Singapore Day 30: All pain and some gain

Zentangle #4: Where are we?

OUCH! That was the most painful massage I've ever had. In the evening, we stop in at a semi-famous Javanese traditional massage, and the hour of torture begins. If I'd been a screamer or even a whimper-er, they would have heard me on the sidewalk. I'm not sure it helped do much but strip my veins: I'm sore rather than relaxed when the tiny but strong gal is done.

One big mangrove tree!

W and I enjoy the morning service at VFC. The pastor talks about the four animals that encourage us to be practical in our walk with God: the ant, the rock badger, the locust, and the lizard. (Students may have used some of the tips from W's class to run the accompanying videos.)

I make ramen for lunch before we catch our favorite bus #12 to East Coast Road (actually the south coast). W and I walk a mile or so to the beach from the bus stop. It is 95o, humid, and brutally hot at 3pm. (By 7, it's cooled to 90o.)

The sandy beach has "No Swimming" signs posted, but campers have erected little tents for sleepovers. Families and friends using the barbecue pits make the most of the stunning ocean view. Off-shore, dozens of ships swing at anchor. We can see freighters, container ships, smaller vessels, and everything between, nose pointed into the wind. W drops me off for the massage and strolls up the street and back.

Ships on the horizon

I'm sore after that massage torture. We ride #12 back to Tampines Street and eat. Can you believe we have hot rice and chicken (W) and tea soup (me)? We eat warm food for most meals; so does everyone else. The fans overhead move the air around so everything cools quickly, including us.

CK and Mimi bring their 2-year-old twins over from 8-9pm. We pull the big newprint block out of a suitcase (Yay, someone can use it!) and hand over the two sets of markers I used for class. The kids keep busy: they're drawing, jumping, looking around. Angel and Ansel are beautiful children, an answer to prayer and a long wait. It's easy to see that they have good parents: they're friendly, lively, and creative. What fun!

W coming back from taking pictures
on a breakwater

We finish packing at 10 and fall into bed for a few hours. We'll be leaving here at 2:30a.m. for our 5a.m. flight to Tokyo and then Seattle. The plan is to arrive Monday morning - after 17 hours of travel- a few hours later than when we leave Singapore. Time zones. Jet lag. It's all coming our way.

Read more:

*They shall live in safety, and no one shall make them afraid. Ezekiel 34:28 NLT

*No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 NIV

*Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:13 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Like a comforting mother, hold me this day, Lord, with the tender touch that kisses our wounds and rubs our shoulder and keeps us safe when we fall or even fail. Thank you Lord. Amen.