My New Hero! Grandma Can Salsa!

It's dance video link day for Spicetolife!

Thanks David Calkins for the fwd!

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Dance Addiction

thanks Rhapsody for this forward from the Dance Fever TV show. Not only addiction, but any sin, I'd say. Powerful.

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Watershed Arts, Garold Andersen, Brand New Bag

Watershed Arts, Garold Andersen, Brand New Bag

just read about it on amazon...Garold & Lori came to Singapore a few years ago. Can't wait to read it.

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CONFESSION: I'm a recovering Lone Ranger.

Have you ever been frustrated with the messiness of working with others? I feel like I get so much more done, and done better when I go it alone, but I keep hearing, reading, seeing the motivational posters that we're stronger when we work as a team than when we go it alone.

I know it's typical. I'm well aware of the typical "developmental phases of a leader" (CRM Focusing Leaders/research by Dr. Bobby Clinton). A typical statement of people my age about their work/or ministry is: "IT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE PEOPLE."

I'm in the middle of a project that's requiring professional flexiblity that Elastigirl from the INCREDIBLES would find challenging.

The Apostle Paul in the Bible teaches us about being "the body of Christ" Romans 12 first addresses it, and then in 1 Corinthians 12:12 & 21...

"12. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ....²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"

That about sums up how I've been feeling the last few weeks.

It doesn't so much matter what it is that's requiring me to grow in patience and grace. What matters is what I find myself reading the day after I asked the Lord: "Can I just quit? Would it be okay if I just stopped working on this?"And I sensed Him say: "Sorry. no. you need to stick with it. see it through." 


I find myself finishing a terrific book by Gordon Smith, Courage & Calling.  Chapter 9 takes all the teaching about our vocations: our holy purpose for being on the earth, for this time and addresses the topic "Working With and Within Organizations."


Among the many good points Smith has is this point - jumping off the page as if a neon sign:

"Accept and work within the limits and strengths of the organization.... This means accepting the limitations in a situation; but more, it also means seeing the potential within those limits....

 "This does not mean that we tolerate mediocrity; rather it means that we pursue excellence within our particular situation and its potential rather than constantly complaining about what we wish did characterize our situation.

"...it is easy to be a critic. It is easy to identify with what is not present and what is not good and what you wish would make an organization better. But true genius has the capacity to identify the strengths and work from them, to build on them and celebrate them, being grateful for what is there rather than complaining about what it not there." p173-4.

As I put the book down, I pick up a missionary newsletter from a respected friend and Arts Ministry professional. Robin Harris was reporting on her trip to Tuva's capitol city Kyzyl, for a disorganized first Ethnomusicological Worship Arts Conference (layman's terms: culturally relevant music). It's not a surprise to me that she's reporting on a similar challenge with grace and dignity:

"It is very often true that pioneer efforts are messy, so it's no surprise that this first attempt was, well, messy. Besides, it's about time the churches in Kyzyl started working as a team! We count it a privilege to have been the catalyst to motivate that very healthy step forward."

If you're in the midst of a chaotic project and needing encouragement to stick with it with grace, know you're not alone! The integrity and character which is being built in us is to grow in not only our patience and grace, but even more fundamentally, our respect for the dignity and reputation of others, "regardless of their competency or effectiveness." (Courage & Calling, p166)

We all have so much growing to do!

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Faith and Performing Arts in Slovenia

From Lin Sexton a friend through CITA in USA:

Thank you so much for your help with Playback Theatre. The Slovenia performing arts camp turned out to be far more than we even hoped for. I am so thankful for your encouragement and help!

Except for the Playback sketch, they performed in English because most Europeans want to speak English. We were joined by a Slovene director who is getting her doctorate in Playback in a study sponsored by the EU. I hope you'll watch the little youtube clip below - in it you'll see these kids, only a few of whom are connected with an evangelical church singing about Jesus. Each song caused great discussion. Each sketch and dance, the same. The Spirit filled the room as they performed for a packed audience the last night. We have been invited back next year to do an even bigger camp!

The PT sketch developed in workshop was based on the true story of one of the girls. She had been raped as a child, her family would not even discuss it, betrayed by a lover as a college freshman, and through a Christian therapist found the "real God" who healed her heart. I could not have scripted anything more true or moving or relevant to Slovene culture. The PT expert chose this story out of all those told to prepare as part of our show (Of course, the girl remained anonymous to the audience).

I could go on with dozens of stories, but I just hope you'll watch the video clip (it's short) and accept my thanks.

