Cutest Dog Competition

Tyler's Back from Adventures in USA

Plane arrived on time, he said the 10 hour layover was killer, "DON'T EVER DO THAT TO ME AGAIN!" but he survived.
Cloistered in Beijing before the pizza hut opened he had nothing to do but crank out the AP history summer homework while the stomach growled.

We had a bit of show and tell on the new Nordtrom & Walmart wardrobe last night after yacking all the way home from the airport (anything more in that black bag for ME???)

He got a good solid nights' sleep even tho he said he got great sleep on both legs of his flight. Ah youth. It took me 3 weeks to get over jet lag from my plane delayed trip home from Egypt earlier this year (one of the reasons I was happy to stay put in Singapore for the summer).

He seems Brawnier, taller, bigger, hairier. more confident. Kinda like JACK the puppy. Tough nuggets both of them.

He was delighted to see Jack really be excited over him being back. Lots of hugging and wrestling. It really seemed like Jack remembered him and seemed SUPER happy that all 5 of us were all together again! The pack sitting on the bedroom floor looking at new gear and gizmos for football which starts next week.

This morning after he and i went downstairs to get coffee and a teh tarik (a spicy tea he likes) we decided to take Jack for a long walk along the channel so that I could hear more about his summer. JABBER JABBER!!!! Good thing 16 year olds don't ask, "So, how was the last 9 weeks for you?" I don't have anything as interesting to give an account of!

There were bb and nerf gun wars between brothers. and running chasing through this tiny house all morning. at one point i confiscated both cell phones until they did something productive before lunch. they both obviously are happy to see each other, talk about music. Give each other a bad time about body issues or hair or girls. RELIEF. a little teasing, but not meanness. Oh Lord, may they both continue to navigate the 4 year and extreme personality difference with the bridge of YOU, football and music and being family.

He's now off visiting friends and setting up his social life, cramming in a bit of last minute honors english reading before school starts on Tuesday.

How's the SUMMER been in your part of the world?

Thank you for your prayers and support for us as we serve Jesus and his growing, deepening church in Singapore.

Here's a photo update from the Creasmans. 

(if words are blue and underlined it means it's a link to a web page with more information):

June 8th: 16 year old Tyler is off to USA 

After a solo flight to Los Angeles, Tyler volunteered 4 weeks working with children at a YoungLife Family camp in the Rocky Mountains. He reports a whole lot of inspiration and growth. Now we hear he's getting spoiled by grandparents in Orange County, eating Krispy Kreme Donuts and In-and-Out Burgers, camping, shopping at Walmart, catching up with friends he made last year at Maranatha High School. We look forward to how the Lord will have matured him over this independent summer of service.

Meanwhile, the Creasman family life in Singapore has been training a new puppy JACK...and torturing Cameron with forced book reading, piano practice, extra chores, and a wonderful course called Brain Revolution with Focus on the Family. 

In June there was an inspiring one week conference in nearby Indonesia with other CRM Asia missionaries. 

Four CRM Singapore staff were the first international staff to attend a CRM Asia conference. We were thrilled to have them join the conference to get a bigger picture of CRM as an organization.

We're having loads of visitors fill up the space Tyler left until his return August 10th.

July 3:

Mark (left): A Christian theatre colleague here to interview in TCA College. This is where I've been teaching college theatre classes to those who want to use the arts in Christian ministry.

Dick (center): An actor friend is purchasing his first home & is the latest guest to take up residence until Tyler returns.

Karl & Rita (right): Our newly arrived CRM Interns from Kunming and their sweet little son.

July 16:

A CRM BBQ with staff and families, celebrating the growth of our Singapore team.

But for the next week, we're on "staycation" -- taking a break here in Singapore! Glad for the time to relax with Jim even if it's still in muggy weather we can turn on the airconditioning and relax with a good book or two. We'll ride out this crazy swine flu and be rejuvinated for when Tyler comes back from USA and we launch into a new school year for the boys.

Prayers in our personal life answered. Thank God with us for:

-Growing depth of friendship and spiritual nurture with peers. After all these years we have a growing circle of peer friendships. Thank you for praying.

-Settling in a new "home church" here in Singapore: Redemption Hill, a 7 month old church plant.

-Competent health care providers on various fronts of healing (we've seen a lot of doctors in 2009, but thankfully nothing life-threatening). We're still not 100%, but  healing is coming slow but steady.

