw. Suddenly he just took some paintbrushes, a color palette, and his acrylic paints and pencil started his draft, and finally, this is the work!

It looks so amazing with the cat’s eyes looking into your eyes!

Extraordinary Daughters of God #7

How Do I #HearHim?

~ Sister E Chin Yong E Chin

"In both ancient and modern times, God introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and invited those seeking direction to “hear Him” (Matthew 17:5). In 1820, a young man’s willingness to follow that invitation ultimately led to the Restoration of Christ’s Church on the earth (see Joseph Smith—History 1:17). Two hundred years later, the invitation to hear Him is given to each of us."

"When we take time to listen with our hearts, the heavens open and He speaks. Jesus taught that He is “the light of the world” and those who follow Him “shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12)."

"God still speaks today, and the joyful call remains to hear Him. As you listen to Jesus Christ, you will feel His love for you. As you #HearHim and act on what you hear, you will feel the joy and fulfillment His words bring to all who seek Him."

By listening and hearken to the invitation extended by our prophet, Sister Yong E Chin reflected and share with us how she hear Him through prayers, reading the scriptures and slowing down listen to the hymns.

Please do come in and listen what she would like to share with you, the joy that she experienced in her journey to #HearHim.

Why Didn’t the Lord Direct Me Through My Trials?

There are always promptings I guess from the Lord, during I am seeking and cried to the Lord for comfort.

This week really started with a foolish thing that I had done - accidentally knocked Alvin’s car. And this accident had started the sparks of series of angers and quarrels from him.

I was thinking about personal revelation and how I have felt like I have so many times cried to the Lord and I cannot hear anything at all. It is like in this accident of mine, I was still in the shock or blur that do not understand why this happened? And, why do I acted so carelessly? Why do the Lord did not warn me or helped me prevent this from happened?

As today I read a similar blog at the Church website, as the author said, “So many of us struggle with a similar problem. We ask the Lord for help, yet the heavens feel close to us. It is like getting the answer, “Good luck, kid, but you are on your own this time!”

“It’s especially hard when we are told we can “hear Him” and receive revelation like Joseph Smith, who asked Heavenly Father a simple question and got such an incredible answer! The silence can cause us to feel isolated, lonely, and abandoned by our Heavenly Father, even when we have faith that He does want to guide us in some way.”

At that moment I was immediately feels as this is the message that Father in Heaven wants to tell me and want me to know what is in His mind that He wants me to know.

The author was mentioning about a talk that late Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1928 – 2015) said about recognise the answers from the Lord.

And, it was exactly the same General Conference talk that I was studying and pondering for the whole last week, before this accident happened.

While I was reading this point, this bring back to my memories and remind myself again that Father in Heaven has never abandoned me! I remembered that I had this doubt before and I wrote down in my journal, and now the same trial of faith happened again but in different scenario and background.

What if He has never abandoned me? What if I am the one who are a stranger to Him? What if I am the one who do not hear His voice or recognize His gentle Spirit calling me by my name?

No wonder the first thought that came into my mind after I had expressed my fears and worries to Him that night, was to “Hear Him”. I was listening to President Russell M. Nelson’s General Conference talk of the same title – “Hear Him” repeatedly over and over again for the past few days.

And today after I had read this blog, helped me to know that the Lord is always there beside me even before the trials or making my big mistakes. He was already there to prepare myself to help me search for the answers that I would need. I am the one whom did not realized it. It reminds me of the same thing that happened to me last 2 years back.

I just surrendered and asked Heavenly Father if all these were the things that He thinks is best for me to experience and I will just take it. It was exactly what I felt yesterday when I was at the workshop.

I am grateful that I can always rely on my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to be there when I just want to cry or express out whatever I feel to Them, and the most importantly I can always feel the warmth, peace and comfort in my heart and it get me through.

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me, I know that They live and always watching over me!

Regretted Decision Turns Out Right?

I am still a little bit stressed out because of last night argument, but it is a little bit better as this morning meeting with SSDU was OK and can be comprehend after the commercial part of the tender evaluation part that I involved had been concluded around 12 noon.

