Breakaway Day One and Two

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So far, notwithstanding a little drama on day one, everything is getting on real fine here with my little "breakaway" :D I am just getting the rest I had so much come to need after so many months of juggling the various roles at work and ministry. It is always a wonderful feeling to be able to let go of all the roles and responsibilities back at home, for a little break away. Sitting at the departure lounge in Changi Airport on Sunday, as both my friend and I were preparing to head for Langkawi, we both agree how it seems so liberating when we walked through the immigration checkpoint of the airport, as we put aside all our roles, responsibilities, worries, struggles behind for the time being, for some time to ourselves. For me, I badly need this break to just rest and relax and also re-calibrate and seek God for some directions in where I need to go in work and ministry.

Maybe I really need a break because I am getting real forgetful. Just yesterday, I was going to the airport with some of my cell members who took time to see me off and I found that I lost my wallet. I panicked but then thank God that we managed to find my wallet in my friend's car. Then later in the evening, the same thing happened again but this time, I misplaced my pouch and in it was my passport. I remember getting off the taxi and started to frantically search for my pouch. It was a worrying night as I struggled between telling myself to relax (because I can really do nothing about it) while really worrying myself crazy. The resort staff were really helpful and helped me to call the airport and the taxi company. It took quite a bit of effort because the taxi companies don't seem to have a tracking system, so even though I reported the matter to the resort staff minutes just after alighting from the cab, it did take them a whole night to try to track down the driver. Heard they even had to get staff from the Langkawi airport to review the security tapes to see which taxi we boarded. But thank God that eventually, the next morning, I got a call from the reception, telling me that they managed to get in touch with the taxi driver and he will be delivering my wallet over. Wow, what a relief and finally, I could really stop worrying and start enjoying the vacation... What a rough start to the vacation. In fact, I felt quite bad for being so forgetful (second time in the same day) and putting my travel partner through this... Anyway, that's over for now and I am so glad to have been able to get my passport back. Now, it is "sitting" comfortably in the safe in the room :D

Anyway, I really like it here at Frangipani Langkawi, considering how the staff had been helpful in helping me to find my pouch and this itself has left a lasting impression. Then, the rooms are also large and it has a nice beach, good amenities (e.g. foot wash at the beach and outside each room to wash off the sand and umbrellas in the room, how thoughtful) and also a good view of the sunset. It is also an eco-friendly resort. OK, before I sound I am advertising for the resort :D Anyway, just had breakfast and am really so happy that I managed to be disciplined enough to have quiet time this morning with God. Frankly, I have told myself that I am going to also set aside time with God because I needed to hear from Him.

This morning's devotion on Acts 27:1-12, 1 Samuel 2:11-36 and Psalm 50 seems to be about obedience and disobedience to God. It really provided many contrasts between people like Hannah and Paul, who obeyed God and people like Eli and his sons.

1 Sam 2:25a If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?"

1 Samuel 2:30b Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

1 Samuel 2:35: I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always.

Psalm 50: 23 He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

Frankly, what struck me is how Paul stayed true to being faithful even during trials and could even hear from God clearly. And Hannah, had been faithful and had been blessed and kept her word to offer Samuel to the Lord's service and who then became an important figure in the bible. Frankly, I really long to be like a faithful servant leader for the Lord and to be used by God to minister to people. But then, on the other hand, I must agree that I am not ready for trials as that Paul has went through. It has been a tiring few months and I do see God work but then in terms of faithfulness, sad to say, I do not do as well. As much as I desire to do God's will, to minister to people, I still struggle with being wayward. But, I am reminded in today's devotion that I should not take God's grace for granted. While God is a merciful God, He is also a just God and does not take to sin and dishonour to Him lightly.

OK, on a lighter side... I had been trigger happy these few days, with my "new camera". I realise that, as much as not all people believe there is a God, but then everybody is always marveling at how wonderful nature is. To me, that is a wonderful testimony of God's creation. Again, I think, how can any cosmic activity or big bang theory can explain the wonderful things we see in nature? I don't know how to answer that but deep in my heart, I thank God each time I witness the work of His hands. And it really helps, with my new camera, I have been seeing God's work from a different perspective and trying to capture it in picture format for people. So far, the pictures turned out wonderful and while I am really happy with my camera, my capturing of the picturesque sceneries, it is ultimately God's creation that is beautiful.

So far, over the past 2 days, my and my travel partner had:

• Rented a car and travelled around the island
• Visited Oriental Village
• Took the cable car to the top of Gunung Macincang to have a view of the Telaga Harbour from the top.
  
• Climbed halfway to the waterfall just below Seven Wells (couldn't make it all the way up the slope to the top)
  
• Drove around Kuah Town
• Visited Durian-something waterfall
• Had foot massage yesterday (Ouch, quite painful on certain spots and quite ticklish on certain spots too, had to stop myself from laughing)
  
• Had spa today :D

So far, I really thank God for watching over me and my travel partner the whole trip:

• watching over the food we ate
  
• watching over us when we made a sharp turn today and how we swerved to the opposite side of the road but there as no cars on the other side
• watching over us when we were driving near the jetty in Kuah Town and we always steered off the road into the side and may have even hit a tree
• watching over us that there is no robbery
• watching over us as we travel and managed to always find our ways around, although we did get lost one time yesterday making our way form Kuah Town back to our resort
  
• helping me with my passport incident
• watching over the fellowship between me and my travel partner (it is tough when 2 stubborn people come together and there were near frustration with one another but we always laughed it off. In fact, we each had our roles to play during this trip and we have played them well e.g. I am the map-reader, planner, he is the driver, treasurer and the person who always do the asking). In fact, it was quick that both of us even got "systems" into place e.g. whenever we alight from our car, we will both check our side of the car to make sure it is locked.
• how we came to Langkawi at the right time because most Malaysians are making their way home to return to work after the long weekend, so Langkawi and the resort is not so crowded.
  

OK, now have to get more clothes because did not bring enough.

Well, an update about things between me and KM. Well, I am still very confused. Somehow, I feel my former cell leader may have spoken to her after she spoke to me over the phone about how I should take the initiative as the guy because she is waiting. How I know? Well, I do not know but then just sense it because that evening when we met, she was quite chatty and kept making fun of me. And then at our friend's wake, she helped me peel peanuts. Anyway, Saturday really paisay, misread an email and brought 3 of my cell members to the wrong place for a friend's grandfather's wake. Then later the next day, I lost my wallet and had to get their help to help me find. So paisay.

Was batheing this morning but then not alone... was batheing with a beetle. But then poor thing, seems like when I returned in the afternoon, it was dead in the bathroom because it overturned and when I tried to turn it back, there was brownish liquid coming out of it and it was motionless. RIP beetle who shared my bath with me.