YAF of OBMBC - Welcome to Our Blog: August 2009

Friday, August 21, 2009

Victory, Victory, Victory!

Case in point: Lia Lian's guardianship was approved & he bought a guitar for $400 with $50 discount coupon from Tang Naung (thank you TN, it worked ^_^).

Early in the morning yesterday, we went to court for his guardianship hearing. I went as translator/interpreter. A lot of problems came up.

One of the biggest problems is the insufficiency of documents, such as investigation/social service reports. The judge will not be able to make a decision and we would be given a new hearing date. That's bad news because we have to go home without anything and come back another day. Lia Lian's guardian, his uncle, already took a day's leave, which as you know is not easy to obtain.

The case worker assigned from IRC is Janet. If I'm not wrong, she told us that this could take as many as 50 appearances and the many problems our volunteer attorney, Becky, raised were making it seem like we're gonna be stuck with this case forever. We were expecting anything but a 1-minute hearing.

That's exactly what happened. Everything worked out so smoothly. It's too long to write here. All the problems were resolved miraculously so that the judge can hear us after all and even when he heard us, he only asked us for our names and ages and said, "I will grant it."

I've never been to court, I don't even know what to address the judge by (your honor?) so when he said "I will grant it," I didn't know we got approved or what? I had no idea. I only translated to Lia Lian & his uncle exactly what I heard, "He said he will grant it."

This uncle & nephew pair had no reactions either, making me more confused. Like, aren't they supposed to be jumping for joy now? Their 1 year ordeal is over! Or am I misunderstanding something here? So I stood there like an idiot.

Until the judge told us to move. Haha... When we got outside, I was squealing and gave our attorney a big hug. She's a nice lady. Janet too.

^So we kinda celebrated by buying a guitar. Actually, I promised him on Sunday to drive him to San Jose on Saturday to get it. He was complaining about having no guitar after moving to the new place. (But everything worked out because we have YAF fellowship at SYLW's house on Saturday.)

He bought a guitar, a strap, a guitar case, extra guitar strings and 2-year warranty, all in total about $600 even with the $50 discount coupon from TN.

He wanted it for a long time now. And we know how gifted of a songwriter he is. That guy writes God songs like spelling ABC.

And you should know he's going blind in one eye now. With the guardianship approved, he can seek subsidized medical attention now and get an eye surgery. Pray for him. God bless Lia Lian & his family. I thank and praise God for blessing our members. It just so happened that this is my off week and I had time. Everything, God planned. I also thank God for your prayers.

Love & see you guys tomorrow at SYLW's house,

Phyu

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

A little sharing of happiness

Lillian lost her 4th tooth today …

It was easiest one because her dentist to do all the dirty work instead. hahahha (Previous 3 of her front tooth were pulled up by my bear hands …with lots of tears , screaming, and blood cottons … above all the worst part was I never succeed with one time trial) It was her regular check up, so none of us were ready for it, but my brave little girl did it without any hesitance. Yayyyy ..... I was so proud of her.

When I was celebrating over this drama with my husband in the waiting room, I over heard the conversation between the dentist and her. It was about tooth fairy. She complainig about her tooth fairy owned her 3 coins. And she hoped that it won’t happened again. I didn’t really think she was serious about it till I found her letter under the pillow with her tooth right before the bed time.

She wrote; Dear tooth fairy, I think you have to give me four monies because the first, second and third day you forgot to give me a present and money. And also don’t forget I want me and my family to see you. Because my family wants to know what you look like. And please write all about you at poster. Thank you. Love your friend the artist, Lillian.

And she added in the box. The title is “All About Tooth Fairy;” I am …. years old. My hair is … My eyes are …. My favorite food is ….. When I grow up I will be a ….. My favorite color is ….. My favorite thing to do is ……

Huh ... okay ... I got some work to do tonight .... right? The whole night I got hard time to put both of girls on the bed. They were so exciting about the visitation from tooth fairy. They also shared with me their secrets tricks to catch the tooth fairy and how to keep her alive till they wake up. hmmm I must be carefull!

Anyway, the next thing I know was I woke up by two girls' shouting this morning. "Yayyy ... Tooth fairy was here! She paid me back. I got 5 coins all together!" It didn't took long time to figure I slept through last night .... but .... who? if was not me ...?

The unknown tooth fairy said; Dear Lillian, I thank you for your tooth. It is beautiful. Sorry that I forgot last time to give you money. I am 100 years old. My hair is Golden color. My eyes are Brown color like you. My favorite food is an Apple. When I grow up I will be fairy princes. My favorite color is purple. My favorite thing to do is collect tooth from every one. See you next time. From Tooth Fairy. PS: Here is my picture – you can show it to your sister Roselyn and your Dad and your Mom. I like your letter.

The note from tooth fair really keeps my day up. I feel so move by mysterious man's genuine and kind soul. And for that I love him deerly.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Satan's Attacks and Bad Habits

U hungering for some powerful word of God?

