Chek Jawa

In the middle of May we were able to see the Chek Jawa Wetlands with several people from church.  Chek Jawa is on Pulau Ubin, the island off Singapore where we had gone a few weeks earlier.  It includes six different ecosystems within a small area:  a coastal forest, mangroves, seagrass lagoon, rocky shore, sandy shore, and coral rubble.  We were able to get a guided tour of the sandbar at low tide.  The guides also explained parts of the coastal forest and the mangroves as we walked to the sandbar.

On a boat heading to Pulau Ubin

Another group getting off their boat

Beginning our tour

The walk through the coastal forest, heading toward the beach, was beautiful.

Our guide showing us a nipah palm

We also got to see the mangroves.

 

Many tiny fiddler crabs near the mangroves

But the highlight of everyone's trip, I think, was the walk on the sandbar.  There were a few marine biologists collecting interesting sea creatures for us to look at.

Hermit crab

(Thanks to Yang Zhi for this beautiful picture, and a few others.)

Sea cucumber with a crab on it

Sea urchin on the left

Jason holding a starfish ("sea star")

Better view of the starfish 

Emily holding a sand dollar ("sea biscuit")

Flower crab

Jochebed and Megan by a carpet anemone--Megan counted over 30 of these!

Closer-up of an anemone

We ended our walk with a group photo--and then who should appear by our vans to take us back to the ferry terminal, but our "friends" the wild boars?!  And this time there were monkeys in the trees right above them.

Our time together concluded with lunch back in Singapore, with devotions led by Elder Lee.  "O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all:  the earth is full of thy riches.  So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts" (Psalm 104:24-25).

Fellowship Outing

May 13 was Vesak Day, a Buddhist holiday that is a public holiday for all of Singapore. CERC has its annual fellowship outing on this holiday each year, and this year we met at Bishan Park for a few hours.  We began the outing with singing and an exhortation based on Acts 2:42:  "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

That was followed by our first game, Whacko.

Noelene giving game instructions

Even some of the young kids got in on the action.

Jotham had everyone laughing so hard with his antics when he was "it."

Next was a game of captain's ball.

After lunch together, the day concluded with some baseball.  

Choosing teams and explaining the game

It was some people's first time playing.

A race to the base!

Visit from Rev. & Mary Stewart

A week ago we enjoyed the company of Rev. Stewart and his wife Mary from the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Northern Ireland for a few days.  May 1 was Labor Day, a public holiday, and Rev. Stewart gave a speech for CERC on the marriage of Martin & Katie Luther.

On Sunday, May 4, Rev. Stewart preached both services for us, used the time between services to introduce his congregation and work to us, and gave another speech after the services on justification by faith.

Those who attended Rev. Stewart's final speech on Sunday afternoon

On Monday evening Rev. Stewart met with CERC's Session, and their wives and children gathered for swimming and supper at one of the deacon's homes.

Elder Leong with Rev. Stewart

Dorcas, Tze Yan, and some of the kids

Lee Yang and Marcus grilling up some fabulous food!

Some of the Session wives with Mary Stewart

Me getting quizzed on my knowledge of the Chinese language :-)

Everyone in the church thoroughly enjoyed our time with Rev. Stewart and Mary.  Both in Northern Ireland and in Singapore, may the word of Isaiah 42:12 be fulfilled:  "Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands."