YaYa Seasoned Sisters of Singapore- Amazon Link to What We're Reading This Fall:

I love my group of Seasoned Sisters and look forward each week to Wednesdays. If you're in Singapore, have Wednesdays 1-3PM free, don't yet have a circle of trusted girlfriends, and need a spiritual home, come join us. Author Pam Farrel's a perennial cheerleader with encouraging and mature spiritual insights. THough this book is called The 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make, it's really more like The 10 CATEGORIES of Best Decisions a Woman Can Make. That's why my group of YaYas agreed with me to read it over again after we'd tried to make this book our summer reading!

Samples: Cost of Living, Singapore

Once in 1998 we published a list like this; some samples of costs for living in China. 
Someone was wondering recently what costs of living are for us in Singapore. This might be more financial info than my Western friends are comfortable talking about! I've become so Chinese about these things. Hardly a week goes by when I don't have a neighbor ask me how much I pay in rent!

So this morning I did a quick look at my records. I've been using this simple but great little phone app: Moneybook, just have to have the discipline to put the expenses in as we go and it does the calculations and syncing with an account online.

For those who are on our support team, or are considering it, here's a concrete way to think about what you might be supporting. A representation of some ministry & some of our personal expenses.

[US>SG$ calculated in current exchange rate]

Singapore dollars
$80 [US$62] /monthly transportation allowance for Cameron
$175 [US$134] approx cost for hosting last year's Thanksgiving Party/open house for 30 neighbors.
$300 [US$230]  average monthly gas for the car.
(Never a day goes by that I am not immensely thankful to have a car!)
$250-$550 round trip ticket to mentoring w/pastors in neighboring countries (1/4ly)
$834 [US$640] /mo Singapore income tax
$1150 [US$883] food costs in September
$1200 [US$921] gifts sent to current donors at Chinese New Year 2011
$1400-$1800 [US$1047-$1381] one round trip plane ticket SINGAPORE>LA. Or to bring Tyler back for a holiday.
$2400 /mo rent [US$1842]
$4000 [US$3071] TOTAL monthly household expenses
$5,300 [US$5069] Total medical expenses so far this year

(we'll make our $5000 deductible for the first time, so we'll get some back!)

$8,500 [US$6525] Total receipts for our family trip to visit missionaries March 2010.

$16,000 [US$12,283] Annual School expenses for Cameron (blessed w/ 40% discount as an Mkid. With Tyler in a Cal State School, and having managed to maintain residency through home ownership and some California State Tax over the years, college costs less than school in Singapore!)

Weekend Update: I'm on an insulting streak!

Saturday Evening:

I get to the announcer's booth after the first of the three High School football games for my "DJ" gig while Jim announces. Between games this is also where the officials cool off and get some refreshment in the airconditioning. Trying to figure out what time he'll be getting home, one of the refs asks,

"So, how long are these games lasting?"


I answer in jest, "I think it depends on how many yellow flags are thrown on the field."

Later I found out that the first game had an uncommonly large amount of penalties called.

Ooops. It surely sounded to that ref like I was being sarcastic rather than just joking.

Sunday Evening:

I was attending the TCA College graduation. Since 2006 I've been teaching college level theatre courses to those who want to use drama/creative arts in ministry. At the reception, I meet and get into conversation with a Board Member and a Richard Goetz professor of Theology, who comments about the power of the arts, and how Christian Churches are missing out on embracing the arts for worship and outreach. I feel like we're clicking in this conversation, so I make a comment along these lines:

I struggle sometimes with the paradox of generating excitement for practicing arts as ministry, because there will never be any income in it to speak of. I've spent my entire life devoted to exploring how to use arts in ministry, and though the thanks and praise were abundant, only on one hand can I count the years I was remunerated more than $500. That's what some churches will pay a one time guest speaker. And yet, they'll ask me to work longer and harder preparing a sketch for worship that supports his message.... 

Still, God has given me this passion and calling, so I keep having to put such facts at his feet. He has always provided for me, in other ways, but it's harder to have faith in his provision for my students, when I know they are destined to have the same sense of being devalued for the gifts in ministry God has given them and I am fanning into flame.

