Sabbatical - Seventh Stop - Kembangan, Singapore

We finally arrived back in Singapore! It was HOME HOT HOME back in Kembangan! Local delights welcome us and the only thing I was glad was that I won't have to unpack my luggage with my dependable and organized helper in the house!

We found Edwin nicely settled back into his routine but we were somehow miserable, missing the cool weather and experiencing the humidity and heat. The settling into the routine back home was also a reality that was painful to bear. I took a week off to ease myself back to the sudden change of pace.

The children had just a week to prepare and revise what they have missed in Singapore school work and to our horror, Evangeline's final exams was just two weeks away! I began to worry how she was able to take exams for eight subjects. It was a horrible feeling but we look it in good strides trusting in our Lord as He was the one who approved their Leave of Absence from school for the sabbatical and I am sure He will see the children through.

The only comfort is that all my family and friends are well and my mum in law's chemotherapy is progressing as planned and she is also comforted by Edwin's return and God's faithfulness. We also had a great time celebrating Mid Autumn with my siblings, nieces and nephews and it was a nice 'reunion' in a way for us all.

However, back to work, I was full of fear and anxiety as it seemed that the year may not end so well at the moment. I felt like crying. I really have to cling on to His words...

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6, 7 NLT)

I do not know what would pen out as yet but I consciously mediated on His promises.

 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:8, 9, 13, 19 NLT)

 

'Dear Jesus, you are speaking to me and I know I need not worry but trust in you, FAITH - Full Assurance In The Heart, an acronym I read in Nick Vujicic's book 'Life Without Limits'. The assurance is that I should not look at the limitations but towards the possibilities. The hope that you are the one who works out everything good for those who love you, and you know we love you very much!'

This final Seventh Stop, although back into the familiarity of Singapore life, will remain the Stop for me at least to continue to journey on towards Peace in my heart and Perfection in my life through His mighty power and grace. The significant 7 indeed!

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Amen!

Coming next, my final thoughts on the Sabbatical ...

Sabbatical - Sixth Stop - Bondi, Sydney

This is the final 10 days for us in Sydney and we have picked the famous Bondi beach to be our final Stop in Sydney. Weather had turned really warm as Spring approaches and the season was great for us to explore more of the city and beautiful sights around. We did much sightseeing, from the Grand Pacific Drive all the way to Kiama Blow Hole, swimming at Bronte Beach, horse riding in the west, sunset sailing for Evangeline and lots of shopping in city and outlets! It suddenly seems that time is running out and we have limited time to take in all that Sydney has to offer although we are already two and a half months here.

We have lots of discussions about life in general with the children, listened to their views and watched soap operas together almost every night. The bonding was wonderful and I was hoping time would stand still for us there and then. The thought of going back to Singapore was not one that we wanted to entertain.

 

During the final few days Edwin needed to fly back first as his mum was in hospital and yearned to see him. As our tickets were all sales fare, we stayed behind and arranged for his return flight. Without their daddy around, the girls were independent and responsible and proved to be dependent help. They helped me as much as they could and took videos for our remaining activities like shopping in China town and visiting William Clarke College Big Fun Day for their dad so that he did not have to miss much of what we encountered and experienced. I witnessed their love for their dad and it makes me really thankful and glad.

We had final farewell dinners with all the friends in Sydney and again, I experienced God's love through them, generous and thoughtful!

The only fear and stress we suffered was packing more than 100kg of luggage without Edwin on the last night of the sabbatical and going to the airport knowing we might have to pay Aud30 for every extra kg. That night, I regretted buying so many stuffs and praying very hard that God would grant us JOURNEY MERCY, a term I finally got to appreciate in this long journey. I needed mercy! On the way to the airport even though we have our angel friend who promised to standby to off load any excess baggages for us, I was still panicking...

 

Well, and of course, JESUS NEVER FAILS! We amazingly checked through every piece of luggage even though they were over the weight limit and truly, received mercy upon mercy. I personally experienced a miracle of losing and finding back my pouch in the most impossible situation just before we board the plane! It was unimaginable! No word for me to describe what I have felt. I could only say thank you, and thank you and thank you Jesus!

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. (Psalms 37:4, 5 NLT)

This promise was consistently experienced in every aspects in our Sixth Stop.