Safe from Tsunami- reporting from Singapore

It was a normal Sunday for the Creasmans. We didn't even know about the SE Asia tsunamis until 12 hours afterward when we turned on the news (late Sunday night our time). Living in the region, we feel closer to the pain and the grand scale of loss. The island closest to the epicenter, Sumatra, had so much catastrophe, and it took the waves headed for Singapore. Our little island, nestled in between Indonesia and Malaysia, was preserved.

As we prayerfully mourn and flip our TVs between CNN, BBC and Channel News Asia, Christians in Singapore are bustling to figure out how we can respond with help to our Asian neighbors. There was a meeting Monday at Jim's office (The Singapore Centre for Evangelism and Mission). They want to help coordinate efforts and mobilize Singaporean Christians.  The church we attend here had several daughter churches in Sri Lanka that were affected, and our CRM colleagues in Indonesia are sending some evangelists with relief materials to their most affected area which is very Islamic. A dinner guest tonight will be directing Operation Blessing (CBN) aid efforts to the Maldives.

Please pray for wisdom for Christians in the region to find tangible ways to assist and show Jesus' love to the hurting and needy people. Pray that both physical and spiritual healing and salvation will be brought to them in ways that prove God's greatness, goodness and love. Pray for the Lord's miraculous strengthening to those on the front lines offering assistance. And, pray with us to be able to reach out and comfort others around us who are most affected by the tragedy.

We were living in Singapore during 9/11. We know what it's like to hear about tragedy in your homeland and not be able to be home to share with your country in the grieving. After some phone calls yesterday I found out a nearby convalescent home with Sri Lankan staff.  After dinner the 4 of us took over some cards, cookies and Gospels of John. They all came out to meet us and see why we'd come. We stood in front of the building, with security and other staff looking on, and shared with them our sadness over the devastation in their home country and prayed for them and their families and country. They were really sweet and it was a touching experience for all of us. It is such a small thing, but it is one way we can personally give a word and touch of comfort and share the hope we have in Jesus.

Also from Jim:
Hi Patti,

Thanks for checking.  We're ok physically, and didn't even know about the tsunami until 12 hours afterward (late Sunday night our time), but it has hit us emotionally.  Christians in Singapore are trying to figure out how we can respond with some help to our Asian neighbors.  We had a meeting at my office (SCEM) 2 nights ago to try and bring different ministries together and coordinate efforts and mobilize Singaporean Christians.  The church we attend here had several daughter churches in Sri Lanka that were affected, and our CRM colleagues in Indonesia are sending some evangelists with relief materials to the area in northern Sumatra, which is very Islamic.

Please pray for wisdom for Christians in the region to find tangible ways to help out and show Jesus' love to the many hurting and needy people.  And pray for the Lord's emotional strengthening for us to be able to reach out and comfort others in the midst of tragedy.

Last night our family went to a nearby convalescent home where six Sri Lankans work.  After being in Singapore during 9/11, we knew how depressing it is to hear about tragedy in your homeland and not be able to be there to share in the grieving.  We took them some small presents and gospel materials and shared with them our sadness and prayed for them and their families and country.  They were really sweet and seemed very touched by us reaching out to them.  It was a moving experience for our family, and we felt at least we could personally give some comfort and share the hope we have in Jesus.

BTW, I also felt homesick this Christmas, the first time I think since we've been in Asia.  Just missing the friends and all the traditions.  My mom raved about the program at EV Free.

WIth our love and thanks to God for you and prayers for his blessings! 

Jim

 

The Lornie Road Mansion

I drove by with the kids recently and called the realtor's number. This empty house needs a caretaker! It's falling apart and it's brand new. I wonder what the monthly upkeep costs alone are for a house this size. The realtor showed us the house last week and suggested we make an offer to the bank to live in it as caretakers while they continue to try to sell it.

Bank repo of a 99% finished custom home. All 8,000 sq feet interior and 19,200 property has been sitting empty for a year now. Asking $5.5 million! 

A rowdy bunch for Cameron's 8th birthday party. December 14th.

email to Kevin:
We're having a very quiet and reflective Christmas season
HOWEVER
The flurry of activity for Cameron's birthday yesterday made up for the rest of the month. They both were up at 6:15 to follow the (most awesomest) string. Cameron got this great "freedom force" cargo helicopter with a jeep and army guys and rope ladders and guns and and and. That was the biggest hit, I think (TYLER was JEALOUS!!!). The gifts from his little party friends were also pretty good this year. Mostly toys! (ie. he didn't get any Chinese study workbooks from his best buddy like last year! Only one book and one t-shirt!)
We played twister, cranium cadoo, chinese checkers, beyblades and that old race of eating marshmallows tied to the end of a string (what a hoot!).
Ended the all-boy event with a waterballoon war in the garden below our condo. 2 teams each with a bucket full of little bombs. No bombs hitting above the shoulders. No stepping out of bounds. Jim was the judge of which team was the most dry after only 6 minutes of warfare. The Creasman boys were tied for wettest!
Cam was very cute about this birthday, counting the days until it came...
All day today (the day after) we've been making a BIG deal about his age:
"Hey! you are EIGHT years old!"
He rolls his eyes, "I KNOWWWW!"
He loves it.

Viper

Tyler had the blues today and we drove over to the SPCA for him to visit a husky named VIPER there (he's always loved reading about sled dogs and the movie Iron Will). That was a wonderful pick-me-up for him (and for me too).

Survived Vacation Day Camp

My right eyelid is twitching and my body is a bit sore today, but I'm
alive to tell about it!

Singapore Idol, Journey of Desire, Advice to a Friend

I went just for the last 10 minutes of one show and was SO GLAD i didn't do it again. I think now that I'm in my 40's I want to do more dignified performances and leave the cartoon characters to the younger performers!

We had a party last night to watch the finals for Singapore Idol. Your girlfriend was funny - she said she'd rather die than watch. She had the cell group anyway so...we enjoyed the hype and fun of it. Taufik won, so we're happy He's who we were rooting for.

