Erwin's in Singapore: September 2008

I want to apologize for not having written much recently. We have been very busy the last couple of weeks and time flies when.....

It seems the last couple of weeks have been a test. Two weeks ago we came up to school for a follow up from the Pre-Field Orientation we attended in June. We learned one of the other families who attended with us had a tragedy in their lives. This other family had went to teach at a school in China. After almost two months in China, the mother had to go to another country for medical treatment and there was a complication. She did not survive. Please pray for the family. They had three children at the school with them and three older children in the States.

Another staff member here at the school was pregnant with twins. Two and a half weeks ago she started having contractions. They tried several different things to keep the children in the womb so they weren't born too early. Eventually they had to deliver the boys by C-section. She had complications and they have been keeping us appraised of her situation through text messages. There were several which sounded quite dire. All the staff got together a week or so ago and prayed for her. She has finally turned the corner and so we praise God for His healing in her life. The boys are gaining weight and she finally was able to see the boys almost two weeks after she had them.

Sabrina's step father was diagnosed with cancer near the beginning of September. The cancer is inoperable. He started chemotherapy and radiation treatment two weeks ago. Please pray for Sabrina's step-father and mother. Sabrina has a hard time being away from her family right now.

With all these other concerns, it would seem not having a car would be minor in our lives right now but we are really struggling with it. We are one of the few families at the school who doesn't have a car or who doesn't live close to school. It takes us close to an hour to get to school in the mornings and most evenings we don't get home until 7 p.m (as we eat on the way home). The church we have found is downtown. It takes almost six hours from the time we leave home to the time we return.

God has also been very gracious to us. Drew, Luke and I have started taking guitar classes together. Sabrina and Emme go home early on those days and play Barbies. This allows us three guy time together. For myself, this has always been something I wanted to do and my progress has been good. Drew and I have already picked out songs to learn to play. They are both praise choruses by a couple of churches in Australia: Hillsong and Planetshakers.

Drew is wanting to play "Mighty to Save," by Hillsong. The first part goes like:

When everyone needs compassion,
And love that never fails,
Let mercy fall on me

When everyone needs forgiveness,
Kindness of the Saviour
The Hope of the nation

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is mighty to save,
He is mighty to save
Forever author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

I want to learn to play "I'm Yours" by Planetshakers. (sorry, this is the only video I could find, but at least you can listen to it) The chorus is:

So no matter what the cost
I will go for You
No matter what it takes, I'm Yours
Because You paid the price at Calvary
I give You my whole life, I'm Yours

Pray for us. Our pastor said recently Satan doesn't care what you are doing as long as you aren't following God. If you are just existing and not following God, Satan isn't going to waste time putting difficulties in your life. Satan goes after the believers who are going to make a difference in God's kingdom. We hope that we are beginning to make a difference in the life of our students and those that we have begin to make relationships with here in Singapore.

-Jeremy Erwin