So long GPS (well at least for the most part...)

I have finally weened myself off the GPS to get around my near surroundings. Never thought in a million years that this would happen but it finally has. It is still needed when we travel to new places, so it will keep its place of prominence hidden in my glove box/compartment thing. (Its called a glove box/compartment because years ago driving with gloves was the proper thing to do. Kept hands clean. Also, most cars did not have a hard top and they  prevented the driver's hands from getting numb due to the fast moving air.) So my GPS will continue to be housed here b/c we are not using gloves any time soon!

We spent this last week in the mountains on our island, and had I been driving, the GPS would have been needed. I was surrounded by men who have been in the harvest field for a long time. Just being able to sit and listen to stories of God working through them for His glory was a blessing. As we were there, I remembered  our church meetings on Wednesday night as we prayed for them on their birthday and during Christmas with Lottie Moon. It is great to serve alongside with these brothers & sisters on this side of the world. What a joy it is to be the hands and feet! 

This was the view from the place that we stayed. Below is part of the island that we live on and the mainland in the distance.

 ^"And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness." Genesis 1:3-4

"God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day." Genesis 1:5

We watched a thunderstorm come in from the water. What a display! As we watched this, I was reminded of a passage in Job. God asks, “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?" Job 38:34-35. I cannot do these things, but thanks be to God that He can! 

This is the 13.5km bridge that I will run across and then back during a marathon in November. Already praying and I will start training soon!

^35 36 This quote hit me at my core, and I am thankful that the Almighty has no need for a GPS to track me as I go from place to place. "With every step of our lives we enter into the middle of some story which we are certain to misunderstand." G.K. Chesterson. 

Easter in Southeast Asia

This year Easter looked a lot different for me than years past. There are not a single bunny or eggs to be seen, unless you are eating them... I'm kind of okay with that too. Such a refreshing thing to experience a time that we are so familiar with in a different way. The great thing about it is that although my surroundings may be different, my God is the same! Hebrews 13:8.

The sun was rising as we drove from the island to church. What a great picture and a great time to reflect on the true Son that is risen. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. 

We celebrated communion during the service. I love being able to do this with brothers & sisters on the other side of the world. Matthew 26:26-29. 

Some of the songs that we sang were different, but some were the same. We sang one of my favorites, "Christ Is Risen" by Matt Maher. It warmed my heart to hear it and sing along with my Southeast Asian brothers & sisters. Here are some of the lyrics...

"Christ is risen from the dead

  We are one with Him again.

  Come awake, come awake!

  Come and rise up from the grave.

  

  Oh death! Where is your sting?

  Oh Hell! Where is your victory?

  Oh Church! Come stand in the light!

  The glory of God has defeated the night!"

Besides great praise and worship, I had the privilege of going to see a friend preach this morning. Although Easter did look different, the gospel presented in my friend's sermon is the same. We were treated to two different lunches today. Completely different "Easter-type" food than what I am used to, but it was so good!

We had a global meal with the church. We had some Chinese, Indian and even some American food. The American food was chicken salad sandwiches. Haven't had it since I got here and it was really good!

While we were eating the first meal, the pastor inited us out to eat as well. This was some of the spiciest Indian food that I have ever had. It's called Banana Leaf. They place different vegetables and meat on a banana leaf. Pretty original name for a dish if you ask me... And yes, we went "hands-on" for this meal. Reminded me of my two trips to India. 

Lastly, I wanted to share Isaiah 53:5-6. "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; 
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Hallelujah, what a Savior! 

Singapore!

Last week we spent a few days in Singapore. What a great place! Singapore is actually not a country. It's a republic with a cabinet, prime minister & a president. Had no clue where Singapore was or they type of government they had until I arrived on this side of the world... I love traveling to new places, and one thing that makes me smile is to see my passport pages filling up. These pages and the places they represent remind me that we are Christ's ambassadors. 2 Corinthians 5:20.

On this trip we were allowed to be straight-up tourists and we took advantage. God provided us with an amazing place to stay. So thankful for a family of Christ followers that we are connected to through our church. They were out of town during our visit, but allowed us to stay in their house. Such an affirmation of this Scripture. "And he (Jesus) said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

We were there a total of 2 full days and we went to the Singapore Zoo one day and Universal Studios the next. We also ate really great food too! Here are some photos of our trip...

None of these three animals were in cages. When you walked up to them, they did not look real! Especially the bats. 

This orangutan was asking for some sugar cane. He was right above our heads. Very cool!

I was also just hanging out at the zoo.

I come all the way to Singapore and find a guy wearing an Auburn shirt! He had this puzzled look on his face because he is from Switzerland and had no clue about Auburn University. I told him that it was his destiny! It all made sense after this picture was taken. He may have been a little drunk too... War Eagle!!

In front of Universal Studios Singapore

This cracked me up. They have a Jurassic Park ride that is a lot like Thunder River at Six Flags Over Georgia. Apparently Asians do not want to get wet on these types of rides so they were selling ponchos for the equivalent of $2 dollars a piece! How funny is that? 

I'm not always a fan of inside jokes, but this is for my friends at State Farm. Miss you guys! This was in the Shrek portion of Universal Studios.

We had chili crab our last night there. It was really good. They brought us a crab seasoned with pepper to try as well. 

Singapore at night.

This was a nice place to walk at night. Several nice restaurants and coffee shops along this thoroughfare. It had these tall things that looked like mushrooms or fake palm trees to block any rain or sun. 

This is a peach danish from a restaurant called "BreadTalk." It was amazing! It reminded me of a peach muffin from O'henry's coffee shop back at home. I was saddened to find out that "BreadTalk" has not made its way to the United States. We should look into a franchise...

Yes you are reading this correctly... It is $1,000 Sing dollars (approx $800 US) fine if you are caught riding your bike on the sidewalk here. They have tee shirts everywhere that say, "Singapore, a "fine" city." ("Fine" has two different meanings there.) They have also outlawed chewing gum in Singapore. They don't sell it anywhere and you are fined if caught smuggling or chewing gum. 

As you can see, we covered a lot of Singapore in the short couple of days that we were there. Can't say enough about how great of a place it is. As I travel to new places I am finding out just how a large a world that we live in. God has created so many great things for us to enjoy! I hope that everyone gets a chance to get outside and explore new things.