House of Songs

Life At Atlanta( Holiday Trip Part 1)

2007-01-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

Hey Peeps,

sorry for not posting for a very long time. I must say that coming to Atlanta is one decision i did not regret. Firstly, tell me how many have the chance to come here and enjoy USA for 4-5 months and get a chance to live in its halls, experience its culture, see its beauty and learn of its pitfalls as well.

We started off at American Youth Hostel which was a little small as 10 people had to squeeze into one big room. Imagine with the 2 big luggages plus all the carry-in luggages, space was something we wished we could have and toilets were a little problematic given that it was 1 toilet being shared by many. However, looking on the bright side of things, the Hostel was closed to the city area which meant we had access to the nearest Marta station(a little like MRT) by a 10 min walk, quite fast considering that this is America.

Had my new year's eve at the Peachdrop at underground Atlanta, the biggest countdown in Southeast USA. It was kind of a rash decision to go but nonetheless it was good. The whole group didn't go though, just me, Dillon, Beverly, XX and Hannah.Although we missed thge fireworks and that the symbol of a peach dropping to signify the start of New Year wasn't so fantastic as the peach was not really dropping, we were able to see some human "fireworks". One group of people decided to "break free" from the crowds and started to whack every passenger that were in their ways. Fights broke off and we could see the policemen pin down the bad guys. Kind of cool as i've not seen this before in my life, at the same time kinda dangerous as there could have been a major stampede during tat time and i was in the middle of it.

So thank God it didn't happened!

Overall, it was a fun holiday we had embarked on, going to one of the biggest parks in Atlanta, going to the World of Coca Cola where we drank every drink manufactured by Coca Cola in every country in the world. They had like Green Apple Cola from China! I was hungry before i went into the world of Cola and i drank all the drinks that i could possibly imagine. I believed i have drank maybe...40 KindS of Cola!!! That made me real full at the end of the trip

God Bless,
Tim

I'm finally in Atlanta. Atlanta-Day 1

2006-12-31T16:48:00.000-08:00

We(19 other students from NTU and I) arrived at Atlanta after 28 hrs of flight,transits,delays and baggage checks etc etc. Not much of a fun ride though as the flight was kinda boring but we managed to endure through it even without inflight entertainment and quite bad service by the flight "aunties"(not stewardess).

As leader of the pack, it was kinda stressful as everything has to be done correctly, making sure everyone has arrived at Atlanta Youth Hostel in one piece and all their luggages accounted for. I thank God for bringing each and everyone of us safe to the place,even though some got delayed in their flights. Nonethless, we are all here in the nice and cosy hostel.

We have 9 great medium Papa John pizzas with unlimited toppings shared between like 16 of us. Still had alot left to eat so we shared with couple of American ladies staying in the hostel. The 3 ladies came from California and they came to Atlanta to watch a concert(Whoa!!!)

It's 3am where most of us were sleeping. I flipped opened to Exodus and read on Moses and how he became God's servent in leading the Israelites our of Egypt. In a way, Prince of Egypt depicted the story of Moses in the Bible a little differently.

God Bless,
Tim

Youth Camp 2006

2006-12-21T04:54:00.000-08:00

Hi Peeps,

this is the 2nd post for the day. Just wanna tell you guys how great it is to be able to help out in the Youth Camp.
Although i could only come for the last 2 days and that it was raining for the whole camp, i know that the youths had a wonderful time bonding together and having fun with one another.

One may think that bonds come and go just as camp does, but i do not think so. This camp indeed reinforced my belief! My group(group 3) had Tabitha and Victoria(both whom went for the Church Camp June 2006). We did not need any introduction and ice-breaking to know we can gel together in the group. This form of "brotherhood/sisterhood" is really hard to find and i want to cherish the relationship i have with the youths and to those i have known.

