Ferries and Chinese and Crabs, Oh My!

Written by Eunice Tan
Edited by Charis Chen and Ranen Chan

One small step for man. A giant leap for our chapter!
Taking a seemingly "small" step into the waiting ferry, we had embarked on a memorable experience of learning and unforgettable, amazing events!

Pulau Ketam, here we come!

Photos by Coach Martha

Enjoying the refreshing, strong wind, we couldn't help but just sit back and enjoy ourselves, anticipating the wondrous day to come! It certainly was a momentous ferry ride. Thank God for the safe journey!

But we weren’t just going to spend time with the children at Pulau Ketam; this day wasn't just any day... It was Speaker Ranen's 14th birthday! As a result, we planned a surprise celebration for him in the form of a mini treasure hunt! 

Photo by Coach Debra

Ranen diligently decodes his birthday challenge message...

Swiftly solving it, Ranen discovered his challenge: "Sing Jesus Loves Me aloud right now." Oooooo..... With great energy, he did it wholeheartedly, much to our great amusement!

Photo by Coach Martha

He even beatboxed while singing! 

Finally, the ferry arrived at PK, and we disembarked. We couldn't wait to meet the kids at the center!

Photo by Coach Martha

After much preparation,  Coach Joseph and his enthusiastic translator, Coach Wai Hong, introduced our group to the local students.

Photos by Coach Martha

Speakers getting to know the students:

Photos by Coach Martha

Following the cheerful welcome, we divided into two groups to which we would teach English: primary and secondary. Some speakers taught the "little" kids (primary school), while others (exercising their impromptu skills!) instructed the secondary school pupils. 

Primary section:

Photos by Coach Martha

Photo by Coach Debra

Secondary Section:

Photos by Coach Martha

In the primary group, Coach Michelle and Speaker Jern Ling led the children in a time of songs! It helped break the ice and hype up the kids. Thanks, Coach Michelle and Jern Ling!

Speaker Ranen, who taught in the primary class, has this to say about our experience as teachers:

"While our chapter was in Pulau Ketam to present our chapter presentation, I, along with other students in our chapter, had the opportunity to teach some of the children in the community center English. Most of the children could only speak Mandarin, so in order to communicate with them, I had to speak to them in Mandarin. This made me step out of my comfort zone, as I was used to speaking and teaching in English. On the whole, I enjoyed the experience and I look forward to going back there again!"

Yep! This event definitely pushed us to use our Chinese more!

We loved bonding with the children and shedding new light on their lessons.

As the secondary teaching was a last minute decision, those of us who volunteered to do so had to leaf through a textbook we had never seen before and teach a lesson from it to the students (some of whom were older than me! :s). At first, I was a little scared, but after a while, I relaxed and actually enjoyed myself. Honestly, it was great using Chinese! The students were so willing to learn and participate! 

Some young students even rewarded us with a little dance performance!

Photo by Coach Martha

After the wonderful lessons, Chapter Chair Jern Yoong introduced the speakers individually and once again, our chapter and our joy to be with them and bless them.

Next, we presented our chapter presentation on the story of Ping to the children. The speakers had worked arduously on and been extremely dedicated to the chapter presentation, for which Charis and I are ever grateful for! Below is a summary of our play (Photos by Coach Martha):

"Wait... Baby ah?? Really?"

"YES!!!"

"Yeeee.... why is your son blind??"

"Why does he always fail in school?"

"Dear God, help me to look to you..."

The two pat pohs

"My daughter's nose and grades are so much better than your son's!"

Ping: "Bye Mom and Dad..."

Parents: "Wahh.... take care, son!"

"Haiya, he's going to kill himself in the army!"

"Ready, aim, fire!"

"But Ping gave the food to the wrong man!"

The spy!

Ping: "I smell something!"

Spy: "Keep what you smell to yourself, guard!"

Ping: "Assassin! Assassin!"

Sultan: "AAaaaahhh....." *faints*

"Well done, Ping. I knew there was something special in you."

"Don't give up! Even if you are different, God has a special purpose for your life, just like Ping!"

What fun it was to present our play to the children and share the important message of self-purpose and calling with them! Thank you so much for your hard work, fellow speakers! Awesome job!

Immediately afterwards, Coach Joseph, with his ever energetic translator Coach Wai Hong, gave a short inspirational and heartfelt talk about the message of the play, reinforcing the truth that our true identity and purpose is found in Christ, and no one ever needs to miss out on God's amazing plans for them!

