WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME...

It is hard to believe the year is coming to an end! As I look back, it amazes me how quickly time seems to have flown by. It is already Christmas in a week's time.

Of all the days and seasons of the year, the season of Christmas has always been the one that has captivated my heart since I was a child. It brings back so many joyful and loving memories of the Christmas celebrations we had as I was growing up. I am sure you can all imagine what it would be like in a large family as mine - parents and 8 children! At home after Christmas midnight mass, we'd come home and have a family Christmas wine toast with Christmas cake and cookies followed up with our family tradition - bread and "appam" with my Mum's excellent chicken stew - an Alexander family Christmas tradition.  There was lots of laughter and joy and love to spare as we exchanged gifts, shared stories and played card games. Often some of our friends would join our family on this night. Even all our pets celebrated Christmas with us and their dog house was also festively decorated and they got a special meal too! We all got very little sleep and be up to enjoy the Christmas open house my parents' unfailingly hosted - lunch for our friends and neighbours. So you can imagine how many people would drop by - my parents' invited friends and all the Alexander kids' school friends!

This is my 7th Christmas in India and away from my family and all my close friends. I had just come back recently after trips to Singapore and Hong Kong...with a couple of short stays with my Mum in Malaysia. When I was in all these countries, everyone I knew were talking and discussing their Christmas plans with great excitement and anticipation. Christmas trees were being put up and all the fun of buying gifts for all their loved ones and family holidays were being planned...there were Christmas carols in all the shopping malls and beautiful city light-ups in Singapore and Hong Kong.

All these brought back memories - both joyful and poignant ones to my heart. I had many wonderful memories memories in all these countries - in Malaysia where I grew up and in SIngapore and Hong Kong where I had lived and worked for 8 and 5 years respectively. As everyone was sharing all the things they were planning to do, I was just listening quietly and thinking how much my life has changed since I have been doing volunteer work in India.

For me, Christmas was always a time of love & joy - it still is! The only thing different is who I have been spending it with these years in India. I used to be someone who had to make many busines trips in my career. In my last job, it was a truly hectic period of non-stop travel from early September till just a few days before Christmas. I would be in many different cities around the world and I enjoyed experiencing the different ways the joyful Christmas spirit seemed to fill the air. The Christmas season of love and joy seems a universal one - with all the lovely and uplifting Christmas carols being heard everywhere, I could actually see more smiles and cheer amongst all the people. It was not just the Christians who were smiling and looking less stressed. There was even a happy holiday mood and cheer in our offices among people of all races and nationalities.

I am a person who absolutely loves Christmas. Every year, I would buy Christmas decorations even for my parents' home and my sister's home in Singapore - even when I was in Hong Kong! I always flew home to be with my parents for Christmas except once when I spent it with my brother in London. What's more, for a person who dislikes shopping usually, I am the happiest shopper in December! Why? Simple really...it is because it brings me great joy to buy a special gift for my loved ones, friends and work colleagues. I would feel all the stress just flowing out of me and joy coming into my heart especially at the Christmas vigil mass. I always felt a special inner peace and a sense of wonder that Jesus was born on this special day - He is 'Emmanuel - "God with us."'  (Matthew 1:23)



1st Volunteer Christmas Nativity Skit Dec 2004

In my first Christmas in India, I organized a Christmas Nativity Show & Celebration among all the volunteers and actually taught a group of Malayalam-speaking volunteers to sing aboout 15 English Christmas carols! They sang it during dinner time in the open air to all the retreatants on our retreat campus for 4 nights before Christmas. That was a truly special Christmas for all of us. It seems prior to that, there had never been any Christmas carols sung or a Nativity play put up in our retreat centre. We also had a campus wide - 'Christmas Friends' gift exchange. I never saw so many excited volunteers eager to pick out the names of their special Christmas friend. Of course, it has all gotten much more better over the years.



