![[Matthew & Rose]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eWUnpSS93JA/SG94UBWUHiI/AAAAAAAAABI/FBFEFBifDHU/S1600-R/test4.png)
After the flurry of many experiences since arriving in Ann Arbor, Michigan, we are finally settling down to campus life as we enter the fourth week of our attachment here.
We are also now finally catching up with reflecting on various things that took place since our arrival here.
The warm reception at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on 8th July night by two professors (Professor ben Freudebburg and Professor Karna Doyle) of the Family Life Faculty of Concordia University and their spouses was just overwhelming.
We had a taste of American living right from Day One when we stayed at the home of Professor Ben Freudenburg and his wife Jennifer. I left with the professor for the Children’s Conference in Chicago on Friday, 11th July while Rose stayed on here. It was a great learning time on child development. What a start to a time of learning here!
We moved to our apartment on campus on 16th July and discovered that many people at the university, under the leadership of Jennifer Freudenburg, had come together and furnished the place beautifully and with abundance. It is a very comfortable home away from home for us. I guess we have no more excuse not to study hard here!
We had the first taste of home food when we cooked at Professor Ben’s place on 19th July. It was a treat, but we have also set our hearts to be adventurous enough to try all kinds of American food. So far, so good, with hamburgers (triple the size of MacDonald burger in Kuching), sweet potato chips, etc.
We (both Rose and I…Yes! Rose also…) have started a course of the Family Life Education programme, Adolescent Psychology, with Professor Doyle. She is very caring and helpful in ensuring that we learn much from the course. This will keep us very busy, with other commitments (Rose also assisting Professor Ben in his works at the office), right through to the end of August.
The visit with Professor Ben to Focus On The Family Head Office in Colorado Springs last week Friday and Saturday for the Family Champion training was enlightening. It was a cherished experience to be at the premises of an organisation that I have had the opportunity to serve for more than 6 years.
This past weekend, Professor Ben and I travelled by road to Cleveland, Ohio (the neighbouring state). There, Professor Ben conducted a workshop as part of the on-going Family Friendly Partners Network (FFPN) development in that area. It was so heartening to see so many leaders coming together to learn how to develop and establish strong homes in their communities. It was quite an eye-opening experience. The one-on-one time with the professor during the trip was a gem.
We are also now finally catching up with reflecting on various things that took place since our arrival here.
The warm reception at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on 8th July night by two professors (Professor ben Freudebburg and Professor Karna Doyle) of the Family Life Faculty of Concordia University and their spouses was just overwhelming.
We had a taste of American living right from Day One when we stayed at the home of Professor Ben Freudenburg and his wife Jennifer. I left with the professor for the Children’s Conference in Chicago on Friday, 11th July while Rose stayed on here. It was a great learning time on child development. What a start to a time of learning here!
We moved to our apartment on campus on 16th July and discovered that many people at the university, under the leadership of Jennifer Freudenburg, had come together and furnished the place beautifully and with abundance. It is a very comfortable home away from home for us. I guess we have no more excuse not to study hard here!
We had the first taste of home food when we cooked at Professor Ben’s place on 19th July. It was a treat, but we have also set our hearts to be adventurous enough to try all kinds of American food. So far, so good, with hamburgers (triple the size of MacDonald burger in Kuching), sweet potato chips, etc.
We (both Rose and I…Yes! Rose also…) have started a course of the Family Life Education programme, Adolescent Psychology, with Professor Doyle. She is very caring and helpful in ensuring that we learn much from the course. This will keep us very busy, with other commitments (Rose also assisting Professor Ben in his works at the office), right through to the end of August.
The visit with Professor Ben to Focus On The Family Head Office in Colorado Springs last week Friday and Saturday for the Family Champion training was enlightening. It was a cherished experience to be at the premises of an organisation that I have had the opportunity to serve for more than 6 years.
This past weekend, Professor Ben and I travelled by road to Cleveland, Ohio (the neighbouring state). There, Professor Ben conducted a workshop as part of the on-going Family Friendly Partners Network (FFPN) development in that area. It was so heartening to see so many leaders coming together to learn how to develop and establish strong homes in their communities. It was quite an eye-opening experience. The one-on-one time with the professor during the trip was a gem.
Just Pondering...
Even in the midst of so many things happening recently, I never stopped thinking of the conditions of our country and people that we left behind back home. Keeping in touch through the daily readings of Borneo Post, The Star, and The New Straits Times, I gather that things are not doing well there, economically and politically.
Here in America, people are also struggling economically. One large Californian bank (Indymac Bank) collapsed within a week we were here. Austerity drive is the in-thing here right now.
I heard that the key economists of the world aren’t sure where the world economy is heading either. We are in uncharted waters, especially with the rise of fuel prices and no sign of it abating.
