SPM BK Trial Exam Papers

Calling all those SPM BK students out there !  If you need BK trial papers from MBS to work on – check out this Bible Knowledge blog (http://spmbk.blogspot.com/ )

It has study tips and past year papers – so download what you need from this very resourceful website. You will be sitting for your BK paper soon in November so study hard, pray and do your best for Him.

All the best

Ginseng Chicken Soup

These are the ingredients I use for soup – one packet mixed herb spices, some red dates, some wolfberries (or ‘kei zhi’ in chinese), one or two ginseng roots and 4 or 5 pieces chicken wings/drumsticks. I am not sure what type of ginseng I used…but they were the ones my late Mom loves to keep and use for soup. She was an expert in chinese herbs… ( how I missed her cooking…:( )

Wash herbs and chicken. Put to boil with water over low heat for half an hour to 45 minutes. Boil at a gentle pace to bring out the ginseng taste. When chicken is cooked, throw in the wolfberries. Add salt  and a little light soya sauce to taste. Serve soup hot…mmm..it’s my favorite nourishing soup.

Sphagetti – Malaysian style

Sphagetti, an easy favourite meal for any dinner or the weekend! – that’s when Richard and I feel lazy to eat out, where our legs would not go. Here’s how you prepare the beef sauce. Fry minced beef, onions and mushrooms (sliced) with mixed herbs and pepper. Add 1/2 can of Campbell cream of mushroom or chicken soup (my favorite) and some water. Add a little milk if desired. Simmer over low heat till cook .

Pour sauce over the cooked (and buttered) sphagetti and serve with any salads…

My favourite salads…of sliced Japanese cucumber, big onions, small tomatoes, chili padi and sweet pineapples (cut to cubes). Sprinkle with some lime and sugar.Chill before serve.MMm…the salads are spicy, fresh and crunchy.  Penang-Thai style ?…whatever you name! it’s yummmy

Choc Muffins

Here are some muffins I made and brought for the kiddies at the KVA (Klang Valley Alliance) Leaders & Families Retreat, Port Dickson in June. Sorry!…no specific recipes or instructions. They can be found on the leaflet in the pack when you purchase these all-mixed flour from Bake With Yen shop. They have a branch in Puchong. It’s quick and easy – that’s what I like ! Beat up the eggs with milk and oil. Add the mixed flour into the wet ingredients. Spoon the batter into lovely paper muffin cups if you have. Fill up 2/3 of the cup and bake for 20 mins at 180 degrees. Hooray!….your moist muffins are ready for the kiddies and choc lovers. Yummmmmy! 

On a different note

A new collection of books and files have piled up on my work-table….

Some friends have asked..”How did you venture into this course?” “What made you be interested in special kids?” I started taking up a course on ‘Learning Disorders Management & Child Psychology’ with Linguistic Council Malaysia in Sept-Oct last year. Getting into this field is nothing new for me but just floating  on a little different note. What motivated me – the innocence and giftings of 2  kids, Alden (my nephew-brother’s son) and my 14-year old God-son who have some form of learning disabilities.  I saw how a child with autism behaves and sometimes wished I could see or feel the world as they do ! They may be different in some ways but they are very special !

Getting back to studies is a challenge, hardwork and well, it has some satisfaction too…(am so pleased I had completed 3 modules which produce good results. PTL!) I am now in my last module on Child Psychology.

Getting to do some hands-on and exposure at NASOM, Emmanuel Care Center (for children with learning disabilities) and the Dyslexia Association of Malaysia was also an eye-opener. I am still learning!

And well, putting aside books and papers sometimes, I try also to engage in baking, cooking, photography and blogging!. That’s how I de-stressssss!. … it’s fun!

Pastors’ Wives Retreat

IPIN Pastors’ Wives Retreat ( 19 – 21 February, 2009)

Swiss Garden Resort, Damai Laut

I came home feeling so blessed after attending the pastors’ wives retreat .  NECF and IPIN (Impacting Pastors Impacting Nation) had organized and chosen the pastors’ wives to honor them with a 3 days 2 nights retreat at the beautiful Swiss Garden Golf Resort & Spa Damai Laut. This is the first of its kind and fully sponsored retreat  for the wives of Malaysian pastors.

IPIN is a ministry founded by Pastor Roland Seow of FGA Melbourne. He and his wife Evelyn Seow have been running similar retreats to refresh and strengthen pastors in Australia and elsewhere. Having been a senior pastor’s wife for the past 20 years, Evelyn understands the many challenges and struggles pastors’ wives experience in the ministry. She was a great encouragement at the retreat and demonstrated the power of prayer over the flies at Damai Laut. Incidently the resort has plenty of houseflies that comes from a nearby chicken farm. On our last day of meals, (after her prayer), there was not a swap or ‘flapping’ of hands to drive the flies away. We ate our meals in peace.

pastors’ wives

I would like to acknowledge here my heartfelt thanks to all generous sponsors and people who had contributed sacrificially (in various ways) to make this retreat a success and blessing to the Malaysian pastors’ wives….

Pastor Roland and Evelyn Seow from FGA Melbourne who first birthed the ministry of IPIN to bless God’s battle-worn servants.

