We're home

Weimin muscles

 30th of Dec is a special day. Prior to this, Dinah and I have been preparing our new home in Ting Kau Villa (TKV). Hong and our housemates helped. C-Mo mama first told us about TKV in July. She prepared a home for us!   

 Two Mondays ago Jason helped move some items. Today Weimin and I make three trips in his car to move our belongings to our new home. Moving is hard work. So he, Dinah and I enjoy a nice meal in Gold Coast!  

 Inside, our new housemates Catherine and Pei Er welcome us : )  Leora is still in Taiwan attending to her dad.

Welcome party

Dinah and I unpack till late. And she is still recovering from our overseas trip back from Tai Chung.  

We awake on Tue, 31st Dec with our backs rather sore. Turns out that we are not used to sleeping on hard mattresses. So we discover that mattress pads can help and we dont need to get new mattresses : ) 

First we go to our service apartment. We are in suite 770 for our final time. Our lease ends today.  I look out into the cove and admire the view. Then we give thanks to God for our 11 months here. We say goodbye to this place. And go to return the key.

We say goodbye to the staff whom we know. They wave us off. A new chapter begins. 

Goodbye Suite 770

 Off we go to Ikea to order a mattress pad. And we bump into Jojo who travelled to Tai Chung with us!  The three of us have an impromptu catch up here in Ikea : )

 Dinah and I head back to Ting Kau. We go meet up with Justin and June. They take us to a new tai pai tong for dinner. Always nice local food with J & J!

 After dinner the four of us head off to the Fortress prayer. It's Dinah and I my first time at this New Year Eve prayer time. Everyone worship and pray - all the way into the New Year.

 After prayer, we wish everyone Happy New Year and take photos. We get a ride home and it's already early the next day!            

Welcome Meal

Wed is a holiday here : ) Us housemates have an impromptu brunch together. This becomes our first meal of 2025 - with our new family! After an extended brunch, we go collect our mattress pad.  

At night Catherine and Pei Er organise a welcome dinner for us. Now we enjoy an extended dinner together : ) 

From this point - living in TKV, we both feel that we're home!

Four days in Tai Chung

Jiingjun's mom & niece

 Our first time in Taichung happened to coincide with our first-ever Christmas-time conference. It felt significant, almost poetic, that our introduction to this city was wrapped in worship, family, and the shared joy of believers gathered for the Tree of Life Family Gathering (Dec 23–26, 2024) for 611 Taiwan churches.

 Day One – Arrival and First Impressions

David our guide

 We awoke early—5:30 a.m. Breakfast was at Hong Kong International Airport with Jingjun after check in. There’s something grounding about beginning a journey over a simple meal. When we arrived, Taichung greeted us with a rainy 19°C temperature—wet and refreshing.

A warm cuppa with William and Mabel at the hotel set the tone. Next JoJo's husband David - our local guide - guided us to wander through 

Our cell group 

Eslite Spectrum - such a unique mall, more than just shopping, almost like a cultural space. The ladies enjoyed shopping while William and I grabbed a quick bite before a late lunch— featuring live cockles. It was a full day of travel and settling in. Dinah wasn’t feeling well, which reminded me how even in meaningful moments, there are quiet challenges running alongside the joy.

 Day Two – Receiving and Being Stretched

24th December began with breakfast again with William and Mabel—these small routines of connection became anchors for what's ahead.

Received

Session 1 stirred expectation. Lunch with our Hong Kong cell group felt like home away from home. Session 2 was especially impactful—spiritually passing through the mother’s birth canal spoke deeply about transition, uncertainty, and emergence into new life. It wasn’t teaching; it was healing. 

Receive & pray for

 When Joey called me up to receive and to pray, I felt both surprised and stretched. Later I was tired—physically and emotionally—but deeply glad. There’s a particular exhaustion that comes from being poured out spiritually, yet it carries a quiet joy. What a unique Christmas Eve!

