Written to my inlaws Howard and Lynn after returning from visit to Atlanta and Virginia.
(Get yourself a cup of tea and sit down! This has turned out to be a long letter!)
I'm checking in this early am (can you say: JET LAG?) to let you know that the package you sent for Cameron's birthday came yestererday! I'm sorry to not have followed thru much on their wish lists for Christmas. They are so content these days that they didn't have much to say about what they want. ADDED to that, Jim and I were in over our heads in November - and couldn't get on top of everything. By God's grace we didn't let anything earth stopping fall through the cracks! Now that I'm back, our December and into 2004 is thankfully open to do more relaxing and putting around and digging ourselves out from under the piles that have grown while we were out saving the world thru Jim's conferences and my drama.
Kids are sure happy boys these days. They got up early too and we did some reading. When they got down on the floor to start playing Star Wars action figures, I made my exit to my office! Jim stayed home yesterday as we unpacked and cleared clutter - getting ready to put out the decorations and tree today. He's off soon for an early morning and full day today (he took the car!).
Before my suitcases were unpacked, Jim had me busy helping him with a Christmas mailing to all those who've made donations to our account this year, thanking them for their generosity. We sure feel loved when we look at the list of those who give. I know sometimes you've worried about this for us, and I just want you to know how confident we are in God's provision. We're not living like kings, but we are so comfortable. Very comfortable compared to many of our colleagues. So many missionaries struggle with trying to make ends meet month by month. This far, Jim and I have been very blessed to not have to have our hearts and minds constantly occupied with these concerns. We don't have to spend much time each month checking the giving to CRM in order to make life or ministry financial decisions. Still, over the 4 years we have had a few drop off for various reasons.
ON the BIRTHDAY FRONT: We're just now beginning to plan a little birthday party for Cameron this Sunday afternoon. Doing it a Singaporean style (we've participated in a time or two): Calling a couple of his little friends ahead of time, and then taking the snacks and cake downstairs to the playground to share with whoever will be playing then!
Just so you know, I DIDN'T take the boys into the District this trip. It snowed the first night in Virginia (5"!). IT started flurries on our drive home from the airport! The boys kept busy building forts and igloos and feeding the cows and playing in the Lassiters basement that had been finished the day before we arrived. I just didn't want to enjoy taking them there on my own...without daddy along... and (especially after hearing your little tale of making the pact with Walt to take this unborn grandchild to DC when he is eight!) There is the remote possibility that in the future YOU might feel up to making the trip with them...(All things are possible! I know the healing is slow, but we are praying for you to gain your strength back day by day!).
ALSO: While on our trip, I did venture to the toy store and walmart (in both Georgia and Virginia!) and came home with suitcases full of Christmas gifts. I'll sit down with Jim to sort them out, but want to tell you that I did get some sure fire winners with the boys for their birthdays and Christmas. Would you mind giving me a budget for their gifts? I do know for sure that two awesome STAR WARS board games will be from you. The boys didn't see them in the stores (they were too busy looking at the Star Wars action figures in another row) and I know that they will be excited about such a surprise. I may find a few more things in the next 2 weeks, but they really will have enough to give from both us and YOU, if we call it quits with what I've already picked up.
If it's alright with you, and you haven't made other plans, Jim and I have decided to put your Christmas budget for us toward an "i pod" for him (a little portable digital music gismo that holds thousands of songs - Jim's diversion is his music these days), and a new cell phone for me. This time I'm thinking of having it surgically attached so I can't lose it. We want to go shopping for them the next time we have a date night. I'm charging everything these days on American Express - triple points! We're going to look into using them for frequent flyer trips in May to come see you! We'll probably need to get those reservations done this month!
FOR YOU: My parents have come home with a bagfull of gifts to bring by to you two to put under your tree. Souvenirs from all our travels this year...We've sure been to a lot of places this year! We hope you'll like them.
I picked up a novel at the airport in Detroit on our way back and read it...It made me think of you two SO MUCH that I can't wait to send it to you. Have you heard of John Grisham's SKIPPING CHRISTMAS? It was a fun story I really enjoyed it, and it made me miss you two SOOOOO much!
Write when you can. We sure miss you.
The boys are begging me now to leave my cave and help them get out the fake tree and start DECORATING!
11/10/2003
Making Props for Quest
We did find bags full of props on Cambodia...save TONS of money!!!
My house has been a disaster area for more than a week! There's so much more
that could be done, but I'm personally working at not being too stressed
about the props. Not my show. I said I'd do what I could but needed for them
to find helpers (which they didn't). Will deliver to them tomorrow what I
have, and let the production team worry about it. They all seem to be
thankful for whatever I could do (and I guess were hoping I'd pull off some
miracle without help). Mine and Jim's lessons this year is to learn to be
flexible and not to perfectionistic. We tend to both be overly responsible
for other people's irresponsibility.
Had an interview for Anne Frank on radio this morning. That was fun. Tomorrow is tech rehearsal. Wed dress.
I auditioned and then got a call back for Godspell next spring, but after
praying about it, sense that I shouldn't do it, so I've declined. Sure nice
in the times when you can clearly hear God's Spirit leading and know he has
other plans. Some seasons of life he seems silent, but I'm glad I'm not
there right now!
Eager to have Jim back, but enjoying sleeping smack in the center of the bed
for the week! He forgot his cell phone so we haven't been able to SMS back
and forth like usual, so no news is good news I guess. I know he's having a
wonderful time...just pray that Satan is kept from the meetings...he sure
doesn't want to see missionaries start cooperating and working TOGETHER, so
i bet he's trying to mess things up...
My house has been a disaster area for more than a week! There's so much more
that could be done, but I'm personally working at not being too stressed
about the props. Not my show. I said I'd do what I could but needed for them
to find helpers (which they didn't). Will deliver to them tomorrow what I
have, and let the production team worry about it. They all seem to be
thankful for whatever I could do (and I guess were hoping I'd pull off some
miracle without help). Mine and Jim's lessons this year is to learn to be
flexible and not to perfectionistic. We tend to both be overly responsible
for other people's irresponsibility.
Had an interview for Anne Frank on radio this morning. That was fun. Tomorrow is tech rehearsal. Wed dress.
I auditioned and then got a call back for Godspell next spring, but after
praying about it, sense that I shouldn't do it, so I've declined. Sure nice
in the times when you can clearly hear God's Spirit leading and know he has
other plans. Some seasons of life he seems silent, but I'm glad I'm not
there right now!
Eager to have Jim back, but enjoying sleeping smack in the center of the bed
for the week! He forgot his cell phone so we haven't been able to SMS back
and forth like usual, so no news is good news I guess. I know he's having a
wonderful time...just pray that Satan is kept from the meetings...he sure
doesn't want to see missionaries start cooperating and working TOGETHER, so
i bet he's trying to mess things up...
11/07/2003
11/03/2003
Bio: Short Version
I'm nuts. I moved to Singapore just in time for the millenium after spending the first half of her life on the other side of the world (Los Angeles). As a director in Singapore, I've also worked for itheatre on SINCERLY ANNE FRANK (2003) and teamed up with Paul Seow of All Good Gifts for THE CASE OF THE MISSING BODIES. As an actor, I was seen in 2003 as Anna Maria in itheatre's LITTLE VIOLET AND THE ANGEL. Also swam for two runs of RAINBOW FISH as Starfish (2002), and 3 times appeared as a game show host, Barbie Kew, for Trinity Christian Centre's XCEPT THE XCHANGE (2001).
Currently a Tampines Tai Tai where in addition to her occassional forrays into Singapore theatre; I apply my creative flair to making ours the funnest house for all the neighborhood children, and seeing my two primary aged boys grow in wisdom and character as well as knowledge.
Currently a Tampines Tai Tai where in addition to her occassional forrays into Singapore theatre; I apply my creative flair to making ours the funnest house for all the neighborhood children, and seeing my two primary aged boys grow in wisdom and character as well as knowledge.
10/31/2003
No Halloween Here...Except at My House, My Way!
We're having a little Pumpkin party tonight with about 10 of the boys'
school friends...
They are scheming what costumes they'll make up or borrow...there is no
Halloween here (thank goodness!)
We're going to eat American STEW and biscuits downstairs and play a few
games. Then we'll go "trick or treating" to the homes of the boys who've
come...
I'm praying today for inspiration to teach them spiritual lessons through
the games. Last year I told them a "spooky story" about the evil prince who
wanted to overthrow the king, and hates all human children, and how the king
threw him and all his soldiers out of his kingdom, but they are still
working against the king trying to mess things up here on earth. You
should've seen their eyes! Finally one little boy says, "I get it! It's
supposed to be the Devil right?!"
school friends...
