Ladies Tea 2012 at IBC

One of my favorite events at IBC.. is the ladies Tea in May.  This was the first year that I did not decorate a table but it was nice sitting with friends and enjoying the morning (without working :-).  Here are just a few pics of the morning... I was not able to take pics of all the tables... bc by the time I stopped talking the host of the tables were tearing them down.

We were leaving Singapore in a few days so this was a sad farewell with lots of friends... they even had three of us come forward to say thank you which I was not expecting but happy to report that I "held it together".  So thankful for all that the Women's Ministry gave to me, provided me, taught me, and loved on me through the years.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Some pics of some great woman that I would love to "grow up" to be like... friends/sister for life.

IBC Youth Retreat!

A few weeks ago I got the chance to join the IBC youth group retreat as a counselor... and loved it... what a blessing.  I had the best girls in my cabin (hotel room) and I sure did learn a lot about being a teenager in Singapore... lets just say I had a hard time relating to them in regards to their stresses/worries/what makes them anxious in their high school years (mine were so different).  But with God's grace I know I learned a lot and was blessed and hope they were too... wish I could spend every weekend like this.  We were the blue facebook team.  Our weekend was focused on our Identity in Christ and all the groups were media types that claim to be so many of our identities these days... facebook, myspace, twitter, linkedin and more... 

On the first night we played night games... with 600+ glow sticks... we all got to wear them they also were the outline for our game boundaries and the balls/Frisbees were covered in them so we could play volleyball and ultimate Frisbee.

Here are some cool shots of the kids running around playing the game...


Our cabin...

One of our task during the weekend was to create a website for our group... God centered that mirrored our group name... fun task and also we got some talented youth...

During the break out sessions... the youth could pick 2 places they wanted to go... one of them was hip/hop class (learning to praise God through movement) and another (second picture) was to listen to an amazing God loving man that has served on a medical mission team for several years in Siberia and other places... he was one of team of 6 (I think I got that right) and all the other doctors but him were murdered... His stories were amazing and totally centered on God... we listened, we prayed, we cried and then we sent him off to do it again.


I got to learn some new games from these youngens...

Field time... and lots of fun games... I even played FLOUR dodge ball... my cabin protected the baby while I launched the flour bombs... great times...

One of the interns was leaving on Saturday night to go into the Singapore army... he just turned 18 and was ready to serve his 2 years... so we all laid hands on him and prayed...

Our cabin again... the first night we made t-shirts and they said Facebook friends for a weekend... sisters for infinity...

Not a great picture of the back side... but we all put our names on our backs... also I learned that I (a 34 year old) should never stand next to a group of young teenagers and take a picture... not that flattering... but remember I am also pregnant... HE HE HE...it was good for the ego.

Our band was amazing...a group that flew into Malaysia (yes we were in Malaysia.. I left that part out)... from MIDLAND... yes you heard me right from MIDLAND... they were amazing and really rocked the house... when the youth was asked what their favorite part was or when they felt closest to God this weekend... almost everyone had something to say about the worship... it was amazing.



A great weekend for sure (was ready to get home to my boys) and such a blessing... I am so happy to have spent this time getting to know these children (young men and women of God)... God has something great in store for each one of them...

Thursday in Cambodia... saying Goodbye!

Our last and final day in Cambodia... is it really over... I wish was back there this very minute.  Welcome to Thursday... a day full of tears...
Here is our trusty driver... he was amazing and kept us safe and on time the whole trip.  He was a joy to be around and he was happy to share with us his new marriage to a beautiful bride.  We knew we were thankful for him but especially when we got to the airport later that day and meet a group of college students that had a similar van to ours (no seat belts and 7 passengers) and they were in a horrific car accident that killed the driver and co-pilot and several of the students were injured and were being taken back to Singapore (where they were going to college) to get further care.  We are so thankful for a safe trip.


Our gang with all of our loot... we had a great mission and we did some shopping too.

I will forever remember these people and remember the good times we shared and the stories they told... If I could only be half the woman/man these people are... I will be doing good.


Here is a random street... but here is a better shot of the street that we were on when we had out flat tire... now you tell me that God was not all over that...

Teacher Mo is one of the teachers that has to share the office to sleep in with another male teacher... he has a hard time sleeping bc the other teacher stays up talking with his girlfriend... but Mo never complained just gave his friend a hard time... so my gift to him was a clean pair of ear plugs... sleep well Mo.

If we were away from the kids... this is usually what I was doing...

One of the Cambodian Ministries that IBC supports is Kingdom Creations... where they make mostly bags (that look like Vera Bradley)... if you know me you have probably bought one of these or been given one as a gift... on our way out of Cambodia we got to see the shop where these ladies make the bags... a great ministry where they are trying to teach women in Cambodia to sew and make income for their family... a great safe place for them to be and they are awesome and make some cute stuff.

Leaving Cambodia... what a great group of ladies...


Oh yeah... we had to do one more shopping adventure at a local market... oh boy...


This is what I came for... cow bells... they are known for here in Cambodia and along time ago this is how the farmers use to tag their cows... by ornate cow bells... I got me a couple.. they are so pretty.

And some old pipes for some substance that will stay unnamed... use your imagination... I do have to say they were pretty.

Our team (minus a few and plus some new ones) are going back in April for another VBS visit with the village... I really prayed hard over this but with the timing and some other key important reasons (you will learn soon) Blake and I thought I should stay here in Singapore and pray for the team while they are there... it breaks my heart to miss this opportunity but no matter how bad I want to go (selfish reasons I am sure) God is saying no... can't wait to hear about all the amazing things the team will do and so thankful that our church will get to love on that country again (and again).

Last time with the kids in Cambodia...

Once we finished at the village we headed back to the school for another afternoon session.  One of my favorite times of the days are in-between sessions while the kids are just playing and in their element.  I spotted the kid below sitting in a tree taking the tree sap and putting it on one of his wounds (from bugs).  I asked someone later and they said that the sap helps heal it and keep other bugs out.

Once VBS started we were back at Games... they were so happy to be playing with a balloon.


This was the night that we opened up the school for MOVIE NIGHT for all... anyone in the village was invited to come and we brought popcorn kernals from Singapore to share with the people.... Here is our gang trying to whip up some popcorn... the cook (lady in pink) was fascinated...

We had a good turnout for the movie... we watched Rio in English but they did not mind they seemed to laugh at the right parts and loved all the color...

Sorry the pics are out of order but here this is a good picture of what happens during the day... we talk and then a teacher translates for us... time consuming but it worked.

Can I just take the boy home with me... please...

More clothes for the kids...

At the end we had the kids line up and we gave them all candy... oh boy...

Here is our gang, with some children that got new clothes, and the teachers...



Never forget their faces... and please join me in thanking God for them...

Afterwards we had some good times with the teachers... they wanted to show us their local dancing and they even taught us some moves... we of course had a lot of fun... here is our charlie's angels pic...


A great last day with the kids... tomorrow we are coming back to spend some special time with the teachers, encouraging them and thanking them for their dedication and commitment.  It is so hard to say goodbye...