Youth Expedition Project to Northeast Vietnam

15th Jun - 26th Jun 08
Landed with 20 odd people at Giao Tien School, Xuan Thuy.
A coastal town with vast plains of rice fields and lots of moths.
Water and Electricity are scarce and rationed
No air-conditioning for the next 11 days
Many "don't-haves"
Several gains
Wrote in great length in my travel journal
In summary, a good 11 days of minimal stress and anxieties from the worldly domain.
Lots of positive ions generated in my body from the fun, laughter and crappy talks.
Many mornings of quiet time to communicate with God
Basking under the gentle rays of the rising sun
11 days of holiness
Journeyed with my 2 dearest friends of Christ
Thank you John and Sarah.



Nevertheless, toiling from 7am to 7pm was no joke at all
We were all serious to get the library up and completed by the 11th day
Pushed ourselves to the limits
Our skins charred, muscles toughened, fat burnt to almost zero level
Lots of trials and testings along the way
We held on together and braced through
By the strength and grace from God
Without all these tribulations, this YEP would have meant less to us.

A small tiny library of less than 60sqm
Built using the most primitive method in S'pore context
Hard human labour with minimal machine
It all seemed so daunting and toiling
How do people of the past construct monuments with no machinery?!
Madness. But everything is possible in God's plans.

Learnt many things about architecture and construction
from this simple building. It was the many last minute
on-the-spot architectural decisions that were more successful in
the outcome. Seemed like all the times spent in designing back in
Singapore only constitute 50% or less to the eventual product.

26th - 30th Jun 08 R&R @ Hanoi.
Nothing spectacular or particularly memorable that can overshadow
the Xuan Thuy experience.
It was only the tough struggle in decision making to continue the extension
of my trip to 5th Jul or come back with the rest on 30 Jun.
Thankfully, He spoke to me through my prayers and John.
I would have missed my matriculation for Masters course
and lost a good one week break before getting back into
the crazy course of life in Singapore.

Missing the slow pace of life with nothing much to worry about
Glad that i'm back in the comfort of home
And back in the embrace of princess's care
Learnt to be more disciplined with my spiritual life
And ever thirsting for God's word now
Moli, the book you gave me is fabulous! =)

Let the pictures speak. Visit my flickr website.