An All Guy Team

- Singapore Youth to Youth meeting group picture -

Hello everybody! Well, I guess it's a bit late, but late is still better than never. This week has been a blast. A lot has happened since we touched down in Singapore but time flies so quickly and now the following week is so close. 

The Youth to Youth meeting went pretty well in my opinion. Jaedon did a terrific job in maintaining the schedule, even though we were a bit late. Everything was still finished and we even got a few really thought-provoking questions (kudos to Victor for answering them!). The team in charge of the Youth to Youth meeting this week did a great job!

CI! Tonight was pretty good, the downside is that I didn't get enough sleep last night so I was still rather sleepy the whole day. Put that aside and I think that my unique all-guy team is doing a pretty good job at bonding with the kids, and maybe the crafts (and maybe not). Either way, I'm really happy about how well the whole team is doing. Friday is supposed to our day of rest and recreation, Saturday our last day of work for the week, and Sunday we head to Indonesia! Home sweet home! :)

- Thankfully, instalment no. 2 of the "Master Chef" Pharisee and Publican skit was less of a mess -

James Pasaribu

Team Member from Indonesia

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From Rowdy Kid to Tame Pastor

On Wednesday, we woke up early and magically appeared down the lobby in team t-shirts ready to leave. We were going to a day care! This time, half the team was in charge of planning and running the whole event at the day care, from songs to games, to stories.

The whole team had a lot of fun during the songs and the intense chair hopping game which really warmed everyone up and got them comfortable with all the team members. The stories told by Brad and Kristen taught about authority. Both of them did a really good job in connecting and relating to the kids. The only difficult thing was that we were not allowed to preach the gospel, pray or mention God in a public setting, only when one-on-one. This was pretty hard because we really wanted to share God with them and center everything on God.

Nevertheless, I think the team really impacted the kids through their energy, love and just being with them. The highlight of the trip was the last part where we were free to mingle with the kids, really getting to spend one on one time. This is where I had the most fun with a few of them on a personal level, getting to know them.

The next thing you know, is that you're in church prepping for CI in just a few hours time. The nights lesson has been my favorite and yet this time, in the first small group I didn't manage to even get to the lesson because the younger ones had loads of energy. I was wondering and thinking hard about that during large group. The story for large group was about the greatest thief, which always worked up suspense, nervousness and full attention of everyone. The kid that was rowdy got a little scared although others were enjoying the skit.

I used the question of what our greatest fear was and my own fear in the next small group to get everyone involved and interested. This ultimately led to the point that we need to fear God. Because He is just, He will judge all and God sees everything. We are not too young to be mature in our thinking, or to take our life seriously. That's why we must be responsible for our thoughts, words, and actions.

The rowdy kid became a tame pastor (as he read Matthew 12:36) in this small group and you could see on their faces that they were really learning and absorbing. This second small group was really great, especially when you take into account that most of them are under eight and two of them are only ten years old.


Marie Peh
Team Member from Malaysia

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A Little Comic Relief

Greetings, good people! I'm Jashver Kliffordsson, humble minstrel of CI land and I am most honored to be granted the tediously unceremonious privilege of composing the saga of the CI in the perilous Botanical Gardens...Nay, I jest, for this deed be not tedious, but be a most honorable quest graciously delegated to the most unworthy of the King's Servants. So bear with me and hear the story that will be sung for generations and known for ages to come. This tale begins on the morning of the 11th of June, in the year 2013.

- On the bus travelling to the Botanic Gardens -

'Twas nine of the clock on fair Tuesday morn, when our brave heroes dids't meet. Fortunately their rooms had not need lacking in peat. Down a narrow road and flight of stairs, on the bus there were no chairs. Through the jungle, step in a puddle. Split they did, fair lad and lass. Traipsed through the park seeking a tree with a crest. Much time had they to spend with God, all through Victor indeed were taught. Plenty to ponder, clothes to launder. Hold your horses, here comes the thunder.

Now dids't come the fated time, trials were held of speed and strength. Ultimate volleyball the foe did call it. All fingernails then were full of grit. Half past eleven the bell did toll. Go to lunch and eat a roll. Thai Green Curry with rice and noodles to sate our brave heroes' plea. Cross the road and bubble tea. KOI like beans, with cloth in reams. Headed back to the inn in teams.

That's all I have to say of this trip, if you want more just drop a tip. I'll always be ready just wait for a blip.

- Girl power for the "Captain of my Ship" skit -

Thereafter preparations were made for the evening's CI. Crafts to cut, Simeon to strut. We began the evening with a game of shipwreck, so the story of the captain's map was timely. Having an object lesson to relate to when teaching the children was a vital lifesaver. However, I had the most fun so far in CI this year during the skit of the prodigal son with the Italian papa.

I believe that the most important thing I'd learned this day is not to try to do as much as possible, but to pick even just a single item and do the best I can.

As its late, I bid you good even, Godspeed, and may your swords ever stay sharp.

Joshua Chew

Team Member from (England - haha) Malaysia

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A Privilege to be Here

- Our colour coordinated CI song leaders! -

I feel so privileged to be a part of this CI team. I am having a wonderful time!! God is teaching me so much. The verse the Lord gave me this morning in my devotions is "Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-word: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Psalm 40:5

I feel that God has done so many wonderful things in my life and I just want to thank Him. God has been teaching me to trust Him. Its not always easy but God is so faithful and I feel I am learning to know God better each day of the CI trip.

