Sister Beryl on home visit

S. Beryl
S. Beryl

Again my sister, Beryl, reminded me that I was the one who passed to her a book that impacted her so much it changed the course of her destiny. The title of the book was “My All For Him” by M. Basilea Schlink, the founder and leader of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary. She devoured the book, which I received free together with other books from the sisterhood. She began to read her other books and even wrote to visit the sisterhood in Darmstadt, West Germany. That visit and later visits eventually saw her become a Sister of Mary.

She was here in Singapore for about 3 weeks. The last time she was here was when mother went home to be with the Lord about 5 years ago. She stayed mostly with my eldest brother, Colin.  Two nights she stayed with us so we could catch up with what God is doing in our respective situations. She did quite a few things. She visited all the surviving uncles and aunties and cousins. She spent time with us her immediate family. She met up with former classmates and friends. She ate all the different foods she had missed while in Darmstadt all these years. By the time she left she virtually tasted everything Singaporean with everyone eager to ensure that she gets to eat what we thought she missed.

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Where I prepare my sermon

Beautiful floor to ceiling windows: let there be light
Beautiful floor to ceiling windows: let there be light

The Trinity Theological College Library is probably the most beautiful library in a theological college. I love its design. The large glass windows that bring in natural light. The courtyard in between the library and the students rooms. It gives me a sense of the vastness of God and of knowledge yet unknown to us who are creatures redeemed by God. The smell of books is stimulating. There are corners here and there where one can find some privacy and a catnap if necessary. There are three floors of books and spaces for study. The wireless there makes it possible for us to research via the internet too, or even respond to an urgent email.

My favorite quiet corner
My favorite quiet corner

More and more I find myself drawn to this space. Used to prepare the sermon in the church office but the constant interruptions and distractions would leave me frustrated at times. Furthermore there are no windows and I feel less creative in that place. The home was for many years a better place for sermon preparation. However in this recent year and a half  I have found Trinity Theological library a haven for a soul pregnant with a sermon to deliver. I thank God I live in the west. I thank God I am alumni. I thank God for the library. It’s my favorite place in the whole college. It’s a sacred workshop where many a sermon was crafted and honed, and many prayers prayed.

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My old Bukit Batok neighbourhood: an outing with my new Olympus Stylus XZ 2

It was a sunny Monday morning as I went off with my new camera Olympus Stylus XZ 2, one of those models that is slightly bigger than a compact but with some versatility of a DSLR. My old Fujifilm compact died on me and to repair it was not worth it. That’s the way it is these days.

I went to the old neighbourhood where I lived for 17 years: the neighbourhood where I raised all my children. It was an apartment at Block 264, #09-13 a pre-fabricated four-roomer. This place bore fond memories for me. As I walked around the area images, sounds, memories filled my mind. I parked at St Mary of the Angels. I think it is the most beautiful church in Singapore. I love the architecture and the feel of the place. The Catholics generally give more attention to aesthetics. Their buildings generally  give a sense of the transcendance of God. The Protestants are more pragmatic in their design, more utilitarian. Here are some pictures of the church and of my old neighbourhood.

Leading to the entrance of the sanctuary
Leading to the entrance of the sanctuary
Niches and little corners for prayer and meditation
Niches and little corners for prayer and meditation
Lovely flowers outside the prayer chapel - my first "bokeh" using a compact
Lovely flowers outside the prayer chapel - my first "bokeh" using a compact
Inside the sanctuary
Inside the sanctuary
Matthew and Elaine had kindergarten here but it is now catechism classrooms
Matthew and Elaine had kindergarten here but it is now catechism classrooms
Most of the dry market stalls were closed except the fruit stalls
Most of the dry market stalls were closed except the fruit stalls
Block 264 of Bukit Batok East Ave 4
Block 264 of Bukit Batok East Ave 4
My children waited for the Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School bus here
My children waited for the Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School bus here
The back side of the apartment block
The back side of the apartment block
As then, so now, the cats are everywhere - this one is beautiful
As then, so now, the cats are everywhere - this one is beautiful
This was where I played soccer with my three kids
This was where I played soccer with my three kids
Where the community center stood was once a field where SDP held their rallies and won the Gombak seat
Where the community center stood was once a field where SDP held their rallies and won the Gombak seat
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