Yes, I was very excited by the thought that she would be down in a couple of days time to spend Christmas and the New Year with me and my family.

I was merely counting down the number of days that were left before she was in my arms once again. Then the days got shorter and it became a matter of hours, then minutes.

She was due to arrive in Singapore by half past six in the evening. Since I was unable to greet her at the airport due to the fact that I had a very important class that I could not miss. She understood when I told her about it much earlier before and she told me that we will meet at home that night when I have finished my class about 10.

Prior to her departure from Jakarta to Singapore, she had to rush from her university that day as she had just finished one of her test papers. Thank goodness that her aunt Lily was kind enough to ferry her from her university to the airport.

When I finished my class at 10 in the evening, I quickly went home. Thinking to myself that she would be there at the door to greet me with open arms.

When I reached home, I gently kissed and hugged her as I did not want her to get dirty because of my work clothes which was stained with sweat and dirt from my day's work in the office.

I told her that I would have a shower first before talking to her.

Straight away I headed for my room and threw my things down, took the shower and made myself smelling clean and fresh.

I got out of my room after the shower and went down to the TV room where she was watching television along with my family members.

I gently sat beside her and huddled closely to her and placed a warm kiss on her cheeks.

Whoa! Do I really feel at home now.

This time round, my sister had offered to share her room with Susanna and I was well pleased and thankful to my sister for accomodating her. But what I had not expected was the 2 weeks, would bring them to another level of friendship and togetherness that I had never dreamt of.

Not only my sister was accepting her, my parents were also beginning to accept her as my girlfriend.

My family began to have a special feeling and attitude towards her as she spent the 2 weeks with me and my family.

I was elated enough of her being with me again during the last few weeks of the year but what was more important was to assess the current status of the relationship between us.

I begin to observe that she was beginning to open up a bit more to me and as well as being more loving towards me and my family.

The feeling of openess between us was something that I had never expected to be that fast since that this relationship was still very young. But we left everything about this relationship entirely into God's hands.

Though it may sound crazy at first, I asked her this question.

"Would you want to be my wife?" - She promptly acknowledged to me that she was happy to be my wife in the near future but both of us would have to complete our education first, then build our careers together and then the day will come when we were due to get married in accordance to God's Holy laws on marriage between man and wife.

This time we did not spend too much time on outings as we had spent more time together at home getting to know each other even better.

Only times that we had gone out was either to catch a couple of movies or during the weekends, my sister and her would go out and have the whole day by themselves!

She was lucky this time round as she was invited along with my family to my family friends' place for Christmas Day dinner at Uncle Philip's place, New Year Eve dinner at church and New Year Day's BBQ dinner at Uncle Fredrick's place.

Christmas Eve was spent at Harbor Pavillion in where my church, Faith Methodist Church, organised a Christmas Outreach programme for church members' friends who are not Christians.

Family time together again at Uncle Philip's....

Christmas Day was spent in Church during the first half of the day and then in the later part of the evening, at Uncle Philip's place.

At Uncle Philip's place, I sang some love songs to her and was she both surprised and happy.

This time in Church...

Then came New Year Eve's dinner at Faith Methodist Church whereby we witnessed 3 of our church staff being assigned to other fields within the ministry.

The Reverend Juliette Arulrajah would be posted to Wesley Methodist Church, Esther and Doris to overseas missions ministry in Cambodia.

After dinner, it was New Year Eve Midnight Service at the sanctuary to welcome in the New Year 1999.

At Uncle Fredrick's place....

New Year's Day dinner was at Uncle Fredrick's place. It was a BBQ dinner and later they organised games and as well as fellowship time with songs of praise.

Sounds crazy at first but we decided to go ahead with the prearranged BBQ on the second day on the New Year. Why crazy? The night before we already had a BBQ dinner at Uncle Fredrick's place!

Anyway, I came back early after class on Saturday that afternoon and started to prepare the necessary things for the BBQ later in the evening.

