take 2, 3 months and 10 days remaining!

yup. let the reversal day count begin. aka "countdown".
it really sucks having a "departure date" in mind. i was happier not knowing when i was going home. but because im a numbers person, i can only think of whats left. =(
it saddens me. every time im at church, i dont wanna leave this behind!! but at the same time, there's so much amazingness waiting for me back home. =)
so i figured. im happy at either place. its a win win situation. well.. except that i cant have both. haha...
well, maybe when hillsong conference is brought to north america next year, and when United does a tour stop in toronto ;)
so its all good. nothing else i can do but really enjoy and take hold of what i have left in these +3 months! keep learning what i can, enjoy what i can, and taking in all i can. oh and building all the connections that i can. haha.. very key in ministry. we're all christians, and we're here to serve and glorify the same God. =)
anyways. lets not be depressing. still got 100 days left! w00t!!!

take2, day ###: 3 is less than 5, but 3 times 2 is more!

being a bible college student, i'm going to refer to a parable in the NT. because i can.
then tell you what i learnt from it.

so last year in intro to NT class, we learnt that the parables Jesus told were not always what they seemed to be. it is not just a simple story, but there is a twist at the end. and if you view the parable from a different angle, you will learn something totally new. that is what happened to me.
im going to refer to the parable of the talents. Matt 25:14-30. (go read it if you've never read it before)

having been to sunday school since i was a kid, i had heard and knew this story so well. i was always taught that the moral of this story is to be like the 5 talents guy and do something with the talents and gifts that God has given you. and it is better to have done something with it and failed (from a human definitely of fail) than to not have done anything with it at all. (this was definitely used a lot in getting ppl to serve/volunteer at church!) while there is nothing wrong with this lesson, i recently learnt a completely new lesson from this parable.

ever since i set foot at hillsong church/college 1.5 yrs ago, my only aim was to keep climbing higher, take every opportunity i had to serve (especially within TV department), but because i want to serve the ppl, as well as build connections, to get more involved. i was using all my energy to do all i can to contribute to this amazing church. i was being like the 5 talents guy, staying as far away as i can from being the 1 talent guy. but what i didnt realize that i actually needed to learn from the 3 talents guy.
every time i saw a fellow classmate or another student who had less experience than me, got assigned a role with more responsibility than what i was given, i got a little jealous. wondering why it wasnt me in that position.
i wonder... did the 3 talents guy ever wonder "why did he get 5 and i only got 3? does my master not value me as much? does he not trust me, or see me as worthy?" spot on. that was me.
but as the parable goes, the master (represents God here) does not judge the servants based on the number of talents they have, but rather if they did something with their talents. both the 5 talents and 3 talents guy did something with it, because they knew the heart of their master. they both recieved the same comments, "well done, my good and faithful servant. you have been faithful with few things, i will make you ruler over many things. enter into the joy of your lord." v21 and 23. God did not favour one over the other. the only difference was the 1 talent guy who did nothing, got the comment "you wicked and lazy servant"! and i definitely dont want to be called that.

realizing this, i had to learn the value of the roles and tasks i was assigned. learnt that my value and worth come from the judgement of God and not of others here on earth, or my own self-worth.
besides, altho i may have received "3 talents" to work with, i can put it to good use and turn it into 6. then 12. then 24. etc! and that is definitely more than 5 talents! =)

i finally got out of that bitter phase, only to find much more joy and pleasure in all that i do at church! it was all in God's plan this whole time for me to learn this lesson. because as soon as i did, i was given a truck load more responsibilities! the 3 turned into at least a 9!! and it has been incredible!
love what i do, love my church, love His people!

it will be a bittersweet moment when i fly off on Dec18th. easily the best 2 years of my life, but i know that the best is yet to come!
but while im still here for another 3.5 months, im going to continue learning and doing all that i can!
"preparation time is never wasted time." and i cant wait to see whats in store for me back in toronto =)

take2, day123! an update for the sake of an update

so... yeah. heaps has happened since my last post.

and i don't know what i want to write here anymore. lol... 

