Weekly update: 1/2/2011 Calling to serve

Have you ever seated at the waiting area near the door of Accidence and Emergency of a hospital? Where you see people rushing in wheels, parents crying and scolding her children for situation they cause themselves in...etc Does it's makes you feel like you want to do something for them but feeling helpless? I do.

A&E of Singapore General Hospital

The day was 1/2/2011, my grandma fell again and was send to hospital for checkup. Don't worry, she is fine. But I think God let this event happen for a purpose and I will share with you in a while.

That day, I was giving a workshop in a secondary school. My phone rang and it was my cousin telling me about grandma incident. So right after class, I went to visit her. When I reached her ward, she was alone. But she smile at me when she saw me and we chat for a while. We even watched the story of Jesus together at her bed. After I checked with the nurse, it seen like she needs to stay there for few hours more before she can discharge. So after she falls asleep, I decide to pay my relative a visit that happen to be nearby.

Where my childhood began

After reaching the place, it brings back so much memories. Because this is the place where I grow up. My childhood. Although after I called my relative and they happen not to be around, I still take the opportunity to walk around the block. But when I reached the 10th floor where I used to live. I suddenly recall how God had watched over me when I was young even when I do not know Him yet. I once was surrounded by a gang but they cause me no harm; at the age of 5, I once knock down a huge cupboard and it fell and cover half of my body but I'm still alive; but above that is the big family conflict that my mum's relative vs my father's relative about selling me away when I was a baby but God saved me and had planted that the seed of gospel will start from our family.

Both our father and mother's relative coming together to my house in Chinese New Year.

I praised God while standing at the corridor and prayed for this neighborhood that God will transform it into a place where many will worship Him. My faith maybe small but I know my God is big.

After that, I visited one of my neighbors who used to look after me 20 years ago. She remembers me and she happily invited me in. We had a nice chat and testimony sharing. She was surprise that grandma had become a Christian by her own account and not me who bring her to Church. After a while, we bid goodbye.

Now back to my seat near the door of the Accidence and Emergency, God showed me the reason of today's events. There are many people in this world that haven't hear the good news that can change their life like the way it has changed mine or some people even have a misconception about being a Christian needs to be literate. Someone needs to tell them. And I know the reason I was saved for a reason... we were saved for a reason. It is so that we can live to tell others, that there is a real God who can help them and can changed their life.

I pray that Holy Spirit will multiply the passion and love I had for Him, and this time I will not run away from the purpose He keep me alive. And right now is to study and be equipped in missiology. Amen.

*****

Seek His will in all you do,
      and He will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:6

*****

weekly update: 11/1/2011 A New Year, New Beginning and New Life

Dear brother and sister,

Happy NEW 2011!!!! Yeah!! Are you looking forward to what God had planned for you in this New Year? Well, I do. =) After I had personally experienced Him in 2010 and the great things He had done for me, I'm truly looking forward to what He has in mind for my new job, my new direction, my next step. =) 

But I know someone in another part of the world is also very looking forward to this 2011, her new life as a mother.  Her name is Karis. Our sister in Christ who was in my previous update about her pregnancy.  I believe she can't wait to share with all of you her joy of the new life as a mother that God had given to her. Below is her email about her labor. Last but not least, thank you for your prayer support. 

Enjoy and many blessing to you. Happy 11/01/2011!!

"Dear all sisters and brothers in Christ,

It is such a great joy to write this email. I am deeply grateful to the Lord our God for His mercy and grace.
'Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting' Psalm 118:1
'I will not die, but live, and tell if the works of the Lord' Psalm 118:17
 

The more I live, the more I find that words are so limited to be able to express the greatness of our Lord.
It has been more than a month since my previous email to you. I must say sorry for this delay. Now please take some time to join with me in giving thanks and praising the Lord.

I was hospitalized on 30th Nov and had a C section on 1st Dec 2010. I was fine and my health was normal, but we did not not why just before the C section, my blood pressure went so high (170 or 180). It has been a hard case for the doctor team in the operation room. But our God is in control and I knew He was there with me during the C-section. It was a great joy when I could hear my daughter's first cry. God has protected us and saved both of us.

My daughter, Phạm Lê Thiên Anh (Anna) was born at 8:45am, 1st Dec 2010, weighed 2,9kg.
My girl was totally fine after delivery but my blood pressure remained high. So the doctor has kept me ICU for 2 days. I was discharged from the hospital after 5 days. However, a week after that the doctor found that there is some kind of liquid under my wound. They asked me to be hospitalized again. Because I am breastfeeding my daughter, I asked the doctor if I could stay at home and take medicine instead of being hospitalized and they agreed. I am still on medication now. Please pray for me that when I come to see the doctor again this week we will receive the good news that the liquid has become smaller and disappeared.

