What do you make of this?

Look at our super hero benny...



He has been the most active 2 year old at home... he runs and jumps and climbs and hops and... bumps his head. In fact this head-bumping has happened so many times we lost count. 3 weeks ago he knocked on his forehead twice in a day and got two bumps, one of each side of the forehead. Just two days ago, when his old injury was healing, he fell from the chair and bumped on the right side again. Result... what you see in the pic. Please pray for us and our little superhero at home that all will be well. We really do not know if this really warrants a visit to the doc or even scans...

Also please pray for our little princess. Again 3 weeks ago... she came down with a virus. Fever and cough for 2 weeks. Just when she recovered and went back to kindy for a week, she came down with fever again the last 2 days. Went back to kindy today but as I typed now, potentially developing a runny nose...

She may be a girl but she's good...

This was taken in Sep 07. Shows how athletic our girl was, and still is... even beating a bigger boy to it...

Our little helper shopping for groceries...

Joy was in an art class and he still had in mind to say, "Bye bye jie jie" near the end... complete with a smile!

Just getting started...

As you can see, I'm just getting started on this whole blogging
world. The first thing that came to mind was to put our latest
newsletter on it. Plus some past stuff I've put up on previous blogs.

And for this blog, the theme inspirations came to mind. So to begin
with, I think I'll try to talk about who inspired me in my life so far.

Another milestone, a new beginning...

“And the Academic Excellence award goes to…”

On 17th May 2008, Benson graduated from the East Asia School of Theology (EAST) with a degree in Master of Divinity in Teaching and Exposition. In addition, he also received the Academic Excellence award. “I owe this award to my family,” he shared at the graduation party. “My wife, Jo, had been supporting me faithfully and sacrificially for the past three years, enabling me to concentrate on my course work so that I can be ‘equipped to handle the Word of God accurately’ (2 Tim 2:15). My daughter, Joy, had also been praying every night that, ‘Papa will study well and do well.’ ”



Ben had simply aimed to get through each term’s subjects. His goal was not to be a top student but simply to do his best, as unto the Lord. This aim took him through late night readings and writings, detailed planning of each term’s assignments so that he could balance study and family well, and maximizing each opportune time for reflection.

But eventually, it is what we do with what we know that matters. Ben had many opportunities to employ his learning to bless various groups of people. With small teams of staff, big groups of students, young parents in his cell group, or couples in the church parenting class, he was able to share and teach from the Word of God with greater confidence and certainty. It has truly been a tough but rewarding journey of learning in EAST.

As Ben marked a milestone in completing his studies, we will also embark on a new beginning. We had served in the Campus ministry for nine to eleven years before studying in EAST. Through the last three years of study, Ben found that he has a niche in doing research work and desires to teach the Bible as a long-term ministry. After much prayer and discussions, we decided to join EAST as ministry staff, with a view to teach there in future. EAST is a division of the Singapore Campus Crusade for Christ ministry, thus we will continue to be full time support-raising staff workers, laboring to “develop Christ-like leaders for the Great Commission.” Ben is now the Operations Director, managing all the administrations and operations of the school. In due time, he will also oversee a new program that brings theological studies to the laymen in churches and working adults in the marketplace. Jo will serve alongside Ben (her heart is in developing our new colleagues in the operations department) and she will be taking some Bible classes as well.

With this new venture, together with some internal revisions of our salary and ministry expenses, we are in need of raising S$400 more monthly financial support. We sincerely hope you’ll prayerfully consider joining our support team to equip more pastors, missionaries and church workers through our courses and to bring theological education to the masses.

New friendships, new challenges

Last September, God gave us a divine appointment, allowing us to meet a couple, Andy and Agnes (not their real names). After getting to know Agnes and helping her with her two year old daughter, Jo built a good friendship with her and discipled her although she was still a pre-believer. Jo shared the gospel with her on a few occasions and on 23rd December Agnes received Christ as her Savior. Since then, she has been growing in her faith and trusting the Lord’s timing for Andy to be a believer too. Then in January, Agnes’ brother also received Christ. Ben led Agnes and her brother in one interesting Bible study in which he had to use all the Teochew dialect he knew (they are Indonesian Teochew Chinese), mixed with some Mandarin, referring to his English Bible, while they read from their Indonesian Bible! Last month, Andy met with a minor accident and had to rest at home for two entire weeks. Over the course of time, through Agnes’ faith in Christ and unceasing prayers, Andy began to show interests in knowing Jesus more! Please pray that Andy will receive Christ soon!

Jo also have new challenges last December. She was asked to address 300 women conferees at the Metamorphosis Conference on the topic of jealousy. It was difficult preparing to speak and caring for our two kids at the same time. But as she prayed and trusted God to speak through her, she experienced the empowering of the Lord. She saw many women responding to God’s love that afternoon. It was a great privilege for her to be God’s mouthpiece to the students.

On the homefront

Joy is already in kindergarten and Benedict is 22 months old. They play well together and constantly look out for each other. Joy loves drawing and painting art, is able to read whole books on her own, and has even started memorizing addition tables! She is especially inquisitive now. Recently, she asked us do dogs cry and what is heaven like! After we said heaven is the greatest, most beautiful and most fun place, she said she wants to go there early (thinking she can have more fun)! By her influence, Benny loves to read too; he will grab a book, climb onto Ben’s lap and insist on Ben to read to him. Benny talks a lot; his favorite line has been “I want to go out!” Being ever ready to say “Hello” and “Hi there!” he draws smiles from people everywhere he goes. Please continue to pray for their growth and for us to have wisdom in parenting them.