A Divine Home Christmas Visit

Many people ask me why I choose to spend Christmas in India, For me, it is because of Christmas Eve - when our Director goes to all the Homes giving out Christmas goodies lovingly sent by a group of my friends from Singapore. The residents of our Charitable Homes await excitedly for Santa Claus, the carolling group and for the warm wishes and foreign goodies from our ever-joyful Director, Fr. Augustine. The smiles especially on the children and elderly people's faces never fails to warm my heart with great joy. As they expect me to be there each year with our Divine Christmas group, many of them cheerfully greet me by name (especially at our Care Centre For The Mentally Ill) They come forward to shake my hand and to wish me a Happy Christmas too and ask me about my family in Malaysia! All of them are very much a part of our Divine Family - the AIDS patients, the mentally ill patients, the orphans, the abandoned elderly people and women.

Volunteers' Carolling Choir

This is what Christmas has come to mean for me in India. To see the joy on the faces of all these people. I cannot communicate with many of them as they do not speak English - but their smiles, their handshakes and their warmth need no spoken language. I do really miss my family and close friends. I miss the life I am used to especially during Christmas. Yet, to experience this few moments of joy with my extended Divine Family makes Christmas meaningful for me. I see the love of Jesus in the effort my friends take to send all the Christmas goodies every year; I see the effort some of volunteers put in to bring Christmas cheer; and I see the joy that many others do not see - because they have not been with us during these Christmas visits to our Charitable Homes. For me, this is the true meaning of Christmas now - to share the love and joy of Christ with those who have so many more problems and difficulties in their lives. We share a common bond...we are all children of God!

I will never forget the joy of all the Christmas Divine Homes' visits these past 6 years. It does not matter if our group is big or small. What matter is the love they have to sacrifice their time on the busy Eve of Christmas for others more in need. I look forward to our Christmas visit next week too - especially as I have an ex-colleague/friend, Joe,  and his daughter, Jean, spending their first Christmas with us in Divine!

Christmas Eve Vigil Mass in Divine

To all my dear family and friends around the world - you are all in my heart especially during Christmas Eve Mass. My heart is always filled with love and wonderful memories remembering all of you. I do say a little prayer for each of you - that we may all be Christ's Joy & Light to the world. We may be far away but our love and care for each other is very much alive in my heart every Christmas in India. Together, we can make a difference and bring JOY TO THE WORLD!

DOING IT FROM THE HEART

I do not know about how the rest of you may feel but there are days when having to persevere on a project or work close to my heart can seem just too much. I had been helping some friends coordinate two mission activities which are about to take place in Singapore and Hong Kong soon. After nearly 10 months of coordination, you would think I would be very happy isn’t it? Surprisingly, the answer was not yet until a short while ago.

Often after a long time of planning and coordination, when passion and enthusiasm was sky high at the start of the project, I run smack into a wall that has appeared from nowhere! Usually, this happens just at the final stages of achieving the goal. I feel tired, I wonder if I have it in me to do it all properly; I even wonder at times if I took on more than I can handle. Well, with all these swirling emotions, it is no wonder joy seems like an elusive butterfly.

That is when I remember the words of advice I often get from the priest I work for – “Do it slowly, little by little. Don’t worry, pray and God will guide you.” Often it would be preceded by, “Go and sleep now, Susan.”  I used to get very exasperated when I was told this initially (regardless of what time it was!) – it seemed absurd when the going was tough! How am I expected to go and sleep peacefully with obstacles that seemed difficult to overcome? Anyway, for some reason, I would obey and just do so and it always worked out beautifully.

 

I have realized that being aware of my own spiritual needs is very important. When there is much more to do, there is also much more need to pray more to be spiritually strengthened. It is not all about our own mental or physical strength. Nowhere in the bible does it say that God resides in my brain. In fact, it is stated God lives in our heart and the need to open our hearts wide. The bible verse, “For your heart will be always be where your riches are” (Luke 12:34) says it all.

To do anything in the right way that brings quiet joy and fulfillment to the very depths of our being, we must do things from our heart. That is what we see in truly inspiring people like Mother Teresa, Mahathma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. They faced incredible odds; they faced great hardship and obstacles; yet there are two things they believed in – to do everything in love and to pray.

