Singapore

Singapore

21-24 August 2013

Senior couples Conference brings together the 20 couples serving all over Malaysia and Singapore.  Some are helping to train and support the local church branches.  Some are serving to help the young Elders and Sisters with apartments and travel.  Some teach English.  Two of us are doing humanitarian projects with the local charities.  Elder and Sister Howell serve in West Malaysia and we are serving in East Malaysia.  All of the missionaries young and old are making lasting friendships in and out of Church membership.

Malaysia limits their visas for missionaries to three months so ALL missionaries fly into Singapore every three months to renew their visas. They put us up in hotels and serve lunch and dinner.  Here we met with our mission president and received training and instructions.  A lot of the instructions were focused around health and safety.  Many testified of their feelings and experiences of Heavenly Father blessing lives.  We have already felt His blessings. 

It was a great opportunity to meet and hear from others who have served here for months.  A few couples and young missionaries were finishing their missions and on their way home.  It is hard for them to say goodbye to the people they have grown to love.  Many told Dan and I that they were jealous of us because we were just beginning our experience.  So far we are not homesick or discouraged.  Most Malaysians are speaking English and we are well understood. 

We spent an extra day in Singapore with a few couples to site-see.  We visited the famous Bird Park, which was a tropical delight, acres and acres of tropical forest housing birds of all colors and types from coral flamingos to pelicans and canneries.  The park was well kept and groomed.  We also took a boat ride down the Singapore River where you can exit to shop, eat and stroll.  I also toured my first mosque.  A handsome young man had me dress in a long silk robe because I was wearing a short sleeved shirt and I needed to have my arms covered.  I saw several young women drop coins into a donation box and older men gather to pray in the large carpeted room. I could have stayed for hours learning from this young man.   

East meets West in Singapore where there is a blend of science and art.  It is very different to what I am used to.  The buildings are not rectangular or square, they are triangular or dome-shaped with armadillo scales, or shaped like a pyramid with layers of flowers at each window.  There is a large ship atop 3 buildings!  Another structure looks like a lotus blossom with solar panels at the tip of each pedal.  They don’t worry about earthquakes or most natural disasters because they say they don’t have those things here, other than flooding.

 

Beautiful purple and white flowers garnish both sides of the main road.  Trees are abundant, trimmed and shaped.  We were told every tree has a number so they can keep track of when each one needs care.  The city is very clean, modern and attractive.  The airport is huge with extensive waterfalls and flower gardens inside.  The employees are noticeably polite and thoughtful.

The malls and shops are loaded with all kinds of foods such as fish, pork and hotdogs, deep-fried and served on sticks.  Bakeries are abundant with all kinds of breads and delectable desserts of chocolate, puffs, cream cakes, donuts and bars drizzled with frostings.

Below ground people are focused and serious.  Everything moves quickly, the escalator is jacked up to 15 miles per hour, no one stops to chat or stroll.  During the rushes we squeeze into a train, face to ear with some stranger, and never say a word!  I look around at the crowd sweating on each other and it makes me grin.  Although I’m not the only one sweating, I am the only one grinning.