brosius.sing@yahoo.com to contact us. Click on pictures to enlarge.
September 2009
Who would you think of if you were asked to identify a person with a true servant’s heart? Hopefully all of you can identify at least one person in your lives that can demonstrate this. I had to come all the way to Singapore to find that one person that really stood out for me.
Loon was born over his father’s store in the City of Singapore back in the 50’s. In that time Singapore was really two different worlds. One world was the Kampongs (or small villages) and then there was the city. The kampongs were usually very safe. Because everyone knew everyone in these small villages, if a stranger appeared, the local gang knew and went to check it out. Therefore it was safe for children to go outside and play. The small villages had dirt, grass, trees, and small ponds. The children could go outside and play and not be afraid of being kidnapped and sold into slavery or beat up by the bad local gangs. But Loon grew up in the city. He could not go outside at all to play. He learned to ride a bike at the age of 11 in the small hallway on the first floor of his father’s store. The hall was so narrow that if they fell over they would skin their elbows and knees on the walls. He also learned to fly fighting kites from the flat roof where he lived. He is so proud of the fact that he and his brother took down six other kites in one afternoon with their “glass coated” strings. It is always very hot in Singapore (85-96 degrees) and on most days he wore just shorts, no shirt or shoes. It was not uncommon for them to just have rice for meals. And his family is Buddhist. He grew up in Buddhism and was very faithful to that religion. When his wife Cindy was diagnosed with cancer, his life started changing. The story of Cindy is incredible on its own and must be told on another day. But during all the surgeries and chemo therapy and recovery time, Loon began to realize that praying to his gods was not working. In a time of deep distress he turned to Jesus. He found out the power of prayer to a living God. Cindy has recovered and has been in recession for about five years, but Loon has retained the peace that he found in those stressful days. He followed Jesus even after being rejected by most of his family. Of course his life has not been a cakewalk since he accepted Jesus through faith. But he is a spiritual warrior! He is busy with church affairs usually about five nights a week. He visits sick people on Saturdays and Sundays. In fact I went with him today during our lunch break to visit a nice man in his early forties that is dying of Colon cancer. Loon’s love for helping people is truly amazing. When I mention anything to him about cutting back to not get burned out, he humbly looks at me and says “It is not me but God working through me. By going to visit these people that are sick, it not only blesses them, but it blesses me also.” I know firsthand the blessing that Loon brings to these people. Last year during my time of healing, he would come visit me also. When he prayed for me, the Peace of the Lord that filled me was beautiful. So this column is about my friend Loon. He is the man with the biggest servants heart that I know.
Joyfully, Bob and Barb
PS. If you have not taken the time to check out the NICS website(www.nics.org), we would encourage you to do so. ICS (International Community School, www.ics.edu.sg) in Singapore is one school of many in the NICS network. We are truly blessed to be part of this ministry
Because He said Go.
May 2009
Count Down! 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1…It’s hard to believe that on May 20 there will only be ten days of school left. As in the past, all of my students have a “summer” related picture on the bulletin board. Starting with the same number of students in my class as the remaining days of school, we have a daily count down. At the end of the school year, there are no more pictures on the board, no more prizes in the basket, and no more students in the classroom. So as we think back on this past year, let’s see if I can remember what helped to make the days fly.
10-Ten months of school! It’s true that the seasons didn’t change much. We started with hot, sunny days and pretty much stayed that way all year. Three students left my class at Christmas, but five others joined. The numbers in my class have actually stayed steady but the student population as a whole has gone down. The financial crisis has hit Singapore pretty hard. The registration for next fall is down by almost one fourth. In Maine, if lots of people lose their jobs, the student population size still stays the same. In an international school, when jobs are cut, the families go home and class size decreases, sometimes drastically.
9-Actually, the number of teachers and staff leaving ICS after this year is about double that. Some are leaving for other NICS schools or various other ministries. Many are leaving because of necessary financial cuts here at ICS. Please pray for many teachers and their families as they seek God’s direction. This has been emotionally tough for us as we will be saying good-bye to some very dear friends, people who have loved and supported us through this past year.
8-It’s been eight months that Bob has struggled with ongoing medical concerns. Sometimes it’s been difficult to see the good in this and we have been discouraged at times. Please continue to pray for Bob, especially for complete healing.
7-We have had 7 different relatives come to visit! Some came more than once. Nephew Kenny, jumpstarted his journey around Asia! Daughter Ember and Vishal, enjoyed a little of the sights of Singapore, but mostly spent time just visiting with us! Nephew Jeremy and Angela, especially enjoyed the food from fish brains to chicken gonads! Son Andy and Nok, all of us enjoyed delicious Thai dishes prepared by Nok and some of us went down in defeat with an ongoing Sequence competition. Family is WONDERFUL!
6-I can think of 6 fun things we do here in Singapore that we never did back home. Field trip to the local water park at $2 a student, including wave pools, lazy rivers and giant slides. Seeing if you can spot your “pet” gecko by sneaking into a darkened room at night and flipping the lights on. Thinking of new and exotic things to eat that you haven’t tried before…(the latest being giant prawn or shrimp including the ENTIRE thing, head, protruding eyeballs and legs) Counting the wild monkeys when you walk in the park. Watching out for falling durian when you walk in the park. Having to get up early enough on Saturday mornings to talk to our grandchildren before they go to bed.
5-Grade 5! After teaching 4th grade for 15 years, I have really loved the transition to fifth. Although it’s true, the students can sometimes be a challenge, especially when the hormones start to kick in! Still, it’s a perfect age. They are stimulated academically and enjoy thinking outside of the box. They have a great sense of humor, and some of them have really started to gain some depth in character. They genuinely consider “what would Jesus do?” in their actions and interactions.
4-We have 4 weeks home in the states this summer. That’s a little less time than last year because of Bob needing to use some time off during the school year. We arrive in Oregon on June 12 and stay for a week. June 13 Son Micah graduates from Oregon State. We arrive in Maine June 22, flying into Boston. Two weeks is just not long enough for Daughter Kim and Ray, grandchildren Josh and Abby and Oma and lots of other family members. Finally, we’ll drive down to Washingon DC to see daughter Ember and Vishal for a week before Bob leaves to return to Singapore. Barb has two more weeks, mostly in Maine before flying out of Boston.
