Welcomes and Farewells

We arrived in cold, snowy Michigan on the evening of December 26.  For our Singapore friends, here are a few pictures from our new home:

Byron Center PRC

Our house

Sunrise as seen from our house one of our first mornings here

Kids and their cousins sledding in our yard

Jason sledding

Our first weekend here, Byron Center Church had an open house on Saturday so that our family and the members of the congregation could meet each other.  On Sunday there was a short welcome program after the evening service.  Thanks to Laura Langerak for these pictures!

Open house at church

It didn't take long for our kids to make new friends.

Some of the Lubbers family did a special number at the program on Sunday.

The Sunday School kids sang a couple of songs.

But before we could be so warmly welcomed in Byron Center, we had more farewells in Singapore.  I will save the final church farewells for my last blog, but there were other get-togethers with different families and groups of people.

An evening at our house with a group from church

Group photo that night

Lunch with a couple young men who have visited CERC many times

Lunch with Annie 

Lunch with the Lau family

Little Naomi loves "Pastor Lanning," as she calls him in her tiny, sweet voice.

The Salt Shakers Committee had dinner together one night and 

included a farewell for us.  Here are Megan and Jason with Cheryl.

Salt Shakers group

Final dinner with "Singapore Grandma"

Kids with Marcus & Tze Yan

Jimmy Teo gave an excellent exhortation on Psalm 121 at another get-together.

Another cake-cutting!

Group photo at that farewell

We miss those we left behind in CERC and yet are happy to join the church in Byron Center.  May God bless both congregations and continue to gather His church throughout the world.

Confessions of Faith, Baptisms, and Time with Friends

A few weeks ago we were privileged to witness eight confessions of faith and two adult baptisms.

Those making confession of faith (five in front, three behind)

The two who were baptized

Victor's baptism

After the service, confession of faith and baptism certificates were handed out.

This is Andrew, one of the men who made confession of faith.

I have one somewhat random photo that I would like to include, as I don't think it will fit in any future blog posts.  These are the editors and proofreaders of CERC's Christian Literature Ministry, which prints pamphlets, devotionals, etc.

Leh Wah, Melina, me, Christine

This is our last week in Singapore.  Our children are spending as much time as possible with their friends before we leave!  The three oldest kids are at youth camp for most of the week, and the two youngest are spending time with their very close friends Elijah and Jael.  Jessica and Eric also spent a day with some of their friends last week.

Eric, Johann T., Given, Nathaniel, Jessica, Zi Hui

(I figure our kids have the best of both worlds--a waterpark last week and snow next week!)

Noah, Elijah, Jason, Megan, and Jael at the bird park

The Lee family with our kids

Megan volunteered in a show, and a bird took some money out of her hand.

Elijah and Megan

Elijah and Jason

Jael and Jason

Jael and Megan

I will have a couple more blog posts, Lord willing, but I don't know when I will be able to get to them.  We are moving back to the U.S. on Monday.  Please keep our family and CERC in your prayers in the coming weekend.  As you can see from the above pictures, the farewells will not be easy on either side.  But we are confident the Lord will continue to provide for all of us while we are apart.

Vacation Bible School

The annual Vacation Bible School was held last week, from December 4-7.  Children from ages 5-12 can attend, and several of the older youth help out with the classes and activities.

Each day began with devotions and singing.

Preparing to lead devotions

The theme of VBS this year was the parable of the sower, and lessons and crafts were planned around this theme.

The youngest class having their lesson

Time for a game

Older class's lesson

Craft to go with the lesson

 A craft for the younger class

Different foods represented different types of soil.

Jason and Jael leaving class, excited for the next event

There were other activities and games as well.

Baking cookies

The tail-catching game

See if you can flip the plates over to your team's color.

Shoe bowling

Some of the ladies from church took turns serving lunch to the children and helpers each day.

On the last day of VBS there was an outing to Pocket Greens, an urban farm.

Beginning the tour

People in the neighboring housing estates can plant gardens here.

Bananas are wrapped up to prevent monkeys from getting them.

After the tour, each child was allowed to pot their own plant.

Klaire, Eliana, and Emily

Zi Hui, Nichelle, and Jessica

Photo of all who attended the outing

Finally, a few more group photos:

Youngest class with teacher Tze Yan 

(minus Megan, who was sick for most of the week)

Oldest class, with teacher Elisa and assistant Jessica

VBS helpers and teachers