Thanksgiving Dinner At Emmy And Felix's House

Last Thursday, I was invited to Emmy and Felix's house for the Thanksgiving dinner, a very important annual event to this Cuban couple besides Christmas.

When I arrived at 7.15pm, Emmy told me, "Julia didn't know that you spoke French. After I told her that you're going to test her this evening, you've become her enemy!" She was refering to her granddaughter who was studying in a French international school in Kuala Lumpur.

After awhile, Julia in a lovely dress like a princess appeared from upstairs. As usual, this five-year-old little girl could not stand still. Were there any audition for a western version of "Journey To The West" drama, I would strongly recommend her to play the leading role...

It was not easy for me to persuade her to sit beside me even a minute to pose together for a picture. Nevertheless, I succeeded.

She finally settled down when a guest let her play with her iphone. When I saw her holding the shoulder of another guest's toddler son, I remembered the evening when David was around.

I was not familiar at all with Thanksgiving Day, which is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in North America. Having lived in the United States for many years, Emmy and Felix still keep this tradition of holding a special gathering with family and friends on the fourth Thursday in November.

At 8.30pm, Emmy was still in the kitchen with the maids! I wanted to take a picture of her with the turkey, a must main dish, which had cost them RM150. But she said, "No, no! I haven't taken a shower." At 9.30pm when we were finally called to the dining tables, the big bird was already cut into pieces and slices.

The grand meal consisted of many home dishes.

When I saw the variety of dishes, I understood why our host had to get up as early as seven o'clock to start the preparations. And when I tasted the meat, mashed potatoes, gratin and salad, I told myself that it had been worth waiting two hours in the living room with appetizers.

Three different desserts and ice-cream were awaiting us after the salty food. This time, I was very moderate to just take the flan, one of Emmy's most popular specialities.

According to Emmy, I was the only friend of theirs being present there. The other guests were actually their son's friends whom they had known for years. I stayed until midnight to continue to chat with the hosts and some of the guests. I thank God for this couple's friendship, hospitality, and most of all His every blessing to me.

When The Cousins Gathered Together V: In The Playground

You gotta have friends to make you laugh, help you feel better when you are sad.

You gotta have friends to make you smile, help you feel calm when you are mad.

You gotta have friends so don’t be shy, go out and give it a try, anyone would be lucky, ooh-ooh, to have a friend like you.
(Extrait from "Making Friends")

When The Cousins Gathered Together IV: Riding The Ferris Wheel

Love is like a boomerang, and all you have to do is
send your love around the world and love comes back to you.
Round and round and round and round and love comes back to you.
(Extrait from "Love Is Like A Boomerang")

When The Cousins Gathered Together III: Holding Hands

Be a good friend... Show you care.

Be a good friend... Learn to share.

Be a good friend... Learn to play.

Be a good friend... Everyday.

(Extrait from "Be A Good Friend")

When The Cousins Gathered Together II: In The Car

There were three dinosaurs ridin' in cars

havin' a "wheely" good time.

They said, "Step on the gas, we'll go really fast!"

(extrait from "Dinosaurs In Cars")

When The Cousins Gathered Together I: Blowing Bubbles I

The more we get together, together, together,

the more we get together,

the happier we'll be.

(Extrait from "The More We Get Together")

Sis Rani's Visit To Calvary Care Home

Yesterday afternoon, I joined Albert P to meet Sis C.P. Jeyarani Roberts whom Sis Jothy introduced to us at her house. This lady from India who dedicated her life to our Lord in 1978 has been running a home of about 25 inmates in Chennai. We were very blessed to listen to her sharing her 27 years of experience serving destitute women, abused young girls, mentally ill (Schizophrenics) women, cancer patients, blind people, physically handicapped, sex workers, HIV-positive women and leprosy people. Her God-given ministry "Hope For The Hopeless International" has the vision to build up the lives of broken-hearted people.

We brought Sis Rani to Calvary Care Home (CCH) after a simple dinner at an Indian restaurant. David and Matthew had gone to tuition, so only John, Paul, Luke, Daniel and Joel were around. At first, the boys were a bit reserved and kept their distance from this stranger. But very soon, they could not resist her invitation to sit closer to her.

One by one they moved towards our visitor who looked gorgeous in her beautiful sari,

and began to feel at ease with her presence. Affectionately called "Amma" (mother in Tamil) by the young inmates in her home in India, Sis Rani indeed showered a lot of motherly love through her graceful smiles, tender voice and encouraging words in Tamil and English.