I'm pretty much half way thru 2nd year now, just hillsong conference in a month's time. then I'm hk bound for a couple of weeks! yay!!!

and yup. I'm looking forward to hk!

this May break week has just given me a chance to do pretty much nothing church/school related, and just go around exploring sydney town! albeit, other than the zoo, and hopping on new bus routes, I've already been to all the other places. and meh, its okay. 

think I'm good with sydney now. I'm ready to go home, or explore a new city or something. 

but i can't. still got another semester to go. altho, it should go by pretty quickly.

i mean... think about it. i get back from hk, and its straight into Sunday Night Live, Big Exo Day, Encounter, Kids DVD recording, October Break, Mens Conference, Album recording, parents come to sydney, graduation, and BAM! I'm done! throw in the weekly things to do (college, team nights, weekend services, wildlife, etc.) and it'll all go by quickly. yay? 

I'm just going to enjoy it while I'm here. i think i'll miss it and appreciate it more once I've settled in back home. 

take2, days 61 - 66: i am so blessed and privileged!

day 61: GFX for matty crocker @ college chapel

day 62: camera assist for casting crowns and mercyme!

day 63: help with building a set for a HillsongTV shoot, GFX for matty crocker and brooke fraser @ team night!

day 64: producer of good friday 8am chapel service @ hills, working directing with JD.

day 65: seeing the sunrise at Watson's bay with the perfect weather, and awesome old and new friends!

day 66: producer of easter sunday 8am chapel service @ hills, working directly with matty crocker, and TV Crew assist for easter sunday pm service at the S.E.C.

thats just the outlines of what happened this past week. doesn't include the finer details. but its enough to make me rethink, if you asked me over christmas break what i had in mind for my 2nd year, i definitely wouldn't have said any of the above!

and I'm not mentioning the names cus I'm starstruck or anything, but rather it being such an honour to be working directly with them! i still feel so incompetent for the responsibilities given to me. and previously, these names were ppl i see on hillsong DVDs, leading thousands and thousands into worship. but in reality, they're just normal people, with blessed opportunities. so its been incredible working with them, and contributing to the (global) impact hillsong church has in sharing the love of Christ!

this whole week, there were many moments where i was super tired. but each morning, i woke up knowing it would be worth it! that i enjoy what I'm doing, and I'm living the dream! but it didn't hit me until earlier this afternoon.

i was sent on a food/drinks run for 2 of the TV staff. i had 20mins before the service started so i just bolted out the Entertainment Centre, only to find a massive jam at the door, because people were trying to get in (so i had difficulty getting out). yet it wasnt just a jam at the door, but there was a massive line up, probably close to 1000 ppl. they literally started at the door, went to the edge near the tram tracks, and wrapped around the corner of the building. i had no idea how far the line went, but DANGS. yet on the way back in, all i had to do was walk right past everyone to the front of the line, flash my "level 2" pass, and in i went. and i didn't stop there. but i casually just made my way back to FoH or backstage. NBD. yet it actually IS a big deal!

thousands of ppl came on a easter sunday, wanting to hear reinhard bonnke preach, and more importantly, to hear the gospel, yet my thoughts were "meh. so what if i miss the msg."

so tonight, i made extra effort to ensure that i was in the auditorium and paying attention for as much as i can.

i am seriously so blessed. not only to be given the chances and responsibilities that i currently have, but to have the chance to learn from many amazing pastors/preachers, worship led by probably some of the top worship leaders in the world, and being a part of the HillsongTV crew.

all of this IS a big deal! and i hope i never get used to this. every moment here is amazing, and not an opportunity very many people in the world (and in history) will get.

i will cherish it, learn from it, and all in all, just enjoy it. =)

take 2 day 56: the future

I've been thinking.

after this year at college, what am i going to do?

yes, i do miss things from home and would like to go home. but do i miss it enough to be staying there forever? for the next couple foreseeable years anyways?

its tough to decide when I'm not home. so i have to convince myself i don't miss it. or else i'll be homesick for the next 9 months. (and i definitely don't want that. it'll make life here much more unnecessarily difficult!)

so do i see myself here in australia (Sydney) for the next couple foreseeable years then? i could. its really 50/50 right now (yeah i said it!)

I've been comparing it through what i can do. does toronto need the leadership in ministries and such? yes. am i leading and contributing here at hillsong too? yes. will i make an impact in toronto? yup, probably heading up and leading some ministries, more prepared than ever. am i making an impact here at hillsong? yup, a small lil contribution for a big global project.

so its either staying in sydney and contributing to the big growing church. or go back to toronto, and potentially join in on the movement of making toronto a big growing church.