Evelyn Seow for her bubbling joy and cheerful spirit at the retreat. Her ministry was an encouragement to many wives. Inspite of her grandson, Joshua (who was born pre-mature) being in the ICU in the US..she was present with us and ministering at the retreat.

(*Evelyn, I remember your words to us… “Help me keep focus in You, that I will not miss your signals as to my move in the ministries…You are the initiator and perfector of our faith…”  Thank you for declaring Isaiah 61! His words are indeed powerful !)

Andrew Wong who has a big and generous heart to sponsor all the rooms at Damai Laut. The hospitality and food was good for a 4-star hotel…. Place ok..except for too many flies on the first 2 days-stay.

NECF (SangNgan and Kathryn, Patrick Cheng, Mr. Samuel Ang) for coordinating and organizing…arranging our bus transport for many ‘poor wives’ who were not sure of getting their way to Damai Laut.

Our wonderful guest speakers :

-           Mrs Jeanie Mok (Internation City Church, Brisbane) who is always well-groomed cos she visits her hairdresser everyweek….for her ’spiritual makeover’ message and tips on the physical ‘ makeover’ for looking good.

-           Mrs Koh Poh Kim ( FGA KL) for her wonderful testimony….of her ministry with the late Dr Koh Eng Kiat.

-           Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Kiang for her wide knowledge and experience in helping children. She shared many ways on how to bring up children in troubled times.

-           Pastor Dr Lew Lee Choo (SIB KL) who gave an inspiring message and her testimony of being a pastor and a pastor’s wife.

Sally Koh, my fun-loving companion in the bus journeys, who kept me awake with her testimonies and laughter.

Mr Cheok, our bus driver who was careful and patient ferrying us to and fro.

and all pastors for releasing and encouraging your wives to this retreat..

And all others who have helped, contributed in one way or another ( whether big or small) in prayers or finances to make this retreat a spiritual landmark for me. It was a joy to glean from the various speakers.

Thank you.

Chinese welcome Year of the Ox

The Oxen and the Axle-Trees

-an  Aesop fable

A HEAVY WAGON was being dragged along a country lane by a team of Oxen. The axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly, when the oxen, turning round, thus addressed the wheels: Hallo there! Why do you make so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we, not you, ought to cry out.

Moral:
Those who suffer most cry out the least.

The ox symbolizes diligence, reliability, sincerity, strength and sound judgment.
So here’s wishing you and other readers of this blog an Ox-picious and Ox-cellent year. May our faith in Christ continue to be strong and firm in the times ahead.

Happy Chinese New Year…. ‘ Xing Nian Ping An’

A Prayer before exam

My students during a BK test in Puchong…

cracking heads on a test on parables……

a prayer as you prepare for the finals….

“Lord, give me peace as I open my books and notes.
Grant me a clarity of mind as I prepare.

Give me insight and wisdom to understand those things that are not clear.

As I read and learn – this is a part of my discipleship.
If I am tense, worried and anxious, I ask for your peace and calm.

Let my mind be rested, my body energized
And my spirit inspired for this exam I have to take.

Give me peace and confidence to do my best.,
So that I can reap the rewards of my study.
Be with my fellow students too.

Thank you, Jesus.”

Amen.

‘Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a workman who does not need to be ashamed
and who correctly handles the word of truth’
~2 Timothy 2:15 (New International Version) ~

Penang famous Sos Ulam

The Penang famous sos ulam is a sweet sour spicy sauce. This is the first time I tried this sauce. I had wanted the Thai tomyam paste which is also packed in the same kind of bottle. I happened to pick up the wrong sos while marketing in Giant last week. Anyway, with this sos ulam now in my fridge ( I had no choice ) but to use it, I tried to marinate my chicken pieces with it. Here’s what I produced  :

Steam Chicken (with Sos Ulam)

Marinate chicken pieces with the sos for an hour. Add sliced ginger, onions and chili padi if you prefer it to be more spicy. Steam for half an hour till chicken pieces are cooked. Sprinkle with sping onions.  Chicken’s so sweet and tasty and ready to be served!

Another experiment with the Penang famous sos :
My Favorite Fried Meehoon

Ingredients for the meehoon :
2 teaspoon chicken stock, 3 tablespoon sos ulam, salmon or chicken ball (cut into pieces), dried prawns, daun limau ( lime leaves), sping onions, lots of shallots and onions & cut limes.
For the meehoon, I prefer the Thai brand which is shown in the photo. They do not become soggy or lumpy after fried. I normally soak the meehoon for 15 minutes. Drain off water and then throw them into hot boiling water for 5 mins. Pour water away and drain meehoon dry.

Fry 3 or 4 tablespoon of the sos in a little hot oil. Add chicken stock dissolved in a little water. Add in dried prawns, salmon pieces, cut daun limau and fry. When ingredients are ready, switch off fire, add in the cooked meehoon to mix. Serve hot with sprinkled onions and chili . Squeeze some limes.

Peperiksaan Percubaan SPM BK 2008

Below is my Trial paper with marking scheme for the SPM BK which was held in Cornerstone Doulos Church on October 4th.  Calling all SPM BK students!- you may use this paper for your revision.
Read Neo’s comments on this subject – he has given very useful tips as you prepare.
God bless and keep your hearts and minds focused on Him as you sit for the BK paper.

trial-oct-2008

trial-oct-2008-marking-scheme