Xing Nian Mong Un

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year, my Friends!

(literally, "Be filled with Grace")

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year, and I pray that the Lord of blessings encourages you through and through for the coming year.

This photo was taken at Dave and Dawn's cell group New Year party...Dawn and I are shown "tossing the fish"- at the beginning of the meal everyone together takes their chopsticks and tosses this colorful mixture complete with raw fish up into the air, the higher the better...all the while exclaiming hope, prayers, and blessings for the coming year (for pre-believers, the words center on good luck and prosperity wishes).

As you can tell, I am safe--praise the LORD! Singapore has been home now for almost a week. MTI Orientation proved to be a wonderful start to the road ahead, with great fellowship and important words to hear and share. Our mission: To be salt and light amonst the poor, ministering to their suffering and oppression. So great to dwell on this mission, to begin to soak it up in context. After a special week of meeting other missionaries on our teams and enjoying sights and sounds of my new home, like "Little India", Sentosa Island - where I walked onto the southernmost tip of Continental Asia-, and China Town (quite extravagant with lights and decorations), it is now time to settle. Goodbyes are everywhere...sending off others to their field countries, back home to raise additional support, away. While I stay. I am thankful to be based in Singapore, 'Singapura' = the "Lion City". Thankful for the weather. Thankful for the provisions. Thankful for the season of learning ahead. Thankful for opportunity to serve. Worshipped at church this morning with believers excited to be a blessing to the nations, for this is their calling as "blessed". We have been shown good news to share good news! Captivated by Jesus' words in John 20:21 - "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Jesus was a Go-er and a SENDER in world missions! You all who send follow in His footsteps...Thank you!

Last night the Greenfields, my Filipina friend, Cathy, and I enjoyed a traditional Chinese family reunion meal with believers and friends of Dave and Dawn- an honor to be guests at a normally exclusively-family event. We ate "steamboat" - like fish fondue with soup broth. YUM!!! And I love the flavorful spice...everyone's amazed that I can take the heat, but Dawn chalks it up to being from Southern California with the Mexican chili pepper influence. I think my love for hot foods might also have been cultivated by exposure to Sara-Jinny's delicious Indian curry and those special Dad-Daughter dinners at the Thai restaraunt after report-cards went out :-) Anyhow, the food in Singapore is amazing, from traditional Chinese, to Indian, to Thai and Malay, to "Western" w/ lots of tropical fruits and vegetables to boot! And yes, Mike, we do have yogurt here!!! So, I invite all of you to come for a visit and I will take you to eat at the local places.

So many traditions surround Chinese New Year. Bring 2 oranges to the host, give children and single people even-valued monetary gifts in red packets (yes, there are benefits to being single!), don't wear black, do spring cleaning to send out the old dirt from the previous year (we passed by a car wash at 11pm last night, and the queue was out to the street- everyone's car is to be washed before the new year - talk about the 11th hour rush!!!), loud noises to ward off evil monsters (firecrackers are used for this, though since they are outlawed in Singapore people use recordings!), etc.... The sermon today urged the believers to cling to the blessings of a life trusting Christ, not superstitious hope in behavior to gain security that is not real. Materialism vs. Family Values...growing tension everywhere. I was taught so much last night as I observed the 2 sons take care of their elderly mom suffering from dimentia. We sang with her and prayed blessing over her. Ancestor worship is common here. But Christians know hope and can love in Christ's power. What power!

Driving on the left side of the road...steering wheels are on the right side of cars! I keep looking at cars and thinking, "That car has no driver!" Then, I glance to the other side and see him! Wew! That was a close one! I feel very safe here. It is very orderly, clean and green. Beautiful, really. No filth anywhere. No poverty in sight, but knowing that there are many laborers here from India and Malaysia particularly, who do jobs that most Singaporeans wouldn't do. Many around our wharehouse. I pray they receive special comfort as they work. There are not many caucasians...I feel like I can go blocks without seeing one. Yet, I don't feel stared at or intimidated.

Please pray that we will know the best housing arrangement for me. There's a German couple on one of our teams living here until their baby is born (late Feb.). They'll likely take my current flat. Many offers have come for my housing, but Dawn is in no "hurry", for she is praying that we will find the perfect match. She prays that my home will be a haven in which I can rest when I come home at night. This is the type of leadership I am working with- lovingly sensitive and believing that God shows His favor to His children in mighty ways. I hope you are encouraged to see His favor upon you.

"The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous to our eyes." Psalm 118:23

German Ducks Observed from a Prayer Window

German Ducks Observed from a Prayer Window
-personal reflections

Pilgrims, surrounded by vast mucky blue,
If there be One to chart their course,
then Who?
To the stream's edge, but away they go
Wonder how and when they'll know....

To search for ground, or should we tread?
Maybe sky lies up ahead.
But Oh, that we not mistake
true living
for hopeless dead!
New direction. Hope of guidance. Ripples flow.
Today these ducks travel,
though not in a row.

What is it like to freely swim,
Knowing we are steadfast in Him.
Soon...maybe we'll REALIZE...
That the One who holds their path has given sure Light to our eyes.



EL ROI - "God of Seeing" Hagar's name for God in Gen. 16:13; He is the One who opens our eyes.
JEHOVAH-JIREH - "The Lord Will Provide"; Gen. 22:14. From 'jireh' ('to see' or 'to provide' or 'to foresee', as a prophet). God always provides, adequate when the time comes.

