of toothpaste and green healthy stuff (:

YES! We just had our combined cell group last friday. And it was ______________. I'll leave that for those who went to answer :)

And of course, just like other special nights. We have a theme that comes with it..

What was the theme for that night, you asked?......

It was... Wait for it!.... *drum rolls*

the legend of the hidden __________.

I'm serious, its a blank, like literally. Lol. ( and its not potong stim-ing)

Started off with ice breaker.

the game that helps those who have pimples..

and not very good memory.

the toothpaste giver.

Instructions : remember ppl's name/fav color/grandma's name/school/shoe size.

ANYTHING which the toothpaste giver wants you to remember.

if you cant remember...

Free Oxy replacement for you :)

Sarah Wong :)

leader for the LEGEND OF THE HIDDEN MESSAGE station.

Tania Loke.

Future replacement for Najib and also leader for...

station :)

instructions : answer the questions given. If you fail to do so, then you must drink...

tomatoes + chillies/garlics/pringles shrimp chips/ kacang botol/bitter gourd.

YUM-O :D

the maze game!

no pictures for that station though. Lol sorry.

YES, the results.

Purple Parrot coming in third place :)

RED BARRACUDAS

second place :)

Silver Snakes :) champions.

A big thank you to CHEW YAN Y for the pictures.

FireReach I

Okay, to make this intro really simple (like how-to-boil-water simple), FireReach is a new ministry within fireBRANDS focused on community outreach.

So its first project was bringing Ephraim to an orphanage at Batu Maung.

(First Ephraim, then Manasseh, then Mod-Em. The 3 cell groups take turns every week to help out at the orphanage.)

Get it?

=)

And here's how it went!

Photography: Sarah Khoo (and a few photos from this writer herself)

a note: the names of the books aren't supposed to be arranged in the right order.


Genesis
"In the beginning..." - Gen 1:1

So, in the beginning, we met up at Leroy's place for briefing and prayer.

our brief-er.

Numbers
"The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500." - Num 1:33

Okay so not THAT many la.

Everyone in would total to about.. at least 16 people, as far as I can remember (but then again it was nearly a week ago so maybe my memory's not very reliable).

More than expected, and at first it was thought to be too many people.


Though it turned out to be an okay number, cuz well there were many children too.

haha.

Exodus
"The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children." - Ex. 12:37


Thankfully, in this modern era, we have vans and cars.

About one vanload and one carload of people went.

The ride was nice, I guess. I mean you can't really complain if someone chauffers you in an air-conditioned vehicle.


And once we arrived, and got out..

..the children just immediately came up to us and started shaking hands, smiling, introductions were made, more smiles exchanged..


Hebrews
"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." - Hebrews 13:16

What we did.

Basically both us and the children were divided into three groups. These three groups would then take turns to play and to learn how to use a computer (as there were a limited number of computers).

I don't plan on explaining every single activity we did, so, photos!

Playing with the children outside while waiting for their turn to use the computers. We literally had to brainstorm what games to play, and revisited childhoods with games like AEIOU, polis-pencuri, Simon Says, Pepsi-Cola, O-Zom...

Though in the end this group didn't get to use the computers due to limited time. Oh well. Next time :)

Ivy in a heated battle.

Playing musical chairs (looks like it).

Getting to know the kids and more importantly, having fun with them while showing God's love.

Socializing!

Teaching them how to use the computer.

Shiau Xian and her little sister.

Debra-the-really-good-with-kids.

Wei-Lynn caring for two kids.

Awww.. hahaha :)

After almost 2 hours there it was time to leave.

Well, it was time for the children's bedtime, and we were tired.

But it was good.

James
"Religion that God our Father accepts as poor and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - J. 1:27

Debrief, briefly.

1. Keep praying for the orphanage, the children and everyone there. It's a place influenced very strongly by Hinduism and they actually have a sort of a mini-temple in the orphanage itself, where even at night people were praying.

2. Helping the children there will be done every week by the three cell groups, but from now on there'll be less children and it'll focus more on computer lessons.

3. And yeah, helping the children there was a really meaningful experience. You get to talk to them, learn names, and they'd come and talk and play with you unabashedly. They really just want attention and love. Although they may look all smiley, deep down inside they're really hurting.

And yes, that's the end of the beginning of the first FireReach project :)

So everyone went back, eventually.

...

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-S730...

...isn't too bad a digital camera. Not at all. Eh quite nice k.. Takes decent photos.

7.2MP entry-level digicam with 3x optical zoom and 2.4" LCD with wide viewing angle.

It's not irrelevant!

The photos just take sooooo long to upload it's like.. either the Internet's on a new low OR the resolution of the photos are like.. big.

I'd go for the second option.

Okay my logic may be flawed and all but...

Look I'm just trying to compliment the cameraman on his camera and photos k.

Photography: Pastor Victor Lim :)

Yes, where were we going with this post?


POWER WEEKEND
(that should get us going on the right track!)

1. Combined Cell at Tania's house on Friday night.

Her house was packed!

It's like a sudden huge influx of people!

Oh and guess who came the earliest?

Tricia and Wei-Lynn.