They are scheming what costumes they'll make up or borrow...there is no
Halloween here (thank goodness!)
We're going to eat American STEW and biscuits downstairs and play a few
games. Then we'll go "trick or treating" to the homes of the boys who've
come...
I'm praying today for inspiration to teach them spiritual lessons through
the games. Last year I told them a "spooky story" about the evil prince who
wanted to overthrow the king, and hates all human children, and how the king
threw him and all his soldiers out of his kingdom, but they are still
working against the king trying to mess things up here on earth. You
should've seen their eyes! Finally one little boy says, "I get it! It's
supposed to be the Devil right?!"
10/27/2003
9/22/2003
THAILAND Vacation + what's on this week
GREAT TIME Soaking in the beauty and relaxing! The beach pictures were just one afternoon we took a boat ride to a nearby island then rode back in a THUNDERSTORM!!!
Cameron, Reuel, & Tyler's boat ride in Thailand
We haven't met our maid Loonni's son. He lives a 15 hour bus ride from where we were. This little boy in the picture is a Singaporean neighbor friend from our first year here (the only little boy who's mom would let him come to play!). He and his sweet family moved to Bangkok at the end of our first year here but we've kept in touch and his parents let him miss 2 days of school to go with us to the beach. Praying for them...they were missionaries with a church here and got pretty burned. They've still not settled in a church in Bangkok, and sounded like they are not really looking right now...
Our Helper Loonni Worships in her own language.
We let her go on her own with our friends there...They are VERY sensitive and clever about indigenizing worship to fit the culture, so she was amazed how "ISAN" the worship felt to here. And, by her going with out us, this way she was the center of attention (and not us). She was asked to share her testimony. Which was really good for her to do. She and I talked about it for an hour the next morning. I'm sure she'll be telling her friends at church here about it this afternoon!
We'll be stuffing newsletters to send home this week :-) Always fun to put it together and send it to the printer, but SO glad for Loonni to help us with the folding and stamping and stuffing!
Helping Cameron prepare for 3 days of exams this week (he's SIX!)
Planning a week of drama training in Cambodia with mostly youth (three groups - one a christian arts ministry and the other church plants one in the city and one in a village). Studying Cambodian culture, and praying about what would work best cross culturally. Picking what themes and what aspects of drama to cover. Hoping and praying I can connect with a team from our church that is going to another church in Cambodia do a similar thing the week before I go with 5 others from other churches! Ah isn't God amazing how he orchestrates our lives and if we just listen, the harmonies are so beautiful!
I had a HEART OF THE ARTIST retreat last Thursday evening which was our second time together and only one woman was the same as the first group. There are a half dozen or so single women, actors, who have separately mentioned they'd like to get together for lunch soon, so I need wisdom in knowing who to call and what God has in mind...
We're going to expand ANNE FRANK to 55 minutes (from 35) for the stage in November, so need to start planning what technically and script-wise we need to do to make the show more theatrical and meaningful. The reason my heart is involved in the project spiritually is that I believe that God can use the story to convict our young audiences about the depravity of man...when so many want to believe that man is basically GOOD, this is evidence that we are rotten at the core...But need to do it in a way that isn't "religious," and let God's Spirit take over from the impact of the show...So, I need His inspiration.
Cameron, Reuel, & Tyler's boat ride in Thailand
We haven't met our maid Loonni's son. He lives a 15 hour bus ride from where we were. This little boy in the picture is a Singaporean neighbor friend from our first year here (the only little boy who's mom would let him come to play!). He and his sweet family moved to Bangkok at the end of our first year here but we've kept in touch and his parents let him miss 2 days of school to go with us to the beach. Praying for them...they were missionaries with a church here and got pretty burned. They've still not settled in a church in Bangkok, and sounded like they are not really looking right now...
Our Helper Loonni Worships in her own language.
We let her go on her own with our friends there...They are VERY sensitive and clever about indigenizing worship to fit the culture, so she was amazed how "ISAN" the worship felt to here. And, by her going with out us, this way she was the center of attention (and not us). She was asked to share her testimony. Which was really good for her to do. She and I talked about it for an hour the next morning. I'm sure she'll be telling her friends at church here about it this afternoon!
We'll be stuffing newsletters to send home this week :-) Always fun to put it together and send it to the printer, but SO glad for Loonni to help us with the folding and stamping and stuffing!
Helping Cameron prepare for 3 days of exams this week (he's SIX!)
Planning a week of drama training in Cambodia with mostly youth (three groups - one a christian arts ministry and the other church plants one in the city and one in a village). Studying Cambodian culture, and praying about what would work best cross culturally. Picking what themes and what aspects of drama to cover. Hoping and praying I can connect with a team from our church that is going to another church in Cambodia do a similar thing the week before I go with 5 others from other churches! Ah isn't God amazing how he orchestrates our lives and if we just listen, the harmonies are so beautiful!
I had a HEART OF THE ARTIST retreat last Thursday evening which was our second time together and only one woman was the same as the first group. There are a half dozen or so single women, actors, who have separately mentioned they'd like to get together for lunch soon, so I need wisdom in knowing who to call and what God has in mind...
We're going to expand ANNE FRANK to 55 minutes (from 35) for the stage in November, so need to start planning what technically and script-wise we need to do to make the show more theatrical and meaningful. The reason my heart is involved in the project spiritually is that I believe that God can use the story to convict our young audiences about the depravity of man...when so many want to believe that man is basically GOOD, this is evidence that we are rotten at the core...But need to do it in a way that isn't "religious," and let God's Spirit take over from the impact of the show...So, I need His inspiration.
9/21/2003
"He's Been Faithful"...Singing for Worship + + +
I sang in church!
I do think that the service was really special, and it was really great to be a part of God's Spirit ministering to people in the congregation through our voices. For the two years we've attended this church I've helped the drama ministry a little bit (Got to direct a sketch last year, and 3 from the church were in MISSING BODIES cast, some of them have been in workshops, I had to even say "no" about being involved in helping produce their Christmas drama this year, which was quite an honor to be asked, but wrong timing for me to jump in on the project...).
A few months back I met for lunch with the drama leader and the Creative Arts pastor. That's when the "secret" got out that I'm able to sing. I told them about the Bank commercial/song and being invited to sing in the 3 Men and a Boot concert. I didn't mention that I thought it was very sad and strange that my homosexual anti-God friends have gotten to know me faster than people in the Creative Arts Ministry of my church. In fact the first time I had a meal with someone from the Creative Arts ministry I was desperatly lonely (probably a certifiable nut case) and that person said, "Oh, now that we know you're here for awhile, we'll have to figure out how to use you." Now, I'm sure it was an innocent statement with no intention to hurt, but I allowed Satan to twist it in my heart to mean "YOU'RE not worth getting to know, as a person, and I'm kind of threatened by you, but I'd sure like to 'USE' you for what you can do to help me." Wow. It really hurt at the time, but God has healed that hurt and used those circumstances to confirm his work for me here in Singapore.
Anyhow, I can no longer be just a bench warmer every week at church. I believe they are supportive of my time being mostly invested in connecting with Christian and non-Christian dramatists beyond our local church, so I don't feel pressured to and guilty that I can't spend my weekends singing with the choir.
Oh how I much prefer singing when the lights are off on in the house and I can't see the audiences faces (reactions) to me! It's less intimidating to sing "in character" in a spotlight, than to be myself up there...Even though Rolling Hills Covenant Church is so much bigger a church, I didn't ever have that feeling there, or the church I grew up in, since it was always like singing for family and friends :-)
Given we have so few we can call "friends" at church (the couple from our last newsletter who were recently married have been so sweet to us!), and I'm so obviously a white lady in a sea of Asian faces (and don't ever want to come off high and mighty as "the foreign expert"), I was feeling a bit more "scrutinized," and downright scared to sing! But, the choir was warm and friendly to me in the practices, someone gave me a "Creative Arts Ministry" t-shirt, and once I survived the first service without messing up the words (or passing out!), God really worked to heal my heart about all this past baggage and made me feel "a part" of this congregation instead of still a visitor after 2 years attending.
This experience from the past 2 years has really shown the light for us on how newcomers to churches can get really lost and struggle with meeting people. With James and I solid followers of Jesus and are really committed to the local church I think how much harder for many people finding their way back to church, or trying out God for the first time...They are a little nervous about it, wondering what God might be doing in their lives. Surely they find it intimidating and easy to be invisible. They are not necessarily going to know how to get involved in the body life of a large church.