I went home last night and saw an interview with this faculty member in the Graduation Booklet:

"My passion is for the classroom...I told myself that this was so great that I will do this even if they don't pay me. When you find your passion you know it, because you can honestly say I will do this even if they did not pay me."

Ooops. I now imagine that he thought my comments were in critical response to his interview. Duh. Nope, I was just being guilelessly honest about my experience and what I wrestle with as an artist.

eNews>Praying for the Creasmans in October

Thanks for your prayers with us in September

Jim:

Pastors who are starting CRM in the Philippines have met for their 3rd retreat with individual coaching. One of them is pursuing a call to lead this emerging ministry focused on empowering with this mentoring model. In turn they empower others under their leadership to grow in intimacy with God and live out His unique call on their lives.

Kimberly:  

Loads of emails, and prayers and phone calls have ensued following a blog post I wrote in August. For me it's turning into a season of bridge building and encouraging Sending Churches in what their role can be in Missionary Care. As a case study, this experience is a remarkable model of processing conflict. This communication with my church leaders has built a stronger bridge. I'm really encouraged to know that I am part of a church where we call can respect one another, make apologies where needed and all be humble enough own our sin and move forward stronger in unity and purpose.

CRMS Annual General Meeting 2011: Thank you Lord for the momentum rolling with addition of new staff and expansion into neighboring countries. 

Tyler: 

Loving CPSLO after 2 weeks of classes and the week of orientation. He's training with ROTC and really diving in (which is unusual for TCKs - they tend to stay on the fringe and observe for awhile). Said, "Even though it's a large campus, nearly everywhere I go I see someone I've already met." He had a great 6 weeks with grandparents...getting driver's license, spending some fun time with them alone, helping them with some things around their homes (technical mostly). It's a fun season to see him step into adulthood and manage his time and money on his own (all bills are going to HIM now!)

Cameron:

As always a joy to live with if we ignore the mess! Upon returning to Singapore, a few noticed a change over the summer. He's more confident and stepping up as a leader with his peers. We stay positive that he'll continue to learn how to apply his mind to learning, his body toward strength and fitness, and his heart to following Jesus. 

Prayers for October:

1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Singapore American Football League continues to be the Creasman's Fall pastime (missing only the accompanying cooler weather and marching bands!). Cameron (#54 left tackle) is playing on Tyler's former team in the High School league and we continue to deepen our friendships and influence in the expat community. Pray that we will have opportunities to share God's love and hope - the Gospel - every week of football!

2 

Praise God for the graduates of TCA College! Thank you Lord for Kimberly's role as an occasional lecturer, equipping younger Christian leaders in their use of drama in ministry. Lead her to ways she can continue to use her expertise to inspire other young people who are passionate about the arts and ministry.

3, 10, 17, 24, 31 

Lord, guide us as we spend some time on Mondays making phone calls and connecting with supporters and potential donors to our life and ministry here in Asia. Give us discernment about knowing who to call, and a continued confidence in your faithful provision, as we need to raise an additional $3,000 in monthly donations. 

3-7,31

We host visitors who are coming through Singapore. Lord, we pray through us you offer vision and insight into the strategic role this little island has on the Kingdom of God in this region.

8

CRMS staff, Andy Lim leads the inaugural "Run for the Nation" prayer run across the island. Lord, thank you for calling such inspiring and godly Asian leaders to join us in CRMS & building spiritual leaders, we pray for wisdom as we join potential staff this coming week in seeking your will for joining us in this movement.

15

Count Your Blessings! After meeting a few times this month with Kimberly, thirteen dormitory staff of a Christian High School will perform Playback Theatre for students on the theme of "Thankfulness." Jesus, we pray that this outreach to international students studying and living in a Christian environment will draw them to a personal and lasting relationship with you!

17-19

Jim leads a mentoring network in Manila, and helps these pastors grow as mentors for others.  Please pray for their own growth and for their vision and ability to empower other leaders.