3-We moved into a new church building last fall and it’s only 3 kilometers away. We have even walked home from church. More often we go out to eat with many of our friends. It’s so much fun to eat out with friends, partly because eating is such a community event. You get to taste a little of everything. After the wonderful singing and sharing at church, it’s just natural to continue, sometimes for the entire afternoon.
2-OK, it’s actually 2 hundred. That’s how much our rent went up for next year. Still, we are able to manage that. If it had been more, we would have been forced to move. We are still very thankful that for 2 years our rent was so much lower than what others were paying. Thanks for praying that we could stay.
1-One Way…Jesus did say “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We believe this to be true. And we continue to believe that Singapore is where God wants us to be.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. We hope to see many of you this summer.
Joyfully, Bob and Barb
PS. If you have not taken the time to check out the NICS website(www.nics.org), we would encourage you to do so. ICS (International Community School, www.ics.edu.sg) in Singapore is one school of many in the NICS network. We are truly blessed to be part of this ministry
Because He said Go.
March 2009
Greetings from Singapore,
It certainly does seem that time is going by much faster than it ever used to. From a scientific standpoint, we’re pretty sure that time doesn’t actually go faster on this side of the world, although it is true that we are twelve hours ahead of you. It’s been said that time seems to go faster as you get older, but let’s not even go there. Oh yes, time DOES go faster when you get to the last quarter of the school year! I think that may be because we are trying to finish all of the expected curriculum in nine short weeks. Two things I’ve learned…trying to fit everything in at the end of the school year is something teachers try to do all over the world AND fitting everything in just isn’t possible. Let me quickly share a few things that are happening here, along with some prayer requests.
This past week was spring break. We spent a few days in Bali, Indonesia. Most people, when imagining a tropical island, picture a place like Bali. (as compared to Singapore’s massive ships, docks and constant activity of loading and unloading). Bob managed the two hour flight, which was good practice for our much longer journey to come home in June. Health concerns continue to surface unexpectedly. The doctors are unable to identify the cause. Please pray that God would heal Bob completely.
Next, we will soon begin negotiations for our apartment. We have a two year contract for our current location. If you remember, Bob was able to obtain this apartment just before the already high prices began to skyrocket. Bob locked in our contract in May. When we actually moved here in July, the costs for similar apartments had almost doubled. We have been so thankful for this tremendous blessing. As contracts run out, many people have to move because they cannot afford higher rents. This could mean greater distances traveled to work, smaller quarters and less desirable locations. The down economy will probably work to our advantage. Many people have been “retrenched”. (lost their job). Already many ex-pats (ex-patriots or foreigners) have had to return home. Although, obviously this is not good for Singapore or for ICS, it is good for us seeking a good rental price for our apartment. If possible, we would very much like to stay where we are. We have been advised through our agent (like a real estate broker but dealing solely with finding and negotiating rental contracts) to wait until April to approach the owner. If we cannot stay here, we will then have to find a new apartment and move the week after school gets out. Aside from the actual move, there are many costly and time-consuming details that must be attended to. Please pray for God to put us exactly where we need to be.
Finally, a little about school. Much of our time is spent doing “school stuff.” Bob keeps the servers going, fixes computers, maintains firewalls. I teach fractions and ancient civilizations. It’s true I also teach Bible and am able to model good, godly characteristics. When there are student issues, maybe a case of increasing meanness (most of the students may be Christian, but they’re not perfectJ), it is wonderful to remind them that they are all precious in God’s sight and each student should be treated with kindness and respect. However, sometimes God reminds us of the reason why we are doing this here, instead of back in Maine. I’d like to share an email from a parent. Here is a little background.
This student came in the middle of the school year. Soon after, the mom met with me. She asked about her child’s progress, especially regarding concerns that this was his first time in an English speaking school. She then shared that she was a bad mother because she frequently screamed at her child. She wanted him to excel, because anything less reflected poorly on her. This is a common extension of the Asian desire to excel. She explained that she had attended the “Moms in Touch” meeting. She was amazed at the way the mothers interacted, openly shared their concerns and prayed for their children and each other. She also ended up sharing and cried openly. She knew that these mothers would hate and shun her for being a bad mother. At the same time, she wanted to learn more. She didn’t know anything about being a Christian but she liked what she saw. At that time, I encouraged her to join one of the many Bible studies offered to the parents/moms. Two weeks later I received this email.
Mrs. Brosius,
I went to ICS mom's bible study last week and today .Now, I've found the one I was exactly looking for. We've watched Beth Moore's DVD, Living beyond yourself series, and took notes on workbook, and shared each other's thoughts. It gives me really impressive, clear message between I and my children. Last week, I've learned that I have to put up with the way of my children, not to force my thought to them. Today's lesson was that we have to pour ourselves out for somebody else. Whenever I spend myself and draw out my soul, my heart will feel healed.
One more thing...I had a really suprised thing about two weeks ago.My son was singing .."Create me..A clean heart..." from the bible song whichhe learned a class. He rarely sang a song by himself, but he sang that song very joyfully the night. And next day morning, I just tried to pray with my son and daughter in the morning, and read a bible, and my son found some sentences from that song. I used a Korean bible, so sorry I don't know its English title. It may sounds minor thing, but I rarely pray with my children, and neither by myself. I just want to let you know some change of my life and I will try to keep changing, really.
Yesterday, Sunday night, my son said that he's dying for waiting Monday,meeting friends, and going to school. He loves to go to school.
Thanks for everything
I hope this email gives you a glimpse of what God is doing here at ICS. Thanks for your continued prayers and support.
Joyfully, Bob and Barb
PS. If you have not taken the time to check out the NICS website(www.nics.org), we would encourage you to do so. ICS (International Community School, www.ics.edu.sg) in Singapore is one school of many in the NICS network. We are truly blessed to be part of this ministry
Because He said Go.
January 2009
Gifts at Christmas
Here it is! The beginning of a new year! The past year certainly held some unexpected surprises. We obviously did not envision Bob experiencing the medical concerns that he has faced. We still are trusting God (sometimes patiently and sometimes not so much) that complete healing is just around the corner. We did have to cancel some travel plans and adjust activities around Bob’s health. In addition to that, holidays away from home and family can make it easy to miss the joy. BUT….you can choose joy. No matter what the circumstances, you can look for the gifts. So here’s our Christmas list, the gifts of love and joy that helped us through the season.