-Tyler's experience in USA w/YoungLife camp and special time with family. Cameron's maturing while being "only child" in Singapore for the summer break.

-Focus on the Family offered us a generous subsidy toward the course Cameron is taking to make it affordable for us!

Please Pray with us for:

-Deepening love for and dependence on the LORD.

-Obedience to do daring things by faith, and staying the course in faithfulness. Whatever God wants.

-Where to best focus our time and energy in the coming year.

-Provision for those who are partners in our ministry financially. Continue to pray with us that God will provide for you, bless his followers and meet all of our needs. -We are confident that He is able, but we are all now more aware of our dependence on Him!

-Aug 13  Please pray for Jim as he leads the CRM Singapore Annual Meeting, casting vision for ministry development in the coming year.  He is praying for more staff and initiation of ministries into other Asian countries.

-Aug 17  Please pray for the boys as they start a new school year, Tyler in 11th and Cameron in 7th grade. This will be a challenging fall, juggling academics, playing football, and Cameron finishing up his developmental program with Focus on the Family.

Do let us know how we can be praying for you!

fondly!

K!Mberly 

for the Creasmans

(Love the World, Soul, Rock Bistro Bar: June 2nd, singing for an evangelistic concert hosted by Grace Assembly of God. They let me coach the 5 other singers in their introductions, and let me take the stage too! My first chance to perform in 2009)

Drama Ministry Update: Summer Emailed News

Life was going so fast this past few months, i never posted or sent news since last may! Here's the news as it was IN JULY...

Exploring Drama as Ministry Showcase/Workshop with local theatre & drama ministry leaders (8 different churches involved!).

On July 4th the team pulled off a second Exploring Drama as Ministry workshop. There was more hands on participation and loads of interest in us holding more workshops. Some of the churches have asked our trainers to come teach workshops in their churches. 

Following the workshop was a unique opportunity to help coach a 7 year old Christian accapella group "Agape lla" for their first major concert! It was a delight to come alongside them in a few rehearsals to cheer them into a higher level of public performance/showmanship. I felt God's pleasure as I helped them go from good to great!

Agapella had two blessed nights of proclaiming our good news through accapella music to sold out crowds in the theatre of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Following that, I had a unique opportunity to work with local secular musicians for a Singapore Heritage Board Concert. A friend needed some technical behind the scenes help for the concert at the last minute. Please pray that God would open doors for ministry to musicians through the connections made in this concert.

This Monday night my college level Theatre students took their final exam and read their final drafts of the scripts they've written (for use in a ministry context). Two of my students went on a mission trip to Philippines (w permission, a sweet thank you note is pasted below).

The next big drama event for Kimberly: Christians in Theatre Arts Exec Director comes from USA late August to teach, speak, meet & encourage believers in the arts community. Pray with me as I organize support for his class (right) and set up opportunities for him to bless and encourage Christians in the arts.

*On Jul 20, 2009, at 5:10 PM, student Rachel Eric wrote to me after their trip to the Philippines:

Dear Kimberly,


Ella and i are back from a most wonderful mission trip to the Philippines.
I believe Ella would have filled you'll in on the awesome things God amongst us.


God really used drama, songs, dance as a tool that crossed cultural or language barriers...to not only spread His message but bond the people and us together in a special way. And from day one we were awed that God was our divine director.
Cos no matter what mistakes we made - the entire thing ends on a perfect note, the people understood the message in a much deeper way than we expected and we had loads of fun!


The drama workshop we did was so simple but super fun. A leader in our host church told us that those who are interested in drama don't have a chance to really learn this stuff that we have learnt, cos many of them arnt from backgrounds too that enable them to go to college or special courses. But the people, mainly kids, youth and young adults who attended are so talented and have such a burning heart for God, they learnt so enthusiastically and quickly. We are so excited that groups from some churches including our host church are also going to use drama as a ministry in a greater way!


We came back home so blessed by the Filipinos. Cos though they're so super gifted in the arts, esp music, they have a spirit of humility. The very gifted people we had the privelege to be with never once displayed their talents but were always very communal  - using it to encourage everyone to come together at various spontaneous occasions to give their talents, their best to worship God. We're back wanting to cultivate this spirit in ourselves and the youth we're so blessed to work with in church.


