Staying in Singapore
Our last entry in March came as we were in the middle of a period of uncertainty, and we didn’t expect for that uncertainty to continue for quite so long, as we went through a few more months of ups and downs. Alex went through recruitment processes only to eventually be rejected, and we continued to have no clearer sense about where else we should live except for Singapore. We kept trying to figure out our next steps, even while nothing was becoming clear, which often ended up with us talking in circles as we came back to waiting on God to reveal what was next.
Then, within a very short period of time, everything came together. Alex was hired for a new job after a quick interview process and his new visa was processed, which means we can stay in Singapore for at least another two years. And we were able to find a rental which was available for us to move into when our current lease expires, and which is larger and more practical for both having a baby and hosting guests. So within the space of a few weeks, the only unknown remaining is the exact date the baby will come and whether it will be a boy or a girl!
It’s tempting in situations like these, where months of restlessness and anxiety give way to a sudden resolution, to simply thank God and move on to enjoy the provision He has set before us. But we do want to acknowledge how difficult we found the last few months, and how this testing time has led us to new frontiers of our faith. Time and time again we knew the answer was to be at rest in what we could do (apply for jobs, live and give here in Singapore, be content not making too many future plans) and trust God in what only He could do, even if we had to keep coming back to that anchor point of faith whenever we drifted. But it was also good to learn how to be excited in the unknown, to be willing to come to the end of our time here in Singapore and take another leap of faith, and to cheerfully give God our willingness instead of becoming attached to a certain level of comfort or security.
What strikes us both now, in hindsight, is God’s faithfulness to us and how much we want to thank Him everyday. His faithfulness should spur our own faithfulness, as although His loyalty and love are given freely, attached is the hope that we will return the same to Him. He is expectant of us without setting expectations, which makes it all the more life-giving when we do give Him our full-bodied trust in the midst of unknown or difficult situations.
Northeast India
God has also been faithful in answering our specific prayer that Alex could visit our youth pastor friend in Northeast India this year, and that he could bring someone else with him. Alex’s sister and brother-in-law decided to offer God their annual leave and their resources for whatever He wanted them to do, and they subsequently wrote to us to offer to visit the youth pastor. This was such an answer to our prayer, so a few weeks ago, Alex used his remaining leave to take them to Northeast India and spend time with the youth pastor. It was lovely that this all happened without any major difficulties, despite some last minute obstacles due to new entry permit requirements and general opposition to foreigners. The time spent with the youth pastor, his family, and his youth was life-giving and affirmed that God really has brought us together, and it was a blessing to bring more people into that relationship.
While all the last minute obstacles did cause some stress, it was another opportunity to trust God and see His faithfulness in making a way for us to spend time with His people in Northeast India.
God also provided for our sister-in-law to visit Emma while Alex was away, so Emma wasn’t alone as she approaches the final stages of her pregnancy.
Looking forward
We’re now looking forward to meeting our new baby and becoming parents, but we’re also mindful of not becoming solely consumed with our own lives. We know God has kept us here for a reason, and we want to keep exploring what that is. Maybe it’s nurturing the relationships we have in Singapore, being able to visit and encourage our friends in Southeast Asia, or learning how to trust God in new situations each day, or all of the above (and other things we can’t even imagine).
No matter what comes next, we know that God will be faithful to us and that we can be faithful to Him.