Orchard Road Christmas
1. A Christmas Tree! Some of our wonderful ICS parents packed up a 7’ tree after the school Christmas concert, completely decorated with bows, bulbs and lights and brought it home for us. We insisted that we were ok with our 1’ tree (pretty Charlie Brownish) but they insisted we needed this tree. They were right. It is lovely.
2. School Christmas Concert! What a joy to watch these kids understand and share the true meaning of Christmas. I may be a little biased, but the fifth grade students were incredible when they performed a rhythm piece with various drums and beats. To quote my students, “We ROCK!”
3. Christmas Dinner! About 60 percent of our students are missionary kids. Like us, they have limited resources. On the other hand, some of our parents work for large companies with abundant resources. We shared a wonderful Christmas dinner with a gracious family, in a beautiful home, singing, sharing, plus enjoying turkey and REAL ham (not the Asian spam version), southern dishes (Texan) and good old apple and pecan pie. We even went home with lots of leftovers.
4. Boxing Day! This is an English tradition, getting together the day after Christmas. We were invited to a traditional English dinner with people from our church, the kind of meal with many courses and you need to use the correct silverware at the correct time. We were a little out of our element but we had a wonderful time, right down to the English triffle.
5. Apple Crisp from MAINE! We received a package from the USA from some wonderful, sweet people from our home church. Ray and Vivian, you just don’t know how much joy that gift under the tree brought to us. We haven’t cooked it yet, but we have the apples and the oven. (Most people in Singapore do NOT have ovens, but our little counter top does just fine.) You are definitely a little crazy, spending that much for shipping, but nothing says lovin’ like something from the oven….from someone who cares.
6. Cards and emails! We got lots of Christmas cards in our mailbox! They’re taped up in the kitchen, just like we used to do in Maine. I know the stamp cost a little more, but thanks so much for sending them. They’ll probably stay up until MayJ We also got lots of friendly emails, wishing us Merry Christmas.
7. SKYPE! Seeing Josh and Abby (the grandkids) on Christmas Day opening their presents from us (thanks Kim for doing all the shopping and wrapping) Also listening in to all the activity that morning and seeing Ember and Vishal able to join them. And talking with all the relatives gathering at Oma’s for the big, Biggs Christmas get-together.
8. A week with our son Andy and his girlfriend Nok! When we were unable to travel to see them, they came to see us. What a wonderful, awesome week we had. Water parks, Chinese Garden, treetop bridges, monkeys, roti prata, swimming and playing sequence. Actually, the sequence was a week-long marathon, sometimes with the ladies in the lead, and sometimes the men. After 28 games, it ended with a tie! We look forward to continuing the competition when we see them again in March. They’ve moved back to Thailand, so it will be easier to get together.
9. A letter from a student! This is a fun-loving, impulsive student from a non-Christian home. This is his first time in an English speaking school, and also, obviously, his first exposure to Christianity. He sometimes made choices that landed him in trouble and he was sometimes frustrated with all the “Jesus” talk. He left a letter on my desk the last day of school. I’ll share just a little. “I don’t know why but I couldn’t stop doing silly things. I like being silly, but it gets to like a big trouble. When I’m doing Bible we always talk about Jesus Christ. I’m doing bad things so I thought that maybe Jesus is not living in my heart and maybe Jesus can help me and let me go to the good way. I pray for Jesus in my heart.” This was our greatest gift.
So Merry Christmas. We trust that you had a wonderful holiday and that you also had similar gifts to enjoy and treasure. Jesus is the reason for the season, God’s precious gift to us all.
Joyfully,
Bob and Barb
PS. If you have not taken the time to check out the NICS website(www.nics.org), we would encourage you to do so. ICS (International Community School, www.ics.edu.sg) in Singapore is one school of many in the NICS network. We are truly blessed to be part of this ministry
Because He said Go.
November 2008
“Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Ok, there are all kinds of verses in the Bible that talk about going through troubles and trials. Right after that first verse, David also proclaims of God “You turned my wailing into dancing. You removed my sackcloth (clothes of mourning) and clothed me with joy.”
Being a Christian does not mean that you have a magic genie that produces all the desires of your heart. Bob continues to experience various health problems. The healing process has been slow and often unpredictable. Quite honestly, we have not been doing a lot of dancing with joy lately. But we’ve discovered another promise from God about “learning the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Learning that secret has been a lot more challenging than learning how to eat chicken feet! Although you can NOT always change your circumstances, you can choose to be content in that circumstance. Here are some pictures of joy that we have experienced along the way.
A visit from Ember and Vishal! Our daughter was able to come first, and then a little later, Vishal. We walked to a park close to our apartment. Vishal and Ember were able to walk barefoot on a special “foot-massaging” stone pathway. OOH, OW, OUCH! We’ve observed since, that most people stand in one spot and gently move their feet, instead of actually walking on the stones! (sorry Ember and Vishal) We also went out to dinner with our good friends, Rebecca and Yugin. The main dish was curry fish-head soup. I was instructed that the meat on the cheek was especially good, while Vishal swallowed the eye without blinking an …… well, an eye! After dinner, we all went out for durian. This is definitely an acquired Singaporean taste. Cut up durian is outlawed on public transit because the smell is so offensive. After eating, the smell actually exudes from your skin and breath. There is more information I could share, but it may be too much for weak stomachs J
School, a source of joy! I have 21 students this year. Recently I surveyed the class and learned that only five consider America as their “home”. I actually have more students who list America on their passports but they have never lived there. Of the five “American” students, two were Koreans who have never lived in Korea. I have 15 different countries represented in my classroom. ICS now has a new web page. If you haven’t been there recently, you may want to check it out. http://www.ics.edu.sg/home/index.php We are also using a program where parents and students can access their grades and information on line. You are welcome to visit the site, (address at the bottom of this paragraph) although you will only be able to see the homeroom page, with class picture and weekly updates. I have placed pictures of my students for each subject, and some of them were quite humorous. Here is my “listening/speaking” picture. We recently had “Spiritual Life Week”. This included a chapel speaker from the states who had a nephew in my class. She came and talked with our class, sharing funny stories about Austin. More recently, we had school spirit week, where we raise school spirit by dressing up. “Preppy” day was probably the favorite, with mismatch day a close second. Our trip to the science center was fun and educational at the same time. Why is “lunch at McDonalds” always the highpoint of every school fieldtrip? One other “school” story…. I’ve started teaching reading to a small group of third graders. We were reading a story about Santa Claus and a small discussion came up about leaving out a treat for Santa on Christmas Eve. When asked what type of treat would be left out, one adorable little boy volunteered, “Oh, oh, I know….cookies and beer!” He was quite hurt by the ensuing laughter. (I’m sorry to say, some of it by his teacher) Apparently, in Scotland, Santa has grown tired of milk and hot chocolate.
https://www.edline.net/pages/International_Community_School/Classes/HOMEROOM_-_Barbara_Brosius_-_B
Thanksgiving! We were invited to the home of a friend (whose husband works for a large business…meaning they enjoy a much higher income than ICS teachers). We feasted on turkey (usually about $70 for a small one). Our nephew Kenny is also here from the states for a short visit. Finally, after dinner we enjoyed GREEN MOUNTAIN coffee. My friend insisted that I bring home a full bag of blueberry coffee! What sweet memories of home.