During reflections, the young adults(louis, dawn, mel, daniel, rui), Amos would have the same sentiments as me that the youth have passion in serving in the ministry. Would like to mention about Mark Hoon(nicola's brother) when he shared that he was thankful to be able to come to the camp thanks to his sister(Sarah)'s persuasion. During this camp, he has learned to speak up, to have the courage to perform on stage during finale night(he did a RAP!!!!) and now he wants to serve in the WRITING MINISTRY!! i mean WHOA!!!! it is really marvellous what God has done for the campers in this camp. There's too much things to write about this camp. If you really want to know more, you can ask me in person and i would be really glad to tell you!

The following are the lyrics for the youth camp theme song:
From The Inside Out
by Hillsong United

album: United We Stand (2006)

A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

Just want to leave you with a verse for the day:
2 Samuel 7:22
"How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

God Bless,
TImothy

A Trip to Remember

2006-12-21T04:43:00.000-08:00

Hey ya,

not blogged for quite some time as was away for a holiday trip with Jenny. Indeed it was a wonderful time for both of us to reflect on the year 2006 and what we will aim to do on year 2007.

As you have known, i'll be going Atlanta in like 8 days time from today!!! Both of us felt we have sometimes neglected the joy of going to school together(NTU!!!:)), eating together in school. Next year it will be each of us going to our respective schools, eating with others and not doing things together. However, we know that God has a plan that even though at the moment, it may look bad on the surface, we know that at the end of this, we will benefit from being apart.

Nonetheless, it has been a good trip for both of us to do shopping, eating, and praying for God's strength and guidance in every step of our lives

MY 2ND POST!

2006-12-08T05:18:00.000-08:00

Today has been kinda interesting day for me, half a day is quite good but the other half of the day bad with the night ending slightly better.

Started out at the NTU administration building at level 6 BOARDROOM. you may be asking?boardroom?why am i there? I was nominated by the faculty to be an NTU university student ambassador. hee...interesting as it sounds, ambassadors are people who will walk together with VVIP in the school campus and share their insights, views and experiences on campus,hall life and studies etc. It's a pity i can't be there for the first half of the year as i'll be away to Atlanta, therefore i promised the people there i'll be available for the later half of the year when they need me.

After the tea session given after the talk about NTU and their governance, i proceeded on to do my URECA research with Paul and Bing Feng. When i saw them, i looked at their startled faces and asked them what happened? It appears my subject coordinator for my Global Immersion Programme didn't do too good a job and did not register subjects for us. Now the vacancies are no more and there may be a chance we can't take the subjects.

Not only that, they promised us verbally that we can take 3rd year subjects when we are year 2 students, but now..it seems that we are not allowed to take year 3 subjects. We have to take a risk once we are at Atlanta to see if we can convince the Professors there to allow us to take their subjects. Really pray for this because if we do not take even 1 core module, it is going to set us back for the rest of our 4 year course at NTU. So, really cast this issue to God and see where He brings me at Atlanta.

Day's got better where i and Jenny went to KFC for a sumptous meal of KFC 2 piece chicken meal and this special combo meal. This combo meal is for Jenny and really suits her as it's for people who do not know how to choose which meal to eat, so ...EAT everything..Really enjoyed it and could see peeps around us looking startled at how 2 people can finish so much stuff at one go..Hee..Proceeded to the National Library to borrow some good books on travel to Atlanta and Bangkok. Really love Singapore!!! Everything is like free, borrowing of books, the viewing of Christmas trees and lightings and many other stuff..What a wonderful place we live in!!

Timothy

My very first post

2006-12-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

Wow oh wow,

as i'm typing this first post of mine, i'm feeling that kind of adrenaline like WOOHOO..i can type forever if you know what i mean.

Well everyone has a purpose to a blog, some blog to showcase their beautiful lives to others, some blog to show some off some
of their works, and some blog just to ....blog.

For me, blogging is a form of journal, like a diary. I'm not those kinds that can keep my journal entries well on papers or books, so blogging is THE way to go.

I'll be going Atlanta for 5 months as part of my school(NTU)'s Global Immersion Programme, so will be posting many pictures and writing entries. I hope that this blog can be an inspiration for you to write your own blogs to not only show how your own life has been changed, but others to feel the impact of that change in your life as well.

Timothy