It can be a shocking sight for new people who come to visit our church. Who hops onto the podium to give a sermon but a man wearing a T-shirt or a golf shirt, with Kakki shorts and thongs on his feet. Took me a while to ajust to them, instead of tie and suit. But I like it. I admire their honesty that look pass the the outfits which so often are just good looking visage which give people false image of the person wearing it when in deed, he is just an ordinary person like you and I. What makes him extra ordinary is that Jesus is working in his life and he is sharing what he has learned (not what he knows) with the rest of us. Jesus can also work in us if we let him and each one of us should have our own wonderful and powerful experience with Jesus to share with others, may be not in the form of an half an hour speach. Ever heard of stale sermons? Just too many to contend with! We can be easily fooled by what we see than what we hear.





To-day Sandy (the young adults' pastor) gave his yearly sermon. He has a different speaking style than the rest of the pastors. It almost seems he is bouncing his thoughts over one things to another and if we are not focused, we can easily lose him. So I dropped down notes on a piece of paper inorder to better follow him.


He talked about:


- the Kingdom of Heaven is described as a treasure, as a pearl in the Bible (not fit for people who trash it).


- The foundation of our true joy is our salvation in Jesus


- The only way to keep it is not to continue in our sin (that is 'repent' whenever God let us know

some thing in our lives does not pleases him).

- Give up the stuffs that hinder our relationship with Him. Let him deal with them.


- Jesus considers the reward of relinguishing sin in our lives greater than the cost.


- Unbelieve leads to the opposite of 'Joy'.


- Sin is OK when we become 'an avoider' - 'run away from things which God call us to do' or

'run through things which God did not call us to do'.


- The Bible challenge us to be good athletes, to run with persistent, to run with a goal, to get

the approval of god, to receive the real reward. Not running around aimlessly.



Doing the right things or the things we so desire sometimes seems impossible.


Sandy put on a documentry clipping at the end of his sermon. It is about a young man who is crippled with sistic fibrosis. He wanted to run a marathorn. He father who is an athlete, wanted to fullfill his son's wish by pushing his son on the wheelchair while he run the marathorn, he was on the bike with the son in the front, he was rolling a dingy with son on it, he was carrying his son up the slop in his arms and finally to the finishing line.


The message was so powerful. I can't help but to notice that I am the crippled child and the Godher is my father. As long as I surender myself to Him, he will run for me.

I am so thankful for the younger generation who compose contempory worship songs with their electric guitars, drums and a host of other instruments. So often I can carry those songs with their beautiful lyric in my heart through out the day. They make my happy days happier and they change my sad days to happy ones too, because I no longer focus on my self, they turn my eyes to the Lord, to remember he is with me, he is in control, he is everything I want.





I like to meditate on the names of my God - He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is Jehovah, the great "I AM'. He is the Creator, my Wonderful Counsellor, my Comforter, the Prince of Peace , the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is my Shepherd, the Truth, the Way and the Life. He is the Light, the Living Water, the Bread of life. He is my Defender, my Shield, my Refuge, my Rock, the Chief Corner Stone, the Door, the Gate, the Vine, the Anchor and the Lover of my soul. He is my Provider, my Everlasting Father. He is the Glory of God, the Holy One, the Only Begotten Son of God, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Savior, the redeemer, the Highpriest, the Resurrection and the Life, the Bridegroom of the church. He is the Friend of sinners, my Best Friend, my Master.

Jesus looked at the multitude that follows him and he was sad because he knew they only come to him for the food that would perish.


How often we are like those people, we go to Jesus for the things that our bodies need. Jesus has pity on us and he grants what we have not even asked for. Then we turn away from him to do our own things until the next time we have want again.



Is going to church every Sunday and paying him our lips service enough to call him 'my lord'? During the service, our minds are thinking of the things we had done or what we want to do for the rest of the day and the days ahead. We are drifting in and out of the sermon which is only good enough to itch our ears because we know that as soon as the the service is over we will go to do whatever we want.



God looked down from heaven and he knows what is in each one of our hearts.

Jesus will say to us at his return, 'Why call me lord, lord and do not the things I ask you. I do not know you, depart from me'. Luke 6:46

So if we do not have the 'passion for Christ' in our hearts as much as we want to, what should we do? Ask God to reveal himself to us so that we can experience Him, so that we can know him more intimately and love Him.

Had fun going out for lunch with Sherry. The soup was sooooo good ( got a funny long name that I cannot even remember) and the cookies, yum....

She told me the instructor had taught and given out Phonics in Action to teachers of 70 schools in India. They were so happy. May be they can find printers to print their own in the future. Already some schools for the Dalit children are building good standard and reputation of teaching English to the children more so than the ones that charge fee. One parent even beg the Dalit school to take his child who attend grade 5 in a different school. When he was told they do not yet have grade 5 in the Dalit school, he then said, 'put him in grade one, for you are doing a better job than the other'. So, what do you know? God's way is mysterious.