Our church here has what I've called "the gauntlet" of ushers at the main door to greet you when you come in. Which is great to have people so friendly and warm, I mean REALLY friendly! But combined with my depression and lonliness the first couple of years, and an inability to find anyone at church we could get past "hello. God bless you. nice to meet you. hallelujah." with, this "gauntlet" felt so shallow and fake to me. I dreaded it as a necessary evil to endure in order to enter the worship service. See I told you, I'm a certifieable nut case! But one who can now identify with all the rest of the hidden hurting people who cross the threshold of our churches every weekend.
Anyhow, we sang this song from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir "He's Been Faithful!" Wow! It was one of those songs where the choir comes in beautifully in the chorus. It was really sweet. And I think the word got out among the 20or so person choir about our not knowing many people, 'cause they were all REALLY friendly to me, and the congregation was busy looking at the words on the screen so I didn't feel so scrutinized, and when I did connect with people's eyes, they were smiling. A young actor friend and her blues band/guitarist boyfriend came to support me, and when I saw them in the audience they were BEAMING, then I knew how God could work through the lyrics in their hearts and lives which made me really happy to see them there. All in all, I feel that through this invitation to sing, Jesus has used this weekend to heal hurts probably not just with me, but with other individuals in the ministry as well as the congregation. Healing that probably we'll have to wait till heaven to hear all about! This is just my story. :-)
Love,
Kimberly
I do think that the service was really special, and it was really great to be a part of God's Spirit ministering to people in the congregation through our voices. For the two years we've attended this church I've helped the drama ministry a little bit (Got to direct a sketch last year, and 3 from the church were in MISSING BODIES cast, some of them have been in workshops, I had to even say "no" about being involved in helping produce their Christmas drama this year, which was quite an honor to be asked, but wrong timing for me to jump in on the project...).
A few months back I met for lunch with the drama leader and the Creative Arts pastor. That's when the "secret" got out that I'm able to sing. I told them about the Bank commercial/song and being invited to sing in the 3 Men and a Boot concert. I didn't mention that I thought it was very sad and strange that my homosexual anti-God friends have gotten to know me faster than people in the Creative Arts Ministry of my church. In fact the first time I had a meal with someone from the Creative Arts ministry I was desperatly lonely (probably a certifiable nut case) and that person said, "Oh, now that we know you're here for awhile, we'll have to figure out how to use you." Now, I'm sure it was an innocent statement with no intention to hurt, but I allowed Satan to twist it in my heart to mean "YOU'RE not worth getting to know, as a person, and I'm kind of threatened by you, but I'd sure like to 'USE' you for what you can do to help me." Wow. It really hurt at the time, but God has healed that hurt and used those circumstances to confirm his work for me here in Singapore.
Anyhow, I can no longer be just a bench warmer every week at church. I believe they are supportive of my time being mostly invested in connecting with Christian and non-Christian dramatists beyond our local church, so I don't feel pressured to and guilty that I can't spend my weekends singing with the choir.
Oh how I much prefer singing when the lights are off on in the house and I can't see the audiences faces (reactions) to me! It's less intimidating to sing "in character" in a spotlight, than to be myself up there...Even though Rolling Hills Covenant Church is so much bigger a church, I didn't ever have that feeling there, or the church I grew up in, since it was always like singing for family and friends :-)
Given we have so few we can call "friends" at church (the couple from our last newsletter who were recently married have been so sweet to us!), and I'm so obviously a white lady in a sea of Asian faces (and don't ever want to come off high and mighty as "the foreign expert"), I was feeling a bit more "scrutinized," and downright scared to sing! But, the choir was warm and friendly to me in the practices, someone gave me a "Creative Arts Ministry" t-shirt, and once I survived the first service without messing up the words (or passing out!), God really worked to heal my heart about all this past baggage and made me feel "a part" of this congregation instead of still a visitor after 2 years attending.
This experience from the past 2 years has really shown the light for us on how newcomers to churches can get really lost and struggle with meeting people. With James and I solid followers of Jesus and are really committed to the local church I think how much harder for many people finding their way back to church, or trying out God for the first time...They are a little nervous about it, wondering what God might be doing in their lives. Surely they find it intimidating and easy to be invisible. They are not necessarily going to know how to get involved in the body life of a large church.
Our church here has what I've called "the gauntlet" of ushers at the main door to greet you when you come in. Which is great to have people so friendly and warm, I mean REALLY friendly! But combined with my depression and lonliness the first couple of years, and an inability to find anyone at church we could get past "hello. God bless you. nice to meet you. hallelujah." with, this "gauntlet" felt so shallow and fake to me. I dreaded it as a necessary evil to endure in order to enter the worship service. See I told you, I'm a certifieable nut case! But one who can now identify with all the rest of the hidden hurting people who cross the threshold of our churches every weekend.
Anyhow, we sang this song from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir "He's Been Faithful!" Wow! It was one of those songs where the choir comes in beautifully in the chorus. It was really sweet. And I think the word got out among the 20or so person choir about our not knowing many people, 'cause they were all REALLY friendly to me, and the congregation was busy looking at the words on the screen so I didn't feel so scrutinized, and when I did connect with people's eyes, they were smiling. A young actor friend and her blues band/guitarist boyfriend came to support me, and when I saw them in the audience they were BEAMING, then I knew how God could work through the lyrics in their hearts and lives which made me really happy to see them there. All in all, I feel that through this invitation to sing, Jesus has used this weekend to heal hurts probably not just with me, but with other individuals in the ministry as well as the congregation. Healing that probably we'll have to wait till heaven to hear all about! This is just my story. :-)
Love,
Kimberly
7/21/2003
Entertaining without Sugar
Entertained last night. Our Finnish friends are leaving Singapore next Sunday so we had a dinner party. MMMMmmmmm. Loonni's day off so Kimberly had the kitchen to herself (Loonni made a yummy thai noodle salad and helped me with a dill potato salad ahead of time). I made some herb sourdough bread in the breadmaker, deviled eggs and I tried something new: Marinated chicken breasts and baby onions in a sun-dried tomato salad dressing (can't remember what brand), then broiled it (since we have no bbq). It was a hit!
We're going without sugar for a family "fast" this month. So dessert was fruit dipped in plain yogurt, and unsweetened coconut flakes or grapenuts...kind of like fondue without a flame.
Don't entertain much, but I'll tell you it's sure so much more fun when you have a Loonni to do all the clean up afterward!
We're going without sugar for a family "fast" this month. So dessert was fruit dipped in plain yogurt, and unsweetened coconut flakes or grapenuts...kind of like fondue without a flame.
Don't entertain much, but I'll tell you it's sure so much more fun when you have a Loonni to do all the clean up afterward!
7/13/2003
A Kid with a Guilty Conscience...
2003 Tyler and his best friends Tom, Bob, and Ben (don't you love those Chinese names?)
Tyler had 3 10 year old boys over Friday afternoon and I had a heartbreaking conversation with one of them. He admitted to me that he had to lie to his parents to be in our house (YIKES). The boys normally have extra classes on Friday afterschool, but they were cancelled this week, so his folks thought he was still at school. His parents won't let him go to ANYONE'S house or have any friends over until he's 18...really sad. We talked about their rules being set in order to protect him from people with bad character, but he feels that he must lie to keep from being beaten, when he doesn't want to be a "liar." I asked him about his guilt in lying to them and whether it was worth it to come over. Maybe we can find ways to let them play without his lying to his parents. After we talked for awhile he said, "Thanks Auntie. Don't tell anyone what I told you about them, but it really kinda makes me feel better just to talk about it. My chest feels better.").
7/02/2003
Griping about Flaws in the School System
Today my child stayed home from school.
I’m being a responsible citizen.
I’m teaching my children to care for the welfare of his fellow man.
He was not feeling well.
He didn’t have a fever, but he had an active cough and a runny nose. He was probably contagious. He’d probably have had everyone around freaked out that he might have SARS.
My child stayed home from school today.
Even though today was the day for his very first Maths exam. Ever.
He’s P1, and Math is by far his best subject. A subject he’s proud of his ability in.
It's the one subject that buoys his waning self-confidence when weekly he gets poor marks on spelling tests and ting-xie.
Today my P1 child stayed home from school.
And today I learn that the child who misses an exam for a valid reason has no opportunity to make it up.
It will be written “VR” on his report card.
A “valid reason.”
Next time I’ll think twice about whether my child infects his classmates.
Next time I’ll have learned more about the very “valid reason” for a distasteful Singaporean quality called “Kiasu.”
Next time will I start thinking like a Singaporean parent?
“Who cares if he spreads his germs to his classmates? My child should get the chance to show what he’s learned after all his hard work.”
But this time, he’ll get a “VR” for Maths and they’ll average his scores from the subjects he struggles in.
That’s the policy.
As a foreigner, it has been our choice to put our children in local schools.
