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.

Gig at Screme, SMU

Hello world! There'll be a gig for our young musicians to showcase their songs this February. Get ready for some surprises too! The good folk at Screme serve hotdogs, pizzas, pasta, so come early for dinner and then stick around for the gig! The Ethnos band will be having some fun on that day too, hope to see you there! We may sing any Chinese New Year song, if we get enough requests on this blog =)

THE JUST-FOR-FUN GIG
Date: 10 Feb Tuesday
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: Screme Cafe (Singapore Management University)
B1-62, 70 Stamford Road (Basement of School of Information Systems)
* From the Mr Tea outlet at the ground level, take the escalator down. Screme is beside the florist.
* ADMISSION IS FREE!

Giving Us Courage

Hi guys,

Since it's the new year, thought of putting up a little passage from a fellow blogger to give you strength and vision for the big stuff ahead in your life. May the holy spirit warm your heart and give you courage.

His eyes look to and fro the
face of the earth
in search of a person whose heart
is committed,

There are ones who never fail to
catch his attention.

Ever since he placed eternity in their hearts,
they live a different destiny.

They perservere
even when it's convenient to give up.

They love
even when they feel unappreciated.

They give
even when they're in lack.

They encourage
even in times of discouragement.

They believe in others
even in the midst of doubting themselves.

They sing
even when life seems bleak.

Everytime they fall,
they stir themselves up and stand again
even when they feel like staying down.

It may have been a weather beaten year
but in their brokenness,
they refuse to succumb to the strongest storms

they humble themselves and
draw strength from above.

They run on
and conquer every season.

And he says,
because they've set their hearts on him, their foot will never be caught. They are set on high grounds. They will call on him and he will hear and answer them. They will be with them in trouble. He will honour them. He will be forever theirs as they are forever his.

We're back....

While the trip report is churning itself out, I'll share a joke/warning/ghastly news... My keyboard weighed 17KG at check-in - a shocker since the actual weight is only 8kg - may be the pedal, adaptor and flight case. Anyway, the boys helped me lug it to Tokyo over escalators, trains and stairs, apart from carrying their own luggage and gear. Quite a nightmare. The best part: when we tried to use it, it didn't work. Turns out the voltage in Japan is way below Singapore's, so a converter won't work. You'd need a transformer for that, and it costs in Japan.

And so, I brought 17kg over those thousands of miles FOR NOTHING.

Somebody punch me.

Reg

Countdown to Tokyo

The Japan team leaves next Friday morning til 31 Dec. We'll countdown to New Year's Day on the plane, let's hope there's free champagne flowing, as part of the airline perks!

For your prayer notes, here's our schedule:

19th Arrive & settle into winter climate
20th Performance/Worship at youth group - a secular band will be performing alongside this Christmas party
21st Church service & rehearsals
22nd Rehearsals with Dan (local guy doing vocals for us)
23rd Christmas musical
24-25th Rehearsals/busking/hanging out
26th Performance/Worship at Kings Kids Christmas party
Performance at cafe - opening for a local bossanova artiste
27th Music Clinic at a church youth group - teaching worship dynamics and instrument playing
28-31st anything we're game for... hit the freezing streets to meet people! prayer walk!

Yup yup, we wanna feel God's heart and know what He's doing, pray that we'll pick that up!
Also, team unity and patience with one another.....
Understanding of Japanese culture, what the people need, sensitivity and a non-judgemental spirit......
Protection from the spiritual strongholds: distraction, frenzy, lust, discouragement
We need to be spiritually attuned!

Thank God also, our funds have all come in! PHEW! *clap clap! to Daddy!* The yen has gone up but we're covered still....

Thank you for your support!

Time Flies

In the turn of an eye (old Chinese expression).....

Even before I could chart the chronicles of the last trip, I am swarmed with prep for The Next Big Trip.

I haven't been tired like this for awhile. Maybe I'm getting old... or maybe letting something grow organically - like human chemistry - is a process that can't be compromised. It takes effort - time-wise, physically, emotionally - to work together, understand personalities and figure out where everyone is coming from.

It's the beauty of building a team. And something that I value very much.

People matter. And processes are important. Good night.

我会讲华语

各位，

我已经从中国回来了！ 我的华语说地不错，应为一个月多的时间已经训练我的言语本事。。。 虽然我的词语不太广， 但我能跟你分享许多不平凡的词， 比如：

调 (diao) - key
大调 (da diao) - major
小调 (xiao diao) - minor
节拍 (jie pai) - rhythm
节奏 (jie zhou) - timing
音符 (yin fu) - note
和玄 (he xuan) - chord
副歌 (fu ge) - chorus
开头 (kai tou) - intro
手势 (shou shi) - hang signals
玄卤 (xuan lu) - melody

Ok folks, that typing in Chinese is taking its toll on me.... anyway, what I said above was: I can speak Chinese! I'm back from China. My spoken Chinese is not bad due to the month-long immersion that boosted my linguistic ability. Although my vocabulary isn't too impressive, I can tell you some impressive terms, like..... (above list).

On top of that, I learnt how to counsel in broken Chinese (how do you say 'soul tie' in Chinese? We're still searching!) and pray fluently in an inspired moment.

This language thing really takes you places with people. I'll share more soon, and i'm not too glad to be back coz I wish I was still there! Booohooo!!