Sunday, September 27, 2009

Good shot

My church friend Bro. James took this pix of Min Jed when she was performing during our BB & GB Camp recently.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

BB & GB Annual Camp

A total of 87 campers participated in the annual camp over the last weekend at Eastwood Valley. More photos are posted on BB blogsite..

Friday, August 7, 2009

Farewell to Arthur

We bid farewell to Brother Arthur tonight at our small group gathering. He is going to Melbourne next week to join his family there. May the Lord continue to shower His blessings upon him and his family. Take care my friend!



Saturday, June 6, 2009

Driving to KK

We always wanted to drive up to KK since a few years ago, and we finally made the trip during the Gawai Holiday. Together with some friends, we set off in three cars on Sunday morning (31st May). After almost 9 hours of driving (because we stopped many times throughout the journey), crossing two rivers with ferries, and passing through multiple immigration check points, we finally arrived at Sutera Harbour at around 4pm. The journey was surprisingly pleasant without much traffic.

We went to Manukan Island the next day. It turned out to be less than memorable. It was crowded and the water was no longer crystal clear as it used to be. We did not see as many corals and fish as it was a few years ago during our 1st trip to the Island. I don't think I will go there again.

On the 3rd day we drove to Mersilau Nature Resort, and spent two nights there at Low's Peak Lodge. It wasn't easy to find the Resort and we had to turn back from Ranau to Kundasang village. The access road was steep and slopy, and my MPV could barely made it. Once there, we forgot our grouses and just enjoyed the nature. It's worth the trip, although I must say for the price we paid, I expected the facilities to be in better conditions.

On Thursday, I drove a record of 12 hours journey from Mersilau Nature Resort all the way back to Miri. Will I do it again? No way!

Overall, it was a good trip, especially the time we spent together with family and friends. I look forward to another trip soon, but it will have to be by air :-)

The pictures I took during the trip (I did not bring along my DSLR .... which is another regret):-

One of the ferry crossings.....
.... and immigration check points.
Having our meals in the car to save time.
The kids at the Sutera Harbour Resort.
Taking a speed boat to Manukan Island.

Min Jed and Min Waye at the pool.
Having breakfast at the famous Fish Noodle Shop .... quite pricey!
Outside the restaurant at Mersilau Nature Resort, near Kundasang.
The lodge we were staying for 2 nights.
By the way, this is one of the very few photos we had on Ming Yih, who is now extremely camera-shy. I thought he looked quite good leh !?
Min Waye took this picture.

Family photo #1. Mount Kinabalu at the background.
The crystal clear stream at the back of our lodge. We could hear the running water from the lodge. The water is extremely cold, and no one took my challenge to take a plunge into the water.

The Rock Garden.
Group photo at The Pine Resort.
Family photo #2 and #3.
Ladies ... seated according to "certain order". Siew Yew and Min Waye were at both ends!
And the guys.
Visiting a vegetable farm.
Family photo #4.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Take my Son

Received this story from a friend.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.'

The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.' The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.


The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long time gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting.' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.' The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!' A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!' The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned... Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?' Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE....THAT'S LOVE.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Creative Art - Balloon

Terminator !?

No, not Terminator. It's Poodle with Harley Balloonson! If you thought this is a product of some skilled balloonist, or now they are called creative artists, you are badly mistaken! It's made by none other than our very own Siew Yew! After attended the Sunday School training course last month, Siew Yew found a new hobby - making balloons. You can see some of her other products in the pictures here.
The workers of various children ministries (Sunday School, Boys' Brigade and Girls' Brigade) attended a training course last month. We were blessed with the teaching and sharing from Sister Dorothy Tay and Brother Sam Tee (a.k.a. Mr Button). We hope to put to good use the knowledge and skills we have acquired from them. May God bless their ministries and that they will continue to equip others in the service of Christ in children ministries.




Group picture at the end of the class.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

4th Miri BB Has a New Blog

As part of the church wide effort to create a blogsite for GMC with links all its ministries, I have created a new blog for 4th Miri Company. Please click on the title of this post to visit the blog. In future, all BB activities will be posted on the new blog.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Happy Birthday Min Waye

Min Waye celebrates her 7th birthday on 7th Feb. She was just a tiny tot when we came to Miri more than 5 years ago. She is now in Standard 1 at Chung Hua Krokop. She is also the class monitor! From the pix you can see how fast she has grown. Happy Birthday to you, Min Waye.


6th birthday.
5th birthday.
4th birthday.
3rd birthday
2nd birthday.

More Photos - Siew Yew's Family

Here are the group/family photos taken on the last day of their trip.

This photo has everyone in it - 25 of us!
Eldest sister & family.
2nd sister & family.3rd sister & family
Father and younger brother & family.
Another younger brother & son.
Siew Yew's father and the grandchildren.
The 4 sisters with their father.
Finally, a short video clip capturing some of the memorable moments.