Well, I had been feeling tired and somewhat deflated/depressed this past week until about 90 minutes ago - when I prayed and meditated quietly why I believed so strongly in these 2 upcoming mission activities. I then stretched out across 2 chairs in my office and took a short nap. Well, I got up with the urge to write a new posting for my blog. Yes! Not to do the pending work I still have but to write – an activity that brings me joy.

I just needed to take some time out to listen to my heart. And that is what I would like to share with all of you. In the rush and busyness of everyday life, we forget to listen to the gentle but persistent promptings of our heart. We need to do so – for then joy springs forth in all we do and we know, “What is impossible for man is possible for God.” (Luke 18:27)  

And you know what, I am finally excited and looking forward to be a part of two blessed events…

"Throw back the shoulders, let the heart sing, let the eyes flash, let the mind be lifted up,  look upward and say to yourself ... nothing is impossible!”

Norman Vincent Peale  (1898-1993);Preacher, Author

CAN YOU REALLY DANCE BETTER?

It's been one of those weeks when I am truly tired - and I am sitting here feeling very fuzzy headed! But I am sitting here thinking to myself, "Hey, it is Friday afternoon! I have met my self-imposed deadlines I had set for a couple of projects - so it has been a good week."

Well, it has also been a week that I have been missing have a dog as a pet for some strange reason! Perhaps it is because they can be so much fun to have around that I usually feel more relaxed and stress-free. I know my last post was on my neighbour's dog, Mao Li but I just have to share with all of you this truly enjoyable video of another dog, Carrie from Chile. I watched it a few times and I am sure this dog is so talented, it beats most of us hands down in of all things - dancing! Now tell me, how many of you think you can dance better?

If this talented and happy dog, Carrie and her owner Jose Fuentes of Chile do not amaze  and make you feel joyful, you must just be born grumpy! Enjoy...and viva Chile!!!

 

 "Be joyful always!" (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

MAO LI - A DOG WITH THE HEART OF AN ANGEL!

I grew up having many family pet dogs - in fact throughout my teenage years, we always had at least 2 dogs and at times three! And every dog was so special - they each had their own character just like humans with one difference - they were always so loving and accepting. They only seemed upset for a while if they had a scolding...which was quickly forgotten if any of us spoke lovingly to them. And our dogs knew they were greatly loved that often my parents would comment that our dogs did not know they were dogs because of us - the Alexander children and grandchildren. Yet one dog really stands out...



MAO LI

Mao Li  is not our dog - he belongs to my next-door neighbour. I never saw him or knew of him until 2007...that is until I returned for my dad's funeral. I noticed this dog that would turn up at 5.00p.m. sharp in the evening to sit right in front of the front door of our house and would return back to our neighbour's house only at  8.00a.m. sharp the following day by scambling over the high fence. How could this dog's timing be so exact? A couple of days later, we asked our Mum about the dog and she explained that he started coming over at the exact same time 3 days before my dad passed away. One thing really stood out - Mao Li absolutely loves my mother! The moment he sees her, he would be jumping all over her that it would cause her to laugh and he would not leave her side. We were all very intrigued by Mao Li's coming and goings!

Soon, Mao Li was at our place all the time that our neighbour actually  apologized.  However, we were very happy at this mongrel dog that brought such joy to my Mum in her days of grief. My nephew, Max, named him Mao Li (since he did not seem to have a name!) Well, Mao Li obviously loved his new name and would come bounding over to get petted and played with - and so the name stayed. We fed him, bought him snacks, toys and even a nice red leather dog collar. Mao Li was such a joy!  

How could a dog be like an angel? Yet, that is what I think Mao Li seems to be. He just knew my Mum needed a companion and he was utterly devoted to her - jumping and walking with her as she took her evening strolls or was in our garden. Mao Li came over to our house for over a year. During that time, most of us had long returrned back to where we all lived - scattered around the world....and there was Mao Li with my Mum! We have never ever been so grateful to a dog. He brought immense joy and comfort to my Mum. 

