Two Years Now

With Li Chuang on Feb 3

 Today Dinah and I celebrate the two year anniversary of landing in Hong Kong with 611 Bread of Life Church! Tomorrow we go to the Gardens by the Bay to celebrate, pray and bless the land : )   

 Yesterday I realised that February 2 this year is the day that marks  the beginning of a “new year” for trees in Israel. Known as Tu Bishvat, this day marks the season in which the earliest-  blooming trees in Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin   a new fruit-bearing cycle.

 Its origins come from the laws of agriculture found Scripture. God's people needed a way to calculate the age of trees for tithing and agricultural laws so the sages established Tu BiShvat as the 'birthday' of trees. It marked a point when new fruit-bearing trees were considered to be a year older for the purposes of offerings.

 In Israel today, Tu BiShvat has taken on a new significance. It is celebrated as a day of tree planting, environmental awareness, and thanksgiving for the land of Israel.

Gardens by the Bay on Feb 3

One beautiful tradition of Tu BiShvat in Israel is the planting of trees. This practice fulfills biblical prophecy! God promised to restore the land of Israel, turning its once-barren landscapes into fruitful fields in Isaiah 35:1-2.

We remember that Lucifer has assaulted the earth since he fell from Heaven. In his hatred for life and the Life-Giver, he seeks to de-create and ultimately desecrate what was made to be beautiful.

God promises that life wins. The biblical story that started in a garden with two trees will come full circle with restoration and the Tree of Life, “whose leaves are for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22:2). 

Today - two years later - my bride and I are back in Singapore. And planting the tree of life here. This new tree will grow and become a forest of trees of life. A garden city!

Cell group Journey: A Year of Thanksgiving

Meeting at the Mason's

Back in mid-Nov 2024, a thought came about starting a cell group. Shorly after, Hadassah asks Dinah if we are starting a cell group. Not long after Ruby encourages us to consider starting a cell group. 

Dinah and I feel this is the Holy Spirit. We get back to Hadassah and she introduces David and Joyce to us. They are local. In the same month Michael and Kerry arrive with their their girls from South Africa.   

Dinah and I spend time with David and Joyce. They're newly married and speak English. We also meet up with Michael and Kerry. Both couples are ready! We begin meeting weekly in Jan - stepping forward in faith and unity. 

Daniel joins

 The forming stage is fun. David and Joyce have us over to their home during the Lunar New Year. We try meeting weekly at the Mason's apartment. Our first highlight is Mar 21 when Joyce experiences inner healing in our weekly meeting, a beautiful testimony of His restoring love!

 Holy Spirit continues to move. On Apr 6, Joyce attends the Sower course and is baptised in the Spirit! She begins praying in tongues. We are all so excited for her, rejoicing in the work of the Holy Spirit. Now husband and wife pray in tongues together! 

Pablo & Jos joins. Pastor Joshua drops by  

We rejoice with Michael and Kerry when their daughter Courtney gets water baptised - in May. Not long after this, Daniel joins us. He's Korean and speaks English with a British slant. We're thankful for every new heart God brings into our midst. 

In Aug, Pablo and Joselyn join us! They are Spanish speakers from Costa Rica. They are learning English here in HK. Now there are Costa Ricans, Hong Kongers, Singaporeans, South Africans and a Korean. This expands our spiritual family and broadens our horizons.

Daniel is baptised

 In Sep, we rejoice with Pablo and Jos and Michael and Kerry as Ian and Hayley are baptised in water. Daniel is baptised too. What a joy to witness their public declaration of faith! 

 It's a miracle to see Daniel taking this step. We've been encouraging him for over 5 months. In this period he dropped out of church. But Holy Spirit led him back. Now his parents are present to witness his baptism. Stella and us are overjoyed for Daniel.  

Joyce welcomed as member!

There's a mini-miracle in Oct. Dinah and I were away in Amen 611 in Macau at end-Sep. And missed the membership application deadline for Joyce. It does not help that I missed the bulletin announcement which is in Chinese. After returning from Macau, I apologise to Joyce and act to expedite her application. Oct 19th comes and it's a joyous moment for Joyce, David, their family and all of us as she is warmly welcomed as a member! 

Round about this period, Daniel starts joining a church nearer to his new place. Three months earlier he moved much further away. We miss him but remain thankful for the season we shared together. We ourselves will relocate soon.

Transition continues in Nov. We speak with Pablo and Jos, and with David and Joyce about new groups. Then Pablo and Jos with their boys host the Masons then us for farewell meals.

The originals: 12-7

 On Dec 7, the Masons and us are commissioned to return to our home countries to plant churches. On the day we celebrate God’s calling and the fruit of discipleship among us. Two days later we fly off, stepping into new chapters. David and Joyce send us off at the airport with prayers, blessing, and thanksgiving for all that God has done through our cell group.

 With grateful hearts, we see God’s faithfulness in every step of our journey together. Through every beginning, every breakthrough, and every sending, we give thanks to God for His faithfulness in 2025.

Commissioning

 

Isaiah 61:1

 Dinah and I are so happy to welcome our twins to HK on Friday. They rest a little before there is rehearsal for this Sun. This is followed by dinner and Fortress Prayer. This starts off a very memorable weekend!

 Crystal and Eunice take the twins shopping on Sat as Dinah and I catch up with Michael and Kerry. Afterward the twins finalise their testimonies as we join the Sat service for the last time! Our family reunite at dinner in TKV. Later Dinah refines their testimonies as I firm up my sermon.

