World Animal Day

This is Jojo. He was rescued as a puppy after his owner crushed his leg while reversing the car. After sending Jojo to the vet, the owner never took him home. Jojo's leg had to be amputated and he's now an ambassador for Furry Friends Farm, an animal shelter founded by Sabrina Yeap in October 2006. Having 3 legs doesn't hinder him from being boisterous and making people happy.

My fiance and I volunteered for the World Animal Day celebration at Bangsar Village organised by Furry Friends Farm yesterday. We had such an enjoyable time! Many owners registered their dogs for the dog walk - we saw many labradors, golden retrievers, poodles, westies and many others plus a great big Afghan hound. I was so delighted to see so many dogs.

Hoi Hian and I took care of Bobby, one of the rescued dogs from Furry Friends Farm. He was really well behaved and didn't make any fuss throughout the day. We also met Dr Sugar, Dr Kylie and Dr Babe, the Doctor Dogs of Malaysia. The rest of the dogs who came from FFF that day were Sweetie, Cash, Dollar and a few more.

It was great to see so many people come and inquire about the dogs and the farm. People of all ages bringing their children and grandchildren to pat the dogs and take photos with them. I found that Westerners tend to have more sincere interest in the animals... Although I met some really caring locals too. I had a great time talking to so many different people about dogs :)

I hope that many others will lend a helping hand to support animal welfare in Malaysia. If you want to help, log into http://furryfriendsfarm2006.blogspot.com/

A Letter to Connor

Connor, a dear friend, passed away on 14 September 2008. He was battling a severe case of lung infection after a series of chemotheraphy and radiotheraphy treatments for cancer.

I wrote him a letter.

Dear Connor,
I know you’re in heaven now, walking along the streets of gold and meeting all your new friends and people from the bible! It must be so exciting :) How does your mansion look like? It must be so amazing! I have so many questions for you. Are there many animals in heaven? What do you do all day? Can you fly? Did you meet my 2 grandpas? What’s the temperature? Can you see us on heaven TV?

Anyway, just wanted to say we miss you terribly here on earth. Can’t find someone like you easily – kind, compassionate, gentle, joyful, faithful, generous and loves Yeshua so much. I’m so blessed to have had you in my cell group, you gave so much and took so little. And you’re always smiling and joyful, never complaining about anything. Thanks for the steamboat you cooked for us :) It was really delicious. What do you eat in heaven?

It seems like we’re so busy with life here on earth, that we only truly realize what we’ve lost after it’s gone. Many of us took for granted that you were going to be around just as long as we would be. But you finished your task on earth much faster than us, and you got to go home first.

We’ll always remember you for the wonderful man that you were and we will learn to be more like Yeshua, just like you.

See you soon, Connor!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 1 Timothy 4:7

Furry Friends Farm

Skidboot

I found another great video from http://videos.komando.com. Excerpts from the website:-

David Hartwig has a special way with animals. That’s especially true with his dog, Skidboot. You’ll be amazed by this Video of the Day. I’ve never seen a dog like Skidboot. In the video, he seems to understand everything Hartwig says.

With his brains, Skidboot became a TV star. He appeared on Oprah and The Tonight Show, among others. Children all over the country have been delighted by Skidboot. The limelight never frightened him.

The video depicts a close relationship between master and dog. Hartwig and Skidboot show an extraordinary level of communication. This is just a great story. Sadly, Skidboot passed away several months after this video was taken. Hartwig is training other animals. But they will have big shoes to fill.

Christian the Lion

I think many people underestimate animals. I received an email that really touched me today:-

I'll bet you've never seen a pet like the one in this Video of the Day. In 1969, two friends, John Rendall and Ace Berg, purchased a lion. At the time, Christian the lion was a 35-pound cub. He had been born in a zoo. The friends raised Christian in their London home. All three hung out in a friend's furniture shop on the weekends.

Within a year, Christian had grown to 185 lbs. Rendall and Berg realized they couldn't keep him much longer. But they didn't know what to do with him. A chance encounter changed that. Two actors from the film Born Free walked into the furniture store.

The actors recommended a conservationist, George Adamson, living in Kenya. Christian was soon in Africa. There he was rehabilitated and released into the wild.