In times like this, a natural question we ask ourselves is ‘What will happen to us?’.
What will happen to my career, my family, my friends, my country? A common answer we hear is ‘I (we) don’t know!’.
It’s true. Really, no one has any clear idea where our future lies. It is so uncertain.
This concerns us… for many, greatly.
One immediate step (which even our government encourages) many people take is to ‘tighten our belts’, or at least be more careful in how we spend.
There is a limit to this though. We can only cut so much of our spending without jeopardising our welfare and that of others.
We can work harder. There is a limit to this too.
We are searching for the right answers. Many people out there would volunteer to offer them to us.
However, the key is in the ‘right answers’.
How do we know the answers are right? What reference point or standard do we measure these answers to in determining their being right or wrong? Moreover, many of these answers concern the unknown future.
It seems that we are sitting ducks awaiting the inevitable ahead of us.
ARE WE? Maybe there is a way out of this!
There is an ancient saying, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls”.
Maybe times like this give us the opportunity to really search for answers (the good way) at places beyond where and what we are usually accustomed to. For some of us, we may even explore about God and see what He has to say in all these.
I hope you would keep this option open.
Who knows, you may experience what an ancient tells us,
“No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it -
What God has arranged for those who love Him.”
Here in America, people are also struggling economically. One large Californian bank (Indymac Bank) collapsed within a week we were here. Austerity drive is the in-thing here right now.
I heard that the key economists of the world aren’t sure where the world economy is heading either. We are in uncharted waters, especially with the rise of fuel prices and no sign of it abating.
In times like this, a natural question we ask ourselves is ‘What will happen to us?’.
What will happen to my career, my family, my friends, my country? A common answer we hear is ‘I (we) don’t know!’.
It’s true. Really, no one has any clear idea where our future lies. It is so uncertain.
This concerns us… for many, greatly.
One immediate step (which even our government encourages) many people take is to ‘tighten our belts’, or at least be more careful in how we spend.
There is a limit to this though. We can only cut so much of our spending without jeopardising our welfare and that of others.
We can work harder. There is a limit to this too.
We are searching for the right answers. Many people out there would volunteer to offer them to us.
However, the key is in the ‘right answers’.
How do we know the answers are right? What reference point or standard do we measure these answers to in determining their being right or wrong? Moreover, many of these answers concern the unknown future.
It seems that we are sitting ducks awaiting the inevitable ahead of us.
ARE WE? Maybe there is a way out of this!
There is an ancient saying, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls”.
Maybe times like this give us the opportunity to really search for answers (the good way) at places beyond where and what we are usually accustomed to. For some of us, we may even explore about God and see what He has to say in all these.
I hope you would keep this option open.
Who knows, you may experience what an ancient tells us,
“No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it -
What God has arranged for those who love Him.”
Word of Wisdom
A Proverb: “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise... keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.”
What's Ahead!
On this Monday, Rose and I will be heading for Phoenix, Arizona, to attend the annual conference of the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries. It’s one of the forefront conferences on family life in the States. You may find this at http://www.amfmconference.com/
It will be a week of great learning experiences as we have signed up for 5 main sessions and 9 workshops over the 4-day period. We hope to meet many persons whom we can network with in the future.
We’ll be back early Saturday morning.
It will be a week of great learning experiences as we have signed up for 5 main sessions and 9 workshops over the 4-day period. We hope to meet many persons whom we can network with in the future.
We’ll be back early Saturday morning.
A Week In Passing
Memorable Moments
Acknowledgement... This blog is updated with the creative input of Miss Trish Wong, an incredibly talented multi-media IT savvy young lady. She may be contacted at [blueshores86@yahoo.com]
4 comments:
Wow! What fun, exciting, thrilling & exhausting time you guys are having! God is certainly with you guys! Don't think I can manage all the trips and conferences and workshops and sightseeings! Wow...God surely has returned your youthfulness back to you! Cool!
Very encouraging to know that you guys are doing so well, so blessed, so much being ministered to & having so much fun! God be with you and God bless you folks all the time!
Great to see that you are enjoying yrselves (Rose included) moving all over the States. Yr photos reminded us (Emily n i) of our travelling days in US.
We have just finished giving out our gift boxes to the Children Cancer Hospital (with TR), Perkata and Milestones. We will have a closure this coming Sat (16/8) w/ a presentation of the process. After this the 40 days will take a breather until Dec - the Discovery Hunt.
Finally, don't have too much fun that you forget to come back.
hey pastor! Hope US is treating you good! YOu should get a cbox too! easier for the youth to comment!
God Bless ya.
Nicole
Hi Pastor! Victoria here.. didn't know you had a blog till now! Looks like you both had a great time in US. Take care & God bless ya both!
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