Wireless internet in the motel died yesterday. Anyway here are some photos... from the children ministry center to the worship band.

I made it travelling around Orange County without a car. The deal is I did all my travelling for the day for only 3 dollars with a day pass. That's even cheaper than Singapore, considering I'm in expensive Orange County. Just had to pull out 3 things in my spiritual arsenal
1) Planning... Yeah God bless the internet... and the Orange Country Transportation Authority for having a trip planner feature in their website.
2) Walking.. Glad I still have this....
3) Waiting... Yeah baby.... waiting on the Lord and it's all paying off...

Everybody advised me to rent a car or something. The motel staff even discouraged me from taking public transport because according to them nobody does it. I learned that when someone says nobody does it, there's somebody who's doing it.

At the end of the day having done it, I was determined to make my entrance into the motel reception holding my 'Day Pass' and do a show & tell of my experience, but those guys were not on duty. It's like the Lord knows. Anyway its not really that I'm subborn. It's just more economical. Also its between moving around in comfort and having a to stay at the end of the trip. However I'm just happy that so called old-fashioned ways still has its application today.



The pre conferenece session was good. It was entitled Leadership Essentials with Craig Jutila. Craig is the pastor of children's ministry there. The purpose of his session wasn't really to teach through he shared an out of planned lesson called 12 'Don'ts' that is worth doing based on his 18 years in the ministry. He tried to connect with us by being authentic with the life that he had to lead as a pastor, husband and dad. His wife Wendy shared about the struggle the family goes through. Craig is ADD and 2 of his three kids are ADD as well so I can imagine. With all the things they balanced as a family, in leadership and ministry, the often had to go to sort of hell and back. They had great tips of having breakfast together (which is something that I appreciate that we do) and dating once a week. Or at least they try to cos they haven't for one for a few months now. Their breakfast on their day off on Friday was to plan and communicate what each had to do for the following week. They also trash out whatever that needs to be trashed out. Friday night is dating night. In Singapore we don't call it dating. We call it courtship. Sometimes I feel that before marriage, courtship is like tennis where we hit the ball to the other in the way they will hit it back. After marriage, we try to hit the ball, hoping she misses and the ball remains on her side of the court. Whatever it is I think we all need to be teachable and allow God to show us his wonder in whatever that appears not so wonderful.

Some of the things I learned.
- Most of the time bad news are exaggerated don't sweat over it, move on
- Don't just do it, be it. We don't do children ministry, we have to be children's ministry.
- Don't spend your time, invest it. esp. invest in people.
- Balance buying and building noting that curriculum can be bought but leadership can't be.

Connected with several children ministry leaders, pastors and director. We talked little about ministry. We just talked and get to know one another. It was great, I feel all of us had this humble disposition of approaching the time with certain emptiness, a certain element which say 'we don't know anything.... tell us something'. Most of the poeple I talk to said 'Your english is so good'. Now that's flattering. Nobody ever said that to me before, NEVER ! Not even once. Now to have 3 or 4 similar comments in one day. I may just decide to run for MP.

Was in bed by 9 last night. Had six hours of sleep before and up again. It's 3am now. In a few hours time I'm off again for the first day of the conference. I don't know but for all those who came last year whom I spoke to, the said that I'll love it. This was meant to be an email to Mag but it'll catch her at a wrong time so I turned it into a blog entry. Hope you don't mind my ranting.

The shops were closed since 6pm. It is now 4:30 in the morning. I slept very little because it should be still 7:30pm in Singapore. Enough of thinking that I adjust well to jet lag as I conveniently tells everybody who ask. Actually I don't seem to. Gave a call to Mag and the kids because it is perfect time to. They were so happy to hear from me. I'm too too (of them of course). It is good to have a family. A family with God in the belly (or centre). That's the way to go. He made love possible...He made it pragmatic too. I can't imagine having to love with my own strength. Not only is it tough and tiring, I think it will not be possible.



The motel room is okay. The weather is not too bad. Spent the whole night adjusting the dial to between the heater or the aircond. The auto-regulator had a hard time deciding too. It was constantly switching itself on and off depending on the room temperature. Didn't realise until now I can just turned it off since the weather is perfect. I did and it was excellent. I felt silly but I think we all have tried to adjust something when its best left alone.

The problem is we feel uneasy when we don't do something. I have seen many people (mostly ladies) put on think make-up when they are more beautiful not. I would say if you anyone needs to do something. Pray and talk with Him. You will be spiritually nourished and at the same time, you'll save on make-up, on clothes ... on buying more DVD and CD or cars or insects ..whichever thrills you.

I'll be off to the pre-conference meeting with the children's pastor in Saddleback in a few minutes time. I'll be 4 hours early because I'm taking public transport which to many people is unthinkable in California. I feel like a student living in the hostel going for lectures again. I feel like I know this place, I don't feel like a tourist at all. I have no urge to go to Disneyland, Sunset Boulevard, Walk of Fame or anything in Hollywood. The product of Hollywoood is in the TV screen. I never liked its product. I'm not against it, its just that I prefer music. I keep hearing Mahler's Symphony Number 2 in my head. I don't know if its just in my head or its' someone's radio blasting next door. People here listen to lots of symphony orchestras. I hear it at the Shuttle bus, I hear it in the nearby second hand bookshop. I hear it while trying to sleep. If I have a bit of extra cash I won't mind visiting the Walk Disney Concert Hall to catch the LA Philharmonic but right now its not important. I'm starving and I need to go get breakfast before making my way.

Waiting for my US visa to be approved was quite a nerve-wrecking time. I didn't have much time to plan for the trip to attend a children's ministry conference in LA so besides getting my plane ticket, there's the VISA issue because I'm a Malaysian and Malaysian needs a visa to go to the States. I was quite nervous to go for the interview as I never needed a visa to anywhere before in my life. As the first time doing anything there's a bit of apprehension. I tried my best to look peaceful, carefully ensuring there's no hint of terrorism in me. My smile even though a bit artificial due to nerves was innocent enough. The officer who interviewed me passed me. I got it just like that. It was not too bad after all. Actually many things aren't too bad once we start doing it. The person before me got the "Lady Officer" my travel agency warned me about. God knows what is best.

In the embassy, I noticed a poster for 5 wanted man with a US 5 million dollar reward for information leading to them dead or alive. I wonder if my life is worth 5 million dollar. What would I do with it ? These 5 people may be worth 5 million dollars but its 5 million worth for someone else and not for them really. It's not that flattering after all. Infact its a pity. Mine life is worth God's own death come to think of it and not only that, I get to enjoy that value for myself. Now I don't really know the price of God's death but I know its definitely more than money can buy.

I'm 20 days away from going to US for the first time and there's so little time to really think about it. However I do think about how grateful I am for my friends, family and the church who made the coming trip possible for me. Their investment in my life and their believe in the purpose of the children's ministry is something that humbles me. My life is really not about myself and what I do, but its about a community of people working together towards the divine work of God and with God Himself standing in the centre of all. It's no point owning our own life and having to fight for our every single worth when we can surrender it to the one who already consider us worthy and values us much more than 5 million pieces of a US dollar note. I'm living in that faith that I don't need to work anymore and I'm loved.