Yesterday, when I got back in the night, Zachary run up to me and said…’Daddy, daddy, today I prayed to Jesus, and asked him to come into my heart.. and so now He’s in my heart…’ (He went on to tell me other things but I was so excited to hear this I didn’t pay much attention to it….

So I immediately checked with Lil what happened… As it turned out, sometime in the evening, while Lil was making apple cider vinegar for the kids, Zach was singing ‘I have decided to follow Jesus’… Lil seized the moment, and asked him if he wanted to follow Jesus, then went on to explain what it means to have Jesus in his heart etc. Then Lil asked him if he wants to have Jesus as your God. And he said ‘Yes!’

Then our cute little Zach (still in the kitchen) squatted down, bent over, closed his eyes, and repeated after mommy the simple prayer to receive Jesus into his heart!

After hearing all that, I sat down and chatted with Zach somemore, and went thru an assurance of salvation, as simply as I could. (but found out later that Lil had done it too!) haha… we’re all Crusade trained lor…

Thank you Lord for loving Zach, and for stirring his little heart to respond to your love!
Zach is turning 4 end of next month. And so, he’s received Christ even earlier than Josh and Emily. I led Josh to pray after watching ‘Finding Nemo’, when he was 5. I can’t remember exactly when Em prayed.. hehe….but I think it’s when she was about 4+

Thanks all who took time to sms and asked about the workshop we conducted at GO Forth. =) And thank u especially to many of you who prayed. It made a difference!

It went on quite smoothly! I was very thankful to my team, who played various roles to make it a success. There were about 80 people who attended our session. At the end of it, about 50 filled up comment cards, and about 90% of them said it met their expectations, and that it helped them in one way or another.

For a workshop like that that catered to such a wide spectrum of people (from lay people or anyone with interest in missions, to practioners and pastors) with various needs and interests, the response we got was considered quite encouraging! We of course did get some constructive comments, and hope to improve for the next time we teach/present something like that.

Personally, I was just thankful that I had the opportunity to bless others with what God has been depositing in my heart all this while. I can only trust that whatever I’ve shared (and what my colleagues have shared) has inspired them, and challenged them to take another step in the direction God wants them to take!

Tomorrow, I’ll be leading a small team from my ministry to share, present and teach at a workshop which is part of the GO Forth National Missions Conference– The topic we’ve been given is called ‘Reaching Generation NeXt: Youth, Media and Missions’.

Then next week (25,26th July), the whole CreaComm team will be part of the Hearts Aflame Evangelism Conference . We’ll be conducting altogether 3 different workshops. (‘The Gospel Through Music’, ‘Stories of the Heart (Using short-film for outreach), ‘Making the Gospel Click’ (Internet Ministry)).

These two opportunities, I believe, are truly God-given. Yet, the honest truth is that I feel quite out of my depth (particularly for the parts that I’m supposed to teach/present). It will only be by his grace that I ‘make it’…

I’m treasuring the opportunity, as I prepare, to gather my thoughts and to share with others what God has been laying upon my heart.

It’s our prayer that those who attend these session be truly inspired by God, and more passionate about going out there to be more effective for Him in ‘reaching the changing generations’.

I’m coveting your prayers for me, and also for my team that is doing some of the presentation with me. =)

Thanks so much, I will share more in the next entry

After 18 apartment viewings, from 5-Room to EA (Executive Apartment) to EM (Executive Mansionette) we finally signed and made the deal… for a 149 sqm EA!

How we ended with this deal was nothing short of amazing!

First off, we were actually looking for a 5-Room flat. But many friends advised us to seriously consider leveraging on the HDB concessionary loan (which would mean that we needed to upgrade to EA or EM, cos’ of HDB’s condition for using this special loan) After doing our sums, we felt that this might be a wiser move.

By the 10th or 11th viewing, we actually found something we really like, but it was a little over our original budget. It was a EM in the area we preferred, and we quite liked it cos’ it was very well designed and done up. We had very little to fix up if we got this place. Key concerns tho’ was that it was not as spacious, and had few storage places.

After praying that nite, we made an initial offer… but hesitated to jump at the 1st counter offer from the owner. On Thursday, I was thinking that I might be quite happy to make a final offer of $505k, and we were quite ready to go it!

Interestingly, that very day we decided to view 2 more units.