After which I was asked to join their consolidation of Technical part and Commercial part together which might be end at 3.00pm. I asked to excuse myself earlier around 1.45pm. while their SSDU internal project committee were discussing on some of the procedures which they need to do.

I need to go to the workshop to change the car tyres as asked by Alvin last night. The initial plan was to fetch both children from school then just go to the shop nearby our house.

I felt as I still a little bit time, so I drove to the mechanic that did the spray paint for my car last year during I was involved in the motorbike accident where the motorcyclist knocked my car bumper and rear tyre. I just need an estimates about how much it will cost and I need to arrange the monies and how am I going to get it done by this month as instructed by Alvin.

I went to TT Auto Workshop Ah Tee there. After Ah Tee saw my car, then he noticed that my rear tyre already worn out and he did check the price from his friend who opened the tyre shop. The Continental Tyre is about RM160+ for the size of my car tyres and he advised me to change only the both tyres at the back as I do not want to change all 4 tyres because there is 1 still only 1 year and 2 months old only.

Thus I called Alvin and asked about his opinion. He was in the tender interview at 3.00pm. So decided to just do it at Ah Tee’s workshop. After I fetched both Issac and Annabelle, it was already 4.00pm when I reached Ah Tee’s workshop. So I asked the children to stay in his workshop office and he drove the car to his friend’s place to change the tyres. According to him, it would only took 1.5 hour for that.

We were waited at Bandar Sunway from 4.00pm to 5.30pm, and Alvin was calling to chase us back to home and asking why it took so long to do it. He started to feel annoy on me as it was already started to rain and we know that it will going to be very jam later in the evening.

After I asked Ah Tee if the car is ready, then he called his friend and about 6.00pm he went off to take the car. I was wondering why it take him so long to get the car back, then only I know that he drove the car to his friend’s shop at Sungai Way. No wonder it took him so long!

I was kind of regretted about my decision to change the tyres at Ah Tee’s workshop, it would not be this late if I change it near our house there, which is just outside our home. Both kids would have at home already; I could send them back home first then only drive out to change the tyres; We could have dinner already near the shops there while waiting for the car to be ready; the most important of all, Alvin would not have worried and raised his voice to me because of this late.

I was thinking and wondering, why am I ended up here and change the tyres here? The clock is ticking, the sky is getting darker, the rain seems still and I yet to see any sign of my car back to the workshop. My mind was already stressed out and blanked. All kind of thoughts came into my mind. Why? Why? Why?

After what had happened last night, I thought everything was going to be better after the whole day of calmness and serene, and this is how I am going to end up for the day? Another day of quarrels again from Alvin? Oh gosh!

I just quietly prayed to the Lord that if this is the things that He wants me to go through, I just take it and go through it. I totally surrender! I do not want to think it anymore, be it the outcome will become worse or even Alvin and I can just split up, it is OK with me!

Finally Ah Tee drove back the car with the new tyres, and I asked children to go to the car while he was finalizing the cost. It was RM419.00. Immediately I WhatsApp Alvin about the cost and he transferred the amount to Ah Tee’s account.

It was about 7.00pm that we started to drive back home, and it was about 7.30pm when we reached home. Surprisingly Alvin asked us to go up to the home to take a bath first when I asked Issac to call him that we were at the downstairs if he wants to go out dinner.

We went to the Medan Selera Puchong Prima which is near our home and had our dinner there. Everything seems OK and normal with the presence of the children. I am grateful for the day end as it is. At least no quarrels.

I feel as Alvin unable to sleep well throughout the night and there is something on his mind that bothering him. And I do not know what is it. I just feel as I do not know the storm that lays underneath the calmness of the sea when will blow up someday?

I am grateful to the Lord that He was there and I know that I was so so worried at Ah Tee’s workshop, and I feel as He was there listening and watching me having my fears all around me and I know that He knows, that I know that I need to go through it.

I do not know why it is so difficult for me to hear Him and I am still trying my very best to listen to Him to guide me. But one thing for sure is that I know that He love me and my family, and that is enough for me at that moment.