The Cherry Red Bike that Came Around the Mountain

In addition to the fabulous hawker food, one of my hopes for living in Penang was to get to ride a motorcycle.

The narrow streets are lined with too much to see and take in as you drive by in a car, and parking on a whim is arduous since you will likely end up blocks away after searching diligently for a legal parking space.

However, the opportunistic driving habits of the residents lent for interesting albeit treacherous ride on a motorbike. Add to the fact that one of our colleagues met with a spectacular accident on his motorbike shortly before we arrived. Right then, my dream of getting a bike evaporated.

After about year, we learned to make sense of the would be madness on the streets, and we observed an unusually few number of motorbike accidents. And so, the notion of acquiring a bike for me surfaced, and to prove the good faith, I bought my helmet.

I was willing to ride a little moped like the Honda C70s tooling around at just 40km/h flat out. I knew how to make that work, but of course I would prefer a Honda Wave 125 or better yet a racy Yamaha LC135 or the ultimate--Modenas Jaguh 175cc cruiser. That's the kind of cruiser bike I fell in love with in Nicaragua years ago--a Honda CB350.

But buying a bike was not that simple, especially when you are busy. I was too slow picking up an almost mint Honda EX5 110cc from a missionary who had to leave quickly. The price was low as a result, and the bike even had a rear Givi helmet box.

Then this semester, I discovered that many of my colleagues leaving had bikes that I liked, especially one who rode a bright red Jaguh. That was the bike I wanted.

But he was not certain that he wanted to sell it, but he assured me that I was the first to have asked about it. Some weeks later, as I found out that almost everyone of the bike riding colleagues either had other plans for  their bikes, I found out that the red Jaguh had been previously promised to a local staff member from our school. Of course he deserved that bike more since he commuted from the mainland an hour away, and on a little EX5 at the time.

Disappointed, all of my leads were exhausted, but still no bike. I let it go in principle, but I was very honest with God--I still wanted a bike, and that red one too.

Then, just before spring break, that local staff person approached me to see if I still wanted the red bike he just bought! He said that oddly enough, the seat on that bike proved too hard for a long ride such as his, and he preferred to seek a cruiser like a Virago or Sym VTS200. Elated, I accepted his offer and transferred the bike to my name just as spring break 2013 began.

~ Shien Yahweh Jireh "The Lord provides"

Losing My Cool Over Vada

After a rather challenging meeting, and a morning that delayed my lunch break, I skulked over to the Indian Restaurant opposite the school for a late lunch/early tea break. I ordered an Iced Milo and 2 Vada which look like Indian Spiced bagels.

I saw them in the cabinet, and it would not have taken 30 seconds to plonk 2 on a plate. so I reminded my server about them when he delivered the Milo. Still no vada. He walks by again and I reminded him a second time. He said it was coming. Now I was writhing in my skin. Was he ignoring my request? I struggled with my emotions while a still small voice asked if getting what I wanted was worth making an a$$ of myself...

Reluctantly, I waited and sulked as I finished my iced Milo. After just 10 minutes from my initial order, my server proudly delivers my 2 vada with a cup of dhal curry. He proudly explained that he did not want to heat mine in a microwave, so he had them broiled!

Indeed, the crust was crispy and the interior still fluffy and warm--it was a most delectable treat, and I ate the snacks dumbstruck at how close I was to destroying a gift of hospitality due to my impatience. I repented quietly and thanked my proud server profusely for his gift!

~ Shien "Yahweh Maccaddeshcem" The Lord my sanctifier.

A Storm that Came Between Jezebel and I

During our flurry of activity to prepare for our departure from the US, my boss at Job Corps had become tyrannical and sent me to work in College Station--2 hours away. They paid for 4 nights of hotel stays, but I had to establish my rhythm there. No matter that a single colleague wanted to be there, I was sent knowing that I had a family I preferred to return to.

One evening, after a slow morning of prospecting, my immediate supervisor wanted my vehicle since he had plenty of prospective students to take on tour, so I volunteered to run my larger van to him for a swap. The Spring Weather was looking severe, but I was confident that I would make it to Waco.

After the swap, I took the minivan to the car wash since it badly needed cleaning. As I waited, I watched the weather close over the road back to College Station--hail and strong gusts of wind was being reported. So I sought permission from my supervisor to spend the night in Waco. After all, I only lived here!

That night, the weather got severe in Waco as well, but not before I got to visit my guy-friends at Warrior Heart to celebrate God's goodness in bringing me home for the night when my family was missing me. And kept the weather open fore me. As the meeting closed, the weather got fierce and it was time to drive home--the wind was knocking trees down and blowing roofs off buildings.

The next day, as I returned to College Station, the director was furious at my supervisor for allowing me to stay in Waco. He asked as I did: "Would she rather I drive through that severe storm and have the van totalled?!!"

~ Shien Yahweh Nissi "The Lord is my banner of victory

From Desperation to Dreams

After about a decade of trying to fit in and find any job that would take me in Waco, Texas, I was beginning to think that what they were saying about my resume was true--that I was not attractive and hire-able. Furthermore, I was six months into my most recent of 5 careers and 3 part time jobs and was starting to think that the dream was becoming more of a nightmare.

Nevertheless, a year after discovering Dalat International School, I had just been offered a contract to recruit new students, and Monica was going to teach for them. Our children would also attend the same school.

