Woodlands Waterfront Park

Last Friday we had our April homeschool outing at Woodlands Waterfront Park on the Straits of Johor, the narrow body of water between Singapore and Malaysia.

The playground

Looking across the Straits of Johor to Malaysia

If you look closely you can see a long line of cars on the bridge 

between Singapore and Malaysia.  They are waiting to go through 

customs and enter Singapore.

Heliconias

The kids loved the playground.

This playground really was not designed for 4-year-olds, but other

than a few scary moments here and there, Jason was okay on it. ;-)

Jessica, Emily, and Jael

Elder Leong with his grandson Noah

We had pizza delivered for supper and took a group photo of the kids afterwards.

Beautiful sunset over Malaysia

Miscellaneous

Here are a few miscellaneous pictures of life in Singapore.

Lines in the grocery store--not uncommon

Washing windows

An interesting building

I just read an article last night about how cars are so expensive to own in Singapore 

(https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/no-nonsense-explanation-why-cars-000047735.html, if you're interested).  The article took a car that would cost $17,000 elsewhere and showed how that same car costs about $104,000 in Singapore.  And yet you see the following:

Three Lamborghinis (with Ferraris nearby)

Busy roads in spite of the high costs

Here is an after-funeral ritual.  I got the first picture while I was stopped at a red light (so excuse the pole in the way!); by the time I was able to park in the parking garage opposite this field, most of the ritual was over.  They are burning things for their loved one to receive in the afterlife.  My husband just went past a shop that sells things for the dead and saw, in addition to the big things like cars, paper or cardboard iPhones, iPads, chargers, and personal care kits (toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, cologne, etc.)--all of which can be "sent to the afterlife" by burning.

There are always new buildings going up in Singapore!

There is a joke here that the national bird is the crane.

New buildings as far as you can see in either direction

As the election season drags on and on in the U.S., you might be interested to know that in Singapore, political candidates spend 7-10 days campaigning!!  There was an election here last September, and besides signs posted telling you who to vote for, these trucks made their rounds through the neighborhoods a few times a day for 5-7 days, with loudspeakers blaring their party's agenda.  The day before the election all was quiet again, as there is a 24-hour "cooling-off period" required, with no campaigning allowed.

Sign for the incumbent prime minister, who was reelected

Follow-Up Dinner

Last Thursday evening the church's Follow-Up Committee (for following up with visitors to our services) planned another dinner at our place for a few newcomers and several of our members.

Joshua Teo of the Follow-Up Committee leading in opening devotions

Meryl, Tze Yan, Elisa, and Chew Lap Meng--

Meryl and Lap Meng are two of about sixteen people 

attending the pre-confession class right now!

Kuang playing a game with three of our kids...

...and Marcus reading to the other two

We celebrated two birthdays with the traditional singing and cake-cutting.

Group photo at the end of the night

C.I. Outing

Each March, during a week of break for Singapore schools, our church has its C.I. outing.  "C.I." stands for Covenant Instruction--the classes that are taught to the children and young people each Sunday.  So this is an outing for the children and some of the youth, as well as their parents.  This year we went to the Singapore Science Center.

The first stop was the Human Body Experience, a special exhibit at the Science Center.  You enter a set-up of the human body by entering the mouth and climbing up the tongue, then slide down the throat and walk around inside the body.

The boys entering the mouth

Inside the body

The girls and Jason in the brain

After that, the group split up to go separate ways throughout the Science Center, including the water play area on a very hot day!

Jael and Jason having fun together

Some spent a little while on crafts.

The girls played games when they were finished inside.

We met back up again at lunchtime for a meal and devotions.

Kong Wee led devotions, trying to talk over 

at least 100 other people who were sitting near us!

And a couple more pictures taken before we left for home...