Tomatoian Thoughts

3 Week's Reflection...

hi everyone!

Wow.. i'ts almost 3 weeks since i left Singapore for Manila, Philippines...
HOw do i feel? I don't know.. but it does feel like it's been a long time since i left.. and i'm surprised that.. i think i'm settling better than i expected despite the unfamiliar conditions and not so 'comfortable' room situations as compared to what ive been accustomed to in Singapore!

looking back, i'm surprised that i managed to survive my "book-lined" mattress for 2 weeks..heheh.. it's kinda funny actually thinking abt it.. definitely an experience i'll remember..

Interesting life.. taking cold showers, having water turned off after 10pm.. waking up automatically at 6am.. using a fan (it's been so long since i did that!!!! kinda nice really :)), taking clothes to the laundry (ok here i admit, i'm spoilt.. :p), taking trash out.. communal dining.. bday surprises at midnite... worship practices at nite...

Honestly, i think this is really cool! hahaha.. but 1 thing i really like abt my new schedule of life, is the fact that i can get up 2 hours ahead of scheduled class time.. and have good restful time with the Lord in the morning.. it's really really.. hmm.. jst wonderful experience.. really reminds me that i can do the same even when i go back to Singapore.. that it's possible!

The only 2 things i wished would really improve is:

1) the ability to get around the place with more freedom!.. i miss the public trnspt system in SIngapore.hehe.. miss the freedom to just go around wherever and whenever (not that i have alot of time) . My life is constrained to school, my dorm and the mall opp the school (Market! Market!).. and Galleria as well in a cab.. all the places i go to are 'church-related' places

BUT thank God for Rinka and Becca.. Omy's daughters.. i went to my FIRST non-church-related place : GREEN BELT last Saturday.... THank you LORD!!!!! it was really really nice.. really felt very swaku when i went there.. feel like a little girl going out for excursion... hehe. But i really really hope to be able to get around alot better.. i want to learn to take a jeepney and also MRT and LRT.. it'd be so fun.. I jst hope I could find a companion to go with ard with me.. jst for fun...

2) my Diet!!! - feel so bad.. i feel like i'm depriving my body of proper nutrition.. not that i dun have money to eat properly or anything.. but there's very few "zhi char' kinda stalls here so i don't get my staple of proteins, carbo, iron for each meal.. it's like each meal i eat either rice and meat or rice and vege.. hard to get good combi of everything. And if i order vege, meat.. it's alot and quite ex too comparably.. soo.. i'm gonna have to find a solution out of this. Meanwhile, i'm going to have to supplement my iron intake with iron pills.. thank GOD one of my classmates is a doctor.. so i got a prescription!!

i'm losing wieght.. i HAVE lost weight.. and while in other situations, i'd be quite happy.. but i feel bad coz it's like im not taking good care of my body. I guess mabbe it's jst adjusting to the food here.. so it shld get better! :)

I'm trying to do my best to balance my time here.. i really want to be a good steward of time here.. coz there's so much freedom to anything here.. but my desire is really to finish my things in advance so i can have time for other things like ministry and other people-related stuff... coz u never know when the opportunity will arise.. and life is going to be really really boring if its just abt papers and stuff

Classes are interesting (well most!!!!) and i love ALL the teachers, whether they are interesting or not.. coz they are either really entertaining or jst really sweet... hehe.. very blessed!!! ASssignments on the other hand are not as interesting as classes all the time.. but some readings are really ministerial u noe... wow. so blessed jst reading and reflecting on them. my Fave subject now is MISSIONARY LIFE and SPIRITUALITY..... ! i've learnt jst so much of myself jst doing my readings!!!

At this present moment.. i jst feel like i'm SUPER blessed. Really really. I so thankful i'm here right now.. it's really such an opportunity of a life time.. and in a way.. kinda wish it won't end.. but it must, coz there's much work to be done for the Lord! :)

God's favor has really been my shield.. shielded me from disappointment, self-condemnation... I've got a great room mate.. great housemates.. great classmates, great teachers... great role models for my life... and most of all.. i've a great great God! *tear*.. I'm slowing learning to walk in the love of God.. and i believe there's so much more of His love i've yet to receive and allow to impact my life.. it's still sinking into me.. how much He loves me and accepts me.. so much so that pp's opinions, my own opinoins don't even matter anymore.. that even if i was the worst preacher, singer, writer, dancer or whatever.. i won't ever feel condemned.. but rest and know that He will carry me through.

His love is truly great! I only pray that each day, I will come to know and give of His love in a greater measure.. so much further to learn and go...

posted by Ivy @ 12:40 PM