Ever since I started school at Rossmoyne this year, I can assure you that many things have happened to me. Wave after wave of things that I never expected to happen to me. I couldn’t understand it at first; shouldn’t life be easier here now that I’m in Perth instead of Singapore? Well, the workload in school is much less stressful than how it is in Singapore, that I can say for sure. The culture is totally different as well, which I’m indeed grateful for. But there were just some things along the way that made me realize that this was not happening without a purpose.
I came to Rossmoyne on February the 1st, and from that day on I was told that I was 6 weeks behind in all my classes because all the Year 12s in my school started the Year 12 syllabus last year (2011) for 6 weeks, and obviously I wasn’t there to learn what they did because I was still in Singapore at the time. And gradually as the week progressed, I found myself being so burdened by the fact that I had to catch up in so many subjects, chapters yet to be self-studied and 4 tests to be done for Human Biology, a portfolio of preliminary studies for Visual Arts to work on, having to learn what was new and expected of me in English (because in Singapore all I did that was similar was Literature for 4 years straight), etc. And of course, making new friends and finding a church that I was comfortable to worship in.
And God spoke to me through His Word so many times regarding the same topic; it just had to be God.
Cast your burden on the LORD,
and He will support you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
- Psalm 55:22
But as for you, be strong; don’t be discouraged, for your work has a reward.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
The LORD said: Assuredly, I will set you free and care for you.
Aussredly, I will intercede for you
in a time of trouble,
in your time of distress, with the enemy.
- Jeremiah 15:11
for I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.
- Jeremiah 31:25
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
- Psalm 56:3
:D And God comforted me through His Word, and helped me to really put my faith in Him for everything that I was anticipating~
But that wasn’t all.
On February 11th, one Saturday night after I came home from the new youth group that one of my schoolmates Jia Yi invited me to, just as I came in through the front door my father told me that my gong gong (my grandfather on my mother’s side) just passed away. ;(
I was really so shocked that this happened; my gong gong was actually quite healthy the last time I saw him, which was the day that he saw us off at the airport when we were coming here to Perth, just about a month ago! It was the first time for me ever that a family member had passed away, and I was stunned for a few minutes until reality sank in and then I started to cry because it was so unexpected.
We went back to Singapore for 2 days for the wake and for the cremation service (February 13th and 14th).
I think it affected my mother the most because after all, it was her father. But I remember what Pastor Paul Ang said publicly to a man during service on the Sunday before we went back to Singapore; actually he was prophesying over a man near the front of the pulpit (we were further behind), and he said something like “What the devil intended for evil, God will turn around for good” among other things. And I really think that comforted my mother a lot, even though it wasn’t addressed to her directly, but God spoke to her through that.
And it’s been about two weeks since then.
Currently, I’m just wondering whether I’ll be able to find a real, true friend here in Perth because coming into Year 12 (the last year of high school) means that practically everyone’s already got their own group of best friends and it would be hard for me to get as close. It’s also hard because coming from Singapore, everyone assumes that it’s a hundred times easier to study here in Perth than in Singapore (which is true to some extent; it’s just less stressful). When I get back my grades from tests (all of which have been really great so far, better than I actually expected, and all by God’s grace) I want to give glory to God, but people end up seeing it as I’m really smart and I don’t need help, that kind of thing. But to catch up in some things, of course I would need help… I don’t like giving off the impression that I don’t need help… :( At least I get to help other people, which is good, but I feel as if I’m on my own sometimes, when I can’t rely on anyone my age for help, when my teachers are only occasionally available to help me catch up. I find myself lacking support.
But then God assures me that He is God my Provider. He will provide in the desert, when there seems to be no help. His grace is enough for me. Triumph is soon on its way. When I am weak, then I am strong.