I'm really indifferent right now as to what happens in the near future. just waiting to see what happens i guess, if opportunities come up from where ever. and confirmation too.

take 2, day 55: Cornerstone training video day anybody?

its been another crazy few weeks with Colour Conference 2012 preps, and the 2 conferences itself. lots of hard work going into props prep, getting admin stuff done, txting ppl information, answering questions... all in all. good use of my organizational skills! learnt a lot leadership wise, working with ppl, and really discovering my own leadership style.

then today came along. day 55 of my 2nd year in australia. shooting at the city campus for Hillsong LIVE's new album, Cornerstone, the instrumental training videos!!! no idea what I'm talking about? click for the God Is Able ones!

Except i spent my day shooting the "Rhythm Guitar" players. awesome sauce! and will spend the next 2 weeks (most likely) editing the "Drums" videos =) livin' the dream. definitely livin' the dream!!!

absolutely loved today! so good to get away from Hills for a bit too. and to sum it up: yeah. i did spend the day with fellow TV students AND hillsong musicians. digital gear/technology nerds unite? C'MON SOMEBODY!! "rollin'!" ahahahaha

so yup. adding another "credits on a Hillsong DVD" to the count! how many can i rake up in 2 years? =P kidding. I'm just grateful to be present at these shoots, let alone actually take part in shooting/editing/contributing!! if anyone has known me since the start of my "media fascination" days, you'll know my favourite part of shoots are the "behind the scenes" stuff that ppl don't really see. they're the funniest and most enjoyable parts! good times. good times indeed! really makes you appreciate every little detail, instead of just what is presented to the public as the final product.

anyways. another crazy month of april coming up. here's my roster! insane? yup. but its what I'm here to do: serve and learn!

take 2, day 33: i was focused on the lil picture

so back at the start of january, i spent a week down in Atlanta, Georgia, as a Door Holder (Psalm 84:10 aka volunteer) at Passion 2012.

I pretty much spent my whole time in the secondary venue (GWCC) helping with clean up and set up pre/post events. So i didn't see a single session at the conference itself. it was interesting... seeing a different perspective of the conference.

tonight, the video for "27 million" was released. i was absolutely FLOORED. the whole time, i was sorta grumbly, had an "why am i here... don't really wanna do this. and I've got a cold" attitude. i was so focused on my tiny little role, and the task i was given to do. so while i was on the same block, in the next building, behind the scenes, there was something absolutely amazing going on next door!

check out this video:

absolutely incredible!

if only i knew what the big picture was back then, i would be totally different. altho my actions didn't show it, my attitude definitely wasnt the best.

just reminds me of how it is in life all the time. i never understand why I'm doing this one thing. until further on down the road, i realized that one skill i learned is now being put to good use. altho at the time, i thought it was the biggest waste of time and would never be doing this again in my life! i was so wrong. in the big picture, my small little task is worth it and contributes to it.

can't wait for Passion2013! i should be serving with TV, so =) (which means i will be soaking up all i can this year now with Hillsong TV!)

take2 day 10: just enough.

thats my own personal theme for this year.

to live on just enough, especially when it comes to food.

I'm seriously so ridiculously rich and blessed, and don't even realize it. and spoiled too. basic stuff like when the house isn't a "comfortable" temperature, i get a lil cranky.

or when my favourite shirts need to be washed, i feel like i don't have enough clothes. (the chore of doing laundry... blah!)

or my stomach only knows 2 settings: empty, and overstuffed.

i need to learn to eat just what is good enough. i actually hate the feeling after i eat too much. yet every time, i can't stop myself! or i don't consciously make the effort to stop myself. but now i will.

its time i learnt to appreciate what i have, and know that what i already have is considered super blessed. there are so many excess things that i don't need. they become wants. this year, I'm going to learn to trim those things that are wants. it'll help me save financially too. reconsider things before i buy them.

it'll help me have a lighter load when moving back home to Canada at the end of this year =P

its also learning to let go, that i don't "over need" things. i can live without it, as important as it may seem the moment i thought it was a good idea to buy it.

hold me accountable please.

thanks.!

day 7 of... TAKE TWO!

i don't know how to number the days anymore. since its my 2nd year, and i went home for 2 months... so lets just say "TAKE TWO!"

its been nearly a week since i've landed back in Sydney town. and i must say... it's been raining and/or gloomy for the most of it. i actually quite enjoy it since its not super humid not. (i really don't like it when you start sweating again the moment you turn off the shower :( )

so this is actually comfortable for me!