When the BBQ pit was ready, I got underway and cooked all the meat that was being bought earlier by my parents when they came home early that evening.

We had real fun that night as we sat down at the dinner table after I have cooked all the meat that had being prepared and as well as opening a bottle of champagne to commemorate the New Year.

After dinner, the whole family went once again to Clarke Quay.

Once we reached Clarke Quay, we strolled along the riverside for a while before heading to the arcade.

We sure had fun while we were there and we eventually got sufficient coupons from our winnings that were given out by the arcade machines to exchange for a stuffed toy, which was a dog.

After all the fun that we had spent together, we headed for home. It was nearly 1 am in the morning of Sunday.

Though Sunday was spent in Church during the first half of the day, we had lunch later at the Temasek Club courtersy of Uncle Weng.

As I was not feeling well, I decided to head home and rest while my family brings her out to Great World City and other places.

Evening came and I have already rested for nearly 3 hours and I was feeling well again. We had dinner at the American Club that evening and I must say, it was a very nice dinner.

Afte dinner, I brought her to the Fruit Machines room in which we casually played a few machines.

After dinner, we went home and spend some time together before calling a night as I had to work the following day and my sister has her new term starting in Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

Morning came, as usual she would come and greet me in the morning with that wonderful smile and kiss.

I got ready for work and rushed down to my usual morning details. After which I took my breakfast and bade her farewell on last time as I left the house for work.

I could feel that she was about to burst to tears as I would not be sending her off at the airport later in the day. I have already told her that it is not goodbye but rather it would be, when can we meet again.

I reassured her that she would be the only woman in my life (besides my mom and my sis!) and that I would love her with all of my heart. With that, I kissed her at the door and left for work.

We talked on the phone twice before her departure. Once was when I reached office early and decided to call her and talked to her and find out how things went with her. All was fine as I had expected.

She called me again later in the afternoon when she checked into the airport before departure and we bade each other our last farewells.

After she hunged up, I felt part of my life became empty. But I had to be strong and to look up to the fact that she is now mine and I should work and study for a better future for the both of us.

All went well and she arrived safely back in Jakarta and she was being received by her Aunt Lily once more. She called me later that night from her hostel that all was well and fine.

I really could feel the emptiness that is beginning to fill my heart now and same goes for her as well!

Not only did I miss her presence with me, my family members as well felt something was missing. Who felt most was my sister who had being with her closely since her arrival till her departure.

Between them, they had formed a very special bond that I had never dreamt it was possible till when they were both together. I am very happy to know that my sister was getting along well and fine with her. After all, it would be one day when Susanna would become my sister's sister-in-law.

Even my parents also felt that her presence amongst us was a wonderful one but all things have to come to an end one time or another.

While she was with us, we have decided on the possibility of going to her hometown in Medan and visit her parents when she is having a period of holidays due to the National Elections in Indonesia.

Also, it would be nice that I would meet up with her family.

Her 20th birthday is fast approaching and I have yet to decide on what to get her for her birthday. But I already got that area covered. Oh Boy! Is she going to be really surprised!

We also had discussed the plans on visiting her hometown during May to June. I told her that I would let her know at a later date when I know my exam schedule for my 3rd year exams which usually start during the first weeks of June.

I can foresee that the future for the both of us would be a great and bright one. Why? Read on!

Our Love for another; the bond between her and my sister, Melissa; my parent's approval of our relationship and as well as others!

Most important of all, God's Holy guidance and wisdom that got both of us together in the first place. God, I worship at your feet and honor you with my prayers and praises! Alleluia! Amen!

Though it is not certained when we will actually meet up again, but with God's guidance and wisdom, we are already with each other not by human self but by spirit and thought!

But we have plans that we should meet again during June and as well as in the last few weeks of the year to commemorate the year 2000!

Till then, this is all that I can write for now about her visit during the last few weeks of the year 1998

Text and contents within this page last updated on the 9th of January 1999.