Glad you've enjoyed the book so far. Press on, the 2nd half is better. But even more than reading Journey of Desire, or whether you've found a church, the bottom line is whether you're talking to and listening to Jesus more and more. The other stuff is just the extras to where your heart is with him. As you read the book, or crack open the Word, are you asking him what he wants to tell you? Even in the spear fishing and beach relaxing he's with you and wants you to experience ordinary fun stuff in his presence. Through the beauty, and nature, he wants to speak to you too. Stop asking yourself "I wonder what I'm supposed..." and just turn all those questions over to him.

School Play: CINDERELLA Can you find Tyler as Prince Charming behind 6 of the Singaporean Seven Dwarves? 

Article by Tammy Bruce

I don't normally write about politics, but I found this article WHY A DEMOCRAT SHOULD VOTE FOR BUSH
by a notorious feminist quite refreshing.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=15740

Pam Kluver's BIRTHDAY Pendant

Symbolism in the birthday gift...
Yep. I've had these pendants since I bought them the last week we
lived in China...waiting for the right person to give away to. As I was
pondering your birthday I decided to keep one for me and give that one to you.
Twins.
Besides it being Chinese and from China that makes it special,
there's also a funny special meaning to them too: I CAN'T figure out what that word is. The dictionary hasn't been
helpful.
The woman who sold them to me said it was a good meaning... didn't really understand what she said. But I bought them anyway -- with a laugh -- it symbolizes that I'll NEVER master this language! Like I love this pendant, but don't get
it, I'll never really GET the Chinese even though I love them dearly.
Just like you!
I'm not shut up writing too much, I've been teaching more than ever
(this week besides my little 5 star group, I've 3 other groups I'm teaching for that's really unusual!) I'll get the scripts done somehow. I've 2 done, 8 to go!

Little Miracle for Tyler

Yesterday, and quite by accident (but not God's accident - He was answering an 11 year old's prayers!) I stumbled on City Music. A friend had recommended this store and an amplifier sold there if we were going to go ahead and get a guitar for Tyler. And what did I find? a great package deal on the electric guitar with the recommended amp, case, cord and strap for a price tyler can
afford.Later in the day I took Tyler back to see it. Tyler will pick it up Wednesday.

A Friend with Lymphoma Shares His Understanding on Healing

Mike Crow's STRUGGLE WITH MEANING AND MYSTERY

(from his email prayer letter in November 2004)

Disease seems to hit Christian and non-Christian alike. Healing also occurs for some, but many are not healed. Some see illness as simple randomness and genetics. Others say God heals everyone who comes in faith. People take various positions between the extremes of meaninglessness and oversimplified meaning.

Position #1	Position #2	Position #3
If you’re pleasing to God, He’ll heal you! Medical help is a cop-out, a failure of faith. Everything has a 1:1 significance, a fixed meaning and purpose. Illness is either: (a) a result of personal sin, (b) a generational curse or (c) Satan’s attack. Just repent, refuse & resist!	God is all-powerful, good, sovereign and wise. We live in a fallen world with fallen bodies. Christians are not exempt from the consequences of Adam’s sin. God can & does intervene with healing. But He is hard to pin down to any hard and fast formula. Somehow, amazingly, He seems to bring glory to Himself both through healing and through our facing suffering with His grace and peace. Often it seems that we only come to this place through severe personal trial, being Biblically faithful yet embracing cold, hard realities. Get the best medical help you can trusting God through it all.	Illness occurs randomly & genetically. It’s all chaos & chance. Get the best medical help you can, then grin and bear it. The naïve attribute random junk & medical help to God. But there is no higher purpose or meaning. Faith is an obstacle to scientific advance
Tends to deny painful facts contrary to faith. Tends to simplify life and faith. Sees medicine as nice but unnecessary. Tends toward aggressive prayer.	Tends to struggle with integrating faith and suffering. Acknowledges God’s sovereignty in the mystery of life, even life with pain. Embraces medical advance as a gift from God to suffering humanity, made possible because of His image in man (compassion and intelligence). Tends to be more tentative in prayer (If it be Thy will).	Denies God and looks only at “the facts.” Tends toward skepticism, cynicism and / or hedonism. Medical advance is human ingenuity. Prayer is pointless.
God heals all who have faith, so lack of healing is a lack of faith. My faith releases God’s power. God is not in control; I am.	If God heals some but not others according to His will, then it does not depend so much on my faith as on His mercy. The stress is not on my faith but on God’s sovereignty. I am not in control; God is.	There is no God or miraculous healing. “Healings” are psychosomatic or a fraud. God is not in control; I am and so are my doctors!
Simplistic Meaning and Pat Answers	Meaning & Mystery	Meaninglessness, Cynicism, Despair

I’ve found myself struggling at every point along this continuum, trying to integrate faith with lack of healing. I’m now circulating around the middle area, embracing both the meaning found in faith and the mystery found in lack of healing. I am leaning heavily on the mystery of God’s mercy and rejoice in medical advance.

Indeed, I see my entry into the National Cancer Institute as a wonderful answer to prayer. I’ve jumped to the head of the queue! I’m at the cutting edge of research on lymphoma treatments, which other cancer patients will benefit from years from now.

Thank you, God, that I can be a part of Your work through human beings, to extend Your healing to any suffering person, regardless of their faith. This is truly Your mercy in action towards suffering humanity.

The cover of a newly published book. Our chapter of infertility is inside. 

Highly Recommended reading. I'm living the life I only dreamed of...How about you? 

In Praise of Rich Swingle

Rich Swingle is not only a winsome and talented performer, but he's also deeply committed follower of Jesus with his head on firmly and straight.

Last summer when I told him the one the thing I admire most about him, he got tears in his eyes. It was something no one has ever complimented him on, and yet it is something that he admitted to having had to really work at.

It is not is talent or his intelligence, or his love and dedication to his wife, or that he has the ability to make everyone around him feel special by making sure they are introduced and included in conversation. No, the thing I admire most about him is that he obviously has made a personal commitment to speaking only positive words. Even in very difficult circumstances where everyone around is grousing, Rich will refuses to join the crowd and will find positive uplifting things to say. I've never known anyone else in the arts like that and it has a big impact on my will to guard my tongue.

Booking: 864-294-9500 or info@Savidge.com

Re: A Letter from a Financial Supporter

Thank you for your gracious and open letter. A letter like this makes us have a stronger than ever sense of your partnership. It is a great encouragement to me to have you share like this. As Americans we tend to be very private about our finances. Rarely would one "spell it out," like you've just done, in order to let us know where you stand in regards to being our partners in ministry with your finances.