Photo by Coach Martha

Charis and I then asked the children several comprehension questions concerning the story of Ping to test how attentive they were and confirm the story's message. We gave prizes to the respective participants who answered correctly! It was encouraging to hear their thoughtful answers! Good job, kids!

And, of course, the Malaysians had to enjoy a mandatory time of makan.....

Photo by Coach Martha

With all the children pumped up, we facilitated a round of games! We played Cat and Mouse and Pepsi Cola!

Photos by Coach Martha

We could not have enough of the fantastic time of bonding and upbeat enjoyment! All praise to God for the one-of-a-kind experience with these special children!

After this, we had to say goodbye to our new friends and went on a leisurely stroll around PK. Oh, and we also had to fill our stomachs... of course!

The Three Stooges.

Photos by Coach Martha

The ballerina!

Here is a snippet of our adventures following our time at the center recounted by Speaker Ian:

"After our scrumptious seafood lunch, we departed from the restaurant for a little tour around the island. During the tour, we had a great time of fellowship. We noticed the amount of rubbish under where we were walking and thankfully it did not smell. After some walking, we bumped into some of the children we taught back at the community center. One of them invited us to his house to meet his parents and wanted us to stay awhile, but we couldn't due to the lack of time. After the visitation, we headed back to the community center to collect our bags and had a feedback session. Then we boarded the ferry back to mainland."

Man oh man, the classic crab meat we had during lunch was so delicious! As Roald Dahl would say it, the dish was simply scrumdiddlyumptious!

As Ian mentioned, we were greatly blessed by the young man's generosity and hospitality shown through his willingness to invite us to his very own home, despite the fact that he just met us! Actually, this boy was rather resistant and reserved, after the event, he changed and started to enjoy himself and take a liking to us. Praise the Lord! We talked a while with his mother and met his younger brothers, getting a touch of the culture in PK and cherishing its unique people! Thank God for such big, loving hearts!

As the end of the day drew near, we boarded the ferry once again, heading back home. What a day it was to remember! A day of getting to know new people, a day of sharing our faith and essential message of purpose, and a day of God's great providence and blessing! What a day!

But one thing remains, lurking within our minds: When will we go back? :D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~More momentous shots!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wefies galore:

Photo by Eunice Tan

Photo by Coach Martha

Photo by Eunice Tan

Photo by Eunice Tan

Ranen vs. Coach Wai Hong in an epic battle of kungfu (or is it wrestling?):

Photos by Coach Martha

Jonique admires the art in PK:

Photo by Coach Martha

Just chilling with the kids:

Photo by Coach Martha

Photo by Coach Debra

Au revoir! God is faithful! What a blessing it is to be an instrument of glory for His name!

Special Edition Post: Greeting from an Ex ICC-er!

Charis Chen

Design from Canva

Heyho! We're back with a special edition post from an ex ICC-er-- none other than our beloved Eliza! It's been awhile since we last met, and for the new year, she sent us a lovely greeting, featured below!

"I’ve officially spent five months away from home, which is longer than I’ve ever been away from my family. Do I miss Malaysia? Of course! I miss the people, culture, FOOD, and most of all, my family and friends. Yet though I’m away from home, I don’t feel lonely. By God’s grace, I experienced a smooth transition adjusting to a new environment and community at Asbury University. These past five months have been an instrumental period of growth for me, and my heart is filled with gratefulness for new opportunities, life lessons, cultural experiences, and relationships forged on and off campus.

"Summarizing all the lessons I’ve learned this past semester in a few paragraphs would be nearly impossible, so I will just focus on some of the crucial lessons God has taught me. Traveling across the globe to live in another country did not come without strong feelings of nervousness. Questions like “What if I don’t fit in? What if I seem awkward to others because I come from a different culture? What if I don’t find a good friend group?” filled my mind. But they were quickly put to ease as I was swept away by the warm welcome I received, and with the help of both an international and all-student welcome week orientation, I learned that it was easier than I had thought to integrate into a new community. My self-consciousness diminished as I discovered that others were just as nervous…and just as willing to make friends, whether from a similar or different culture.

