A LETTER FROM DR LANGSTON

On Sunday December 7, Dr Rick Langston's mother, Sally Clark Langston, went home to be with the Lord. Here are some of his thoughts:

"Mum lived a full life of 92 years and did not suffer in her final days. She had a sweet spirit all the way till the end of her life here on earth.

"Mom's funeral was a celebration of her life. My sister and I both shared at the service. . . . I thank God for the very special mother and father He gave me. I am truly blessed by the good qualities they manifested and by the love they showed me all their lives here on earth. I am very thankful that we shall one day be reunited in heaven. I am so thankful for my sister who took such care of mom as they went through the journey of mom's final years together. . . .
"Thank you for your prayers for me and my family."

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.

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."

UPDATES FROM MYANMAR

TOE SET (EAST faculty) and his wife Mag returned to Myanmar for more relief ministry.

Here's some news from their latest email:

"After praying and fasting, our team members decided to reach out to villages further in another region that have not yet received much help.

"These are villages that can only be reached by boat. The plan was to leave this week, bringing in medical and food supplies sufficient to reach several villages in the area.

"In preparation for this, we flew out four of our team members to Singapore to bring back medical supplies to Yangon. We arranged for them to leave in pairs on two separate days, carrying a total of 400 kg of medicines.

"Thank you for praying!
After two days of running around town from one government department to another our team finally got the approval for the release of ALL our medicines. Please continue to pray for future relief efforts. . . . "

Toe & Mag

I WILL BLESS YOUR GOING OUT AND COMING IN

RIGHT after our commencement ceremony, various ones left immediately for ministry overseas.
Tunji (Nigeria) and Siew Kim (Singapore) went to Cambodia to serve with a church.
Barnabas Jung (Korea) and his family joined a church-planting ministry in Mongolia.
Also in Mongolia was Ying Kheng (Singapore) to conduct communications and team building workshops for Mongolia Campus Crusade workers.
Anita (Singapore) led a team to the Philippines to reach out to a poverty stricken community.
Toe Set (Myanmar) returned home to help with relief ministry.
Siew Hong (Singapore) also went on relief mission, with a team to China.
This is really what EAST is about, isn't it?
All those studies, class work, exams are meant to build up to this:
giving our students values, convictions and practical skills that will be of use to God's work on earth.
Equipping people to better reach and touch people.
Developing Christlike leaders for the Great Commission.

CLOSING COMMENCEMENT SPEECH BY LIM CHIN LENG, receipient of the President's Award for Leadership 2008

EAST IS LIKE a big family for us.
Although we come from different countries and cultures, EAST is where our friendship with one another has been forged, our passion for missions has been kindled, and our love for God has been renewed.
As we look back, I am sure that many of us will remember the times we studied together in the classrooms, did our projects in the library, prayed together in chapel, ate together at Cambridge market, raided the biscuit tins in Agape Room, visited one another in our homes, and served together in the community.
We will definitely remember how we played together and won this year’s trophy for the Inter-seminary Sports Day. . . .
There is a Chinese saying饮水思源 that means as we drink the water, we should remember its source.
As we graduate, it is only right to remember and appreciate the different groups of people who made it possible for us to complete our program. 4 ‘F’s (or F4):
First, the Faculty and Administrative staff at EAST. Thank you for teaching us and modeling for us what it means to be Christ-like leaders. . . .
Second, our Family: Wife, Children, Parents, Grandparents, Brothers, Sisters, Nieces, Nephews, Aunts, and Uncles etc. . . . You even cooked wonderful meals and made sure we are well nourished, sometimes ‘overly’ nourished. J Thank you and we love you!
Third, our Friends, Alumni, Ministry Partners, Church, Pastors and Leaders. . . . May the Lord remember your generosity and bless you much more in return.
Finally, our heavenly Father, who is the reason we are all here. . . . .

Lim Chin Leng

THE ONLY WRONG WAY TO PRAY

"The wrong way to pray?"
"It's only when we don't pray."
With that, Pat Flynn (right with Gab Su) summarized his exhortation; and we started our worldwide day of prayer.
It was good to set aside a day to intercede for the lost and suffering around us.
And it was great to have Didymus (our alumnus) visit us with Peter Kashun, the head of LTC (a church planting and equipping ministry in India).
They reminded us of the tremendous challenges facing workers in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and the countries around them.
Places that are faraway from, and sometimes forgotten by, us.
We prayed for displaced people, people under persecution, people who are blind to the gospel for centuries.
We opened the newspapers and prayed for those living in poor and war torn countries.
We shared our hearts with one another and prayed for unsaved family members.
"A day of prayer certainly puts things in perspective for me," commented one student towards the end.
"Exams are coming but they're not the most important things in life."
"What's important is to always remember there's a world out there that needs to be won for Christ."

SWEET VICTORY

No wonder they say victory is 'sweet'.
It sure tastes good.

Last Friday, at our inter-seminary sports meet, we tied with TTC and won the overall championship.
Lim N, if you're reading this, you'll be happy to know we got the Golden Boots this year round!

It was great to see everyone turning up.
The wives, babies, faculty, students and admin team.
Everyone did his or her level best to play, cheer, and connect with one another, . . . .

Besides soccer, we had captain ball, tennis (Mrs Jeong came to help us), volley-ball, dodge-ball (our girls won the gold despite playing it for the first time), and a principals-challenge of Jenga (we were all so proud when Chiao Ek won).

Enjoy the photos. Rejoice with us.
Praise God.

LONG TIME NO SEE

We did it.

We had the first alumni get-together on 16 January, a Saturday morning.

It turned out much better than I'd expected.

The group was small--22 of us faculty and alumni turned up--but cozy.

It seemed like everybody came with the same purpose: to have a good time and catch up.
Joseph--who's as funny as ever--started us off with games (very silly ones, which I was very thankful for at nine in the morning), then we got to hear from one another.

We learned what each other was doing (e.g., Wan Jee will leave for Japan in March, and Lim N, who came back for a wedding, plays football once a week with Chinese migrant workers, good for him!).

We also found out what some people did for fun in their free time, e.g., Jan plays computer games (so big already still play ah), Alfred loves gardening, Tony jogs, and Wai Ling, who's back from Melbourne for a break, is into jig saw puzzles.

Then Kenneth Bong, South-East Asian Director of OM, spoke on how we could all last long and well in ministry.

By the way, he is an alumni of sorts--with Campus Crusade's student ministry. Said he learned from us he could change the world.

So the verdict?

"Good. I enjoyed finding out about what's new at the school." said Chae-Rim.

"And it feels good seeing old friends and professors again."

back to school

After a term of much hard work, everyone took a two-week break in December.
Here's what some of us did: Bataa flew home to Mongolia to see his sister, who's diagnosed with hepatitis A.
"It was a surprise; she cried and cried when she saw me," he says.
His sister received Christ six months ago when she visited him in Singapore.
Tunji returned to the Seychelles where he served as a missionary and spoke at his church.
"I taught 70 workers church growth principles I just learned at EAST.
"And I applied what I learned on 'Steps to freedom' to help a lady who came to me for counseling."
Tunji is pleased to announce that his congregation saw the birth of a new church in a port area before he came back.
Siew Kim led a team to Cambodia on mission trip.
"God answered many prayers and we learned a lot as we reached out to the people," she shares.
Roland and Ying Kheng Tan, faculty, went to Japan to minister at a staff retreat for more than 100 Campus Crusade workers.
"It was cold--minus 3 degrees C when we left--but the hospitality of the believers and the love the Lord showed us through His provision kept our hearts warm," says Roland.