Farewell Karaoke Dinner at Dreambox KTV Melaka

At the end of March, I received a call from Kelvin K inviting me to join a farewell karaoke&meal gathering specially organised for Godwin and Irwne who were leaving Melaka to live in Kuala Lumpur.

On the first Thursday of this month, I went to Dreambox KTV at Dataran Pahlawan. Some Calvarites were already singing. When more arrived, we got our buffet dinner from another hall and started eating

in our VIP room.

I was sitting among sisters in Christs who enjoyed the food

as well as singing

The karaoke lovers were in ecstasy as long as they were holding a microphone.

Most of the songs selected were in English so that we all could sing together. Being the youngest among those who were there, I sometimes felt a bit disconnected as I had never heard of many of those oldies. Once awhile, I also joined some Mandarin speaking seniors to sing a well known Chinese oldie. This was a good platform for the songbirds to perform outside the church service.

The stars of that evening were of course Irwne

and Godwin, two siblings of different personalities who had been faithfully served at Calvary Life Assembly.

After much prayer, they had found a place in the same condominium with their sister who would be able look after them easily in Kuala Lumpur.

We are going to miss these two friendly brothers in Christ.

Free English Tuition At Harap Learning Centre Bukit Baru

Last month, after hearing from Sis Grace and Theresa that a lady was willing to give free English tuition twice a week to the Seri Siantan Bukit Baru community at Harap Learning Centre, I was very interested to get to know this sister in Christ.

One Thursday afternoon, I finally met Sis Christine, a retired English teacher who has a heart to help underprivileged children. The first batch of boys and girls entered the centre at 5pm.

As the children varied in age and English standard and she was alone most of the time, she focused on those who could read and at least make simple sentences.

Since I was free, I offered to supervise the younger ones some of whom had difficulties to even spell the alphabet letters.

Sis Christine's teaching was very lively. Her students had to show the action

as they mentioned a verb.

After about an hour, she let the children leave the centre and received the second batch of students whose language skills were much better.

Another week, I went to the centre to help again. This time, I saw new faces

including Syukri and Fikri who usually liked to idle at the playground. What a good surprise!

To motivate them to attend her tuition, Sis Christine had collected small presents from her friends to give away to those

who were willing to spend more than half an hour to write "He is a boy. We are pupils..." in their exercise books and on the white board.

When someone shows love and care, the Seri Siantan children's lives will no longer be the same.

Felix's 70th Birthday Celebration

On the last Thursday of February, Emmy called me to invite me to their house the next evening as it was going to be Felix's birthday. As I would need to attend a leaders' meeting in church at the same time, I just said I would try to make it. Before I hung up, she reminded me, "No present, please!"

At first I was hesitating between the two appointments. But I began to consider the fact that the 70-year-old birthday celebration would take place only once a life time whereas the meeting was held every month, and that I could always find out from others what had been taught or discussed. Finally on 25th evening after work, I decided to drive to Klebang instead of Ayer Keroh.

Julia was also back from Kuala Lumpur with her parents. As usual, this vivacious girl's presence could never be unnoticed.

I was wondering why she started to cry when she sat at the dining table. Then I learnt that she had accidentally dropped the GPS, a gift which her parents had bought for her grandfather, onto the ground before they came. Even though it was not spoilt at all, the sight of it was enough to make her feel guilty again.

Felix was happier to read the simple word "Chichi" (Grandfather in Spanish)

and to receive the handmade card

from his granddaughter.

That evening, Emmy was not feeling well and stayed in the room. So after the dinner together with other guests, Julia was the one sitting next to Felix

to blow

and remove the candles

together.

The cheese cake was from a bakery and was not as popular as the flan of which all of us had a share. Every time when I went to their house for an important meal gathering, I would have the chance to taste this Emmy's signature dessert.

Later, I went upstairs to chat with Emmy. She was very glad to see the pictures I had taken. So was Felix who joined us later. I believe that this was the best present I had offered to the couple.