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Performing the Sacred, Dr Dale Savidge in Singapore

Friends who are passionate about Jesus and Theatre!

Last Thursday thru Sat Dr. Dale Savidge* came to Singapore and we had a great intensive class : PERFORMING THE SACRED at TCA College (where I have the privilege of teaching the theatre courses for students who want to use creative arts in ministry:                                  

(see FB group page for photos). We're all exhausted, but full from great fresh insight on the relationship between Christianity and Theatre, as well as collaborating with one another on bringing Scripture to life in creative ways.

Then, yesterday, Wednesday - Theatre Practitioners had a "Uniquely Singapore City Tour"

Working professionals in theatre and performing arts had a full day of tourism and hanging out. It was a good excuse to get together, know one another better, and be mutually encouraged by taking Dr. Savidge around out town.

Tonight: Drama as Ministry Fellowship

A casual gathering of those who use Theatre in ministry - or would like to. Held at Hope Church Singapore, Cuppage Plaza, top floor auditorium. A great opportunity to meet up with others who share your passion, and meet Dr. Savidge with some Q&A follow up to the PERFORMING THE SACRED class last week (for those who missed it!). If you've recently presented something for worship, or have a short script that's getting polished up, or have produced a short video for worship, bring it along as a show-and-tell to inspire us! (text ahead of time, so we can plan accordingly!)

Check out the Facebook group page for details! (join the group too!) 

(Photos from our first showcase workshop May 2nd)

Hope we get to see you this week!

For the CITA SIngapore team,

K!Mberly Creasman

Theatre Practitioner/Explorer

Church Resource Ministries

*Info on Dr. Savidge & TCA College, Certificate in Higher Education in Creative Arts:

http://www.tca.edu.sg/

Dr. Savidge was brought out for TCA's 30th Anniversary celebrations starting later this week. I've known and respected Dale since 1992 when I joined CITA (a 20+ year old organization for networking and resourcing Christians in Theatre Arts). He wrote the chapter on theatre in Amour Publishing's SIGHTS & SOUNDS: A Christian Response to Media and the Arts (local) and helped us in designing the theatre courses for the college. He has 2 masters degrees and a PhD in English and Theatre, and has his own arts management company representing some extremely talented actors in USA (including Rich Swingle  who came from New York to be in the cast of Judah Ben Hur years ago, and & Bruce Kuhn who came through a few years ago to do his Gospel of Luke in a few venues and teach a worshop on Biblical Storytelling at GBST.)

If you want to read more about Dr. Savidge, Here's the link to the CITA leadership page on the Christians in theatre Website. But trust me. He's not only well connected to what Christians are doing in theatre, and extremely smart, he's also just an all around great man.
http://cita.org/site/?page_id=8

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PERFORMING THE SACRED

Resources for drama ministry
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.

Dale Savidge visits Singapore to bring his expertise at TCA College. Three days of good impartation. He says the history is the boring bit. But it was most fascinating to me!

Great to have a whole bunch of people sharing and creating and learning together. As Dale said today: over the years many things have come out of the connections made from seeds planted, germinated, sprouted at CITA conferences in North America. Marriages, Theatre Companies, Plays written, produced, collaborated on...

Who knows what will happen from those who gather together these few days while Dale visits us from USA.

One group the Footstool Players from KL came down for these 3 days. Check out the website to find out more about this touring group from Malaysia that was birthed out of a local church.

Thank you TCA College and Paul David (Acting Dean of their School of Creative Arts) for having the generosity and vision to bring Dr. Savidge out for your 30th Anniversary Celebrations!

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Theatre as Ministry in Singapore

a CITA Singapore and CRM (Church Resource Ministries) event

Thursday, September 2, 2009
Hope Church Singapore, Cuppage Plaza
7:30 PM

If you are using theatre in ministry somehow, or would like to explore performing arts in your church or outreaches, we're gathering with Dr. Dale Savidge of Christians in Theatre Arts

Come meet others in the city who have the same passion as you: Jesus and Theatre

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Yu Ben Had's Feedback Form

Yu Ben Had's Feedback Form
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.

from the Drama workshop July 4. Seems we did a great Job. Mr Yu was very impressed.

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Summer Ministry Update 2009 from K!Mberly

Exploring Drama as Ministry Showcase/Workshop with local theatre & drama ministry leaders (8 different churches involved!).

