My Testimony

 

My Chinese Name formed from three chinese characters

That is my chinese name, Lin BaoZhu, it means a precious pearl in the forest.  My Christian name is Theresa.  Theresa is my name given during Baptism.  I chose to be named Theresa again during my confirmation although I can change.  I thought it would not be so messy with so many different names.  The name Theresa means harvester and it may means a mystic also.  There are various forms of 

Theresa.  Some Teresa and Teresia, without the h.

My parents went to church, and this led me to ask what was my religion.  I was told by my aunt that I am a Roman Catholic.  Though I went to church, I had no idea who is God.  I went to church, but I don't understand what was the significant of it.  As we grew up, our parents don't really go church anymore.  

In 1996, Richard and I had RCIA at Church of St Mary of the Angels.  I was the sponsor for Yvonne and Richard had his sponser as well.  We were asked the questions of how or why we wanted to join RCIA.  Most of the people said it was their calling.  I have no idea what was that.  I think at that time I was not a good sponsor, did not answer most of the questions.  Soon Richard was baptized and received his confirmation as well.  In the same year, we had our Church Wedding too.  

Life was full of ups and down.  Our marriage was not all smooth sailing.  We had our separation, reunion and now divorce.  However, I am still holding on to my faith, my one and only holy catholic church.  This is because I had encounter Christ, the Lord who came to my rescue when I had commited a mortal sin in my life.  

Jesus came to rescue me.  I went Church and came home to take a bath and miraculously, I was led by the Holy Spirit to be immersed in water, removing all the 'demons' in me.  Thereafter, my sins were cleansed and I was born again in water and spirit, feeling very refreshed and good.  

28 August 2008 A dinosaur appeared in the sky

Our God is a jovial one, making jokes to us.  I was shown a flying pig too.  In the chinese horoscope, I am a pig.  So in the morning, I saw a flying pig in the sky.  Pigs can fly was the message.  Now, I am also a dinosaur!  

I am still learning my faith, and trusting in God despite all the trials and tribulations now.  

Buy Me Tea

Pink Begonia

 

Beautiful pink begonia plant had grown in the year 2011

Jesus worked many miracles in his lifetime.  Now he still work miracles.  There were many signs to show his works.  In the year 2008, when Jesus came, there was one day where in my pot, a giant bryophyllum had grown miraculously.  That same year, not only was I born again in water and spirit, many miraculous signs happened.  For example in the church, my note book suddenly got a feather!! I asked Clara, "Did you put in a feather in my notebook?"  Clara said she did not.  And the notebook had a sentence written in the book that means 'you are my best friend."  I was so touched by the sudden miracle.

The life of Jesus was all about caring for people and bringing them back to God.  He especially spent time helping those who knew they were trapped by sin and shame.  The Pharisees complained, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2).  In reply Jesus showed how He is like a shepherd.  He does not want one sheep (one person) to be left in danger.  Even if only one sheep is lost, He keeps searching for that one until He finds it (Luke 15:1-7).  

Beautiful Pink Begonia that had grown miraculously from my garden pot

That was a picture of the whole plant.  It began from a small plant and not knowing it was a pink begonia until it flowered.  I did not put any seeds into the pot, it just grown miraculously out from the soil!  

Today another seven stars needle flower had opened.  And the two baby birds are growing well.  It was such a beautiful sight to see my beautiful garden.  

Rose Cactus blooming in my garden

All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved... The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full... I am the Good Shepherd;  I know My sheep and My sheep know Me  (John 10:8-10,14).

Buy Me Tea

Taco Vaccination

 

Taco in the carrier, going to the vet

Taco is supposed to go for his next vaccination.  I put him in the carrier and see that he had grown so much and heavier!  At the vet, he was being weighed by the vet.  His weight was 2.38kg!  The last trip to the vet he weigh 1.58kg.  He has gained 800g so far!  At the vet, he was so obedient and cooperative.  When the assistant brought her out of the bag, he just let her do it.  The vet gave him injection and he was okay too, as though nothing had happened at all.  Last time for Dora, they would give Dora some treats to distract her then they gave Dora injection.  This time for Taco, no treats given and no small talk, just inject straight away.  Then the vet gave Taco a deworm pill to take.  And that's all!  

Handsome Taco lying on Isaac's bed

Taco has adapted to the home now.  He is lying at every corner of the house -- in front of the TV, on the bed, in the basket, and on the floor at different parts of the house.  He is growing heavier and longer too.  Look at him when he first came to our home here.  His next vaccination would be next month and then he would need to be sterilized after that.  

Buy Me Tea

Seven-stars Needle Plant (七星针)

 

Rose cactus blooming in my garden

Went to my garden just now and saw the buds of the rose cactus had fully opened!!  Three beautiful rose cactus flowers!  I quickly grabbed my handphone and capture the beautiful flowers -- photographs and video.  At the same time I took a video of the birds in the bird's nest.  I saw two babies opening their mouth and chirping.  How beautiful that was. 

I saw on Lazada a pot of Pereskia bleo/ Seven stars needle plant or the rose cactus plant cost about $20, just a short plant.  Mine would cost a lot!  I first got the plant from a parent plant found under a tree.  Someone had thrown the plant away.  One man's trash is another man's treasure!  I saw that it was flowering and it was a nice plant.  However the one that was being thrown the plant was not in the perfect shape.  It was like the height of a person so I think no one took it.  I wondered if it can be propagated via stem cutting.  So I tried.  I pluck down 2 branches and I went home to plant it.  

The beginning was hard.  I put the plants in the soil and it survived.  For many years now, about 11 years now, it had prospered well.  It had blooms many times and I had seen its fruits twice -- one rippened (yellow fruit), and one more green fruit (unripe), as can see from the picture below: 

The green unripe fruit of the rose cactus plant

A closer look at the flower of the rose cactus

It is said that this plant is a medicinal plant.  It is known to act against cancer and helps in the gut.  I had never tried the leaves or flowers or fruit even though people said it is edible.  When Ah Wai came to my house and saw the fruit, he loved it so much.  Mum plucked the fruit and gave it to him to eat.  That was a yellow fruit, the one and only one in 10 years of growing the plant.  Now I have another fruit, but it is green for so long.  And it takes time to grow so big!  Good things or good fruit need to wait!

I don't know how the fruit or the whole plant taste like.  But base on hearsay, the plants can be boiled, chewed on and ate it raw.  I never wanted to try as yet.  

This plant is like the cactus because it has many sharp thorns on its stem/branches.  Every time when the plant grew out of shape or get in the way, I would trim the plant, cut it off and replant it again.  That is how I get so many rose cactus plants in my garden.  

Buy Me Tea