All of a sudden, the random looking resume resolved into an amazing set of experiences that proved a skills-set suited for International School admissions! I never saw this one coming and no one before had identified this area of work for me. And it was a fantastic fit.

So began the frantic process of shutting down our life in the US--saying goodbye to our friends, family and cat; renting our house; ending our jobs; packing our belongings; selling our car and a massive pile of paperwork and training for the new job.

It was clear that God took a last-resort job with the Job Corps and turned desperation into a dream, for without the Job Corps, I would never have thought that admissions was something I could do.

~ Shien Yahweh Ro'i "The Lord guides me as my shepherd

God Speaks During a Federal Interview

After a false start at leaving Waco, Texas, both Monica and I accepted whatever jobs we could get, which is to say Monica was hired to the most challenging inner city school in Waco and I got a job with very high turnover to recruit for the Job Corps. I was about to find out firsthand why.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy offering hope to youth aged 16-24 who needed a second chance at life. These kids came from halfway houses being treated for addictions, juvenile prison, alternative school, some just wanted to leave the ghetto or gang life secretly. Others came from college, up to their eyeballs in debt, unable to find a job. Most had exhausted most of their hope.

A single mother, who was barely our of her teens, sat dejectedly during her interview. She was dressed in her best, which was provocative and risque. Her eyes were hard and untrusting, and her comments terse. When I asked her why she wanted to join Job Corps, she teared up a little and said her little one deserved better than the late nights and her stressed state of being when she returned. At that point, I sensed the Holy Spirit rising up in compassion and I sensed I needed to deliver a word of knowledge and encouragement. So after checking it over with the Holy Spirit, I looked into her glistening eyes and told her: "It's not your fault, and God loves you dearly inspite of your guilt--He has already forgiven you."

Without skipping a beat, she acknowledged and continued: "I just have a hard time forgiving myself with the choices I made in the past". She knew more about what the Holy Spirit was doing than I. And that was fine with me. Somehow, the rest of the words exchanged and I did not understand them nor do I remember them, but the words mattered to her, and she left the interview grateful, relieved, and awkward--she wasn't sure to hug me or shake my hands... but she had softened because God spoke during a Federal Interview.

She never returned, and to my knowledge she did not enter the Job Corps, but I do know God is with her.

~ Shien Yahweh Ro'i "The Lord our shepherd who cares for His people like a flock"

What Do You really Want?

We had switched over to buying cars on cash for some year now, having realized how expensive the interest payments and depreciation was on a newer car purchased on loan. We had purchased a 20 year old Lexus ES300 from a friend for US$2,000 and sold for just a bit more, and was now on a Honda Civic that was 10 years old.

I had been watching the market and was particularly eager on purchasing a Toyota Sienna for about US$5,000 and watched many come and go that was barely on the edge of my budget--very tempting but risky since I would not be able to afford any immediate repairs or necessary preventative maintenance after purchase.

Finally, I noticed an obscure advertisement on the Autotrader and skipped it several times since it did not have interior pictures. Nevertheless, the attractive price and recent price drop indicated that the dealer was eager to do business. So I contacted him and asked for pictures of the van. He obliged within hours and I got the VIN number to run a Carfax to discover that the van came from Canada--the indicated mileage was actually kilometers!

This discovery sweetened the deal significantly because what was advertised as 130,000 miles was actually 130,000 kilometers as per Carfax (about 80,000 miles). Be that the value of the van drops about $500 for every 10,000 miles, I was already ahead another US$2,500, and because of the lack of posted pictures, and a very eager dealer, I was likely to bargain the already reduced price.

That afternoon, I arranged for the money from the bank and told Monica about it. She was comfortable with the numbers, but asked me if this was the van I wanted. The question perplexed me since it was the kind of van I wanted, and how often do you spot a legitimate deal as this? She pressed me again, and I admitted that I actually wanted a Sienna with leather and captain chairs in the middle. This van was cloth interior with bench 2nd row.

I had a hard time letting this go, since I was sure I was not going to see a better deal. The dealer followed up with me twice, and I declined. 2 months pass, and then a white Toyota Sienna XLE year model 2000 with leather captain chairs in the 2nd row appeared on the Autotrader at the right price and right mileage. But again, there was no interior pictures. However, I made an appointment to view it and it was certainly our van.

We enjoyed it for almost 5 years before selling it to our friends just as vehicle prices jumped due to Obama's Cash for Cars program. At that point, we traded in a 1989 Chevy G20 that was worth about US$500 on the open market for US$3,000 government rebate, and another US$2,000 dealer incentives on a very attractively priced Black Chevy HHR.

~ Shien Yahweh Jireh "The Lord Provides"

Pregnancy, Texas Heat and Broken Air-cons

One afternoon during the hot Texas Summer, I heard an awful screeching noise outside our home. I went out to investigate and realized it was coming from the air-conditioner compressor. I immediately shut down the air-conditioning to the house to save the unit, but was now concerned about my very pregnant wife. We retreated to a mall and took stock of our situation.

We called a local repairman who came recommended by one of our friends. He confirmed that indeed it was a failing bearing, and could be fixed for US$200. He was quite surprised that we noticed the issue and commended us for addressing it early since it saved the compressor from failure.

That night, we turned the air-con back on to sleep and prayed that God would provide. The next day, we attended church and during the smaller Lifegroup meeting, the leaders approached us and said that we had been on their hearts and they were praying for us. We shared our need and they graciously gifted us what we needed for the repair!

~ Shien Yahweh Jireh "The Lord provides"