The very last unit we viewed was at Block 249. Up to this point, we’ve been concentrating on blocks in the 600 or 700 series. This particular ad (which was online) caught my attention, and I decided to check it out. What stood out about this unit was that it was valued at $392k! (Most EA units were valued at at least 450 – 470k).

As we took the lift up to the unit on 5th floor, I reminded Lil that we should probably ‘manage our expectations’. We can’t really expect ‘much’ from a unit that is valued so ‘low’.

True enough, it was no designer house… but it was really well-kept. It was awfully spacious…
3 bedrooms, plus 1 large study room, 1 kitchen, and 1 huge living room. Best part is- they were asking for $425k… Needless to say, we ‘fell in love with it’!

It was a fairly quiet neighbourhood, very windy, and surprises of surprises, the block is right next to the Multi-Storey carpark. This was originally one of my key requirements! which I had forgotten, but God didn’t forget!

So that night we talked and prayed as a family when we got back… and made the offer of 18k COV (Cash over valuation). After a few rounds of negotiation between Peter (our housing agent) and the other agent, we finally agreed on $418k!

The very next day (Friday nite, 8pm), we went down again to ink the deal!

The owner had requested to move out later (cos’ it’s exams time in end October; and their girl goes to a nearby Primary school). We were quite reluctant as first, but God prompted me to be gracious to the their request.

It turned out that b’cos they were open to contra (which was Lil’s hope+prayer all along) we’re actually getting this flat earlier, otherwise it’d be easily another 1-3 months more because we’d have to wait for the 1st deal (the sale of our current house) to go thru 1st, before we can proceed with this purchase.

So if all goes well, we’ll be in our new house (after some fixing and renovation) by end 2008!
We’re truly blessed….

In less than 2 months after we decided to sell our apartment… it’s now officially SOLD!! =)

After the valuation of the flat was done in May (which by God’s grace was a good valuation!) our housing agent, Peter put up ads in the Classifieds. It garnered very little response… I was kinda disappointed. Many calls, but few viewings. (The only viewing was fr the sister-in-law of my Malay neighbour. She really liked it, but they didn’t have enough cash to buy)

Undaunted, I decided to put up some online ads and put up pretty pictures of my house, in hopes that it’d draw some attention. I even went around the estate putting up ‘FOR SALE’ posters. I think I put up close to 20 posters at the neighbouring blocks, but the next day I noticed they were ALL torn down! Who would do something like that? I was so upset… =(

Anyway, someone eventually did respond to one of the online ads. And this someone was this girl called Ashley (her husband and her are professionals fr China, workin here in S’pore). And one really interested person was enough…

Long story short… this girl really liked the apartment! She told us later than she fell in love with it just by looking at the pictures I posted! And it was the only unit she saw (believe it or not!) She had done her homework in terms of price etc. But this was the only apartment she had viewed in her house search. She came with her parents once, and a second time with her husband. The very next day, she made an offer!!

And abt a week later, after several rounds of negotiation…we closed the deal!! Just like that!
I remembered asking CCO (my office team) to pray that we can sell our flat soon, so that we can take our next step of looking for a place in Pasir Ris.

Me of little faith, I didn’t expect God to answer this prayer soooo quickly!!
(Why should I expect God to answer… when I pray? Why pray then, if I didn’t expect him to answer??) It so delights God to answer our prayers. Much like the joy and delight we feel as parents when we bring something special back for our kids, or give them or take them to someplace they had requested for a while. It brings a smile to them, and to us too!

Our heavenly Father was all too happy to answer our request that day!

Anyway, Lil and I are really thankful…
The kids have mixed feelings… They are feeling kinda sad that we’ll have to move soon.
Josh wld frown and say, “But I like our Choa Chu Kang house… “.
Truth is, it’s kinda weird feeling for us too, we’re have a bittersweet feeling too.. esp. when we accepted the $5k deposit, and signed the papers… this was it, this is literally signing ‘away’ our lovely home for the past 6+ years…

That’s right… we are planning to move.
It’s been on our minds for a while now, but up until March/April this year, we had no time to work on it, and fully explore it.

But after lots of discussion, thinking thru all the possibilities we’ve decided that we want to move to Pasir Ris!! Lotsa of you who knew about out last decision (abt 6 years back) when we decided to find our home in Choa Chu Kang (way out there in Northwest) would surely be wondering why the ‘big move’… and now to the NorthEast! =)

Well here are the key reasons.
1. It’s in the East (well sorta… but older towns like Bedok or ChaiChee don’t appeal to us; Tampines is way too complicated/croweded, Marine Parade is too ex etc.)
2. It’s 15 mins or less from all our activities (work, church, family (both Lil’s mom, and my parents)
3. It’s very near our homeschool group! Most of the homeschool friends+families that are part of that group live in that town or nearby. There’s good support overall.

