Little children

Some people brought their babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. The disciples saw them and scolded them for doing so, but Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Remember this! Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

Luke 18:15-17

Photo was taken during the Kongsi Raya party held in Keningau Hospital two days ago. Click here to see more photos.

Christmas carols

Ahhh... year 2005 is coming to a close, and Christmas is in the air. It's the right season for reflection and thanksgiving on the year that has been, for carolling from house to house, for Christmas preparations and family gatherings, gifts and greeting cards, and of course... the Year-End sales.

It is really heart warming, to listen to carollers rendering familiar Christmas carols in their jovial mood, on a cold and dark night (as it has been here). Brings my mind to the scene where a group of nocturnal shepards first heard an angelic choir proclaiming the birth of Christ, back in the little town of Bethlehem many years ago. And that cold and dark night marked a new chapter in human history.

Anyway, due to hectic work schedule, EOD on-call 4 times in a row (if you are in the medical line, you will understand; if you are not, it's too gruesome for your mind, so please ignore this), I am tired. One colleague is in India for annual leave, another was on one-week MC for tonsilitis. Managed to join the carollers for one night only. We had a little Santa Claus with us. Till today I still dunno who was behind the Santa mask. Click to see more photos: Christmas Carolling 2005

Anyway, I am taking leave starting tomorrow. Some rest, at last.

Merry Christmas.

December baby

On this day twenty plus years ago, I was something like this (different gender though). Today, I caught hold of this fella who arrived twenty plus years later. Big fat fella with lots of flesh. She wouldn't ever know that her nude photo appeared on the internet. Kekeke...

How time flies.

My grandma is very ill now. She looked so fine just months ago. I once heard a saying that goes like "Coffins are made not for the elderly; they are for the dead.". Live each day well for there is no turning back. We never know when our time will come. And when it's time, we will all pass on...

Year end

Hmmm, nothing much going on at the moment. So I'll just share 2 cute December baby photos. Cute leh! Don't ask me whose babies are those. Their mothers' babies la.

Work has been quite busy. Had to cut 2 babies out, late last night and pre-dawn today. It was a tiring day. Worsening symptoms of aging...

My old Pajero is finally sold off. Not good a price, but at least it is sold off. Maintaining the old vehicle really tested my patience and faith. Am waiting for My-orange-Vi. Still on the waiting list.

Looking around for a decent place to take bridal photos at a decent price. Any suggestion?

Landslide season

What is interior Sabah like?

Well, it's a pretty nice place, if you are the kind that likes green hills, fresh air and plenty of nature. But the roads can be cruel to your vehicle.

The journey from Kota Kinabalu to Keningau starts with a tortuous climb up Gunung Emas, then coming down to the paddy-growing town of Tambunan, followed by another climp up a smaller hill, finally descending to Apin-apin, where you get 20 kilometers or so of straight road into Keningau. The TungMa coach bus does it in 2.5 hours, I did 2 hours last time, the Hospital ambulance can get 1.75 hours if in distress. My neighbour claims to have done the track in 1 hour, without accident or police saman.

It is rainy season now. Landslides are a norm around these times. I was caught in one last week on the way down Gunung Emas. We waited for an hour, no bulldozer came. We had to force our way through, since my driver friend was catching a flight. His car got injured la.

The hospital ambulance was stuck too. And luckily it was only carrying a patient requiring low-flow oxygen. The driver waited for a few hours, no help came, so he had to force his way through as well.

Stretch your imagination further. What if... the ambulance is carrying a lady in labour, or an oxygen-dependant patient while the tank is running low, or a bleeding patient, or a violent psychiatric patient... things could get pretty interesting.

Medical service in interior Sabah can be challenging, or interesting if you look at it from the right perspective.

Pastor Jastin Balinu

My friend Jastin graduated from the Sabah Theological Seminary two days ago. He earned his Bachelor of Theology after four years of gruelling studies; but lost his bachelorhood along the way.

I was at his graduation ceremony held at the Basel Church in Kota Kinabalu. Click HERE to see more photos.

Richard Konieczny, the Director of OMF Canada gave the opening sermon. Gosh you should see him speak! I have never seen an orang putih speaking flawless Bahasa Melayu like he did.

The closing speech made by the graduates' representative left an impression on me. Most of the graduates already have a stable job and family before entering Bible School. What made them, in their prime years, choose to undertake such a big turn of event to pursue Bible training? Are they out of their minds? As he put it, graduation is not an end, but the beginning of long suffering and great joy in pursuing their Master's calling.