18-19 

Women's Retreat in nearby Johor, Malaysia. God, thank you for making it clear that you wanted K! to pass on the CRM Women's Leadership meetings in Spain (Oct 16-21). Hard to do it, but thank you for your guidance. In this short time away with her Singapore sisters, build us in unity, deepen our roots with you, and give us vision for your future for us as your daughters.

20

Jim teaches a seminar in Singapore on growing in spiritual authority - what it is, where it comes from, how to exercize it, and how to grow in it.  We long for the evidence of God's presence in our lives and ministries. Lord we pray that Jim & Kimberly would continue growing in intimacy with Christ and that his leading and providing for them would be evident to all around them.

22

Handmade #3. K! is participating in an outreach with Grace Assembly of God. Lord we thank you for how you are using the arts to communicate your message! Thank you for Namiko and her gifts in dance and love for you! Bless her as she builds a team using Hawaiian Hula as a worship dance for you.

27-28

Retreat for CRMS staff and board members to evaluate and ideastorm our ministry to help churches and spiritual leaders grow and impact Asia. Lord, we pray that you would raise up godly and gifted men and women to join CRMS as spiritual mentors, and to go as missionaries to other Asian countries.  We pray for love and creativity as a team, and for your guidance and resources to grow in our spiritual impact.

Plus:

Please pray that i would have Joshua's courage and Joseph's dream and vision to pursue the establishment of CRM Phils! - Pastor Nathan, Manila

Mid-Autumn festival "mooncakes" with Yi Hui. 
She continues her frequent visits when Kimberly is home in the afternoons, 
and is slowly getting socialized and learning how to read. 
She's a much happier little "stray" who is taking 
(and most certainly failing) the PSLE this week 
(Primary School Leaving Exam)

How can we be praying

for you? 

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. - 1 Peter 5:10

Jim & Kimberly Creasman

Charitable Giving thru CRM

Thank you for making our work here an extension of your heart for Asia.

We pray that you'd have great joy in these kind of investments, 

whether is it with us or with other good work around the world!

www.crmleaders.org

Donation questions (in USA) 1 (800) 777-6658

you may add "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651"

CRM- 1240 N. Lakeview, Suite 120, Anaheim, CA 92807-1831

More photo highlights from September:

We're keeping in touch via 21st century technology: 

Living/Serving Overseas: More on the "CAMEL TEAM." A Short History of our Living Saints

If you are on a church "M" Board (Global Outreach) somewhere, or you are someone "back home" who is making decisions about support for those working overseas from your church, I write this post for you. 

When one has not experienced the challenges of trying to make a life in a foreign country, for more than a year, with children, in a new language, with very limited resources; it is next to impossible to understand and yet you are put in the difficult position of making judgements about how to best invest the church's international  budget. Because I have been both a Sender and a Go-er, perhaps I have a unique vantage point. Both sides. (Before marriage, I served on a church m committee, and then my husband was a m pastor for our first 12 years of marriage. Since 1997 we've been in Asia as a 2nd career to be a resource to the church here.)

Though this is about one particular team, I hope it will serve as an encouragement, for those who are "Senders" to realize in a deeper way, the importance of their role in really knowing and praying for the overseas workers who have been raised up and sent from your churches.

Last March, our family traveled [here] to spend time with the group I wrote about in my post below. Their organization paid for mine and Jim’s airfare to go spend this time with them. We paid for the boys to come along and get to know the kids, and help with childcare while the adults spent time conferencing. It was a rich and meaningful week. 

As I look back on this, I believe we should have engaged the Global Outreach Board at our mutual church more about this trip. We wrote before and after about it in our e-newsletter, but it would have been better had we intentionally drawn our mutual church missions leaders in on the plans and what came from the time together.

 

We wanted to just go and hug them and pray for them, and tell them how much we value them and admire their sacrifices these long years. Build them up. Give them some outside perspective. Hopefully speak prophetic words of healing, strength and hope into their lives. We did a retreat with them to help process their next steps for ministry by taking time to look back over their history together as a team. It was remarkable as we used post-it notes to cover the walls with lessons, and miracles, and events, and highlights of their journey as a team. There needs to be a book written. I don't think we're anywhere near the final chapters.

