A Year of Adventure

*

2013 has been a great year for me. There were a lot of ups and downs, but I also witnessed how God walked with me and built my faith whenever I was facing trials in many kinds. 

This year, I prayed a Sun Stand Still prayer, and I know that adventures are waiting ahead of me. I don't know what God will take away from me so that I will not be too comfortable in my life in order to achieve my audacious vision. 

After two years of being a Christian, I slowly discover the gift that God has given to me, and the reasons why He designed me to be like me - an introvert with sensitive feeling, but love to be the center of attention. 

And because of the Sun Stand Still prayer that I prayed, things that seemed impossible to me started to become possible. I can see God's abundant blessings pouring onto me. Amazing, that feeling is truly amazing at the moment when I witness God's blessing.

Yet, I must remain humble - I am here to serve others, with all that God has given me. Like what others said:" What you have, is a gift from God, what you will become, is a gift for God."

***

All photos were taken in Mont Salvat, with Polaroid SLR 690 and Polaroid PX680 color films.

                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                   

Unwrap The Gift

My faith was torn to shreds
Heart in the balance
But you were there

Always faithful
Always good
You still have me
You still have my heart

I thought I had seen the end
Everything broken
But you were there

You have me
You have me
You have my heart completely

17.11.2013

      We missed the morning church service, so we planned to visit to Planet Shakers' 5.30pm church service. An hour before we head to Planet Shakers, I told Gary I had a headache and felt like skipping church (again). Gary's immediate reaction was:"Hah I knew you would act this way every time before church! It's either headache or gastric, can't your enemy be any more creative?" Alright, he was right, the enemy was TRYING to stop me from going to church again, but I MUST not be defeated! 

             This was our second visit to Planet Shakers and there was water baptism, the first time we visited to Planet Shakers was a water baptism service too... Is God HINTING us? 

             The culture in Planet Shakers always overwhelms me, they dance they sing whatever they like to express their love, they never care how others would look at them. At the end of the service, guest speaker Pastor Tim Hall asked for people who has digestive problem to go up on the stage to be prayed for and a lot of people went up until the stage couldn't fit them all. Pastor Tim touched every single person and prayed in a loud and confident voice:" In the name of Jesus, HEAL!" One by one the people on stage start dropping on the floor. This was so overwhelming for me! I was like a kid watching magic show from my seat, clapping my hands and keep asking Gary:" Is this for real? What if they are just acting? Why would they fall? This is so unbelievable! Wow!" Yup I saw people dropping on the floor in front of my own eyes, but I didn't believe it's real because it didn't look logic to me. Yup I doubted.

             Pastor Tim then came down from the stage and prayed for some of the audiences. A guy from the worship team fell even before Pastor Tim touched him, and Pastor said:" He loves to be anointed." While Pastor was walking closer to our seats, my tears started to roll out, and I told Father God:" God if you see me, please make me fall, because I want to believe this is real! I want to know I will fall just like others..." 

          Pastor Tim asked:" Those who never been touched by the super natural please come forward to be prayed." Gary pulled me to the altar, I was so freaked out because I was doubting! I wanted to hide behind of Gary but of course I shouldn't stand behind him because he might fall on me. When it's my turn to be prayed for, I held my fists tightly, my body was shivering, my eyes and mouth opened so big, my tears were rolling out uncontrollably (including liquid from my nose), I was so terrified! Why was I not in peace? 

              Looking at my terrified face with tears and liquid all over, Pastor Tim shouted:" Someone please come and pray for this lady! Someone please!" Haha he knew that I would not fall because I was lack of faith! A lady called Anna came and prayed for me and I cried badly. She asked me:" Do you believe in Jesus? Are you baptized in the Spirit?" I believe in Jesus but I haven't been baptized in the Spirit. So Anna said she would pray for me to speak in tongue. In my mind I doubted more, I didn't ask for it (well actually I was thinking about speaking in tongue few days ago) and I wasn't ready for it, there's no way I would speak in tongue now! Anna asked me to speak out like a baby, whatever word in my mind just speak it out, don't be shy, and she started to pray for me in tongue. I didn't know what to expect, my mind was blank. "Speak it out, you need to speak it out, I can see the Holy Spirit is in you."Anna said. While she continued to pray, there's a word in my mind. Oh God I wasn't sure if I was mimicking her or I was really baptized in the Holy Spirit. The music on the stage started to climax, I braved up myself, opened my mouth and tried to spit out the word, although I wasn't sure if it's from God... Such a mixed feeling!