The care package Kenny brought from our home church, Hope! Enough bags of smarties, which I really do use as a teaching tool, that I can keep one bag for myself. Sweet Vadalia Onion salad dressing! Yugin says that it is so good that he could maybe even enjoy eating salad. But then, what does he know…he loves durian! A new, compact Bible, small enough to carry to church. Heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the love that went into that care package.
Our Singaporean Church! the one that just moved out of a rented hall into a church-owned new facility. It is walking distance from home. We are thankful for our wonderful friends, especially those made at our cell group (home Bible study). The group has recently been studying Levy Tickus. (It did take us a few minutes to figure out that was actually the third book in the Bible, Leviticus).
So much to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving! We read recently that Thanksgiving should be a way of living, not just a day. We ARE thankful for that day of feasting with turkey and pecan pie. But we’re also thankful for the frequent trips to the “hawker” food stalls with carrot cake for breakfast (kind of like fried hash-brown potatoes and egg, but made with white carrots instead of potatoes) very yummy, especially when “spicy”, and also prata (fried Indian flat bread and curry) and laksa (noodles with a coconut based spicy sauce), and Chinese dumplings and satay (marinated meat on a stick), and prawn noodle soup, and beehoon with fake meat (rice noodles with vegetarian toppings), and fresh lime juice with sour plum. There are awesome things to do on a Saturday afternoon. The Chinese Gardens with the many bonsai trees and large lizards. The Har Par Village, kind of a Chinese storyland. The Chinese cemetery.
Finally, we are thankful for God’s patient help as we continue to learn about the secret of learning to be content in every situation. By the way, that secret is that we can do everything through Jesus Christ, who gives us the strength. When God speaks to our Christian Singaporean friends, which He DOES, he often speaks in “Singlish”. So when he tells us to be content in every situation, He then assures us…”CAN, LAH!”
Joyfully,
Bob and Barb
PS. If you have not taken the time to check out the NICS website(www.nics.org), we would encourage you to do so. ICS (International Community School, www.ics.edu.sg) in Singapore is one school of many in the NICS network. We are truly blessed to be part of this ministry
Because He said Go.
October 2008
Lessons
There are so many lessons to be learned here in Singapore, and not all of them are in the classroom. The last five weeks have been a medical rollercoaster ride with Bob, including two surgeries and several complications. Right now, he appears to be improving and we continue to pray for complete healing. Throughout the process, we have learned some very valuable lessons and we would like to share them.
The first could be explained with the quote “The best laid plans of mice and men…” or instead, a quote from James, “Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city…Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” Although we might make very good plans, worthy, important plans, God may choose to completely rearrange or even cancel those plans. Whatever Bob may have intended for the IT department at ICS, instead his attention and energies were directed to his own physical needs.
Second, just because you are doing something “good”, that is not a guarantee that you have a magic protection from all harm. Even if you are willing to follow God’s direction, leave family and go to live on the other side of the world, you can still get sick. That might seem pretty obvious, but we sometimes try to convince God of this human logic. When someone is facing a life threatening situation, how often do we explain to God that He can't take that person because they are too good or too valuable. We do not have a promise of only good things from God’s hands. Job, in the midst of terrible hardship, said to his wife, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
Here is another lesson that we have been learning. There are so many people who love and care for us. We have had so many people praying for us, encouraging us through our discouragement. Meals, ice cream, surprise visits, calls, emails, heartfelt prayers. The outpouring of support has touched our hearts. In II Corinthians, Paul said “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in…Asia…But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” We are so very thankful to all who have helped us through this time.
Finally, we have learned that hard times really do bring you closer to God. Whether experiencing an “up-progress, improvement, great rejoicing” or a “down-complications, returning symptoms, fear”, we discovered that the best, actually the only place to be is near to God, seeking His guidance, compassion and reassurance. We have grown by leaps and bounds spiritually. Although we certainly continue to trust God for complete healing, we wouldn’t have missed out on these lessons for anything.
Continuing in Joy,
Bob and Barb
PS. If you have not taken the time to check out the NICS website(www.nics.org), we would encourage you to do so. ICS (International Community School) in Singapore is one school of many in the NICS network. We are truly blessed to be part of this ministry.
Because He said Go.
September 2008
It’s been three months since we last sent an update, and so much has happened. Actually, the time can be split into two distinct areas, time at home and time back in Singapore. Here is a quick summary of each.
Home! It was truly wonderful. Time in America was all we hoped it could be. There are so many great memories. Grandchildren, Kim and Ray! Sleepovers, camping at Storyland, s’mores, McDonald’s, chasing waves at the ocean, cookouts, just hanging out, Josh’s birthday party, going out to eat with just Kim, playing games, going to the playground and lots and lots of hugs. Oma! (my mother) and family cook-outs, Boothbay Harbor, playing dominoes (her favorite pastime) meals and visits with brothers and my sister, taking Oma to doctor visits, just spending precious time together. Oregon! Seeing our son Micah and his wife Jessica, camping at the ocean, kayaking together, cheering at a rodeo, just hanging around Corvallis and learning about their life there. Roadtrips! Friends and relatives in Vermont, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Sharing all of our experiences here in Singapore. Just enjoying driving a vehicle, even though at the end of the road, Bob sold his pickup truck. It was really fun while we had it. Churches! We loved being back at Hope, seeing the awesome new building, dinner with our old cell group, seeing friends at Kennebec Valley (KVAG) and being welcomed and encouraged, speaking at a church in NY without Bob and actually doing ok, sharing at Hope and feeling like we were just talking with a lot of good friends (ok, A LOT of friends at the same time) being loved and missed by so many, many brothers and sisters, much needed encouragement and counsel from Pastor Glen. Last, but not least, Food! Hamburgers cooked on the grill, steak, salmon, lobster chowder, roast beef, steamed clams, lobster, scallops, Dairy Queen, all KINDS of ice cream, homemade cookies, incredible desserts, more than 2 kinds of salad dressing, English muffins, corn on the cob, fresh strawberries…ok, I guess you get the idea.