We're not forced into this option and we’ve been happy with our choice so far.
The positive, we believe, outweighs the negatives.
It's a good education overall.
BUT we’re learning the system.
The system that now is so hyper about healthy kids that they are being questioned each day when they enter the school grounds.
A system that now has them checking their temperature during school hours.
And yet a system that doesn’t allow for illness on exam days.
A flawed system.
If I were a parent who really cared about his test results I’d have him miss his Mother Tongue test for a PAPERCUT.
The note would read:
“My child was feeling poorly on the day of the test…”
I'd manage to make it sound like a VR.
Unlike the parents of my child's classmates, I don’t care so much about what my child’s average scores are, or where he falls in the class ranking. He doesn’t have to stay in the system as long as his classmates do.
His classmates are the ones who, starting with this exam, will scratch and claw for being top in their class until they are selected (or not) to be eligible for University.
My child with the “VR” will go to University if he applies himself, and we responsibly save for his education.
He will go to University as long as his self-confidence isn’t permanently damaged by having this VR averaged in on his very first series of exams.
BUT
Because my child stayed home from school today
He won’t have the right to show himself how very much he’s learned in Math.
He won’t have the chance to gain confidence from this milestone.
At the tender age of 6 he’ll surely feel the socially inflicted shame that will inevitably come from his poor showing in English, or his barely passing Chinese (if indeed he does PASS!).
Ah, me. Perhaps I’m making a mountain out of a milestone.
No. It’s the principle of such policies that have got me riled up.
Singapore wants her citizens to be socially responsible.
Singapore shouldn't need to make laws to govern our consideration for one another.
Yet Singapore penalizes those of us who are socially responsible and courteous.
And continues to teach us to know better
Next time.
I’m being a responsible citizen.
I’m teaching my children to care for the welfare of his fellow man.
He was not feeling well.
He didn’t have a fever, but he had an active cough and a runny nose. He was probably contagious. He’d probably have had everyone around freaked out that he might have SARS.
My child stayed home from school today.
Even though today was the day for his very first Maths exam. Ever.
He’s P1, and Math is by far his best subject. A subject he’s proud of his ability in.
It's the one subject that buoys his waning self-confidence when weekly he gets poor marks on spelling tests and ting-xie.
Today my P1 child stayed home from school.
And today I learn that the child who misses an exam for a valid reason has no opportunity to make it up.
It will be written “VR” on his report card.
A “valid reason.”
Next time I’ll think twice about whether my child infects his classmates.
Next time I’ll have learned more about the very “valid reason” for a distasteful Singaporean quality called “Kiasu.”
Next time will I start thinking like a Singaporean parent?
“Who cares if he spreads his germs to his classmates? My child should get the chance to show what he’s learned after all his hard work.”
But this time, he’ll get a “VR” for Maths and they’ll average his scores from the subjects he struggles in.
That’s the policy.
As a foreigner, it has been our choice to put our children in local schools.
We're not forced into this option and we’ve been happy with our choice so far.
The positive, we believe, outweighs the negatives.
It's a good education overall.
BUT we’re learning the system.
The system that now is so hyper about healthy kids that they are being questioned each day when they enter the school grounds.
A system that now has them checking their temperature during school hours.
And yet a system that doesn’t allow for illness on exam days.
A flawed system.
If I were a parent who really cared about his test results I’d have him miss his Mother Tongue test for a PAPERCUT.
The note would read:
“My child was feeling poorly on the day of the test…”
I'd manage to make it sound like a VR.
Will someone give me a VR for Singaporeans to start caring about each other?
Unlike the parents of my child's classmates, I don’t care so much about what my child’s average scores are, or where he falls in the class ranking. He doesn’t have to stay in the system as long as his classmates do.
His classmates are the ones who, starting with this exam, will scratch and claw for being top in their class until they are selected (or not) to be eligible for University.
My child with the “VR” will go to University if he applies himself, and we responsibly save for his education.
He will go to University as long as his self-confidence isn’t permanently damaged by having this VR averaged in on his very first series of exams.
BUT
Because my child stayed home from school today
He won’t have the right to show himself how very much he’s learned in Math.
He won’t have the chance to gain confidence from this milestone.
At the tender age of 6 he’ll surely feel the socially inflicted shame that will inevitably come from his poor showing in English, or his barely passing Chinese (if indeed he does PASS!).
Ah, me. Perhaps I’m making a mountain out of a milestone.
No. It’s the principle of such policies that have got me riled up.
Singapore wants her citizens to be socially responsible.
Singapore shouldn't need to make laws to govern our consideration for one another.
Yet Singapore penalizes those of us who are socially responsible and courteous.
And continues to teach us to know better
Next time.
6/01/2003
New American & Finnish Friends & Xiao Xiao is a Christian!
We're in a new cell group here with 2 other families (Invited by the USC docrtoral grad who's a communications professor here - the friend of Jim's through the China connections who'd go out for coffee with him during Cameron's AWANA program on Sunday afternoons this spring). The other family is Finnish, but they'll be moving to Jakarta in July. Finnish! He workds for Nokia. I've never met anyone from Finland before!!! They've lived in Uzbeckistand, India, Australia... and they seem so NORMAL! Anyway, when she was asking us last night to pray for her about leaving her Bible study with unsaved Japanese women, and their needing a new leader that she could trust, I said, "Too bad the Webbs aren't considerring moving here until next year [a CRM couple who we adore who currently live in Indonesia]. Lori Webb speaks fluent Japanese and is the life of the party!" Can you believe that the world is so small that this Finnish woman KNEW Lori? Lori had come here for a conference last fall and SAT next to the Finnish couple!!! She'd even met some of the Japanese women from the Bible study!
Today a young woman came up to me while I was studying with Tyler in the public library. I didn't recognize her, though I've known her pretty well: she's the teenaged daughter of a good friend of Liu Yi Yan - my best friend from Kunming. He communist parents are very wealthy and have had her studying in Singapore for a few years now. We've only seen her a couple of times. We've tried to hook up with her more, but, ya'know, we're friends of her PARENTS....that's not too cool. I've known her as a very spoiled, uninteresting, and self-absorbed brat. Today she was this LOVELY young woman. She recognized me first and told me that she's become a Christian! Wow. Her school friends had started taking her to church with them when she was feeling blue at Chinese New Year. That made my day (well, that and having a great time studying with Tyler in a beautiful spot).
Kids are excited that this is the 3rd weekend Bob and Louis (their friends who are brothers) came to church with us. The mini-van is starting to come in handy!
Kids practices for their English composition exams by writing you letters, so look for them in your mailbox in about 10 days! Tests were all put off as long as possible. I love their school - many schools just made the kids cram to keep on schedule. THey've had their oral exams and 2 English Composition exams. They have Math tomorrow, Chinese on Tuesday and Tyler has Science on Wedensday. Neither boy is nervous about it and have prayed that they can encourage their classmates who are stressed out about their scores. The last day of the term is Friday, but we think we'll skip it! Tyler has to be back for extra classes the first week of the "holiday" 8am-12...at least it's a shorter day!
Today a young woman came up to me while I was studying with Tyler in the public library. I didn't recognize her, though I've known her pretty well: she's the teenaged daughter of a good friend of Liu Yi Yan - my best friend from Kunming. He communist parents are very wealthy and have had her studying in Singapore for a few years now. We've only seen her a couple of times. We've tried to hook up with her more, but, ya'know, we're friends of her PARENTS....that's not too cool. I've known her as a very spoiled, uninteresting, and self-absorbed brat. Today she was this LOVELY young woman. She recognized me first and told me that she's become a Christian! Wow. Her school friends had started taking her to church with them when she was feeling blue at Chinese New Year. That made my day (well, that and having a great time studying with Tyler in a beautiful spot).
Kids are excited that this is the 3rd weekend Bob and Louis (their friends who are brothers) came to church with us. The mini-van is starting to come in handy!
Kids practices for their English composition exams by writing you letters, so look for them in your mailbox in about 10 days! Tests were all put off as long as possible. I love their school - many schools just made the kids cram to keep on schedule. THey've had their oral exams and 2 English Composition exams. They have Math tomorrow, Chinese on Tuesday and Tyler has Science on Wedensday. Neither boy is nervous about it and have prayed that they can encourage their classmates who are stressed out about their scores. The last day of the term is Friday, but we think we'll skip it! Tyler has to be back for extra classes the first week of the "holiday" 8am-12...at least it's a shorter day!
5/07/2003
Chinese Pizza, SARS, & A Friend Who Gave Away a Kidney
----- Original Message -----
From: Jan Charlin
To: "K!Mberly Creasman"
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: Hello again!
Hello Kimberly...