              According to Anna I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. I told her I thought I was mimicking her. She said it doesn't matter, don't let the enemy tell me it wasn't from God or I was mimicking others, the word doesn't come from no where, it came from God. She's right, instead of disbelieving, I must believe it's from God! She told me, speaking in tongue is like going to the gym to build your body, if we stop going to gym, our body will go out of whack. 

             On the way home in the car, I got Gary to practice speaking in tongue with me, as loud as we could and we felt good! Few months ago, I was actually quite stress that I haven't been baptized in the Holy Spirit. During my visit to Olivia's Connect Group, Nicole offered to pray for me, and she prayed in her heart without saying it out. Suddenly I felt the goose bumps and God told me:" Because you don't believe in me." Wow that was the first time I heard God so clearly and I started to cry! Only Father knows my heart, He knows everything about me. That night I told Olivia about my stress. She told me that, speaking in tongue is a promise from our Father, and what He promised, we will surely receive. Treat it like a Christmas gift, we know that we will receive our gifts during Christmas, but Christmas is not here yet, when Christmas is here then only we get to unwrap the gift prepared by Father. Olivia was so right and since then, I never stress about it anymore.

           I shared with Olivia about my baptism in the Holy Spirit and I thought I was mimicking Anna. Olivia told me, it's obviously from God because I wasn't ready, I wasn't trying hard, and most importantly I didn't plan for it, the word just came into my mind, so I just need to believe it's from God and cherish my gift! No matter which way I choose, Father is always loyal to us. If we chose the wrong path, He will guide us back to the right path.

       The next day Gary came across an article: " Don't use your logic mind, just BELIEVE." When Gary was being prayed by Pastor Tim, he actually felt the numb in his legs and he almost felt on the floor. Chong Wei Wei, no more doubt, no more disbelieve, you must believe! For man, many things are impossible, but for God, everything is POSSIBLE!

Adrien Fournier

"Idioteque"

by Radiohead

Who's in bunker, who's in bunker
I've seen too much
I haven't seen enough
You haven't seen enough
I'll laugh until my head comes off
Women and children first
And children first
And children

Ice age coming, ice age coming
Let me hear both sides
Let me hear both sides
Let me hear both..

       Thank you Adrien for willing to be topless in a cold winter morning for photo shoot. Joel, our housemate moved out and gave me his beautiful English style flower couch. I love it so much and started to plan a few photo shoots with the couch before the couch is given away to our neighbour. 

       I tried to learn some French vocabularies from Adrien, but I gave up, because my tongue doesn't like to pronounce French words. What a coincidence that I cooked Thai Tom Yam soup on the first day Adrien arrived in Melbourne, he couldn't bear the spiciness and ended up ate nothing for dinner - not a good experience for his first day in Melbourne. We chatted about his hometown, Chartes in France, and had a look at his grandparents' house, uncle's house and his house from Google Map - it's always interesting to hear about other's story. You will be one of the top skater in the world! We will miss you deeply Adrien!

                                                                                                                                                 Fuji FP-100C Films

The King of Glory

Who brings our chaos back in order

Who makes the orphan a son and daughter

The King of glory

The King above all kings

This is amazing grace

This is unfailing love

That You would take my place

That You would bear my cross

You would lay down your life

That I would be set free

Jesus I sing for

All that you've done for me

26.06.2013

     Both of us were feeling miserable and low energy this morning, uncertain about our career and future. I sat at my desk and look out the window - I saw the most beautiful sunlight that shone through the meadows and trees, and I prayed for heavenly Father to take away all my worries, just take away my earthly worries, Father, I didn't know what to ask for but I know I need you although the circumstances in front of us always seem challenging or hopeless, but Father You have a plan for all of us, and You answer before we even ask.