There’s has been traumatic, brave, difficult, physically, spiritually and emotionally costly journey. They have been in places that are extremely difficult physically to live, let alone that these places, people, governments are hostile to the Gospel of Jesus, and anyone who wants to change the status quo. 

Now, in their THIRD country, moving forward (yet again), while learning their THIRD language. The team is geographically separated (they are no longer in the same city though they are finding ways to stay connected and close). Life is still very, very hard. They are in a country that is one of the least evangelized. They are on the frontlines in an Enemy stronghold.

You can bet the Enemy HATES that these Saints have tenaciously kept to their commitment to be a light for the Gospel. He's succeeded in getting them kicked out of 2 other countries hostile to Christianity and the West! Though they may have been uprooted and forced to live like gypsies, they have continued to dig in with their pursuit of God and team unity even during seasons when He has been silent and in places where there are very, very few believers in Jesus. 

As trailblazers in dark territory, they have been completely dependent on the Holy Spirit for wisdom and the light to move forward and share the gospel. 


I believe that it's possible they will not survive, let alone thrive in their ministry, unless we support them in prayer. They will not survive physically unless individuals and their churches support them financially.

For the Body of Christ which is their home/sending church to really support them now, in 2011, it’s important for new members, to know this history. To dig into why they are where they are, and doing what they are doing.  


My email inbox had a newsletter from them today. Good news. Some tough news. They are moving forward! If you are not on their email list and want to follow them and pray for them, post a comment with your email and I'll forward it to them (can't just show the link!)

Advocating for Sent Missionaries from RHCC:

As I continue to process the issues mentioned below, I feel compelled to be an advocate for a group of M__s from RHCC.

The CAMEL team.

This group has been in 3 countries where one must be cautious about what is said in communication, so as not to jeopardize their presence to a hostile government. For this reason, I don't write any names, or spell out the countries. 

However, I'm starting to lose sleep over their need for their home church to rally behind this entire team who went out the same year we did!

The Creasmans have been pretty straightforward in our journey: 

As originally planned, we’ve had two years of language and culture learning in mainland China (‘97-99), and then settled in for a long term investment in Singapore to be used in strengthening and building Chinese Christian leaders here. Not just for the sake and strength of Singapore’s churches and pastors, and missionaries who are based here, but for their strategic role in influence over this region due to Singapore’s spiritual and financial resources, heart for the world and multi-lingual schooling.

For our fellow laborers The CAMEL team who are now in their 3^rd country and 3rd language, their direction and journey has not turned out as originally hoped or planned. These diversions have been entirely out of their control. 

When they went out as a team (3 families and 4 singles) in 1997, it was a remarkable achievement for our church: sending an ENTIRE team to an unreached people group. 

Among them were former RHCC youth ministries leaders (Junior High Pastor) and administrators. Bright and gifted, they had developed a heart for the world early. Somewhere along the college years, and the missions pipeline of potential missionary small groups and missions retreats, and leading short term teams from the church we confirmed their calling to make a career in bringing the Gospel to the most unreached peoples in the 10/40 window. As a church we excitedly envisioned this team following the inroads our short term trips had made over a few years. We had "adopted the Kaz_ks" and RHCC short term teams had helped establish the first known Kaz_k church. Subsequent visits had made it seem to us as if Rolling Hills Covenant Church instrumental in seeing the Gospel preached and a thriving church established among a people where there had previously been none.

This was not to be the case. 

I will not go into the details here, but as I remember it, due to their being “discovered” for their “covert” work in evangelism, their visas were not renewed after a few years. I think they were asked to leave the country on short notice, with a black mark against them so that they can not return. In turn, they relocated to a similar people group in Uzb_____, with clear leading from the Holy Spirit about where to move, and even which apartments to rent. However, during this term(s) they were in a political situation where ALL foreign non-profit workers were denied visa renewals and had to move their families out of a second country.

