Seven years after completing my high school studies, I had an opportunity to learn calligraphy again. I took part in the big character using brush and small character using pen.

In 1972, our calligraphy instructor told us that we would visit China. We would also have a chance to meet Mr. Zhou Enlai.

That was my dream to meet Mr Zhou Enlai. But we lost that opportunity because of the China-Vietnam War. Months later, I did not continue with the class.

It has been more than 40 years. I found the copy-book of calligraphy in the market. No ink needed, but water for the brush. The word written on the exercise book would disappear after 10 minutes. Hence we could reuse the book. I was then interested in Chinese calligraphy again.

Other than the brush with water for the big characters, I bought the exercise book for small characters. The ink from the pen would disappear after 10 minutes. So we could reuse it again.

I did not like Chinese calligraphy when I was young.
I was forced to write those big characters and small characters every week. For the school holiday homework, we rushed to finish just the night before school started.

In August 2018, I decided to be a volunteer teacher in Northern Thailand mountains. I planned to take my small character exercise book and the pen with me. I thought that I could kill the times after school.

I did not imagine that I had to write the small characters every day when I was in Northern Thailand and it was the best way for me to relieve the stress.

I am rather special. My wife is a woman of few words. I am therefore be the same. My wife does not like to gossip. Hence, I am used NOT to listen to gossiping.

My son is an optimistic person. Whenever he is back from work, he will answer 'good', 'good', 'good' for whatever we ask.

But when I was in Ban Hin Taek village, it was different. I heard 'this person no good', 'that person no good' very often. Very depressed in my heart.

During those depressive days, I was glad that my students brought me joy and hope. But, we were only together from 5 o'clock to 7.30 in the evening. Other than preparing the lessons, in the class and visiting the morning market, calligraphy was the only way I relieved my stress.

Praise the Lord!

I selected a number of friends to be my prayer partners. The prayer team consisted of 15 pastors and missionaries, as well as 11 Christian friends who loved me very much. Their prayer support made me relieve my stress by writing calligraphy when I was on the mountains.

I used to talk to the Indonesian Missionary Sister Elisabeth at the Ban Hin Taek hostel. She managed all those girl students in the hostel. We usually had a chat after meal. We took those man-made difficulties as a challenge for us. We believed that God put us in that environment, God sure had a purpose. We encouraged and prayed for each other.

I came back to Singapore in March. After taking a rest for three weeks, I started my calligraphy on both big characters with brush and small characters with pen. That was not to relieve stress, but to set my mind free. So that I could erase the bad memory.

God is great! After returning to Singapore, through the messages of a few pastors, I received God's revelation and healing.

The time and effort I spent were for God and not wasted.

I had done what God looking for, spreading God's LOVE to the students and villagers.

I thanked the villagers, especially the hawkers. Thank you for your love and concern.

I thanked all the students for the loving care. Teacher also missed all of you.

There was a time different of an hour between Thailand and Singapore. Therefore when the school dismissed, the students taken their dinner at home, I was already going to bed. That was the reason your teacher hardly met you on the Internet.

I wish God's LOVE to be with you wherever you go.

I love you, all my student! Work hard! Add oil 5555