D.I.Y. - Good or Bad?

D.I.Y. or Do-It-Yourself... Is that a good thing or not? I suppose some might think that it's good to do things with your own hands - after all, that's one way to learn, right?

There are some things that people come to generalize and expect - one of which is that the female population have no inkling when it comes to car maintenance. Hence, D.I.Y. in this area is not something you commonly hear about. May I please correct this misconception - maybe a number of ladies are like that, but hey... NOT ALL lah. (There... I've said my piece...)

Anyhoo...

Recently, I checked my car's radiator water level and had emptied about 2 litres of water into both the radiator as well as the spare water container. (Goes to show how long I haven't checked lah...) On Sunday (finally!!), I did a more thorough check on my car - the battery water level, brake fluid level, engine oil level - and I found that there was a need to top up... all of them!! So, some battery water and brake fluid top-up later, I attempted to open the cover of the engine block to add some engine oil as the level showed "low". Failed attempt after failed attempt - it just wouldn't budge! Finally, I decided to use the curved end of a hammer to wedge the cover open... This resulted with a tear on the cover, sighz... Had to call my boss and ask for some time-off in order to go to the mechanic to replace the cover. (The cover was still in its place as it still wouldn't budge, but I don't think it advisable to drive around with a torn cap, right?) My boss allowed me to take up till half a day off - answered prayer #1!

Before I left for the mechanic's the next morning, I said a quick prayer... The following are the prayers and their results:

Sense of direction to find the place (haven't been to the mechanic for some time already - not sure if I'll be able to find my way given my inconsistent sense of direction) - answered prayer #2 (despite turning off the main road too soon, found my way back on track!)

No traffic jam (my time-off was only for half a day; any longer would be considered as taking one day of annual leave) - there was still a bit of traffic, but it wasn't the expected amount of traffic in order to term it as a traffic jam, so... answered prayer #3!

Availability of a spare cover and that the replacement will be done properly and not take up too much time - everything was completed within minutes after the 15 minute wait for the mechanic to come and see the car! Answered prayer #4!! (Ooh... we're on a roll! *grinz*)

Fair price of replacing the cover (I have no clue how much it was going to cost me, but whatever it was had to be paid anyway, right?) - talking with the mechanic while he replaced the cover, he said that it doesn't cost much (maybe a few ringgit only for the cover)... When he was done helping me to top-up with the engine oil I had brought along and replacing the cap with the new one, he said "No charge..." Wow!! Praise God - answered prayer #5!

Everything was completed within half an hour (at the mechanic's) and I managed to get into the office by 11am! All glory and praise to God!! =)

Two cents...

Sunday service was mainly inspiring testimonies from two people. Both testified of God's goodness in their work - both in the corporate world and in ministry. Makes me think what about me? What can I do to make a difference in my workplace?

Attended the Bahasa Malaysia service along with Shi Wei, mostly to give moral support to Ps. Tim, who was sharing that day. He shared about God's people stepping into our heritage. Here are the points... I'll translate for those of you who need it. =)

1. Ingatilah kebaikan Tuhan (Joshua 24:2-13)
(Remember God's goodness)
2. Buatlah pilihan yang bijak (Joshua 24:14-15)
(Make wise decisions)
3. Bersedialah untuk melepaskan dirimu (Joshua 24: 19-24)
(Be prepared to let go of yourself)
4. Jadilah saksi terhadap diri sendiri (Joshua 24:26-27)
(Be accountable to yourself)

As he was sharing these points, the questions arose again - What can I do to make a difference at my workplace? And the answer (or at least I think it is the answer...) came - to BE different. Some of my colleagues tell me that eventually I will be very curt when dealing with applicants. As it is, I am already told that I'm being too nice and I will be "pushed around" by the applicants. This would explain why some of them are also curt when talking among colleagues, or maybe just to me? =S

So, I'm going to (sorry if this is straying from the intentions of the sermon points...) apply these points by:
1. Remembering God's goodness of placing me at my workplace - I love my job, but not necessarily the stress that I have to face at times.
2. Making the wise decision to honour God in all I do - remembering that my work is for God, so I will be different and hopefully, make a difference! =)
3. Letting go and let God take control of my work - I am currently doing the workload of two people and can only run on the strength and wisdom from God.
4. Being accountable by "writing" this down - hoping that one day when I look at this post again, I can smile and be thankful for the ways God has seen me through.

** I believe God's words speak differently and individually to each person. Hence, the above points are how the sharing has spoken into my heart and into my life. I hope the sermon points will also bless you and touch your heart in a special way... God bless!

Fried brains?

I wonder if I'd managed to fry my brains...

