Time for a Commercial Break!

YWAM Singapore embarks on a new marketing campaign:

Thai boy revamps the "Gateway to Asia" brochure, trying to attract more YWAMers from Amsterdam by looking like a leprechaun

Asian-American trying too hard to go Dutch (Bali-bought singlet does not help)

Even base director tries to look the part, but Thai boy's tummy steals his thunder (very sneaky)

OK, we're just kidding, in case you didn't know....

A Magazine Review: Asian Geographic

If you're wanting to hear God regarding the nations in our region, read Asian Geographic. Covering social issues, cultural profiles and the challenges facing different tribes in the modern world, it's a pretty amazing resource. For photo buffs, it contains seriously cool images of people groups in action.

Profiles of the Long Horn Miao tribe...

... and Sapa Hill Tribes in Vietnam


The Padung from Thailand

Surfacing the hidden faces: Transsexuals in Pakistan

Highlighting the drug problem in Kabul

A commentary on Mongolia's ethnic clothing and its evolution






The story that fixated me was one about the vanishing ancient script of Philippines' Tagbanua people, and how the tribe tries to preserve it under the threat of, guess what? - Cell phones. Banana leaves vs text messaging. How to fight??

Asian Geographic is readily available for loan at the National Library and various branches.

Slumdog Millionaire & The Little Nyonya

Caught Slumdog Millionaire last night... loved it! So this is what I've been burying my eyes and ears in... Anyone with an interest in missions and the changing world should catch some good movies, magazines or books to keep themselves on the cutting-edge.


Take this with a pinch of salt as it was shot from an outsider's (Danny Boyle, Englishman) point of view. However, having been to India myself, and spent daily time at the slums and orphanages for 2 months, I would say those depictions of slum happenings do strike a chord in my memories. More so, I loved how the social commentary on India's poverty, racial tension, child exploitation and abuse panned out. On another note, the glimpses of violence upon unprotected children and cheap attitude towards life called out justice and compassion from my heart.

But what echoed my concern was Slumdog's accurate portrayal of today's breakneck speed of globalisation. It touches an issue I've been grappling with - the changing face of missions and our world. In what I do, the quinessential principle is to be "culturally relevant". When I tried my hand at ethnomusiciology*, it became more amorphous guessing the tastes and hearts of this generation... they prefer to let traditions go, because of their irrelevance to life today.


It's kinda like Peranakan culture here, or our own attitudes towards our Cantonese/Hokkien/Teochew roots... the younger generation doesn't appreciate old pantuns (traditional Peranakan Malay songs) or making kueh/ayam buah keluak. What happened with 'The Little Nyonya' was a deliberate attempt by media to resurrect interest and Singapore being a befitting environment for the wave of revival to flourish. What does this say about the youth of today, and the youth of each different ethnic group? What do they value - nostalgia, roots, passing on a culture, family pride? ...Or new-fangled innovations, fresh ideas and modernity? Even I never valued the wealth of Cantonese recipes my mother harboured until recently confronted with its possible demise in my hands, and asked her to teach me some of her signature dishes.

Guess when it comes to young people, whichever culture they're from, it's always wise to suss out their existing values and ask why they exist. And to make sure you're engaged with the moment they find themselves in. I'm finding it flying past me faster than I know it.... It's nice to know God is in the moment and on top of it too. So I'd keep asking Him and finding those anwers as I pray for this world and generation.

Any thoughts, anyone?

* Ethnomusicology (adapted from Jeff Todd Titon): the study of "people making music." Ethnomusicologists are as interested in the people making the music as in the sounds of music they are making; the whole process and contexts through and within which music is imagined, discussed and made, not just the musical sound structures themselves; what music means to particular groups of people - what part it plays in their lives.

- blythe doll in kebaya image from http://www.jooli.com

Gig at Screme, SMU

Here're snapshots of the bands that night... thanks to those who came to support! Stay tuned for the next one, most likely in April....

Jackie & Lionel


Jo Ee, Selwyn, Samuel


Prayer with performers before the night starts

Sam Cho from a well-calculated angle

Drummer boy Jachin and Noelle - Ethnos band

Ze Crowd

Uncle Peter & Auntie Linda... Our guest performer for the night

Ethnos band (l-r: Jachin, Justin, Ben, Regina)

In this journey of life.....

How I wish to have

His passion my passion,
His victory my victory,
His vision my vision,
His wisdom my wisdom.
His thoughts my thoughts,
His words my words,
His heart my heart.

Technicalities

Sometimes, we dream dreams, get into the thick of living them, and then like a cartoon moment in a movie, screech to a halt because the engine doesn't run/reality bites.

I can't imagine how hard it is to find a soundman. Are all soundmen in Singapore not free next Tuesday night??? This is an SOS!

Just like in Japan - I had 2 students staring at me with 2 hours on their hands, ready to learn that afternoon.... and I had no translator. There were 4 groups and only 3 translators. What a regret.

Missions is a team effort, and if God's given you a part to play, be available! You may not know how important your role is to a team in need.