"Typical misconceptions about college students include the tendency to stay out late, sleep late, eat unhealthily, and procrastinate. Of course, these are possible, but they are avoidable! During my first few weeks of college, I struggled to get into a regular routine, but once I had got into a habitual schedule, I witnessed my time management skills improve dramatically. I went from being a night owl to becoming an early sleeper and early riser. And having so many options in the cafeteria (and a stir-fry section) allowed me to always be able to eat healthily. Doing my work in advance was surprisingly easy, and it granted me an abundance of free time—free time which I could use to study the Bible, exercise, relax, and get involved in a host of campus activities. 

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10).

"As I was preparing to head off to university, I started searching for a verse I could meditate on during this new transition. When I came across this verse in Proverbs, I knew I had found the verse I’d been looking for. I’m extremely grateful for the emphasis on biblical worldview and critical thinking that I had during my childhood through high school years. Though I was originally incredibly resistant to the idea of homeschooling when my parents first took me out of school, I later realized how homeschooling changed who I am as a person…for the better. I realized that all of life is an education, and a Christ-centered mindset—the fear of God—is key to knowledge. I wanted to continue studying in college with the right starting point. 

"My time in ICC has also definitely helped me in my decisions to join various boards and take part in activities on campus. After praying and consulting with my parents for advice, I decided to run as Publicist for the freshman class cabinet and join the international sector of the Intercultural Student Board on campus. As an international, I learned that I have something unique to put on the table—a different perspective—and boldness to speak up comes easily once I have the right mindset. I was surprised by how willing people were to hear me out. 

"Most significantly, this time of independence and “isolation” from my family has in a way forced me to seek God more diligently, fervently, frequently, and willingly on my own. During the month of Christmas break, I especially had time to reflect while away from college activities, homework, and my own extensive to-do lists. With my desire to maximize time to achieve as many things as possible, I used to be somewhat afraid of times of quiet and stillness, when my days aren’t filled with tasks and activities as they typically are. Now I treasure such moments, for they provide the perfect opportunity to slow down and re-read that passage of Scripture that confused me yesterday.

"Often, I still wish to possess the superpower of teleportation. I wish I could be back home, if only for a while. But God is good. Witnessing the Lord’s ever-present hand in my life, no matter where I am on the globe, gives me a more than sufficient reason to rejoice. 

"To all of you back home, I miss you so much! I pray that you will continue to grow to seek the Lord and allow Him to work in you. I’ve found that when I’ve grown most were during times I found most challenging, when I was forced out of my comfort zone, when my previous mindsets were challenged and brought under the scrutiny of light of God’s truth. Seek God. Dive into His Word hungrily. Entrust your future into His hands—He is faithful. You are all in my thoughts. See you in around four months’ time!

"Happy New Year, everyone!"

~ Eliza Tan 

Time is Life

Written by Ian Chan

Edited by Ranen Chan and Charis Chen

All photos by Coach Daniel unless otherwise stated

"Blessed New Year!" That's a greeting one will definitely hear during the first few days of a new year, as people celebrate the transition into the year.

On the 2nd of January 2017, our chapter started the New Year with a meaningful and fun-filled gathering. We had our first gathering of the year at the Putrajaya Wetlands Park, and started off with breakfast, preparing ourselves for the program at the observation tower. 

 Nom Nom Nom!

I really thank God for His hand in the weather. When we arrived, the weather was unwelcoming and dull, and to make things worse, it was drizzling. Later, however, the weather changed pleasantly, and we were able to have our fellowship in the warm sunshine.  

Before we started our program, we celebrated Speaker Charis' birthday with a birthday surprise. 

  

Next, we praised God for the day with the song, This Is the Day, led by Speaker Eunice. 

 This is the day that the LORD has made!

After singing, we were led by Speaker Charis for the icebreaker, called Zoo. A group of people stand in a circle, facing the center. Everyone would choose an animal, which they would represent by a hand gesture. For example, they could put their arm up by their nose to represent an elephant, or they can flap their arms like a bird. Each player had to have a different animal. During the game, each player would first do his/her animal action, then the action of another person in the circle. The person whose hand sign was done by the last player had to then repeat the procedure by first doing his/her hand sign, then the hand sign of another player. We certainly enjoyed this fun and animated icebreaker. 

Our Chapter Sponsor, Coach Joseph, shared with us about time. He asked us to discuss our feelings during the transition into the New Year. Some said they did not realize that it was already the new year; others had goals to achieve. After the discussion, we were asked to define the word ‘time’. What is your definition of time? Coach Joseph stated that time is life. He continued sharing that when one wastes his time, he wastes his life. Before we do something, we need to ask whether it is worth spending our life on it. 

