7/14/2008

Reality Check: Housing Options



We're returning to Singapore later this month and my realtor has sent me photos of the only option she can find in our budget that is walking distance from the kids' school (Oh, my...this is kinda depressing! We're going to keep looking).

I was looking at these photos above of kitchen cabinets whose colors only belong in a 50/50 ice cream bar, while staying in a luxury cabin with my family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. Above are photos of the housing option in Clementi neighborhood of Singapore, and below is where I was sitting when I was looking at the emailed photos.

But it could be worse! Below that is pictures from a visit to where our friend Loonni lives (a village in rural Thailand).



















7/10/2008

11 YEARS a Photo History of July Highlights



For the last 11 years,
what we were doing in the month of July


July 1997 
We were briefly living among Chinese immigrants in Monterey Park,
preparing for our move to China.



July 1998
We'd lived 10 months in Kunming, China studying language & culture
having loads of opportunities for sharing good new
while preparing for long term in Singapore.



July 2000
We'd finished our first half year living in Singapore.
Kimberly participated in a 24 hour playwright competition,
wrote an award winning play & sang for Children's Day.



July 2001
Jim was coordinating one of the conferences for building ministry partnerships for China




July 2002
Our friends from a Marriage Mentoring small group prepare for long term move to China.
CRM First Pastor's Network goes on their first retreat.
CRM Singapore's first Executive Committee



July 2003
Outreach to Thai workers living in Singapore.
We all were finally feeling settled and thriving.



July 2004
First CRMS Pastor's Mentoring Network - Facilitator Training
"Five Stars" Actors Mentoring Group celebrate a birthday.



July 2005
Jim stays behind in China for the summer, Kim and kids spend time on both coasts for reunions and time with grandparents & friends.



July 2006
After a full year of expanding ministry, we found ourselves back in California again, namely Santa Barbara for the CRM worldwide conference.
Tyler went to DC with grandparents. Cameron met his birth family. We all scouted out Pasadena praying for wisdom for 2007-08.


July 2007
We started our year back in USA by driving across 12 states in 10 days. Here is Sgt. Light Brown on his US tour.


July 2008
Tyler's last football practice, the Maranatha High School Football JV team prays for him and gives a cheer for Singapore.

We Praise You God for guiding, providing, and protecting in these many Julys (and the other 11 months each year too).
We humbly ask for your wisdom & will to be done in our lives as we continue to live for & follow you.
AMEN.

6/30/2008

I should be packing

but instead i'm reading this wonderful book. a refresher theology course as well as inspiration for new ways to approach our life of faith and following Christ. I HIGHLY recommend it!

6/27/2008

The Irrational Season

C'havala Crawley, an amazing younger woman I've come to know in CRM has been prolific on her blog regarding TCK issues (see below for a definition). She makes my head spin at how much reading she does. But I'm glad, and my children are blessed that she has a calling to advising and encouraging and raising third culture kids who embrace their unique identity. I'm reviewing what makes for a good/healthy transition from one country to the next as she reminds me of a RAFT acronym. Reconcilliation, Affirmation, Farewells, Think Destination.
"A TCK is an individual who, after having spent a significant part of the developmental years in a culture other than that of their parents,develops a sense of relationship to all of the cultures while not having full ownership in any. Elements from each culture are incorporated into the life experience, but the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar experience."

Third Culture Kids- The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds
David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken

6/13/2008

For My Dad CHUCK COVENTON

Charles & Chevy
Last night I watched a play, DANCING WITH MY FATHER, featuring 5 women of Actors Co-op who told of and dramatized their relationships with their fathers. It was a sweet show, but full of a whole bunch of disappointments and unrealized dreams. I sat there as women around me (and men) wept with strong identification.

Throughout the show there were segments in which they'd tell of dreamed for scenes with their "fantasy dad." And through everyone of those scenes I sat their blessed to know that those scenes have been a reality for me. I've always thought you were a wonderful father, dad, but I never as profoundly grateful for you as I was last night as I watched the show.
Cameron & GrandpaTyler & Grandpa
Wedding Day w Dad 1985

Thank you for the time, the tickling, the talks (mostly you listening to me talk) and your tender care for me all of these years. You've shown your love for me, my husband, your grandkids in COUNTLESS ways. And though I've complained about it in recent years, your grandsons would add another T that they like about you: teasing! (Go figure!). But for me, I'm especially grateful for the time you've taken to write special notes and letters to me. I cherish those notes. Have scanned them all (even the notes you wrote for what you were going to say for our wedding...a speech that didn't get made, but I've read the words over and over!) I don't tell you enough how much I appreciate and love you.

With the Grandkids 2006
You pour your life out and come alongside so many others to build them up and encourage them. You balance all that helping with your quiet walk with Jesus, and he gives you the energy and connections to be the right person at the right time for so, so many people!

How blessed I am to be your daughter. You're the "fantasy dad" that all the kids wish they had!

Happy Father's Day.

Doheny Breakfast

Grandpa & Paris 2

5/30/2008


"Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing..."
Not sure what time I'll be on, but I'll be singing Come Rain or Come Shine, and I Could Write a Book. Then I'll be dancing in a Dance Recital June 6&7th...but that info is more classified. Not sure I want to give the details about this 46 year old body who is dancing in her first recital.

5/07/2008

Spring News from the Creasmans in Pasadena

The highlights of our Spring

* Tyler's still carrying his football everywhere.
* Cameron's moved on to shooting hoops everyday.
* Kimberly's living a heaven on earth teaching, performing, taking dance, theatre, vocal music and set design classes.
Also, being part of a major donor event in San Francisco last weekend was altogether inspiring! If you're one of our friends who fit that profile, we'd love to invite you to the next one they have. We're so very blessed to be part of this mission organization, and surrounded by such passionate, Godly colleagues.
* Jim continues his work on a ThM. Courses with Bobby Clinton, in this last year before he retires, has been Jim's highlight.

