Singapore

Singapore.. Chris and I have sat in the airport in Singapore many times, but never been out of the airport. So, thanks to Sim and Soo flying us there, and our parents giving us b-day money, and Christmas money a few days early! We were able to do some very fun things! I would have to say Singapore is a very clean country for the most part. There is no graffiti (which is EVERYWHERE in Australia, the transportation once you figure it out is amazing, and the people there LOVE children. Everyone we saw ran up and pinched our children's faces and kissed them, and then gave them a lolly. Or if they were near a shop, they would run into the shop buy a lolly and come out and give it to them. In other words our children were very spoiled. We did not go to bed any day before 11pm. So, we were all exhausted when we returned home. But, we had our first Sunday off in over a year and it felt great! It felt great to spend every minute pouring into our kids and just doing what they wanted to do. So, here are a few highlights of things we did.

The first day after we slept until 9:30am because we arrived at 2am. We did a duck tour. It is an old US army boat transformed into a tour service. So, we went on land and then on water and back on land and and it gave historical facts about Singapore. Very informative. The kids had fun riding as well just because it was different. We then had lunch and walked 25 minutes in the rain to get to where the wedding rehearsal was. We then went out to dinner at Lau Pa Sat, which is an indoor food market. But, they didn't sell fruit and veggies, just meals. It was very good traditional Singapore food. Transport home was the problem. As I said, this was our first day in Singapore. So, we waited over an hour for a taxi in line with atleast 30 other people. A taxi never came... not the right time of day (very strange) Then, we took a train, got off and no bus went to our hotel from there. So, we then walked for a half hour to get to our hotel. Atleast we had a map! But, we did not get home until 11:45pm. Needless to say we were tired and Makayla had WALKED all that way.

This is our family in an enclosed cable car riding from Singapore to Sentosa island off Singapore. Sentosa is their retreat/holiday getaway place.

This is Makayla and Dana (her Australian Auntie. She is 18 and loves to babysit our kids, but her parents came to the wedding as well, so she came too) with a pink dolphin. This was her highlight of the day. We waited through the rain, yes more rain. And, then she was jumping around with her hand in the air to get to pet a dolphin. So, we did it. Dawson was not as excited, but Mommy was. We toured the island we were on with Judy and then she treated us to dinner. Judy lived in Perth for a year our first term in Australia. She suggested we have a traditional meal called chicken rice and it was so yummy. Basically rice cooked with chicken. For Mommy's birthday I wanted to go to a laser light show. It was EXCELLENT. And I was so glad that we choose to do this. Thank you Mom and Dad for giving this to me for my birthday. Afterward we once again took transport home. This time was a little better. However, the bus was very full and I had to stand on the bus with Dawson in my arms and two bags of groceries! on the bottom step. So, I was a bit scared... But, we did arrive back safe in one piece.

Saturday was the wedding.

Sunday we went for Dawson's B-day to the Singapore Zoo and a Night safari. Thank you Grandpa and Grandma, Papa, and Grandma! This was also a ton of fun. Highlights were ... Makayla loved the zebras and Dawson loved the white tigers! (No surprises there)

Dawson in front of Prowling Tigers. They were waiting for their meat!

Makayla in front of zebras

Makayla and Daddy rode on an elephant.

I got chosen to throw a Frisbee to a sea lion. Luckily I can throw a Frisbee and hit my target. Because if the Sea Lion didn't catch it, then I had to stand still and let it splash me.

Night Safari, we saw a dance and a night animal show with a VERY big snake, and then went home again very late. 11:30.

Monday we did Orchard Road picked up souvenirs for our nieces and nephews (Which we have mailed to them for Christmas) and went out for Daddy's b-day at Hard Rock Cafe. Thank you papa and grandma! We had a wonderful time!

Sim and Soo's Wedding

Thank you to everyone who prayed for Sim and Soo's wedding. We have now been home a week and are finally able to catch a minute and sit down and update you on what has been going on in our lives. The wedding went very well. The kids did everything they were suppossed to. Dawson got a bit scared at the beginning but, then walked the rest of the way down the aisle. He just had a bit of fright when he realized everyone was watching him. The wedding was gorgeous and the most important thing that happened at the wedding was Jesus being glorified and the salvation message given. All of Sim and Soo's immediate family are not Christians. So, the most important thing to them was glorifying Jesus Christ through their ceremony. Below are some pictures from the wedding. The reception was the most elegant reception we have ever been to. It was at the Four Season's hotel on Orchard Road which is a pretty famous road in Singapore. And, apparently usually there are up to 600 people invited to the reception. However, Sim and Soo wanted their man focus to be their wedding. So, more people were invited to the wedding than to the reception. We had a 10 course meal. It was very yummy. We ate so many new things. We had shark fin soup. And, yes there were shark fins in it. It tasted more like chicken. That is what I kept telling myself. And, we had honey sesame chicken, that was also yum. We were served octopus, and fish, and many other things as well. No cake was served. However, the bride and groom did cut the cake. That was the first thing they did. So, it was alot of fun. the children wore traditional Chinese outfits to the reception. We were honoured to be able to be there for Sim and Soo! The whole day was awesome.

A background on Sim and Soo. They were in the young adult group Chris and I led when we were in Australia for our first term of missionary service to Perth. We had dinner every Saturday night (usually pizza). Obviously, they became very good friends and were very close to our kids as well. We look forward to when they move back to Australia and join us in the ministry here again.

A plane, a hotel and a Wedding!

Three words to describe our life over the next six days. We have the opportunity to attend (and be involved in) our friends wedding in Singapore. We fly out tonight at 10:30 and arrive in Singapore at 2:30 am! That should be a very eventful and interesting trip with the kids. As I write this I am running everything through my mind to make sure that we don't forget something. I know, something always gets forgotten, I just want to make sure it is a toothbrush rather than something really important. It is 4:15 pm and all of the kids from Kid's Club are here practicing our Christmas program and we leave for the airport in three hours, I know, the busy life of the pastors. We are really looking forward to our time in Singapore and will be sure to update you all as soon as we get back. Please pray for us since neither of us have been to Singapore before. Hope everyone in the States had a great Thanksgiving and that you are getting into the Christmas spirit. See you in six days, enjoy the snow Americans!