Hosea 6:3 - Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear (He will speak like the coming of the Dawn!).

Psalm 111

...And Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Rom. 5:5


Friends, I have rested today, through much prayer and fasting. Learning about these gifts. Then, tonight, surprised after prayer with a German girl who lived 10 years in Turkey to be invited to her International church plant in Heilbron, about 45 min. drive from Mosbach. So, I was thrilled, fine with missing tonight's session for this opportunity! The fellowship included Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and German believers as well as some non-believers (most are refugees). Music sung in all the languages, even English! Preaching from John 4: Living water for Samaritan woman...she was a great missionary to her people. When we receive this water, we are called to testify that others' thirst would be quenched and our hearts delighted! Struck by Jesus' words from vv.32 on.

Tomorrow's the last day of the conference. I am eager to get on the plane to continue "homeward", but also delighting in these last moments with new friends...Hope never disappoints...we will be HOME with our Light and Life soon, together.... "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together..."-Jesus.

Ticket to Rest!

Dear friends,
Wow, I just had such fun reading your comments...keep them coming! I delight in picturing each of you as you "talk" with me. Spinach, Bible studies, joy, the weather - EVERYTHING about you guys is like clothes of comfort! And, I must say, I'm very impressed at your "blogging capacity" :-)

I wanted to tell you of yet another provision that happened about 7 hours ago. The Lord provided a ticket from Germany to Singapore on the ideal date (Jan. 21). There is an East Asia Pacific rep here who was helping me work through the issue of not having flight arrangements confirmed for going from the conference to the field (you never know what things will come up, eh?). Together we researched some options, either passing through Turkey, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka. Last night 3 friends were also busily searching online sites to help me. But, today, the Lord saw fit to provide a direct flight (found by an OM Germany travel agent), totalling almost exactly what MTI had originally budgeted for the expense. I just sing and rest, but man it's so good to have that done! Earlier today we thought we might not be able to move on anything until next Tuesday. Then, showers of His work. Tonight's session focused on prayer, with the theme of "Remembering the Past; Shaping the Future" - our prayers are powerful and effective. Psalm 2:8

Shelter, Strong Tower

Shelter...that's the word I have for today, which is merged into the last. Worship flowed during car ride to airport; delayed departure made way for a few final phone calls from my gate; heavy bags and a broken wheel upon retrieval, all was carried and I am not weighed down by my insufficiencies; reunion of friends met in October; international fellowship!; exhausted. Thinking about TIME: to pray, to rest, to talk, to listen, to retreat, to leave. This leaving is physical, but also emotional. Tomorrow I begin to lead a fellowship group dealing with such realities. Something I just read in the book Healing for Damaged Emotions I scanned on OM's shelf: The word happiness has its roots in the word happenings. Happiness depends on happenings, on what happens to us, externals that we can't control. Joy is the right word for what we Christians are to expect. For joy is an internal word which has to do with relationships, not circumstances, not happenings. Joy is the inner calm at the eye of the storm; feelings can be stormy, but there can also be an inner sense of righteousness to the will of God...Paul said it so well, 'But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption' (I Cor. 1:30)." Remember with me, friends, our God is able!

The German landscape is beautiful! Mountains with frosted trees, bubbling brooks, green pastures. I thoroughly enjoyed the bus ride from Frankfurt to Mosbach. My accommodations are called "Container 1". Bunk beds galore...hopefully, I'll stay warm tonight with temps below freezing! A few of us ventured into the town this afternoon - lovely homes, many with red roofs, churches, bakeries, and paths to walk. Oh, and we saw German ducks! Well, they look the same as the American ones, and the Canadian ones, according to a brother from Canada. It's good to be here. Thankful for your prayers for my travels. I'm longing to rest in the provision for what is to come. Gladness of heart comes from the Lord, who is our Strong Tower.

About to Board

Friends,

What emotions.

Yesterday, my charge and commissioning. Love the Lord of the work before the work of the Lord. Recognize that without God, I can do nothing. Psalm 66:8 - Sing aloud His praises; He keeps my feet from falling away. In our weakness, He will show His strength. Acts 13:1. I am a part of the body, working "over there". You go with me. Thank you.

Today is the day I leave for Germany. Thankful that Aaron's taking me to the airport. Saying goodbyes...awoke at 6am to be with Trace. We sat, talked. Then, the goodbye. A 3 minute solid hug from an 11 year-old. TEARS so sweet from both pairs of eyes; united. The welling up is happening again...he's off. Then, the younger three come down stairs. Listen and dance to the song, "He's the giver of ALL good things!" (by Saturday). Aaron and I are going to surprise them with a visit during lunch, the final parting. Lord, hold us. This is hard, and You sustain. Last minute "getting things together" - of course, it's me! So, I pruned my suitcase last night and released half the wardrobe I had in there. Well, it's slightly challenging to back both for Germany's winter and then Singapore's equator!~ but, then again, I'm no packing pro. :p Maybe I'll get the hang of simplicity some day!

I am excited for what lies ahead. Thankful to be going now. Waiting for specifics. Wanting to be found faithful today. Training in Germany (Mosbach) for the next few days, then departing Germany for my new home in Singapore (Mercy Teams Orientation is around Jan. 24-27). Praise the Lord that I can attend - He has provided abundantly! I appreciate each of you and the support you have lavished upon me. God speed.