Ordinary. Simple. Common. Mediocre.

These adjectives would be used if I've been asked to share more about my life.

I always have problem to talk more about my background or who I am in a more personal manner. When I am in a group, I tend to be a listener than to engage my opinion. I love to listen though. And people love to share with me their stories, be it sad one, or happy. Often, friends or acquaintance shared their secret with me too as if my forehead had a label called "You can safely share your secret here".

I took up my challenge to be bold and brave to talk more about myself today.

Source image with some editting

This will be my 2nd introduction post because for the 1st one, I mainly talked about my 2nd son who has congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). He is a survivor of it and now battling its complication.

You can check out the story here:
https://steemit.com/introducemyself/@iamjadeline/big-hello-to-all-steemians-this-is-a-long-intro-so-thank-you-in-advance-for-time-and-love

I am from Malaysia, grew up in a small place called Sibu, Sarawak. However I was born at Kuantan, Pahang, which later on at the age of 2, my family shifted to Sarawak. We are a family of 4 siblings, me being the 2nd one.

The Lee's family

I grew up as what teachers and friends usually called me, "top-student, talented girl but too shy and timid". My parents tried to help me out by enrolling me into modern organ class. I enjoyed every classes until I was selected to join a state competition. Back then I was 7 years old. Anyway I joined and I won a consolation prize. But the whole experience at stage was a scary one I almost freezed.

What I can recall is, almost in my entire life, I was selected to join competitions that I was reluctant to join merely because it had to do with STAGE. I didn't like to be in the limelight. I prefer to stay low profile and enjoy what I do whether it is art, or playing instrument, dancing or acting - and do it at home. The most relaxing competition is art competition or poster competition. No stage involved. You create your masterpiece at home and send to school and the teacher will do the rest. Or I joined art competition at stage but I was in a crowd of contestants, so no limelight, no fear.

At the age of 8, teacher spotted I naturally could dance so she asked me to perform for a 'cha-cha' dance. Overall, the experience was good because I was not the only one on stage, so I guess no one would pay attention just on me. Basically, to sum it all, from primary school to secondary school, all the competition or high post in activities were my teachers' selection, not me; story-telling competition, singing competition, National song competition, debate competition, become prefect, become President of a Club, even to be a committee of class I would opt to be a secretary than the Captain. Phew!

That was me. Shy. Timid. And I am still today. I think.

Life took its detour when I personally experience Jesus' love in depth. I grew up hearing about Jesus day in and day out from one of my friends during childhood but I never really had interest to know more. Until when I came to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to study at college, I encountered God in a very personal and loving manner at church. Since then, my heart was to serve God and serve His people. I told him after I graduated from college I would serve him my whole life. I graduated in 2002 with Bachelor of Science (major in Chemistry and Biology) and I was given the chance to be sponsored to study overseas at Campbell University for free due to my outstanding result. But I declined as I was too eager to serve the Lord fulltime. I carefully explained to my family and it took years for them to understand. That was a journey itself that somehow I saw a glimpse of my courage. My family now are all Christians and I am so happy for that.

Forgive me as I don't have a photos of any above because most of my childhood photo were at my hometown Sarawak.

I started serving the Lord as Ministry Trainee at my church here in the town. With a diligence and perseverance, I learned and relearned all that I could, and I availed myself in almost all community works and church activities. I became a house leader in one of our Discipleship Home to take care of nine other girls that stayed with me; teach them the Word (Bible), life, how to do housechores, how to plan time, how to study smart, how to handle love relationship, etc. Every single day, I went back to my college as alumni to reach out to people, telling them about love and Jesus. Without realising, I became a counsellor to a big group of them in managing stress, tackling burnout, heartache from love stories, childhood trauma or pain, forgiveness from being sexually assaulted or molested, etc, too many to list down. All these I would not share further because it is meant to be confidential. None of the above I ever shared it or broadcasted it because to me, most importantly, I saw life changed, I saw gem emerged from dirt and hurt. I saw broken soul being mended and healed by the love of Christ. I saw how some of them also encounter Jesus deeply. Eventhough no one (but a few) might know I had counselled them but it didn't matter because God and His love was (and is) my greatest reward. My love, heart, time and attention are greatly paid off because all of them now are successful young working adults. THIS is the greatest priceless medal!

My senior pastor also entrusted me a group of people for me to pastor, in other words, to lead them to God's word, to empower them with the Word, and to mould them to be a better person. I was reluctant to be a Leader but I took up the challenge all because of Jesus. I became a great Section Overseer of a group of leaders-in-making. I enjoyed every single moment with them. Life is simply beautiful and lovely when you see different strengths and weaknesses blended into one and something marvellous is formed.

Section Gathering for Word, worship and uplifting, as usual I would hide in the crowd.

Leaders-to-be. Each of them has so much potential.

OMG I can't believe I am posting this. Just me in the photo. Be bold, let's do it.

This is one of the many hospital visitations we did. We prayed for the sick and talked to them about love. Usually we were busy to take photo. This particular one we did for Christmas, sending balloons and presents at pediatric ward. I just love giving. If I have all the money in the world, I will give.

We had fun time outing too.

My privilege to baptise @heartscally during one of the outings at beach. She requested for rainbow, so here it is. Look okay or not, @heartscally? Anyway, I love this girl. She is gem of gems. Check her out!

Remember I was afraid of stage? Talk about stage, I would chicken out. However at church, my journey as a backup vocalist at the back corner of the church turned out to be a worship leader leading the congregation to the Lord. Without God, I am nothing. I became a passionate worship leader at my church for almost 10 years, not because of the stage or limelight, but for the heart of worship and the awesome view of people passionately drawing themselves close to God. Still until today, I would tell God "If there by any chance I worship lead again, may I do it with my back facing the congregation?". So you know, I am still a shy person overall. 10 years of worship leading and you are still afraid of stage and to be in the limelight? Yes!!! I am still afraid!

To be in His presence is beyond words to express.

While working for church fulltime, I was a passionate tutor as well. I went to house to give students one-to-one personal coaching of their homework and the particular subject they were weak in. I love teaching because from there you also impart good value and characters to your students.

Fast forward to 2009, I was married to @jasonwes77, the son of my senior pastor, now a proud mother of two sons. After the birth of my 2nd son with CDH in 2014, circumstances forced me to put to halt my ministry at church and worship leading and tutoring. Now I become a fulltime mother and housewife, enjoying every bit of moments at home. Until I can be free to fly again when I reach my 50s or 60s, I am officially Ministry of Home Affairs. Aha! My senior pastor still acknowledge me as the pastor of the church although I am not able to involve much in ministry, and I thank him for the recognition.

So nervous before the ceremony.

Now that's better, with veil covering, not so nervous anymore.

Last but not least, end of last year, I came across Steemit and I rekindled one of my passions - writing and blogging. For all the years in my life, I was not a very photo-related person as in I didn't need to take every photos of every single occasion or places or food. This explains why there are so few photos in this post. I rarely took photos.

One of the 1st thing Steemit taught me is, always take a photo of your food before you eat. Secondly, every photos count, because there is life story in every photo. And each one of them can earn you some $. $0.01 is always better than 0. Also every single song you play and sing can earn you some $ too. I shall ponder on that because so far when I sing a song, I sing to God, at the comfort of my place called home. Will see how it goes when my boldness decides to show up, I may video a song I sing whether with keyboard or guitar or ukulele.

As of now, I am an unsuper, messy, routine-ly, underpaid joyful woman called MOM. Turn it upside down, you got a "WOW".

MOM=WOW

So to all moms, a big "WOW" to you for your awesome job.

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