Welcoming the New Year

What do we do on New Years?

We watched an old movie that covers the year in a life of a family living in St. Louis USA in 1905: MEET ME IN ST LOUIS. We stopped it at midnight to join Singapore in shouting and sparklers and watching the fireworks from the river. We have a great view from the balcony of the apartment where we live now (23rd floor, near Mt. Faber, with a view toward town)

For the holiday, we're all reading the same 2 chapters of Proverbs a day.

We agreed to do it first thing before we got on to other things we're itching to do.

Things like playing on an Xbox360. The boys received one as a gift from grandma and our houseguests, Sally & Franklin, a young Singaporean couple who live in Shanghai. They come stay with us when they're back in Singapore.

I crack open a new journal and get writing what I'm thankful for or what I've learned in the past year. I get really reflective this time of year. I've sent a few sms' to my dear friend Liu Yi Yan in Kunming, China...and I'm missing good friends and family in USA. Do you know this is our 10th year living in Asia? That's why we're going to spend a year in USA starting June. The boys don't know what it is like to be American.

2006 was a slower year for me because of some back/neck problems. I had more time and opportunity to really feel DEPENDENT upon God, rather than just believing in and worshipping him by the way I live. In the way he cared for me in my mind and heart this year -- my soul -- I feel truly loved by him now; not just because "he died on the cross for me." I read a GREAT book this past year. Helps put modern understanding to our Ancient Faith. I've been recommending it to everyone: VELVET ELVIS, Repainting the Christian Faith, by Rob Bell. There's a link in the sidebar to Amazon. Order it! He has also done these short videos called NOOMA (you can watch some of them online). I've only seen a couple, but really liked LUMP and FLAME...

It's going to be a good year.

Christmas Week Collage...

"Playhouse Nativity" The Shepherds @ Grace Assembly in Singapore

"Playhouse Nativity" The Shepherds
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.

Sunday the 24th. When I brought in 6 bags with 14 costumes for a spontaneous Pageant complete with Christmas Carols and Kings, these kids told me they'd never played 'dress up.' Well we had a good time and the kids were thrilled with their re-enactment of the story!

A Full Christmas Week of Friends

This is my 12th day pain free! The pain caused by my neck injury stopped the day after sending our last email (with a mention of it for prayer!) 2 nights ago I spent some time in prayer when I couldn't sleep - I woke up and the blues were gone and I had tons of energy.

This is an amazing end of the year compared to our lonely holiday years here. Our 6th holiday season here and usually we've practically nothing to do. It's always the time we miss California the most. December in the States was always full of parties and concerts, outreach and baking, family and friends. A few weeks ago, when one new friend Kay, invited us for a small gathering at their house on Christmas Eve. They are new here -and we talked a few weeks ago about how hard it is to settle here compared to the other "harder" fields they've lived.

How well we can relate! Jim was inspired, "How bout US throwing some parties this year?" So, thanks to evite, we are having a party for about 30 tonight - CRM Singapore colleagues and their families. Some are potential staff! We've been praying that there might be some Singaporeans who'd want to join Jim in ministry by next June - and there are already 3 guys who are ready to start the process of joining CRM and doing mentoring part or full time in January!

Friday evening is going to be a party for artists. I'm touched that they felt comfortable enough asking if they can host a party in our house. These younger single women are even coming here all day to cook a dinner for about 15. We expect more to come by after dinner for the fellowship and sharing. During the day a new friend Stephanie (a music teacher and her kids) are coming by to visit. Sweet. She had us over last weekend for dinner to get to know her family. I've loved the younger friends God has given me here, but there is something mutually beneficial for me to have some peers to learn from about walking through life. I was telling Su Ping (one of the 5 stars) about these new friends and she said, "It's about time."

Saturday Sally & Franklin, a Singaporean couple living in Shanghai, arrive and have asked to stay with us over their family for the holiday, and in the evening a pack of missionary families are coming over for a party.
For lunch another young Singaporean couple who are living in Beijing are coming for lunch. They are SO SWEET.

Sunday I get to do a special Christmas story-telling and teach Christmas Carols with about 35 kindergarteners - including dress up Bible costumes for them. I have felt awkward with the other teachers for the past 2 years of my helping once a month, but this time around, I feel accepted, and part of the team.

If this isn't enough of a shower of friendship blessings, the senior pastor's wife called this week to ask us to be their guests Christmas Night at a dinner put on by some church members. I'm amazed. How did they choose us? We'll come back from dinner with the kids and watch IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE...'cause it is when you have friends.

Sunday Night's

Eating Out One Sunday Evening
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.

The second half of this year we have a new family activity: our Sunday afternoon or evening meal finds us exploring the many "hawker centres" around the island. I'm sure between us all, over the years, we've dined at more than 100! Singaporeans love food - and there must be thousands of these tiled over fast food centers with stainless steel stalls selling local dishes on melmac plates. It's been kind of our "Creasman Sunday adventure" but it's actually more because we're broke and these local places are a great bargain! It is kind of fun. And I'm sure we're making memories. No one has gotten food poisoning or hepatitis. But I'm getting a little weary of having stray cats watch me while I eat.