The Little Music Maker

This is my cgl and i. It has been a very pleasant time in cell group and i’ve been adjusting well.

Well, we’ve been friends since i was 15. And sad, we’re getting older. HAHA! But quite interesting that round and about, i’m back in his cell group but this time, he’s my leader instead of a cgh doing followup on me. HAHAH!!!!

So one of the best part of being in this cell group is….. having friends who are just darn close to you like my brother, ZM.

Yah, we fight often but in the end, after clearing our differences, the agape love still exist among the 2 of us as friends.

And the happy part of being in this cell group is having music friends who wanna just do something out of their passion of music!

And they doesn’t really bother if you’re crazy, cos…..

They go crazy together with you…. And somehow i’ve realised… the boys in the cell group are just SO TALL….. cos….

Even with my mini little hannah montana shoes, the girls in the cell group are all so small….. OH, so small! But i do think we’re really big on the inside… Hee! But i really like them alot. Yes, i like the girls ALOT! I see myself when i was their age coming to church!

So this is MY cg and i like us. I am looking forward to cell group tomorrow!!!!

OH WOW!!!!!!! This is my WHOLE cell group. Yay, very happy!!! AH!!!!

What were u thinking? I meant, i need a Berklee Friend - BF! HEE! 

So well, i’ve asked questions and got my mails replied almost instantly, like as if he doesn’t need to sleep. Typical musician eh? More likely, i’ve gathered he is just a year older than me and he’s crazily good. For my questions answered, you’ve gotta read this below.

Goes back to square 1 again. I’m reconsidering on this issue about craftwork. What nonsense secondary instrument do i have? I’ve done a little of this, and that and this and that, and i can play anything but the guage of Good isn’t even on par with any standards expected.

Great. Ramu, u’re the man. Cheerios to many more music makers! LH u should meet him - UR beloved victoria senior!

So i’ve been up till 6am all these days recently - or have i always been up this early just having my thoughts running wild and sometimes talking to God bout my eccentric ideas about music and about our love relationship. OH GOD! Just when i was thinking hard about my plans for these 2 months through to my auditions, i have many questions that popped up in my head regarding it and i so needed a friend to talk to. I thank GOD for my band conductor, who told me a long 2-3 years ago that he’s got a victoria kid who headed to Berklee to do his music studies and u know, his name is Ramu - a darn FREAK percussionist major in piano, major (minor) in marimba. Freak i tell u, he’s a freak and he’s a victoria kid.

So well, running here and there all my life, i’m still far and connected with people who love music - the victoria school band kids. Farid, if you’re reading this, this is darn freaked up weird lar! Rights, at least i am talking to people who do music professionally and who could help in any sense. So anyway, i’ve got myself into writing facebook emails to him and questioning him all the stuff that i needed to find out. For a good start, he’s my one and only REAL BOSTON BERKLEE friend and not a fake affliated “berklee” teacher whom i’ve encountered before.

So check this amazing stuff out:

DARN! He didn’t pay for his school fees AT ALL. So much for a freak talented pal, i think i’ve gotta re-educate my mind and my fingers on those music theory and stuff. Well, for a good start, he’s been the freakiest drummer i’ve seen while in sec school, and honestly, this is just darn!

I recalled the last time i was nervous and stuff about an interview and a written test paper was when i gathered enough courage after the disappointing O level results, to decide on choosing Mass Comm at Ngee Ann over mediocre Business in which i’m definitely NOT cut up for. I spoke to Anne - the pretty girl on harvest highlights? I recalled, she was the ONLY ngee ann mass com girl i knew then and Kelvin Ang told me about it.

Now, i’m going through the same routine of finding myself, searching out the things i’m passionately craving for, digging deep within for a solid base foundation to see where my roots stood… now i have 1 friend in mind to help answer my many questions.

OH GOD, u know my inquiring heart… of many questions left unanswered.
OH GOD, u felt my deepest desires…. of many wondered moments left unspoken.
OH GOD, u see my crazy ideas…. of many music makers gathered together.
OH GOD, u sense my anxiety exploding…. of many excruciating expressions left unsettled.

OK. THIS is it. I’m exploding.