I am so blessed to be a child of God and to have brothers and sisters like you who are willing to pray for one another in our time of need.

May God continue to work in each of our live and that His name will be glorified.
With thanks and joy.

The Hung - Huyen Thy (Karis) - Thien Anh (Anna)"

Her name is Anna. =)

 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; His love endures forever...

I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done."

~Psalm 118:8,17~

Many Blessing,

William Ngoo

11/1/2011

Weekly update: 23/11/2010 A testimony of a brave small lady

Hi brothers and sisters, 

Welcome back. Today WWU is not about me. It’s about a "small" brave lady whom I met during my 1st week in Cambodia. I want to share her life testimony with you and at the end of this I will help you help to say a little prayer for her. 

 

What is impossible with men is possible with God! 

(Miracle through her) 

15 years ago, this young lady from Vietnam has gotten a very rare disease called the "Takayashu disease" which made her arota (main blood vessel that distributes blood from the heart) very narrow. Time to time, patient with this disease will experience painful, cool or blanched extremities, dizziness, headaches, chest pain...etc and can lead to strokes in brain or paralysis in spinal cord. Walking up a flight of stair will be like asking an elderly to carry a commando's baggage and climb the Mount Everest. And she had just turned into a teenage. 

That year, the doctor tried to do a surgery on her by cutting the narrow arota and replaced it by a man-made one. In order to perform that operation, she will need to take a medicine that 1 out of 5000 patients will be allergic to it. In order for her to become better, they decided to take the risk as there isn't any other option. Unfortunately,  she was allergic to the medicine. Her heart stopped beating. The doctors came and they can't do anything to revive her heart other than using machines to sustain her heart-beating temporary. She left only a few days to live. It’s was then a miracle happened. 

In time of despair, her family sent out prayer request to all their relatives, friends and churches to pray for her. Above that, her parents made a very brave decision. They decided to sell away their business and offered theirs and her daughter's life to serve God if God would to save her life. It was then, the doctor heard a little heartbeat from her heart. From a small heart beat, God saved her. And she lived. 

15 years had passed since that incident. Now this girl had grown up and became a woman after God's own heart. She climbs mountain, cross-oceans and served God diligently in ministry as if there is nothing wrong with her heart. On 2008, she married to a fine young man who loves her very much even though he knew about for her sickness. God had proved to the world that "what is impossible with men is possible with God." 

Mount Nebo (Jordan of Israel) 

What is impossible with men is possible with God... Again! 

(Miracle through her baby)

Today, God is using her again to show the world another miracle. And this time is through her baby. This year April, God sent them good news that she is pregnant. But to the doctor this is a bad news. Knowing that she has Takayashu and her heart used to stop beating, the doctor asked her to go for check up. Result came and show that her situation is not suitable for having baby as her arota is less than half of a normal one which means there maybe not enough blood for both the mother and the baby to survive. 

(This brought her back to the time her parents prayed to God to save her 15 years ago. So she prayed the same thing, to ask God to give them peace and protect her baby’s life. And as her parents have prayed to offer her life to God to serve Him, she prayed the same thing that this baby will be His.)

The kind doctor tried to persuade her many times about giving up the child as it was only the 12 weeks of her pregnancy in order to save her life. 


Below is their conversation.

Knowing that the doctor cannot persuaded her anymore, he told her that she will have to be hospitalized till the day of her delivery for the doctor to keep track of her health. But she didn't do so. God has strengthening her from the beginning until now. She continue staying at home and doing the ministry. From that day onwards, she never stop praying for her baby. And now she is on her 36th weeks. Both baby and the mother are growing healthily in God's grace. The doctors were amazed.

God had been faithful and listened to her prayer. Next week, week 37th, the doctor will be performing the surgery on them to bring the baby into this beautiful world of God creation.

Before I close this WWU. Here is what she had been praying: 

"Dear God, we pray that she will be blessed and You will be with her and anoint her. The Spirit of the Most High will be upon her and she will serve the Lord fruitfully, faithfully and make You known and glorified in her life. Amen."

Let us say a little prayer for her and her baby

So brothers and sisters let us all not forget to say a little prayer for her baby and her too. Please uphold them in prayer that God will keep protecting them and strengthening them and that the surgery next week will go well. 

Thank you and God bless.

Her name is  Karis

*****

"When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. 

And when two or three of you are together because of Me, you can be sure that I'll be there."

Matthew 18:20 (The message)

*****

Your brother in Christ,

William Ngoo

Weekly update: 19/11/2010 Our honeymoon Trip

Hi Everyone, 

We are back from our honeymoon! Past 2 weeks had been very happening. And here I am again to record it down and share them with you. 