We are so blessed to have friends and supporters like you who trust the Lord in how He's going to provide and lead in using us all in small ways for the sake of His glory!

Praying for your blessing and Joy from Singpaore today,

K!Mberly

----- Original Message -----

From:

To: K!Mberly Creasman

Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2004 11:10 AM

Subject: Expanded ministries

Dear Jim and Kimberly,

Thanks for your regular reports as well as your special, personally written letter from Jim. We like the reporting of activities and prayer requests related to calendar events for yourselves, the ministries, and the kids. And we thank God that we can participate in a small way and share your vision for reaching CHINA. What a wonderful calling!

I know that you are looking for supporters to back your ministry expansion, and we have every intention to continue to support you in prayer and via semiannual contributions. However, I guess its time for you to become aware of our financial situation. I, ____ have been retired for 12 years and this is the main reason we have reduced the rate of our giving to twice annually for all of our charities. We give once in the springtime in anticipation of God’s blessings and once in December, reflecting the state of our finances. The money comes from our IRA’s.

____ is also retired, but she works from time to time when she has a special request from a known former associate, primarily to provide her with some discretionary money, spending money for gifts. We both drive OLD cars.

So, the bottom line is, don’t expect additional resources from us unless the Lord does something extraordinary with our finances. We are largely dependent on second guessing the stock market with our IRA’s and can report that God has kept things relatively constant for us over the last decade while things in the financial markets were going up and down rather dramatically.

Although our contributions may not seem like much, we consider you both, and your special gifts and ministries, as one of our favorite investments, along with five other missionary families and other outreaches. We love you and desire God’s blessings for you, your family and your ministries.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Cameron and I had a rare chance to see this group come through Singapore on tour last night. According to his birthmother, Alvin Ailey is Cameron's great-grand-uncle. Cam wore his suit on this date with mom and he was pretty impressed by how strong the men were! I was especially moved by the last section REVELATIONS, a selection of pieces danced to traditional spirituals. One duet called "FIX ME JESUS" was breathtaking and deeply moving. Three of the 4 segments for the evening we went were choreographed by Alvin Ailey. God is good to lead us to going last night, as the other 2 performances only had 1 segment of Ailey choreography.

To a Friend Who's moved to a New City

Jim and I have been travelling a lot this past month and I really miss him (He's shocked and is loving it that I'm needy! Usually he comes back from a trip and I say, "Home so soon?" This time I'm up late at night watching COLD MOUNTAIN and saying when he calls, "If you are fighting, stop fighting. If you are marching, stop marching. Come back to me. Come back to me. Come back to me." I think he must have been so happy to hear me say that, that he may have recorded it in his palm pilot as a date to remember! "Kimberly NEEDED me!")

And as for you to be in Las Vegas with no long time friends to be your support system. Another sigh. I just had news that our only American friends here are looking to move back to USA. I hope you have some friends, or family that call or come to visit...

Did you ever find a church or "alpha course" there that seemed a good fit?

Thank you for even thinking about the support bit at the bottom of the email...

But we are in good hands. And so are you...

I asked for your prayer requests and will be praying about your home sale, and getting you all in the same city again soon.

The Boys' School Experience Here

(to another American looking into options for their children when they move here)

We've been in Singapore nearly 5 years after 2 years in China. My husband
and I both caucasian Americans and we have had our 2 boys in local schools
the whole time (since they were 3 and 7). We will probably switch the middle
of next year and are considering other options. Both boys are happy in
the system (now 11 and 7) but we also feel they should have a chance to
experience another style of schooling. The system here has its good points
and drawbacks (as does any option). Since we came to Singapore hoping to
make it home, we wanted to immerse ourselves in the life here, and you can't
really understand or relate to Singaporeans unless you are intimate with the
school system. But starting with your girl as a 12 year old may be tough
unless she is confident adaptable, and pretty bright (you can opt out of
taking "mother tongue" as a foreigner, so the 2nd language studies won't be
a problem for her).

You can find a wealth of information and links at the Singapore Ministry
of Education website (they call it MOE). While living in China, we found
nearly everything we needed to know from this web site.

Year round schools here start a day or two after new year. Ends
mid-November.

All that said, I still haven't met any other caucasian American family who
has made the same schooling choices we have. It was an unusual conviction
we've held to, and it has worked for us, and been a blessing in many ways. I
am on the homeschooling egroup so that I can be inspired by them, get ideas
for supplementing my children's education, and stay connected to their
activites. It's nice to have occassional contact with other
foreigners/parents. I am bored to tears by chit chat with the local mothers
who only seem to care about knowing my children's exam scores and how much I
pay for rent.

News to Jim in Atlanta

Tyler and I watched Van Helsing last night after Cam was asleep.

I've been really tough on them this week. They're shocked that I can really administer the LAW!

Tyler wasn't keeping track of time on the computer so I made him read a book on internet guidelines for kids and tell me about it. Now he knows the word Pedophile. Cameron lost his priviledge to sleep in my room last night because of losing his temper and being rude to me. HE WAILED and BEGGED for another chance. I'd already given him two, so I was merciless. He's in his room now cleaning up the toys he threw around when he was mad last night!

I went through toy junk with Cameron and he has until tomorrow to put zoids back together or the pieces get tossed on Saturday. We had a "gluing party" yesterday for the ones he'd repaired. I think he's pretty proud of himself for making some sense of the pieces! So their room is getting pretty organized now.

Both boys are doing their chore charts with the threat of a swat for every blank square. What a mean mom!

X&X came over yesterday. That was interesting. What fun. I think they like me to be straightforward with them. So I was. Told them their relationship will never go the distance unless she bridled her tongue and stopped belittling him (and disrespecting him) and unless he started putting some effort into making her feel special, take her on a date, and do something together without her setting it up, even if it is deciding to go to church and him taking the leadership to follow through with the plan. They have to tell me next week if they were successful at their attempts for these few days. If they can't make any improvement in a week, when they are focused on it, then it will never get better and they might as well give up now. They were taking notes! Imagine!? Taking advice from me!!! LORD help us all!

