TAKE A BREAK

IT'S almost the end of the term.
Students are catching up with reading deadlines, assignments, and exam preparation.
But we all took time off for an OUTING!
Nothing like fresh air, wide-open space and good ole bonding to relief weariness in our bones.
There was also a photo contest and these won funniest and best pictures.

ANSWERED PRAYER

AFTER two months of asking, seeking and knocking, Bataa finally raised all that he needs for the liver transplant surgery.
Even as I'm typing this blog entry, his sister, Chuka, is preparing to board a flight from Ulaanbaatar to be in Singapore this weekend. The surgery will be at Gleneagle's Hospital.
Many answered prayers:

• for a start, good health and high spirit for both donor (Bataa) and patient (Chuka)
• more than $226,000 raised miraculously - involving 5,000 persons from 40 countries who gave their widow's mites, personal savings and hard-earned cash sacrificially; and the JC Trust Fund that donated $86,000 for the operation
• strong encouragement from Bataa's cell group at church
• support from the faculty and students at EAST - who prayed, gave, and allowed him time and space from his studies and responsibilities with the Student Council to prepare for the surgery

Pray for the surgeons as they work out the final details and settle for a date for the transplant.
Through the process, Bataa felt he "truly sensed and enjoyed" the care and love of God and His Body. He went through many ups and downs mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually but the Lord's grace pulled him through.

IT'S A GIRL

Her name is Cecilia Jewel Randall.
Born September 9 at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth, Australia, weighing in 7.5 lbs at birth.
The precious little one is Dr Rick and Laurel Langston's first granddaughter (their other grandchildren are twin boys).
The last we heard in an email, mum Kelly and dad Mike are ecstatic over their first-born.
Congratulations Rick and Laurel.
We are know you're over the moon.
See you soon next quarter.

CLEAR

Chin Leng ( above ext left) received this sms from James Chua (2nd from right) yesterday after his test results):

"Praise the LORD! The CT scan shows chest area is CLEAR."

So what does that mean?
No chemotherapy or radiaiton.
Just rest, recovery, and rejoicing.
Praise God for answering our prayers.

James

As some of you might have heard, one of our students James Chua was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer in his kidney and had to go through emergency surgery.
Here's the latest:

- a small part of the bladder, along with his left kidney, and his urether) had been removed

- the right kidney is doing all the work on its own; pray that it will cope

- it is not certain if he will need to undergo chemotherapy

The last we heard, he is still physically weak but his spirit is strong.
Pray for full recovery, and grace for his dear wife, Mui Yoong, who is his main caregiver.

HOW TO TIE A NECK-TIE?

This week, speaker, author, and South-East Asia director of men's ministry of the Navigators Geoff Gorsuch came to EAST and showed us how to tie a neck-tie.
And more.
In fact, the neck-tie part was to demonstrate how mentoring should be done: lots of modeling, hands-on training, mid-course corrections, repetition, and encouragement.
His talk was power-packed and entertaining.
About 70 faculty, students, and friends of EAST - including church leaders - and even a landlady of one of our students - came for the five-hour workshop.

The animated life coach made us laugh when analysing men and women differences in mentoring and problem solving.
He kept everyone engaged through a dramatic portrayal of the first years of our ministry - "like kayaking in rapid waters".
And he encouraged us as he spoke on the two types of mid-life crises we might face.
There were also a short session when he and his wife, Diane, met with the men and women separately.

oh what a week!

Oh what a week!
First, the Olympics started on a high note - and is ending before we know it.
The first quarter has reached mid-point, and everyone's feeling under the pile.
"But I'm learning and feel very blessed to be here," says one student from East Asia. "The hard work is worth it."
Last week we also had a supervisors' tea where the faculty met with church and ministry leaders of our students.
It was good to touch base with these people who support and supervise our students in their ministry development.
Then we also had our first Teachers' Seminar for close to 70 teachers and educators.
Dr Tevor Cooling, renowned writer from the UK, challenged everyone to create an environment in his or her school where Christ could be glorified.
Drawing from the examples of Daniel in the Old Testament, as well as some Christian teachers from the UK, he encouraged us to use our positions to make a positive influence for Christ.
Among the participants are four ladies who flew in from Mongolia.
They serve with the Teachers' Ministry in Ulaanbaatar, and oversee a ministry of 700 teacher disciples.
"We are praying that the Teachers' Seminar could be duplicated in our country," says Nergui, one of the Mongol ladies.