Exactly a year later, my Mum had a fulltime helper and we rarely saw Mao Li as our neighbours kept him in their fruit garden on the other side of their house. Later, my brother also gave my Mum a pet dog, Molly. Yet every trip home, we all wonder and ask about Mao Li. Last month on my recent home trip, Mao Li was running across the road having escaped with his leash - running right to our house. As I excitedly called out Mao Li's name, his ears pricked up and he came along jumping happily for a few minutes before running off with our family dog, Molly around the neighbourhood. I had not seen Mao Li for 2 years. At that moment as  I stood there, I thanked God for all the pets I have had in my life - our dogs, rabbits, chickens, parakeets and some "guest" pets who actually belonged to our neighbours. All of them brought joy and love into our lives - they too are wonderful creations of God!

I cannot have a pet here but I enjoy going back going back home to also spend time with our family's pet dogs. On Christmas day and special holidays, there is also the "Alexander" dogs in Malaysia 'family reunion'...when my brother brings his two dogs, Daisy and Cassie, to be with Molly. My Mum and I had a great vacation in Melbourne last year at my sister, Kathy's place, enjoying the antics of her cute and lovable dog, Jessie who loves catching frisbees and her pet toy - a stuffed green frog that croaks! She made our holidays very enjoyable!  Most of our dogs are rescued dogs - that is we get them from the SPCA or some were abandoned puppies that just came into our house...yet none of us would ever change them for the most expensive pedigreed dog in  the world. They love us and we love them - and that is all that matters! Indeed love has no boundaries...

EVER REALLY WONDER WHAT YOU ARE?

I do not know about the rest of you but when I was 10 years old, I thought the 17-year olds were old! Suffice to say, I never even thought about those in their 30s or 40s. As far I was concerned, anyone over 20 was really old...

As I pass through every decade of my life that I have lived so far, I have discovered something very interesting! Our actual age really does not matter  too much - I have known ten-year olds who seem to be 'really old and defeated' in life and those in their 40s and even those in their 80s who are still full of zest and energy.

It boils down to the big question we should ask ourselves - WHAT AM I?

For me, what I am is summed up perfectly in one of my favourite bible verses. It is of God's Promise to each of us - "I will give up whole nations to save your life, because you are precious to me and because I love you and give you honour. Do not be afraid - I am with you!"  (Isaiah 43:4-5)



Well, I came across this uplifing YouTube music video by Will.i.am  wiith the Sesame Street gang entitled aptly, "What I Am". I have never heard this song elsewhere or ever seen a video of it before. I hope every child and every person feeling down in life hears it. This song is for everyone!

Sing along if you want to. I hope it brings a smile to your face and add a spring to your steps.


Have a great week!

KINDNESS – WHAT DOES IT REALLY COST US?





On my recent trip home, I had a chance to meet with a number of friends and many of them asked me – what was it I have learnt in my 6 long years of volunteer service?

Children of Divine's St. Mary's Home

Over these years, I have learnt to have great faith in the goodness of people. I have seen  people - the rich  and the poor, the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' - who willingly reach out to others in kindness. I have experienced this especially in the Charitable Homes run by our mission, Divine Charitable Trust – the concern and love that the residents’ of the Homes have for each other.

I also vividly remember the hospitality and kindness when I visited some leper’ colonies in Chennai, India in 2003-2004. They lived in indescribable conditions. Yet all the children and the elders were coming up to shake my hand, bring a clean chair and even to get a bottled drink for me. Then they shared their life-stories and I was humbled and inspired! They were living in mud mounds that were so pitch dark, smelly and small that I could not believe humans lived in it.  I heard how they all helped each other as a community to survive in the middle of nowhere. I never forget these visits for it taught me a valuable lesson.

The beautiful part of kindness is that it does not cost anything. It is often free and yet it is priceless!