The Apins

He was from Sabah. She was from Sarawak. One fine day they met in a petrol station, fell in love, got married and now have three lovely children.

Despite his dashing good looks and casanova flair, he remained faithful and made that message clear to admiring females. He makes it a point to call home whenever he goes outstation. And he could effortlessly preach way past midnight, yet keeping his audience thirsting for more.

She serves in the SIB Likas Church Office. Her radiant smile will always brighten up your day. And she makes delicious soyabean milk.

Meet Pastor Jubilie and Vivien.

Walk For Jesus 2005

The Walk For Jesus event was held in Keningau on a Saturday evening on the 6th of November 2005. I was invited to become the 'unofficial' photographer and sermon intepretor (BM -> Mandarin).

About a thousand people participated. The gloomy skies cleared as the walk began. The theme stickers declared "Walk For Jesus, Exercise Your Faith". We came and we did. The local YB flagged off the event and led the walk. The journey passed along schools, villages and various government buildings, and the participants prayed as they trod on. I think we walked about 4 or 5 kilometers that day. In the end, everybody gathered at the Catholic Church field for the closing ceremony.

The Catholic Bishop gave the sermon, I intepreted. It was a first time and a scary experience. I dared not look at the crowd. Hehe...

Click HERE to see more photos.

Poor Jesus

Ever wonder... why did Jesus chose to be so poor during his brief stay on earth?

Well, most of us would do anything to pursue a better life of comfort, style and luxury. Even better, to be born into a rich family, or wed into one. Yet in the Book, there was this man who COULD chose which family to be born into, had what it takes to achieve great wealth and fame, wowed crowds and had people wanting to crown him king; yet shun them all and chose a life of poverty.

Oh, just look at the kind of friends he kept, and the people he mingled with. My goodness! Look at his attitude towards the rich and powerful that crossed his path.

Let me share with you this interesting passage I read this morning from a book by Philip Yancey.

Various scenes in the Gospels give a good picture of the kind of people who impressed Jesus. A widow who placed her last two cents in the offering. A dishonest tax collector so riddled with with anxiety that he climbed a tree to get a better view of Jesus. A nameless, nondescript child. A woman with a string of five unhappy marriages. A blind beggar. An adulteress. A man with leprosy. Strength, good looks, connections, and the competitive instinct may bring a person success in a society like ours, but those very qualities may block entrance to the kingdom of heaven. Dependence, sorrow, repentance, a longing to change - these are the gates to God's kingdom.

We who profess to follow this man, how do we fare? Do we notice such 'losers' that so impressed him? Do we, like most others, get so totally awed and fawn over the rich and famous, the strong and beautiful, the powerful and influential, and those with strings of titles before and after their names?

Think again.

* the photo is not taken by me

Lucky losers

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they
will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will
inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will
be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Blessed? Calling blessed a bunch of losers? Hey cut it out!

Emm, I didn't say those things. The Man did.

So, how do we reconcile such mind-boggling statements with what we see in this real world? We have to, don't we, since we claim to agree to everything this man said. Then again, can you really believe him? Lets just make it easy, pretend as if he never said those things. Or just dismiss them as nonsense.

Seriously, how do you make sense of such total reversal of social values?

* the photo is not taken by me

Lun-da-yerh

My ex-uni friend Ah Jun sms-ed me this morning to tell that there is an article in The Star newspaper today featuring the Lundayeh people-group.

update 25.10.05: Ah Jun informed that there is an article a week earlier featuring the Lun Bawang people-group. Thanks Ah Jun!

Here's the link if you would like to read more about the Lundayehs. Just click on... Tera Ratcho’s children

And here are links to articles on the Lun Bawangs, a sister tribe to the Lun Dayehs. Someone once told me, they all originate from somewhere near the Kalimantan border; those who migrate and settle in Sarawak later call themselves the Lun Bawangs, and those who settle in Sabah the Lun Dayehs.

Nomads no more

Community compendium

The first time I heard of this people-group was when I was still in Kota Kinabalu. Someone (i forgot who) mentioned something like "you know ah, in Sipitang there is a small tribe of people... their girls ah, the skin very fair and pretty one ohh, even more fair than Chinese wor... and majority are Christians.".

I did not know of any Lundayeh people until I came here. There are 2 Lundayeh nurses in my ward currently. I visited the annual Lundayeh Festival early this year in Kemabong, but didn't have a digicam then, so no photo to show. Also, went travelling with Ah Jun to Ba Kelalan in May this year, to visit the stronghold of the Lun Bawangs.

