i'm satisfied. all in 1 shot, my craving for ice cream.

shout it out: ice cream! its ice cream!
not gelatos. i've always believed that Gelato can never replace the sensation that ice cream brings. Essentially, ice cream stays in your mouth for a longer period of time and its that creamy feeling that makes ice cream that good.

:) Had Sticky Chewy Chocolate topped with almond elements and delightful chocolate fudge. how? i just love Chocolate.

in addition to that, i had Beard Papa :) Tori Q - get the chicken fillet (breast meat without fats $1) :) fish shaped chocolate pancakes :)

My student told me something which i can thank & praise God for. He has learnt to do St-E alone. wow. i still remember the time when i was told that i'll go approach & share to strangers by myself. its scary lor. So i thank God for granting us courage!

Vin

I'm craving for Ben & Jerry's: thanks huEy for that cute treat last night! Dublin Mudslide is lovely. DeZhang hates it, much to my puzzlement.

nicest things i've fed myself with since my book-out:
Newton family favourites: fish soup, oyster egg, mutton satay
Teck Kee Lotus Paste Pau, Char Siew Pau
Cafe 18 roast duck + char siew + roast pork
Handmade Noodles (opposite my house)
Roti Prata
Macdonalds French Fries & Egg McMuffin
Prima Deli Pancake
Seedless Grapes
Bin Bin rice crackers
Ruffles BBQ potato chips
Ben & Jerry's
Minstrel chocolate tablets (from huEy > WaiYin)
旺's toast bread

there's more to come, definitely :)
Vin

going into NS has humbled me a great deal.

i used to think i'm that fit, so even when i didn't even bother to do any form of basic conditioning before enlistment, i'd thought that my physical fitness level is still up there, i mean my mentality was 'i scored full marks for NAPFA leh, i believe i can harness my potential whenever there's a need to :)'.

In the first week, we had IPPT categorization test. it was an initial test to gauge whether you're that up to standard. My ego well, was deflated, smashed. haha.. i failed 2/5 of the stations. It was hard to accept at first, i was baffled, but conceded that God is trying to tell me something. that something is not to think so highly of myself, that He can give something and take away that something. So in the subsequent days and the days ahead i have to train very hard, to work on it, together with all the people who failed the Chin-up station. I was the only guy who failed the sit-up station, so i was given personal training on that also. I tell you, i was really humbled lor please. when people who look at me and say 'whoa, you don't look like you failed chin-ups 1'. i grinned and said, 'i'm no better than any of you all'.

Gone are the days when i can do Chin-Ups like the bar was at my knees.

God is my strength. He always have lessons for me, a mere man, to learn.

Vin
wants to be humble.

to those who are taking exams

a big big JIAYOU.
will keep you all in my prayers.

focus and discipline :)
Vin

oh yeah, i received a fabulous gift from a churchmate which is a SUNYANZI CD! the latest one!

the songs are really really great i 'm enjoying it.

thanks to whoever you know you are!

And also, i'm continually having my servings of crunchy apples which i adore, in fact, more than ever before. I think i'm addicted to it, it has crossed the stage of fondness already.

I eat an average of 4 fruits per meal. for example, for yesterday's lunch, i ate 2 apples and 3 oranges, for dinner, i chomped down 2 apples and 1 orange(because of lack of time). My record was 8 apples a day :)

I thank God for apples! and fruits! Which makes me so happy.

Vin

I thank God for His grace the past 18 days. I drew strength from Him and He enabled me to take on His likeness amidst blasphemous people and ungodly ones.

For most of the time i was left feeling like serving NS is a totally meaningless and i failed to see the purpose of doing so. Coz the days are long, training is packed, the daily routine is well, routine. And day by day it ties me down into lowliness. However i guess i just gotta be conscious of how i respond, instead of nodding to comments frequently made like 'i think NS is really wasting my time', i had to be encouraging to my peers and let them see that the training isn't that totally mundane after all.

Throughout the days, the number of people reporting sick is ridiculously high. Some are genuine cases, but as i see it, most are still fit to do physical training. Understandably i can emphathise with them on why they choose to report sick. I really really wished i can be ruled out of some training. Because i think the army is quite kia-see(scared to die), so reporting sick is an easy way to skip training, and its actually very easy to report sick. But i'm reminded that i'm a Christian, so i should do my best in whatever i do, there are so many eyes around me, if i do not take the ethical path, then i'm a bad ambassador of Christ.

I guess taking on Christ likeness will make one an obvious standout. I was pleasantly surprised when my army-mates started approaching me to find out why i do not like vulgarities or speak them, they were curious, and i was just so happy to tell them! haha..

God speaketh through His Word which ever so refreshes me! Last last Sunday when i was so touched and comforted that God promises that He knows me best, He will never forsaketh me. At a time when i feel so confused, and being a Christian soldier is anything but easy, what God said to me made me feel ashamed of myself when i'd failed to take joy in His plans.

Well, i'm praying that I'll be able to get to know the other platoon mates better, 48 other people. And i pray that i may have opportunities to share the gospel to them also. I pray that my actions and attitude will be godly so that God may be glorified. Pray that i may be experience God's guidance!

I give thanks to God also for many of my fellow brothers and sisters who've constantly encouraged me, haha... it really matters to me.

Vin

I'm back!

Thank God!
18 days of confinement must be a record. it certainly is. haaha

Details later
Vin

I'll be going into army early tomorrow. However hard it can be, or may be, however demanding the weeks ahead can get, i trust in the Lord. He knows me best and knows whats best for me.

So how much more can i praise God and thank Him for His saving grace above all? Whats there to be scared and afraid of if God has conquered even death! Hallelujah, praise the Lord for everything!

As i'll be elbowed to the ground i'll remember my humble position and learn humility. If i see how my peers (or army mates as they call it) wrench their way up the podium of glory, with or without unscrupulously toppling their pillars of support i'll be reminded that man-centered glory doesn't matter. As decisions be made i'll seek godly advice first even though going-with-the-flow seems the better option. As pain comes i'll remember perseverence that comes from God. And perseverence ain't gonna be merely a signboard. Throw the signboard who needs it anyway.

So even to those who think i'll be doomed and can't make it out of there in a single piece, you'd better pray for me, instead of yielding scathing remarks. Its better to pray that the Lord will bestow upon me His armour.

And to those who've encouraged me in someway or another, you've moved me to tears, and i sense your concern. So thank you and i'm confident in the Lord's deliverance just as you are.

Life is tough but God the toughest.
Vin

My house recently acquired a printer which is so wonderful. it has photocopying ability. so i just photocopied my PSS letters at home. haha. using home paper. so funny.

1 more week to army, i'm feeling it, the tension.

Vin