While I was sharing with her my spiritual journey, Sherry commented that she had problem talking spirtual things with a certain group of Christian women. So I used the example of Irene, who likes to talk about 'God Moment' which inturn reminded me of my own experience recently.

There were two particularly hot days in the beginning of July. I happened to go to Richmond to pick up something from this other Montessori school and of course, whenever I am in Richmond, I do not forgo the opportunity of bringing home the Chinese grocery, especially Jared's favourite BBQ pork buns. Since he likes it for lunch sometimes, I bought extra packages. By the time I came home and stuffed them all in the overdue defrosting freezer, it is close to bursting from the seam. I ignored my common sense because I didn't feel like dealing with it. The next day, when John went down for some icecream, he was alarmed that lot of stuff are 'going soft'. I had my own agenda on that day. So I just quietly wished it away. By the evening when I went down for icecream. I saw the reality and ran upstair to ask John to think of some device for the problem. Whereby he said,' See if you can keep the stuff in Laura's freezer'. My first thought was, Laura (my ex-neighbour) had been dead for 2 years. Though her children have not sold her house but why would they wanted to keep the freezer running. I said to John that no one lives in that house and John said,' Phone her daughter ( who lives in a different area). I thought, what kind of suggestion is that? I hardly know her daughter, I wouldn't in a million want to trouble her. It is just a easy opt out of John to pass the bucket to someone else instead of working out the problem on our own. I was totally frustrated. So I tromped back downstairs, pulled out all the coolers and stuffed most of the food in. Then unpluged the freezer, laid a thick towel and two pails on the bottom shelf, hoping the garage floor won't get flooded by the morning.

As I signed a relief and sat down infront of the TV, the program happened to have a print out on the screen which said,"IF THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS TOO FAR FETCHED, THERE IS HOPE". It came to me like a bolt of lightening. I know right away it was God speaking to me through the media! Oh my God, I couldn't believe how real you are to me. That is one of the perpatual problem I have with John when he always give me his ridiculous ideas at crucial moments. Yet God said, ' There is hope!' Ok, I said to God, 'Next time, I will try to look at it from a different angle'. I was tickled.

The next morning. I went down stairs fearing the worst. The floor was not wet (which was a relief), the tubs are filled and the ice had all melted. That was a perfect situation. I remembered in the previous times, I had to spend hours hagging the ice away. Until later on, John pointed out the water runs out from the back of the freezer. That was fine with me because I can just let it dry itself! Ha, ha, ha.

Just two weeks into my holiday, another one of my wish has transpired. For the last few years, everytime when I looked up the ceiling of the classroom, I wished something can be done about it and the lighting. So John and I visited a lighting company on a week-end and found something that would be nicer for our classroom.

Sharon is very resourceful as far as different services are concerned. She seems to have a link with people of all trades. She recommanded me her friend who is a professional renovator for schools and government buildings. He finished painting the ceiling and installing the lights for me in three evenings. What a relieve to have it done by someone else.

Thanks for Diane who lives across the border. John ordered the Cassell's Gardening Encyclopedia from Amazon.com to send to her, so I end up paying only $9 ( skipping the UPS cross border fee) instead of $50 for the book. I love bargins! I can also feel less helpless with plant problems. Thank you Jesus!

Farrah called me few days ago to help out with VBS. I signed up to help on condition that they do not have enough volunteers. Last night was BBQ and information night. I was a little bit nervous because I had never work with Sunday school. It was wonderful to see Joy volunteering too. Also I had a good visit with Alfrieda after not seeing her for months because we go to the late service. She will be making her yearly trip to Cyprus soon. This time will be gone for 4 months. I will miss her.


It was just an awsome team work. 200 kids and security is top priority because of the sick world we live in. I almost feel like being a special agent to watch out for the 4 kids under my charge. We had wonderful, roudy and passionate singing and dancing time with the band with African drums. I always want to jump during the worship songs on Sunday. Since not too many people do it, I feel inhibited. This time, everybody did, soI can let loose too. It's so satisfying.

There were so many catchy songs:
- Love ees like a circle
- Oh, happy days
- Thuma mina
- The funky chicken etc.

Joe Defries really knows how to make the kids sing and scream to the top of their voice. His drumming is awesome. His wife is 9 months pregnant, yet jumping to the songs with a chubby three year old son on her back. Guess being athletic makes a big difference. I couldn't even walk properly at that stage. Fugio is over 6 feet tall, father of a sweet smily baby boy, he was the mc and passionate dance leader among the midgets. He kept everybody laughing with his African accent silly talk.

To-day, Vicki announced at church there were 130 volunteers from age 12 to 80 plus helping out in the event. Sounds like I've got a few more years to enjoy it.

