Yet another time to look back..

Hey people..It's been awhile since the last decent post, so yea, I guess this should suffice. Last thursday was the Armour Certificate Presentation Ceremony in which cadets will receive a certificate congratulating him for his successful completion of the Armour Officer Cadets Course (AOCC). Thinking back and reflecting, I had strong feelings for a couple of things...

The Scroll I received

Above was what I received that day. If you look closely enough, you will see the rank 2LT (2nd Lieutenant) printed instead of the usual OCT (Officer Cadet). Strangely, I wasn't as estatic as I should be, but I was relieved that I made it through this arduous course.

Not to put the other formations down, but I felt that to pass out from the AOCC as a 2LT was tougher than to do it in any other formations. Sleep was practically non-existant whether in-camp or outfield. Both our mental and physical faculties were pushed to the limits whenever we return from a day's exercise to be greeted with servicing and maintenance of our vehicles. Furthermore, for me undergoing the Tank Officer Cadet Course (TOCC), multi-tasking on the tank was of top priority. You will have to juggle with 4-5 things at any one time. It was very challenging and the action was high-tempo to the max! Therefore for me, to pass the course was an achievement, to don the black beret brings me great pride.

This course has taught me many things about myself and about people. I learnt a great deal about myself under different situations that I was put through. How I reacted to immense stress and pressure to perform, how I treated my fellow course-mates, and the different methods I used to complete a task given to me. These traits I discovered about myself were at times shocking, and at times insightful. This course has made me realise that there was still a long long way to go on the road of life, and I still had loads to learn from. There were definitely things I wish to change, and things I wish to reinforce to make better. I am still a novice in the area of living the life I am supposed to live.

Secondly, something that really affected me was that my fellow course-mate went Out of Course (OOC) a day before the certificate presentation due to poor performance in TOCC. He was a person who gives his best in every training session, lectures and tests. However, it was his lack of confidence and poor grasp of the basics that resulted in his failure. I felt very sad that day that he wasn't with us receiving the certificate. I thought to myself that I was not going to let anything like this happen in the next course. This notion is going to be the sole motivation for me to push myself in training the next batch of cadets, as most probably I will be posted as an instructor.

Lastly, I was really glad that the course has ended because I felt that my Tankee course is seriously pretty screwed up. Relationship problems between us trainees were bad, and there was no unity at all. It felt so different from my BMT and Service Term experience. I guess Tankees are just wired that way, we are individualistic and plain selfish, caring for only ourselves. Comparing ourselves to our Armoured Infantry fellow cadets in the Armoured Infantry Officer Cadet Course (AIOCC), things are very much different. They are really united as one. To pass out as a Tank officer is of more pride as compared to an Armoured Infantry officer in my opinion, but the bonds you forge are definitely much weaker. I would gladly trade such pride for better bonds within the course any time.

Well, everything's been said and done, and all that is left is just the commissioning parade. I guess I would just concentrate on how to make things better for the next batch, and look forward to a new chapter in my NS life..

Pictures!

My ROC Training Pass

A typical Taiwan street

 At the LEOFOO Theme Park

This LOST WORLD station was like the lamest thing I have ever seen in my entire life! You literally get lost inside! Ahh..It's like a maze with dinosaur models inside. A serious waste of time..

A dolphin passing a basketball to its trainer

 The beauty of nature

Eroded rocks

An eroded ground that looks like a heart

Blink

Hey people! I'm back!!! Woohoo, the whole Taiwan training seemed to pass in a blink of the eye. Perhaps it was due to the rushing everyday that made it seem so short. Training was tough, sleep was rare. I did not sleep in the last 2 nights before R & R due to the cleaning of weapons. It was really an experience which I think once is good enough.. =]

Talking about training in Taiwan, most would relate to the 'Xiang Ji Pa' and 'Zhen Zhu Nai Cha' almost immediately. I had my share too, devouring them after a period of tough training really helps to boost morale. Furthermore the drinks vending machine in camp rules! 50 Singapore cents could get you a drink. The selection of drinks there are outrageous too! hahas..

Ok, zooming to R & R!! Woohoo, the highlight of the trip. Our first stop was the LEOFOO theme park where I rode on 2 killer rides with my heart in my mouth. Other places we visited were scenic places and shopping points. Educational places visited were the CKS Memorial Hall and the Martyr's Shrine where we witnessed the elaborate change of duty by the guards. Guard shifts change every 30 minutes, but the change of duty 'ceremony' takes 20 minutes, you do the maths on the amount of time the guards have before they embark on yet another 'ceremony'..

Shopping was seriously mad for me. I literally brought Taiwan back to Singapore..hahas..Shilin night market was a shopping heaven, but it is so big that one could not finish walking it in a night. Ximending where my hotel was located is also a killer shopping ground. At night, the place is lighted up beautifully, and we shoppers prowl it's streets. =] All in all, shopping in Taiwan is really superb.

That's all for my training trip to Taiwan, pictures will be posted up in the next post when I upload my photos, for now book in is beckoning..out to you people..

"Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane..."

Time will fly by so quickly..I'm believing in that phrase! It' s just 19 days to my R & R in Taiwan! By then my course is more or less over. All I have to do is to wait to be commissioned. Seriously rocks.. But well, the training in Taiwan ain't going to be a walk in the park. Tough times are ahead of me, but I'm placing my faith in the Lord to once again pull me through this ordeal. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life". I am also looking forward to this trip because I believe that God will use this tough training to impart in me a certain lesson. This is my sole expectation for this training trip. I shall be changed by the works of His hands.

