Hi from Singapore

We have completed 5 weeks in this city and country and continue to adjust to the heat as well as our surroundings. Even when it rains, it is warm rain.
We have valued the communication with family and friends back home and it is great to be aware of events in our land and world. Living for such a short time here has given me a greater awareness of the world we live in as we continue to see the efforts to stop the oil flowing from the pipeline off the coat of America, the amazing events and circumstances to form a coalition government in our nation and the turmoil that engulfed Bangkok and which affected the safety of church members of Christ Church Bangkok.

In terms of family update, Nola continues to spend time analysing and writing up research work with colleagues here in Singapore. The kids continue to have homeschooling but this is balanced with time at the pool, tennis, time with 2 American friends and family trips to places such as Universal Studios, Singapore flier, Night Safari, Chinatown and the Formula 1 track. On Saturday 29th May we got wonderful news from home that Curtis will be going to Friends School in September.

One of the things we value is worshipping together as a family at the local church, St John and St. Margaret's. Curtis, Joel & Anna go to Sunday School while we go to the modern auditorium for contemporary worship led by the worship band based on morning prayer or Holy Communion. The boys usually join us after Sunday School for the final part of the service. Most services last 1 hour and three quarters. However, one amazing and touching service was the baptism of 31 babies, children and adults. Some babies and adults were sprinkled and then the others were fully emersed. What a wonderful testimony and witness as all the adults had been through preparation for 10 weeks. One adult Nathan gave his testimony and all baptised chose a memory verse that was displayed on the 2 large screens as they were baptised. Then at the end of the service Bishop Rennis led them all out of the Church as a sign of their new life in Christ.
I have valued continued opportunities to hear about what the Lord is doing here through meetings such as attending the weekly Diocesan meeting of clergy on a Tuesday morning, Diocesan Synod, Senior staff meetings at the Cathedral as well as individual meetings with key individuals. I also attend the 8.00 am service in the Cathedral which is usually Holy Communion with a choir leading the worship. Last Sunday they had Friendship Sunday which is held every quarter when parishioners are encouraged to bring non believers to the service which was very relaxed and included an altar call as well as allowing people to come forward for prayer and ministry. All were invited for food after the service in the canopy area beside the Cathedral. I then hopped on the MRT to get back to the apartment and go with Nola and the family to SJSM for 11.15 am.
A big highlight for me was to spend 2 nights in Indonesia to be with Pastor Henok and his wife Kamty at Oikos Community Church in Surabaya, a city of 3 million. I was invited by Dean George Tay who is the vicar of Orchard Community Church and who is the Dean of Indonesia, a country of 230 million. There are 25 Anglican congregations in Indonesia and the church plant I visited has 15 members after 3 years. It was a privilege to meet Henok and the members as we shared in a prayer meeting on Saturday at 5pm and then joined in worship on Sunday morning for Holy Communion in Bahasa. I could follow the service as it was Holy Communion and Dean George preached in English. We also shared in food after the service before meeting other Christian leaders in Surabaya. The small church plant means that everyone knows each other and that was especially evident at the prayer meeting and in the sharing of the peace at Holy Communion.

I have valued the Thursday night Inductive Bible Studies on the book of Hebrews taken by Dean Kim Seng and Rev Peter Chen who oversees Christian Education in the Cathedral. It has been good to have shared in bible study and hear the faith of God's people here.

I continue to also spend time reading and presently have finished a book looking at the missionary conference at Edinburgh in 1910 and how the Church today is Global. At the conference in 1910 only a handful of people were from Asia and yet a conference in May in Japan attracted over 1000 delegates from this part of God's Kingdom. I am reading a book on Moses to help me personally in my walk with the Lord and as I lead Christ Church Lisburn.

We thank the Lord for his protection and provision here. We have been blessed with good health, good rest despite the high humidity and hot temperatures. We have been blessed with quality time as a family.

On a personal note, I thank the Lord for the believers I have met here and who have enriched my walk as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I look forward especially to all of us going as a family to the Leaders Retreat from the Cathedral from the 16-18th June and spending time with over 70 people who testify to the One who was crucified, who conquered death and who is reigning on high and who share as leaders of St. Andrew's Cathedral in the desire to make Christ known.

Paul