And guess who came after them?

Pastor Andy Yeoh, Jay Loh and Pastor Victor.

So early they came! <-- gaya bahasa inversi hahah

Like. Whoa. Haha.

Kicked off with praise and worship led by Joyce, with Sharon's help.

Then, without further ado, Pastor Andy! =D

Darn he's GOOD. I mean it's not only the jokes and all, but the meaning. He talked on how ONE PERSON can make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the world, using The Boy in the passage of Jesus Feeding the 5,000 as an example.

It was so good, you just HAD to take notes!
1. There was a boy and there was the crowd. (STAND UP)
2. The boy was nameless. (ANYBODY)
3. He was 'just' a boy. (AVAILABLE)
4. The boy had only five loaves and two fish.
5. He did what he could do.
6. He gave up his lunch.

Awesome-nya! Gives you the confidence that YOU, yes, YOU can make a huge impact in this world!


Yeah then we had like lots of food with like fellowship and like talking and stuff. The simple joys of cell group!


2. Youth Leaders' Training on Saturday morning.

The early bird catches the worm.

The early riser... just doesn't get enough sleep.

Sleep or no sleep, can't miss out on another one of Pastor Andy's terrific talks!


It was basically broken down into two sessions. They were called Before Breakfast and After Breakfast. (well no they weren't but breakfast is so significant in one's life...)

Before Breakfast.

He talked on LEADERSHIP.

1. Be the kind of follower you want to have. (HONOUR)
that's how you should deal with the people placed above you in leadership.

2. Be the kind of ministry you want to have. (HYPOSTATIZE)
and that's how to treat the people below you. hypo-whattt?? he just took it cuz he wanted it to start with H. it basically means making something real, in this case it's what you want to see in your ministry. get it? nope? oh well. haha.

Sorry, I don't feel like giving a full recap of his amazing talk.

He has a gift, I tell you.

Some people talk for an hour and it feels like two. He, on the other hand, talks for one hour and it feels like five minutes.

Don't we all wish we had Pastor Andies (plural of Andy lol) to teach Sejarah?


After Breakfast.

Recess Revo!

That amazing movement (or going to be a fully fledged movement soon la) in schools across Malaysia!

He challenged the fireBRANDS to pioneer Recess Revo in their schools, and talked about the whats and hows of it.


Yup yup, we were definitely inspired, more so by the testimonies he shared about Recess Revo in KL (like that one of a girl and her recess revo group telling the canteen operators that they'll pay for every student's recess food - in the end the Pengetua paid, and a lot of students approached her to ask more about Recess Revo).

Broke into groups and talked on how to implement recess revo in our sekolah menengahs and colleges.


Then, another big event which was unscheduled: Lunch! =D

ppl who went that morning

3. Youth Service on Saturday night.

Aiks.. no photos! pfft.

So, yeah, continue reading a photo-less writeup at your own risk. I've warned you.

Don't want to listen?

FINE.

BE THAT WAY.

SEE IF I CARE!

...

Childish statements aside, youth service that night was great great great.

Okay scratch 'great great great', since every single youth service is 'great great great'.

I'll go for... unique!

Yes, it was different.

Cuz we had Nehemiah doing announcements. Now THAT'S a first!

...okay that's one reason...

Pastor Andy and His Wife (Jay Loh) for the third time in two days.

And no, we never get bored of those two!

Tonight it was all about Crossing Over, [another word that starts with C i forgot - this was on the first LCD slide], and Consecration.

Based on the peristiwa Israelites crossing over the Jordan river, at the beginning of the book of Joshua.
1. You need to leave Egypt.
2. Pack your bags.
3. Let the presence of God lead you and take it with you.
4. Take the first step.
5. Sanctify (Consecrate) yourself.

Ended with a life-changing altar call.


Amazing preacher, even more amazing man of God!

And...


WE WANT HIM BACK FOR THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL YOUTH CAMP! =D

LOL.

PotBless @ Mod-Em

report by: Joyce Lim =)

as much as i would like to put pics, there are none. hehe...so u all have to contend with WORDS! XD

lol. anyways...on the 15th of May, us Mods invited in the North Zone teens who don't go to youth or cellgroups to come join in the feasting and general nonsense. besides us regulars, there were 4 newcomers (yes, that is a big number): Emma, Joseph, Stephen and Ben Yeoh. =DDD

so yeah. we talked, worshipped, ate, played some Heart Attack (which rocks XD) and had fun. 

p.s. sorry Ed i know it's short. hehe

Upacara Perasmian Pembukaan Kumpulan Sel

The above diagram shows the organelles within an animal cell as seen under an electron microscope.
Based on the diagram, state the differences between an animal cell and a plant cell.

...

Yes, biology is sickening, isn't it?

Fortunately enough, that's not the point.

...

You see, there's this new cell group opening up up up in north.

I don't think it has a name yet lol


BUT, if you wanna know the name, eat food, eat more food (bytheway it's a POT BLESS so bring lah some food - enough for 2-3 ppl), talk to ppl, have fun........


........then mah GO lor for the OPENING CEREMONY of Joyce's cell group.


it's at Joyce's place.