Next, we adjourned to the field, where we had more games. The first activity was called Cat and Tails, which reminded me of Running Man. In this game, everyone has a "tail" (raffia string) taped to their backs. The main goal of this game is to snatch other players’ tails while guarding your tail. After the game, we were divided into three groups for our second activity, called Team Building.

      First, we had to create a team name and a cheer. The first team was called Awesome Fire! We definitely felt some heat because of their team name-- or was it the sun?

The second team was called Typhoon! Typhoon alert, take safety precaution! 

Last but not least, we had the third team called No Mess. (Yeah, ’ah ain’t messin’ around with ya’ll. :D) After all the group cheers, each team had to creatively use their bodies to first make a garden, and then the KLCC Twin Towers. Lastly, we combined all three groups to form a human pyramid.

Team 1: Awesome Fire!

Team 2: Typhoon!

                                                             

Team 3: No Mess!

  

Photo by Toh Jern Ling

We then headed back to the observation tower for our last activity, the Mannequin Challenge. 

The mannequin challenge was a success! We only had to film it twice. Click the video below to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEdUzsI293A&feature=youtu.be

After the last activity, we sat down together for a closing. Coach Joseph shared about a Chinese reality TV show which interviews two people simultaneously, but with a partition in between the interviewees. In one episode, they interviewed two people: a father and son who had a broken relationship with each other. The son was a successful fashion designer, but his father did not support his son's career choice. The son talked about his success as a designer, but it was evident his father was displeased. When asked if he wanted the partition to be removed, the son yelled, "Dad, nothing I do ever pleases you!" and stormed off. Coach Joseph then said that unlike that young man, we are accepted by our Heavenly Father, just as God the Father said at Jesus’ baptism, "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased." God loves us, whether or not others love us.

After the sharing, the Correspondent team, as well as several helpers, shared their self-evaluation of the event. I thanked everyone for being cooperative, and aimed to do better next time by beginning to plan earlier. Speaker Jern Ling shared that she was pleased with the smooth flow of the program, and that she had now learned more about planning an event. 

I would like to thank my father for helping to find the venue and all the Coaches and SLs for making this event possible. Last but not least, I would like to thank all the Chapter members for their presence.

Thank you and I hope you enjoyed the blog! 

Good Morning, Malacca!

Written by Eunice Tan
Edited by Charis Chen 
Photos by Coach Daniel Toh

Lights on. We were ready. This was it.
"Good morning, Malacca!!" The voice boomed.

Welcome to the ATI Family Conference 2016! After the exciting Expo for Influence Conference, most of us congregated in Malacca for even more godly fellowship and memorable learning! One night, Chapter Sponsor Coach Joseph and the ICC Student Leaders huddled together and laid out the details of a very important launch that would take place very soon.... The launch of Good Morning, Malacca!

We were going to share what Walking in the Light, the theme of the ATI conference this year, really means using our personal testimonies. All this was going to be presented in a talk-show style with Coach Joseph as our energetic, one-of-a-kind host!

Here we go...

Coach Joseph: Welcome to Good Morning, Malacca!

For today's program, I interviewed a couple of interesting attendees of this family conference concerning what it means to Walk in the Light! Sit back and enjoy the interviews.

Video of Interviews:

Filmed by Joseph Tan

After viewing the fascinating, and not to mention, amusing video, Coach Joseph got his "guests" to introduce their names, ages, and what they enjoy about homeschooling!

Ranen- 13 years old, appreciates the flexibility homeschooling allows

Jern Yoong- 16 years old, loves that homeschooling allows learning beyond the textbook

Eunice- 13 years old, enjoys learning all subjects with a biblical worldview through homeschooling

Charis- 15 years old, likes homeschooling because of opportunities to mingle with international people

Jern Ling- 13 years old, delights in the adaptable schedule homeschooling provides

After the upbeat introductions, the talk-show host asked each student what Walking in the Light really means to them in their personal life experiences!

Jern Yoong, whom the host referred to as "undoubtedly an athlete," shared what Walking in the Light means for him in sports. Ever since he was young, he had always thought that sports competitions were all about winning. I mean, there is nothing more important than being number 1, right? However, after watching the captivating movie Facing the Giants and listening to another successful athlete's sharing, he realized the meaning of true sportsmanship. True sportsmanship is about playing for God, not for yourself, praising Him whether you win or even lose. This idea drastically transformed Jern Yoong's way of thinking when it came to his sports competitions. Walking in the Light is all about good character and giving glory to God.