This was the 1st cell group photo i have with my new cell group. I really like it - my cgl and the people. Alot of youth and i reflected back on the times when i was only 13 and i was so crazy over God - yes, crazy was the word to use on me.

Well, i just needed to pen this down cos it’s been in me from sunday til now….

Alvin talked about perspective and looking at evangelism from a different sight…. He said that he didn’t bring alot of people to church, but he remembered the very one that he brought, brought alot of others to church who are now great leaders…Alvin brought daniel, who then brought Y sum (i dunno how to spell her name man), keeve, and the rest of his POK family who are currently cgls.

And that reminded me of me! Like who did i bring? I immediately recalled and traced back the tracks of my evangelism….

I brought Francine - damn good make up artist, Veroy - damn good rapper/praise leader, Michelle Chua - damn good cgl, Eunice - damn good marketplace workaholic, Gladys - damn good children’s teacher… and i guess all of these people have extended their loving arms to bring their familys and friends to God too.

This inspired me. I wanna bring MORE people to Him. And as i remembered this… i also remember someone telling me… “a leader isn’t a leader, if he doesn’t inspire”….  GOOD, my cgl just inspired me. YAY! Happy.:)

I saw this quote from ELF’s fb and it reads….

“There is something when men worship God, they give security to women.” - somehow, this stood out and caught my attention. I guess it is very true, VERY VERY true.

Oh well… just as i was talking about this relationship thingy with a friend, he beautifully said, “Go Berklee and find one lar!!! Jason Mraz, John Mayer that kind…. talented!” Haha, i silently smiled to myself. Well, i guess i had another train of thoughts floating as he said that…. you are right, maybe i’ll really get an ang mo boyfriend… Ruggard and crazy, liberal and open, talented and suave, musical and cool.

I’m crazy. I guess cos i’ve been thinking too much about this whole berklee thing that’s driving me nuts. Well, ain’t anytime soon, but SOON. money money money….

Good night world, i’m going to the children’s home tomorrow to share my love and joy to the kids!

U know…. Stephanie told me this….
“When i 1st saw you, i thought u didn’t like me. But when i gotta know you better, i realised you’ve got a big heart.”  - that’s really interesting to know.

Yah, i am a mini and small person. But perhaps cos of the mini little dramatic stuff i’ve been through, i guess everyone - good or bad, deserve that little bit more love, concern and act of kindness.

OH well, then again, when i’m mean, i’m a meanie little meanie pot! OH meanie me. Hey, well at least i have a side to stuff and NOT ALWAYS STAY NEUTRAL to all things - like it’s lukewarm to me…. just don’t like it… like can’t you have a STAND or a SAY to a thing? Rather then just saying “i’m standing on neutral ground?” Oh give me a break. For or against?

HA! Okay, yakking non stop again! So better go sleep… tomorrow need to bring presents to a world-full of kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this was my kid at the performance. AND obviously, i’m a crazy teacher. Who goes for performance for a minster in rocker chic clothes, braided hair, a tatoo on the arm? I ain’t into formal clothing for such performances. HAHA, and it’s at marina maindrain. I’m so off the chart of what a teacher should be like. Oh sigh….

Well, i guess i’d rather be a friend to share their lives and to walk with them, then a stupid teacher-student hierachy and kill the joy and passion of music sharing. Yes to me teaching music isn’t just teaching you how to read notes and play music and stuff… i’ve always like it to be a great time of music sharing session…. like just this past week, i bought alot of percussion instruments for classes and my kids love it…. they shook the apple shaker, played the triangle, hit the corn shaker, played the bells and did all the crazy things with it while i just sit there and play happy music and laugh at them. Really very funny. Well my 5 year old boy, Lionel calls me a CRAZY TEACHER. Yay, and i like that name. HAHA!

And i’ve always asked them what their aspirations are…. to some it’s being a doctor, lawyer, astronaut, etc… but when a 6 year old kid tells you….”I wanna be a teacher like you.” You know deep within you, you’ve already made an impact!

YAY! Okay, it’s back to basics of loving your job, loving your kids, and loving music. YAY!!!!

So this was when i was 19…

And this is when i’m 24…..

No difference… still playing piano like crazy.:) YAY!