I finally dared to go in my office this morning. Yikes. What a black hole...I've been staying in the bedroom with my computer just 'cause I don't want to face the chaos in my office. Got to get on top of it...almost time to turn in the receipts...

I think I've got the post China/Australia blues. It was so exciting this past month running around doing drama stuff. Now I'm putting around at home working at boring administrivia - paying the price for my outings and fun. Do you know how many envelopes come back eachnewsletter mailing with a change of address to update???!!

Okay, enough whining. I'd better get to it while the boys are quietly doing something else!

Love you and hope you're feeling better. Bet its a great experience!

Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation - 2004

Wow. We're really Jet Setters for Jesus this month! Jim's off again this morning to the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation. Check out the link to see what this Congress has identified as most important issues. The congress has identified 31 issues to discuss at this stage in the history of the church and sharing the good news of Jesus to the world.

It's been a tag-team month of traveling in this half of the world. The first 2 weeks of September were in Sydney, then Jim was off to China. He was one day back and then I was off for a week in China too. Another Sunday family day yesterday, and Jim is off again to Thailand for 2 weeks! We're missing each other terribly, but it's also terribly exciting to be involved in this work!

I'm wishing I could be at the Congress this year. There is an issue group on Redeeming Culture Through the Arts. I've had stimulating discussions with both Colin Harbinson and Mary Jones. Here's a quote from the site:

Overview: The rapidly increasing numbers of Christians in nonwestern nations is challenging the Euro-centric understanding. With this dramatic change comes new ways of characterizing the faith. The Western emphasis on (abstract) reason is being overtaken by an emphasis on (concrete) embodiment. The neat clean logic of propositions is being replaced by the more fuzzy-edged accounts of narrative and the communal nature of these other cultures challenges the individualism of the West. Moreover there is an upheaval right within Western culture that calls for change. Postmodern discontent with Western modes of thought is offering new openness to "spirituality" and widespread attention to the aesthetic side of life. It appears in both these situations the language of choice is one that leans towards the arts. The power of the arts to communicate is unquestionable and its presence is everywhere. Unlike the West, the other parts of the world have not relegated the arts to galleries, theatres and concerts halls, but have allowed it to permeate ordinary life and nurture the human spirit in a more consistent way. We are in a transitional moment in history and these important changes must be considered as we seek to give shape to global evangelization.

Blogs Blocked in China!

I've just come back from a week in China and learned that the government has effectively blocked access to viewing or creating blogs! Wow. And I thought the country was really opening up! Guess not!

But that is the only bad news from an amazing week! It's been 3 years for me since I've been to the city where we lived from 1997-99. The first time I've been without my husband and children. I really missed them being there with me to remember all the wonderful experiences and places we discovered while we were there studying Chinese.

I not only was delighted to work all week on a recording project with local believers but they were reading translated copies of scripts I'd written! A first for me to have my background as Bible student, Missions Pastor's wife, Chinese Language student, and Dramatist all come together for an exciting Kingdom project.

I had sweet happy times at nearly every meal and overnights with two of the Chinese women who came to be like sisters to me in the two years I lived there. Neither really understand how much God loves them and I've still not the language ability to talk about such things on a deeper level. I have prayed so much for their salvation but until this week never with tears. They both have had some big changes in their lives this year which have introduced them to intimacy with loneliness. I had one morning to be alone for a couple hours, and listening to a song of Psalm 27 I wanted so badly for them to understand how true it is that He is our Stronghold...

I have to believe that for now, in His timing, it was enough that they saw this emotional side of me for the first time. I'm usually expressive, but never have wept in front of them. I admitted crying while praying for them. Then I felt I should just leave it at that. It is truly a season of silence for me. God keeps whispering to "shut up and watch how I work things out."

Besides the taping work and fun meals with these friends, I had a terrific time talking and sharing a bit of my testimony with a large high school English class.

I love China. Can't wait to go back again in December with the family.

Finally cashing in on frequent flyer miles, we went to Australia! Stayed in Darling Harbor, Sydney. Such a great family vaction for little boys!

Featherdale Wildlife Park.

WILD AUSTRALIAN KING PARROTS. Just another morning feeding in the woods of the Blue Mountains.

MAKING FRIENDS WITH A WILD KANGAROO."Do your children even know that they have a very unusual and exciting life?" - My mom when I told her about some of our adventures while in Australia.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE. "The Marriage of Figuero" I've now seen my first opera! What was I waiting for? I know: Growing up with a natural vibratto I was always teased that I was an opera singer. Learned early to assume that this was not a desireable quality in one's voice. After seeing this recent production in Australia, I could care less what others think. They are stupid uncultured morons to belittle opera. Opera is AMAZING! I think I'll start taking voice lessons again.

QUOTES ON JOY

2 years ago I began signing emails, "Blessing and Great Joy" because that was my most earnest prayer for myself. I wasn't experiencing joy and knew that it was my birthright as a child of God. By signing my emails with this wish for others it was a reminder to pray for this desire for myself and for others. Today I read some quotes on joy that I don't want to forget:

“Joy is God’s basic character. Joy is his eternal destiny. God is the happiest being in the universe.” - John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” - C.S. Lewis

“Never let the pain of this world obscure the joy of loving Jesus.” - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” - Jesus of Nazareth, John 15:11

Permanent Residence

To Jan Charlin

We were awarded permanent residence last week! Yeah! PR! That
means we can buy property (instead of throwing money away on rent). We
need God's wisdom and heart about that investment...and when to move.
Spent some time looking this week at a great new development that our
boys were just crazy about...and it's 5 minutes from the International
Christian School, and in town (we live in the suburbs so it's hard to
get people to come over when they take public transportation). I
started teaching a drama class at the International school this
week...so I'm winning brownie points with them! They even offered
scholarships to the boys if I'd take on the class every day. We're not
ready to make the switch and commute yet...so I'm just volunteering
once a week for this semester. Got too many other things going anyway!

Blessings!

Dragons Will Dance in Scotland!

Singapore represented at Edinburgh Fringe Festival!

I saw DANCING WITH DRAGONS earlier this year. It's a wonderful children's show and great opportunity to expose the world to Asias rich folklore! This is the company I've had a chance to perform with before and Joni of my "5stars" group of Christian artists is in the cast (for the Asian Children's Festival last year she was in both DRAGONS and the one woman show SINCERELY ANNE FRANK).