Oh YES!!
Jim's February trip to Singapore was terrific. Thank you for praying about that! Read more about it.
Hello Dolly Men's Chorus 2.jpg
April: Hello Dolly at Maranatha High School, Tyler's the blonde on right, off Dolly's left shoulder.
How did he get in the show?
I enjoyed teaching Playback Theatre to the drama classes during tech week for the show
(it was my spring break so I had some extra time)


It's been a terrific year surpassing our expectations in what we're taking away from it.
The only down side is that there is still a long list of what we haven't had a chance to do.
(Most of it being the names of friends we've not yet had a chance to see.)

Last week the four of us sat around the living room before bedtime and started having the discussion:
What do we need to do to have good closure on the year,
and prepare well for our return to Singapore?

We've not settled on a date to purchase the tickets back to Singapore, but are still looking at dates in later July.

Three months!

All four of us have reasons to look forward to our return, and to feel sad about having to say goodbyes again soon.

If you pray for us in the coming weeks, here are some requests...

May 9-16
CRM Women of Influence Conference. Kimberly travels to Austria for a leadership meeting with 28 other CRM women from around the world. It's part of a mentoring series of three gatherings over 2 years. Besides the opportunity to be getting to know these other women, we'll be joined by Dr. Betsy Glanville who leads the Intercultural Studies PhD students at Fuller, and one of my favorite Biola professors, Dr. Judith Lingenfelter. I'm especially spoiled to travel with both of them on the 4 flights to get to and from our castle in Klagenfurt! I know what you're thinking..."there are sure some unusual 'perks' to being a missionary!" Lord, I pray that the connections we make, the prayers we offer, and the learning we do this coming week in Austria will serve to strengthen us as your daughters. I pray it will reverberate through women's lives around the world as we all return to our places of ministry and apply what you've taught us through these terrific mentors, and this blessed time together.

During May, Kimberly will be on stage a number of times for various performing arts classes. This spring semester has felt like one long but thrilling full-court press. Spiritually, Relationally, Academically and Artistically very rich and rewarding! Details will follow here! (and through Facebook)

May 23
Tyler's last day of school. He's had a great year (and will continue practicing with the football team until we leave). Lord we pray for Tyler and Cameron that they'll know your care as they make another transition back to Singapore. Thank you for the opportunities you've given them this year, and in this unique life they have as missionary kids. Lead Tyler and Cameron in their activities these last months here.

June 10-13 Christians in Theatre Arts, National Networking Conference, Azusa Pacific University
With two other inspiring/experienced dramatists Lin Sexton and Gil Elvgren, Kimberly will be facilitating the Theatre in Missions track. A first for this annual conference. Lord, may what is shared here inspire participants to fruitfully using drama in cross cultural ministry. May our tools and ideas inspire more, and be multiplied around the world as we use theatre arts to share your good news.

July 18
Jim's last day of school. This quarter he has classes in mentoring, cross-cultural leadership issues, and forming healthy relationships cross-culturally. When we head back to Singapore, he will still have two courses to take long distance and then a thesis to work on at his own pace. Father, please use the insights Jim has gained in his studies this year to make him a more fruitful mentor to Christian leaders in Asia, who will multiply their influence through their churches and societies.

Also Pray with us about...
The cost of living in Singapore. Housing costs, which were about = to LA prices when we left, have doubled this year while we've been away. That, plus the drastic devaluation of our dollar gives us reason to be concerned, and turning anxiety about that over to Jesus! Lord we pray that your will be done in this economy! We trust you for your continued provision, but we also dare to ask that you turn the tide on the cost of living in Singapore!

Join me in praying for the opportunity to talk with classmates and teachers about their spiritual journey and an appropriate chance to ask them if they'd like to know and follow Jesus. Cameron has one friend who's going to come to church with him in 2 weeks, and I've peppered my music lessons (with the 5th graders) with many stories about faith in my loving Lord. I've had the MOST interesting conversations with faculty at PCC, and have had many opportunities to pray with students. As we end our year, please pray that Cameron and I (the ones who are not attending a Christian school) will make the most of opportunities to show our new friends how they can have a relationship with a personal God, Heavenly Father and Savior.

from a cozy apartment in Pasadena,
jim@worldcreasmans.com, 626 688 1578
tyler@worldcreasmans.com 626 348 3363
cameron@worldcreasmans.com 626 584 9076
Kimberly@worldcreasmans.com: 626 688 1581
www.worldcreasmans.com
Address: 627 N. Mentor Ave. #205, Pasadena, 91106
CRM Charitable Giving www.crmleaders.org -


More photo highlights from our Spring in California
March: U of Hawaii campus tour with prospective students Cameron & Tyler. Spring Break


March: Cameron reads to the neighbor boys, MKs from Uganda, China and Nepal


April: Backstage OC Performing Arts Center, Cameron is Alvin Ailey's great grand-nephew and he's posing with dancers & 2 from his birthfamily



April: Jim's 51st. Fun to celebrate all our birthdays this year with our families!

April: LA Arboretum. Kim's family from Georgia & Grandparents came out for Tyler's show.








Hello Dolly Chorus.jpg
School Show: Hello Dolly, Tyler's on the right, in the olive coat and dark pants.

April: a "white model" of the set for PCC spring show BUS STOP, Designer: Kimberly C.









April: Pepperdine
Graduation. Good friends from China, and dear friends from Singapore both had daughters graduating.













April: UCLA spring scrimmage. Afterward, the 15,000 fans were invited on the field of the RoseBowl to get autographs from the players.