Coming home was truly a blessing, every minute was enjoyed and savored. These are experiences that we will be thankful for, remember and treasure throughout the coming year. We would like to acknowledge and thank the people who have supported us financially throughout this past year. ICS provides a good education to many missionary children at a drastically reduced cost. This is only possible if teacher and staff salaries are kept very low. We have been able to meet basic needs, but trips home to visit family would not be possible without this support. We are so grateful to the people who have faithfully given financial support. Homesickness and concerns for family left behind are the greatest hardships for missionaries. Words are just not sufficient to express our appreciation. To the people who made this trip home possible, we thank you. We also pray that God will bless and encourage you this coming year.
The rest of this update will be about our return to Singapore. Bob came back two weeks before me to assure that the computers were ready for the new school year. Things were so much easier for Bob this year, with so many of the major changes already in place. Naturally, there was still a huge amount of work to accomplish. Before school started, we had ten days for teacher workshops and training. This There were many new teachers trying to adjust to life in an Asian country and work at an international school. Although this is only our second year, we were able to help the “newbies”, explaining the transportation, church options, and of course, the food. It was wonderful when all the preparations were over and school actually began on August 13. I have 21 students this year and it’s been great getting to know them. I’ll tell you more about the new school year next time.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. We’re so thankful for the precious blessing of coming home. We’re also thankful to be back and know that God is using us here. Please pray for discernment in regards to balance in our lives. There is always so much to do here and many opportunities to work, minister and serve. In an effort to improve the quality of the education provided, there has been a large increase of multiple expectations. Many of the teachers are struggling with an overwhelming workload. How do we balance these demands in a way that avoids burn-out and exhaustion, physical, emotional and spiritual? We are truly seeking God’s guidance in this area. Next, please pray for God’s leading in regards to where we should serve next year. At this time, we believe we will stay here at ICS, but we are open to His continued direction.
Thank you. God is good, all the time.
Joyfully, Bob and Barb
Because He said Go.
Diversity!
May 2008 (Just click on the pictures to enlarge).
Diversity! Many people think that this one word, diversity, sums up Singapore . There are four independent, separate groups living here. They have individual ethnic backgrounds, religions, food, and dress. In many ways this acceptance of other cultures is Singapore ’s greatest strength. We have Chinese, Indian, Malay and Western. The Western ex-patriots (ex-pats) are predominantly English speaking, coming from America , Canada , Australia and the UK . This category also includes citizens from many other countries. Signs and verbal instructions are usually given in Mandarin, Tamil, Malay and English. We have four television stations, one devoted to each language. At the hawkers, (local food stalls) the diversity is wonderful. Bob and I have really started to understand and appreciate the differences in cuisine, even beginning to distinguish between dishes from different regions of China . It’s not all just “Chinese”, just as New England clam chowder is not the same as TexMex. For dinner, we must decide if we want beehoon or horfun. When we order fishball soup, or Laksa, claypot or rotti prata, we know exactly what we’re getting. Carrot cake is for breakfast, and it’s not actually cake. We think nothing now of eating with chopsticks, something we never thought we could accomplish. When we went to Taiwan to visit our son Andy, we truly missed the diversity of food and tastes.
Singapore is proud of their diversity. A taxi driver once asked, “Where else can you see a Synagogue, a Mosque, a Church and a Temple side by side? No fighting, no threats, guns or bombs.” We enjoyed listening to this particular driver, a Sikh, tell about his Indian father, imprisoned by the Japanese during WWII. Both Singaporeans and Americans value freedom of religion. This is a right that we treasure and protect. Diversity can be a very good thing. There are many areas where people can agree to disagree. What is appropriate dress for school, work and play? What television shows are worth watching? Who do you support for president? How do you invest for your retirement? The list is endless. Even within Christian churches, there is no guarantee of unity. From…. What kind of music to include in the morning service?...to How does the Holy Spirit work in our lives?...to Should communion bread be bread or crackers? It would be arrogant and offensive, (not to mention sometimes silly) to think that everyone must always agree on every issue.
We don’t want to offend people. We realize that there are people who read this update who do not believe Christianity is the only way to God. They just want to learn about our lives in Singapore. Here in Asia, many diverse paths leading to God are evident. Gifts of food left at altars, burning paper money for spirits, prayer wheels and flags, beautiful temples with intricate, hand-carved statues. What happens when you truly start to know, understand and genuinely love people who do not believe that Jesus is God’s son? In an effort to not offend anyone, we were in danger of sending an update that said nothing at all. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father, except by me.” We are working at a school where almost half of the families represented are involved with Christian missionary ministries. Yes, they are meeting physical needs, tsunami/cyclone/earthquake relief, orphanages, job training, providing medical, educational and social benefits. But their main priority, the driving force, is to spread the gospel. ICS, by providing educational needs for missionary families, is part of that. In our letters, we always include “Because He said Go.” We go in order to tell. Probably one of the most quoted verses in the Bible is “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not die but have eternal life.” We believe that is true, and that is why we are here.
Joyfully, Bob and Barb Because He said Go.
April 2008 Precious Children!
What an experience, going to Kerala, India. We expected to be loved and be touched and to love in return the 135 children living at the Precious Children Orphanage. We were surprised and grateful to also get to know and love the 18 precious middle school students who went with us. The days were busy. After a full day of school, we all met at the airport at 6:30PM. Along with 8 adult chaperones, the team arrived in the middle of the night. Our one hour bus ride became three hours, when we encountered a local festival. There were floats and crowds dancing in the streets. We slept a little late on Good Friday morning, but the children were waiting. Our program provided activities throughout the day. We arrived with plans and materials, prepared to minister to the elementary children in the morning and the middle school and high school kids in the afternoon. That was the first change in plan. The children were entering school vacation and the orphanage selected various teams to come in and provide programs throughout the day, ALL DAY for ALL the CHILDREN!