We really want to thank you for your teaching and guidance in our lives, not just as artistes but as people who are passionate and available to God.  We would not have the knowledge, confidence, creativity, resources and everything else that enabled us to do what we did if not for you'll being our teacher and role-model!

We thank God for you'll so so so much!


God bless you and your family, work etc richly!


With much love,
rach
on behalf of Ella too
:)

Hey Kimberly!


Of course...you can share it with anyone and everyone...no need our permission!


Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! Feel so blessed and excited to 'go for it' even more cos God is so awesome! :)
But it really is no small part you empower us! Ella, Bee, Khimmy and I always get so so excited about all that you teach us and show us is possible to do!!!


Oh yes, forgot to say too that one of the mimes that we did there was The Box, which Dorithy did for her final performance in Performing Arts class! The videos on YouTube are so helpful and Dorithy was so kind and supportive providing us the script to do so too! :)


Thank you so much again, and God bless you and your family so richly!


lotsa love and hugs out,

rach :)

Admirable Qualities

On Jim's birthday in April I wrote a list of the things I appreciate about him...and just realized I never gave it to him!

So, for Jim and anyone else who happens along here are some of the amazing qualities of my dear husband of 24 years:

full of integrity
intelligent
gentle
generous
huge capacity in multiple arenas
counselor and coach
loyal
confident
Christlike
stable
centered
full of faith and trust in God rather than in himself
patient
encouraging
easy to love
caring
sweet
fun loving
balanced
disciplined
hardworking
gracious
logical

and that's just the short list.

Happy 52 1/4 bday Jim.

Firstborn: Featured on Clicknetwork.tv

What can I say, this kid has learned a little about "blooming where planted." Happy about that. Happy that he took up this offer to be interviewed and is owning his unique background.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."
Proverbs 13:12

Exploring Drama as Ministry in MAY 2009: emailed news

Big Day last Saturday for Kimberly: 

and the 19 others who joined me in this adventure.

Exploring Drama as Ministry

A great joy for me to teach, and watch my friends up teaching/performing too (people from 8 different churches involved!)

Two weeks ago only 3 had registered.

Didn't know how many would show up at the door, but the number of notebooks I ordered on Thursday was exactly the right number: 85.

(Sometimes we hear from the Lord, and he guides us in small details.)

One big recession proof takeaway for the participants: it doesn't take money to do drama! This 4 hour workshop/showcase had virtually zero budget turned out to be a priceless experience. The whole thing was completely networking/grassroots comraderie! Plan to offer it again in the summer.

Prayers in our personal life answered: 

-Growing depth of friendship and spiritual nurture with peers.

-Competent health care providers on the various fronts of healing.

-Confident decisions made for summer and school: Tyler will not change schools next year and will spend the summer with grandparents in Orange County, and work June 18-July 18 in a YoungLife Camp, Trail West, in Colorado's Rocky Mountains.

Prayer for May:

Provision for those who are partners in our ministry financially. Continue to pray with us that God will provide for you, bless his followers and meet all of our needs. We are confident that He is able, but we are all now more aware of our dependence on Him!

Planning next steps. 

In mentoring, leaders' networks, leading CRM Singapore staff and initiatives, leadership and mentoring with artists. 

Jim has a big day May 14th, launching new mentoring networks in English AND Mandarin.  

His New Staff Orientation April 7-9 and Mentoring Seminar April 23 were great successes!

 Tonight Kimberly starts teaching another Theatre in Ministry Class in a Christian College 

(exposing students to the "behind the scenes" aspects of theatre), and wraps up the school year w/drama club performance at International Community School. 

Deciding where to go with this drama momentum and coaching singers for an outreach concert June 2nd. Whee!

Also:

Praying for Cameron's maturity in studies & basketball. Still working at discipline needed to succeed in middle school.

Health problems continue for Kimberly. The last few weeks it's been a root canal gone bad. 

Feel lifted and protected in spite of pain and infection in jaw. 

(Found that one's prayer life improves when you're up in the middle of the night looking at friends' facebook status' and praying for them as a diversion from pain!)

DRAMA WORKSHOP: Tyler helped out today! good kid.

Tyler recently read and enjoyed: BE INTOLERANT (BECAUSE SOME THINGS ARE JUST STUPID), by Ryan Dobson.