During our 12 days Western Australia honeymoon trip, we traveled and lived 5 different states. From Fremantle-> Margaret river->Albany->Swan valley->Perth. Weather was cooling, place was beautiful, food was delicious. But what makes our trip more memorable is the company that we are with. Let me explain further. 

Fremantle-> Margaret river->Albany->Swan valley->Perth

Happiness ≠ “not about where” you are

Happiness = “but about whom” you are with 

Fremantle was a gorgeous looking place where all the beautiful boats harbor were. The fish and chip was nice. But all are nothing compare to my "brother", Ding Xin whom in God's prefect timing was placed there to become our host. Chatting with him, tasting his cooking skill, shopping for the cheapest deal at supermarket...etc was the happiest time we had when we were at Fremantle and Perth. Feels like a family.

This theory proves once again when we were at Albany. Albany was a beautiful place where one can admire the wonders of God's wise creation. The raging sea that forms "the nature bridge" through the cliff and the gigantic fan structures that are able to turn the power of wind into the electricity that power up this laptop. All these "attraction" does amazed us... for a while and after a few click from my camera, we were back in the car again. What causes us to miss that place is the church we went. It's called the Albany family church or another name is the Foursquare Gospel church. 

The way they welcome us there, the hot BBQ which they invited us on a chilling night...etc made us feel like home. They also invited is to share our testimony as they longed to hear testimony from people from other parts of the world. I remember during the sharing about my "happening 1 year" testimony of what God had done in my life, my wife and my father, some of their eyes became watery. Tears of happiness I might say because all of us know that God had done His amazing works in people's life once again, "lost sheep" had found its way home. Being with them really feels like "home". 

Therefore, simple conclusion, "where" you go is not really important but "whom" you are with or going to meet is the key. From that I can also understand why people commented, "Christian is not a religion but a relationship with God". For God knows, going to Heaven is not about going to a beautiful carefree place but about being in the presence of our God forever. “Relationship matters”. 

Heaven is not Heaven without the presence of our Lord.

\(^v^)/ 

***** 

“We are... well pleased rather to be absent from the body and 

to be present with the Lord.” 

我 们 坦 然 无 惧 ， 是 更 愿 意 离 开 身 体 与 主 同 住 。

2 Corinthians: 5:8

***** 

From your brother in Christ, 

William Ngoo 

2359hr 19/11/2010

Weekly update: 05/11/2010 Our wedding testimony

Dear brothers and sisters,

it’s been a while since my last WWU. During the 3 weeks of wedding preparation, it’s been hectic but yet fruitful.

Although now I’m in the middle of my honeymoon at Western Australia, I still never forget to share with you my spiritual journey of our wedding.

The Test of Faith again (10 days before wedding)

10 days before my wedding 29^th Oct 2010, I was invited to attend a 4 day course on self-improvement through understanding the “model of human behavior”. People may thought I am crazy for taking up this 4 day course especially when I should be busy with my wedding preparation. To me, somehow I know this is calling from God and door has been opened clearly that I should take this course.

After completing this course, I am now more confident to say that it is His divine timing for giving me this skill during the most hectic period of my wedding preparation.

Recently, I have been getting pretty emotional and easily agitated whenever Jing and I discussed about wedding stuff. Eg. I will get easily stressed whenever I hear Jing’s mum voice, the overtly dominating and unreasonable tone; any slight disagreement with Jing will make me very angry. The worse part of this disagreement is Jing also began to shut herself off from my attitude. Above that, my mum also got herself involve into some debt issue. Imagine how stressful a person would be when he were attacked from both external pressure (wedding preparation) and internal pressure (family issue.)

Thankfully, with the skills equipped from the course, it gives me a wider and clearer perspective of why they will react in certain ways when I speak or situation arises and how to handle situation like this with more practical and efficient way. 

I learnt to be patient with them. Understanding their personality also allow me to provides the correct ingredients for their needs (internally) and in return they helped me with my needs (externally) for my wedding preparation. Eg, I know my mum’s already felt very guilty about her debt so there’s no need to add extra pressure to her by lecturing her. Instead I listened to her patiently and realize the cause of her debt issue is due to my absentee recently that causes her to feel lonely and empty. After providing her what she needs, she helped me with the preparation of the wedding by cleaning up the house and bought all the necessary decoration for the tea ceremony too. I also apply the same lesson on others as well. Understanding them and their needs, really helps me a lot.

Praise God for providing me this skill in His divine timing that I am able to know the root of problem instead of trying to solve the surface problem by using coercive force on them. Thank God for the wonderful course and further mould me to become who He wants me to be. I also would like to thank David Chan, David Nget and Amy Nget for your encouragement to me to take up this course. Thanks God for putting you in my life.