Yesterday afternoon, I had to attend a seminar in KL. I'd already woken up in the morning feeling lethargic and a sore throat about to happen. Went into office in the morning and took some herbal pills to (hopefully) reduce heatiness (is that how you spell it?). However, I started sniffling the whole day - someone actually commented that I sounded as though I was crying! =S

Well, in the afternoon, after getting a quick bite for lunch, despite still feeling rather sick, I began my "adventure" to KL. The reason I'm calling it an "adventure" is because I wasn't too sure how to get there, but managed to get some directions from a few friends (Thanks, y'all...)

Thankfully, I made it there without getting lost. Went with another 2 colleagues in a convoy. The convoy leader roughly knows how to get there... phew! It was rather funny cos all three cars took turns to lead when trying to guess which building we were supposed to get to, haha!

Anyhoo, the seminar is another story in itself, so I'm not going into the details. Roughly, I had to sit through a seminar on crystal healing... some New Age concept. The presenter started his talk by going around and banging his "singing bowl" and placing it in front of the forehead. That "singing bowl" produced such a ringing that my head was spinning... =S (already feeling sick enough ler... haihz)

Well, by the time I got back home, I was feeling kinda drained, exhausted and sick. Decided to take my temperature cos I felt body ache and feverish. Wondered if it was just hay fever, otherwise the sniffles were actually because of flu. The thermometer read 38 degrees Celcius! Being one who dislikes Panadol (somehow it makes me feel sicker after taking it... I know this sounds wierd, but I feel like puking after taking paracetamol - active ingredient of Panadol), I rested a little bit and then went out for dinner and Prayer Meeting.

At Prayer Meeting, I was requested to sing backup for Pastor Timothy who was songleading. I was wondering how I was going to manage this because my throat was sore and scratchy, but I just trusted that God would make a way. Pastor Timothy lead the worship team in prayer before we started, and by the end of the prayer - praise God... throat was A-okay for singing! =)

Still had chills and body ache by the end of Prayer Meeting though. Went home and measured temperature again - an average of 38.3 degrees Celcius. One time the reading was actually 38.5 degrees Celcius!! =S

So, a cup of milk and two Panadols an hour later (forced to take Panadol already since the fever was so high... an hour later cos I fell asleep after having the milk, hehe...), it was wet towel on forehead for the rest of the night in an attempt to lower the fever. My head felt like it was about to explode at certain times... Recalling people telling me how high fever can cause brain damage didn't really help the situation much. Already feel like my brains were being barbecued as it is... =S All I could to was ask God to relieve the pain, and soon, I was asleep.

Praise God, this morning when I woke up, temperature was at 36.5 degrees Celcius... normal! =) Then only I realized that I could've really fried my brains cos I recall hearing somewhere that one degree above normal was already considered high fever, whereas two degrees above normal is quite critical liao. Thinking back, I was actually considering going to the hospital last night, but was too tired and in pain to want to move after getting home. Thank God, I think I didn't fry my brains... but I think I may have possibly been close to it, though... =S

In any case, praise God for healing and protection over me! =)

The one about the posting

Posting. A word that can send shivers down the spine of anyone working in the government sector. You see, in government service, we (government servants) are sent to our respective workplaces based on posting. Anyone could be posted anywhere. Can be quite scary ler.

Anyways, I got a post in Perak during my housemanship year. During that time, I was 'lent' to an institute in Petaling Jaya. This means, I'm actually working (or rather, training) in PJ, while "holding" a post in Perak. Confusing? Yeah. It is confusing.

Then once I'd completed the houseman year, I was supposed to work in Perak (where I'm posted) but a miracle happened! I was transferred to a research institute in Kuala Lumpur! This kind of transfers are quite rare, as in 'normal' circumstances, once being 'lent' out, we have to return to our post and work there. So... miracle number one!

Thinking all was fine and dandy in the research institute in KL, I was transferred to a new institute two months later. This new institute is currently based in KL so not much of a change there. In fact, the institute is currently operating in the premise of the research institute I was posted to. However, this new institute is about to become 'privatized'. This means that I would not be fulfilling my compulsory service requirement if I stayed on once that happens (the privatization). Since I had to serve in the government sector for another 2.5 years, I was advised to apply for a transfer before the privatization happens, which was exactly what I did.

Yesterday (Good Friday... and indeed it was a good Friday!), I received news that my transfer has already been approved (considered very fast, as it took less than a month since I'd started the application process!) and that I will have to report to the new posting on 16th April. And, on top of that, I got my first choice of posting locations!! Wow, another miracle!! Praise the Lord! Woot!

Will have to go for my induction course from 12th onwards, so will have to call to postpone the reporting date. Looking forward to the new posting, which is actually the institute where I did my housemanship training, so not that much learning curve before I get used to the new post... yay! Will miss my colleagues, who have become very good friends... do keep in touch ya?