We have a lady around the block who is wearing the mask. There is a lot of fear but very unfounded. It's sad, some people have stopped buying things made in Asia.
Your days are full. Mine have slowed down this year. I think I started back to fast after surgury last year and my body is kind of rejecting life right now. So, Dan and I descided I should slow down a lot this year and just let my body heal. It was one of those things that was so God, I still am amazed. Each doctor I go to always asks if it was a relative and when I say it was someone from my church, they can't believe we actually matched. It makes me realize that nothing is by chance and God planned this before time. It is still a very aahh thing and God's love is so amazing. I still don't know why God used me, He could have used anyone, yet He allowed me to give. I feel so blessed. Anyway talk about more than you ever wanted to know.
What kind of food do you eat. Pizza, but is it pizza like here or pizza with corn and fish on it(Japanesse like pizza) or something in the middle.
Isn't it amazing how fast children pick up other languages? Did your children speak with an accent? I know people are amazed when they learn English is Daniel's second language but he learned it in school at such a young age.
Well this has gotten long, I hope you don't mind. Thank you for answering all my questions.
Love, jan
MY REPLY...
We have a California Pizza Kitchen here! (not that I eat there!) When we were in China it took us awhile to get used to the style of pizza made by the pizza place we had in Kunming...Chinese pizza...thin crust..not too tasty, but close enough.
And then we had to go to Italy for some meetings in 1998. In going out for pizza there, we discovered that "Chinese pizza" was the authentic kind - ITALIAN!
Loved hearing your testimony (below). Life is full of seasons isn't it? Of the many books I'm enjoying, today it's the books TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK...two non-C books that encourage us to be grateful and full of love for others and life.
As for my Wednesday, I'm cruising through my day fully aware that I am completely dependent on Jesus(even with both my kidneys!),
K!M
From: Jan Charlin
To: "K!Mberly Creasman"
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: Hello again!
Hello Kimberly...
We have a lady around the block who is wearing the mask. There is a lot of fear but very unfounded. It's sad, some people have stopped buying things made in Asia.
Your days are full. Mine have slowed down this year. I think I started back to fast after surgury last year and my body is kind of rejecting life right now. So, Dan and I descided I should slow down a lot this year and just let my body heal. It was one of those things that was so God, I still am amazed. Each doctor I go to always asks if it was a relative and when I say it was someone from my church, they can't believe we actually matched. It makes me realize that nothing is by chance and God planned this before time. It is still a very aahh thing and God's love is so amazing. I still don't know why God used me, He could have used anyone, yet He allowed me to give. I feel so blessed. Anyway talk about more than you ever wanted to know.
What kind of food do you eat. Pizza, but is it pizza like here or pizza with corn and fish on it(Japanesse like pizza) or something in the middle.
Isn't it amazing how fast children pick up other languages? Did your children speak with an accent? I know people are amazed when they learn English is Daniel's second language but he learned it in school at such a young age.
Well this has gotten long, I hope you don't mind. Thank you for answering all my questions.
Love, jan
MY REPLY...
We have a California Pizza Kitchen here! (not that I eat there!) When we were in China it took us awhile to get used to the style of pizza made by the pizza place we had in Kunming...Chinese pizza...thin crust..not too tasty, but close enough.
And then we had to go to Italy for some meetings in 1998. In going out for pizza there, we discovered that "Chinese pizza" was the authentic kind - ITALIAN!
Loved hearing your testimony (below). Life is full of seasons isn't it? Of the many books I'm enjoying, today it's the books TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK...two non-C books that encourage us to be grateful and full of love for others and life.
As for my Wednesday, I'm cruising through my day fully aware that I am completely dependent on Jesus(even with both my kidneys!),
K!M
5/06/2003
A DAY in the LIFE of...
K!mberly's days are always different - probably like most moms! So far today has been:
This is probably more than you need to know. Ah me, I do love avoiding work
by writing! That'll teach you to ask me questions!
Love, K!M
! Rolling over in bed for some extra sleep while Jim sent kids to school (I
was at an artists prayer meeting last night until 12...oh, I'm not as young
as I used to be!)
! devotions over breakfast
! taking our little dog in to get fixed (ouch)
! grocery shopping (with our maid - I love that part!!!)
! following up emails with pastors who may host a play I'm casting this month
! a phone call with Juwanda the production manager of a concert I'm singing in later this month. He's stressed, muslim, and gay; so our phone
conversation included a prayer over the phone for him: that God would prove
He's real and loves him today by giving him a supernatural measure of peace
and joy in his work. He said, "Kim, I wish you could be part of every show I
do!" He is a sweetheart who really needs Jesus!
! coordinating emails with some Christian women in theatre. I'm doing a half day retreat with 5 gals later this month to talk over half of the book THE
HEART OF THE ARTIST. I'm really looking forward to it!
! kids home soon. We'll work on homework together (I'm hopelessly behind Tyler in Chinese!). Get the chores done. Practice piano...
! it's 2 for 1 pizza night at our pizza shop across the street and we're having dinner guests. Cameron calls Dick Soo, "my best big friend" and
Dick's girlfriend Neelam. Both are young professional actors who've been
dating since the end of last year. Both come from really dysfunctional
families (I know that both are still emotionally and verbally abused at
home). He's a professed Christian, she's a professed atheist. But I think
that's only temporary! :-).
! kids'll go to be at 8:30 and we'll see what God has in store for our
conversation after!
This is probably more than you need to know. Ah me, I do love avoiding work
by writing! That'll teach you to ask me questions!
Love, K!M
5/04/2003
SARS Scare...Are We Safe???
I can certainly understand people's concern given that the number of cases here (a little more than 200) still represent a high percentage of the total population (4 million) compared with other places that have been hit.
We feel very safe here for several reasons.
For one, almost all the cases have been traced to a few people that brought the virus into the country. The secondary and tertiary infections have for the most part been hospital staff.
For another, the government has done an excellent job of taking swift and thorough measures to contain the spread of the disease. Everyone infected has been isolated in one hospital, and for every one of them, another 10-20 people who had contact with them has been quarantined for 10 days. Those that break quarantine are now being isolated in jail.
As you probably know, all schools were closed for three weeks, and now every school child has a thermometer and must log their temperature two times a day. Parents are no longer allowed on campus. Most government buildings now require a screening for fever in order to enter. We are in many ways blessed to live in an environment that is strongly controlled by the government.
Thirdly, voluntary precautions are being taken by lots of people. Many people are staying at home and avoiding crowds. Many places are now going to start logging in with your entrance times and contact numbers (such as movie theatres and clubs) so that people can be traced in case an infection shows up. Our church of nearly 3000 people took everyone's temperature last Sunday morning to get into the service!
Fourthly, these measures seem to be working. The growth in cases stopped a few weeks ago, and for the past two days there have been no new cases.
And fifthly, but not last and not to be preachy, we know the Lord wants us to be strong and courageous. We have sensed his leading in decisions like this over and over, when he gives us confidence in his sovereignty over our situations, even during the times when we get apprehensive about the consequences. We believe Christians can have a great witness, especially in times like these, by walking by faith in the true sense of getting our direction from the Lord and resting in him.
Hope this is helpful. I'll pray the Lord gives you all a clear sense of his leading in this situation, and what would be right for the team, families, church, and mission.
Blessings!
written by Jim Creasman to friends at Fullerton Evangelical Free Church, CA
"Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." Ps 27:14
We feel very safe here for several reasons.
For one, almost all the cases have been traced to a few people that brought the virus into the country. The secondary and tertiary infections have for the most part been hospital staff.
For another, the government has done an excellent job of taking swift and thorough measures to contain the spread of the disease. Everyone infected has been isolated in one hospital, and for every one of them, another 10-20 people who had contact with them has been quarantined for 10 days. Those that break quarantine are now being isolated in jail.
As you probably know, all schools were closed for three weeks, and now every school child has a thermometer and must log their temperature two times a day. Parents are no longer allowed on campus. Most government buildings now require a screening for fever in order to enter. We are in many ways blessed to live in an environment that is strongly controlled by the government.
Thirdly, voluntary precautions are being taken by lots of people. Many people are staying at home and avoiding crowds. Many places are now going to start logging in with your entrance times and contact numbers (such as movie theatres and clubs) so that people can be traced in case an infection shows up. Our church of nearly 3000 people took everyone's temperature last Sunday morning to get into the service!
Fourthly, these measures seem to be working. The growth in cases stopped a few weeks ago, and for the past two days there have been no new cases.
And fifthly, but not last and not to be preachy, we know the Lord wants us to be strong and courageous. We have sensed his leading in decisions like this over and over, when he gives us confidence in his sovereignty over our situations, even during the times when we get apprehensive about the consequences. We believe Christians can have a great witness, especially in times like these, by walking by faith in the true sense of getting our direction from the Lord and resting in him.