An assignment from God (5 days before wedding)

5 days before wedding day, I had to rearrange the whole video clip again that was supposed to be screened on my wedding day. The purpose of this video is to tell our guests how God has led and blessed Jing and me throughout our courtship days. Initially this video is supposedly to be assembled together by my videographer friend but I had to rearrange it again as I realized I am the only one who is the best candidate to bring out the actual story of whole scenario and storyboard and also the very important message – “We love because God first loved us”.

Time is pressing and we were still correcting and finalizing the details 2 days before wedding. But God is good, because we placed our priority on Him, He allows me to complete the video the night before wedding and it was even vet through by my teacher Xiaoyu before it was screened the next day. I felt so energized even through I’ve been working till morning for the past 2 days. My ‘food’ is from the completion of my heavenly father’s assignment.

Just some notes, during the week, I was actually planning a surprise for Jing while she marches in but the door didn’t opened because I was too busy with video. It was only later then I understand why God didn’t open the door.

 The God honoring wedding (29^th Oct 2010, Actual wedding day)

After 7^th July 2009 proposal, the day had finally come. Through this wedding, I truly experience the bible verses that said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

Ever since we offered our wedding to God, so as to glorify His name. God had been providing everything we need for the wedding, even all our heart desires. Eg. From the traditional wooden benches to the candle lighted night church wedding. God gave us a very unique wedding. But what more amazingly is everything in the wedding involves our friends’ works and also our brothers and sisters’ involvement that are very dear to us. Eg. From wedding photo shoots to Jing’s wedding gown. God gave us a very personalized wedding.

The whole wedding went very smoothly. The wedding gallery and the video had done a great job to share our love testimony of how God bought both of us for the trials together over these years. This wedding also shared an important message that God had been trying to show us since the world creation. “We love each other because God loved us first.” 1 John 4:19

For many months, we had been praying that this wedding could be used by God to sow the good news into their heart, especially for those who longed to be loved. And we know it has, especially to both of our mothers who both desire to be loved.

Before I end here, I would like to express my deepest thanks to everyone who came, supported and even prayed for our wedding. Without your support and willing heart, this wedding wouldn’t be possible. Thank you, my friends. Last but not least, God, I would like to thank you for putting them in our life. =)

Oh, remember I told you a while ago that I actually intend to plan a surprise for Jing by singing to her while she march in at the beginning of the wedding but God didn’t open the door because of my video. The reason for that was, Jing had planned a surprise for me. She sang her favorite song “thank you for your love” for me at the end of the wedding. I was surprised and also very touched. God, You are so good to me. You have given me what my heart desired. Thank you, God. And also thank you Jing.

 

*****

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, 

and He will give you everything you need.

matthew 6:33

*****

Your brother and sister in Christ,

William & Janice 

ps: To view the videos and photos of our wedding you can click the links below.

Videos: 

Childhood video: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=446054016769

Love testimony video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWermMpR7EQ

Tea ceremony video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx2nOW-w8Lg

Fellowship surprise video: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=446023401769

Jing surprise video: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=457349154854

Night Church wedding ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vozsr0NkcCE 

Photos:

Pre wedding photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248973&id=546171859

Actual day photos: coming soon...

Honeymoon photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=250419&id=546171859 (more to come)

2010-10-15 Weekly news: Same principle but different styles \(^v^)/

Dear brothers and sisters,

Welcome to WWU in "blog style". To be truth, this is my first time I'm truly went all out to explore how a blog works. And I found it pretty amazing and I think you will love it too. 

Why you might ask? Because I'm a gamer or in other words, I'm a hacker. I like to explore systems of how it works and then I like to personalize it. (those people who had gaming experience with me, they know me hehe=p) It is kind of a skill or passion God implanted it inside me when He created me. And I hope in the future, I can present this blog to you in a more fun and interesting way to make your reading more pleasurable.

Below are all the archives of my past WWU. For those have missed it, you can read it again from side bar on your right.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of you for being as such a good listener. Without your support in prayer and encouragement during all these times, I wouldn't have the motivation and strength to carry on this gift God had given me. 

Thank you and more importantly... Thank God for putting you in my life. God bless us all. =)

*****

"Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, 

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

"我 们 既 有 这 许 多 的 见 证 人 ， 如 同 云 彩 围 着 我 们 ，

 就 当 放 下 各 样 的 重 担 ， 脱 去 容 易 缠 累 我 们 的 罪 ， 存 心 忍 耐 ， 奔 那 摆 在 我 们 前 头 的 路 程."

Hebrews 12:1                                  希 伯 來 書 12:1

*****

Your brother in Christ in His Kingdom,

William Ngoo

1151hr               15/10/2010

2010-10-06 Weekly news