Ministry > YMI
How a Message on a T-Shirt Convinced Me to Break Up
Like many other girls, I have wished for a boyfriend since primary school. However, because I was a shy bookworm, I only ever played the part of secret admirer. Then one day in high school, another student asked me out.
It wasn’t just excessive spending, it was more.
Ask any good Christian where their comfort comes from and their answer would be Christ. My source of comfort starts with C too, but I’m afraid it’s something else: Clothes.
Why Am I Striving to Please Others?
I have always been a people pleaser. I know that I can please someone by doing exactly what they tell me to do. Growing up in church, I did just that. I was cautious whenever I spoke to guy friends face-to-face or in text messages, because my leaders discouraged me from doing so.
Blessed to Bless Others
Three months ago, I took a nervous step off a plane onto Australian soil (or rather, concrete pavements), after an incredible nine months in another country. This re-entry to my home country marked the end of a life-changing journey of working in a developing country.
Where Can We Find Safety in the Midst of Suicide Attacks?
Some weeks ago, in my hometown Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, a would-be suicide bomber charged into a church while it was holding a Sunday service and tried to detonate his vest. By God’s grace, the bomb failed to detonate, and the congregation was able to restrain him and subsequently hand him over to the police.
I Have Depression and This Is What I Want You to Know
I never thought that I would have depression. It seemed like something only strangers had. Even when a close friend of mine struggled with depression a few years ago, I couldn’t relate to what she was going through. I just thought of it as a really low period some people had and would eventually get out of, if only they tried hard enough.
The Day I Was Saved by Unbelievers
Eighteen years ago, my carefree life turned into a living hell overnight. It was May 1998, and riots broke out in my city, Jakarta in Indonesia. They were triggered by economic problems including food shortages and mass unemployment.
Reliving the Horrific 2015 Nepal Earthquake
25 April 2015. It was the day my friend came to Nepal to visit me (I was mid-way through my one-year missions stint in Nepal). It was also the day the world witnessed the most horrific earthquake to strike Nepal since 1934.
Brangelina split: The end of Love?
Or so that is what some news reports have been saying, after news emerged yesterday that Hollywood’s golden couple, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, are ending a two-year marriage—after 12 years and six children together.
Why We Should Not be Politically Disengaged
“Politicians – they’re all the same, aren’t they? All of them are lying to us, so we just vote for the lies we like the sound of and hope that maybe a few of them will actually come true, even though we know deep down that they probably won’t.”
When I Learned about My Husband’s Affair
On my birthday in 2005, I found out that my husband was having an affair. I can still remember the details vividly.
Why We May All be Guilty of Racism
Last week, a friend of our family was walking with his wife in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago when he was attacked by a gang of young men and badly beaten. He ended up spending the night in the hospital with several cracked bones in his face and other assorted cuts and bruises.
My Struggle With Alcohol: The Spirit That Never Satisfies
I used to drink a lot. Once, I had one too many that I stumbled about the streets and passed out outside a shopping mall in the wee hours. Some kind strangers woke me up and asked if I needed to be sent to the hospital.
Africa: The Secret Behind Faith and Hope
Whenever I visit other continents, a question I am often asked is, “What is the hidden secret behind faith and hope in Africa?” That’s when I share about the power of thanksgiving and prayer—the fuel that drives the church in Africa towards faith and hope.
What Singleness Taught Me About Love
While having lunch with a girl friend one day, we touched on our favorite topic as single girls: relationships. Contrary to what many romantic drama serials and movies portray, the life of a single professional woman (especially if she is a Christian) is far from one of romance and constant social activity.