In 1974, Rendall and Berg decided to visit Christian one last time. He was now a wild animal. Adamson told them it was doubtful that Christian could be found. No one had seen him in nine months.

The two flew to Kenya, anyway. On the day they landed, Christian appeared outside Adamson's camp. Somehow, he knew. He waited outside the camp until Rendall and Berg arrived.This video was taken during their reunion with Christian. What a story! What a video!

Dogs and me

Here's Faith, a miraculous dog who was taught to walk on two legs because she was born deformed. But her human family patiently taught her to walk on two legs, and she eventually did. In Faith's official website, they attributed this miracle to Jesus.. because teaching Faith to walk like that was truly supernatural :) I was very touched by this story because it reminds me of how people are sometimes, so broken, deformed and lifeless. And nobody sees any good in them and thinks they are better dead. But God comes along and sees a beautiful life and he gives them a miracle and a brand new beginning :)

I was born with an intense love for dogs. I remember going to my grandparents' house when I was about five, and I'd head straight to Mickey, the golden labrador and spend my evening patting his head until my hands were all black (because Mickey wasn't exactly the cleanest dog in town). When Mickey died, Captain the boxer came and I loved him the same. But Captain wasn't that easy to pat because he was really hyperactive.

Looking back at family pictures, I saw myself as a five year old with my tongue sticking out - because I wanted to be the family dog. I got my first dog at 14, he was a Pekingese cross Shih Tzu and very lovely! When he was growing up as a puppy, my family felt that maybe he would feel left out as the only dog in the house, so we bought Titi (meaning little brother), a Shih Tzu. I was so proud to have 2 new brothers. I'd tell all my friends that I had 3 brothers - 1 human and 2 furry ones. I learnt much from Butchie and Titi - about love, loyalty and being 'human'. When I cried, Butchie would lick me until I stopped crying. So I would end up with a wet face and also a wet leg.

As I was growing up, I'd spend hours reading dog books. Learning about all the different type of breeds, temperament, height, weight and all that! Now I realise that I can identify all kinds of dogs without much difficulty.

Butchie and Titi died a few years ago - they were 15 and 13. I cried a whole lot of course - it was like losing family members. People say dogs don't go to heaven, but I know - for all the things that God has taught me through my dogs, and all the love I've felt through them, and how God does the impossible and answers my prayers - they are in heaven.

Now I have Spottie - my friends found him in a drain a few years ago. He came as a puppy - shivering, tiny and hungry. And now he's a wonderful family member, dad walks him at least 4 times a day and mum cooks him chicken rice everyday. I love him immensely, just like how I loved Butchie and Titi. I love walking with him on my off days, seeing him so happy enjoying nature and meeting all his doggie friends.

I've never been angry with my dogs - I have been bitten many times by them. Once I had to be rushed to the clinic because I was bleeding profusely after separating my dogs from a potential fight. When I came back, I hugged my dog and told him its OK and I still loved him. When I see 'dog' movies, I cry easily because I can't stand seeing dogs suffer. I love everything about my dogs - the tail that is 'too long', the ear that is 'crooked', the smell from not bathing, the cute look when they sleep...

Having this love for dogs helps me understand God's love for me. That God loves me so exceedingly much and nothing can change His love for me. God loves me so much more than how I love my dogs. His love is immeasurable. He loves me unconditionally regardless of how I look, what my achievements are or how many times I've failed. And God will always take me in no matter how broken or useless I appear to be - look what Faith and Spottie have become. God works miracles.... and He worked a miracle in me by giving me a love for dogs.

I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. Psalm 89:1

Nepal

My highlight of the month is my recent mission trip to Nepal. It was my 3rd time to Nepal and a really unforgettable one too. Everytime I go there I feel the awesome presence of God. Not that I don't feel God in Malaysia, its just how real God feels when I'm in Nepal. I saw how the Nepalese Christians worshipped God...I think they would continue worshipping Him even if the world crumbled around them. Through them I understood the meaning of 'Created to Worship God'.

While we were there there was bandr (strike) and the van we were travelling got attacked. People threw bricks at our van and smashed the windows. 2 of our members got hurt and got treated at hospital. But the next day, they were in miraculously good shape. We're ok, and that won't stop me from going to Nepal. I still think its a beautiful country with wonderful people. And words will never be enough to describe how much God loves the Nepalese people.