As I look back into my life, the people who always have a special place in my heart are those who have this special quality. It is difficult for anyone who has been at the receiving end of kindness to ever forget it. It is what gives me countless warm memories of my family, friends, teachers and ex-colleagues who have brought me joy in so many unexpected moments.

We never know when just a visit, a telephone call or an uplifting email can brighten a person’s day and give them hope and a moment of joy. Kindness in a smile, an act, a word – that is all it takes for us to bring some “sunshine’ to another person’s life…and thus into our own.

What I have really learnt is this - true joy is when I reach out to someone else.

The video above, "Random Acts of Kindness", is truly worth reflecting upon!

Rescued Chilean Miners' Hope and Faith a Great Lesson!

Yesterday morning I was so thrilled when I rushed to check the news on the Internet that the first of the 33 Chilean miners trapped 69 days – 10 weeks – was finally rescued! I am sure every human being across the world who had followed this incredible saga rejoiced at this wonderful, miraculous news!

This inspiring story of faith and hope is a lesson to all of us about unity, teamwork and most of all, one of trust in God. As the second rescued miner, Mario Sepulveda, 40, so poignantly admitted: "I have been with God and with the devil. I fought between the two. I seized the hand of God, it was the best hand. I always knew God would get us out of there."

I cannot imagine the tremendous emotion each miner, his family, the rescuers and the whole nation of Chile is experiencing now as they celebrate the success of this meticulously planned ongoing rescue operation.

For each of the 33 miners, it must be like being born again! They were trapped under tons of rocks and earth 625 meters below - the distance of a half-mile or twice the height of Eiffel Tower! The conditions were terrible as they survived in a pitch dark, extremely hot and humid mine. The miners showed great grace through their close-knit solidarity and unity which is what kept them all alive and in good spirits.

The Internet, TV and newspapers often seem filled with negative and gloomy news.  It is a great joy to read and view the jubilant celebrations of the “new” life of these miners. As I write, I am reading the news that the 19^th miner, Omar Reygadas, 56, falls to his knees clutching his bible upon being rescued. I give thanks to God and pray for the safe rescue of the remaining 14 miners!

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera eloquently said in words what millions of people all over the world are feeling when he said that “the rescue operation was ‘without comparison in the history of humanity’ and that the entire country had learned from the miners ‘the value of faith and of hope, the value of comradeship and solidarity.’”

The 33 miners have taught the entire world a beautiful lesson in living.

For now, let us all rejoice in this heart-stirring miracle!

“Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment.”

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) - Emperor Of France

ENJOY THE MOMENTS...

It is nearly a week since I have been on my home break - and it has been a whirlwind of activities. To use the word a vacation or R & R break is a misnomer! Yet, I have been having a very happy time...

In the  midst of seemingly endless driving around, I have had a lovely time with family and meeting with a few friends in Malaysia and Singapore. What's more - I have had time to indulge in the local food that I had been missing.

We often take for granted what is easily available or accessible to us in our daily life. So I actually believe it is good to be without the things I enjoy at times! Then, like I have found personally, I truly appreciate and enjoy the moments when I do get a chance to experience the many blessings and good things I DO have in my life!

In this week alone, I have been thankful for a few things that I think some of you may never think to be thankful for as it may seem like mundane, everyday things you can easily have! Below are a few of enjoyable moments I had:

• Having whatever I wished at mealtimes
• Able to raid the fridge at the oddest of hours for an ice-cream cone or chocolate or a cold drink!
• Hopping into the car to buy stuff even till about 10 p.m.
• Late supper with friends
• Playing with the family pet dog
• Reading newspaper leisurely over breakfast
• Watching TV at night while seated on my favourite leather recliner chair

I just realized I am enjoying these very simple everyday moments. It just goes to show that when I had all these things in my life as a given, I forgot to be thankful for these seemingly "little" blessings. Yet, if I look at my everyday life both at home and in India, there are countless "little" blessings every single day...

Goes to show that I should be thankful to God everyday and not take my life for granted!