Cameron's on his first run thru Narnia books (thank God he's finally started to enjoy reading!)

Kimberly's Bible study meditates on the Gospel of John and they've all begun reading the Seasoned Sister's book Fantastic After 40!

Jim's enjoyed Spirituality & Leadership, Alan E. Nelson

Special note for RHCC Missions Commission:

2 of your missionary kids Cameron Creasman (#24) and Gibby Pena (#23) are playing on the same basketball team! 

short video from first game last week. Short season!

www.worldcreasmans.com   family news/updates

http://spicetolife.blogspot.com theatre as ministry   

Pluralism? Tolerance?

This month Singapore society's strong polarized views over homosexuality has blown up in the local media over the leadership in a woman's group called AWARE. The arts community has been vocally in the middle of the fray. It's been ugly.

It appears to be a watershed event where under the rhetoric of "inclusiveness" and "pluralism" flames of intolerance have been fanned toward Christians/Christianity or any whose convictions are for the equal right to speak of or uphold traditional moral values in the civic arena.

Jesus is still the Son of God and Saviour. The Holy Spirit brings conviction and some choose to turn & follow. The Father "is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance." I read John chapter 1 again and am strengthened with an eternal view. However,

Please pray I will have wisdom to be an agent of peace and truth with grace and character.

Visual Learner: Doodles on John's Gospel

Coming Soon...

I began to sense the "marching orders" to do this as I watch a few local drama presentations last Christmas. Then through my little post-it note resolution gatherings, some of the ideas came into better focus. Despite feeling poorly, I knew I was hearing the Lord say to me: "JUST DO IT" (at the same time I was deciding about going to Egypt). So , gulp, I stepped out with some partners to see about putting together a showcase/workshop like this. It's been very healing to have a little theatre community on Thursday nights working on this project together. So much fun to have a team to rally, shepherd, pray & work with!

There are larger images of the full brochure at my Theatre Ministry Blog. The 20+ who are helping me put this on have been great! We've had a great time rehearsing since the first of February. Now, if we can get some more folks registered, it will really be a hit!

Young Life, Singapore - my "plug"

When asked to write a short paragraph for promoting the ministry of Young Life here in Singapore, here's what I penned:

When we returned to Singapore after spending a school year in USA, our family had a hard time finding contentment and figuring out where we fit. Life circumstances had changed here, and we had all changed from being back in the nurture of a larger circle of friends and having family nearby. As we tried to find contentment and equilibrium upon our return, our sons discovered WyldLife and YoungLife. The genuine caring and attention of the staff, along with the activities/events helped our boys "find their feet" again. YL gave them a sense of being part of a larger community of faith than what they knew in their local church or school, as well as a new kind of grounding in this country that has been their home since 1999.

In just this one short school year, God has loved and strengthened our family through Young Life here on many different levels. They've offered listening ears of Godly people who can speak into our lives. They've given support, and coaching, in sports. They've provided the opportunity to attend fun Christian camps. And the latest opportunity is a YoungLife USA summer job for our teenager who will now take another step toward independence in a wholesome environment (Trail West, Colorado). We are grateful for the influence YoungLife is having on our boys' development as Christian leaders with strength, character, and a good dose of craziness!

Gypsy Church

A few weeks ago I started something for friends here in Singapore who are not settled in a church. I call it my "Gypsy Church." 

Via email, I invite them along to meet James and I whenever we're going to be visiting somewhere, or he might be a guest preacher (because of his work with pastors, we often go to see them on Sundays). Instead of going alone now i invite these others along and every week someone on the list joins to be a "visitor in community!"

It's been fun to see the response.  It's a little crazy and unconventional, but I ever since I thought about the idea, I wasn't able to stop thinking about it. A good sign that it's something I'd better act upon! 

Hopefully, eventually these Gypsys will plug in to one of the churches we visit!
(all of the original "5 stars" are now in various churches tho only one of them was attending church when we started!)

We'll go to 3 different churches over Easter weekend.  Trinity Christian Centre for a musical drama "Hope", the Bloodbank to donate blood on Saturday at 4PM, Barker Road Methodist for Sunrise & breakfast 6:30AM...and still dreaming up what to do after that...

