The Ladies Room

From Left to right, Annika Soderman, Eva Luisi and ME.

Well...this is not the normal ladies room that you would expect.
It is in fact one of the conner room in Connect office which has been given to Annika, myself and Eva. It has been my office for the last 8 months.

The Ladies room may become history, but the fun, laughters and friendship that we share will go on for a long time.

My Last day in Sandviken

Today is my last day in Sandviken. Not many people turn up at the office today since it was announced as a day off for those who stay over the weekend.
I have to be there early because of my meeting with Henrik and after that I basically counting my fingure, do a bit of cleaning up of harddisk, backup. At about 3pm today, I totally lost connection to internet, my Sandvik user ID just goes invalid. Anyway, I have to wait till 4pm when Henrik finally did my GAT review. GAT is the feedback evaluation about how a person work in a project, the strengths and the development areas.
I just came back from dinner with Louise Koh, a Malaysian lady that work in Sandvik.
Now is the time to conclude my good 8 months time in Sandviken. Will I miss this place??? I guess the answer is No. However, Sandviken has certainly enriched my winter experience for I have not seen that much of snow in my life and also been on skiing and the outdoor activities yesterday was unforgettable.
Farewell Sandviken!! God bless Sandviken and the people I met in Sandvik.
I will miss you all may be for a day, but life must move on and we may meet each other again sometimes, somewhere....
Hej Då!!!

Unforgettable Nordic Experience

Today is Connect Go-Live outing.
The weather is obviously not too good for outdoor activity. It was snowing all the 4 hours when we were out there. We had competitions but also lots of snowball fights.
It is a Swedish trandition to begin the winter sport activities by drinking blueberries soup. The warm soup is so tasty under the snow...yum..yum...
For God's know what reason, I was being appointed as a team leader and I have never done any of those stuff before.
We have baithlon session (ski shooting), cross country skiing and snow shoes running competition. Everything is new to me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it despite of the snowy weather.
After the competition, we sat in a tractors (like the refuges) and the tractors brough us to a cabin lodge by the lake.
The feeling of series 'Survivor' , the torches are lidding up from the entrace, leading to the cabin. It was like we were heading for the verdict to find out who is out of the games.
There is no light in the cabin, we relied on the oil lamps.
We were eating our dinner in kind of half dark atmostphere but the food was delicious, my entrecote was great.
My team scored the 3rd place, and the gifts were lot of Sandvik surviniors.
YES!! you can do it! :)

Sandvik Goes Live

Today 27 March 2006, is the day that I have long waited for. This is the day where additional HR populations and functionality goes operational.
Today also resembled the many months that I have worked towards in this project. Having been through 2 go-live phase for Sandvik, this is definately the much better one.

Lord Jesus the HOPE for ME

This weekend I am traps into a very desparate situation.
When I thought the whole world is against me, that I found my peace and joy. I cryout to the Lord in my prayer and as I went through the Goal last week, it amazed me that the Goal was specially tailored for my situation. Everything in it was just written as if specially for me. The Lord transformed me from a very desparate and hopeless situation to a victory in His tabernacles. He promised that He will protect me from my enemies and make me high upon the rock. I found Peace the moment I finished reading the Goal and also mediating on the scriptures.
I was waiting for phone call from Sweden desparately and suddenly the Lord reminded me, why don't you go and read your email. Then I rushed into the study room and I saw the email that they will do it at 4pm. The timing of the email is just exactly the time that I was prompted by the Holy Spirt. How wonderful is my LORD!!!

Mark 11: 22-24 Have faith in God, Jesus answered. I tell you the truth, if any one says to this mountain,'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

James 1:5 if anyone lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him

Psalm 27 : 4-6 One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling, he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me, at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy, I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Spring time

Today we have the change of time by moving the clock forward an hour. This also officially embark a summer time.
Summer time is always a time full of sunlight and colour of the spring. It is always a time to cherish and enjoy as much as possible of the beauty. The beautiful flowers on the fields, an energetic season.
Lord help me to enjoy and cherish this season to the very best!

summer skyline -- winter temperature

This week was an extra ordinary sunny week. I am not use to the extra early sunlight in the morning.
I am not a morning person but this week I get into the office extra early because sunlight was my morning call.
The temperature is still pretty much winter but nordic daylight is long.
No wonder you either see light or not seeing it at all.
Dear Lord, help me to enjoy the day with this beautiful sunny weather to the fullest.

