Day 5

    The day started pretty late. Since we didn't go to sleep until after 2:30am last night, we didn't wake up until almost 10am. Today was Bliss's birthdayyyy!!! :) We went grab a brunch next door. I ordered shrimp wantons with a spring roll and iced lemon tea. Last night the other Tim in the program arrived, so today was his first day out and about with us.

      After brunch, we went to the store to buy a few things we needed. How weird is this? They had flat escalator's in the grocery store so you can bring your shopping cart from one story to another. Crazy awesome!

    On our way out, me and Bliss spotted a bakery. It smelled sooo good! We couldn't pass by without getting a doughnut. Definitely not the same kind from back home, but it was delicious. It was sprinkled with sugar, and the batter was much lighter. (Please excuse Tim in the background. He doesn't know how to keep his tongue in his mouth)

 

     After we came back, me, Jenn, and Bliss went meet Cynthia and Johana for some girl time. We met them and had a light snack at Toast Box (yes, again! I love that place). I ordered the same thing, except on thick toast. Even better than the first time I ordered it!

 

 

     We each shared our stories with the others, and told each other how he decided to come to the program. It really is so refreshing to hear from other women of God what the Lord is doing in their lives, halfway across the world, and know it almost perfectly aligns with yours. We have all gone through similar stories, trails, and plots by Satan to prevent us from being where we are. But we are each strong enough in our faith to overcome, and realize there is a greater call on our lives

     After that, they took us back to Marina Bay to catch the sunset and light show.

 

 

 

 

The sunset in 5 minute intervals. Beautiful!!!!!

   

  Then the light show on the water:

 

 

 



Day 4, Meeting Our Classmates

     So today was the best day here, yet! The morning started off slow. We had breakfast next door at the food court again. I ordered what they call "carrot cake", which is nothing like what we call carrot cake. It is a flour dough mixed with eggs, interesting. However, contrary to every other food here, it was completely unseasoned. If it would have been seasoned, I think I would have enjoyed it a little more. After, we wondered around beneath the food court in the market before heading home.

 

     We spent most of the morning and early afternoon at home just relaxing and napping. Today was our first activity related to the internship. We went to church for 6 then had our internship orientation right after. Church was absolutely amazing. I truly do not have words for it. People were falling out left and right, laughing and crying in the spirit, singing, dancing, etc. It was incredible to see a group of international people all worship the Lord together, whether we could all speak the same language or not. We all had one thing in common: we love the Lord. In the service tonight, we had people from America, Mexico, Italy, South Africa, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, the Philippians, and China. And those are just the people I talked to. How incredible all of these people coming together for one common purpose! I absolutely love how versatile the church here is. I know Jesus was smiling down on his children worshipping together tonight. And was worship good!! I could barely stand up!
     After service we met to talk about the internship and what to expect. Pastor Steven and Mrs. Sylvia filled is in on what to expect for the next 3 months. He stressed that there is no set in stone format of how he does the class and the importance of yielding to the Spirit first and foremost. Whatever he is led to do is how he will run the class. He told us how we will read the entire Bible in 3 months, and write outlines and sermons daily on what we read for the day!
     I got to meet everyone in our class. There are 12 of us, and truly the sweetest people. I am so blessed to have this opportunity and to share this time with them. I was also able to meet others who had completed the class in prior summers and who are now full time missionaries!
     Before heading home, the locals in our class and some we met at church asked us to dinner across the street. It was another large food court. But I had no idea what I was in store for. Ruth, a girl in my class, and her husband treated the entire table to a lavish Singaporean meal for us Americans in the class to get a true taste of Singapore! And sweet Esther in our class bought everyone at the table iced lemon tea, a common local drink. The food was absolutely amazing. I wish I could name everything but I truly do not know what half of it was. I enjoyed every bite of the 8 plates that were bought, but was very full. Family style here is where you order several dishes to put on the lazy susan in the middle of the table, and everyone seated gets a plate of rice. Great way to order for large groups and share. This way, everyone got a little bit of everything.

 

 

     We got home around 12:30 tonight. Long day but well worth the lack of sleep I will be experiencing tomorrow. I cannot wait to start classes and watch how much I will spiritually bloom these next few months. I know that I will only get out what I put in. So I am prepared to live and breathe Jesus for the next 3 months (although I should live that way every day of my life!). I truly pray that distractions flee and my sole concentration is on my Father, and how to better my walk so I can further His kingdom. I love the God I serve. He is mighty and awesome!

 

     Just a few more pictures from today:





 The Americans

 Another view from the house

 

     And from yesterday:

 



Day 3, My 23rd Birthday!

     So today was my 23rd birthday, and it was perfect! I started my morning off Skyping with my incredible mother. I sure do miss her cute face! Before we got off, she surprised me by having Chloe with her! I cried my eyes out like a baby after seeing her haha. When I thought it couldn't get any better, she surprised me with Scottie (and Samson) too! What a fabulous mother! I promise I have the best mom in the entire universe. I am blessed! It was sooo nice to see faces from home. Made me a little homesick, but I know I am right where God wants him and there is no better feeling than that.
     After that, we went grab my birthday breakfast: McDonalds. My choice! And it was amazing! Then we went to Plaza Singapore, a 7 story shopping mall. Awesome! Then we split from the boys and us girls went to Little India for a little sightseeing and shopping. It was our first time venturing off without the boys, but you would never know it! We were like pro's at navigating this city after being here for just two days.
     Little India was sooo much fun! Highlight: Coconut! We saw them in front of a little café. We ordered one, they cut it in front of us with a huge knife, and we were able to drink the coconut water, then after we finished drinking it they sliced it in half for us so that we could eat the inside. Pretty interesting! First time for everything!

     After we left Little India, we met up with the boys at the Merlion on the water, a huge tourist attraction. Very pretty view.

 

     Then we grabbed lunch, which was very good! It was a local dish that Steven suggested us eating while here. He said it is a great breakfast dish, so why not breakfast for lunch? This is what we ordered at the Toast Box: Kaya toast with two liquid eggs and a lemon tea. And of course I had cherry chocolate cake since it was my birthday! You crack the eggs that are semi-cooked, stir the liquid together, and dip the toast inside the egg. The kaya jam is a coconut jam, adding to our coconut day! It was very very good!

 

 

     After a little more shopping we headed back home. Since part of our schooling is to get 30 minutes of exercise a day, the girls decided to do some Zumba.... very entertaining to say the least. Before bed, we grabbed dinner near the house. Pretty good. I ordered duck and noodles, that came with miso soup and a spring roll.

 

    Tomorrow is orientation for our summer program. I am really excited to meet the rest of the students who will be attending with us! As of now, I only know the Americans. But we will also be having Singapore locals attending daily. Very exciting! I am ready to see what Steven, and God, has in store for us as we go through this journey. I am so blessed to have this opportunity. My God is good!

     Here are some more pictures from todays adventures:

  

 

 

 How cute is this broom we found!?

 Plaza Singapore, just a few of the floors that could fit in a picture!

 Sign in the MRT station: No Durians hahaha!

 

 

 Marina Bay Sands Hotel... crazy looking, right?