My friends at itheatre are raising $50,000 cash to get there! Just this week the National Arts Council agreed to $10,000, and a few individuals gave between $50 and $1000. If you have some disposable income and want to support a children's show representing Asian culture through folk tales, send $ to:
i theatre
112 East Coast Road
#03-23 Katong Mall
Singapore 428802
(65)63444840
more info at itheatre's website.

SPIDERMAN II

Of course my little boys loved the fight scenes. I was AMAZED how real the effects were.

(You mean that some of it was FAKE???)

Jim and I thought this one was a bit pedantic and that the plot for the first one had more interesting sub-plots and character development (kind of like THE MATRIX ...nothing like the newness of the first one). It reminded me of how I felt after Star Wars Episode 2: way too much close-ups of good looking leads feeling hurt, misunderstood, confused, or just plain brooding. We got tired of looking at Kirsten D and Tobey so much - and they are attractive people, but ENOUGH already!

I guess I'd been set up for a let down after reading such raving reviews. Even the online reviews from focus on the family were glowing, and for a PG-13 that saying something!

Nevermind, it is a comic book genre, and there were aspects that were marvelous at capturing that feel. As we left the theatre, Cameron looks up to me and says, "Promise me mom that we can get the DVD to THAT one! It was awesome!"

Our Stories of Infertility and Adoption

I recently submitted the article below for a book that will be published in Singapore later this year.

We were married June 1985 and were infertility patients for approx. 5 years. We saw a specialist for 2 years. We now have 2 children.

Tyler, our 1st child is our biological son conceived thru IUI, born January 1993 (after 7 ½ years married). Our second is Cameron our bi-racial son adopted 4 years later, December 1996, through Bethany Child Services in USA through private adoption.

Our Story
It was 1996 and our first child, Tyler was turning three. We’d been through the ups and downs heartaches of five years of infertility the first time around, it was an emotional roller coaster we didn’t want to get on again. Starting on another journey of infertility treatments was too much of a gamble. We would surely spend too much money and emotional energy on the process and still not have any success in conceiving and delivering a second child.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” The desire of our hearts was to have a second child, and that our first child, Tyler, grow up with the blessing of a sibling. We had always prayed through our years of infertility, “God grant us the desires of our hearts, and if our dreams are not in your plans for us, please change those desires.” So, again we put our faith in Scripture. We focused our hearts and minds on delighting in the Lord, and we were confident that he would, in His way, satisfy our desires.

Another thing we were sure about was that there are many unwanted pregnancies and orphans in the world. We have strong convictions about abortion and caring for underprivileged. It was not a difficult decision for us to begin the procedures to adopt our second child.

Toward the end of 1996 we drafted and sent a letter to the Heath Clinics of all the Christian Colleges in USA, and hired an adoption attorney. We also had registered with a private agency working with women in crisis pregnancies. What follows is an excerpt from the letter we wrote to introduce ourselves to women who were considering giving their baby up for adoption.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposes in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:28

For our first 7 years of marriage we were eager to be parents. We wondered why God was not granting us the desire of our hearts. Month after month we worked with an infertility doctor. It was a time of disappointment and discouragement, but we had confidence that God always knows what is best. Finally God answered “yes” just before Mother’s Day in 1992.

Four months into our long awaited pregnancy, Jim’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer that would quickly take his life. Through Dad’s last months of pain and discomfort, God, with perfect timing, had provided a great source of joy: his first grandchild. We hadn’t known through the years of waiting for a child, that God’s timing would be perfect for us. Rarely this side of heaven do we get answers to our questions of why God is slow to answer or silent. In this situation, he was gracious to show us his reasons for answering “wait.” As a newborn baby, our son Tyler was still small enough to be held safely in grandpa’s weak arms in the few months before he died.

Now, here we are, four years later. This little Tyler prays every night that God would give him a baby brother or sister; the desire of our three hearts. Being parents has been the greatest experience of our lives and yet our infertility problems have worsened. Wherever you are, you are reading our letter because you are wondering what the future holds for you and the child you are carrying.

God is a good God, and he cares so much for you, for us, and for your baby. Our prayers are with you as you make these important decisions in the days to come.

With hope for a bright future,

The Creasmans
Jim, Kimberly & Tyler

Two months later, our Christmas cards were delayed in the sending. Here’s the letter we sent out with our cards a few weeks after Christmas:

January 13, 1997

In late August, when we decided to pursue a domestic adoption, we began praying that it would come together quickly; specifically, that a birthmother would choose us by Christmas, December 25th, and that a baby would be in our home early in 1997. Not that God needed a date, but we thought it couldn’t hurt to let him know our desires….

We left December 3rd for a two week mission trip to Asia (we were exploring options for serving in Singapore and Indonesia). We had not been able to finish all of the adoption application paperwork, or the required home study. Never-the-less, while in Indonesia, we received a fax from the agency to which we were applying for adoption. They were notifying us that a birthmother had chosen us. She was due December 25th. “Are you interested?” We faxed back, “YES!”

The day after we arrived back to LA, we learned that the baby had been born early (December 14th). In a whirlwind of meetings, a rush of paperwork, and a fog of jet lag we decided that this 6 pound, 11 ounce baby boy was the answer to our prayers. Only 5 days after arriving home, he was our son! We brought him to church the day he was adopted, and our first week back from the trip. Some people thought that the pastor had brought a baby back as a souvenir! We washed all of Tyler’s newborn clothes with the laundry from our trip!

We are still stunned at how quickly this has happened, yet it is exactly what we prayed for! What a wonder-filled Christmas to hold our adopted newborn while worshipping the newborn Jesus. He came so that we might have the opportunity to be adopted as His children. We thank God for his goodness and have great confidence that He brought Cameron into our family.

More than 7 years down the road now, we thank God everyday for the joy and challenge of raising our boys. We continue to pray whether God would want us to adopt again (though we’re not getting any younger!). There is nothing in life that gives us such a clear picture of our heavenly father’s love for us than being parents. There is nothing better to help us understand and share with others the wonder of being adopted as heirs of God’s kingdom.