She shared with us her ministerial work in India and other countries by showing two albums of pictures.

George and Albert who sat aside were admiring our guest whose face was full of God's glory even after spending more than two decades dealing with problematic children. Troubled by a few CCH boys' bad behavior recently, these two father figures seemed to have learnt from the sister in Christ to cast out some of their burdens to Jesus.

Sis Rani requested a praise song from the boys. John led them to sing a title in BM and English. In return, she also sang one in Tamil and explained to us its meaning. It was about how the Lord lifts us up when we are weak.

Next, Sis Rani prayed for the boys individually and prophesied over them.

She kindly did the same to us adults including Joshua who arrived later for his night shift.

I received prophecy for my life and confirmations for certain issues in my heart. Father God, I truly thank You for sending Sis Rani to give hope to the CCH boys and to tell me that You have found back Your daughter who was once deviated.

This Guy Will Soon Go Back To Malaysia

"This guy will soon go back to Malaysia."

Notice by his father from Japan.

Attending An Unusual Concert By The Eden Rejoicing Chorus

Last Wednesday when I went to "Su Fes" bookstore, the shopkeeper Sis SY kindly blessed me with an entrance ticket to a concert by a Taiwanese Christian chorus which consisted of four blind members.

It was held the next day at 8pm at Pay Fong High School. As the venue was near my workplace, I stayed back after office hours to go there directly. I was among the few who arrived early. So I chose a middle front seat. After awhile, I saw Lih Gin, a Calvarite whom I had known when serving at the children's church two years ago. She also turned up with her colleagues to support this event. She came to sit next to me.

The choristers were having a simple rehearsal to get themselves familiar with the place. I was very touched by their mutual trust and care when I saw them walking onto the stage, holding one another's hand.

They could sing as well as play the piano.

The hall was slowly filled with the Chinese speaking crowd. To start the programme, the chorus leader introduced his group and led the audience to sing a few praise songs in their Taiwanese dialect and Mandarin.

I knew one of the songs thanks to the CDs which my MLM classmate Alan N had given me. Despite my broken Hokkien, I was very excited to sing along.

Next, all the four choristers presented a Taiwanese folk song and Christian worship songs together by using their respective beautiful tenor, soprano, alto and baritone voices.

Listening to the flute, my favorite musical instrument, was another moment I enjoyed very much.

This sister in Christ gave her testimony of her low self-esteem when she was a child, her loss of eyesight due to an accident in school and later her wonderful born again life in Jesus.

A short video showed the aim of the Eden Social Welfare Foundation, through their fundraising, to bless blind people in countries under development with special walking sticks. Instead of buying an album or two of the chorus, I decided to contribute the money to the fund. That night, they raised about two thousand ringgit in Melaka. Praise the Lord!

After this unusual concert, I understood better the purpose of the Eden Rejoicing Chorus which is "to tell people in the world that, even when their eyes cannot see, there can still be light, love and songs. Therefore, they always hold a light in their hearts and bring light to the hearts of people who are in darkness."

Sis Christine's Birthday Lunch At Flavours Restaurant/Bulldog Cafe

Last year on 11 November, I had an appointment with Sis Christine in town to pass to her some event cards which I had helped her to print. When she arrived with her car, she told me, "Today is my birthday..." At that time, she was a Calvarite with whom I was acquainted more often because of our then TC2 group. As it was raining and I was going back to my house, I simply said a greeting. In my heart I told myself not to miss to celebrate her birthday in future as I was getting closer to this sister in Christ.

Last Wednesday night, I received a funny forwarded message from Sis Christine half an hour before her birthday. I responed by asking her if she would like to join me for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner in town the next day. She had something on in the morning and would only confirm later.

Thursday at lunch time, she finally telephoned me to meet up at Flavours Restaurant, formerly known as Bulldog Cafe.

Entering this nyonya and western food restaurant for the first time, I was immediately attracted by its interior design. Household appliances of my grandparents' times

and old pictures were used as decorative items everywhere.

Since Sis Christine was the birthday star, I let her decide on the menu.

I expected her to order typical nyonya dishes. When the food was served, I was puzzled and thought, "Are these their specialities? I can fry the same omelet while Mum can cook the asam fish, kangkung sambal and salted vegetable duck soup!"

