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.

praying for Bataa

The test result is out.

Bataa (Mongolai) is eligible - physically - to be a liver donor for his sister.

Right now, he's keeping himself healthy and ready, and raising support.

The surgery will cost S $300,000.

"It's a huge sacrifice for him to do this," says Dr Mah Yeow Beng. "Not many people are willing to do this as it involves risks."

Let's pray for Bataa as he looks to the Lord for grace and strength in the coming days.

If everything works out, the surgery could happen end of August.

SCHOOL'S IN

First week of school.
You know what it's like.
New excitement, new routine, (and even new carpeting for the chapel and Agape room).
But before the end of the week, everyone's clearly exhausted.
One of the faculty put it aptly, "Many are going through syllabus shock, especially the freshmen."
But it's to be expected.
As Dr Ho Chiao Ek reminded us in the first chapel, coming to EAST is more than just getting through from one class to another, and aiming for the degree.
It is a training process.
A time of intentional mentoring from our professors, our teachers, and our peers.
A time to submit to God's discipline which, hopefully, make us better disciples and mentors of others.
Hebrews 12:11: 'All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.'
So if you're feeling under the pile - literally - don't give up.
Look up.
Tighten your belt.
A-cha.
Jia You.

Welcome to the Family

IT'S GREAT to see everyone again - after the long summer break and internship.
The last to come back were Siew Hong and Jacky who joined a relief team in Sichuan, China.
And it was refreshing
to meet the new students.
Among them are Singaporean church workers, and missionaries who served in student and relief ministries.
Though a few are still hunting for housing and schools for their kids, and 'going through cultural shock', most seem to have settled down.
Kim Kwan-Shik (Korea) shares, "My family is very happy to be here in Singapore."

Like every year's orientation, this is a get-to-know-you, games-and-makan week.
Yesterday we spent a day at a condominium, where Steve Yu (an alumnus) rented an apartment; we had a day of laughter, and fellowship.
And as in most EAST dos, the highlight was when the wives and kids joined us towards the evening for the bar-b-q.
Han Gyu and James Kang came up with quite a menu: besides the usual chicken wings and meats, we also had sting ray, sotong, otah, mee-siam, and salmon.
What better way to begin the new school year, and prep up for the hard work ahead.
To all our students - esp those who've just joined us - all the best.
And welcome to the family.

SAYONARA

Yesterday Taka and Eri, and their two-year-old, Komoki, came to say good bye.
"The past three years had been wonderful for us," says Taka.
He is headed for Tokyo to join the HR department of Japan Campus Crusade.
Among the many blessing the couple received in Singapore - "good friends at the local church we attended", "professors who taught us", "building convictions from God's Word" - is of course their made-in-Singapore son.
"We told Komoki many times we're leaving," says Eri. "And today he said goodbye to his friends at the nursery."
"But we're not sure if he understands."

By now, most of the foreign students have gone home.
Some, like Steve Cole, wrote to say they are still readjusting to life back home.
Others like Sharon Hwang are raising support before getting into full ministry gear.
Check out their latest happenings in the blogs below and pray for them.

Sayonara.

more requests for Myanmar

Here's a new update from the Sets:

"We thank God for answering our prayers in opening doors.

"Our relief team is now faced with many requests from various contacts to come to their villages. It’s going to be difficult to have to turn down some of them as they have limited supplies and manpower. . . .

"Besides supplying basic needs such as rice, beans and salt, we are hoping to supply the villagers with two-man boats and fishing nets for them to start catching crabs (crab season now). In the days to come, we also hope to help build some of the houses as well. Most villages in that area have been destroyed, and some have been totally wiped-out.

"Please also remember to pray for another team of eleven Burmese going in this Monday 23rd June. They are from the Myanmar Judson Baptist Church in Singapore. They too are hoping to get their medicines in with them."