I Have A Dream

For some strange reason, I have been having some ABBA songs in my head these past few days! It began when I started singing along with them on Friday as I was working. It brought back memories of home with my parents and older siblings. My late elder sister had the records of ABBA’s songs so I remember her specially.

Guy & Kathy

It also makes me realize why I am so happy that tonight I am getting on the flight for my month-long home vacation! I am going home to family and friends and the chance to do many things I love but took for granted when I was in the working world. Now as a volunteer overseas, I truly appreciate all these things whenever I am home. They become treasured memories… in fact, my youngest sister, Kathy, and my brother-in-law, Guy, from Melbourne will be there on their delayed honeymoon in Malaysia and Singapore. It will be a joyous family time at home with our Mum!

Many people often ask me why I am willing to give up so many things for these past six years. The only word I can think of to say is I have a dream in my heart. It is why the ABBA song – “I Have a Dream”, is just the right tune for me at the moment.

We should all have dreams to achieve! It is what keeps us young-at-heart and happy. It helps us look at life and not focus on our mistakes or failures. For me, to have this dream enables me to stay positive and to know I have it within me to make a real difference.

But it would be meaningless if my dream was not solidly anchored to a steady foundation. I find it in my faith – “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

What is more I do believe that God will always send help when I most need it for our ministry projects – from people who I call my human angels. Psalm 121 is a personal favourite of mine especially the first two verses, “I raise my eyes towards the mountain, From where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121-1-2).

When I first came here, I worried incessantly how all the charitable works undertaken could be sustained. I come from the business world where I had to write 1-year, 3-year and 5-year plans every year but first we had to have the funds in hand! To suddenly be involved in works depending solely on God’s Providence and in prayer to help our mission was hard to comprehend. It is like I had to acquire a new brain and to listen to my heart’s gentle promptings more! But I have now lived and experienced it in so many ways these past 6 years. I now believe that when we have faith and trust in God, we can have big dreams for He make all things possible!

Well, I am going back for a much-anticipated break but I will be back in India to pursue my heart’s dream. I feel being too much of a realist can be a dampener at times. So indulging in a little fantasy on the tough days to keep a dream alive is a good thing! There is a lot of goodness in this world and I hope I can also contribute to it.

For now, I can’t wait to see my Mum, sisters and all my loved ones real soon. Life is great!

TO BE SEEDS OF LOVE ON EARTH...

I have always believed in the maxim – live life to the fullest!


Well, I would like to share the You Tube music video and the lyrics of “The Rose” with you. So please do sit back and listen/sing along to the video for the next few minutes. I hope the words of the song will speak volumes to your heart too!

Some say love, it is a river

That drowns the tender reed

Some say love, it is a razor

That leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love, it is a hunger

An endless aching need

I say love, it is a flower

And you, its only seed

It's the heart, afraid of breaking

That never learns to dance

It's the dream, afraid of waking

That never takes the chance

It's the one who won't be taken

Who cannot seem to give

And the soul, afraid of dying

That never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely

And the road has been too long

And you think that love is only

for the lucky and the strong

Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snow

Lies the seed

That with the sun's love,

in the spring

Becomes the rose

MY MEMORIES OF MALAYSIA ON MERDEKA DAY!

Yesterday, some secondary school classmates and I were reminiscing about our friendship. Since we re-established contact (thanks to Facebook!) in late 2008, we are always in constant touch.

It made me realize – there is just something about being childhood schoolmates that creates a great and long lasting bond of friendship. Many of us now live in different cities and even countries; we had not kept in touch once we went on for our higher studies – mainly overseas. But amazingly…it is JUST like before! We joke, laugh and just have girl chatter on Facebook nearly every day! We are of different races - Chinese, Malay and Indian and of different faiths – Buddhist, Muslim and Christians. The best part is we are great friends and nothing else matters!