Address: 15, jln bunga bakawali, tg tokong, 11200 tg bungah, penang!
(sorry joyce. there goes your address to the whole wide world.)

don't know where it is?
welll i don't either.

you've got THREE options:

1. go look at map.

2. just get someone else to fetch you so you don't have to bother about directions.

3. ASK joyce at 0164269041 (oh CRAP joyce now everyone 'round the world and back knows your phone number.)


not coming for it is NOT an option.

i mean, you're gonna see justin get barbecued.

it's what everyone in the whole wide world's been waiting for. haha.

who wouldn't wanna come?


and no, i won't say it's gonna be awesome, cuz the word 'awesome' has been used wayyyyyyy too many times..

so CHOOSE an adjective to replace awesome:
exceptional, extraordinary, magnificent, outstanding, preeminent, rare, remarkable, singular, towering, uncommon, unusual

whichever one works!


uhm in case it still ain't clear enough, all three cell groups are combining at joyce's place on the 6th of March, 2009.

so see you ppl there! =D

Karipap Making 101

Yup, cell group's that awesome!

Ephraim and Manasseh and Joyce (the new unnamed cell group up north) all combined at Ivy's (and Indy's) place.

They came together in the spirit of fellowship...

...to make karipaps.

Awesome right?

Cell group rocks.

God rocks.

Anyhow.

Somehow the guys of fireBRANDS managed to rally together and outnumbered the girls. (That rarely happens.)

I mean, take a look at this:

(Psst. Remember, boys and girls, captions are BENEATH the photos.)

Girls. (plus Kutu)

Guys.

It's wicked, ain't it?
('wicked' as in 'amazing', not 'wicked' as in 'the wicked witch killed a rabbit'.)

So, once Leroy arrived with a truckload of people, we started off.

Recipe. (looks familiar, eh? KH Form 3 ERT Chapter 1)


Looking about for ingredients.

Flour doesn't weigh much, does it?

You can only talk if you have the magic orange.

The guys and girls had completely different ideas for the perfect filling (they were only allowed to use what was at hand, i.e. the food people brought and whatever Indy was willing to take from the fridge for the guys).

Girls' karipap filling:

Sarah Wong chopping garlic...

...to be stir-fried with Kutu's mixture of mee goreng and ham & egg brought by Jin Ji. (The ham & egg proved to be a major hit, used in the karipap fillings of both the guys and the girls.)

Guys' karipap filling:

Squish oranges to extract the juice in a manly manner.

Add some egg and... uh.. other stuff and make it look as yucky as possible.

Mix in Jin Ji's ham & egg to get... some concoction which was actually pretty tasty, surprisingly.

And the gap between the girls and guys extended way beyond just the filling.

Girls making dough:

After measuring everything precisely, gaul and ramas the thing with the utmost care and love to make an adunan pastri, as directed by the book.

Gary making dough:

Why the fuss about measurements?! Just agak-agak, estimate, toss in some flour, butter, water, mash up the dough, squeeze it around, toss it up and down... and you still get some awesome dough.

Oh. Right.

We'll step away from the action for awhile and meet the awesome judges.

The cell group leaders plus Leroy (for the sake of having a male judge).

That one,

that one,

[insert photo here]
the photographer,

and Leroy.

Now, back to the action.

Our intrepid teams had finished off the fundamentals and were now moving on to...

...the art of shaping karipaps!

Karipaps, like rabbits, come in many different shapes and sizes.

So, like rabbits, it all depends on the creator as to how to karipaps look like.

And, like rabbits, better looking karipaps bring more benefits.

Girls:


Guys:



And, with different gender (and alarmingly different quantity)...

...comes different work etiquette.

Really different.

Check out the girls:

All working together.

And the guys pulak:

Notice the amount of spectators!

So, well, if you ever need a lesson on how to make karipaps, just ask Dan and/or Gary:

Firstly, to make good karipaps, forget about the love... you have to SWEAT.

And, well, some judges were getting bored.

Joyce and Sharon. Suddenly had a craze over the chord Bm7.

Nadal won! Nadal won! Obviously. Beat some Ver-something guy. (I don't know the scoreboard put his name as VER. I wouldn't know. Ask Ivy.)

Oh. I nearly forgot.

The girls and guys had their own trump cards.
(Trump card is like.. uh.. check the dictionary lah!)

Girls:

Oranges in flour (they were fried later on).

Guys:

The Halloween orange (it was kinda fragile though.. nearly got fractured a few times).

Next up, start frying!

(Thank you Ivy and family for letting us use the kitchen! Thank you for having so much faith in such unpredictable, sometimes destructive youth.)

Watch Kutu:

Drop karipaps in with confidence!

Uh.. move back.

And Dan and Gary:

Fry...

and pose!

FINALLY.

The dishes were done!

The karipap cookout was over!

Girls.


Uh. Obviously.

It was now in the hands of the judges.

Leroy why didn't you look at the camera?!

And.

After moments of counting, deliberation, and recounting.

The judges reached a unanimous decision.

And the winners were declared:


See you next week in cell!