Have to do a little back tracking...........about the thoughtfulness of our two children. Jo was too busy with her garden project, so Jared and I went out for Phoa on Mother's Day after church. We had a good time visiting and sharing thoughts. Jo came the following week. We headed out to Minter Garden. Thought there was a bit of squabble during the drive which marred the day. We decided to put it behind and ended up having a good time in the garden. I am sure God make plants and flowers for us with the intention of taking out stress in life. How we utilize it affect the result.

Then came Father's Day. It was very nice Jo came to church with us. We went to Richmond and had lunch at a resturant by the wharf. Then we went to our past favorite kite flying site. But Jared didn't think there was enough wind to pick up his kite. So we end up laying on the mats to catch up with our sleep. It was nice just being together doing nothing since it does not happen very often.

I had this idea of an alumni reunion in my head the last couple of years. Last year I ran into the parent of 2 girls, she said her twin daughters were entering into the first year of high school. Afterwards, I kept thinking it won't be very long when they don't want to come to my reunion, so I better act soon.

As if everything seems to be working together. I finally took the effort of finding a few packages of 'hard - to - find invitation card', pulled out the records and sent out 20 cards. Not requesting for RSVP. Just hoping for surprises.

The day came, Sharon and I had the place and food and banner ready in the last minutes.
Shannon was dropped off early by her mom. They had moved to Vancouver for the bigger and better soon after Shannon finished school with me. I was so surprised Shannon showed up at my door couple months ago and told me she and her mom had moved back to Sunshine Hills recently. She even came back another day to work in my school on her high school PD day. I can't forget the fact that I spent literally the first year teaching Shannon the numbers 1 to 9.
I thought this kids was pretty hopeless. Then she serged ahead the second year and started reading. Her mom was beyond her joy that she even wanted me to help her older highschool daughter later. Though I was glad it didn't materialize.

As soon as the banner was hung, people start to arrive steadily. There was Kimmy and her mom Kathy, a real nice friendly and outgoing lady, now a real estate agent. I remembered in those days, they always show up at my driveway with different fancy cars. It turned out her husband is a car dealer so they can have fun driving other people's used cars. Kimmy was such sweet little kitten, now she is a young lady and appears to be more aloof. I gave her a big hugs anyway. She brought along a friend whom I didn't recognize. It turned out to be Amy, the real character.
Amy used to dead locked herself from her mom's neck down with her arms and legs on the day to school. We had to pry her out and she would not answer me for anything. It took us a whole year to warm up. Now she is so big and tall and different and friendly. I told her I had to make it up on her now. Just kidding! There was also Julia, whose mother was not here but was taken in by Kimmy like a baby sister. She must be a year or two younger than Kimmy, but not a whole lot smaller in size, yet sat on Kimmy's knees most of the time. Boy, the crying she made when she had a fit was no match by others.

Then there was Jesse (the smart kid) and his mom. I had not seen Jesse all these six or seven years though his parents had built a new house on Kemptson. Her mom I saw the most, walking the dog or riding a bike. So much so we ran out of things to say to each other. She brought me and Sharon each a yellow rose on a glass swan. So sweet of her. This is a good chance to really catch up.

Then Liz came with Trevor, he nearly melt my heart in those days. So cute and sweet. Though his performence was average in my school, his mom thinks he was more gifted than his older brother who did not even read after spending couple years at Roots and Wings Montessori.

Ting Ting's mom dropped off her daughter off and would not stay. Though I ran into her at SaveOn not too long ago and got her phone number. In those days, she was the rich sister in law of Rev. Paul and Aileen whose children were also in my school. But wouldn't finish their Montessori education for various reasons and were not doing too well. But Ting stuck in with me for three years and her achievement was remarkable for an ESL. I love Ting, she is always unassumming and focus.

Then came Joan with her two younger children Samantha and A.J. A nice mom who wants the best for her children's education but probably straining the finance of her accountant husband.
Her two older boys were smart but finding public school too boring. So she asked my opinion and switched them to Roots and Wings. But that school was so unscrupulous that they lured Samantha and A.J. away from me by giving their parents a special financial package for their four children. By the time when the mom found out that she was not happy with that school, she came to beg me to take her two younger ones back. I barely got AJ back in and had to tutor Sam afterschool. AJ could had been an ADD in public school if I didn't pin him down for the three years that he spent with me( he reminds me of a little motor scooter running around the classroom). Fortunately, he finally established his good work habit, learned to read and write. Sam was an ADD too like her two older brothers, except she did not disturb others but she could go on a long day dream miles a way. The one on one was tutoring sure good for her. A year ago, I ran into their grandmother who told me both children are good students in school. Joan tried to adopt a Taiwanese girl whose divorced father died in Vancouver. But the girl was finally taken back to Taiwan with the mom. For a while she lost her. I asked if she ever get connected with the girl again she said yes. I am so glad. I am sure the girl will come back to her when she grows up. Now Joan has accomodated two Korean students in her home. I wonder how this lady remain sane with 6 kids in the house.