Fraught with opposition and conflict and uprooting and challenges, they have had to pull back, pull out, sort out, regroup, reconcile, hear from God and set out once again more times than any living missionary I know. And there’s a whole team of them! There have been marital issues, health emergencies, team strife and discord on top of the political opposition.

Lesser men and women might have given up, feeling like many do after facing such trials, “Well, we gave it a go, we did our best, perhaps God is directing us through these hardships to turn our hearts back toward home, and find a new path.” Heaven knows how many missionaries have set out at the beginning to invest their lives long term and our now back safely in their motherlands. It’s also pretty safe to say, that any of those missionaries who have returned would be the first to acknowledge the tremendous tenacity and commitment and sense of calling it has taken for this group of people from RHCC to stick with it.

I'll post more later, but this is a good start! Let's not forget them! They need our prayers and support as much now as ever!!

"Forbearance," my new favorite word

This past month, there's been a lot of communicating with my home church leaders and a few individuals. Building bridges that had fallen into disrepair. I had lit a match on the fallen tinder by blogging about the fallen bridge (that particular part of the post below has been removed!). 

To sum it up briefly: I was feeling awkward and like an alien whenever we return to our home church where we'd served for 12 years. Over 14 years it had grown worse and worse each of the times we'd come back as a family (In all fairness, Jim came back once on his own for the 50th Anniversary, and that for him was a remarkable homecoming speaking for and being honored in this special Missions Celebration). This summer was especially hard because, due to our serious shortfall in support, we finally had to start making connections at other churches. We've tried hard to keep our ties strong with this sending church because our trips back are so short that we'd prefer to concentrate our face-time, hoping to have a more significant time of re-connecting, rather than a one-off hellos in multiple church patios. 

This summer, the contrasting experience we had going to other churches (and a few unfortunate and circumstantial mix ups and misses at our home church), turned my long-time sadness into anger. I was feeling mother-bearish for all the other missionaries sent from our church.

I didn't deal with the growing conflict in my heart in a Biblical way by approaching the missions pastor and commission advocate with grace. I instead spent a few jet lagged hours blogging about it when I got back to Singapore.

Then some actually read my post, and I subsequently needed to do a lot of apologizing! I've been humbled, and convicted that we didn't bring the problem up years ago to people who would probably have listened (calling it "grace" when it was really a lack of courage to speak up).

It's starting to be an amazing case study of dealing with and working through conflict, when to be part of the solution when you have a burden about something (and when to let things go), and seeing leaders - brothers and sisters in the body of Christ show forbearance (my new favourite word) and grace, and work together to build Christ's church. I still have a few people I need to apologize to directly (I pray the Holy Spirit will reveal any more!), but there's already such a hope that we are all going to be stronger and better from this.

It seems now, that even though I lacked judgement in writing publicly, and that I hurt some people by what I wrote; these instrumental leaders have heard. They have also apologized to us personally for this regrettable "blind spot," and now we're working together to make a change. 

For the future, our united heart is that our sent missionaries will no longer be/feel forgotten. We'll find ways to introduce and advocate for them to those who are new people in the congregation (who didn't know them when they went overseas), and for those at home who have let their ties become too loose, we'll work to restore the bond. The mutual hope is that in the future, all of our church's "home-grown" missionaries will feel built up from their visits home. The wheels are in motion for this church to give them an intentional welcome, offer more practical care for them, and somehow publicly honor them when they return.

If you are interested in reading or talking more about it, you can write to me personally. As a case study, it is a remarkable model of processing conflict and I hope others will be able to learn from our mistakes. I'm really encouraged to know that I am part of a church where leaders can respect one another and all be humble enough own our sin and move forward in unity.

Our Sending Church's Human Capitol: A Legacy of Leaders

As I've been learning who are the missionaries currently supported by my home church USA, I realize something they may not have: This sending church can be proud that among those who have gone out from our church over the years. There are a surprising number of directors or presidents of other mission organizations, or seasoned and godly and wise lights for the gospel on the front-lines in difficult places. I just started listing them...