I listen to Dr. Charles Stanley almost every day - especially when I'm so lazy to flip the bible myself.

Bear with the sound quality, it's okay after a while.

Satan's Attacks and Bad Habits - Part 1 of 3:

Satan's Attacks and Bad Habits - Part 2 of 3:

Satan's Attacks and Bad Habits - Part 3 of 3:

Oh yeah, I've already asked SYLW - he said Dr. Charles Stanley is very good. Doctrine a-okay~ Yes, I'm super careful.

Be blessed my honeys. Love you all. Let us be wise yeah!!! Woot! Talk to you all from school~! ciaoooz

Thursday, August 6, 2009

My Cable Car Ride With Naing Kee

The topic is still on VBS 2009 and this is at Oakland Zoo.

LoL!!! I just watched this and I find it so funny... Naing Kee is very funny to talk with.

and FYI, I have uploaded every single video I have in my possession. If you wanna check it out, I put them into a VBS 2009 - Phyu's Camera playlist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLnsgtNiYF8&feature=PlayList&p=EB25D9C12E81E9A4&index=0&playnext=1

Monday, August 3, 2009

VBS 2009

Super long post.

Hi everybody, I finally woke up. LoL

Thank God for sustaining me thus far. I made it through VBS 2009!!! But like Auntie Jae said, we're not done yet!

This year's VBS is.............................. superb.

Hmm... Not as many kids as previous 2 years but I'm telling you, it's the bomb. I think Auntie Jae and Saya Lone Lone Wa Wa did such an amazing job with the program. The games are super fun and the messages are great.

The kids:

They drive me crazy, especially my class. I had to scream at the top of my lungs just to get one sentence across to them because they are so full of energy and so full of life. Hey it's all good. They got my voice all husky and amazing sounding for praise and worship. Falalalalala....

Hahaha.... NOT! Just kidding. I was really happy to see one of the kids really changed. He used to be so quiet and didn't participate much during class, and this would go on for months and months. I always had to ask him if he was alright or if his brother was bullying him. Now, he's the loudest when we sing songs and he's the one to answer most of my bible questions. Either he finally got comfortable with teachers or God really did something in his life. Either way, praise God. :)

I cannot keep their attention for too long so I tricked them lol hahahaha... Nah, I didn't trick them. I just motivated them by saying all we have to do is to get the main point of the message and I'd let them go - which is what I really wanted anyway. I seriously can't keep them otherwise; I'd have to pound the message while their 5-second attention span lasted.

Did I mention the Myan Church came? I'm sorry if I spelled it wrong but these kids are GREAT. They made up almost half the attendees. At first, we were a little concerned about the turnout because many Karen kids from our church moved to other states, etc. But God provided anyway. I don't care if they're Myan, Burmese, Karen, or American, we all need God so we serve them the same anyway. If God sent them to us, it's because we need each other and may God's will be done.

In the beginning, for a couple of hours, it was awkward and everything was new for them. They call us "the big church." But after 3 days, I can't tell if these are our church kids or the Myan church kids. They were laughing as hysterically as our church kids. I know for sure that they enjoyed themselves immensely. I got to know them and they are so comfortable with us now. If we have to play with them 10 hours just to tell them there is a God who loves them, it is worth it to do so.

The Leaders:

Basically staff members but I call them leaders because they really are.

I can't not talk about the Saw Eh Khu trio: His 3 children Cherrie, ToeToe, and Ashlee. They really did such an amazing job leading the VBS 2009 in many ways.

How great were Ashlee's dances? There's no denying it. There's no doubt in my mind that that girl has the spiritual gift of worship dance from God and she is not afraid to use it for His kingdom. She holds nothing back and only 16 years old. She came up with 10 choregraphies for 10 songs in 2-3 weeks and managed to hold her team to lead the kids. The.kids.loved.it. They go crazy! The steps are really fun and easy for them to follow! Ok I admit, I love dancing along too. :D

Cherrie was responsible for bringing the Mienh kids to our church. She single handedly brought all of them and did the liaison stuff with their parents to make sure everyone is taken care of. And throughout the VBS, she really paid close attention to their every need and slept with them although she wanted to sleep with me upstairs. All these sacrifices are so lovely to me. She's got a gift with children. I would have gone crazy with their whining. She gets along with them so well! Maybe because she's the oldest sister herself, it comes naturally to her. You need to speak an alien child language if want to talk to those kids and you cannot go to school for that!

ToeToe was fantastic with the boys. What would they do without him in VBS? What would WE do without him in VBS? He was like the big brother to all of them. All of them relied on him and trusted him in entirety. The boys don't necessarily want to talk to the girl teachers and ToeToe was perfect for the role. During the trip to the zoo, he exhibited excellent leadership skills. Small kids are so naughty and they kept running everywhere. Matthew got lost twice in the first hour because he just took off! ToeToe found him back and made sure he's always got the headcounts right. He made sure all his little members are taken care of before himself.