Our prayer for you would be that God would deepen your love for, and trust in him as you wait for him to fulfill the longing of your hearts. May He grow in all of us a yearning for him as deep and passionate as our longing to have children. May he strengthen your character and deepen your compassion for others who hurt as you walk this part of your journey.

SOUP CENTRAL Mmmm!

2002 This has been blown up poster size on a few Soup Central locations downtown.


2002 Cameron poses for pictures to use on the wall of a fast food soup restaurant (see his smashed thumb?)

Singapore: We Love This City!

Singapore's Financial District from Esplanade roof


Boat Quay from the Equinox - atop the Swisshotel


2003 A view from the Esplanade Performing Arts Centre: the big Fullerton Hotel (white bldg) and the financial district downtown.

O for Oh No!

Ohh dear. Just before I fell out of the O at the entrance to Disney's Calfornia Adventure.

Photo: Doheny Beach June 2004

All the Creasmans & Coventons. Doheny Beach, June 2004 

Mother's Day 2004

ALWAYS


(this is the song I sang for the Standard Chartered Bank commercial)

Mother's day was sweet here. Started with wrestling in bed (forget breakfast when you have 2 boys) and after church, spent time looking at pictures. We missed our moms... so a little blue, but excited about our trip to USA next month.

I always have deep heartache when they make a fuss over moms at church...I refuse to stand up. My little protest on behalf of all the single and childless wanna-be mother's who are hurting that day...I'm weird...but it's my conviction.

My mother always commanded us to NOT make a fuss over her on Mother's Day. She thought it was a commercial plot from Hallmark...said, "LOVE ME WELL the rest of the year and you don't have to make a special day for me to assuage your guilt for how you've neglected and taken me for granted!" My mom's a piece of work. I love her!

Kids are in the middle of exams...Chinese tomorrow. We've really been enjoying our kids these last few months. They are fun little terrors. So different, but they love each other. I've tricked them into extending the years they want to come in and snuggle with mom and dad in the morning: I bought a down comforter and exquisitely fluffy down pillows (even though we live in the tropics- we sleep in air conditioning!). It is so cozy they come in every morning...

Unusual Easter Weekend

Skipping school for a birthday party.

Maundy Thursday started with a 75th Birthday Party, for MICKEY MOUSE. The kids were on the local news that night, though we didn't catch it (one of Ty's friends did and called to say "NOW I know why you left school early!!!" Tyler had refused to tell his friends where he was going. He just said, "I have an appointment!")

Thursday night we had lamb ke-bobs, roti prata (flat indian bread) and grape juice in wine glasses for dinner. Tyler read the Scriptures; Cameron got food all over his clothes; and I snuck away after their bedtime to see a 9:00 showing of The Passion...where I DIDN'T cry. I could'nt for amazement. I was just so overwhelmed and thrilled as I watched: "This is being shown in the Middle East??? Muslims are hearing this by the hundreds?" Who would have ever thought that the Gospel would be preached freely and profoundly in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait because of Mel Gibson's personal spiritual awakening? I am astounded at what God is doing through this film.


Good Friday, April 2004: Tyler's first stage performance, my first time adapting a script for Singapore and directing a show for our church Grace Assembly of God. TRAVELING LIGHT.

Friday we were at church from 12 to 10! One of Ty's friends, Thomas, joined him all day at church and Loonni and Cameron came to see both shows. Tyler did a great job! He was really cute as a Singapore road worker...changing the street signs for different scenes. Lots of wonderful feedback. Glad to have done it.

April No Fooling

Our 7 year old, Cameron, came in crying from the playground last night. Only minutes before we were heading out for dinner at the mall and Scooby Doo 2 for "family night."

My tough-high-pain-tolerance-tank-of-a-kid crying hard. "Mommy! Mommyyyy." The I want you to hold me kind of crying.

He said he'd fallen off the top of the slide and landed on the back of his left shoulder. He had movement in his fingers, and mobility in his arm, and it wasn't hanging there like a dislocation...so we gave him some children's tylenol and headed off to the mall!
He was still nursing the arm and holding it to his chest at 9, so we went straight to our neighborhood clinic Dr. Tan - who has 2 girls the same ages as TY & Cam. He was just pulling out of the drive, but when he saw us he stopped, and took us back into his clinic to have a look. He did the same things I did and then suggested we, just for safety, take him for an x-ray. It could be slightly dislocated - and only an xray would show that...

Well, a trip to the Emergency Room at Singapore's Children's Hospital later, and a few jokes that if this were an April Fool, he was doing an amazing acting job; he had a very LATE night for a school boy. He's staying home today with his arm in a sling.

Cameron's shoulder is not broken or slightly dislocated...just sprained. The doctor says, "NO PE for a week." Cameron says, "Even gymnastics?" the Dr. laughed "Especially NOT gymnastics!"

I'll take him back for a re-check with an orthopeadic Doctor next Tuesday afternoon before my final dress rehearsal. Jim will be leaving for his trip to China that day...

Just another day in our mundane lives.

My Little Goofy, with his Favourite Character

2004 April: Cameron with his favourite character GOOFY at Mickey's 75th Birthday Party in SIngapore.

Cameron's teacher wanted to meet with me. She had some concerns. Uh, oh.
Then when I meet with her she tells me what last year's teacher said when I talked to her: he's a great kid in class, pays attention, and is very sweet and obedient. Still, why does he score 10/40 in both English and Math last week?
His Chinese was about the same.

She wondered if perhaps its because of big brother Tyler doing so well in school, or???? She wanted to know how things were at home with him. His sense of support or self-esteem. She didn't know that I'd asked to speak with the remedial teacher last year and spoke with the school's consulting psychologist and had Karen living with us last month for 9 days observing him (all of us)....

We talked for awhile and in the end felt like perhaps it comes down to his being a kinesthetic learner, younger than most of his classmates, and not paying attention well to reading the questions on the test. I told her about his thinking his teachers are little godesses and she ought to take advantage of that in encouraging him to write neatly etc. He really wants to please her! She sounded confident that he has a great support system at home and I got the confidence that she really cared about him and would do what she could to help him in class.


April 2003 What happens when Cameron is sent to time-out and discovers that baby powder makes good white-face.

It's Such a Hardship When Your Staff Meetings Have to Be on a Tropical Island...

Asia Coaches - CRM Asia Conference...not bad eh?