We all learned to be flexible that week. Sports-Where Bob and another chaperone Darren, planned to assist Jason, our school Phys Ed teacher, they now found themselves in charge of several activities. We brought various equipment, soccer balls, basketballs, Frisbees, bad mitten rackets. First we learned that most of the kids did not know how to play any organized sports. Even throwing the ball around in a circle, from one child to another, could be a challenge. Also, every day the equipment all disappeared, squirreled away, hidden here and there by the children. Every morning, Bob went searching for enough balls to direct some games. Finally, we also had to adapt to some cultural rules. The older girls could not play in any games with older boys. They also could not utilize the playground in the front of the compound.
The art teacher, Sharon, brought all kinds of supplies for every age level. Her biggest adjustment was trying to fit too many kids into one area. There just weren’t enough desks to go around. Her middle school helpers would take half of the group outside to play, while the other half quickly learned how to make the day’s craft project. The day before we left, Sharon spent some time with the head of the girl’s dorm and taught her how to use all of the craft materials that we left behind. The children should have crafts to do for quite some time. As the Bible teacher, my lessons went pretty much according to plan. It is true that I had a translator for everything I said. But the children enjoyed acting out some of the stories. And they all loved the packets that I made before coming. I had 6-8 worksheets for each day’s lesson, some just coloring, others more difficult like picture searches and crossword puzzles. We also provided a short chapel each morning and afternoon. Bob and I both played guitars. Bob did an awesome job. His guitar playing is so much better than mine. He actually stood up on the stage and played while the middle school students stood on the floor doing motions and leading the songs. When it rained, we had to adjust all of our plans, but everything worked out.
So that is the program that we planned and pretty much carried out. That was what was expected of us. What was unexpected was the outpouring of love and compassion from our middle school students. We had some “free time”: before 9:30AM, an hour for lunch, after 4:30. We were encouraged to spend some of that time with the children, play with them, visit their rooms, help serve meals, perhaps lead evening devotions with a verse or short thought. Our kids didn’t offer “some” of their time, they gave it all. They were hugged, sat on, crowded, led here and there, sung to, talked to, and smothered by those precious children. Here is one example. The Orphanage, affiliated with Prison Fellowship, is a Christian organization. The children have devotions every morning at 5:30AM, followed by chores, breakfast and school. In the evening, they have devotions again at 6:30PM. It was not even considered that our students would be able or willing to get up for 5:30AM. We didn’t even mention it. THEY requested it. The one or two kids that “signed up” for devotions were not the only ones that came. They almost all came, all the time. Our kids genuinely came to love those kids.
On the last day (actually, even before that) there were lots of tears. The orphanage said they had never had a team that spent so much time with the kids. They had never been loved so much by a visiting team. The staff members and director were amazed. So were we. It was an experience we’ll never forget. Thank you for praying for us as we went. Thank you for your support that enabled us to go. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Behind every face, every smile is a precious story, a precious child. I’m so thankful for God’s great love, for them and for us.
Joyfully, Bob and Barb
Because He said GO...
March 2008 Happy Chinese New Year from Singapore !
This update is going to be just a little of this and a little of that. First we’d like to tell you about an upcoming mission trip to India . We will be helping lead a group of middle school students from ICS to Kerala , India . We will be gone during our spring break, March 21-30. The team of 17 students and 8 adults will be staying at the Precious Children Orphanage which is affiliated with Prison Fellowship. All of the children in the orphanage have at least one parent in prison. During the day, we will provide a program consisting of Bible study, crafts and games. Our team has already done several activities together getting to know each other better. This has included bowling, sand sculpture at the beach and bike riding on a nearby island. Bob is on the “games team” along with our school PE teacher. This means Bob has very little planning to do since the PE teacher has everything all ready. (little work) Barb is on the “Bible lesson” team. This means Barb is preparing 7 lessons and teaching the middle school students how to present the lessons to kids with limited English. (lots of work) This may have caused some good hearted whining and gloating over our assigned duties. Seriously, we are both very excited about this opportunity, both to reach these precious children in India and also because of the tremendous impact this will have on our own students.
Next we’d just like to tell you a little about Chinese New Year. Because Singapore is such a diverse country, we get to experience a little of many different cultures. We also get many school holidays because this country celebrates them all. We are especially thankful to Rebecca and YuGin, as they graciously guide and instruct us about the culture. YuGin is Singaporean and Rebecca is Malay. They are both also Chinese. They invited us to come to Malaysia for Chinese New Year. This is a huge celebration, similar to our Christmas and New Year. Reunion dinner is very important. All kinds of special dishes are eaten. Rebecca’s family lives near the China Sea , so we also enjoyed going to the beach. The reunion dinner included one dish we have previously avoided. However, it was prepared especially for us, with a delicious gravy and mushrooms. Just as we started to partake, we decided to take a picture. Bob was doing ok until YuGin observed that Bob had already eaten one digit! Actually, with the sauce it was quite tasty, although you do have to spit out the bones.
Living in Singapore can be wonderful. My fifth grade class just took a February field trip to the ocean. We spent all day building sand sculptures and swimming. Back in Maine , we hear they are having a record snow fall. My parent chaperones here were from Korea , Japan , Holland , Indonesia and the US . We love eating at the “hawkers” for $2 a meal, chicken feet not withstanding. Our church is awesome, especially the wonderful people that attend our cell group (Bible study). We have been able to see our youngest son, both here and in Thailand . Bob has made huge changes in the IT department, with more improvements occurring, new projectors, new servers and new programs.
Thank you for the wonderful package from Hope Baptist Church filled with Valentines. Pray for my mother who is recovering from an infection that got into the bone of her foot. And finally, inadequate education for their children is one of the top 3 reasons that missionaries leave the field. We were reminded of this recently, as several missionary moms stated that if we were not here, they would not be here. Thank you for supporting us and this ministry.
Thank you for your prayers and support. Joyfully, Bob andBarb
Because He said GO...
December 2007
Christmas in Singapore -The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful
So much is happening here on the other side of the world. The month of December just flew by. This is a little late. In the past, many of you have received my Christmas cards in January or even February, so this is nothing new. With so much to tell, we’ll just share a few things about celebrating Christmas in Asia .
