It's befitting for it to rain today

I remembered walking into Centre 1 in January feeling nervous and excited to be working with infants! I was greeted with 10 adorable faces - apprehensive for the first few weeks - and 4 staff. I was showed around the centre and was instructed as to what my tasks were each time I came into work.
I got to know the staff as well as the 10 kids who became more at ease as I came into work each week. Before I knew it, I felt part of the team and I had little kids coming up to me wanting me to hug and love them. I learned how to interact and care for the littlest ones and I learned how amazing the staff team were (and still are).
Soon April came around and it was the end of my work term. I got a summer job without having to apply for one - it fell right into my lap as my supervisor wanted me to work with them. So I became a regular 'staff', coming in every day throughout the summer.
And as always, time always fly by. Soon, the summer season was over and it was back to being a workstudy student. I continued working in Centre 1, enjoying every moment of it.
Now it's December and today, I said my "goodbye" to the 4 amazing staff and 10 kids whom I've grown so attached to! Tears were shed (I'm still shedding them now). It felt like I was torn apart from my family.
One of the kids gave me a big hug as I kissed and hugged him goodbye. It was a treasured moment. I'll miss him so much. I saw him grow and I'm so sad I won't be able to continue seeing him grow! Not only have I grown attached to the staff and kids, I've grown attached to the parents as well.

I never had such an amazing work experience and I wished I could stay in Centre 1 forever and ever. My past year was enriched because of Centre 1. I never thought leaving work would be this hard. I love my team, the kids and their parents.


"I wished you could stay forever and ever but you have new adventures to explore."

PS: I made it through Monday and I'm still standing ;)

Goodbye smiley little faces...

Today marks my last day at work :(
Tears will probably be shed later....

I've been counting numbers since Tuesday

... Numbers to the page or word capita to my papers ;) Imagine how excited I got when I finally reached that magic number! woot! I started off today with 20 pages and now I'm down to 10 pages! :D Anyways....

Ask me if I'm still alive once Monday comes around. I have tomorrow to write a 20 page paper and study for an exam. I have of course, started working on the paper and I am half way through it (at least that's what I want to believe. hah!). I mean, I have 10 pages left to write. If you'd seen me on Thursday, I was shell-shocked and I did not know what I was doing, but thanks for my prof., I powered through on Thursday night and came up with an outline for my analysis. So, in a day, I went from not knowing anything to having my entire paper figured out (at least the big picture and end goal). I was dreading having to write this paper because I just wrote an 11 page "Executive functions, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and compulsive-like behaviours in young children" and am pretty much wiped out from writing. However, half way into this 20 page paper, I found myself enjoying writing it and even came to a point where I had a fleeting moment of "oh my gosh! 20 page will NOT suffice!" Well, the part I dread the most would have to be integrating external sources into my paper. This is my first case study paper, so it's a whole different approach to research. I am enjoying this more than the conventional way ;)

Anywho, I should go to bed and be all hunky dory and refreshed for an extremely long Saturday filled with paper writing and last minute studying madness! Cheers to student life. I will be so glad to be done in a week. Speaking of a week, a week to total freedom is taking forever.

4 years done!

DONE! Woot! :)

Though, I still have some papers and exams to write. AND right after ending classes, I got the cold. Haha... And thus, the bed has and will continue to be my best friend for the next few days.

I can't wait to recover and be done with exams.

13 days to total freedom.

8 classes left to the semester

Only 1 MORE week of school and I'll be done with my undergrad career!
Excited? Yes. Nervous? Yes. I'm a bundle of mixed emotions!! I am already mourning the loss of being a student - I enjoy the student routine and rhythm - and soon, I will be functioning on a different routine. However, I'll be glad to see the end of homework, assignments, and exams. I look forward to having the opportunity to learn new things and not be tested on it.

So... 7 papers and 3 exams to go

It's November :)

And I'm busy writing Christmas cards :D

Way to stay ahead of the Christmas post rush!! Heehee...

46 days til Christmas....

A good laugh

Here's some Malaysian comic strips that I found amusing :)

Rachelle’s October ‘09 Newsletter

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E-mail: rachellelow88@ilovejesus.net

Dear Family and Friends,

I cannot help but wish for a moment that time would slow down a little. Despite the endless string of assignments and midterms, I do not want the school semester to come to an end. While September has kept me on my feet, October has been a mellower month – less frantic running and doing – but more quality time spent with students and friends (oh, and with schoolwork as well). I have felt so frustrated because I was unable to find my rhythm to the things that I do weekly. However, I think I am finally finding it, that is, after making it a point to writing down my schedule for each day in detail – down to the hour. I find that by doing so, I make use of my time productively and most times, have surprised myself by accomplishing more than I had anticipated.

In as much as I am busy with school, I find joy and peace with my involvement with IVCF. In the first week of October, we had our annual fall retreat called the Great Escape, and this year, we went up to Pioneer Pacific Camp on Thetis Island for the weekend. Thirty eight of us spent a whole weekend together, and at the end of it, bonded together tightly. In hindsight, I am so amazed at the relationships that have been formed over that weekend. Today, whenever I attend Ring Out, I cannot help but be in awe at the sweet fellowship that we share in Christ Jesus. That weekend really brought all 38 of us closer, not only as friends but as a body of believers.

The joy that I receive from doing student ministry does not end at that. I have been meeting new students at Ring Out, and have the opportunity to spend some time with them. One of the joys that I experienced recently was seeing a first year student connecting with other IVCFers at Ring Out. At the end of the night, he came up to me and said, “Thank you for inviting me to IVCF. I had so much fun!” In addition, spending time with students – be it over coffee or while serving our community – has deepened my passion for student ministry, and has shown me how passionate these students are for God and His kingdom. My heart’s desire is for these students to be kingdom leaders and be witnesses of the Gospel on campus.

The call to leadership encompasses the call to discipleship as well. This was one of the many lessons I learned this year. Having the privilege to intentionally spend time with two girls, Carmen and Kaitlyn, has been one of my weekly highlights. Carmen, Kaitlyn, and I meet every Saturday for our discipleship time. As part of discipleship, we study the Scripture (the book of Acts), pray for one another, and be in fellowship with each other. Carmen and I instantly connected back in August when she emailed me to inquire more about IVCF. Kaitlyn and I met at the first Ring Out, and even though we do not know one another, I felt connected with her. The three of us immediately bonded together at the Great Escape. When I extended the invitation to disciple both of them, they said “YES”! Thus far, it has been a joy and honour to be walking alongside them and have this opportunity to invest my life in theirs. Carmen said, “Thank you for investing your time in our lives”.

Prayer Requests

v Pray for Chrissy and the leadership team as we serve one another and our campus.

v Pray for God’s anointing and wisdom as I serve my leadership team and those around me.

v Diligence and discipline in my studies; the ability to use my time wisely as I study and serve in IVCF.

May you constantly be reminded of the awesome and glorious power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for your partnership, love, support and prayers.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

Agape, Rachelle Low