Politics in Hierarchy

As you know, I am in the transition period, adjusting myself from consultant to manager. Is promotion to a manager role always equal to engaging in more politics?
Since March, I have to deal with two kind of stress, one is partly due to the Dutch language. Despite of been through a week of training, I still struggle in the business environment. Deep in my heart there is a strong urge to overcome the language.
The second kind of stress is from the Swedish organization. Today especially I am really piss off by the Swedish partner.
I am not going to say anything other than I am relying on the Lord even more now than ever.
In the time where everything is a variable, I count my Lord as a constant.
In the time where everyone can turn their back against you, I count my Lord as my Shelter and Protector.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Outlet Malls

On Saturday 18 march, with the kind of dry and sunny weather, we decided to set off to a south bound journey. It was my suggestion to go to Roermond, which is a border city in the Netherlands. It was about 2 hours drive to get there. When we arrived, we were overwhelmed by the numbers of Germany cars that parked at the car park. It was as if we were in Germany instead of Holland. I like the brands there, they have my favorite brands such as Ralph Laurent Polo, Hugo Boss, Aigner, Salvator Ferragamo and many other famous and less famous brands. As my usual shopping habits, I like to stroll through the shops before I re-bounce on the second round to try and buy.
I did make some good acquisitions in less than 3 hours. The crowds immerse in the mid afternoon where I began to feel stress and my shopping mood cooled off. When I about suggest to leave, Johannes came out with the idea of going to another Outlet Malls which is just 30 mins drive away. Maasmechelen, is situated in Belgium. The Mall there was much smaller and also less people, this gave me the peace of mind to continue shopping. I also discovered a brand -- Fred Perre that I never know off. Anyway, we have a good time and on the way home we call along a supermarket to stuff ourselves with the best malt beers that I have ever tried.

Linguistic Experience - an enrichment?

A week in Nunnery
I just came back from a week of intensive Dutch language training.
15 hours a day, 5 days a week, on the last day I am almost flat off...
But praise God that I am able to or rather I have the courage to speak the language now.
The lesson starts at 8am and not finishing until 10pm. It is indeed very intensive, so intensive that I can only use the word 'Concerntration Camp' or brainwash to describe the learning experience.
Regina Coeli follows a European Framework and that surely I only starts at A2 and I finished with good A2 and beginning of B1.
Not sure how much this mean to me, but surely I am able to speak a little better now...

Delft in Romans Time

Today is a training day, my team delivered a training to our clients. It was after a very long preparation.
I am actually stuck at Arlanda airport and surfing at the lounge because my flight is delayed till further notice.
Now sure if this is the best thing to happen on a Friday night.
The majority of DCFers are evangelising at the city of Delft and I am isolated here in Sweden, but I am in fact using my time to pray for them. Intercession!!! Standing in the gap.
Lord bless those who are evangelizing now, I pray that many souls will be touched, I pray that You open their spiritual eyes to see that You are the only God that we can count on.
I plead the blood of Jesus upon all of my dear brothers and sisters, protect and cover their love ones. I summon the full armor of God on everyone of them so that they are not only protected but can flank in defensive mode to win souls for Jesus.
Suddenly...I saw this vision in my mind....
I saw Delft in an ancient time....The city is very busy, a lot of people walking around the city.. I can barely tell some of them representing the group of DCFers who are evangelizing and others are the strangers. Some of the DCFers are well dressed in the armor of God, while some dressed in the ordinary clothing. I asked the Lord why is that so.... Then the Lord said, now whenever you see your brothers and sisters in Christ not equipping with the armor of God, speak out the full armor on him. Everyone that I have saw without the armor, the moment I speak forth the full armor of God, the person suddenly has his armor on... Kind of interesting... Then I knew this is an INTERCESSION. Even though I am not there, and no matter how far the distance could be, I feel close to them now as I am praying....
Thank you Jesus for drawing me closer You..

Watch your word

Today I proof read the Goal again. For those of you who don't know what Goal is, it is a weekly bulletin with the sermon of the Sunday. I am blessed enough to be able to proof read the English version.
Watch your word... Since the last 2 weeks especially during my days in Sandviken, I have been cursing and swearing a lot because of the work pressures. I know it is not good, but ...
Today as I am proof reading the goal, I realize how important it is for what is out of our mouth. The bible says the tongue has the power of dead or life, and every words we utter can actually determines the impact in our life. It is like proclamations, if you confess positive, your life will become positive, likewise if you confess negative, the negative things will surface in your life.
Thank you Lord for showing me my faults.

Cheers!!! Officially Manager

Last night, a few of us when to Princess hotel - The Living Room, newly renovated bar/lounge for dinner. A few other guys (Patrick, Rhys, Gustaf) joined us after their ski at Kungsberget.
Despite of wanting to go skiing but I was just too busy for me.
Over the drinks and casual chat, Gustaf suddenly announced that I have been officially promoted to manager. Patrick (client's PM) is one who hated consulting firm but to my surprise he was rather happy for me. I am pleased but the cost of the announcement is that I have to buy the drinks. Thankfully the bill is not too high for me, it is around 200 Euro.
Patrick insisted me to join him at under bar, but I found a good excuse to get out of it by saying I have to be in to office early the next day.
Well... I am indeed promoted and now a manager. I don't know what is ahead of me and what I am in for. However, I know I can count on my Lord, if He made this possible for me, He is capable in carrying me through.

Caribbean Cooking Class

On 28th Feb, we have another cooking class at Racine's. It was the day of my arrival at Sandviken which I am usually tired. Anyway, since I agreed to it, I have to honored my word.

This time we cooked something different:
-Lime Scampi with Mango Salsa
-Caribbean Paella with bounty of seafoods, mussels, squids, scallops, chicken and etc.
-Key west rosted pork
-Barbados Sweet Potatoes
-Safrito Rice
-Corn Cakes
-Salmon Cerviches
-Caribbean Chicken
-Mojito drinks