Dr. Sia Ah Hiok

I remember Malaysians were like that when I was growing up – we did not look at each other and think what race or faith we were. We just looked at each other and saw a person. Unfortunately due to race and religion being used in Malaysian politics, the mood and what I read in the papers seem to show we are losing the spirit of being first and foremost Malaysians! I am apolitical. Frankly, I just do not like ANY politicians – they seem a whole different species to me invading earth! Yet, I am aware that if more like-minded Malaysians do not step up to the plate and speak up, the Malaysia that we grew up in will disappear altogether. It is why I have the outmost respect for my childhood friend, Dr. Sia Ah Hiok, Director of Student Services, who is in the forefront in the education of our Malaysian youth at INTI International University College. She is a wonderful human being – full of zest, enthusiasm, fun and intelligence. So I continue to have faith there must be more unsung heroes like her around doing a great service for our nation.

I miss the days of multi-cultural spirit of sharing and living as Malaysians. “Muhibbah” – “Goodwill” was real. The joy we had as all of us would meet up as a group to help celebrate our classmates’ Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Deepavali and Christmas were the highlight of our childhood friendships. Imagine all the wonderful Malaysian food our Mums’ prepared for all the visitors who dropped by. That was truly a Malaysian concept – Open House! Anyone could visit and be fed a sumptuous lunch. There were some people whom we never saw except for Christmas lunch! I never gave much thought about it then. But that was true neighbourly love at its best! To think of how much cooking had to be done – using my family as an example, there was my dad’s work friends, my parents’ friends, and the classmates/workmates of the 8 Alexander kids! It’s like feeding an army of hungry creatures who seemed to have worked out their arrivals with clockwork precision – when one group left, the other group turned up. The best part was we had no mobile phones or internet then.

Malaysia is 53!

Today, Malaysia is 53 years old! It is still a beautiful country and Malaysians are generally a very warm, friendly and caring people. We need to forget about racial and religious politics and do what is best for EVERY Malaysian. We cannot survive without the talents and sacrifices made by every community towards what has made Malaysia what it is today…In fact, we will definitely miss each other! All Malaysia needs is people who have genuine love for every citizen. Unfortunately I have to admit, I love Malaysia when I am away but I actually find it really hard to live in Malaysia. Guess we all have to love our Malaysia the way St. Paul best describes love!

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or

arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable

or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the

truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures

all things. Love never ends….And now faith, hope, and love abide,

these three; and the greatest of these is love.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13)

I Love Cartoons!

There are some things in life that just put me in a good mood – even today! One of it is watching my favourite cartoons. It is why I actually enjoy watching a Disney movie over most other movies.

Perhaps it is because cartoons remind me of my happy childhood. I am from a big family of 8 kids. I was the No. 6.

I remember days of climbing rambutan and guava trees, climbing up the poles of the swing in my house, hanging from the top or sliding down the poles and of riding bikes at full speed down a slope and trying not to crash into neighbours’ front gates! Initially, I used to end up in the drain across my house and proudly showed off my multi-coloured bruises! In fact, When I was 6-7 years old, I distinctly recall climbing up the guava tree, plucking the guavas, then getting on to the roof of the garage and from there jumping down to the ground thinking I was Superman! Well, for some reason, I never pictured myself as Supergirl or Wonder Woman. Probably because it boggled my mind to wear what I saw in comic books that Wonder Woman wore every day! I was a great tomboy throughout my schooldays and dressed permanently in t-shirts and shorts except to go to school or church.

There were always cartoons on TV in the evenings after school and on the weekends. I especially love Flintstones and Scooby Doo. In fact, up to my working days in Hong Kong, I would still catch episodes of these cartoons whenever I could! I watched it every day while in college.

Cartoons really helped mould us as kids in a fun way – because it is always about the good overcoming the bad. It actually taught us to be sorry when we do wrong things, to own up if we did something wrong, to be kind to others and to just value family and friends. Imagine all that just from cartoons! Well, that was how cartoons were when I was growing up. For some reason, I cannot relate to the cartoons on TV for children these days. It must be my age showing up! Now it is about war and inter-planet fighting and somehow they just do not look as warm and appealing cartoon characters.

