Christmas program

Spirit Week at International Community School

Generally our students wear uniforms which include white button-down shirts or white polo shirts with blue shorts/pants/skirts. This week the dress has been a bit more fun!!!

Preppy Day with Jeremy's students!!!






Jeremy's classroom --

KFC has great breakfast food, too!

McDonald's

I'm lovin' it!





Please try the Wasabi fish (smeared with lots of green wasabi) or the wasabi shakers you pour on the fries. Oh, and always the fish sandwich for breakfast!!
(Actually, Drew likes the wasabi shaker so I am not making fun of it!!

Not a baseball or (American) football

Cricket is a common game in Singapore.

Hungry?

We went down to the Sulton Mosque during Ramadan to break the fast with the Muslim community. Our meal included dates, pears, biryani rice, and mutton.

Chinese Lantern Festival

Yes, that is HELLO KITTY behind the kids!!

Where are the millions?

Singapore has over 4 million people but sometimes it is easy to forget. Singapore has done a wonderful job of keeping beautiful parks and areas of rain forest.

Birthdays happen no matter where you are!

Wow! We have been busy!!

We went on a weekend retreat with other teachers from ICS. We saw the beauty of Indonesia along with the poverty.

Update for the Erwin's

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

Jurong Bird Park

Drew


Luke


Jeremy


Emme


Sabrina

Blessed

Today in chapel we were singing a song that really made me think. It is called Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman. It is so easy to bless the name of the Lord when we are in "the land that is plentiful where Your streams of abundance flow". It is another thing to praise the name of the Lord when "the darkness closes in" and you "walk through the wilderness".

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

School has started!!

By Sabrina:

We have spent the last two weeks in teacher orientation. We have learned how to work the copier, the school rules, how to take attendance, and how to take lunch count. Actually, we had some great time of fellowship with other teachers and enjoyed time decorating our classrooms while getting ready for the first day of school.

My first day of school was a bit difficult. I was really missing my last school. There are so many wonderful people at my last school and I was thinking of how this is not Texas! At the end of the day, I realized the God did not send me here to think constantly of what I left behind, but instead where I am now and the job I are here to do.

Day two was wonderful as I began to become amazed at this great school I have the opportunity to be a part of. I have been able to start each day with a devotion. We have prayed, listened to Christian music, and read the Bible together. My LARGEST class size is 18!!!!! The students WANT to be in school. And what is even more amazing, is that the teachers actually enjoy teaching and everyone of us chose to come to ICS. The teachers actually like the students so much and want to impact them with the love of Jesus that they plan after school activities (with no extra pay) and often eat lunch with the students (and even the high school students like it!) I quoted a verse during health that had to do with the subject of self-confidence and two students shot up their hands. I had accidentally gave the wrong reference and they were telling me the correct one. Love it!! I actually feel blessed to be here teaching these kids and I hope that I can be a blessing to them throughout the school year.

The Snake Charmer

The Army of The Twelve Monkeys

Yesterday we went to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve which is right across the street from us. As we entered the park, Emme and Luke were finishing their Bar-B-Q Pringles. We saw one monkey sitting on a motorcycle and then he sat on a truck. Suddenly he ran up to Luke and grabbed the Pringles can. The monkey opened it with his teeth and got some Pringles. Luke reached down and snatched the can back from him. The monkey left (or so we thought) and we continued down the path. About three minutes later another monkey approached us. Suddenly about 8 monkeys were around us. Luke quickly handed Emme the Pringles can. The monkeys began to approach her. She ran up and down the sidewalk and several monkeys chased her so she finally dropped the can. One monkey grabbed it and took it high in the trees. He opened up the can and then unwrapped it to get all the crumbs out.

As we left the park, we saw a tree with 10-20 monkeys sitting under it. It was so cool just to sit and watch them. Several of them actually came up to Drew and Luke and touched their hand and their shoes. The "father" monkey wasn't too sure about the kids and kept a lookout to make sure we weren't hurting the monkeys. (At least, that was our impression.) All in all, a great day but we are certainly hurting from all that exercise. Well, we are off to meet all the returning teachers at our school today. We are very excited about that. And, if it doesn't rain today, we will FINALLY get to go to the Night Safari.

- Sabrina

The Rugby Ball

It's been awhile since I have written anything. Most of the last bunch of posts have been written by Sabrina.

We visited a local church and as we were leaving we noticed a rugby ball down in a one of the gutters. Gutters in America tend to be small, but this gutter was more like an exposed sewer line. I've never been good at judging distances or heights, and I knew this was deep but it was a lot deeper than I realized. I also knew Luke wouldn't be able to get out but I figured I could get Drew back out. I actually didn't need to urge Drew to go but Sabrina was very adamant we shouldn't go down.

Drew climbed over the edge, let himself down and let go. For just an instant it looked like he was going to stick the landing but he fell in the bottom and there is a small channel running down the middle with water and he managed to sit in it. Drew didn't seem too upset but his mom was. He threw the ball out to me and then we set out to pull him up.

This is where I realized how deep the gutter was. Drew is 4'10''. With his hands outstretched above him he was just able to grasp the top of the drainage ditch. The walls were covered with moss and slippery so I had to pull him out on my own. Unfortunately the first 6 or 7 tries I was not able to get him out. Sabrina has stopped watching and is standing off a little ways away. I am starting to panic and I think so is Drew. But we decide to try again and this time a stranger on his way past helps us out.

As soon as we get to the bus stop, I tell Drew to change his clothes and take a shower when we get home. Being the boy he is he never does but thankfully he didn't get sick.

Sentosa Island

We walked up Mt. Faber.


At the top of Mt. Faber is one of the several Merlions in Singapore.



We rode the cable cars from Mt. Faber to Sentosa Island





We walked around one of the beaches and the kids played in the sand and water for hours.







Work begins on Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arab Street

This evening we took a bus down to Arab Street to see a Mosque. We got offered some really good deals on silk dresses, carpets, and lots of scarfs.



After we walked around that area, we went over to a mall in which a lot of Thai people visit. Many signs were not in English. We loved the grocery store with the live fish. Although I may have seen live cockroaches in stores before, this was the first time I saw large dead ones for sale (to eat)!!! (Sorry, no pictures!)

When you need to use the rest room, do not say, "Excuse me sir, can you tell me where the bathroom is located?" Just say, "Toilet?" Most restrooms in outdoor markets require you to pay 10 cents to enter. In almost every restroom, you have a choice between typical American toilets or squat toilets.

Church

Today we visited the Bible Church in Singapore. It was wonderful to worship with other believers!! The passage today was 1 Cor 10:23-11:1. The pastor discussed food offered to idols and food at meat markets. Those verses never seemed to have much meaning in America but here in Singapore those verses carry much more meaning. We see idols in the markets as we travel around the city. Over 85% of the city does not worship Jesus. Although we are free in Christ, we must also consider others as we think of choices we make.

Nature Park (behind our house)

First, you need to use the correct words in Singapore!

Not a gas station -petrol station
Not air conditioning - aircon
Not a parking lot - car park
Not a basket (in the store) - trolley
An outdoor market (with really fresh fish!) - wet market
Outdoor food stalls - hawkers or hawker center
Not a cross walk - zebra crossing

And some of the signs at the nature park were really cute!


Durians are anywhere from the size of a football to something bigger than a bowling ball. They are covered by very sharp spikes. I imagine it could do some serious damage.

Look how sad/mad the monkey is.





That's a steep slope indeed.

Cute Kids!!

Transportation (No car for us!!)

We take the MRT (subway).





We take the bus. (You can see us waiting for it.)





And we walk and walk and walk!!

Singapore River