Bill & Robin Harris. Missionaries whose passion for ethnomusicology and networking resulted in founding International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE). Robin is the ICE coordinator. Robin and her husband, Bill Harris, now work forOperation Mobilization-USA in the Heart Sounds International division. Bill and Robin Harris write several blogs.

Gwynn & Pooka Lewis, Sowers Int'l, Founder & Executive Director

Joe & Silk Handley, Asian Access, President

Dennis & Susan Wadley, Bridges of Hope Int'l, Founder/Int'l Director: From the Bridges website info on their Partners. BTW: This partnership was profiled in DualReach article about involving local church leaders in mission which in-turn inspires a congregation.

Rolling Hills Covenant Church

In 2004 Rolling Hills Covenant Church [RHCC] sent its first short-term mission team to South Africa to support Dennis Wadley, former high school ministry pastor at RHCC, and his family in their ministry “Bridges of Hope.” Since then, RHCC has continued to partner with Bridges of Hope in its efforts to serve communities and townships ravaged by HIV/AIDS, with specific care for the growing number of children orphaned by this disease. Together with Bridges of Hope, RHCC also partnered with St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Philippi, and provided funds for the construction of the church facility in Philippi.

The children in the black townships outside Cape Town grow up in terrible poverty in neighborhoods with high rates of crime and gang activity and lives that are devastated by AIDS. Many children are orphaned by AIDS and grow up with only knowing life in the township and the hopelessness it can breed.  The vision shared Bridges of Hope and RHCC was to have a retreat center in which children could come and be ministered to in a loving outdoor and retreat center atmosphere. Rolling Hills Covenant has sent several short-term teams comprised of high school students and adults to run after school programs at the Center. 

The dream was also to build a residential High School Academy for children orphaned by AIDS.  This dream was rooted in the belief that God could use the children’s lives and transform them to become key parts of an emerging new generation to lead South Africa. With significant help from our RHCC, as well as other churches, that dream has now become a reality. A former bed and breakfast with acreage that used to be a vineyard was purchased. Rolling Hills helped to fund a full-time missionary, Ted Holdeman, who served in a key role during the construction of various buildings for the Bridges of Hope Leadership Academy, as well as maintaining the operations of the Bridges of Hope Retreat Center.

Rolling Hills Covenant Church has enjoyed our thriving partnership with Bridges of Hope. As a congregation we give praise to the Lord for connecting our church with Bridges of Hope. We pray that together we will serve Jesus in redeeming lives for His glory and bring lasting and sustained positive change to South Africa. 

On Feeling Guilty/Convicted: How to know the difference between Satan's Voice and The Holy Spirit

After reading a sweet email from a conscientious friend who was responding about her feelings she was wrestling with after reading the blog article below, I picked up a book I'm reading through with the bible study gals here in Singapore: The 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make.

It was a segment headed:

"So what do I do with the guilt?"

Just a refresher, I'm sure, but here's the bullets of what Pam Farrel wrote about processing guilt feelings:

If it's from Satan, he will make you feel

• Condemned
• Confused (half-truths, conflicting statements, distractions)
• Calloused (I give up, why try! it's hopeless)
• Driven to overcompensation (taking on responsibility that isn't yours to take on feeling, "If I don't do it, no one will" and fall headlong into a martyr role!)

If the conviction is from the Holy Spirit, he will

• Be consistent (you keep getting the same message, in line with God's word, from a number of sources that point to the issue)
• Be positive (even if it's strong, you won't feel like you are stupid, useless, hopeless etc!)
• Be forward thinking (showing you long term consequences or long range eternal reasons why a behavior change or action is good- keeping end results in view)
• Be specific (instead of vague innuendoes, and generalizations. ie he won't say, "yesterday was a waste of time" he may say, "you let yourself get sidetracked again by ___, what can we do to avoid that next time?"

"As you sort through the expectations that everyone has about you and your life, remember that healthy boundaries will send you back toward God. he will remind you: you are salt- one grain. You are light- a lght! A woman knows her place in His plan when she knows she is talented and capable but limited, and only God is limitless."