* the photo above is taken from Sabah Tourism website

Engagement

Irene and I had our engagement ceremony at her place last Saturday night. It was a wonderful occasion. Many relatives and friends came from near and afar to share in our joy. The electricity was cut off since morning till afternoon, and came back just in time. Haleluyah! Wedding is tentatively planned for during school holidays next March, God willing. YOU ARE INVITED.

To look at some of our engagement photos, click HERE.

Do remember us in your prayers. Thank you and God bless.

Raphael

His name is Raphael, we call him Cikgu Raphael. It was announced in church two weeks ago that he will be giving music and vocal lessons after Sunday service. And he did. Raphael gave us crash courses on playing the keyboard, guitar, bass and drums. Then we have an hour or so of vocal lessons. That guy IS GOOD. Hopefully we will churn out a new team of musicians for praise and worship pretty soon.

Though I was very much impressed with his gift and passion in music, I was more humbled by his statement, which went... "I am thankful that God gave me this gift. I am honored to share with you all what I know. It all came from God, and I am going to use it for His glory". Really cool, don't you think so?

A good front

This is Hospital Keningau. Impressive? Ya, looks so mighty and beautiful from the outside. Once you enter, the truth sinks in. Walls are full of cracks, tiles are 'erupting' and breaking apart, roofs are leaking. Contract workers do their chiselling each day to widen the cracks before refilling them with plaster. Looking at the cracks, words like 'giant spider-web', 'post-earthquake hit' come to mind. The broken tiles have been chiselled out, changed and retiled; and they crack again. I have never seen a new building needing such extensive repairs. And it has not even been 2 years since we moved in. People say it's because of shoddy workmanship, poor quality materials, cost cutting, corruption... The auditors confirmed that the hospital is by far not worth it's price. Government project, what do you expect la.

How well do we fare comparing our outward appearances and what is really inside us? Do we strive and struggle to maintain a good front, while turning a blind eye to the broken things inside? Good to take some time to do some honest soul-seaching.

"How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look fine on the outside but are full of bones and decaying corpses on the inside. In the same way, on the outside you appear good to everybody, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and sins."

Mat 23:27-28

Lassi

This is Lassi. He is of pure 'kampung' breed. He has been watching my house and keeping me company for the past half-a-year or so. Since arrived, he has grown from a puppy into a full-size now. Yesterday he injured his left metacarpal joint, and was limping away on antalgic gait. Today he seems to have improved a lot. Good prognosis I suppose.

The bare truth

And Job said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

KJV Job 1:21

THE rings

These are THE rings. Irene and I will be having engagement on the 15th October. That's just about 2 weeks away from now. It will be held at Irene's house in Tenom, at night. According to past traditions, negotiations will begin late evening, and if an agreement is not reached, it can sometimes drag on till the next morning. Then only are the relatives and guests are allowed to partake the meal. A little nervous, a little anxious. On that day I will become the LORD OF THE RING.

Chubby baby

Here's a fat baby that just arrived last night. Very cute and chubby, 4.1 kg via SVD. I waited for the little fella to open his eyes, but till this morning he only opened a little slit. His cheeks were like tausapao, I couldn't resist kissing and pinching em.

Dalmatian litter

Seen a Dalmatian in real life? Dalmatian puppies? Irene's dog gave birth recently to 3 cuddly pups. These dogs wag their tails non-stop! And the pups were so energetic!

My new hobby

... photographing babies! And the models are in abundance in my ward. New fresh babies hot from the wombs each day. This baby was about a month old, but he was SOOOOooo cute and smiley.

My entry into digital photography

Bought a Canon S2 IS a few days before Merdeka Day. Was initially thinking of buying a cheaper Point 'n' Shoot camera. Then my friend Patrick S.C.Wong in Sandakan brainwashed me into buying this... almost a month's salary gone. Anyway, won't be upgrading anytime soon, since this camera is quite 'advanced'. A bit bulky, but I love the 12x zoom and Image Stabilisation, the swivel LCD, the features... just quite a bit bulky though. I try to bring it along everywhere I go. Good tool to capture memories that pass my life only once. Do get a camera if you don't have one yet. Here's one of my favourite pics.

Twins

Twin babies delivered via SVD, to a happy first-time mother from Tambunan, half an hour away from here. On the left was big brother, on the right was little brother.

My first entry

Here's my girlfriend, Irene.