Jerry Bridges in Singapore, 30 August 2008.

I enjoyed so much every night of the GoForth National Missions Conference (about 18 countries were represented) that I’ve attended more than a week ago. Aside from the rallies (keynote messages on missions), we were treated with cultural presentations by the Pacific Islanders who were so good and contagiously funny, a Korean lady with a lovely fan dance, and of course, the Philippine team with their Pandanggo sa Ilaw and Tinikling folk dances was such a thrill. They rocked the house with the audience screaming and jumping as they joined and tried the tricky Tinikling dance. Haha. Reminded me of my two sisters who are so good with dancing.

Watch this and enjoy!

Today is the last day of a four-day interdenominational event for missions mobilisation Go Forth 2008, which I have the privilege to attend. How exciting to be with people from different countries, groups, churches, organisations, and companies come together to learn and wrestle on God’s Glory in the East: Our Asian Missions Challenge. 

(A few of the many images from the exhibit and materials shared by different groups)

It is heartbreaking to see the bigger picture of what’s happening in Asia and the rest of the world. Poverty. Injustice. Tragedies. Corruption. Helplessness. Etc. But the story doesn’t end there. God loves the world. He cannot afford not to care about individuals and nations. He is doing mighty things. Today, the task and privilege of sharing the good news of Jesus is no longer owned and embraced only by traditional missionaries, but also even by businessmen, media practitioners, teachers, community and government leaders – everyone who believes in Christ. It’s a revolution.

Every night I come home late and wake up late the following day. But my soul is very refreshed and looking forward for more.

I love sitting on the carpeted floor of Suntec City Convention Center during conference breaks. Cold. Clean. Comfortable. Coffee. :-)

Part of the Singapore Arts Festival 2008. Arts on the move.

La Guardia Flamenca (Belgium)

Giraffes Xirriquiteula Teatre (Spain)

Macadam Piano Pomme D’or (France)

I have been struggling these past few weeks on what food to eat. I know that is crazy. Singapore is a food paradise, and yet I feel like I don’t have much choices. There are only a few that I like – chicken rice, beef randang, Korean beef barbeque, and fish and chips. Yet no matter how much I like them, I also can’t be having them at all times, or forever. I want something else, but I don’t know what.

“So what do you want?” My colleague in the office asked me today. She was going to the mall to buy lunch. Haha. I honestly didn’t know what I want. It took me a while to answer, as if my head was wrestling with many choices. Finally, I just said, “Errr….okay, please buy me chicken rice.” Oh, why is it so difficult? Haha.

May 26. Two years ago I left Cebu and came to Singapore for my new work assignment. I was torn because I loved (and I still love) my work so much in the newspaper, but somehow I was just led to pack and go. It was an adventure to the unknown for me. But well, it didn’t take me a long time to see that it was a good decision. :-)

Everyday still feels like an adventure. A discovery. It keeps me goin’. :-)

I thank God and everyone who made my move possible. And enjoyable. Indeed, I’m in the land of opportunities.

p.s. After two years of being in a noodle country, I still don’t know how to use chopsticks! Haha. Learning photography and video production are much easier and more fun! Haha. Forget about chopsticks!

Walk on the sea. Drive on the river.

I was at the Boat Quay last night to watch Water Fools by the acclaimed French street theatre company Ilotopie.

To see a car running and people acting out a story on water with fireworks as backdrop was truly entertaining and awesome.

“In a mystical and magical journal, a man travels to Singapore’s popular waterfront, arriving in a sputtering little car. His car breaks down, so he gets out and reads a paper. Meanwhile, a passing cyclist sprays water into his face…and then his head suddenly bursts into flames…”

“Phantasmagoric and whimsical water creatures loom from the river, as fireworks unfold in an aquatic extravaganza…Giant mechanical sets that turn everyday objects into fantastic machines look set to wow audiences, as they take the man beyond the wildest dreams of his humble car ride into a dazzling opening show at the Singapore Arts Festival.”

(see more photos)

This is where I walk from home to the nearest MRT station. It’s always refreshing. Singapore is filled by high-rise buildings, but it is also dotted by trees. So green. So cool.

Roy Robertson, founder of The Navigators, Singapore, and many other works in Asia was called home to glory on 8 May 2008 while seated at his front porch in his home in Texas.

What a privilege for me to be part of the team who put together a video tribute for him and his wife Phyllis who passed away in November last year. I couldn’t help but be teary as I got hold of their photos, got their stories, and put a tribute for them.

Knowing them a bit personally on their visits here in Singapore, reading their stories, and doing the videos for them never cease to amaze me. Their lives lived in faith, service, adventure, people, God, and learning – make me think of my own. May my life continually be a blessing to others too, and may I leave a good legacy of love, faith, and life to those around me.

Roy Robertson

Remembering Phyllis

p.s. Putting their almost 90 years of living in this world into a six-minute video was challenging. But I am encouraged to know that through this humble way of honouring their lives, many hearts were nostalgic, encouraged, and set on fire to pursue and continue what the Robertsons had left behind.