Well, it’s Friday today – a time to just relax and feel good about life over the weekend. I think I shall try to remember one happy moment from my ‘growing up’ days at least once a month in my blog. For today, I leave you all with a YouTube video of Scooby Doo’s Theme Song. I hope you enjoy and recall your own happy memories of your childhood too. Share it over lemonade with your kids or over a cappuccino with friends – I am sure it will be a happy, bonding time…

11 Year Old Girl - Angel To The Homeless

A week ago, I came across an article of a few kids who were making a great charitable difference in the world. One child’s project really caught my attention – because it was so simple for anyone to do! Katie Stagliano, a 11-year old American girl has grown and donated over 4,000 pounds of vegetables to feed the homeless in her hometown of Summerville, South Carolina, USA. It all started with her one unselfish act to feed the homeless in 2008 after a cabbage plant she received in her 3rd grade program with Bonnie Plants grew to a 40-pound cabbage!

What truly touched me was how this wonderful child, Katie, was so inspired that a great dream was born in her heart and she has not looked back!

As Katie shares in her website (www.katieskrops.com) “In May of 2008 we brought my cabbage to Tri County Family Ministries. When I walked in I saw a huge line of people (275!) waiting for what might be the only meal they would have that day. The people who worked there and who were eating there were so friendly and nice. As I served my cabbage to the guests and they thanked me for helping to feed them, I knew I could and I should do more to help. That day at Tri County Family Ministries my dream was born. My dream is that there are no hungry people. I may only be 11 but I know I can do it.”

Katie has inspired her whole school body of students - from kindergarten to 12th grade! Her school donated a huge plot of land and every student is helping and the harvest is donated to feed the hungry people. As I read about Katie, I was thinking about the generosity of her heart and her concern for the poor. Great credit has to go to her parents for bringing up their children with good and loving values.

Katie is a very confident and articulate 11-year old. Even her email to me seemed filled with joy! In fact, she has the highest GPA of her class for the last 4 years! Besides her studies, Katie has swim practice and tennis matches to take part in besides her daily watering and tending of the gardens.

What Katie is doing certainly makes me reflect on what each person can do – if we set our mind and heart to it. I ask myself – have I been setting limits to what I can personally do to make this world a better place for the poor, the sick, the needy – all those who are struggling in life for one reason or another? I might be doing volunteer work for 6 years now but Katie has inspired me to do even more. Why? Simply because I know I can do more!

I am sure just doing a family charity project will help each of us to have more love in our hearts for those in urgent need. It will be a good idea for this coming Christmas as a start – a season of giving. Each of us has talents that God has given us. If I want to make a real difference, I can. A bible verse that often inspires me when I am doing something really difficult and gives me the needed energy to focus on the goal is - “This is impossible for man, but not for God; everything is possible for God.” (Mark 10:27) So I pray and persevere and the impossible have often become possible. A point I sometimes forget!

I am sure each of us can make a big difference in our community. The only question is – are we willing to do so?

My First Blog Post!

I have finally stopped just thinking about it! Over the years, friends have been asking me to write. Well, writing has always been therapeutic -It de-stresses me! Serving in a ministry, I have realized how often so many people are bogged down with troubles, they forget to be thankful for what they have - even me at times!

Yesterday I was speaking to a married lady and asked her when was the last time she did a romantic gesture to show her husband of 29 years that she loves him. She looked at me as if I had grown two heads! I was just giving some simple ideas that did not cost anything and she began looking very hopeful.Then I asked her if she had ever said sorry to him - and she told me, "No! - you know, Susan, I have never done that in all these years!" Now, that I know will make a huge difference! As we spoke more, her face lit up and she realized they actually both love each other. They were just not showing or recognizing it after all these years.

Well, her husband's birthday is apparently a few weeks from now. I am sure he is going to be thoroughly surprised! As far as I am concerned, we should never stinge on showing our love for those we care.

I am not waiting till my last breath to do so. I have often seen the joy in my loved ones when I write, express and show my love for them. It may not be in the words but from their faces, I know there is quiet joy in their hearts...and in mine!