Last Sunday I ran the gammut of variety of traditions. I went to our former home church Grace Assembly of God, their second venue in Bukit Batok. Pastor Lim was preaching. He's definitely A list for Singaporean preachers/teachers. Any list of preachers I think he'd be on the A list.

Every part of Worship in Grace Assembly's new venue in Bukit Batok. It was as alive and vibrant and modern and exciting as the traditional worship experience at St. George's was dull (8AM is their most traditional/liturgical service of many options). What an amazing thing to have such a DRASTIC contrast in a few short hours.

Whenever I'm visiting churches I imagine what it might be like to be seeking God and venture to church to find him. Worship here at 8AM is still the same as it probably was in the 1700's (except for women are up front reading Scripture). I wonder...how, oh HOW, does the traditional church appeal to people in 2009? Is there any hope for them to keep the next generation coming to church once they are out of the nest and making worship choices on their own?

A friend from this church in her 50's found out about a relationship with Jesus and decided to live life as his follower 3 years ago. She "found Christ" through the Alpha Course, but attends this church with her familly in tow now. She is only now reading the Gospel of John and can't believe she's waited this long to do that. Finally she's actually reading the historical account from an eyewitness to the life of the Lord who's changed her worldview and she's surrendered her allegiance to. She stayed at church Sunday to hear the monotone - read from a transcript - sermon again at the 10AM service!

I also read GIRL MEETS GOD last year - written by brilliant Columbia post grad student Lauren Winner who first converted as a teenager to conservative judaism and then later found Christ and made her home in the Episcopal church. The book chronicles her first year as a Christian, comparing the practices and theology of both religions. So, I know that some younger people are drawn to Anglican style worship.

But oh my, even in the front row at St. George's, and trying desperately hard to stay engaged, and keeping my hands and body active (what with all the standing and sitting and kneeling and activity switching from the bulletin, to red worship book, and hymnbook), I was STILL really fighting the inclination to take a nap!

Jet Jockee

Too funny.
Facebook is reconnecting the world.
We just spent a few days connecting with a outrageously fun friend I've not seen since dating his brother in the early 80's.
Another lifetime ago.

But for the past 9 years I've known he is mutual friends with our colleagues, and last week I saw he was going to Thailand. So I posted on his wall:
YOU'RE SO CLOSE, YOU'VE GOT TO COME ON DOWN TO SINGAPORE!

He took up the invitation and is my son Cameron's new super hero.

Living in a modern city in the middle of South East Asia, a hub for travel elsewhere, we get a lot of guests coming through here on their way somewhere else. It's an interesting and regular part of our life that those we influence, or are influence by, often are people we only see for 2 hours or a few days and then may never see again.

So when I announced that an old friend of mine was coming to Singapore my boys, 12 and 16, rolled with it without rolling their eyes. Sure. They'd go out to lunch with another visitor friend of their parents they'd never met.

"I'm not going to tell you, but sometime over lunch, ask him what he does for work" I whispered to Tyler.

This friend hands a dollar bill out to each of my boys, "This is my bosses dad."

Seriously.

He's working for a wealthy family in the Middle East. He works 6 weeks wherever the plane is, then has 6 weeks back home in Seattle. This 4 months the plane is being serviced so he's seeing what there is to see in South East Asia and using up Marriott reward points enjoying the executive club and a room with a view.

What does a missionary family do to entertain a single man who for work hangs out in 5 star hotels of Monte Carlo or Paris waiting for his employer to decide where in the world they want to party next, or whether they'd like for the jet to courier some of his favorite fruit from their home town?

What could we possibly do that he may not have done before?

We took him to a FISH SPA, a new gimmick alternative to a Chinese foot massage. We spent 40 minutes letting the Turkish "Doctor FIsh" swarm our feet and nibble off dead skin.

A lot of living has gone on in more than 20 years since I've seen him as a teenager, but mannerisms, the sense of humor, the voice inflections, the twinkle in his eye as he talks about a prank or tells a joke comes out of a grown puppy-man who loves life and brings life and affection to everyone he touches.

And he touches a lot.

As I enjoy our first big bear hug, or see him throw Cameron in the pool, or watch him put his hand on the shoulder of the hotel's bell captain or the ice cream seller as he speaks to them (or the gals at the stoplight, in the RED BULL convertible, whom he asked for samples...and got4 cans by climbing across the backseat of their car and riding along with them to the next light!).