May we all sense the grace-filled leading of the Holy Spirit, not serve out of "oughts and shoulds" but out of a true sense of obedience to his calling. May we accept our limits, and be willing to obey when he calls us to be stretched in our faith and service.

In transit in BJ

It's a sweet season of ministry- To be away and get messages from Singaporans while away. Being truly missed. Being eager to get back.

Finally, after all these years invested there, I feel in some ways like I'm going HOME.

Though being on the Air China flight, and on the same flight w some Miss'ys we know from Kunming (imagine that!), I kinda miss REAL China, and all the craziness there!

A Month Home: Schitzophrenically Glorious and Rotten at the Same Time

Psalm 34:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;

   he saved him out of all his troubles.

⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,

   and he delivers them.

 ⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good; 

   blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

-a status update from Leslie Green at the top of my newsfeed 

when i awoke the other day at 4AM from a bad dream.

Coming Home...


We're so extremely blessed. I think I count 7 times we've been back since 1997. 7 times in 14 years! Sure, I have expat friends in Asia who return twice a year. But at least I didn't pack my stuff in my coffin when we headed out. This is what many missionaries did in previous generations. We've averaged coming back about every other year. This is a privilege of being a missionary in an age of air travel and frequent flier benefits. We're not complete strangers at home! Still, we can feel a bit alien returning...but I'll write about that in a minute. [NOTE: Now I'm dealing with it in a proper way, and that section is deleted! I apologize to those who were wrongfully hurt by the original, and am grateful if my lack of grace and forbearance has served to make things better.]

   

Our time in the USA started out with a sweet, unforgettable two weeks with family. We celebrated my parents' 50th Anniversary with our small but close extended family vacationing together. The adults had great joy in seeing the 4 cousins wrestling and giggling and making new memories despite their age difference (8-18) and the fact that they are being raised on opposite sides of the earth. This carefree joy of late June was followed by the inevitable feeling of needing to be productive in July.

After a week of reconnecting in the South Bay, there was a growing heartache over seeing first-hand the effects of the recession in the US. Many friends who are out of work, or living with less, or trying to get things done at work with hacked budgets. 

[text removed]

Returning Home





We can turn our hearts back to Singapore with joyful anticipation. 


I know our son Tyler, whom we left behind to start university, is READY. I'm confident that God has blessed our flawed parenting of him with enough grace and wisdom to produce an offspring who is going to make a difference for good in this world. And most likely that will be cross-culturally. We've raised a child who can navigate between worlds with understanding, confidence and remarkable insights from his multi-cultural upbringing. I'm so excited for him and this new stage of his life, I've not yet connected to the grief of losing him and not knowing when I'll see him again.


After 12 years serving the Singaporean churches, it's a sweet season of ministry here. Getting messages from singaporans while away, and being truly missed, we were eager to get back. Finally, after all these years investing our lives here, I feel in many ways like I'm going HOME. 

Thanks again... 



We are always especially thankful to our parents who've sacrificed so much in losing us all these years as we've been overseas instead of down the street. And thank you for always allowing us invade your tranquil lives when we come back. 


 
And last, SPECIAL heaps of gratitude to Karen Boden, Megan Moore, Betty Lindholm, the Nygren Family, the Farrels and the Aanderuds for the multiple ways you gave of your love, advocacy and sacrificial support! You are heros for Christ's Great Commission: seeing the good news of our Saviour spread, and his church growing and healthy to the ends of the earth.  Plus you are just good friends. We are so blessed by you!

Psalm 16

 ¹ Keep me safe, my God,

   for in you I take refuge.

 ² I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;

   apart from you I have no good thing.”

³ I say of the holy people who are in the land,

   “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

⁴ Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.

   I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods

   or take up their names on my lips.

 ⁵ LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;

   you make my lot secure.

⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

   surely I have a delightful inheritance.

⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;

   even at night my heart instructs me.

⁸ I keep my eyes always on the LORD.

   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

 ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

   my body also will rest secure,

¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

   nor will you let your faithful^[b] one see decay.

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;

   you will fill me with joy in your presence,

   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.