Hurrays for Today!

An almost perfect day!!

Today was my interview for the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy MPA program. Prior to the interview, all the candidates had to take an English Test at 9am. the Interview itself didn't go all that great.. but follow the trail of "hurray"s to see why it's almost perfect!

Got out of the house at about 8.30am and starting looking for a cab. Cabs usually dont' come easy around this time and i was almost calling for a cab when a cab appears. Hurray #1!

I reach the exam hall at 8.55am. Whew. Hurray #2! Exam begins.

We are given an article on Vietnam being the next Asian Economic Tiger to read. There's 2 sections on vocabulary, 1 on comprehension and the last section is a 500 word essay. Doing the first 3 sections.. i was quite thrilled because i felt likei was in school again! Vocabulary, Comprehension, underlining the key points.. sigh.. such a geek! :)

My essay topic (paraphrased): What recommendations would you give the Communist Government to help Vietnam in moving forward economically?

*can u hear the laughter in my head* i think i was actually grinning when i read it because , what a question to ask ME of all pp! What would I say to the Communist govt?? hahah! well the essay was supposed to be based on the reflections you get from the attached article so i think i was able to extract ideas from there and also extrapolate from my long ago knowledge of State Owned Enterprises and protectionistic policies from something i studied back in Uni and JC days. But yah, haha.. somehow, 500 words came out.. sensible or nonsensical, i have no idea.. but well that's my best shot for someone that hasn't touched any aspect of internationl trade and economics since 2000/2001.

Test ends at 10.15am. I hope the markers can make out my scribbly handwriting.

After the test, i bump into this lady whom i shall name M who also took the test and we ended up at the cafeteria while waiting for our turn to be interviewed. Lo and behold, she turns out to be my senior both in VJC and SNGs!!! and turned out that we had common friends and all! funny that as we talked about SNGS, talked about homosexuality and anyway it led on to questions on what sin is, what Christianity is really about, and got to share briefly that the kind of life that God has called us to lead is not full of fear (which she mentioned of her own life and in the lives of many singaporeans). She states that she's agnostic/atheistic..interested in theology but very sure she's right that there's no God. Interesting conversation. think i saw her eyes light up at certain points. like she discovered new nuggets abt what Christianity really is abt. like how she doesn't have to live in fear. Hurray #3

Another guy joins our table, polite young man, N, working for one of our govt ministries. He's done with his interview. After awhile M leaves, coz she wants to 'check out' her interview room first. I get to talk to N myself. Nice young chap, really like him. He seemed abit down about what he is doing.. i secretly pray that he will come to know GOD some day, he shouldn't be so down. After sharing about what he's doing, he asks what i do. I briefly tell him i work for the church with the youths. He says now he feels bad for whinging about his work when i've probably sacrificed more for what i'm doing.

On a side note here.. i want to say this: Somehow, people can't really get our name "EVERY nation" church.. its either they say "i-vo-ree" or"everywhere"or "everyone" or something like that! ahaha! is "Every Nation" very hard to get?? hmm.

Anyway, back to N. I told him that i never really felt like i 'sacrficed' alot or watever. Gave him my name card, and he asks where the church is. I invite him to come visit some day, tell him he's welcome anytime! Hurray #4

Head off to my interview, but not after meeting another bunch of interviewees. Lovely people.

11.40am. I meet Boyd and another caucasian guy. Casual interview, love them coz they were so relaxed.. but i think i bombed the interview coz i felt so "all over the place" in what i was saying. Other Caucasian Guy asks if i'd like to focus on developing social capital? Honestly in my head i am going: *what IS social capital??* But i say yes.. assuming in my head social capital is building the people in society apart from the main stream education. I have since learnt from Gerald Giam that it is non-govt support for social upliftment in society. so there. the idea is there :)

12.25pm. Reach NUS Grinning Geckos. Bump into Ryan, have lunch with him

1pm. Campus Prayer Group with Ryan, KP, Kimmy, CHisako, Young. The International House of Prayer!! Hurray #5 Prayed from book of Daniel, for young pp to raise a standard above the world's, to be students of excellence, to realise the vision that they'd one day stand before Kings and Queens :)

2 pm Meet KP for One to One
3pm Meet Chisako for One to One.. we've finished! I pray with my whole heart that she'll come receive Christ into her heart! She is the only person i have ever done One to ONe with and attends Church regularly and is not a Christian! but i believe it'll be soon!!

3.45pm i leave the Central Library after meetin Chisako. It is raining CATS and DOGS. Gil sends me an sms!! she is in NUS watching piano recital AND she DROVE!!

4.15pm Gil picks me up from Engin bus stop :) Hurray #6 We drive off to buy ice cream from the Daily Scoop at Clementi

5pm. Reach bus stop outside her house, take bus to Office

6.30pm. Meet Czarina on 8th Floor, got to chat w her so din go for dinner w other guys.

7.15pm. See Gwen, with cousin Sophie and another student Kenneth. Just feels so great to see them. Hurray #7 they are practicing for dance for Campus Retro Party.

then i had dinner by myself - the not so hurray part.. but i got to eat lor mee so that was happy :)

All i know is that, today even just going for the interviews, and i know its a strange thing to say, but i felt so alive to be around non-christians! just so blessed to hear them and be with them and hear their hearts adn thoughts, want so much for them to know God. I must say that prior to the interivew, i was kinda neutral about getting in.. but after meeting some of my potential classmates and faculty.. i really want to! but whether i can now, remains the question! O well, we'll know in 2-3 weeks time. Whatever it may be, Hurray to GOD! I am SO thankful just for this day already! THANK YOU!