        An hour of working later I checked my mail box and opening mail box is like opening a Christmas present, I don't know what waits ahead of me but I always hope it's something good that sent from God, such as people request me about my photography service. To my surprise, I got an email from Eswar and Karen who requested me about Wedding Day Photography service. WOHOOOOOOOOOOO! I tried to stay calm and found that the email that sent from Eswar and Karen was the time just after I prayed!!! How amazing is God! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh praise God! I couldn't stop boasting about what God has done for me again and shared this good news with my housemates and friends from church and also wrote a message to thank Eric Hew for recommending my photography service to Eswar and Karen.

        A week later Eswar and Karen dropped by at our Polaroid gallery and we had a great chat. They are so easy going that I can't be more thankful. Thank you Father so so much for sending me such a beautiful and nice couple. Sometimes I am afraid that some of the potential clients will run away, but it's funny when Eswar told me that he was afraid to me run away.

        I always doubt about myself, I try to use my gift in art to honour God although I wasn't sure how, I try to do everything with mercy and grace, and I try not to care about gaining recognition from men... It is a hard learning process, to learn to not to serve in the spotlight but to serve in the shadow, but I must always remember that God weighs the heart, not the treasure or recognition we gain on earth. 

        Now I understand that when the heart is right, God will continue to be faithful to us, for He wants us to be fruitful. Sometimes it's just about the right timing for the blessing to come, it might seem hopeless now because we are unable see the future, so we are easily condemned by the circumstances which we are facing. If we never taste the bitterness, we will never appreciate the sweetness.  I am learning to be steadfast - no matter how hard life seems to be, I believe that Father will provide. Why worry? Just be patience and wait for His timing, we will certainly witness His glory, because He loves us crazily.

*

Zebra's Shower

Polaroid Blue Film

I Exalt Thee

I Exalt Thee

I Exalt Thee

Oh Lord

Shower time is my me time. 

Imaginations are pouring out like water during my shower, and it's also the time when I speak to God and praise God.

There was once in the middle of shower, 

I felt like thanking God for every nature He had created for us. 

But I did not know that while I was thanking him, 

a burglar actually climbed into my housemate's room, 

passed by the toilet and went into my room to took away our coins!

Thank you God for keeping me safe and let the burglar walked passed me.

Imagine what could happened if the burglar came into the toilet?!

Another praise report is that I have granted my Temporary Residence Visa in Australia!

WohooOoOOOoOOoooOOOOOoo! 

I have been waited for fourteen months for the immigration officer to contact me, 

not until my bible study fellows prayed for me a month ago, 

everything just seem to come into place!

Now I am "someone with identity" and I am eligible in applying for a job and a Medicare card!

How great is that!

Our church held a fasting program called Deeper from 30 July to 19 August, 

where the whole church fast and prayed together.

Some were fasting from coffee, soft drink, sweets, social media, television etc, while me and my boyfriend were fasting from meat, watching movie and eating out. 

For the past three weeks I was cooking vegetarian food everyday! 

I felt my body was so energetic and motivated in completing my work! 

When we were craving for meat or eating out, we chose to read his words, 

rather than just follow our own will. 

When we were craving from watching movie, we opened the Bible instead.

In the beginning it wasn't easy, we didn't really eat vegetarian food until the third day of fasting.

But it really made a different when you thought: "Hold on... I actually don't need all these!

I might have made a decision fasting from meat, but the meaning behind the fasting is far more powerful because I am one step closer to Him! "

Being able to control how we deal with circumstances rather than allowing circumstances control us really got us out of our comfort zone and became closer to God!

And my Temporary Residence Visa was granted just right after the Deeper program and fasting!

How great is our God!

Miss Rabbit

polaroid brown film

A big big hug to my boyfriend for capturing the best shot of mine.

We were wondering, it would be very awkward if anyone of my neighbours pass by 

the window and saw a huge naked butt by sitting the window... 

Haha! 

*

I am in love with European films.

One of the things I do the most since I moved to Melbourne is watching European films. 

Some of the story plots are weird, some are insanely funny, and some are really disturbing. 