Dining together on 24th

 Dinner with Catherine, Samuel, Cherie, Justine, June, Charlie and Mee Ling was filled with laughter and warmth. The session later, based on a true story, was deeply moving. Narrative carries power—the lived faithfulness of God through ordinary people.

Day Three – Tears and Celebration

Dessert w Kelly & hubby

 25th December didn’t feel commercial or hurried. It felt sacred.

 Sessions 4 and 5 continued to build layer upon layer. Lunch with folks from our former church and then dinner with friends from Tainan created breathing spaces between encounters. Conversations over meals often minister as much as the sessions themselves.

 The night session—the story of Peter and Daisy from Taipei—was a tearjerker. I found myself reflecting on faithfulness, endurance, and love that perseveres through seasons of suffering. Yet the tears gave way to celebration. It felt like Christmas in its truest sense: sorrow and joy intertwined, redemption shining through brokenness.

Day Four – Closing and Carrying It Home

Qingyun, Jessalyn & Tiffany

The final session (Session 7) carried a sense of completion, yet also commissioning. Conferences end, but what is deposited must continue. Lunch with Qingyun, Jessalyn, and Tiffany before flying back felt like a Singapore connection and like a gentle landing after an intense few days. This al fresco lunch was our final meal in Tai Chung. We walked around before we finally settled on a place. But it was fun as it was memorable. And the girls even introduced us to hot tea with bubbles. 

ToL Family Gathering

 As I reflect, a few things stay with me:

• Family matters. Shared breakfasts, spontaneous prayers and corridor convos were as formative as main sessions.

• Spiritual growth often feels like transition. The birth canal healing lingers—growth is rarely comfortable but leads to new life.

• God moves thru stories. True stories soften hearts in ways arguments never can.

• Firsts are gifts. Our first time in Taichung. Our first Christmas conference. Both marked by stretching, tears, fatigue, and deep gladness.

This trip wasn’t about presents or festivities. It was about presence—God’s presence, and the presence of spiritual family. And in that, Taichung will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Wedding Anniversary in HK

Grizzy Mountain Runaway Mine car 

 Our first wedding anniversary here was made even more special by celebrating with dear friends in Hong Kong — and spending the day at HK Disneyland.

Stark 4D ride

 We’re so grateful to have shared it with Danny and Julie, their lovely sons Nathaniel and Nicholas who came from Singapore, and Mariya from Ukraine. Being surrounded by friends from different parts of the world made the celebration feel even more meaningful. Danny was the friend who without knowing what happened two weeks ago shared the word of knowledge that was encouraging and super timely. 

It's a small, small world

 This was our second time at Disneyland — our first was with our twins at Disneyland Park in Anaheim — and returning brought back such sweet memories while creating beautiful new ones.

Super fun ride

 We stayed until late, leaving only after the fireworks at the end, tired but so full of joy. Danny and Julie persuaded us to join them, and we’re truly thankful they did. It was exactly what our hearts needed.

After getting a downer 2 weeks ago, today felt deeply restorative — a gift of laughter, gentle conversations, shared rides and chats while waiting in line.

Final pose

We’re so thankful for friendship, for love, and for moments like these that remind us how blessed we are. Holy Spirit knew the right time for us to receive a lift! And guided our friends to schedule their family holiday to Hong Kong during this time!

Tomorrow we'll go celebrate just the two of us, if we are still up to it. Right now I'm so grateful to the Holy Spirit for His love and kindness through Danny and Julie. 

 

  

 

First Cell Group retreat

With a grateful heart, I look back on our very first cell group retreat in Hong Kong —a weekend woven together by waiting, laughter, heat, heart-felt conversations, and God’s presence.

Huge roundtable

 After worship on Sunday morning, we boarded a direct coach bound for Liangtang Port of Entry, excited. The five of us Singapore passport holders—HanWei, his two kids, Dinah, and I—waited 90 minutes to clear immigration. It wasn’t the most comfortable start, but even in the waiting, there was anticipation. Holy Spirit was already teaching us patience before the retreat had fully begun.