Next up, I shared my struggle with pride and selfishness, how I had always put myself before others and did not consult God for help much. I would try to change, but I would always fail! Why? Because I was relying on my own strength and not God's. One day, my mom and sister shared with me honestly how my attitude had hurt many people and how I desperately needed to change. Since that day, my walk with God has greatly changed, and I am determined to stay humble and glorify God in everything I do. I have learned to enjoy serving others without feeling sorry for myself, knowing what really is important! Walking in the Light is all about staying humble and obeying God's will for me.

Following that, Jern Ling related the story of how hard and troubling times helped draw her closer to God. Discovering her mother had a dangerous heart condition, Jern Ling was shocked and sorrowful. "Where is God?" She thought. As her mother rested, she also had to tackle all the household chores that her mother would normally do, along with a feeling of emptiness within her. Not to mention, all the schoolwork she still had to accomplish! She felt lost and scared for her mom. However, after consulting a friend, Jern Ling learned that God will always be there in the hard times, in the raging storm. She realized that in this trial, her job was to look after her mom and others and serve Him, knowing He will always be there for her. That is walking in the light.

Ranen then told the audience how he was influenced by friends in the area of pop music. He initially had no idea what songs or artists they were talking about. So, out of curiosity, he searched them up and quickly got hooked to pop music. He didn't want to be the only one left out! However, after attending a conference where he learned how this music is not always pure or glorifying to God, Ranen decided to stop listening to it. It definitely wasn't easy, but with God's strength he has stopped getting hooked to it. Walking in the light is about giving up what is not pure for what is pure. It is about obeying God and not following everything our friends say even though we might feel left out. Walking in the light is being in the world but not of the world.

Last but not least, Charis shared her personal tale of how stress and busyness had opened up a new spiritual learning experience for her. First of all, she simply adores working with kids! A few months earlier, she was teaching young children at a children's program and was thoroughly enjoying herself! But, she was suddenly given a task that initially didn't seem too hard, but eventually became a humongous project which took up her time and stressed her out completely. Charis was desperate and finally broke down. What was she going to do?? One of her teammates was concerned and shared with her how it is in the storms of life that we can see God more clearly. This comforted Charis and inspired her to share the same concept to her other friend who was also struggling in a situation. Through this, she discovered that Walking in the light is about caring for others and not only yourself.

To encapsulate all these fantastic testimonies, Coach Joseph a.k.a. host asked each guest to summarize each of their stories in just one fiery phrase. Below are the results!

Ranen- Stay pure.
Jern Yoong- Competition isn't about winning.
Eunice- Humble me, Lord.
Charis- Look beyond myself.
Jern Ling- Appreciate others.

And that's a wrap!!!

Coach Joseph gave a quick and insightful conclusion to the live audience, spurring them on to walk in the light daily! We certainly enjoyed sharing our personal testimonies with all the other attendees of the ATI Family Conference. It is a great reminder that in whatsoever we do, all glory to God.

Till the next conference!

Ready for Influence

Written by Ranen Chan
Edited by Charis Chen
Photos by Coach Daniel

Greetings! Welcome to Ready for Influence, a training for ICC chapter members in Southeast Asia conducted by Dr. Teresa Moon, founder and CEO of ICC.

Eunice Au, the director of ICC's online academy, began by getting some feedback from the audience for the Influence EXPO, held the night before. 

Dr. Teresa Moon then shared some of her experiences as the founder and CEO of ICC. Some were light-hearted and funny; others touched your heart. One story in particular was especially moving.
Wendell, Dr. Moon's son, once did an interpretation of a story at a youth party. A person in the audience was inspired by his speech and decided that he would like to tell stories like that. His name was Raudy, and he soon became good friends with Wendell. Raudy began calling up businesses, schools, kindergartens, and many other places to see if he could present stories there. He soon became well-known in his community for this, and many people enjoyed listening to him. Tragically, he drowned not long after he had started doing this. 
Raudy's family held a memorial service for him after his death. As more and more people turned up to pay their respects, they realized just how much of an impact Raudy had had on the people around him.

Sometimes we do not realize that we have an influence on others, so it is always important to be ready for influence. We want to have a positive impact on the people we come in contact with, not a bad one.