This is my youth band. I like the whole band dynamics - personality, kuan, music styles and stuff. I like it that we love music and that we share in each other’s passion. I guess we are quite crazy. And now, one by one is falling sick…. and DY calls us the H1N1 band!!!! URGH!!!! We have 3 MDs - Jessel, Weisheng and me - i’m the MD in other stuff yup - the MANAGING/MAKAN director. HAHAH!!!! I’m happy to have found a band of great music lovers.

This is CHORUS… oh i mean this is CHARLES. HAHAHHAH!!!!!! So on the last day of the trip, while heading to the airport…. Bell, Ally, Poh, Willy, William and Sendy Bolang gathered together and asked me interesting questions that should not be posted publicly. And there, i opened questioned my dear friend… and rated 9/10 WITH ELF out of the list. Ah. HAHAHA!!!! Anyway, thanks for always being so generous. I am impressed by your generousity!!!

So we all have our own patterns…. and we are pretty attitude i’d say. Pretty much of like “dont give me nonsense….” wellllllllll……

This was in Taiwan…. when they’d nothing to do… the boys gathered at a corner and sleep….

And we are the bananas… and this is our pj set. HAHA We were out for practice late at night and we really can’t be bothered to dress up. top and shorts make our beautiful night happy.

So raymond got this shot taken for us and yeah! I’m in yellow and i’m happy…. I like my topppp…..Hmm, i should go for some surgery and make my eyes bigger… like really super big….

This is angshen/veroy. I still remembered many years ago when i 1st brought him to church….. I’m so glad that we’re serving God together and travelling for mission trips together too… May God bless you friend, you’ve really changed a whole lot. I’m happy to see that!

Well, just this Sunday i attended my very first cg and i really like it alot. I felt different and i felt revived in my spirit and it was like as if i’ve gone back to my sec school days of cell group time. My cgl recalled certain things in my life that i’ve forgotten about and shared it in cg. Well, what impacted me was when i shared my testimony about going for mission trip and about what God spoke to me again, reminding me that this is what i’m called to do with my gifting in my ministry; my cgl said that i didn’t started off just playing for nations straight… i started…. when i was 15 and i called him one day excitedly to say “ALVIN!!!! I’m playing for my school national day’s event!!!” And that reminded me way back when i was 13…. i already started ministering in school. I was called to play music for my school.. then for my church and now, for the nations.

Well, this mission trip, i’ve learnt that even when the people are quiet, they don’t sing… they don’t clap… God is still around. And i don’t need to hear the singing… the clapping… the roaring to evidently say that He is around… because God is everywhere - in the midst of 2 or 3, He is there.

Very happy.
One day… i will travel and play for GREAT multiple nations in gatherings.
One day… i will stand and play in front of GREAT influential beings.
One day…. i will rise and play before GREAT creative souls.
One day… i will SMILE and play for GREAT friends.

Well, these are just “One Days”.. but i guess the REAL ONE DAY for me has already arrived the day i became a christian and the day i played my piano as a christian being cos… for that, i’ve already played for the GREATEST and to the GREATEST.

LALALLALALAL!!!!

I think i’m very small, nonsensical and very crazy. I used to be very conscious about what others say about me and i got really insecure about almost every little thing i do - espeically when others compared my piano playing with someone else in school although i was already the little prominent school pianist whom my principal loved: they compared me with another teacher. HAHAHAHHA!!!! Really, quite a bit of vibe for that. Anyway, I feel inadequate most of the time because of my small stature and got really sad that my peers are much taller than me. Yet after a while, i’ve gotten a hold of myself when i know my purpose for my being, and the reason for my being. And then i wrote a song about God using the foolish things of the world to shame the wise when i was in bible school 07. Much to my life’s little mini stories could add up to having a small stature, but being big on the inside as compared to many others as i can say…well since my brothers and girls have been telling me i’m leading a very much more exciting life than them and people look up to me for that. It is indeed an exciting life. But i do agree that God has a great reason for making me me…. And i’d rather be small and noisy than big and noisy…. HAHAHA!!!