Then came Dennis and her twin daughters. They just finished first year high school. They were in one of the earliest class in my school. At first, they both attend the parent participation preschool in Sunshine Hills (an elite school in some peoples' eyes). The girls' mom just wanted something else to fill up their time. So she sent her girls two days a week to me. It turned out Kerrin wanted to attend my school the following year but not Vanessa who seemed to be the younger and less matured of the two. The change influenced several families who switched their children to me from the other school. Of course I won't approve the children going to two different school at the same time because our philosophies are so different regarding training. So the other school stepped up keeping their children from coming to me. At that time, I still run my school in July. They would ask the parents who had difficulties with their children to send their children to me just for that one month to straighten them up. Little do they know it takes more than a month to train a child. So I turned them down. The other preschool got alarmed and declared me their competition. The two older girls looked perfect with their clothing and hair do. But they seem so inhibited with their manners - no food, no drink, like typical young ladies. But I am awfully glad they bothered to come.


Finally my so seemed life long family arrived. The Szakuns and their four children. They said they paid me seven years for those four kids. The oldest one Mark, was with me when he was only 2 1/2. A chubby little turkey ball. I still remember picking him up to reach the climber while his parents (his mom being 8 or 9 months pregnant) sat in a corner of the yard to make sure we are handling him right. Mark cried from time to time and didn't want to come to school for the first year. Finally, I asked his parent to send him to me 5 days a week instead of 3, so he can establish a daily routine rather than not knowing which day he comes to me. That worked magic. From then on, he was happy. I never met his new born baby sister until she was 1 1/2 years old. Her mom brought her along to one of the field trips in the fall and she was wearning the face paint of a kitten. Was she ever adorable. As cute as a button! Then Janet was pregnant and had Natalie, a real climber all over the furniture (fortunately, only in her own home). The two girls went through my school like a wiz, learned how to read and write. I always wonder how did they get away in such a hurry. Then I figured out one day that their mom always tack on the next kid with the older one in spring and then they stayed the next two years with me instead of three. What a bargin. Just like 'Cheaper by the Dozen'. But the girls did well all the way in school both in French and English.Then came Ben, the baby with a heart defect. The parent were even debating if they should terminate the pregnancy. Fortunately they received some good advice from their perish and decided to keep the baby. The first few years was tough. Ben could not be exposed to germs. And germs they had plenty from the three older kids. Ben had to go through many surgeries. Fortunately mom is a nurse and did the best she could in and out the hospital. Dad is such a gentle giant always overlooking imperfections, chipping in to help and being cheerful about everything. There were days when I saw him arriving with a foggy head and I just prayed that he won't keel over. When Ben entered my school, he was a spoiled kid on a very loose string. His mom wrote me a three pages instruction what to do if he had a fit. Ben went through two years without making a scene for me. But he has he way of getting away with his family. May be that is why Mark grew into such a gentle character like his dad after all the wear and tear by his younger brother. It was good to see them all.

Then there were Terry and his friend Adam dropped off by one of their grandparents. It was good to see them too though I never got too much out of the boys.

I went around and had a good visit with everybody. When it came to Ting, I asked how her dad was, if he still living most of his time in Taiwan managing his enterprise of publishing English text books or workbooks for Taiwanese students. Then Ting told me her father passed away two years ago with cancer. I was in shock. Her father was tall, good and healthy looking man a few years ago. He was a very successful business man. He had so much money that he even bought a farm in Langley because he fancy having a farm. He did not care to take care of it, so he sent his brother and his family who knew no better about farm life than him to live there for him. Though his brother and wife were dedicated Christians, Ting's dad and his family would have nothing to do with Christianity. Probably regarded it as no more than old women's fable. I remember Paul was the sickly one, not Ting's dad. I always wonder how this would pan out.

Pastor Scott was right on Sunday - our life on earth is to prepare for our life after death, no matter how we do it. Too bad Ting and her mom are moving back to Taiwan for good in July and I cannot do more with them. However, I asked them to write down their address in Taiwan and Ting gave me her e-mail address too.

Finally, everyone left the party. I took picture with individual families. The moms said we should do it again because they had such a good time. I said how soon? One said in five years. I thought 'fat chance the kids would come by then'. They would be so wrapped up in their serging hormone and other things, they would not have space in their head for me. Hope it proves me wrong.

Few days after the reunion, I wanted to write down Ting's address in my directory. I took a better look at her e-mail address. It was 'jesus-is-cool@hotmail.com'. I thought the last looks she gave me when she headed out to the driveway with her mom was so unusual. There is such lingering smile and gentle spirit in it. I can cry whenever I recall it. For sure we will have a lot to catch up in heaven.