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6Oct08

Photos:

- Clouds - I like clouds - it reminds me that ABBA has blessed me by seating me high above the nations on the world ... it is a very blessed position in CHRIST JESUS ... it is the very first blessing in Deuteronomy ... and the very first blessing is a blessing of our position in CHRIST JESUS - how excellent! Praise ABBA

- Huib from ICT Dept came to our residences to help me log into wireless internet access (a temporary measure until our LAN access is connected)

- The photocopiers at Fontys U are very solid - no smell of carbon, clean and made like a tank - they sound solid too.

- After photocopying notes, I returned to my flat and the lock jammed onto my key - praise ABBA, Tracy was home - so she could let me in. Nevertheless, I couldn't get into my room - because the door key is also my room key. I tried calling the housing agent's after-office telephone number but everything was in Dutch. I called one of our lecturers Jan, but it was an answering machine. As I was trying to locate a Dutch person to help me with the calls - Jan called back - hallelujah! He coordinated a workman to come and fix the lock. By the time it was repaired, it was about 1opm - yet, praise ABBA that His Grace is sufficient for me and the circumstances that I face. Indeed, He has blessed me by seating me high above the nations on the world!

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5Oct08

Sunday. Drizzled the whole day. Tracy and I decided not to attend the Maranatha and New Apostolic Church - as both services are in Dutch. So we worshipped in our own rooms.

Tracy had an inspiration from GOD and painted two lovely pictures to depict 3 Bible verses:

- Pro 3:5,6: Trust in The LORD with all your heart, and lean not upon your own understanding - in all your ways, acknowledge Him - and He will make your paths straight.

- Pro 19:21: Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

- Psa 130:5,6: I wait for The LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for The LORD, more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

She shared the Holy Spirit's leading for the above verses, and said she likes to paint as the SPIRIT inspires. She says her church in Singapore - Church of our Saviour - has a ministry of GOD's word with the creative arts, eg. art, music, dance, etc.

I shared that ABBA leads me in rather similar fashion, albeit in the field of simple photos.

Like today: I took a photo of the rain and meditated on one of ABBA's many promised blessings for Voon-Cheng in CHRIST JESUS found in Deuteronomy 28, verse 12 (personalized):

In CHRIST JESUS - ABBA blesses Voon-Cheng by opening the heavens - the storehouse of His bounty - to send rain on my land in season, and to bless all the work of my hands. Praise our Heavenly Father!

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4Oct08

Saturday. Decided to visit Hertogenbosch (a.k.a Den Bosch) again - on my own.

Photos show:

- A sea of bicycles at bike-park bay near Central train station. Netherlands have bicycle lanes, to encourage reduced use of fuel.

- Day ticket costs E$7.30, and arriving at the train station (just one station away from Tilburg station)

- Enjoying my seafood salad from New Holland stall (E$2.35)

- Enjoying my fish fillet from another seafood stall (E$2.70) - but not tasty.

- Posing at MacDonalds

- At the open market, where prices can be slightly cheaper than shops

- The Biotoop shop that sells organic products (bought organic apple cider vinegar)

- Hertogenbosch is well known for its old village ambience and ancient buildings - these are just two of the old buildings in the background.

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3Oct08

AM: Group study project called "Critical Friends".

PM: Celebrated birthdays for Yeeling (Sydney) and Ivana (Serbia).

Photo of Baby and Munira with me - they were able to attend this celebration as ramadan is over.

Photo of Maria with me - Maria is from Netherlands, and she is just a few months senior than me. She has two daughters and a son, adolescents, and work as a Special Needs Coordinator in a Dutch school.

(The can of beer in my hand is for "proost" pose only. "Proost" = Cheers)

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2Oct08

We had wanted to cycle to central for dinner, but it was drizzling and the sky was threatening - so we decided to have dinner at Euroscoop, just opposite Fontys U. In Euroscoop, there is a restaurant, a cinema, a fitness centre and I think some sports apparel retail shops. I had Chicken Schnitzel and a glass of wine. (To me, chicken schnitzel is like herb-batter coated chicken, I think the chicken was grilled) Dinner was E$14.50, rather pricey. What I like was the ambience at Brummel Bear (BB) eetcafe - it was spacious, had chandeliers and decorated with teddybear soft toys and bear motifs. I was told chicken schnitzel originates from either Austria or Germany. It can come with a special sauce if one wants to.

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1Oct08

Hmmm, October already. I could almost hear the Civil Defence siren sounding off at 12nn in Singapore.

After lectures today, we collected our monthly scholarship dues, and I cycled to the bank to deposit it. Then I cycled to city central where I took a photo with a tatty bear (it was promoting the opening of a new bookshop - but alas most of the books are in Dutch). Then I shopped for groceries at Plus. They have a 'bucket of apples' promotion. Last week it was only E$2.99 for a bucket brimming with apples. Today they took the price down to E$2.49, and it included really nice pears too. I've got so much apples in my flat, sometimes I have 3 per day, and I make a tangy drink of simmered apples. What's more than the price is - every Singaporean loves a free gift lahh! - the free bucket that goes with the apples and pears! Right now, I have 2 buckets - I can use them to organize all my gadget's wires, and I can use them for laundry. Since arriving for my studies, I've been handwashing all my clothes - habit lahh, habit! And the clothes dry really fast if I place them near the heater, even my jeans dry by the time I come back in the evening! Thank ABBA for a working heater system!

We had an evening dinner appointment. We celebrated Munira and Baby's Hari Raya Aidilfiltri with a pot-bless. Tracy and I cooked tilapia in tomato sauce. Ivana and Yeeling cooked rice and (? forgot the type) curry. Munira and Baby made pasta, tuna and brought corn (called maize here), sweets and fruit. We had a lovely time - lovely. Praise ABBA for friends.

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30Sep08

Two of our coursemates have just completed their Ramadan observation, and last evening was the final breaking of fast for them. Photo shows Munira and I after classes today. She and Baby will not cook today, bu will go to central to have some Muslim food. Munira is from Oman and Baby from Indonesia.