Summer of 2010/11

Hey guys,

Writing this as I'm waiting to board the plane from KL to Melbourne at the departure hall. Just wanna say that it truly has been one of the best summers I've had yet. Starting with my 5 weeks exchange programme to NUS at Singapore, before going back to KK for 10 days and now, back to Melbourne once again.

The Singapore experience was more than what I hoped for. I knew it was going to be good. Going to do a subject there with friends, visiting some long lost family during CNY, but I never expected all of it to be MUCH better than expected.

I know now with all my heart that I was meant to go to Singapore and not take an Engineering job this Summer. It was planned, it was destined. And because of that, I am grateful.

I guess the best thing about the Summer Exchange was definitely spending time, getting to know and having a BLAST each day with all my uni coursemates. And these are people that I have either seen/haven't seen around at lectures, from different circles and would otherwise NEVER have had a chance to know.

It was awesome. We're all so different, but yet we're striving for the same thing and having a wicked time while we're at it. And because of that, I now have a few more really really good buddies that I look forward to seeing around campus this year.

I don't know how else to explain it, but you have to be there with us each day to really know what I mean. I left the program with so many new friends (in real life and on Facebook lol) and I can't wait to see those faces again.

Another thing that made the whole experience so much more enriching was getting runner up for the Best Presenter Award on the last day. It may be a small and insignificant award to most people but I'm sooo happy to get recognised in that way. What a nice icing on the cake.

But that's not why I think it was meant to be for me to come to Singapore this holiday. As I soon found out later on during Chinese New Year, it had FINALLY allowed my family to reunite with other relatives from Dad's side of the family.

Cause let me tell you one thing, the Chua clan has never really been brought up with close family "values". It's all so complicated and I guess cause of that, some siblings grew more distant from others.

But CNY is really important to every Chinese family. A time to put aside differences and past to come together at least once a year. And that's what happened. What a blessing to have my family fly over there to not leave me alone and spend CNY with me at Singapore.

Got to meet SO many relatives that I haven't met for more than 10 yrs, and even more that I haven't met before! It was a complete joy to get to talk to them and know them as if we are new friends when we really are FAMILY.

Very happy to see Dad reunite with various siblings and relatives that he hasn't seen in years. A very, very blessed CNY for the my family indeed. And even though a lot of the members from the Chua Clan (Dad has 11 other siblings, almost all of them grandparents now) weren't in Singapore, they were all remembered. Especially my late Grandfather that I never got to meet.

But it was SO fantastic to hear so many stories about him. Some from my parents, aunts, uncles. But best of all was from my eldest cousin, who's the first grandson in the Chua clan (him, being 46 and me, 21).

Hearing all the stories of how Ah Gong would take care of him as a kid and also how he and his Dad came to Christ was really unforgettable. What was surprising was Dad (who has told us many times growing up that he doesn't want to be Christian) was actually really fascinated by his story! 

In fact after that, Dad actually said after that that the only reason he will ever come to know Christ is if one day, Jesus reveals Himself to him. You see, Dad's just like most people who choose to believe things with his EYES. And I don't blame him, or anyone else who find it hard to have faith for that matter.

It was then, when God instilled in me a hope that He will come into Dad's life one fine day. One... Fine... Day. This is a beautiful thought. Dad's never accepted Christ but I'm not giving up on him yet!! 

And I truly hope that you guys don't give up hope on the people around you, too.

And THAT is why I know I was meant to go to Singapore, for the Chua family to get closer with one another and for me to hear those words from Dad. So ecstatic!

So finally after that, I got to come home to my beautiful town (yes, town. Not really a village, but not quite a city), Kota Kinabalu. This trip was short and sweet. Decided to only meet up with close friends and got to spend heaps of time with my family which is awesome. Each day is awesome.

But now, my short stint in KK is over and am on my way back to Melbourne for my FINAL YEAR (zomg) at UNI!! Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh… Going back to that and oh, my 21st Birthday. Heeeeeee… Have got some friends flying in from interstate and so many more who changed their air ticket JUST to make it in time for that so I am excited. Double Heeeeee…

So, yeah. That pretty much wraps up my Summer of 2010/11. It went by so fast, but I'm glad I can use this chance to reminisce and pen it down so that I can always look back to the time when God taught me to not just pray for the right doors to open, but also for the right doors to close.

Here's to a fan-friggin-tastic year ahead for you, me and our families! So let it be.

Warmest blessings to all,

Winston

12:00pm, 20th February 2011