Dearest Friend,
So I just got home from having dinner at Ikea with my Ikea buddy, Vera while many of my other friends around the world are celebrating the eve of Chinese New Year and by the way, BLESSED CHINESE NEW YEAR! I managed to bake a carrot cake yesterday in time for our prayer meeting and tomorrow I'm heading into London to get my hair cut. It's amazing how all of this feels so normal and familiar and yet a new "normal" is in the not too distant future.
Yup, I got home from Mosbach, Germany on Saturday and finally got into the packing spirit on Monday which is why my room is in a live-able state at the moment and while my auto-mode part of me is living in London as I have been for the last 9 years, the moving-on part is realising that I am still waiting for my visa, I am still quite short in terms of my financial support, there have been some issues with my accommodation when I get to Melbourne, there is a lot of packing to do and these are the last days I have with everybody here in London for some time to come. I haven't so quickly forgotten about my time in Germany which was a huge blessing and I wish I had more time and space to tell you of the many things God has been teaching me even in those 12 days. In short, if there was ever a recurring theme in the last two weeks, it would be that God is faithful and as we continue to seek Him and His Word, He will continue to show Himself faithful so yea... that brings me to where I am now, neither settled back in London nor entirely ready for the "big move" as some have called it.
Prayer Point Summary
- VISA- So far, have not heard back whether my visa has been processed and granted and if I do not get this in time, I will need to re-schedule my flight and stay in Singapore longer. I fly for Singapore on Monday (7th February) and am still hoping to get my visa in time to fly to Melbourne on the following Tuesday (15th February).
- ACCOMMODATION- Though OM did find accommodation, we later found out that there was no furniture in the room so they kindly found an alternative where I'll be staying with a lady for some time until I can either find another place or get some furniture to move into that flat with two other girls.
- SUPPORT- I often find it so difficult to talk about support and this certainly is a humbling experience for me even though God has been so faithful in providing thus far. There have been some major gifts and I hope and pray that God will teach me to be a good steward of these as much as the smaller gifts which were given with as much faith if not more. From a distance, I am learning just how expensive it is to stay in Australia and sometimes the thought of finance just brings me down. At the same time, whether rich or poor, God has called me to serve Him and so please pray that I will not lose sight of this but cling to Him that He who has called will also continue to provide for my need.
- FAMILY- It is not possible for me to write an update and not mention my family. It has been great having this week with them back in London in "normal" mode, watching my dad cook, allowing my mum to give me healthy juice in the morning and so forth. Again, thank you to all who have been praying for my family. My dad's health continues to improve and he definitely looks healthier as he slowly regains weight and energy. I would really ask you to pray now for my mum as her own health issues arises. We are waiting for a letter that will allow my mum to undergo some surgery in order to remove the piles which got worse when we arrived back in London. Both my parents are still planning on flying back to Singapore on 22 February on their way to other places.
As I write all the above, it strikes me that I can write all of this in this time where we are surrounded by much turmoil. While I really do appreciate all your prayers for my family and I and all that is going on in our own little world, please please please do not forget to pray for the wider world that God has placed us in. Just watching the chaos in Egypt earlier today, listening to the radio reports about the blizzards in the States, hearing about more storms in Australia, asking for your prayers over my own small requests feels so selfish. So please pray not for me because I already know that God will take care of my needs but please pray for those that are lost and perishing and that God would also raise up more workers for the harvest even in such a time as this.
'The earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of His salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who see Thy face-- even Jacob.
Lift up up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!
Who is King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.'
(Psalm 24:1-8,10)
celebrating the King of Glory this Chinese New Year,
Debbie
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'One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple.' -Psalm 27:4
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