I am reminded how powerfully affirming and humanizing it is to warmly touch other people when we speak to them. Cultural appropriateness be damned! No one - not even strangers - seems to mind a hand on the shoulder, or a hug from the side. I'm encouraged by watching Randy to embrace my outgoing American culture and keep being generous with affection here.

I also believe that he's encouraged by spending time with his old friends here. I know he was observing things about us that influenced him. I'm not sure what, but he was loved on for the last 5 days. Days filled with rich memories, great conversations, a quick time of prayer. With our colleagues the Webbs, we were a chorus of voices from his past who can imagine the impact of what his ultimate contribution could be from his unique position.

Am I a dreamer to see in him a 21st Century Daniel or Joseph? Maybe. But as he heads off to Vietnam and Cambodia on this little Asia tour, I can hopefully envision and pray for the influence he will have as he spends time with God and then simply shares the genuine faith & relationship with Jesus part of who he is with the friends he makes, and touches, through his work.

If he can find a way to do that, the Holy Spirit can do the rest of the talking.

Abnormals at El Barrio, Singapore

Abnormals at El Barrio, Singapore
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly

I think we've found a home for him...

PRESCRIPTION: the Spiritual RED BULL of fellowship in Egypt

SINGAPORE. 60% Daoist Chinese. 16% Christian.        

Pop: 4 million. Cultural hub of Asia.

My head is spinning from jet lag, career euphoria and a clash of cultures. There’s an Indian Festival going on in the common area of our concrete apartment blocks. My boys are playing funky American hip hop on the stereo. And though Asia has been our home since 1997, I just got back from turning 47 (middle aged?) in the Middle East.

ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT. 90% Muslim. 10% Christian. 

Pop: 80 million. Cultural hub of the Middle East.

No. I didn’t mix with the terrorists suspected of bombing a popular tourist spot (Day 1) or have a chance to meet more than one Muslim; a girl who’d just graduated from college in Islamic Law (Day 11). I spent all the time in the middle with 80 of the most passionate followers of Jesus of the millions of Arabic speaking Coptic Christians living in the 10/40 window.

SELF-DOUBT. Is it really a good idea to leave your family for 11 days? I mean really, you’re depressed. You’ve had a hard time juggling homemaking and a few teaching commitments. You’re rarely speaking your hard earned and easily forgotten Chinese in day-to-day life. What are you doing running off to the Arab world to teach drama when you’re a failure in Asia as a wife, mother and missionary who can’t keep toilet paper stocked in the bathrooms let alone be involved in any really significant theatre related work or ministry? 

HEALING. Despite having the world’s most supportive and positive husband, I have become world-class at negative self talk. 

However, New Year’s 2009 found the children and I making seriously positive steps toward equilibrium and health on all fronts (so far, 20 doctor visits, 6 prescriptions, and 4 books to figure it out!). Amazingly, it turns out that part of my healing was a solo trip to Cairo. 

SHOULD I GO? When I was invited to come teach Drama Teams again this year, I brought it up with my sensible lady friends in Bible Study. The 6 who since August have most intimately seen me struggling in readjustment to life in Singapore. Instead of saying, 

Egypt? Are you kidding?,  they said,

Egypt! You HAVE to go!

I called the conference planner. I wasn’t sure how Playback Theatre, the style I’d taught last year, could be used with their theme this year to “Train the Trainers.” I could see how it might work to have 4 days to take Actors, or Directors, or Script Writers or Technicians to a level where they might be able to pass on some skill. But I needed to ask him directly: Do you really need me there this year? I was sure the answer would be “Not really, …but thanks for asking.” Instead we had a 2 hour conversation that started with,

I don’t think you understand that you’ve made a huge impact on these people. You are famous here. The first thing people ask when I tell them about the conference is, “Will Kimberly be there?” I’ve told them all “Yes!”…. You have to come.

(Egyptians, by the way, are world class at making people feel special. He may very well have said the same to all of the other trainers!)

So, by faith and credit card I booked the ticket and knocked on only two doors to pursue extra funds to help cover the cost in our internationally flagging economy. Door number two, a Singaporean pastor, followed up with an email, 

Have my secretary cut Kimberly a check for the entire cost of her flight. 