Though the warm and spicy dishes were just nice to eat under the cool weather, Sis Christine was not satisfied with the soup which only contained almost meatless bones. We also found that the vegetable and eggs were a bit too salty to our liking. The portions were enough for three to four persons. At first, I thought we were going to pack leftover food. As we spent the whole hour eating and chatting, we managed to finish everything and quench our thirst by sharing an additional bowl of rice and cup of Chinese tea!

Never underestimate small-sized women--They may have big stomachs.

My Face Is On A Mousepad!

At the end of my last class with my first batch of AM228 students last month, they took a group photo with me and an individual photo of mine. Muharram said to me, "Mademoiselle (Miss), we'll give you something next week." I guessed they were going to print out the group picture and frame it for me to keep as a souvenir.

The following week was the revision week. None from their group looked for me. Sometimes I saw some of them checking their on-going tests marks in front the notice board outside my office but nobody mentioned anything. I began to think that they did not mean it that day.

Three more weeks were over. I had almost forgot about it. This Tuesday, someone knocked my door in the afternoon. Muharram entered with a big smile on his face and a big envelop in his hand.

"Mademoiselle, this is for you." He was already leaving.

The envelop was lighter than I had imagined with a frame. "Thanks. Can I have a look first? It must be a photo."

"It's a mousepad with your picture..."

What a creative present! When I pulled it out from the envelop, it was funny to see my portrait appearing on an object in such a size. As I had been using my office desktop without a mousepad, this was just nice to give my mouse a mat and let it rub against my face.

Now, even when nobody gives me a smile at my workplace, at least I get one from myself when I enter my office. Hallelujah!

Lei Cha Lunch At Mdm Tsong's Place

Two weeks after our hi-tea at Holiday Inn, Mdm Tsong, Siew Hong and I met again for another meal last Friday. This time was a completely different experience--Mdm was hosting the gathering at her place and we prepared lei cha together.

My two seniors were in charge of the purchase and doing necessary early work. I brought some pucuk manis from my garden. Then we continued the preparations. Siew Hong who had backache sat at the dining table

while I stayed in the kitchen to cut the vegetables or pluck the leaves.

Mdm Tsong began the cooking part.

She told us that nowadays she seldom cooked as she always ate at her kindergarten or her daughter's house. For this lunch, she had to get a new bottle of oil, some rice and tourred a few markets to buy the ingredients, some of which were not easy to find.

After a short while, the executive chef's shirt was wet and she quickly got changed in order to let me take a picture of her in a pose.

To ensure the quality and authenticity of this Hakka speciality, not only she was generous with the ingredients regardless of cost, she also did not compromise on the freshness.

The sous-chef who had got her job done also offered a helping hand at the gas stove.

Yan Ping, Mdm Tsong's cell member who had been appointed as chef de partie (station chef) to grill peanuts in her house, joined us later. Being the youngest among these capable cooks, I happily played my role as commis de cuisine (kitchen apprentice).

After the vegetables, yellow beancurds with dried shrimps, etc were fried separately in the wok, it was the herbs' turn to perform.

Their stage was in the blender. Not having cooked lei cha for three years, at first, it was difficult for Mdm Tsong to catch the good proportion of the mint, basil, coriander, celery, dried tea leaves, ground nuts, sesame, powdered anchovis and hot water, especially when she was surrounded by three faces eager to learn the recipe.

She boiled the dark green flagrant mixture with more water and asked us to start serving.

When the dishes were displayed in different plates, they formed a beautiful picture on the table. When eating alone at home, I enjoy all-vegetarian food. It is only when I socialise that I go for all kinds of meat. That day, I was glad to find back my herbivorous nature.

Lei cha has been in the list of my favorite dishes since I first tasted it in 2002 during a fund-raising event. Though that one was also homemade, it was of course far behind this one specially cooked for good friends.

Mdm Tsong remained in the kitchen to try a few more times to improve her soup. Not serving extra rice, I kept adding vegetables and pouring soup which was getting tastier. As a result, my bowl was not empty for more than half an hour. Yan Ping, Siew Hong and Mdm Tsong's son Loke Yen were also great supporters of this yummy lei cha.

Yan Ping's husband Dr Richard, Bee Lan and Sis Grace were also invited and turned up later. More than ten people savoured the healthy meal, which was worth the time, work and effort for the preparation. And I appreciated very much the occasion to have fellowship with my sisters in Christ during the whole afternoon.

Ping, I know your mouth is watering. Mdm Tsong let me "tapao" some soup paste and it is in the freezer. Wait for me to cook lei cha for you and Mum very soon!