Airbnb karaoke 

 All 22 of us eventually checked into a huge Airbnb in Jiao Chang Wei, a charming coastal village in Shenzhen. The anticipation and the joy of being together felt like a gift. That evening, we gathered for seafood around a grand roundtable that could seat 22. It felt symbolic—one table, one family.

The six kids formed their own “band,” complete with animated performances—though there was no live music. Their laughter filled the room more beautifully than any soundtrack could. Back at the house, couples took turns at karaoke while the children entertained themselves. It was pure fun seeing couples belting out their favourite Cantonese classics. Later, our cell leaders Jason and Jessica invited Dinah and I to share about our week. It was a very rough week, but our cell group surrounded us in prayer. In that moment, we were reminded that community is not just about celebration—it is about carrying one another’s burdens. We felt seen, heard, and upheld.

Help: Summer heat

 We ordered breakfast in on Monday and lingered over heart-to-heart conversations. There was no rush—just space to listen, reflect, and connect more deeply.

 Later, we ventured to Dapeng Fortress. The historic stone walls stood quietly under the blazing summer sun, reminding us of legacy. The heat drove us into an a/c refuge in a café, where Dinah and I had meaningful conversations with Jingjun and folks. Simple moments over cold drinks became sacred pauses.

Hakka cuisine

Later someone introduced us to stinky tofu—an experience few of us will soon forget! What started as hesitation turned into laughter and shared adventure. Lunch at a Hakka restaurant followed, rich with flavours and friendship. 

On the taxi ride back to Hong Kong, HanWei, Jingjun, Dinah and I shared one of those rare, unhurried conversations that only happen when you are traveling together—honest, reflective, grateful. Their kids slept. Though we adults were physically exhausted, our hearts felt more connected than ever.

Pic by Jessie

 This retreat was more than a getaway. It was family expressed in shared meals, prayer circles, sweaty walks under the summer sun, children’s laughter, late-night karaoke, and vulnerable conversations. 

 I thank our heavenly Father:

•  For safe travels across borders.

•  For children who bring joy.

•  For honest conversations that deepen friendships.

• For being present in both waiting lines and worship songs.

• For the gift of family that prays and listens.

Our first cell group retreat here will always be remembered—not because everything was perfect, but because God met us in every moment.

With a thankful heart, I look forward to more journeys together.

The Day

Send off

Dinah had not slept much the past 3 nights, busy packing. I did not sleep well those same nights with my mind on the move. Today we awake early. And say to each other: "It's real!" This is really happening. 

We load luggage onto Teck Huat and Linda's car. And board Suzanna 's car to the airport. There is a sendoff party. And they pray for us. We're touched and hug each one goodbye. As we walk into the secure area, the officer asks why there are so many people in the send off party : )   

My son and I

Onboard Dinah is so tired and falls asleep. I'm feeling glad to have shared my heart with the people earlier. 

Wow, we're actually relocating to a Chinese city to immerse in a Chinese church! What will this 1 year be like?

Suddenly I experience a moment of panic. I feel like going back. Holy Spirit calms my heart... Then I pray for a love for the Hong Kong people.

Weimin & Purple

 Boy am I glad to see Weimin and Purple at the HK airport! It's winter and the temperature is a nice 20C : ) We stop for a brief transit at his place to get a lugagge of ours that we sent over earlier. Here we meet Aleph, Jolyn, Basil, Ruby and Goodness : )

 Next Aleph and Purple bring us to check in to our service apartment. It's suite # 770. Aleph or Purple said: "Perfect! Perfect!" And it is just beside Ting Kau bridge, lit up with a red line. I said: "We're under the blood!"

We go in. The view of the cove is breathtaking! What a welcome sight : ) Going to enjoy this!   

Aleph & Purple

Then Aleph and Purple take us out to dinner. It's our first meal in our new home city! After a yummy local meal and catchup with long-time friends, we unpack. There are 6 large luggage to work through. Also, we realise we do need groceries and household essentials. Plus there are tonnes of texts to reply. Exhausted, I sleep at 1:30 am and Dinah at 3 am.