I made 2 Corinthians 12:9 my theme verse for the trip. The Apostle Paul had been complaining about having some kind of a nagging problem, his thorn in the flesh, when he heard God speak to him:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

WEAKNESS INDEED. I made my itinerary to arrive a day before the 5 other international trainers to make sure I’d get over jet lag. A sore throat and drippy nose hit and the now irregular curse hit my aging female reproductive organs full force. By the 3^rd of the 4 day conference I couldn’t get myself out of bed for breakfast. While my achy body waited for aspirin, vitamins and the healing of Jesus to kick in, downstairs the conference prayed for me because I had no voice. I laughed about my theme verse and thought,

The only way I’d be weaker and his power more perfect is if they brought me in on a stretcher and all laid hands on my English teaching notes to learn by osmosis!

BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN. And he cares about you and I and our little attempts to please him. More than I could have even imagined before, his power was made perfect in my weakness. Needing to be flexible, and not knowing ahead of time who or how to prepare, I brought those notes from last year, and the Holy Spirit clearly lead my pedagogy for each of the 13 training sessions. I fell in love with the 10 students in my Playback section who quickly bonded, learned to love and trust each other, grasped the difficult and unusual concepts for this new style, marveled that they could use their whole bodies in worship and storytelling, stretched their creativity to the limits and told me over and over, 

I didn’t think this kind of theatre camp; creativity was possible for Upper Egyptians. 

I was skeptical at first, but now I see how amazingly powerful this can be used to bring people closer together and find common ground.

Playback gives us an unforgettable platform for sharing our testimonies, our stories of faith; our prayers. Not just among us in our drama teams, or in our church meetings, but somehow, as you’ve said, God will show us how to use it in our communities to bring down the walls between us and find what we have in common so that maybe we can open doors to share more…

The class did a performance on the last night. You’d have thought they had been rehearsing for more than half a year. One first time observer called it “miraculous.” A dozen told me they wanted to learn it too. Perhaps my class will train them. Perhaps I’ll get a chance to return again. My fellowship with Egyptians for a week was like a Long-lasting Spiritual Red Bull energy drink. I’m more than just pumped, psyched, and excited about being back in Singapore. I’m full of love and motivation to serve my family, navigate the health issues to complete healing, and follow through on many wonderful opportunities I have to merge my other loves: Jesus Christ, artists and theatre. Especially the group of Christians in Theatre that’s recently started meeting Thursday nights. But that’s another story for another letter.

That Self-talking censor is silenced, and I hear myself saying instead, 

I wonder how much Arabic I can learn by 2010?

Playback Class in Egypt

Playback Class
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly

A great week teaching Playback in Egypt this week. Wow! Amazing students. Tons of fun. Eager to hear what and how they end up using it in their cities/teams/ministries...

Inspiration for the Floundering TCK

THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY ECCUMENTICAL TOURS

I have a new idea almost every day, but some of them mull around awhile, and some of them actually turn out to be something.

This morning I woke up with an idea: a new Sunday/Saturday night family club!
This is how it works: I round up all the friends i have here who are unsatisfied with church,
and together, once a month, we make own church be ROVING.
We all go en mass to visit churches, pray for that local body and the staff while attending worship, and then with the kids go out to eat after to discuss the varied worship styles and pray for one another
(then write an anonymous blog reporting on the churches we visit).

So many of the people I know here (and in USA) are unhappy with their current church. They genuinely love God, want to honor him in their lives and want to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit seeing God use them for good on this planet. They ALSO long for more out of their weekly connection with the body of Christ and want have something more from their worship and fellowship. It seems like for all of us, corporately connecting with God and connecting with others is so impoverished. It seems like an epidemic.

I wonder if this ECCUMENICAL TOURS is going to be one of my bizarre "crazy ideas" or if it's actually something that will become a calling and turned into action...

The People in my Life/Work Here: Why I'm Happy to Be Back

PS. Here's another link to a slide show: The people in my Singapore life and ministry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjlDvba0LMI

Before heading back to Singapore last summer, I made a slide show of what I was looking forward to upon returning. 

The song "GOLD" from Camille Claudel is what I sang for the CRM Donor Retreat in San Francisco last May.

The photos in this slide show are the nuggets of the gold in my life

My February 2009: Egypt, Kids, Singaporean Christians in Theatre

The New Year's Reflections & Resolutions we emailed in January has lead to some interesting developments in February for K!M. 