Hope this is helpful. I'll pray the Lord gives you all a clear sense of his leading in this situation, and what would be right for the team, families, church, and mission.
Blessings!
written by Jim Creasman to friends at Fullerton Evangelical Free Church, CA
"Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." Ps 27:14
4/25/2003
4/19/2003
Tyler's April Adventuress
April 2003
Telling the Story with "Resurrection Eggs"
April 2003 Tyler was in a tv show with classmates
April 2003 Yellow Box studio where I've done some recording. They wanted to get Ty and Cam in their demo files too.
4/02/2003
April Fools joke during SARS
from an email to Cyndi Davis
Thank you for your note. We are feeling safe as anyone (and probably more
safe than most since we're not worriers and there are no air raids or bombs
dropping or orange alerts here!) God is good and still in control even when
things seem to be going crazy, and the enemy seems to be having a field day!
Our kids have an extra 10 days of vacation since they shut down schools due
to a deadly highly contagious pneumonia that they haven't got a handle on
how to treat. A few people have died but there's still a few million of us
unaffected! Gives us a chance to catch up since we'd fallen a bit behind in
our Chinese studies! We played a great April fools joke on the boys - we
called our home phone at 7 am from our cell phone and then went in and told
the boys is was their teacher calling to say the epidemic was over early and
they had to go to school. We had them get up, get dressed in their school
uniform, and walk 1/2 way to school until they could see for themselves
there were no other kids on the playground... they got a real kick out of
that and laughed all day (Tyler called all his friends to tell them how
crazy his parents were!)
Gotta keep your sense of humor....
Thank you for your note. We are feeling safe as anyone (and probably more
safe than most since we're not worriers and there are no air raids or bombs
dropping or orange alerts here!) God is good and still in control even when
things seem to be going crazy, and the enemy seems to be having a field day!
Our kids have an extra 10 days of vacation since they shut down schools due
to a deadly highly contagious pneumonia that they haven't got a handle on
how to treat. A few people have died but there's still a few million of us
unaffected! Gives us a chance to catch up since we'd fallen a bit behind in
our Chinese studies! We played a great April fools joke on the boys - we
called our home phone at 7 am from our cell phone and then went in and told
the boys is was their teacher calling to say the epidemic was over early and
they had to go to school. We had them get up, get dressed in their school
uniform, and walk 1/2 way to school until they could see for themselves
there were no other kids on the playground... they got a real kick out of
that and laughed all day (Tyler called all his friends to tell them how
crazy his parents were!)
Gotta keep your sense of humor....
Frequently Asked Questions...
from and email to Donna Cole
D: I so appreciated getting your e-mail to know your prayer requests. You said that Jim's work is keeping him in Singapore these days. Is that why his pace is slower--because he is at home? Does he travel a lot normally?
K: Part of why it is slower is that we are purposefully taking it slower this year. Jim and I both enjoy working, but we can be on the driven side. We are learning to slow down a bit and take better care of ourselves. We've been through some tough things emotionally since coming to Singapore (which the letter will allude to), and now, with the Burchells leaving, we are working at some healing, growing from the experience, and filling up our reserves. I've even started working out with Jim at the gym 3 times a week! A first for us! I feel great! Carving more time out for reading and growing through the Word, and other books. Journaling and praying more.
Jim traveled A LOT last fall, and had WAY too much to do. It was a season of overload, since different areas he leads all had events in the fall. Sometimes it just happens that way, and it is do-able, but not as a way of life!!!
Since some of his work deals outside Singapore, in helping workers in networking/developing "strategic partnerships" for the Gspl in a big country to the north of us, he travels quite a bit for that. From time to time there are meetings as a CRM director that he travels to be a part of too. He normally takes a couple trips a quarter, somewhere. It is neat living in Singapore too, we are very close to so many Asian countries. As a family we sometimes take trips to nearby countries during our school breaks. This year, I get to do some Christian drama training in Malaysia, and perhaps Cambodia too! Jim will stay home and guard the home front then!
D: The focus here has been so much on the war that I remember hearing of SARS, but I did not realize that it was stopping attendance at schools. Is that pretty much all around you? Forgive me. I don't have a lot of time to watch the news!
K: We all enjoyed the time off, spending more time together, though it will be sad that our summer break, which is usually only 4 weeks, is now cut to 2 weeks! I feel like I got to know the boys better because of having them home all day everyday and their normal playmates weren't being allowed to leave their houses to come over or allow the kids to go to their houses to play (there were 2 exceptions) I'd listened well to the Spirit's leading to say "no" to a couple of things ahead of the SARS outbreak, so I was free to give them my attention!
Kids are back in school as of last week, but there is a lot of control and news and fear. Filling out forms nearly everyday stating whether we've been in SARS affected areas/hospitals/countries. The kids are questioned everyday when they arrive to school whether they are feeling well, etc. Next week they are saying they will institute giving all the children thermometers to check their temperatures a couple times a day! They still don't know whether the virus is contagious before symptoms are seen, so people who aren't quarantined could be passing it around too. I just say, we gotta live our lives as long as God ordains, and so let's get on with living them!
D: I KNOW that your parents were very proud of seeing you in LITTLE VIOLET AND THE ANGEL! Your mom said it was a different role for you. I got the impression that you were the bad guy! Were you?
K: YES! I was AWFUL!!! Not in a characatured sort of way, but in the way that made some people (adults!) in the audience cry because I was too much like the unloving mothers/women in their lives (no one sets out to be a villain, we all have our reasons for meanness - for this lady, it was being wrapped up in her grief). It all worked out in the end...I got what I deserved - I realized I'd been awful...and then I died!
D: I just didn't get that impression from what I read. I felt that you were the grief-stricken mom--period. Can you tell me more about it? Were you exhausted from your schedule of performance? It seemed that once you started, you didn't quit! How did YOU feel about your performance? How about Jim? and the boys?--Did they see you perform?
K: Jim and the boys loved it. Jim was traveling when the show opened, but the boys and our helper came a few times. I was able to get them backstage passes (which is a big thing since this arts center only opened in January, and it's pretty shwanky). THey liked meeting and hanging out with the other actors and being backstage and playing with the puppet VIOLET. Cameron (6) was troubled that I died. He wished I could have been one of the puppeteers giving voice and life to the child instead. But Cameron really liked the song I sang (a real tear jerker - showed the lady's soft side!) and he often sings it to me now. I felt happily and thoroughly exhausted when the show was over. I slept a lot more the first week after. It was weird getting back to my "real" life of being an unknown mom and going to parent meetings and sitting through piano class with the boys after having been in the spotlights for a solid week. Seemed like I was two people for a few days as I kept wondering, "Did that really happen?" I've been asked to do a few more projects this year. Singing in a concert next month as a "guest" of the three men who are putting on the show. I'll sing You'll Never Walk Alone from Carousel. The 3 men are all definitely NOT Christians, but Jesus loves them, through me. I find it neat here that these very outspoken gay guys will be interested in being my friend - when they know I'm a pastor's wife and am a Christian. I've had some good conversations about their understanding of God and spirituality with 2 of them...we'll see how it goes with this next "gig."
D: Are the boys grateful for a break in school? It sounds like they are both pretty great students!
K: Tyler's EXTREMELY smart and works hard. We're fortunate that he hasn't had to take extra tutoring in Chinese yet (nearly all his classmates have had tuition since first grade). I was able to do the studying with him until I started getting more involved in projects outside the house last fall. Now, I try to study with him a little - which means him trying to teach me some of what he's learned in class. Cameron is youngest in his class, so he's a bit behind the rest, though he's bright, though a squirrely challenge. I had a single friend over to hang out yesterday. As she listened and observed my afternoon routine with Cameron, she said, "I am going to have to pray for you more! I had no idea what your life was like!"
D: Reading that Tyler had first-quarter exams in English, Math, Chinese and Science sounds like he's in high school or college! Do you think school is taken much more seriously there? I can't believe Cameron is in 1st grade already! (Does the new school year start in January?) It wasn't that long ago, when he was a baby!!!! Time is flying!
K: YES. YES. YES!
D: Are there any things that you really miss from here that you cannot get there?
K: NOPE! Partly because we have been away and gotten used to the things here, and mostly because so much is available here (even some of the obscure junk food like poptarts!)
D: I hope you don't mind me asking so many questions; I know you must be busy, so respond whenever you can. In the meantime, please know that I pray for you every day.
K: For the churches here, Jim helps them hook up with in-country works that the particular church could give some short term support to, or "adopt" as a church project. He helps them strategize what their unique contributions can be to partnering with existing work going on rather than starting their own thing from scratch and competing with other mssnaries.