On July 4th the team pulled off a second Exploring Drama as Ministry workshop. There was more hands on participation and loads of interest in us holding more workshops. Some of the churches have asked our trainers to come teach workshops in their churches. 

Following the workshop was a unique opportunity to help coach a 7 year old Christian accapella group "Agape lla" for their first major concert! It was a delight to come alongside them in a few rehearsals to cheer them into a higher level of public performance/showmanship. I felt God's pleasure as I helped them go from good to great!

Agapella had two blessed nights of proclaiming our good news through accapella music to sold out crowds in the theatre of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Following that, I had a unique opportunity to work with local secular musicians for a Singapore Heritage Board Concert. A friend needed some technical behind the scenes help for the concert at the last minute. Please pray that God would open doors for ministry to musicians through the connections made in this concert.

This Monday night my college level Theatre students took their final exam and read their final drafts of the scripts they've written (for use in a ministry context). Two of my students went on a mission trip to Philippines (w permission, a sweet thank you note is pasted below).

The next big drama event for Kimberly: Christians in Theatre Arts Exec Director comes from USA late August to teach, speak, meet & encourage believers in the arts community. Pray with me as I organize support for his class (above) and set up opportunities for him to bless and encourage Christians in the arts.

But for the next week, we're on "staycation" -- taking a break here in Singapore! Glad for the time to relax with Jim even if it's still in muggy weather we can turn on the airconditioning and relax with a good book or two. We'll ride out this crazy swine flu and be rejuvinated for when Tyler comes back from USA and we launch into a new school year for the boys.

Prayers in our personal life answered. Thank God with us for:

-Growing depth of friendship and spiritual nurture with peers. After all these years we have a growing circle of peer friendships. Thank you for praying.

-Settling in a new "home church" here in Singapore: Redemption Hill, a 7 month old church plant.

-Competent health care providers on the various fronts of healing. Still not 100%, but thankful for good healthcare and healing coming slow but steady.

-Tyler's experience in USA w/YoungLife camp and special time with family. Cameron's maturing while being "only child" in Singapore for the summer break

-Focus on the Family offered us a generous bursary toward the course Cameron's taking to make it affordable for us!

Prayer :

Deepening love for and dependence on the LORD

Obedience to do daring things by faith, and staying the course in faithfulness. Whatever God wants.

Planning for the future.

Healing.

& Provision for those who are partners in our ministry financially. Continue to pray with us that God will provide for you, bless his followers and meet all of our needs. We are confident that He is able, but we are all now more aware of our dependence on Him!

Do let us know how we can be praying for you!

fondly!

Kimberly 

for the Creasmans

(Love the World, Soul, Rock Bistro Bar: June 2nd, singing for an evangelistic concert hosted by Grace Assembly of God. They let me coach the 5 other singers in their introductions, and let me take the stage too! My first chance to perform in 2009)

*On Jul 20, 2009, at 5:10 PM, student Rachel Eric wrote to me after their trip to the Philippines:
Hey Kimberly! Of course...you can share it with anyone and everyone...no need our permission! Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! Feel so blessed and excited to 'go for it' even more cos God is so awesome! :) But it really is no small part you empower us! Ella, Bee, Khimmy and I always get so so excited about all that you teach us and show us is possible to do!!! Oh yes, forgot to say too that one of the mimes that we did there was The Box, which Dorithy did for her final performance in Performing Arts class! The videos on YouTube are so helpful and Dorithy was so kind and supportive providing us the script to do so too! :) Thank you so much again, and God bless you and your family so richly! lotsa love and hugs out,

Ella and i are back from a most wonderful mission trip to the Philippines.  I believe Ella would have filled you'll in on the awesome things God amongst us. God really used drama, songs, dance as a tool that crossed cultural or language barriers...to not only spread His message but bond the people and us together in a special way. And from day one we were awed that God was our divine director.  Cos no matter what mistakes we made - the entire thing ends on a perfect note, the people understood the message in a much deeper way than we expected and we had loads of fun! The drama workshop we did was so simple but super fun. A leader in our host church told us that those who are interested in drama don't have a chance to really learn this stuff that we have learnt, cos many of them arnt from backgrounds too that enable them to go to college or special courses. But the people, mainly kids, youth and young adults who attended are so talented and have such a burning heart for God, they learnt so enthusiastically and quickly. We are so excited that groups from some churches including our host church are also going to use drama as a ministry in a greater way! We came back home so blessed by the Filipinos. Cos though they're so super gifted in the arts, esp music, they have a spirit of humility. The very gifted people we had the privelege to be with never once displayed their talents but were always very communal  - using it to encourage everyone to come together at various spontaneous occasions to give their talents, their best to worship God. We're back wanting to cultivate this spirit in ourselves and the youth we're so blessed to work with in church.  We really want to thank you for your teaching and guidance in our lives, not just as artistes but as people who are passionate and available to God.  We would not have the knowledge, confidence, creativity, resources and everything else that enabled us to do what we did if not for you'll being our teacher and role-model!