The GOOD-Working at a Christian school has been wonderful. We have the freedom to really talk about the true meaning of Christmas. The ICS Christmas concert, Cosmic Christmas, was incredible. The entire school was involved. We rented a hall and packed the place out. The costumes and the quality of performances were excellent. More important was the very clear presentation of the gospel. The fifth graders were responsible for demonstrating the conflict between God’s faithful angels and the fallen angels who followed Lucifer. My own class, 5B, was assigned the part of the dark angels. I must say they enjoyed themselves, especially the swords and the macabre make-up. Another wonderful part about Christmas at ICS is that many of the staff members really reach out to each other during the holidays. We were invited to several homes and truly made to feel welcome. Christmas Eve was spent with a family that included us with their tradition of each person opening one gift. We enjoyed watching the three children fly their remote control helicopters, although there were a lot of crash landings. Christmas Day was spent with several families, including our pastor’s. We thoroughly enjoyed turkey, ham, crescent rolls and pecan pie. At our Singaporean cell group party we enjoyed Chinese dumplings, rice noodle soup, green-tea cake and lotus paste desert. We have made some wonderful friendships here, both at school and church. We are very thankful for this, especially at Christmas time.
The BAD-Being away from home at Christmas can be sad. Bob seemed to take this in stride. I was good “most of the time”. At first, I managed by avoiding any thoughts of Christmas, but there were dear friends here that nudged me into the season. I got lots of hugs and encouragement, for which we are both very thankful. It was wonderful to get Christmas greetings from friends back home. We even received real maple syrup and a Farmer’s Almanac, garlic croutons and a calendar showing Westies surfboarding. Finally, we were able to watch Josh and Abby open their gifts and see Oma on the web cam.
The BEAUTIFUL-Singapore is multi-cultural. We have four official languages. Many religions are practiced and it is not unusual to see a Jewish synagogue, Muslim mosque, Hindu temple and Christian church all right next to each other. Respect and acceptance are practiced and encouraged. This year, we didn’t want to miss out on the Christmas lights down on Orchard Road . That is an area of the city that is predominantly western, with big stores and malls. We went and saw all of the trees, beautifully lit up with stars and decorations. On every block, there was a live presentation or concert. At the first mall, we saw Indian dancing and singing. Although the language was Tamil, it didn’t take long to recognize the Christmas story….. Shepherds, wise men, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. As we walked down the long street, the music and presentations were varied, from high church classical concertos, to modern, to Chinese ballads to Indian Bollywood. The message was always the same, Jesus, Gods’ son, born in Bethlehem . I’m not sure how, in America , freedom of religion has become absence of religion. In Singapore , the Christian message was evident, clear and pure.
So Merry Christmas, from Singapore , with the GOOD, the BAD and the BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Joyfully, Bob and Barb
Because He said GO...
November 2007
Ministries ICS Helps Support
Greetings from Singapore! We wanted to tell you a little bit about International Community School. We are a Christian School offering an English speaking, American based education. The school has been growing steadily. This year we started with 360 students and after Christmas break we will have 412. At an international school, the student body is transient. We have some students that will only be here for a year or less. It is common to have students that leave in the middle of a quarter, sometimes with very little warning. Although I knew this would happen, I must say that emotionally I am not ready to lose several of my students in December. Sung hoon and Tae Gu are Korean students. They came to ICS to learn how to speak English. Sung hoon has been here for 2 years and Tae Gu for 5 months. A third student, Joy, may also be leaving. Her parents work with World Vision. They were here working on Tsunami relief. That project is ending in December. They will apply for current openings with World Vision and they are now considering work in Anglola.
The children who attend here represent, through their parents, many ministries. Singapore is a modern city with a great deal of religious freedom. It is also easy to travel to other countries. This is why it is a home base for many ministries working throughout Asia. ICS accepts a wide variety of students, from K4 to 12th grade. We keep our tuition lower than other international schools. Because of this we do attract non-Christian students. Our student body is about 60% Christian. If the parents are involved in a Christian ministry, they can receive up to 60% off their tuition. The school board and our staff are supportive of this policy, although it certainly does have a drastic effect on our budgets (both for ICS and for individual faculty members). Here are some of the ministries represented at ICS.
The Navigators, Korean Seamen’s Mission, Sports Partners, International Mission Board, HCJB Global, Pioneer, Asia Baptist Theological Seminary, World Venture, Barnabas International, Asia-Pacific Strategic Partners, BTJ Gospel Mission, FEBC International, Global Mission Society, Habitat for Humanity, Youth with a Mission, Far East Broadcasting International, Marketplace Bible Institute, FEBA Ministry, Church Resource Ministries, Young Life, Meekness and Truth Ministries, Singapore Bible College, Campus Crusade for Christ, abwe, OC,
And we also have parents that work fulltime with local churches. Some of these are: New Creation Church, Immanuel, International Baptist, Full Gospel Korean, Bethany Church, Grace Baptist Church, Zion Church, Hankook Mission Church, Church of the Nazarene and Diocese of Singapore.
There is actually more than this, but I think you get the picture. The family with Pioneer also go to our church so we have gotten to know them personally. Our home church, Hope Baptist, supports 4 missionaries with Pioneer so we sought this family out just to talk about shared friendships. They also have twin daughters, one named Abigail Grace. When I’m really missing my own granddaughter, Abby (Grace), I know where I can go to get a hug that is just about the right size!
Much of being with ICS is just like working at any school. I teach multiplication and the three branches of government. I scramble to keep up with the curriculum. Bob works with computers and servers, very similar to what he did “back home”. (Except it is a much bigger workload and increasing by the day) At the same time, this IS God’s work. Because of ICS, other missionaries can serve here, knowing that the needs of their children are being met. In addition to that, God is working in the hearts of our students. I can pray with my students. When an issue comes up where someone’s feelings get hurt, I can talk about the worthiness of each child in God’s eyes. Bible principles can be practiced and taught. Tae Gu is leaving ICS after only 5 months. He does not come from a Christian home, but he has seen what genuine Christian love looks like, both from students and staff. He has recently made a decision to believe in Jesus. His parents are aware of this. They are happy with his progress in his ability to speak English. They believe that will have a great impact on his life back in Korea. I am trusting that his spiritual choices will also have a long-lasting impact.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Joyfully, Bob and Barb
Because He said GO...