With the incountry networking, he works with many different ministries/groups who's ends are focused on bringing the good news to different Unreached People Groups in a large country to the north of us. Their govt. has said there are 56 major classifications of what they call "Minority Peoples." But truly, there are more than 200 groups, the govt has just bunched similar groups together. Many of these groups have no known Xns or chchs in them.)
D: Thank you for your ministry to honor Jesus Christ globally. You and your family are heroes/heroine of the faith! YOU TOO! If we're all doing God's will, we are all his heros!
K: Thank you so much for supporting our lives and efforts with your prayers. It really feels like we have partners even when you aren't with us physically. We feel cared for, and strong in the LORD's mighty power!
D: I so appreciated getting your e-mail to know your prayer requests. You said that Jim's work is keeping him in Singapore these days. Is that why his pace is slower--because he is at home? Does he travel a lot normally?
K: Part of why it is slower is that we are purposefully taking it slower this year. Jim and I both enjoy working, but we can be on the driven side. We are learning to slow down a bit and take better care of ourselves. We've been through some tough things emotionally since coming to Singapore (which the letter will allude to), and now, with the Burchells leaving, we are working at some healing, growing from the experience, and filling up our reserves. I've even started working out with Jim at the gym 3 times a week! A first for us! I feel great! Carving more time out for reading and growing through the Word, and other books. Journaling and praying more.
Jim traveled A LOT last fall, and had WAY too much to do. It was a season of overload, since different areas he leads all had events in the fall. Sometimes it just happens that way, and it is do-able, but not as a way of life!!!
Since some of his work deals outside Singapore, in helping workers in networking/developing "strategic partnerships" for the Gspl in a big country to the north of us, he travels quite a bit for that. From time to time there are meetings as a CRM director that he travels to be a part of too. He normally takes a couple trips a quarter, somewhere. It is neat living in Singapore too, we are very close to so many Asian countries. As a family we sometimes take trips to nearby countries during our school breaks. This year, I get to do some Christian drama training in Malaysia, and perhaps Cambodia too! Jim will stay home and guard the home front then!
D: The focus here has been so much on the war that I remember hearing of SARS, but I did not realize that it was stopping attendance at schools. Is that pretty much all around you? Forgive me. I don't have a lot of time to watch the news!
K: We all enjoyed the time off, spending more time together, though it will be sad that our summer break, which is usually only 4 weeks, is now cut to 2 weeks! I feel like I got to know the boys better because of having them home all day everyday and their normal playmates weren't being allowed to leave their houses to come over or allow the kids to go to their houses to play (there were 2 exceptions) I'd listened well to the Spirit's leading to say "no" to a couple of things ahead of the SARS outbreak, so I was free to give them my attention!
Kids are back in school as of last week, but there is a lot of control and news and fear. Filling out forms nearly everyday stating whether we've been in SARS affected areas/hospitals/countries. The kids are questioned everyday when they arrive to school whether they are feeling well, etc. Next week they are saying they will institute giving all the children thermometers to check their temperatures a couple times a day! They still don't know whether the virus is contagious before symptoms are seen, so people who aren't quarantined could be passing it around too. I just say, we gotta live our lives as long as God ordains, and so let's get on with living them!
D: I KNOW that your parents were very proud of seeing you in LITTLE VIOLET AND THE ANGEL! Your mom said it was a different role for you. I got the impression that you were the bad guy! Were you?
K: YES! I was AWFUL!!! Not in a characatured sort of way, but in the way that made some people (adults!) in the audience cry because I was too much like the unloving mothers/women in their lives (no one sets out to be a villain, we all have our reasons for meanness - for this lady, it was being wrapped up in her grief). It all worked out in the end...I got what I deserved - I realized I'd been awful...and then I died!
D: I just didn't get that impression from what I read. I felt that you were the grief-stricken mom--period. Can you tell me more about it? Were you exhausted from your schedule of performance? It seemed that once you started, you didn't quit! How did YOU feel about your performance? How about Jim? and the boys?--Did they see you perform?
K: Jim and the boys loved it. Jim was traveling when the show opened, but the boys and our helper came a few times. I was able to get them backstage passes (which is a big thing since this arts center only opened in January, and it's pretty shwanky). THey liked meeting and hanging out with the other actors and being backstage and playing with the puppet VIOLET. Cameron (6) was troubled that I died. He wished I could have been one of the puppeteers giving voice and life to the child instead. But Cameron really liked the song I sang (a real tear jerker - showed the lady's soft side!) and he often sings it to me now. I felt happily and thoroughly exhausted when the show was over. I slept a lot more the first week after. It was weird getting back to my "real" life of being an unknown mom and going to parent meetings and sitting through piano class with the boys after having been in the spotlights for a solid week. Seemed like I was two people for a few days as I kept wondering, "Did that really happen?" I've been asked to do a few more projects this year. Singing in a concert next month as a "guest" of the three men who are putting on the show. I'll sing You'll Never Walk Alone from Carousel. The 3 men are all definitely NOT Christians, but Jesus loves them, through me. I find it neat here that these very outspoken gay guys will be interested in being my friend - when they know I'm a pastor's wife and am a Christian. I've had some good conversations about their understanding of God and spirituality with 2 of them...we'll see how it goes with this next "gig."
D: Are the boys grateful for a break in school? It sounds like they are both pretty great students!
K: Tyler's EXTREMELY smart and works hard. We're fortunate that he hasn't had to take extra tutoring in Chinese yet (nearly all his classmates have had tuition since first grade). I was able to do the studying with him until I started getting more involved in projects outside the house last fall. Now, I try to study with him a little - which means him trying to teach me some of what he's learned in class. Cameron is youngest in his class, so he's a bit behind the rest, though he's bright, though a squirrely challenge. I had a single friend over to hang out yesterday. As she listened and observed my afternoon routine with Cameron, she said, "I am going to have to pray for you more! I had no idea what your life was like!"
D: Reading that Tyler had first-quarter exams in English, Math, Chinese and Science sounds like he's in high school or college! Do you think school is taken much more seriously there? I can't believe Cameron is in 1st grade already! (Does the new school year start in January?) It wasn't that long ago, when he was a baby!!!! Time is flying!
K: YES. YES. YES!
D: Are there any things that you really miss from here that you cannot get there?
K: NOPE! Partly because we have been away and gotten used to the things here, and mostly because so much is available here (even some of the obscure junk food like poptarts!)
D: I hope you don't mind me asking so many questions; I know you must be busy, so respond whenever you can. In the meantime, please know that I pray for you every day.
K: For the churches here, Jim helps them hook up with in-country works that the particular church could give some short term support to, or "adopt" as a church project. He helps them strategize what their unique contributions can be to partnering with existing work going on rather than starting their own thing from scratch and competing with other mssnaries.
With the incountry networking, he works with many different ministries/groups who's ends are focused on bringing the good news to different Unreached People Groups in a large country to the north of us. Their govt. has said there are 56 major classifications of what they call "Minority Peoples." But truly, there are more than 200 groups, the govt has just bunched similar groups together. Many of these groups have no known Xns or chchs in them.)
D: Thank you for your ministry to honor Jesus Christ globally. You and your family are heroes/heroine of the faith! YOU TOO! If we're all doing God's will, we are all his heros!
K: Thank you so much for supporting our lives and efforts with your prayers. It really feels like we have partners even when you aren't with us physically. We feel cared for, and strong in the LORD's mighty power!
4/01/2003
AWANA kids often write asking Questions...
My son Cameron has started going to AWANA here in Singapore this year. He's in Sparks. There is one church that has it and it is such a good program.
My job as a missionary is different from what my husband does...but since you asked me, I'll just tell you what I do. My job as a missionary is using drama to help spread Jesus' love and the truths of Scripture for living an abundant life in Christ. I get to do this in many ways.
I taught a course to a group of Sunday school and kindergarten teachers on how to use drama in their classrooms. I've taught a playwriting class to Christian adults who want to use drama in their churches for worship and special events. I've done some writing and other training, and this year will start discipling some of the women I have met through my training times. I have done some drama training for a group of churches in Malaysia and meet with other Christian artists from neighboring countries as they come through town. This year I will go to another city in Malaysia and may
go to Cambodia as well. Our family is thinking of going to Thailand to pass out the Jesus Film to tourists from Mainland China, since we all speak Chinese and mainlanders are very facinated with us (and it would not be against the law to give out the Jesus film in Thailand!!!)
Last year I was in a show for children that was sponsored primarily by a church. The show was not a salvation message, but a few thousand school children, including many special needs children were blessed by getting to see a show teaching them good values about sharing and friendship. Most of the cast were Christians. The church has this vision for using the arts in Jesus name to bring blessing and joy to their community. I was able to build trust and friendship with the cast members who are not yet Christians.