Just Back from Batam this afternoon. We had 2 queen beds (no sleeping on the floor) and the boys had A BLAST!!! A week of outdoor adventures, swimming and scouting around for little boys while parents had meetings! This all with other little boys who they get to see at least once a year the past number of years. Cameron and Tyler are very independent in this place with these people - off on their own before we're ready to join them for breakfast, etc..Cameron said one day, "Mom, I'm sorry I'm ignoring you so much, but I get to see you all the time. These guys here I only see once a year...I hope you understand...I still love you..." What a charmer.

It's a Very relaxed beautiful tropical atmosphere where we have some fun and learning and lots of good food.

This week Mike and Katie Crow brought their SWEET older boys along - in late teens, early 20's and those big boys were 4 years apart - I kept looking at them and thinking what Tyler and Cameron will be like in another 10 years....


KC loves JC: How can I be anything but happy with such a great guy?

My 42nd birthday

42nd Birthday! 

My quiet birthday was nice. Kids both had used their own money to buy me a
present that was pretty surprising. A first.

In the evening I had a rehearsal for our upcoming Easter production. When it was coming to an end one of the gals husband (the couple JIm and I did the wedding for) came in, in front of everyone there, and gave her a bouquet...I said, "sweet! what's the occassion?" She smiled and said, "Your birthday" and handed them to me. Pretty dear.

I also got 1AM call from Cynthi Knight in Arizona! Her anniverswary is the 23rd so she remembered. I didn't care that she remembered when I was sleeping! How nice that I have a friend who calls me on the other side of the world!

I feel like most of my days are spent regrouping from the piles that gathered from last year's busy-ness and helping the kids pass school exams. Started reading a new book: Sacred Pathways-Discovering Your Soul's Path God. Helping me to explore beyond Cognative Left Brain patterns of worship, and relating to God. That is about the only style I've really ever known - or thought was acceptable (and is actually so WRONG for how he made me).

Kids had a day off after the big sports meet for the school this morning. Once it was over at 10:30 I had a houseful of little boys. I made them all shower (As they get older they start to get stinky). I made out some slips with numbers then they drew who would go in which order. Then had them ring the service bell i have on our stairs when they were done. We made a race of it: 5 boys showered in 13 minutes!!! That must be some kind of record!

Myopic Tyler

oh no! i got glasses!

Yep, Tyler needs glasses. Got them Sunday. He only wears them in the classes where he's having trouble reading the writing on the board.
A result of highrise living in the computer, playstation and gameboy age and not enough getting outdoors to play baseball... Even with limiting TV and electronic game time, he's become nearsighted...

What I'm Learning About Me

.written to Ardath Smith

Our time the last 2 weeks with Karen has been so healing that I've told Jim I think I need a new name. After all the things I've learned about myself and the realization in a deeper way how God truly loves me the way he made me. I want to fill you in a little before the next time we talk.

I realized in the last few weeks that though I've always been able to genuinely encourage others about God's unfailing love and acceptance of them, I haven't offered that same encouragement to the gal I see in the mirror. (Bless my dear family -and husband- who until recently I thought of as "all good-which means I'm all bad." They really love me, but they were young and are all pretty non-emotional left brain types who ganged up on to tease and criticize me, and tell me to simply "get ahold of myself" when I was moody and feeling deeply about things).

I've spent a good part of my compliant life as a strange wild artsy type trying to reconcile Me with the models for being a good Christian woman I saw all around me. Though since puberty I've read and tried to be Anne Ortland, or Joyce Landorff, or Emily Barnes or or Cynthia Heald. God did not intend for me to be them. But I just didn't know it, or know that I truly had other options. I do know this is what has drawn me to you - you BEAUTIFUL unique spiritual creature! You have mystified me!

So, for all these years I've been reigning in the deepest parts of my heart. I've been trying to put that weird wild creature on the altar with memorized verses about "not conforming to the world, but being transformed as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God."

I've always wanted to be pleasing to God! And from what I was learning about the world around me, I couldn't do that unless I changed who I was. And Scripture seemed to support this notion.

My whole life, I've been interpretting that and all the other verses about "to live is Christ," or "be perfect" by trying to be the idea of what a "Christian woman" is supposed to be: A stereotype ingrained by the evangelical conservative family I grew up in (my mom is superwoman, super-servant, and now is -appropriately- the Women's Ministries Director of her mega-church). Reinforced by the college I attended (Biola a bastion of conforming Christianity). And sealed by the role I married into as a pastor's wife (in a "don't rock the boat" male dominated conservative church where we served for 12 years).

Trouble is, while truly honestly trying to "live my life for Jesus" I'd been suffering a slow death from repression and trying to get my life under control, in essence: stuffing my God-created passionate personality. My creative flair has obviously not been entirely squelched--you can clearly see her manifestations in the arenas where she can be safely wild and passionate: my motherhood and my work in theatre. But outside of these two safe arenas, no one who knows me would deny that I have learned how to "behave." I have (sadly) become a competant, capable, mature Christian woman and have learned to care for and relate to others in thoroughly appropriate and acceptable ways. I've learned a fine art of figuring people out and be for them what they expect me to be. It was when we had our troubles with our teammates here and in our NOT being able to figure out how to be what they wanted us to be - the stress from that began to show in troubling physical and psychological symptoms.

Over the last 20 years, since we began dating, I've experienced unexplainable jealous anger that would occassionally bubble up and be aimed at Jim or other men, or an inner disdain for women who did fit the mold. Now I know that it came from the buried feelings of being a hopeless failure, not knowing what I want to do or be 'cause my options were unattractive or I messed things up, not trusting or believing that God is good to me (he IS good to others, but I don't deserve his goodness), wishing I fit in as easily as Jim does in the circles life has placed us, and trying to stuff my uniqueness all these years.

I've had no trouble identifying with Paul, "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." 'Cause really, I was already dead deep inside, and heaven was a hopeful alternative to my joyless existence.

Karen asked me what I was afraid of if I were to "let go" and I was embarassed to say what I felt and saw - If I were to let go, I would start crying and never stop.

No, worse than that. If I were to let go, the roof would blow off this muti-storey cement apartment building and we'd all be buried alive in heaps of rubble. If I were to let go, and let my heart free, the earth would explode from its core and we will all die! She laughed and asked Jim who was going to tell me that I didn't have that kind of power. Of course.