Starting from Punggol

Sunday morning starts with makeup. Then we rehearse and pray. The first service gets going when the Nkhoma's are being commissioned. In the second service, we get right into the re-enactment. This is the first time we serve together in HK! It's super enjoyable : )

This is immediately followed by Deborah sharing her testimony. Then Daniel shares his testimony. Their sharing touch me deeply. I am moved as I go to preach. Then I see my brother with his wife and their son on the second row. Now I'm choking as I start preaching.

Re-enactment

 I'm so excited to have my family and my brother's family present. I  speak from Isaiah 61. Our spiritual papa, Pastor Joshua comes up to wrap up the sermon segment. He then invites our entire family onto the platform. He addresses Deborah and Daniel. And we are invited to kneel. Each person from the leadership team prays for us one by one. I feel impartation upon impartation as pastor after pastor lay hands on me!

Pastor Deborah prophesies for us and our new church. It's so inspiring. Several areas are similar to the prophecy we received on 28th Sep in Macau.

Commissioning

Our spiritual mama C-Mo presents us gifts. Each one is meaningful. She addresses Dinah on her new role as C-Mo of Garden City. Pastor Joshua addresses me. The entire time is filled with joyful moments. There is much laughter : ) This commissioning is super unconventional.

A joyful affair

 We even take photos together with the congregation. This is our family in Hong Kong! Our commissioning service ends with a song and a benediction. I'm still so moved!

 The Eagles team rush up to take photos. Friends come with gifts. Our former cell group come to take photos. My brother's family join us. And the next service is starting!

Family celebration

We join the third service where the Masons will be commisioned. Afterward there's an official photoshoot. Then photos with various ones. Incuding our cell group.

Finally we bid goodbyes, gather gifts and go back in a taxi. We leave the suits and gifts at home. I breathe then go celebrate with my brother and his family. And later with our housemates. 127 is a special, special day!

One year mark

First time

 Today is our one year anniversary in Hong Kong! We made it so far! Celebrations will come later. 

 First we preach - four times! And this weekend is also our debut at the Mercy Seat. After our first sermon on Sat afternoon, four pastors give feedback. So we rework our entire outline. Boy are we tired that night.   

 After the first Sun service, Pastor Joshua asks us to throw preaching notes away. With fear and trembling we do. And preach with freedom the next two services. First time without notes! 

Taiwanese Steakhouse

Are we glad it's all over at 230 pm : ) We change into civilian clothes and jump on a coach with Stella, Mimi and Miho. The coach takes us north to Shenzhen Bay in Guangdong

Well our 1-year training visa expires today. Our new work visa has been approved. But it needs to be activated.

Visa activated 

First up we celebrate our one year anniversary : ) Stella, Mimi and Miho celebrate with us. It's all our first time at a Taiwanese steakhouse. The girls are happy. Dinah and I are also happy, but also exhausted.

  

 We finally make it back to Hong Kong late on Sunday. So touched that our friends go with us on this cross-border trip. Here's our photo right after getting our new visa activated. Now we really need some sleep. 

  It's been a long and very challenging weekend! And it's been a challenging but a very good year in Hong Kong - with our new spiritual family. 
 

Unlocked

 

Locksmith Basil

 It's Mon so I go to to the rooftop to hang laundry. Then I turn the knob but the steel door will not open. I don't have my phone. I shout but no one hears.  After a long time I see Rose - Eben and Sau Wing's helper - on their balcony one floor below. I shout: "I’m stuck. Please call my wife." She nods. Soon Dinah knocks on the door but I have the key. We arrange that I throw the keys down so Dinah can get it to open the door from the inside. 

 Dinah and Rose try. But it will not open from the inside too. Our housemate Pei Er try. She calls the maintenance guy but the door just wil not open. Initially I felt calm and did not panic. But the overhead sun is very glaring since it is noon. I am feeling cold.

Spiderman Hong

As time passed I feel worried and felt like smashing the old lock. It is cold at 16 C and I am in a t-shirt and shorts with slippers. I put on Dinah’s tiny washed jumper which is dry by this time. 

Our top floor neighbour Mr Yan hears the noise and comes out. By this time Basil and Hong arrive responding to Dinah's call for help. Mr Yan opens his window for Hong to climb up to the roof then down to where I am. 

I feel exhausted at this point but am so glad to see Hong climb to the roof top carrying a ladder.

Unlocked

 Basil works on the lock from the inside whilst Hong works on the lock from the outside. Exhaustion is setting in but I no longer feel alone up here. 

 The door is finally unlocked after 2 hours. I am cold, dehydrated, sunburnt and quite traumatised. But feel so glad to be rescued. So happy to see Dinah, Pei Er, Rose, Basil, Hong and Yan! 

 Basil hugs me. He says that these things happen when we are about to preach. He means that distractions happen but we also get a true story to share with the people : ) 

The moment

Earlier Pei Er wisely asks Dinah to take photos because she like Basil knew that Holy Spirit is doing something. So we have photos now : ) 

After everyone leave, Pei Er, Dinah and I reflect over lunch. We are thankful to be planted in this Tree of Life community. Our plans were disrupted - PeiEr was on her way to play badminton; Basil was hosting lunch; Hong was on his way for an appointment. But each came without hesitation. And it was the first time we met our neighbour. I just felt so thankful. 

Rose & Pei Er

  After lunch, Pei Er starts to worship. Then she says this must mean something. It dawns on us that 27th Jan is the day Dinah and I are supposed to leave HK after a year here. Our return flight is scheduled to depart at 2:10 pm. 

 It's significant I'm unlocked at 2 pm, rescued by our new family. It's symbolic I'm unlocked - from old paradigms of pastoring, from suppression and fears. And launched into a new destiny - becoming a Tree of Life for the nations.

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 friends from Yunlin

 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 Yunlin 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 meal 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.