Well, i’ve gotta show you a mail that i’ve received in my inbox.early this morning and i am REALLLLLYYYYYYYY surprised to have received it. Remarkable mail. I didn’t know that my life is that impactful to others. HAHAHA Well, my OFs call me the little hitler - though not a very nice name to have, BUT that to me shows my great influence over people… hopefully in a good way. HAHAH!!!! So here you go… have a good read.:)

She’s a Doctor from New Zealand, my 07 SOT classmate.

Hi Eigene!
It’s Reena! How are you doing my dear friend!
Hey i have been wanting to write to you to share with you this testimony since a while back but never had the chance to yet! But i definitely will now!
It’s got to do with YOU being such an encouragement!

You know i was reading your “25 things about you” a few months back - and God just really used it to speak to me powerfully….

There was this part where you shared about how you used to see doctors for your stature etc… and how one doctor told you “being confident is more important than all these”….. and i don’t know why (of course now i do!! coz God was really using you to speak to me!!), although it was just a simple, straightforward sentence…. it totally jumped out from the whole paragraph & began to speak to me - like a Rhema Word!

I heard the Holy Spirit said to me - see how much Eigene’s doctor has the power to touch her life & impact her, even as a young girl…. & she carried those words of life with her until today!

And it was like God just suddenly reminded me that i can do the same too & not be afraid to engage my young patients (children & teenagers) & speak to their heart…. that i don’t have to pull back in my profession, but i should just be bold & totally be myself & speak my heart with them & engaging them…these precious, precious young persons whom God loves so much & He has so much instored for them!

So u know after i’ve read what you said, i’ve never forgotten about them, & i felt that they were imprinted on my heart! I have since practiced it in my work.

For example when i see my patients who presented to me for investigations for their statures…. you know i begin to talk to them sincerely as the Holy Spirit leads me - like “you know, it is actually a fantastic thing that you are normal, and that there’s nothing wrong with you etc etc… ” and i said to them “you know how tall you are is not really the most important thing (plus the fact that many guys actually do prefer smaller stature girls!!hahaa)…. but most importantly it is who you are as a person that really matters…etc etc…” and i was able to tell them so much more about that…. and you know what, when i did that, God’s presence really came & fill the room!

I could sense a comfort that comes to those precious young girls, it was like a relief that comes to them, to break that sense of inadequacy & insecurity, breaking that heaviness that has been sitting on them & making them look so sad… but when those words of encouragement came, it was really like LIFE coming to them. The words were coupled with God’s healing & comfort, and they just lifted them up, & broke that heaviness & i saw tears in their eyes, not tears of sadness, but they carried that sparkle of joy & hope…and it’s like love has touched their hearts & changed them….I know that the Holy Spirit has come & touched them that day & made a difference in their lives….

And i just know too that they too will carry those words with them even for the years to come Eigene….!

The experiences for me have been so very awesome & significantly, personally touching too in such a real way! Just experiencing how God can use me to touch these very beautiful lives have been so moving & satisfying for me personally!

AND ALL THESE ARE POSSIBLE ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!!! Because of your boldness in sharing your beautiful story, your testimony, your life with others! I just really want to THANK YOU, THANK YOU & THANK YOU again for being the beautiful girl that you are - the joy that you bring to others & the difference that you make in other’s lives.

I always remember how i simply love your piano playing in Bible School, so many times at the end of our worship sessions, i just wanted to rush forward to give you a BBIIGGGG HHUUGGG, just to thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all that you do, & do so excellently! Your serving God with your talents & passion touches lives, lift them up & is making a difference! THANK YOU EIGENE!!! I just really want to honour you!

May God continue to bless you & enlarge your territory! May He continue to add to you His abundance in every way & in every area of your life!

God bless you my dear friend!!
Lots of love,
Reena

This was us when we first reached Taipei…. We were still sane…..

And then our 1st day’s dinner with kirk and joey… and they make me go crazy hahah!!! BACON and POTATO……

And when our MD arrived the nxt day, we went for HIGH CLASS ATAS BBQ BBQ BBQ…. i like the BEEFFFFFF……………………… It was really nice….

We had a good trip in taiwan and i enjoyed the little shopping of shoes, accessories and clothing with my banana 2. I’ve gathered that we’re basically crazy people. And well, i really did have a good time playing music, and making new friends. Hee!!! i like the berms gang alot. WOo hooO!

