Today Daddy and I went for a bike ride on the safe road and on the main road. I rode over four speed bumps. On the speed bumps I feel myself bump, bump, bump, bumping. And we went over the grass in the park. Pedalling through the pretty footpath I looked at the beautiful park, with a swing, a slippery slide and monkey bars. The monkey bars are quite hard, so I don't do them often. I don't like the swing because I feel sick when I go on it.

When I was riding I saw two dogs. One dog was big and one dog was little, like a sausage. I thought they were going to chase me, but they didn't. The little dog was licking the big dog's behind. Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting! So I went fast, fast by using my fire and lighting, and pedalled as fast I can. 

I'm getting better at cycling every day. Daddy said I have to learn to ride, otherwise everyone in KL (I mean, Kuala Lumpur) will laugh at me. Soon I can take off my training wheels, if I learn properly. Thank God I can ride my bike, and we came back before the rain came.

On Saturday it was JJ’s school concert. He performed four times. He graduated. One of the songs was “Love in Any Language, Straight from the Heart.” He had to wear white gloves and use sign language. He was wearing a green T-shirt and dark blue jeans. He had to tap a girl on the shoulder to bring her down, and shake her hand because she forgot the actions. The other songs were “Tien Mi Mi” (Sweet, Sweet Honey), “There’s a Place in the Sun,” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” I liked the singing and dancing because JJ looked cute. I liked “Tien Mi Mi” the best because I like the words and the actions. Daddy went on stage for a peg contest and he won! He had to clip all the pegs onto the coat hanger in the right order. He won three chocolate bars. The chocolate was yummy; I love hazelnut chocolate. He won against two people.

JJ received a certificate for graduating from Tadika (kindergarten). I had to stand on a chair to see him because everyone was in the way because I’m just a kid. JJ looked funny because he wasn’t smiling. He was wearing a hat and a black graduating gown. He enjoyed himself and his teacher gave him a chocolate.

I graduated from kindergarten last year and wore a hat and gown too. I had to tell the story “Hattie and the Fox’ to everyone without looking at the words. We got to hold candles and sing “This little light of mine” and wear make-up.

On the way home we saw lot of colourful, pretty lights because it’s Deepavali (Indian Hindu) festival. There were lots of people on the streets so it took longer to drive home.

When JJ got home he drank a Ribena because his head felt dizzy. After he drank it he felt better.

On Sunday I went to Taman Ujong Methodist Church because Daddy had to preach there. He preached on the Book of Ruth, and how Boaz was a knight in shining armour. Daddy also talked about how I prayed before I played Uno so I can win. I liked his preaching because it was interesting and I liked the way he was talking. But it was very long, so I felt bored and started playing.

We played in the crèche because Sophie had to be there and Mummy had to go on stage too. Mummy shared with a world map, showing why we’re in Malaysia on out mission term, and where we’re from. There were toys in the crèche for older kids. We played with Kung Fu Panda toys—their names were Tigress and Monkey. We also played with a wooden train set; I think it was from Ikea. Jay Jay and I took turns moving the train around ten times each.

After the service we had a yummy lunch. It was Ivy’s sixth birthday, so we celebrated with a multi-almond-cream cake. It was yummy because it was sweet and had lots of cream. I especially liked eating the red icing. I ate two slices. I also had thin noodles with soya sauce, a boiled egg, and jelly to eat (green at the top and white at the bottom). I didn’t have a drink. Sophie ate ten prawn crackers and Daddy said afterwards that she smelled like a prawn cracker.

When we got home, we played with our toys—soft toys, Playmobil, and cars, and trucks and aeroplanes, and Transformers. It is rainy season so it rained hard yesterday, this morning and this afternoon. Daddy cooked because Mummy wanted Daddy to cook. I helped Daddy and Mummy says Daddy’s cooking is better than hers. We had minced pork with tofu, veggies and rice. Daddy has some special cooking secrets and he chopped the garlic smaller so we wouldn’t see it and taste it.

Thanks everyone from CP11 for the presents!
We look forward to watching the DVDs and eating the chips and choc bikkies.
Dad loved the cap and is itching to kick around the new ball with us.

A conversation with J.

Dad: How was kindergarten today?
J: Good. But they didn't even give me any homework!
Dad: That's good isn't it?
J: No, I wanted homework.
Dad: Why?
J: I like doing work.
Dad: Ummm ... you'll just have to wait until they give you some next week.

Dad ponders: I wonder how long this is going to last?

Here's our new oven. Kitchens in Malaysia don't come with ovens, so we had to buy one. In fact, this is the second oven we've bought.

This is our first oven. It shattered while I was baking a quiche. Even though Zac was in the kitchen at the time, we thank God He protected Zac: he was a couple of metres away, with his back turned.

Here's the first thing we (Kat and the boys) baked in our second oven: walnut and cinnamon scrolls.

Our thanks to Dr Lee who generously contributed to the cost of the new oven.

"You need to be more spiritual," a well-meaning church member advised us recently.
What did this church member mean? Piecing together several conversations, she meant that we should manifest spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, and be more expressive in our "worship" (that is, singing).

Which got us thinking: if we don't experience these more dramatic gifts of the Holy Spirit, like speaking in tongues, does that mean we are less "spiritual"? Are we missing out on an essential ingredient in our Christian life? And does this mean a church where members do speak in tongues and are more emotional in their singing is more spiritual?

I don't think so. Not according to my reading of the Bible. Among other things, the Spirit works to transform us, and those who keep in step with the Spirit will manifest the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). These are the true marks of a "spiritual" person.