90% of the European films that I've watched from television contained nudity.

For the first few months I was having culture shocked and wondered,

why do French love to have nude scenes in their films?

Is this how they celebrate love and sex?

Now I am able to watch the nude scenes with different perspective, 

not with a lusty way, but to appreciate the artistic parts of them.

European films are really entertaining!

Here are some of the films that I like:

 C.R.A.Z.Y. (Canada) - crazy gay plot

Solino (Germany) - nasty brother

Black Ice (Finland) - disturbing

Amreeka (U.S) - love this one!

A Song For Martin  (Sweden) - middle age's romance

 La Vie En Rose (France) - beautifully sad

Gilles's Wife (France) - similar plot to "Black Ice", do not under estimate your wife

Mommo the Bogeyman (Turkey) - one of my favourites

Empties (Czech Republic) - affair happens in all ages

Silent Souls (Russia) - awarded the Golden Osella for best cinematography 

Gainsbourg (France) - the cabbage head is really disturbing me recently...

Father's Chair (Brazil) - beautiful and genuine 

*

A Foggy Night

"I dreamt of you wanting to hurt me

in an island where no one lives."

I always have bad dreams

and woke up in the middle of the night.

with dreams of fear, cries, shout, felt betrayal, innocent, petrified…

28.06.11

And I lie on the road, again...

CARS! There my boyfriend ran away with his tripod and I ran away on heels.

Headie, the dog was so excited as we used to command him to cross the road,  but this time he must wandering why the human are playing on the road (could it be a forbidden place)?

I didn't sleep for the whole foggy night, my whole mind was full with ideas and I was planning for a foggy morning shoot.The weather forecast said it would be foggy on the morning of 29th june.

So I woke my boyfriend up at 7am and there we went with so many equipment and props and Headie the dog.Then only we found out there was no fog… But

We were able to take some photos of Hot Air Balloons with sunrise!

Which makes me think of a message from church the other day:

There, sometimes we grief on something that we expected to get,

but on the other hand, if you choose to move on quickly, God has actually prepared us for something better.

Lights

I see the Lights
When I believe

28.06.11

Foggy day in Melbourne!

It was cold but we enjoyed a foggy walk at the city.

Breeze of hot air (looks like smoke) was blown out of our mouths when we talked and breathe.

I thought we must use this foggy weather to the fullest.

After some foggy street shooting, we went home, got our equipment ready, bought along Headie the dog, 

and here we go! 

My boyfriend set up the tripod and used his mobile phone to create the light effect above my palms.

God, the way he moved was super funny, I couldn't help myself from laughing.

That caused most of the shots were blur because my body was shaking when I laughed, and we have to do the shot again, 
Of course some shots had Headie the dog in the frame too..

Sleep Out

in the cold...



08.06.2011
It was 8 degree Celsius after a hail rain in Melbourne.
I decided to "sleep" on the wet road for a shoot.
It certainly took a lot of courage to wear only a piece of cloth and lie on a wet road in this cold weather.
I took a big breath, took out my big fur coat, and ran to lie on the road when my boyfriend said GO!
Shivering... my left arm and feet were both wet and numb.
Whenever there were cars driving towards me, my boyfriend would shout CAR!
So I quickly got up from the road and ran to the side.
"What was that girl doing lying in the middle of the road in this cold weather?" The drivers wandered.

Surprisingly to know that there is The Vinnies CEO Sleepout in Australia.
More than 155 Melbourne community leaders roughed it to raise money for Australia's 150,000 homeless.
CEO's taking part in the event was given a beanie, a sleeping bag, a sheet of cardboard, a bread roll and a hot drink. It's a great way to raise awareness.
Some homeless people are asking for money in the street, most of them even wrote a cardboard describing their homeless situation.
Sadly to know that some of these homeless people are actually capable to find a job to support themselves.

I've gone through an article about old Melbournians who were born in the 1920s and lived
through the days before central heating and polar fleece.
They said:
Winter's just not what it used to be.
You call this cold? Whinging about the weather?
Imagine there was no heating, if you're cold, just put on CLOTHES and shut the bloody door.
They slept on the balcony and braving cold showers (imagine there were no hot water!).
Playing sport was the only way to warm the body up during the old times.

