Sorry, this is slightly old news but I think I totally forgot to mention it. I’m an airhead like that.

There are tons of really great photos from this year’s Vesak celebrations online here.

As usual, if you want bigger copies of any of them just let me know.

A few days ago I was staying with a lovely couple who organise for volunteers to go to Central American countries like El Salvador and live and help in the communities. They told me that the biggest misconception they come across is that people feel that if they’re not Bill Gates, or some other major benefactor, they can’t make a difference. That’s just not true, small voices can be just as powerful as big voices. Sometimes it only takes $2 or $5 to provide medicine to someone for a day or $20 to provide internet access for them for a whole month. We don’t have to be millionaires to really make a difference in people’s lives.

Eric Chua, Tick Koon’s son, is shaving his head to help kids with cancer here in Singapore. If you don’t know anything about childhood cancer, like leukaemia and lymphoma, it’s much more virulent than adult cancer (it spreads faster) and it can devastate the lives of kids and their families, disrupting schooling, making them feel ill all the time, requiring frequent medical treatment and even hospitalisation. And it’s not rare!

You can make a pledge to support these kids and their families by sponsoring Eric, and it doesn’t matter if it’s big or small… you will be making an important positive difference in the life of somebody who really needs your support.

A number of members were recognised for more than 30 years of service to the Shrine at our post-Vesak AGM on Saturday, 30th May.

Here they are (I didn’t have good pics of everyone, so apologies for the quality of a couple of them):

Ken & Angela

Charlie

Eddie

Ricky

Willie

Vincent

Karen (with Zong Herc)

Mdm Teo Chew Eng & Mdm Lim Hui Hua

Chek Hwee

Many of you will know that about 6 months ago Casper, the temple dog at our Shrine, had a stroke.

He struggled back physically from that, but he kept his good nature throughout and was always quick with a friendly greeting or wagging tail for everyone.

On Sunday, after greeting all his friends on the first open Shrine day after Vesak, he passed away peacefully, after a long and happy 21 years.

We invite everyone to join us next Shine opening day, Sunday June 14, to sing 5 songs for his deliverance.