We thank God for you'll so so so much! God bless you and your family, work etc richly! With much love, rach  on behalf of Ella too :)

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Firstborn: Featured on Clicknetwork.tv

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Modernizing/Localizing Bible Characters

In the Performing Arts course at TCA College (Singapore), we learn about different performance styles. This particular adaptation has taken a well known Bible character, Thomas the Disciple, and placed him in a modern setting. In adapting this, we imagined Thomas if he were meeting up with his friends in 2009, in a Singaporean Kopitiam years after the resurrection of Christ. Actually, it is a Kopitiam in heaven, because, in the end Thomas tells his friends of his eventual martyrdom for the cause of Christ.

In our placing Bible characters in modern settings, with local language, the audience can more easily identify with them. Otherwise, these characters might be seen as Ancient History and having no relevance to modern people's lives. But a modernized depiction breaks down stereotypes and helps us learn from and apply lessons of these ancient peoples. In the same way Jesus used parables to teach, these modernized Bible characters are just one way of effectively reaching and communicating with 21st century people. May God bless you in your effort to teach God's truths with creativity.

see the script here:
“Doubting Thomas”

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Personal Notes of Thanks....

when's the last time you sent a handwritten note? I've rec'd a few in the past month...wow.
They really means so much!
Mmmmmake someone's day! I wish I did it more...
Thanks Victor! Thanks Dee. Thanks Deniece. Thanks Fullerton Evangelical Free Church. Thanks Mom.

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Worship Symposium to INCLUDE THEATRE!

Methodist School of Music
Getting revved up to see what will come down. Looking forward to the chance to get to know fellow CITA member Colin Kirton better while he's down from Kuala Lumpur to do the drama training.

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Middle Schoolers & Playback

Facebook | Videos Posted by Desiree Den Engelsen: May 29, 2009 7:08pm
Desiree Den Englesen video'd with her phone, so hard to hear, but these young teenagers/preteen girls were telling stories of how they'd grown spiritually or times when it had been hard to be a Christian.

Middle School Dramaworkout ended our year May 28th by performing in the last chapel of the year. All of Middle School was QUIET in the crowded multipurpose room as the girls improvised the stories and feelings for their peers. I was paying close attention to the audience - they were leaning forward in their chairs...a good sign! Teachers came up afterward to say how amazed and proud of you they were -
brave to perform,
braver still to perform improv,
and bravest of all, to perform improv of personal stories!

APPLAUSE!!!!

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Samples of Sketches in SE Asia (English)

Just made a playlist of videos of drama ministry I've worked on, or student work in Singapore the last few years.

A couple of our favourites from the recent Showcase/Workshop:

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Quote for Writers:

"Firstly, it must be a well-made verbal object that does honor to the language in which it is written. Secondly, it must say something significant about a reality common to us all, but perceived from a unique perspective."
W. H. Auden

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Academia

At an Examination Board meeting for an institution of Higher Learning today I JUST HAD TO KEEP FROM ROLLING MY EYES! I am so not an academic!!! I learned today that the Singaporeans get their nit-picky need to obsess on details from the British! I almost laughed out loud a couple of times. Left brain people talking about adjusting every course assignment graded to a 100% scale and then re-doing the math to figure percentages for the grades in a grading systems for a CREATIVE ARTS program. I need an administrator! Absolutely Oxymoronic. and takes most of the fun out of it for me. God knows there's not much money when we add up the hours. Felt like they were tearing my fingernails out and I was just listening. Earners of Doctorate Degrees, I'm sure are mostly all good people. AND, If I just think about Academics as being, say, Slovenes from the Balkans, or Yaminaua Indians of Ecuador, and suspend my judgement of their culture Like i would if they had bones in their noses I'd not be so critical. I LOVE teaching, and seeing students learn, grow, experience life more creatively full and rich. I just can't tolerate the hoops we all must go through to make most of those students feel merely adequate in the end.

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The world sees Christianity as backward, unimaginative and boring.

And it's true. We've earned the reputation.

