keep believing

We had no internet in the dorm the past few days, which explains the lack of update in this space. Without internet, surprisingly (or not), we felt like being cut off from the world, like suddenly having nothing to do, and some even say they felt handicapped. It’s crazy how internet has become very important in our lives, how we’ve become overly dependent on it for good reasons and bad.

After an extended holiday, I’m finally having school again. People have been saying that it’s not so easy to pass a subject here at eth, which is a really bad news for exchange students whose main purpose of coming is not studying. So we’ve been hearing each other’s complaints about how we have to study hard and travel less despite being on exchange. And observing how freaking smart our classmates and realizing how high the standards are just add on to the pressure.

I currently have 8 modules at hand now, partly to give myself an allowance of failing a few modules, but also because some lecturers are good and the classes they conduct just give me a different feeling, a whole new experience of studying. (Also, I really can’t decide which modules to keep and which to drop). For now, I say I wouldn’t mind studying more during my exchange.

Lord, help me to glorify thee;
I am poor, help me to glorify thee by contentment;
I am sick, help me to give thee honour by patience;
I have talents, help me to extol thee by spending them for thee;
I have time, Lord, help me to redeem it, that I may serve thee;
I have a heart to feel, Lord, let that heart feel no love but thine, and glow with no flame but affection for thee;
I have a head to think, Lord, help me to think of thee and for thee;
thou hast put me in this world for something, Lord, show me what that is, and help me to work out my life-purpose:
I cannot do much, but as the widow put in her two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I cast my time and eternity too into thy treasury;
I am all thine;
take me, and enable me to glorify thee now, in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have.

- CH Spurgeon

We’ve encountered some cases of unstandardized treatment of services from the Swiss people. Some people say this in one place, and other people say that in another place. Some of us have to pay this amount, some that amount, some got it for free. Some managed to open a few accounts at one bank, some opened one, some couldn’t and had to go to another bank. Rules can get very vague and flexible here. Either that, or we have not been here long enough, and have yet to understand the way things work here. Perhaps time will tell.

It just got me thinking. The case of different people having different standards (but treating everyone equally) would originate from the higher authorities. They probably have not emphasized the standards enough, or been too flexible with rules. Or maybe, it’s just their culture here.

But the case of the same person treating different people differently, I think it’s just human sinful nature. Don’t we do that too? We are nice to people who are nice to us. We are nice when all eyes are on us. We are nice when times are good. For too many of us, our actions depend on the external: the treatment we get from the other party, the weather, the circumstances, the occurrences that happen previously. Can we have a standard in our heart that makes us deal with everyone equally and respond to the external according to what we know and believe to be right? Can we follow that standard strictly?
It’s too easy to say.

I have just recently noticed the growth of an extra tooth on my lower teeth, which I believe to be called the wisdom tooth. I finally have one! And there is enough room for it to grow.
Maybe I’ll be wiser once it’s fully developed. I’m just hoping.

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

As someone who has yet to try skiing/snowboarding, I now think sledding is the most fun thing you can do with/in the snow. Followed by snow ball fight, snow dancing, and snow bathing. I’m not really a fan of snow men. I prefer having snow all over me than on the snow men’s.
It was like a winter wonderland at Mount Pilatus yesterday. We went on a day trip to Luzern and had an overdose of beautiful sceneries, snow, and fun. And so we are locking ourselves in the dorm today.

I have always loved chocolates. Especially when good and cheap chocolates are available. I am not sending out postcards this time because a postcard costs more than a bar of Swiss chocolate. And of course I’d rather have chocolates (for myself).

I’ve been here for a week now and I have so many things to be thankful for. I’m thankful once again for this chance to go to one of the best universities in Europe with such an average academic result and limited budget. For being able to be awed by the beauties of God’s work in nature, human progress, architecture every day for six months. For my room, which I share with another NUS student, spacious, completely furnished, and relatively cheap. For the company, the friends, the brothers and sisters whom I’ve known for a while and those I’ve just met here. For the smooth process of settling in, adapting to the weather and lifestyle, and getting around (I’ve got lost a few times, but no severe cases as yet). For the tips and advice and useful information from seniors or friends who had been here previously. For a good church and bible study groups. For the financial and spiritual sponsorship from too many people. I’m thankful.

And let’s hope the best for school (which only starts next week).

I went for an Indonesian bible study on the book of Acts last night. The leader of the bible study is a Swiss missionary who lived in Indonesia for a few years before. I really respect these people who speak out of experience (those who have actually been there, done that, and not only full of words) and with sincerity and genuineness (though yes you can’t always tell). These two things don’t come overnight, you can’t have them instantly by merely reading heavy chim theological books or listening to famous lecturers. They are hard earned through hard work, sacrifice and faithfulness. Things that seriously I lack of.

pippi
4:20
eh,, saya da punya pet donggg
liat deh,, di facebook
tp ga bisa di apa2in yah
hehehe

erlin
4:20
dasar
ga pntg
aku aja ga punya

pippi
4:20
hah,, cici ga punya? hehehehe
terus yang penting di fb apa lagi dong

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Yes, exactly. What is important in Facebook?

(I created her fb account for her)