After that, Dr. Moon talked about how millennials are the best positioned generation to influence the world. She went on to say that global organizations seek 5 things in employees - good communication skills, critical thinking skills, ability to collaborate with others, creativity, and a cultural mindset. She then split the room into 8 groups. Each of the groups was assigned one of the five aforementioned things, and had to come up with a mime to illustrate it in 3 different applications. After the prep time was over, each group had to present their mime to everyone. The audience subsequently had to guess that group's skill. We learned to think on our feet, be creative and work together, all while having lots of fun!

Dr. Moon then had a speech coaching session with Expo Influencers John Hoy and Abigail Shepherd, while Eunice Au conducted a portfolio session on the floor above. 

Next up was lunch!

The coaches and those who weren't student leaders went out to get lunch, while the student leaders had their SL reception over lunch. During the SL reception, several of the student leaders from different chapters shared their experiences being an SL in their chapter. It was really encouraging to hear all the stories from the various student leaders.

After lunch, we adjourned back to the meeting hall, where Dr. Moon elaborated on ICC's mentoring model of wise guides (those older than us), side guides (our peers), and surprise guides (those younger than us). Then we went around and thanked three people who had been a mentor to us.

And that brings Influence Expo 2016 to a close! Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post!

East Asia Influence EXPO 2016, Singapore

Written by Toh Jern Yoong

Edited by Charis Chen

Friday evening. People swarmed the church. They were participating in activities at different stations, each led by a young person.

What was so special?

Well, it was the first ever Influence EXPO in the East Asia Area! 

What is the Influence EXPO? The Influence EXPO is a free event where the community gets to experience what ICC is about. And, as an added bonus, we had Dr. Teresa Moon, the CEO and Founding President of ICC with us, along with Mrs. Eunice Au, International Director of the ICC Learning Academy!

 

 Ready for Influence!!!
Photos by Coach Daniel Toh

Each of the stations had a theme, explained and illustrated through different activities by the EXPO Influencers. The Influencers are a group of young leaders, trained to lead the event and facilitate activities and discussions. Most importantly, they stand by this motto, to be Ready For Influence! This year, we had Dr. Moon guiding the Influencers and also sharing great insights on being a effective communicator for Christ. We also had the honour and privilege of Mrs. Au's presence to coach and train our EXPO Influencers. 

       

The participants had the added challenge of collecting as many punches as they could on a card they were given. Each station visited would earn them one punch. At the end, all the cards were collected for a lucky draw, and the winners were presented ICC goodie bags!

 After an energetic hour of games and activities, everyone settled down for the rest of the program.

We began with a team greeting from the EXPO Influencer team, comprising of John T, Deborah, John H, Abigail, Jessica, Aaron, Charis, Noel, and Ernest!

        Photo by Coach Daniel

        We are the EXPO Influencers!

        Photo by Coach Daniel

        The Malaysians + Singaporean in action 

        From left to right, Charis, Noel, Ernest

We introduced Dr. Moon, Mrs. Au, and Mrs. Shepherd, our Area Coordinator, to the community.

 

Photo by Coach Daniel 

This was followed by Influence stories from the Influencers- testimonies of how they had been influenced and how that helped them to influence others, because they were ready for influence.

Photo by Coach Daniel 

Photo by Coach Daniel 

Photo by Coach Daniel 

This event had a major impact on me as I started out nervous and afraid of the challenges that were to come. However, with the support of the other Influencers and the ever-loving encouragements of Dr. Moon, Mrs. Au, and Mrs. Shepherd, I began to see myself as a vessel for Christ, and to stand up and be ready for influence in His name. Since then, through the coaching and the guidance of Dr. Moon and the team, I began to look at things differently. What seemed to be a major problem has become a major learning experience of how I can improve, to be an even better communicator for Christ. Looking back on how God has brought me so far in this ICC journey- from a shy and incompetent speaker, to a speaker who cares for the audience, stands up for God, and takes feedback graciously.  Like I shared in my Influence story, I've learned that through my actions, I can actually be a big influence to others, whether for the better or for the worse. I've realised how powerful words can be, especially on the platform. This entire experience has taught me way more than I asked for, and not even a huge sum of money could buy the lessons I have learnt. I am really thankful for Dr. Moon and the team for raising up young leaders like myself and the rest of the East Asian team to stand up for God and to do what is right in today's generation!

Photo credit: unknown              

                                          East Asia Area Expo Influencers 2016!!!