- Move over Dr. Bubble, these pirates know lots about bubbles -

I have wanted to come on this trip for 5 years, but I had to wait on God's timing. This year God just opened the doors in many ways for me to be able to come. I feel so blessed to be here. I really enjoy working with kids. One of my favorite things so far was visiting the orphanage, I always wanted to see an orphanage and I was so blessed to be with the kids, they were so grateful and they just melted my heart.

- "Boot-strap Jill" gets inside a bubble -

Tonight we had our first CI in Singapore. I felt things went very well for the first night. Its always fun to learn to know the kids on your team and try to include them in the things you do. One thing that I enjoy is cool down where everyone shares about their evening and how things went with the kids. Its always encouraging to hear what God is teaching each of the leaders and assistants.

One thing I've also been enjoying is team devotions. Its so encouraging to be with other young people that are following God, and to hear what God is doing in their lives.

Deanna Glick

Team Member from USA

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Serving the Lord Wholeheartedly

Praise the Lord! We had a safe journey (with no eventful events happening while clearing customs, thankfully) and made it to Singapore in record time.

So far, CI has presented its fun and positive side to all of us. We all had a terrific time in Malaysia, and all our teams were seemingly perfect in individual ways. All the teachers had good reports of our own teams, hence the late night discussions. It was a great first week – the best I’ve ever had (I’m sure many of the teachers would say that too). However, after such a hectic week, all of us are starting to get tired. We are learning to draw strength and wisdom from God by spending time in His Word, and also to learn to spend personal quiet time, and sleep! We’ve also been learning to let what God has been teaching us to overflow to the kids, so that they not just see the lessons coming out from our mouths, but from our lives as well.

- This year's staff team -

God has been teaching me much the last week. One of the things I learnt was to channel the children’s energy to focus and be attentive to what I was teaching them. I had a bunch of very energetic and hyperactive kids, and they could be really rowdy. But God has been teaching me to love each of the children individually as He had created them and to accept them fully. I learnt to balance myself between games and teaching, and I had an awesome week with the children, learning the principles of God’s Word together with them. I’m really grateful to the Lord for allowing me to come on this trip, and I’m really excited to see what He has in store for me in the next three weeks to come! I’m also excited to see what God has in store for us as a team to discover in the next three weeks! Do keep us in prayer as we continue this exciting journey together, that we can have unity and oneness of spirit as we serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

Krystal Ling

Team Member from Malaysia

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First Full-Day of CI

- First parent presentation of the trip! -

Coming into CI, I wasn't prepared for an "ups-&downs" roller coaster ride. I've never taught anything in my life and it turned out that my first time teaching CI was a mess! But throughout the week, I've learnt that teaching isn't just telling a group of people about facts and concepts.

- Morning exercises with "Master Hop Sing" -

Teaching is conveying a blessing, a message or an experience that God has given you to share with others! Relying on God, reading His word and the assistance from the team helped me to grow and improve my teaching skills.

- "The King" choosing the smallest shoe in all of CI -

Truth be told, last week whizzed right by and it has been amazing how God has used each one of us to impact the young kids.

- A "pie-in-the-face" thank you -

The team's "spirit of togetherness" has been great! Everyone is always very helpful anytime, anywhere, anyhow and I look forward to serving 3 more weeks with this awesome team!

Rainanda "Ray" Badudu

Team Member from Indonesia

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Ask, Seek and Knock

Today was...a free day! After morning devotions with the team we were on our way to central market! I was so excited to get a break from the constant excitement and bustle of CI and a chance to see Malaysia.

It was fun bargaining with the shop keepers and later walking to the bus on the burning hot sidewalk and streets with just one shoe! Thankfully i had a glue stick to fix it. 

One of the team members from Indonesia acted as our tour guide for the day as we made our way around Malaysia. We visited the twin towers and the National Monument, Tegu Negara. It was all so beautiful - the scenery is just amazing, it's breathtaking. 

One thing of Malaysia I absolutely enjoy and complain about at the same time is the heat and humidity! Every time we got back into the bus, it was rush time to get to the air con. Its a funny sight when everyone has climbed up on the chairs craning to get their necks directly under the cool air.

When we got back to the hotel, laundry was waiting. Everyone's laundry was mixed up! It was truly a team bonding experience to sort through it together.

Devotions have been convicting, God is teaching has been teaching me a lot through them. Today's devotion today covered the marks of a spiritual defector. Also that stumbling is not the same as falling. We must ask ourselves "what is the kind of eternal life you want?" One filled with many rewards and jewels and mansions or one where we live in true and intimate relationship with God? Many times we answer the second one without really understanding the full implications of it. If we truly want a relationship with God then we must strive to get to know Him. The narrow path will not come naturally - we must seek it out! 

- Rambutans from our crazy fruit breakfast this morning -

The next question to ask is "Do you WANT to understand?" the problem is that many times we make excuses about not understanding the Bible...We are told to ask, seek, and knock. If you seek then you WILL find! This is a promise.

I have been guilty of coming up with excuses of not understanding, of not really getting what a commandment means for me practically, of hiding behind excuses of not getting how a passage relates to my life. But the truth is, if my priority is to grow in Christ and our relationship then I have no excuses! This reality is so true... And yet, I still struggle to get out of bed early in order to seek out the truth of the Bible.

My prayer is that I will really ask, knock, and seek out truth and relationship a with God. Pray that I will understand what this means on a daily level and for the diligence to follow through.

Briana Calderon

Team Member from USA

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