How good is the life of the generation Y nowadays? At least I have done my Sleepout.

Taken Away

by 26 Eagles...

I just turned 26!
In fact I don't feel like I am becoming an adult, I don't act like an adult, I don't talk like an adult.
But I understand we should talk like a 26 at certain occasions.
I mean, 26s nowadays are different from the 26s compared to the 1980's time.
My father had me at the age of 26. I have nothing at my 26...
So, what shall we do to make this 26 remarkable???
Kiss 26 random guys?
Kick 26 asses?
Bungee jump 26 times?
Say "penis" out loud 26 times in public?
Run to the nearest traffic light from home 26 laps?
Blow 26 cakes?
Well I didn't have 26 candles on my cake, my boyfriend wasn't that thoughtful.
But at least I was glad that he bought me a cake and the book that I've long for (all the way from US)!
As a show of appreciation, I said 26 times "I LOVE U" to him.
Talking about shouting "penis" out loud in the public, it was an idea from the movie "500 Days of Summer".
I actually played this game with my boyfriend while we were walking across the Myer in Bourke Street, Melbourne, a popular hang around spot.
I started with a slow say "penis", and then my boyfriend's turn to raise up the tune.
He was too chicky to shout it out loud at the end, so I just shouted "PENIS!" by the time we walked pass an old couple, and I could hear the old lady said "What?!"
What a fun game to play!

I always think that my birth date is a beautiful date. At least I am the only one who think so...
12th of June, 612 (what a beautiful combination of numbers).
I just read from the Bible that: 6 is associated with humankind and 12 refers to God's will.
My boyfriend was born in 17th on July.
7 represents perfection or completion.
Hence, I am a humankind who born by God's will, my boyfriend is a perfection and he is the only one who can complete my life.
Bingo!!! Sometimes my IQ is not that low...
Besides, thanks to my dad, I like my name too -- Wei Wei.
What a wonderful and easy-to-remember name.
Wei Wei the words has no meaning, it is just a name that easy to pronounce.
But I hate to write my name in Chinese calligraphy form, it's a complicated word.

OOh 26.. Let's Rock n Roll!!!

I Am Waiting

I am waiting patiently
For the day to come
For my chance to arrive
To get me out of here
I am waiting


16/03/2010
I finally see the light!
It was the happiest day in my life,
as I bought a ticket to Melbourne to meet my-soon-to-be-lover.
Soon-to-be-lover means we were not yet a couple but we were more than just friends before I came to Melbourne.

He was the one who got me out from depression,
He was the one to cure my insomnia.
He was the one who support me to fight for my dreams.
It's about whether you dare to make a decision.
So I made the right decision by paying him a visit, and he became my lover, eventually.
I think the longest time in life would be the time when you were waiting eagerly to meet your lover.
There were crosses and circles on the calender, counting the day to arrive.
Day and night. Day by Day. Hour by Hour. Minute by Minute.

10/10/10, the day finally has arrived.
The first thing he said to me when I passed through the airport arrival gate was:
" Would you be my girlfriend?"
And yes everything is worth waiting for.

Creep

When you were here before
Couldn't look into your eyes
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell i'm doin' here?
I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts
I wanna have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul

I wish I was special
"Creep" from radiohead


My favourite favourite song, beside Damien Rice's songs.
My buddy once told me he got a song that suited me and he played this "Creep"song for me.
I said Oh My God this was my favourite song! He was a buddy indeed.

This was the hardest shoot I've ever took.
My big stuffed bear was my assistant, as I placed it in the set to set my camera focus point.
Then I have to wrapped myself with bandages.
Oh the bandages cost me a lot...I bought 7 bandages from a pharmacy shop,
I took the all the bandages from the shelf.
I bought a big black cloth from the fabric shop as well, and cost me more!
So I hung the black cloth from my window rail,
ran and knelled at the set after I pressed the timer, and I didn't noticed that after too many runs from the camera, my bandages actually start peeling off...
I had quite some bruises on my knees again after this shot.
I just want to be special.