So this was the team left behind from Taiwan to HK… 2 song leaders and a whole band!!!! Adi is MAD.

So after our trip at Taiwan, we were at the HK airport and we bumped into the other group of singers who came from Sgp and the girls took photos…

BUT a sad thing happened from taiwan to hongkong… WS lost his baby…. And then the whole group of us sat there to wait while the others went to search….

And we had starbucks…. i love sendy. we are banana 1 and 2…

So this was us at Congee House and i really didn’t think the food was nice… in fact NONE of us thought the food was nice…. but well, others said it was. I guess people really hv different food taste buds…and obviously, we’re just damn one kind. HA!

So this was the team plus some of the locals there…… And that day i was really happy… heee… despite crying for a good 5 min…. cos i was musically challenged…. Well, i didn’t play for Reb Tan in the end cos it was just too difficult to execute. Darn. Just realised, almost every mission trip there’d be a part where i’ll just break down and cry. Just a mini-part of mission trip stories for me. Hmm hee.. nvm.

So we were happy and sendy and i went crazy….. cos PK showed Suhui and i “2″ for chorus after a song. HAHAHHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SUHUI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful ladies…..

HAHA And that day Dr AR Bernard smiled at me… and said “So u’re the keyboardist!” And i was smiling like a kid hiding behind someone!!! And… LAKSA smiled at me also. AHHAHAHAHHAHAH YUMMY!!! Man, i’m DAMN short. HAHA!!! For one thing, i weren’t in heels that day.

This was the hall after the conference…. I really like the hall. So concert-tish…

This was the last day at RCTC Hong Kong…. YAY!!!!! I was happy and i went crazy!!!!

So the whole gang of us - berms and shorts gang - went for good food and shopping on thurs morning before going back to sgp. It was a good trip, with good pals in it.

So we had nice food and ice cream…. and it was yummy….

And then  i slpt like a baby on the trip. And i honestly have no idea why i was so sleepy and tired. And banana 2 took a photo of me sitting preparing to leave my seat.. and sleeping at the same time. Woo, what beautiful hair. I am going to change my hair colour soon…..

Well, i guess the best part of the trip is making and establishing a new friendship with my fellow keyboardist. And i really enjoyed the friendship we make.

God is good. I guess at the beginning of this year, i prayed and asked God for new friends - new music friends - meaning, friends who love music and love God and people who are not hard up to play or sing for services - they just love music and they have great passion for music. And i truly did find like 3 big shots, a band-full of 25s and under musicians, and 2 beloved and lovely singers.

On the whole, i guess it was a fabulous mission trip and i have learnt how to stretch my stamina of listening, focusing and playing good music for as long as i’m on stage. There was one day where Dick Eastman preached, and i was playing the piano for 2.5hrs straight for him while he preached, and while he led the congregation to pray for the nations; honestly, i slept while playing pads and i held the chord for a VERY long time, until i changed to another chord. Oh, i was struggling once again and fighting with my tiredness. And after the meeting, a pastor came up to me and asked “how many fingers do u have?” Cos i played and played and played. Haha, that was funny.

Alright, i am really v happy about this whole trip thingy… i got to ask questions and even though i didn’t get my answers, i got another perspective and view about issues in life… on the whole, i am VVVVVVVV happy.

And, ADI FASTER COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got things to tell u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, good bye world. i’m going to get rested.

Hey all,

I’m back from my mission trip. It was one of the better mission trips - not cos of the schedule, but cos of the people who were on board together in this trip. In most of my previous trips, i’d either do it alone, or with a handful of people i don’t know, but this time round, i’m with my gang of mad musicians and lovely singers for Taiwan and madder musicians and really experienced singers for HK.

Through it all, i enjoyed it alot. I enjoyed the time i spent with my guys and espeically with Sendy. I like it that i got to be friends with people that i admire like a whole freaking lot some 11 years ago. It’s quite something actually. HAHA.

And i still think Adila is some crazy and interesting person. ADI, i got thing to tell you arh! Faster come back from HK, then i tell u stories again. HEE… xiao already, really xiao already.

Okay, we’ll talk to about stuff soon and post pictures up soon. For now, i’m going head over heels…. cos….