This last reason is key ‘selling point’ for us. Of course it helps that Pasir Ris is known as the ‘Resort’ town of Singapore. Many park connectors, and much much greenery everywhere! Great for us as a family for more outdoors activities as a family!

So starting from April, we had put our house up for sale…
(more updates to follow)

Psalm 111:1-4

I will thank the LORD with all my heart
as I meet with his godly people

How amazing are the deeds of the LORD!
All who delight in him should ponder them.

Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty
His righteousness never fails.

He causes us to remember his wonderful works
How gracious and merciful is our LORD!

SCCC is working on with our contacts in China to help with relief work there.
You can pray about being a part….Feel free also to forward the email to your pastors, or any doctors or medical professionals in your church, or others who want to play a part.

Any enquires can be sent to missions@sccc.org.sg

—————————————————————————————————
Greetings from Singapore Campus Crusade for Christ.

You are receiving this email from a staff or friend of Singapore Campus Crusade for Christ. We are appealing to you to participate in the relief work for the earthquake victims in ChengDu. Several towns had been wiped out in the earthquake with at least 40,000 lives lost. The casualty numbers continue to escalate.

Besides praying for these victims, we hope to do more. We will be working closely with the medical teams that will be sent out from Missions Medical Clinic headed by Dr Leong Choon Kit, an associate of SCCC.

The following are ways that you could help:

1. BE PART OF A DISASTER RELIEF TEAM.
Being part of the medical teams to bring in medical and logistical supplies to Chengdu as well as help the relatives of the victims (Briefing on post-trauma counseling will be conducted). All participants are required to pay for the total cost of the trip. (estimated cost per pax is $ 1,500). There will also be a pre-trip briefing for each team.

Team details are as follows:
Team 1 – 21st May to 29th May, Dr Ong Lay Siang
Team 2 – 31st May to 7th June, Dr Ho See Yunn
Team 3 – 8th June to 16th June, (Doctor to be finalised)
Team 4 – 15th June to 23rd June, Dr Joshua Wong

2. CONNECT US TO DOCTORS & MEDICAL PERSONNEL
We are also looking for doctors and nurses who could be part of the team. Please refer them to our office at missions@sccc.org.sg.

3. MANPOWER SUPPORT TO HELP PACK SUPPLIES
Packing will commence on the evening of 15 May at 24 Lim Tua Tow Road (near Serangoon MRT). It is expected to continue for the next few days. If you can avail yourself to help, please call the clinic staff Tony @ 97850234 or Khai Liang @ 90223156.

4. CONTRIBUTE MEDICAL SUPPLIES
If you would like to contribute medicine or supplies, please refer to the attached file and liaise with Missions Medical Clinic staff, Tony @ 97850234 or call the clinic @ 62892100.

5. GIVE FINANCIALLY TO THE WORK
Crossed and make your cheques payable to ‘Campus Crusade Asia Limited’. On the reverse side, please indicate that it is designated for “Disaster, Crisis Relief Fund”

If you have further questions, please feel to contact us at missions@sccc.org.sg

Yep, I’m back.. didn’t realize how tired I was… Last nite I slept at abt 8plus in the nite, thot I could get up early…yet struggled out of bed even at 8am!

Last wk, during the conference, I was up by 6am almost every day, so as to spend some time in the word, hurry to breakfast, and head down to the hall to get ready to lead worship. Each day’s session starts at 8am! =)

One highlight of this trip for me was interacting with the Pakistan national leadership team. A few of us in the SCCC NLT (national leadership team) had the opportunity to sit with them to hear them share about their leadership dreams, the challenges they face, and the joys of seeing people coming to the Lord. For me, it was quite a blessed time, to hear of the work in Pakistan, which is 93% muslim. Yet in spite of all the persecutions and difficulties, I could see the joy in their faces as they talk about how many need to come to saving knowledge of Jesus.

In this picture, on my left is the National Director of Pakistan. He’s got 3 kids too! And guess what, he’s same age as me! The handsome guy on my right is only 28! Currently leading the Training Center, he’ll be the next Operations Director in August.