In February, I was in a professional production where I had opportunities to share my personal faith in Jesus with the cast and crew as I build relationships with them. The story was about a guardian angel. One day our lead actor (who is this famous actor here in Singapore) came into rehearsal with a terrible pain in his back. I took him aside and asked him if I could pray for him. He was glad for that, and then told me that the pain disappeared when I prayed for him. We were interviewed on radio and he
shared with the DJ a very theologically correct description of the purpose of angels (he's been reading!) I think God is doing something in his heart. It has been a great opportunity to develop sweet friendships with non-Christians (who are actually a bit anti-Christian), I trust God will use me in their lives to draw them to Himself.
On the last day of the show I took each person in the cast and crew aside to pray over their lives and that God would show them how much he loves them and that they would see the value of loving him back and living for him. Everyone liked being prayed for...even the athiests!!! We'll see if I get to eventually lead some of them to their decision to follow Jesus. Since the show ended I've been making "dates" to have lunch with different ones. You can pray for me that I would ask good questions like Jesus did of people, and would avoid preaching. This way people come to their realization of
their need for God just by talking about themselves.
What I like about Singapore is how God is teaching me that I'm not superwoman - and he's watned me to realize that he loves me whether I am just doing the laundry, or helping my kids study Chinese. It doesn't matter what I do, he just wants me to love him with my whole heart. It's funny when in USA, missionaries are often put on a pedestal as being SuperChristian, but it is in my going overseas that I am learning about my frailty and dependence on God. I am learning to see Him do things through my weaknessess instead of my competence. This is a good and HARD lesson to learn!
Love,
Mrs. Creasman
My job as a missionary is different from what my husband does...but since you asked me, I'll just tell you what I do. My job as a missionary is using drama to help spread Jesus' love and the truths of Scripture for living an abundant life in Christ. I get to do this in many ways.
I taught a course to a group of Sunday school and kindergarten teachers on how to use drama in their classrooms. I've taught a playwriting class to Christian adults who want to use drama in their churches for worship and special events. I've done some writing and other training, and this year will start discipling some of the women I have met through my training times. I have done some drama training for a group of churches in Malaysia and meet with other Christian artists from neighboring countries as they come through town. This year I will go to another city in Malaysia and may
go to Cambodia as well. Our family is thinking of going to Thailand to pass out the Jesus Film to tourists from Mainland China, since we all speak Chinese and mainlanders are very facinated with us (and it would not be against the law to give out the Jesus film in Thailand!!!)
Last year I was in a show for children that was sponsored primarily by a church. The show was not a salvation message, but a few thousand school children, including many special needs children were blessed by getting to see a show teaching them good values about sharing and friendship. Most of the cast were Christians. The church has this vision for using the arts in Jesus name to bring blessing and joy to their community. I was able to build trust and friendship with the cast members who are not yet Christians.
In February, I was in a professional production where I had opportunities to share my personal faith in Jesus with the cast and crew as I build relationships with them. The story was about a guardian angel. One day our lead actor (who is this famous actor here in Singapore) came into rehearsal with a terrible pain in his back. I took him aside and asked him if I could pray for him. He was glad for that, and then told me that the pain disappeared when I prayed for him. We were interviewed on radio and he
shared with the DJ a very theologically correct description of the purpose of angels (he's been reading!) I think God is doing something in his heart. It has been a great opportunity to develop sweet friendships with non-Christians (who are actually a bit anti-Christian), I trust God will use me in their lives to draw them to Himself.
On the last day of the show I took each person in the cast and crew aside to pray over their lives and that God would show them how much he loves them and that they would see the value of loving him back and living for him. Everyone liked being prayed for...even the athiests!!! We'll see if I get to eventually lead some of them to their decision to follow Jesus. Since the show ended I've been making "dates" to have lunch with different ones. You can pray for me that I would ask good questions like Jesus did of people, and would avoid preaching. This way people come to their realization of
their need for God just by talking about themselves.
What I like about Singapore is how God is teaching me that I'm not superwoman - and he's watned me to realize that he loves me whether I am just doing the laundry, or helping my kids study Chinese. It doesn't matter what I do, he just wants me to love him with my whole heart. It's funny when in USA, missionaries are often put on a pedestal as being SuperChristian, but it is in my going overseas that I am learning about my frailty and dependence on God. I am learning to see Him do things through my weaknessess instead of my competence. This is a good and HARD lesson to learn!
Love,
Mrs. Creasman
3/29/2003
3/13/2003
Latest News
From email to Elaine Bent in Dallas, TX
I've caught up on my sleep and some of the piles in the office...all that home administrivia that got shelved for the back to back run of Rainbow Fish-trip to USA-Little Violet.
Attending parent meetings at school and Cameron's music class at Yamaha last Saturday I had to marvel at the different worlds I was a part of...Back to "normal life" it's hard to imagine that the week before I'd been going through security with my pass to get backstage of the Esplanade, and hanging out with local TV stars...ha!
I've been asked to do a guest appearance in a show/concert in May. Three local actor/singers are doing a variety show and want me to come do a musical theatre number with them - I think the plan is that they'll back me up with accappella, When You Walk Through a Storm from Carousel.
Paul Seow also asked me last week to direct his children's production for May, but after praying about it, said no. I told him if I said YES it would be for all the wrong reasons. So I'll help them out in a smaller capacity, and have my days more free for other things. I've agreed to write for two shows for schools and the scripts need attention.
But most important, I feel that I want to begin being more intentional about discipleship and mentoring some of these younger women I've come to know through these shows. I have been suprised by the way some of the guys have opened up to me about their spirituality too - even the homosexuals in the cast. I am meeting one of them for tea today - so we'll just have to see why God has brought these dear ones into my life too.
Have you read THE SACRED ROMANCE, Drawing Nearer to the Heart of God by John Eldridge and Brent Curtis? Wow, I am LOVING IT. It is playing my heartstrings and speaking to my soul like no Christian book I've read...just what I needed to hear as I've been longing for more passion in my relationship with Christ. Something I read in the book yesterday had me going to bed lst night thinking how much I truly LOVE GOD with feelings and not just my head. Loads of theatre analogies in it too because John was an actor in LA for part of his career...
Well thats enough for now. It was great to get your news about CITA. Do stay in touch. I pray you'll know his joy and favour on your life today.
I've caught up on my sleep and some of the piles in the office...all that home administrivia that got shelved for the back to back run of Rainbow Fish-trip to USA-Little Violet.
Attending parent meetings at school and Cameron's music class at Yamaha last Saturday I had to marvel at the different worlds I was a part of...Back to "normal life" it's hard to imagine that the week before I'd been going through security with my pass to get backstage of the Esplanade, and hanging out with local TV stars...ha!
I've been asked to do a guest appearance in a show/concert in May. Three local actor/singers are doing a variety show and want me to come do a musical theatre number with them - I think the plan is that they'll back me up with accappella, When You Walk Through a Storm from Carousel.
Paul Seow also asked me last week to direct his children's production for May, but after praying about it, said no. I told him if I said YES it would be for all the wrong reasons. So I'll help them out in a smaller capacity, and have my days more free for other things. I've agreed to write for two shows for schools and the scripts need attention.
But most important, I feel that I want to begin being more intentional about discipleship and mentoring some of these younger women I've come to know through these shows. I have been suprised by the way some of the guys have opened up to me about their spirituality too - even the homosexuals in the cast. I am meeting one of them for tea today - so we'll just have to see why God has brought these dear ones into my life too.
Have you read THE SACRED ROMANCE, Drawing Nearer to the Heart of God by John Eldridge and Brent Curtis? Wow, I am LOVING IT. It is playing my heartstrings and speaking to my soul like no Christian book I've read...just what I needed to hear as I've been longing for more passion in my relationship with Christ. Something I read in the book yesterday had me going to bed lst night thinking how much I truly LOVE GOD with feelings and not just my head. Loads of theatre analogies in it too because John was an actor in LA for part of his career...
Well thats enough for now. It was great to get your news about CITA. Do stay in touch. I pray you'll know his joy and favour on your life today.
2/27/2003
Little Violet and the Angel
Anna Maria & Vlad
2003 Feb/March Curtain Call for Little Violet and the Angel at the Esplanade Studio Theatre.
2003 March: My dada, mom and their friend Jan came for a weekend from California to see Little Violet!
1/11/2003
Tyler's 10th
January 12, 2003: 10 year old Tyler's friends with his STITCH cake
January 2003: Making a pinata (Lilo & Stitch's house) for Tyler's birthday party.
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