I Kidnapped Myself

I need a moment of my own,
I kidnapped myself,
so that you couldn't find me,
and you couldn't hurt me anymore.


Thanks Shu for allowing me to take this photo at her house.
Shu was my university course mate who came from the same hometown as me.
She painted her dining wall in black color.
I just love the black color wall. It's so cool!
I've searched for a few hardware shops and finally got this thick rope.
Sometimes I was thinking, what am I doing?
Because I rather spent money on buying shooting props than buy myself a good meal.
When you are too into something, you just can't help it.
They called it Passion. I love my passion.
Even though I spent hours shooting myself, not to say the hours spent on editing the photos,
I felt that I have achieve something for my Passion.
Imagine waking up every morning with no passion,
That is not a life at all...

My Soul

What animal would you like to be?
A butterfly.Pretty.Attractive.Freedom.

Poor and happy, or rich and miserable?
Frankly, I choose to be poor and happy.
What is right or wrong?
Poor = wrong? Rich = right?
Live an ordinary life, graduated from university, find a common job with descent salary, buy a car, buy a house, get married, have children, have grandchildren, retired.. that's all.
Is that the best way of living our lives?
Oh why can't we choose the kind of life we want?
Sure we can! Be brave and strong enough to be different!
Quoted Oprah Winfrey :" YOU HAVE THE POWER!"
Yes we all have the power!

Doesn't matter if I can't do accounting like you do,
Doesn't matter if I can't afford branded goods like you do,
Doesn't matter if you think that I am a dreamer.
It just doesn't matter!
Cause you can't shoot pictures as good as I am,
Cause you can't paint as good as me!
Cause you don't dare to tell people about your dreams!
We are all different! What is wrong with dreams?
If you don't dream, you are dead.
Yes I have dreams, but at least I AM stepping towards my dream by showing you my artworks.
I am not the best, we are not the best.
I never dream of become the best, I just want to do the best with my talent.
Just be gladful there are various type of people in this world live harmonically together.
Or would you rather see only robots with black coat walking on the street?
I live with my dreams, because I know I am different.

Pressure

This is got to die
This is got to stop
This has got to lie down
It's easier to tease
But you can't paint
Quite as good as me
Cause i am lately lonely
by "Elephant" Damien Rice


13-05-2010
My brother ran away from home.
We were worry, worry and worry.
Didn't know where to find him, didn't know when would he be home.
Peers pressure... That is a fact that every teenager is facing.
Have you ever be the center gossip of your peers or school and you felt so reluctant to go to school,
worst still, you couldn't tell your parents or siblings about the pressure you were facing in school.
I had a hard time in my high school. I have to say, I hate the way my teachers treated me.
Not knowing what I've done wrong, I was black-listed by the teachers just because I dated a senior in my school! Funny... My peers stopped talking to me.
I was diagnosed with anorexia in high school, my weight was merely 42kg.
Ate only 2 scoops of food everyday, no carb no meat no greasy food... my stomach was singing all the time.
I ended up visited the doctor every week due to my gastric.
Well, life goes on.
My brother came home, and turned over a new leaf.
Not bad for me too as I am back to my high school friends and I am blessed the best man in my life after the high school senior dumped me!

Ooh Wee

Fell in love with this song "The Ooh Wee Song" from Jonny Blu.

So I decided I must make a very romantic photography from this song.

Here we are! Spent several days to finish the Pre-Wedding Photography Portfolio.

Yes I was the model plus director plus designer plus make up artist plus editor... Multi-tasking!

Who would ever shoot their wedding photography using a tripod? I did! I believe on the Tripod Power!

I am providing photography services: wedding, birthday party, family portrait etc...

And also selling Polaroid cameras and films!

Please view my online store: http://www.facebook.com/pages/FilmNeverDiecom/153579488033738

It was so cold plus cloudy plus raining everyday...

I had to take out my big jacket for the shots, my body was shivering of the cold wind...cold cold cold...

What annoyed us was the sun set at around 5.30pm, we was always rushing to take the shots.

Thank you for much for our friends who spent time doing the shots with us. 

What a wonderful autumn experience, love is in the air!