October 2007
Food in Singapore-
Nothing makes us think “We’re not in Kansas anymore” more than the many different kinds of food that are available. As we stroll through the multitude of hawkers, we can choose from Clay Pot, Pigs Organ Soup, Chicken feet, Fish head soup, Cutle or Dori Fish, prawn and pig knuckles. When we do order our meal, would we like that with rice, porridge, noodles or HorFun? If we decide to have Chinese, does that mean Hokkien or Cantonese or one of the many other varieties offered. Perhaps we’re in the mood for Indian with delicious nan or rotti bread. Or Thai, Indonesian, Malay, the list goes on. After something specific is ordered, you will often find fish and egg mixed in and sometimes other things that we can’t identify. While waiting for our meal, a drink vendor will come to take our orders. Would we like lime juice (delicious and cheap) or perhaps white coffee (chilled coffee with about an inch of condensed milk on the bottom which you stir) or perhaps some bubble tea or grass jelly drink. The drinks often come with fat straws so that you can suck up a multitude of things with your drink, such as red beans or barley chunks or jellied fruit. There are also all kinds of sweets for desert, most of them like nothing we would find at home. Moon cakes are made from lotus paste. There are iced deserts with cane syrup and red beans. Of course, there’s always ice cream. How about some delicious yam, sweet potato or durian ice cream?
Everywhere throughout Asia there are street vendors who sell food. These vendors are known as hawkers. In Singapore, the government has provided designated areas for the hawkers, so many vendors are gathered in one area, instead of out along the street. The food is delicious, especially if you are adventurous. Usually a complete meal is about $3. If you want, you can order from several hawkers and then sit down at any of the tables. They will find you and bring your order.
We have been fortunate in two ways. First, we both love to try new things. Except for the meal that came with those little toothpick-sized, hard crunchy whole fish, (anchovies) we have enjoyed everything. Second, we have made friends with YuGin and Rebecca. They are Singaporean and they love introducing us to new places to eat. The hawkers are everywhere and they are cheap. If you go to a nice restaurant, the meals will be much more expensive. If you want “American” or western, the price will be high.
We usually eat one meal out a day, either at the hawkers or at school. (The school cafeteria offers 4 choices per day. These include Ginger Beef, Katsudon, Prawn Noodle Soup, Beef Rendang, Chicken Rice, Char Siew Rice, Lasagna and Pizza.) To prepare food at home, it is often more expensive, especially if you shop at specialty stores that offer “western” food. A small jar of fluff is $5.50. A pint of Ben & Jerry’s is $12. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables are quite reasonable, especially if you go to the “wet market”, street vendors. It’s true that you need to wash these more carefully or you might find some snails or worms in your salad!
Some of the foods are very spicy and make my eyes water, (ok, I’m downright bawling my eyes out) but they don’t seem to bother Bob.When we eat Indian, we can still (after our trip to India with Vishal and Ember) eat using only one hand, tearing off a small piece of bread and scooping up the meal. Here in Singapore, we’ve already learned how to eat with chopsticks. We have found if we don’t think about it too much, we’re fine. If we start thinking about what we’re doing, our fingers stop working.
So have we tempted anyone to come for a visit?
These are pictures of the ICS staff. Here you see the teachers of the elementary, middle and high schools. As you can see, we understand that there is a time to be serious, educating, winning and mentoring these precious children of God. As the same time, there's also lots of time for fun. There are some great people here and we've enjoyed getting to know them. You can click on any picture to enlarge the view.
Because He said GO...
September 2007
I’ve been thinking about what to include in this latest update. First of all, Singapore was not damaged by the recent earthquakes. Actually, the location in Indonesia that was really hard hit is not very far from us (around 40 miles I think) The night of the first quake, some parts of Singapore reported feeling the tremors, and some people even evacuated their buildings because of it. But there was no destruction. Bob and I did not realize anything had occurred. The following morning, Bob was in his office and his chair was rocking slightly. He realized it was an earthquake. I was in a staff meeting at the time. The meeting was interrupted because everyone was laughing and talking. “Did you feel that?” In all honesty, I didn’t even notice it. So we are both fine. Singapore was not really affected. Thank you for your concern.
We continue to be very busy. The computers and various problems and emergencies have kept Bob working long days. It’s been hard for him to be responsible for everything with limited access to outside support. Several serious problems that have been on-going have recently been resolved, after a lot of prayer and hard work. He’s feeling more encouraged. School has been wonderful for me, as well as demanding and challenging. We’re already half way through the first quarter. It is such a blessing to openly pray for my kids and challenge them spiritually. Last week was Spiritual Life Week. We had special speakers come in. Normally we have chapel once a week. The other days we have Bible class along with all our other subjects. During Spiritual Life Week, we have chapel every day and we also have the speakers come and visit our classes. Many asked Jesus into their hearts, including Tae Gu in my class. Many other students have committed to a deeper, more genuine walk with Christ. It was an exciting and rewarding time
Schools and kids around the world are the same and yet different. This week, the two 5th grade classes were at the playground just before the end of school. As I blew the whistle for kids to line up, one of my students, Sung-hoon, jumped off the swing when it was still going too fast. He fell and his arm hurt. I took him to the nurse’s office. Sung-hoon’s family is Korean. The father lives in Korea and the mother stays in Singapore with the children so that they can get an English education. This is quite common. Many of the mother’s don’t speak English very well and the children translate. It was determined that Sung-hoon’s arm was broken and we called his mother. She requested that we send him to a hospital in a taxi with his 7th grade sister. She would meet them there. It seemed so strange to me to send them off without an adult, especially with Sung-hoon in so much pain. I jumped into the taxi and went with them. The family was surprised and grateful for my “extraordinary” act of compassion. Can you imagine a similar scenario in the US? One other detail, in order to brace up the wrist for transport, the nurse borrowed the sister’s homework journal and wrapped it cupped around the wrist. It actually worked quite well and the journal was returned after the cast was put on J
There are so many interesting things to share about Singapore and life here. At the same time, it’s impossible to tell everything. I am going to start writing about once a week but I’ll center on just one topic. Possible subjects: Food, school, church, what we do for fun, ministry, people, what we miss, living in Singapore. Let me know what you’d like to hear about. Life is very good. We’re so thankful that God has chosen us to be here. Please continue to pray. Thanks for the encouragement.
Finally, I'd like to always include at least one "not in Kansas anymore". For now, you'll be interested to know that whenever you buy a toaster in Singapore you also get a plastic lid that snaps tightly over the top. We've learned that it's actually a "Geko guard" so that you don't end up with toasted geko along with your morning toast!