REFLECTIONS on 2008: 

One of the highlights of my year in USA, was a trip to EGYPT! I was thrilled to introduce Playback Theatre to those who studied with me for that week (Link is to my article on the conference).

I was invited back this year February 21st - March 4. For a number of reasons, I didn't think I could manage going. But after a call to the conference coordinators, support from my Creasman men, and a unanimous "YOU HAVE TO GO!" from my Bible study girlfriends, I bought the ticket with a credit card and faith. Thursday night I learned that a local church is going to write me a check for entire amount of the ticket! 

God has made a way for me to go back to Egypt. 

Thank you Lord for this opportunity to invest in the lives and artistry of enthusiastic young people there who have a passion to share our good news through theatre. I pray this short conference will exponentially fertilize their growth and effectiveness for your glory.

RESOLUTIONS for 2009:

1. My Role in Singapore Theatre & Ministry

It's been brewing in my heart for a long time now and as 2009 got underway, it wasn't hard to put all the pieces together. 

Piece: Christians in theatre and drama ministries here feel alone and need more inspiration and fellowship with one another.

Piece: Churches here could use more training & exposure to a higher standard of what can be done with drama in ministry.

Piece: It's not enough that I teach a class that's an introduction to many forms but don't have a platform to take it to a higher level.

Piece: I needed some kind of a forum where I can regularly encourage performing artists in their faith and art.

Piece: A local church drama ministry leader was looking for a way to branch out and grow, and bless the larger arts community.

Thank you Lord that last Thursday night a collection of 17 talented actors from 8 churches met to start something new with me. 

Weekly on Thursday nights, we'll first meet in small groups, then work together on scenes for a showcase we'll video and present (part of an Exploring Drama as Ministry Workshop later this spring). There was real excitement in the group as we read through the scripts they'll work on in the weeks to come.  I told them, "I'm not exactly sure where this is heading in the long run, but hop on board with me and let's see where God takes us this year!"

Christians in Theatre Arts, Singapore. 

First gathering February 5, 2009.

if you're on Facebook, see more photos from one of the group:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=214492&id=848875135&ref=nf

2. Simplify Life

...While Enjoying the Kids

One of the many "perks" of being a missionary is reduced tuition at the International Community School. My small way of giving back to this school where Tyler and Cameron attend has been to teach the Drama Club. This year so many children signed up we split it into two age groups of about 20 kids each. This past Friday night was INTERNATIONAL NIGHT. The sweet kids stretched and grew through the experience! I enjoy being able to teach Cameron and his friends in the Middle School club and be a part of his development and school life. ("Psalm 100: Shout for Joy!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMKUy_dCmb0 , "It's a Small World" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rra70hwuOe0 )

...In Bible Studies and weekly staff meetings 

As I reflected and made my New Years resolutions, I realized I was trying to do too much last fall. I thought perhaps I needed to drop my Thursday morning Bible study 'cause I couldn't keep up with the homework! They agreed instead to let me combine what I'm learning and applying from our CRM staff meetings. Jim has been teaching staff from Bobby Clinton's Becoming a Bible Centered Leader and helping staff think through a lifelong strategy for mastering the Bible. Because of this, my lady friends, have set aside our printed Bible Study books with the fill-in-the blanks-get-your-homework-done approach with the intent to grow in a deeper hunger, appreciation and love for the word of God. We are expecting to hear from him as we daily read and meditate on Scripture alone. We're exploring different methods for having a daily devotional life, and starting with repeated readings of Psalm 119. This is a long chapter in the center of the Bible which enumerates through the Hebrew alphabet the wonders of the word of God. It's especially exciting because there are a couple gals who've never studied this way, are fairly new believers and are really growing in their walk with Christ!

Elementary Drama Workout backstage at International Night. 

February 6, 2009.

3. Staying Prayerfully Positive and Proactive...

We're thankful for your prayers not only for Godly and powerful ministry, but also for our health, provision, protection and encouragement. Since late December, Cameron, Tyler & Kimberly have been working through some health issues, learning to heal/live with ADHD and a few other difficulties. We're thanking God for exceptional Christian doctors whom we trust, and God's sweet provision of some new family friends for us.

Praying that your February 2009 is blessed as you live out your calling and destiny!

Fondly from Singapore,

K!Mberly 4 the 4