Friday, February 24, 2017

Visit from Jeff Kotman

Jeff Kotman (Providence PRC) made his third trip to Singapore from February 8-21.  We tried to see some different places this time, instead of all the normal sightseeing things we usually do!


The three of us at an escape room

We often go to the zoo, but this time we used a four-park pass to visit not only the zoo, but also the river safari, night safari, and bird park.


At the river safari entrance



Red panda


This was sitting on the railing right along the path we walked on, 
and other monkeys were running across the path in front of us.


Megan got to participate in a show at the night safari, with the Asian bearcat.


At the bird park


We saw three iguanas this size wandering around 
the bird park and got very close to this one!

Jeff found out about a place we'd never heard of--the Battlebox in Fort Canning Park.  It was an underground bunker used by the British to plan their defense of Singapore against the Japanese in World War II.  We got a fascinating hour-and-a-half tour of the Battlebox.


(Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside.)

While biking at East Coast Park, we stopped to watch some people wakeboarding in an area of water separated from the ocean by a narrow strip of land, pulled along by cables rather than by boat.



In January our family took our first bike ride on Coney Island, which was opened to the public about two years ago.  We went there with Jeff also.  Coney Island is in the area of Singapore known as Punggol, which has new buildings for housing going up as far as you can see.  A few of the couples in church who have married since we moved here live in Punggol.






At home we played a lot of games, and the guys and kids washed the car a couple of times. Usually the only people we see washing cars downstairs are maids, so we got a lot of looks from the neighbors!


No hoses down there--only buckets


On Jeff's last Sunday here, we had visitors in church from the BERG in Giessen, Germany--the Reformed church that the PRC has had contact with.


With Thomas & Mirijam Tanetschek

"God be with you till we meet again."







Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Visit from Poortingas

From January 31-February 6 we enjoyed a visit from Dave & Linda Poortinga from Loveland PRC.  We were able to show them many of the sights of Singapore.


Dave and Megan by the Singapore River


The floating platform on Marina Bay was all set up 
for Chinese New Year festivities (Year of the Rooster).


Jason, Dave, and Megan


Checking out the fresh fish in the grocery store


An area of Gardens by the Bay that we hadn't seen yet



Jason at Gardens by the Bay


Megan


Dave & Linda with Jason and Megan at Gardens by the Bay


Riding bikes at East Coast Park



There was a storm coming in, and everything was dark 
except for one ship on which the sun was still shining.


At the zoo


Dave tried to volunteer my husband to participate in 
the sea lion show at the zoo, but he got chosen instead!


Dave and Megan

The highlight of their trip, though, was meeting many of the members of our church.


Out for lunch with Phebe Teo and her son Joseph


Heading to Roy & Poh Choo's house for Chinese New Year visitation--
I include this picture to give you an idea of the buildings many of us live in.


Visiting with Gim Theng at Chinese New Year visitation


They joined us for a book study with Kong Wee & Dorcas and Curtis & Esther.


Talking to Fai Chong, one of our elders


At church on Sunday



Enjoying the hospitality of the Lim family on Sunday night


Sunset from the Lims' condo

We very much enjoyed our time with the Poortingas, and the rest of the congregation enjoyed getting to know them too.  "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Ps. 133:1).



Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Visit from Bodbyls

At the end of January Tom & Gretine Bodbyl from Grandville PRC came to visit Singapore. Tom was here as a church visitor four years ago, and since then they have met many Singaporeans who have traveled to the U.S.  So there were many people eagerly awaiting their arrival in Singapore.  The first night they were here we were able to meet them for dinner with one other couple from church.


In the basement of a mall, where we found a great restaurant


The messiest, most fabulous sandwich I've ever eaten :-)

Our family got to spend an evening with them at Gardens by the Bay.


As soon as we got there these Indonesian men saw the 
American men and wanted their picture taken together!


Megan and Gretine




Our kids' favorite path--They like to race leaves down this waterway.

Two of our kids were also able to join the Bodbyls and some others at the bird park.


Jason and Tom

Before they left there was a dinner for them at church.


Gretine and Samantha


Talking before dinner


Singing a few songs together
These dinners always conclude with a medley from Psalm 121--
parts of Psalter numbers 344, 345, and 347.  It's a beautiful tradition.


With the family of Seow Thong & Jean


With Ee Fong


With Meng Hsien & Serene and their daughters


With Roy & Poh Choo's family


"...Jehovah shall preserve thy going out, Thy coming in; Above thee watching, He Whom we adore Shall keep thee henceforth, yea, for evermore" (Psalter #347:4).