sleeping somewhat okay at night. (fear of spiders, getting used to new place, mattress is super soft compared to what I'm used to)

but i guess those are all minor things. altho, nothing minor about that massive spider!!! frig. as my friend corrected me in saying "thats not a spider. thats a tarantula!! O_O"

here' s a pic www.twitpic.com/8ea9st (you can click the link. i don't really fancy having a giant hairy spider picture on my blog. blehhhhh!!)

so this year, i moved heaps closer to school. i now live in the all asian house + Ben the German. bahhaha and theres like 9 students in this house PLUS the landlords. so 11 in total. true asian house + Ben.! and yes, it is co-ed. *gasp!*

s'all good. bible college students, we're in our own rooms, it actually comes in handy as one of the guys likes to cook. plus the guys can kill spideys and other creepy crawlies for me =)

it helps to live 10min walking distance from school too. no excuse now to not go to church/school events because i "live too far and don't wanna walk home alone in the dark". so excited for whats to come this year!

tbh, i haven't given much thought nor expectation to this year. most of what IS on my mind is conference. Colour Conference and Hillsong Conference 2012!!! can't wait! being able to contribute at such a large scale event, no matter how big/small of a role i play, its amazing! plus food is provided, good bonding time with fellow TV staff/students... living the dream!

anyways, I'm still working on a video for HBCYR back home. i should get this done asap. i guess its what my video editing trainer said last year, "you're never done with your video. you just hit a deadline". which is true... cus i'll never be 100% happy with it. there'll always be something i want to tweak and touchup, or i notice more things as i keep rewatching it.

so I'm out. no idea when the next update will be. guess it'll depend on how (un)eventful life here gets. (aka time to blog, and things to blog about)

PS. oh yes. of course. the 1st week of school is over. haha

PPS. oh right. how did i forget. got food poisoning my 2nd day here, spent 3rd and 4th day in bed. and now days 5 and 6 and 7 in school. hah

Day 317: know your role, accept it, and excel at it!

so yes.. my blog posts go from day 257 to day 317. =P

just goes to show how ridiculously busy/productive I've been this semester. flippppppp! haha

so its been one heck of a year. I'm flying back to TO in less than a week! eeps! yet my year here in SYD aint over just yet!

a few weeks ago, i handed in my short film that i spent a good portion of this semester making. it turned out okay. for my first ever "proper" short film, shot with a Canon 60D, heaps of legit equipment, a novel of proper paper work, and so much more, it was okay. could have been done better, but it wasn't bad. and to be honest, i was a tad bit disappointed when it wasn't chosen for the TV/Dance showcase. not that i personally thought it deserved to be in the showcase, but more so the fact that i felt insufficient when compared to my fellow classmates (who did do an amazingly incredible job on their short films!). my dad's words of "it doesnt matter what field you choose to pursue your career in. as long as you're at the top of the game, you'll be successful!" so i felt like such a failure at it.

right now, I'm still quite inexperienced when it comes to location camera. so i gotta work on that.

it took me a week to realize that i need to get back on my feet. now I'm excited to get my own 60D and some other equipment (decent tripod, Zoom audio recorder, a lens or two) and start shooting sone more footage! already got another project or two in mind when I'm home this christmas =)

what i forgot was that there was still much to learn in studio camera operation. just when i thought CCU and GFX were going to be my life, opportunities to do camera in the main auditorium came popping up. cameras 2 and 3 to be exact! not that i was rostered for them, but ppl couldn't make it and asked me to fill in. in fact, they were rostered for other positions. but as soon as i agreed to fill in, i would get swapped from another position to cameras 2 or 3!

not long after, i received the phone call asking if i would be interested in PRODUCING college graduation ceremony.

...

...

:O

FLIPPIN' LEGIT! i have only ever dreamed of climbing higher and producing at Hillsong's Hills campus Convention Centre! i mean, its only a 3.5-4k seating auditorium! and only after ~10mos of studying at hillsong college? flip!

I've learnt that as an entire intake of TV students (17 of us in total in my intake), we are each talented in a different area. some of us are incredible at handling a camera, and getting amazing shots with the best compositions and framings ever. others are fantastic at organizing and pulling things together. some are just a blessing to have their presence around; they make everything so much more fun! separately, we're okay at what we do. but when you put all of us together, we pull off something so much more amazing! its all about knowing your role. know what your strengths are and pursue it. know what your weaknesses are, and be willing to learn from them.

i can't be good at everything. but contributing what i can give, and combining everyone's gifts, its amazing what can be done!! team effort! =)