But what could such strong images and fears mean?

The past few weeks have ignited the fuse to begin exploding my long-ago planted, ingrained, blossomed and root-bound notions of who I'm supposed to be. I've got to go demolish the hopeless idea that God wants me to "get myself under control" to be acceptable. I have to go back and start on a path of hope for finding out who this bizarre and beautiful creature God made me to be. So that THEN I can put her on the altar to burn up for Him!


April 2003 Discovering the Orchid Garden with Ardath Smith

Tyler's Worship

Had a touching talk with Tyler at bedtime. He reluctantly told me about how he began to cry in children's church while singing - he couldn't understand what had come over him, was embarassed by his tears, but he felt close to God. He's been wrestling with Biblical ideas of Heaven and Hell (more specifically friends who may not accept Jesus as their saviour and Lord and are doomed!), He's seen alot of suffering in the world, and wonders how God could be just, merciful, all-powerful and loving (which is also news we get from the Bible) with all the messes that are in this world...and on top of that - we've just got these small brains to figure Him out from the Bible and the sense of his presence that we can only feel....

So, God just loved him this morning with an "I'm present" reminder of his love and that his brain is bigger (much bigger) than ours!

He went to sleep imagining himself like a flea...How could he, if he were God explain to a flea the ideas of happiness, or saving money, or traveling to USA, or .... the flea just wouldn't get it!

It's the Year of the Monkey

It's the year of the Monkey!

We are all enjoying a couple of free days. Yesterday was the beginning of the Chinese New Year.

On a whim, cameron wore a Kung Fu outfit and china-man hat with the ponytail in back to school on Wednesday when they only had a 2 hour day and suggested that all the children wear red - he ended up winning a cash prize for the best dressed boy in the school! He was so proud of himself! "I had to go up in front mom! And not just in front of my class...THE WHOLE SCHOOL!" Tyler said he led the crowd in cheering the loudest for Cameron. They were both very cute about it.

Cameron dresses up for Chinese New Year 

On New Year's eve we went as a family to see CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN and laughed our heads off. That family is so much like how the Lassiters live (only with a few less kids) it made us remember fondly our visit last month. Except for fast food and cinema, most shops are closed since Wednsday afternoon, and some will stay closed through Saturday.

When we got back from Malaysia we caught a bad cold from Loonni! She feels really bad about it! First Cameron then Jim, Kimberly, and it looks like Tyler has the strongest immune system - he was feeling a bit of the sore throat last night, but felt fine in the morning. It wiped Jim and I out for a couple of days but we're only a bit foggy headed and coughing a little today.

On the afternoon of New Years (Wed), when all of the Chinese world is preparing their family feasts and cleaning their houses (sweep out all the bad to start with a "clean slate"), I thought I'd join in the spirit and not wait 'til Valentines to put away Christmas (like I'd threatened). Cameron, Loonni and one of the boys' friends pitched in. It was a fairly painless few hours...though we have to admit, we've only opened about 1/10th of our Christmas cards. That I've told the family I'd like to do together, so we'll probably finish in time for our visit to USA in June!

My old guitar was still at Mom & Dad's! Guests coming thru on Tyler's 11th birthday brought my old 3/4 sized guitar. Thanks 2 mom and dad and the Grimes for making it such a sweet surprise!

The kids are enjoying their birthday and Christmas toys and making some real strides in their music. The 3/4 sized guitar is a big hit. As he learns various notes on the stav, I'm putting little stickers on the correct fret on the guitar. He learned his second song today. SO now he can play a duet with me and one with Cameron. They both are happy campers.

HIT IT! Ready for a New Year

Last week i told jim that since Christmas 1996 i've jump started my new years feeling like an unprepared water skier. That was the year when we adopted Cameron with three days notice, at the same time we were making decisions about where we'd move overseas to serve as missionaries - which we did only 5 months later!

Unprepared water skiier? Yes. This is how I've started the last 7 years: rushing from the campsite, where I didn't sleep well the night before, my life vest is fastened askew, I somehow have ahold of the bar, but I haven't got the skis on nor have I gotten myself centered and crouched over them. Before I know it, Someone else yells "HIT IT!!!" and I find myself getting dragged (flown) thru the year at high speed clutching the line for dear life wondering if I should keep hanging on, or give up and let go, and sink to the bottom of the river!

This year, 2004, it was wonderful, I was prepared! I had read up on waterskiing, worked out a bit before the trip, well suited life vest on, I got both of the skis on in the shallow water, I was carefully crouched, and I, KIMBERLY was the one who called out "HIT IT!"

I welcomed in a new year standing up, enjoying the rush of walking on water. I'm not afraid of falling (I know I will). Because I'm confident in the life vest, and secure in the strong line connected to the one who's powering the speed boat!

Jim's been reflective too. Ignoring the fact that there's a huge pile in the inbox...e-inbox mostly (I don't know how he juggles it all), but he's learning to take himself less seriously, and even "dropping the ball" here and there - something I've NEVER seen him do. But GOOD for him. He's the kind of capable person who manages to keep his ball in play while picking up others' dropped balls as well.

Since the 2nd, both kids are off to a new year at their "little" school across the street (little here is just under 1000 students). They are happy, healthy, still sweetly holding my hand as we walk to school together. Cameron, now in his 2nd year of Primary School is proud of knowing the ropes and come home each day with a report of how his new teacher thinks he's a good boy. Tyler with the rest of the 5th graders has been assigned a 1st grader to look after at recess time the first 2 weeks of school He's also signed up to help with the "buddy reading program" for slow younger readers afterschool.

For a few weeks Tyler (10) has been wanting to learn guitar. When I suggested that I teach him a few things before we commited him to a class, I got out the dusty guitar from under Jim's side of the bed, tuned it up, and played a simple Christmas carol to my stunned son. I relish these pre-pre-teen moments where he still thinks I'm the most excellent mom. He merely said, "You play the Guitar TOO?" (as if knowing C, D, and G chords means I "play"). It's been fun to teach him, see his enthusiasm, and feel that old sting on uncalloused fingertips. He just wants to know how long until he can play like Marty in BACK TO THE FUTURE.