No, I’m not dead in Yangon, though sometimes I do feel that way after every day. It’s been only 21 days into the new year and I’m dreading it already. I’m not sure why but that’s the case here. Today has been a very vexing day and sometimes it would seem like the labour in Yangon is in vain. Business is still doing fine currently. We’ve managed a record for Dec07 both in revenue earning and also head count. I’m still reeling from shock at all the developments that has transpired in the last 8 hours.

1) Instead of 2 courses a year, overseas managers are given only 1 course a year. Talk about discrimination. The executives in Singapore all got their 2 courses but we stationed overseas have been seen to be coming back to Singapore too often so they are going to cut the number of courses that we are entitled to attend. It’s not really the courses that we crave but the time we get to come back to Singapore without having to touch our precious annual leave.

2) Day Off In Lieu of working on public holidays have to be cleared on the same calendar month and cannot be brought forward or accumulated. Obviously another attempt to keep us back at stations.

3) All leave approvals and staff travel advice must be copied to our VP. Not sure what is going on with them. As if our VP’s mailbox is not already loaded that he needs more emails from us on our leave and travel advice.

As the day draws to a close, I’m tempted to stay angry and upset with all the HR policies and that been changed today. However, I’m trying to look at the bright side of things. I must look at the bright and positive if I’m to keep my sanity here in Yangon where things don’t always look so rosy.

Well, that my day in a nutshell. But I’m now deliberately switching to more positive events in the first 21days of 2008. Well, I got to spend mom’s birthday back in Singapore. My sis got to booking all the lunch details and I was just there to surprise her and surprise her I did. She was elated I suppose. I noticed that Jerica is warming up to me. That’s a good thing I guess as I remembered her not being so “used” to me in May07 when I first returned from Yangon from the 1st 7 weeks of posting.

Cherry and Josh are doing fine. We are looking forward to his arrival next month. Do pray for us. As you know that annual leave is so scarce, I’ve got to leverage as much as I can this Chinese New Year period. Josh has got to be delivered by the 8Feb08. So friends, please pray that he will engage a week before and come into the world obediently on the 8Feb08. (Just in case you are thinking that Josh’s parents are superstitious with the “fa”, it’s not that)

I’ve dusted off the dirt and dust and oiled my rusty fingers… I started playing the piano in the music ministry in Yangon. After playing, I realised that I do miss playing the piano on Sundays. Even though my Sundays in the past were the busiest days of my life, at least I knew that the things I did counted for eternity. Praise God that I’m able to serve Him again in this special area which always never fails to touch my heart – Worship.

I’m questioning the reasons to stay in this current job. Cherry has been asking me to consider another job based in Singapore. I’ve been looking at the recruit section faithfully every Saturday but I’m still not liking what I’m seeing. Nothing strikes me and there’s nothing in there that compels me to write in and send my CV. But, the reality of my family is always there. The distance can be frustrating. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss my wife and family. Some told me that it gets easier with each posting, but I’m not sure how that’s suppose to work.

It’s hard to stay positive considering the circumstances. Sigh. So here I am back again at the same place with the same questions but still without any concrete answers. I guess that when you fall flat on your face, that’s when you realise that you should have been on your knees… What’s going to be my next wake up call? Don’t worry, I’ll survive… Just need to get my bearings again. Please hold my hand and guide me as I walk on Lord.

“So I lift my eyes to You, Lord.
In Your strength will I breakthrough, Lord.
Touch me now, let Your love fall down on me.
I know Your love dispels all my fears.
Though the storm I will hold on Lord
AND BY FAITH I WILL WALK ON LORD.
Then I’ll see, beyond my Calvary one day,
And I will be complete in You.”