A lot has happened since my last post. My 3-month stay in Shanghai came to an end, I returned to Singapore, and the summer is nearly over. We have had our usual high-traffic time during the summer, with various friends and family members home for holidays, and it has been a good time for all of us. I am personally enjoying having my nephews spend the summer with me again, and it is always good to have the Parkers “home” during their school holidays. They are a very big help to the work here.
The stay in Shanghai came to a very fruitful end. I was able to meet up with a lot of new people, and make a lot of new contacts. That is one of the biggest differences in having spent an extended time in Shanghai, as opposed to several shorter trips during the same period of time. I formed an especially good relationship with one of my language teachers, and we have kept in touch since I’ve been back to Singapore. She was able to meet up with me and my nephews when we were back for a short visit earlier this month. Also, the teachers at the Singapore International School made a trip with their principal (a member at Woodlands who has been in Shanghai for several years), and we got to meet up with them here as well. I hope that the contact with them will continue to grow as well.
We had an addition to the group that is meeting in Shanghai. One of the Singaporean ladies who teaches at the Singapore International School has been worshipping with another group for about 5-6 years now. She spoke to me when I arrived in Shanghai about wanting to help with the smaller group that we have started, and she has since made the decision to join us. She is a big help to the group. She has been a Christian for many years, and brings more knowledge and experience to the group than what any of those meeting there now have. She and her husband have bought a house in Shanghai, and intend to settle there for the long-term. This is a different situation from that of most Singaporeans who are there, and it is good to have her aboard.
The work back here in Singapore is also going along very well. The congregation has been very faithful in continuing the doorknocking efforts all year long. As a result, we have left information about the church at over 6000 homes. We have had many calls and visits from members of the community. It is a very nice feeling to see so much interest as a result of the work going on. We are working on increasing the involvement in follow up work, since right now most of it is being done by one or two families.
One of our Filipina sisters who joined us earlier this year will probably have to leave to return to the Philippines in a couple of weeks. She has been unable to find a job here. We will miss her when she is gone. She has fit in nicely to the church here.
We are beginning to wrap up the summer excitement now. Soon, the guests who are staying with us will be making their way home, and we will miss them, and look forward to their return next year. I think the congregation is doing well, and will settle back nicely into routine. We very much appreciate the time we have had with our guests, and the uplift they have been to us.
I plan to be back in Shanghai for a couple of months after my nephews have gone back to the US. It looks like I will depart in mid- to late September, and stay till late November. I will spend the December school holiday here in Singapore, when I think we will have some special activities going on. We have been making plans for 2009 to be a big year for Woodlands, celebrating our 10th anniversary. I will keep you posted of the details as they begin to come together.