There are so many more young leaders involved that shine like stars to make this happen. They are all so young! Our "juniors" are really growing up. Emily, Mabel, Danielle, Janet, Amanda.... Kelly, Doe Doe, Wine Wine, our cooks and our drivers! Sobs... I feel so touched by their efforts.

I hope this VBS brought out their passion and love for God and the good works that He has prepared for them.

^Phillip and Christian's tennis ball game... so funny..

I am still uploading.

Our official VBS picture gallery (TN and the rest are still uploading):

http://www.obmbc-ca.org/pic.html

Nock Nock Nock …

I am blushing … because it has been quite a while to greeting you here this way. I hope you all could find some forgiveness toward my ignorance and careless.

I had very good night sleep. The very first thing I did this morning was opening your blog for listening music with a cup of coffee in my hand. And you know what ? I am already start working on iParent blog. Why it took so long …. I ask myself … and poor me …Though I found so many answers that I could not share with you quite yet ….I like to congratulate my self with you all …first … whom has been support me as who I was …

Thank you all for not giving up on me …. thank you all for trusting me still when I was weak …

It’s funny to say this ….but I think this VBS is going to be very special in my life …I found my calling back … and I learn to trust Him right way …. The best thing is …. VBS is still half way …. and I am ready …. so ready to run …

Story Box

The Big Rocks
One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high powered over achievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz."
Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.
When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"
Everyone in the class said, "Yes."
Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"
By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.
"Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"
"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good."
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!"
"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."
What are the 'big rocks' in your life?
Your relatinship with God?
Your husband or wife?
Your children?
Your loved ones?
Your health?
Your education?
Your dreams?
A worthy cause?
Teaching or mentoring others?
Doing things that you love?
Time for yourself?
Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you worry about that don't really matter, and you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).
So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the "big rocks" in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

ARE YOU 'THE CRACKED POT' ?? .
A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts,"   the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house." Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway. Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes."

PimpMyProfile

DID GOD CREATE EVIL?
At a certain university, there was a professor with a reputation for being tough on Christians. At the first class every semester, he asked if anyone was a Christian and proceeded to degrade them and to mock their statement of faith.
One semester, he asked the question and a young man raised his hand when asked if anyone was a Christian. The professor asked, "Did God make everything, young man?"
He replied, "Yes sir He did!"
The professor responded, "If God made everything, then He made evil." The student didn't have a response and the professor was happy to have once again proved the Christian faith to be a myth.
Then another man raised his hand and asked, "May I ask you something, sir?"
"Yes, you may," responded the professor.
The young man stood up and said "Sir, is there such thing as cold?"
"Of course there is, what kind of question is that? Haven't you ever been cold?"
The young man replied, "Actually, sir, cold doesn't exist. What we consider to be cold is really an absence of heat. Absolute zero is when there is absolutely no heat, but cold does not really exist. We have only created that term to describe how we feel when heat is not there."
The young man continued, "Sir, is there such a thing as dark?"
Once again, the professor responded, "Of course there is."
And once again, the student replied, "Actually, sir, darkness does not exist. Darkness is really only the absence of light. Darkness is only a term man developed to describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally, the young man asked, "Sir, is there such thing as evil?"
The professor responded, "Of course. We have rapes, murders, and violence everywhere in the world, those things are evil."
The student replied, "Actually, sir, evil does not exist. Evil is simply the absence of God. Evil is a term man developed to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. It isn't like truth, or love, which exist as virtues like heat or light. Evil is simply the state where God is not present, like cold without heat or darkness without light."
The professor had nothing to say............

Does God Still Speak?

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?" After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.
Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.
It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God.. If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."
As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought, to stop and buy a gallon of milk.
He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.
But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.
"Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk.
He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street."
"This is crazy," he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street.
At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will." He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semi-commercial area of town.
It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.
Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street."
The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. "Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.
Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk.
If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient.
I guess that will count for something, but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."
He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside.
A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed.
He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk,
"Here, I brought this to you."
The man took the milk and rushed down a hall way speaking loudly in Spanish.
Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen.
The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying,
"We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk.
"His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?"
The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put it in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers.

       A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited.
       The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
        The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail."
        Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
        As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said,
"Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

John 3:16
In the city of Chicago, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was setting in. A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner, the people were in and out of the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.

He walked up to a policeman and said, "Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay,"

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "you go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16, and they will let you in."

So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, "John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son." She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16....I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.

Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?" He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food," The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself: John 3:16... Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.

The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16... I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rested.

The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible. She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face.

"Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently.

He replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it," She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: John 3:16. .. .. I don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

YAF of OBMBC - Welcome to Our Blog

Friday, August 21, 2009

Victory, Victory, Victory!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

A little sharing of happiness

Friday, August 7, 2009

Satan's Attacks and Bad Habits

Thursday, August 6, 2009

My Cable Car Ride With Naing Kee

Monday, August 3, 2009

VBS 2009

Nock Nock Nock …

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