This is a verse I read sometime this week and it really got stuck in my mind. Hope it will help you in your quest (if you are on it) to bless people instead of saying bad things about them..

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." - Ephesians 4:29

This verse will inspire to be a blessing machine! Meditate on it, and be conscious of the things you say daily. I'm currently doing this in my quest to bless and not curse. Take care people, I will post again when I return from my training trip. Photos will be guaranteed! Stay connected..Ciao~

Here to tell the tale..

I'm back!! It's been a week of mad-rushing for me again (what's new?). I came out my Tank Platoon Battlecourse alive! For 5 days 4 nights, we were challenged both mentally and physically. Sleeping 2 hours each day, and working the other 22 hours proved to be quite a challenge. Nevertheless, God kept me strong and pulled me through again. It's now 3 weeks to Taiwan! That is the last hurdle which I have to clear. Time sure flies..

Anyways, this week outfield strongly solidified my belief that God has put me in Armour for something. Nothing can change me as much as this experience I have in Armour training when I get out of it. As said by my instructors, they will break you down and then build you up. I have already undergone the first phase which started a few months back (remember the lollypop incident?), and I believe I am into phase two now. Looking forward to it with much anticipation. =]

Next week, I will be embarking on training with the Armour Infantry dudes. It is so going to rock man. Tanks and Armour Infantry collaborating is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I have to scoot off now, just to motivate anyone who is feeling stressed or anything, your problem is not going to last forever, but the character and values you develop from it will be with you forever! Take cares people, out to you.

A turning point

Training's been getting tougher and tougher as the weeks go by...6 more weeks to Taiwan! How fast is that? Before I know it, it will all be over..hopefully =] One thing that I learnt this week is about myself. There is alot for me to do before I can be the type of man God wants me to be. I have areas in my life that desperately needs to be altered, and I am depending on Him to give me the strength needed for such a change.

To love someone like I love myself stills proves to be quite difficult for me. Some people are just so..so..argh..=[ However, I will obey His command. It's obedience that will change me. Therefore, currently my goal is to become a better person, hahas..This coming week is Single Tank Battlecourse. I will be going for my first outfield in Armour for 3 1/2 days. Next up will be Basic Main Range in which I will fire off the tank's main gun! Woohoo, I can barely wait..

The flipside to this week - no bookout! I will be going back to my BMT days where you get confined for 2 weeks before they let you out. See you guys again in 12 days! God bless you all loads, and take good care of yourselves..

I see the light..

Another week has past by! This week has been quite relaxing, which is seriously a rarity in Armour. Anyways, I made use of my free time reading and finishing Witnessing Without Fear. I now know what I am commanded to do. It is actually so simple!

"Success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God. " - Bill Bright

It is so beautifully summed up in this sentence. I have been reading this book for the past 2 weeks, and I have learnt loads from it which really enlightened me. This book made me want to live my life differently and walk closer to Him to be sensitive to all of His promptings. Several positive incidents have happened, and I hope you will be encouraged by them as I share them with you.

On my book in day last week, the book was in my hands because that seemed to be the only time I am free to read. I was supposed to take the bus then the MRT and then the bus again to my desolate camp, but I somehow decided against the idea, and hopped onto a cab instead. After telling the uncle my destination, I focused my eyes on the book. Suddenly, a strange prompting came to my mind - why read, do what you have learnt so far from this book. I closed the book and took in a deep breath. I wanted to witness to the cabbie but I did not know how to start this conversation, and I was a little embarrass to bring this topic up. I immediately prayed and asked for guidance from the Holy Spirit. After around 7mins of mind-fighting, I blurted out, "Uncle, have you heard of this person called Jesus?"

To make things harder, the entire conversation was in Mandarin. Before you jump the gun, I wish to clarify that I can speak fluent Mandarin, but the problem was that I have never witness in Mandarin before. This was a first. I stepped out in faith and I believed that God will honor that and bring me through this sharing process. Throughout the witnessing, I kept telling myself that it is not of my own strength but His. I was amazed that the uncle was quite receptive to my sharing! Praise the Lord! As we talked, I realised that his brother was a Christian. However this uncle never really got witnessed to by his brother. Upon reaching my camp, I told the uncle to get more information from his brother regarding this matter. I left him with the 4 Spiritual Laws I shared.

Earlier this week for my book in, I took a cab again. This time I still had the prompting to share the Gospel with the cabbie again. The usual mind-fighting begins, but this time it took a shorter time before I asked the uncle how he spent his free-time, and suggesting that he could visit a church. He was yet again very receptive! Amen! Apparently, his daughter-to-be brings him to church but he hardly understands a word spoken because his first language is Mandarin. I shared with him again, and even suggested that he visited my church for the Miracle Service on saturdays. Upon reaching my destination, uncle assured me that he will do just that when he finds the time. On both occasions, I walked into camp smiling from ear to ear. I was just so happy and filled with joy. Witnessing was indeed simple if you just obey.

I really believe now that people out there are receptive to the Gospel, it is just that no one has approached them to reveal this wonderful present that is readily available to them. Matthew 9:37 depicts this as "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few." Therefore people go out there with your harvesting bag and axe and claim what belongs to our Lord!