But, if you’re anything like us: increasingly passionate about knowing Jesus, and the role the Arts can play in sharing our convictions that truth can be known,

Welcome to the Party!

After spending the first half of my life in Los Angeles, the city with more theatres than any other city in the world, I grew up in love with both Jesus and the stage. Halfway through my co-starring role in “The Kimberly Creasman Story”, life took a crazy turn toward Singapore by way of joining Church Resource Ministries and learning “yi dian” Mandarin in China.

For the past 9 years now I've been a student of - and serving the church in – Singapore.
With our unique cultural integration of the best of both East and West, we have so much to offer, with limitless possibilities!

I believe that artists in Singapore, along with the well-resourced church here, are in a position to be a great influence not only to our society, but in the region and the world.

I'm excited about this step our grassroots network of Christians in Theatre is now taking to expose and equip the church in theatre arts. TCA College has been offering a Certificate in Creative Arts, but until now, we’ve never worked past a mere introduction on the genres from the Performing Arts course.

That’s why it's been thrilling to put this ½ day together with a wonderful team of friends, colleagues and former students. Once a week, for the past 3 months, we’ve had a great time getting to know one another and rehearsing the various scenes you’ll see today.

Many people believe that theatre requires a big budget and lots of fancy equipment. We have neither. When we came together we had only enthusiasm, a lot of experience & a little bit of talent. We want to inspire you today to employ creativity and drama in your ministry whether or not you've got money for costumes, sets and lights!

K!Mberly Creasman
Dramatist/Explorer
CRM Singapore

TCA College, School of Creative Arts, Adjunct Faculty



Calling Statement:
God delights in creativity and his creatures.
I am called to radiantly reflect his delight and add SPICE TO LIFE!

First, helping Christians discover His Creative Spirit in themselves,
and illuminating the truth of a personal God in fresh and tasty ways.

Then, helping the spicy friends I've made recognize and submit
to the source of their creative spirit.

Through personal relationships, writing, teaching, directing and connecting,
I am called to model holiness to the Artistic, and artistry to the holy!

At the end of my life,
I see the world full of Christ followers creatively and hopefully celebrating this mortal life
because they are made in the image of their Creator and have a strong sense of their unique destiny!

(Into Letter in CITA Showcase/Workshop Notebook)

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UPDATE on Drama Showcase/Workshop May 2: TEN DAYS TO GO!

Last night we had another productive rehearsal on sections of our Daniel 2 "finale" at Grace AOG. I hear that Lionel's group has extra rehearsals planned as well. The Playback group rehearsed last week at Grace. A photo of our giant (5 meter tall?) statue/puppet is up on the facebook page. A few of you are putting together your 3 minute testimonies to intersperse through the program (Siew Cheng Lee's is attached below since she can't be part of May 2nd). Joanna at CRMS reports that people have started to send in their $$$ registrations today.

We're really rolling quickly toward May 2nd on multiple fronts!

We finally have a flyer (attached) in jpeg format and are having a few posters made to put up in Christian schools for this last week before our event!

Thanks for helping get the word out. CRMS sent an email blast to pastors, TCA College sent to their list, and everyone I've called so far has been passing on the info in some way or another. I've so enjoyed the process with you, but having a whole bunch of people attending the workshop would be nice. I'm reminded of Jesus words: "Do not let your hearts be troubled..."

Grassroots, personal invitations are always best, so thanks for your help in getting the word out to those hidden drama enthusiasts who just need a little encouragement and training to integrate more artistic expression into their worship and ministries! Note below the facebook event page, and a 40% discount being offered to students.

I look forward to our Thursday night rehearsal at COOS this week. More details will get ironed out and fall into place so that you can "shine like stars in the universe" *

ALSO: We're not without challenges/opposition! Primarily: a number of us have fallen sick or had injuries the past 2 weeks. 

Let's keep one another and this event before God's throne, asking him to be glorified in all aspects of the preparation and the the presentation!

*"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out [dramatize] the word of life -- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing." -- Philippians 2:14-16

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The Ministry of Drama Ministry

I recently asked one from our Thursday CITA group what it has meant to her Christian life and growth to be involved in Drama Ministry. Here's what she wrote:

Im a late bloomer and only started being involved in drama ministry in end year '01 (I think). My friends find me a drama cos I constantly have my hands flying all over when I talk to them and if I want to emphasis on something I will drag my speech.
I thought being in drama was just to come up and prance around. You get a whole audience to look at you. But having been involved through the years I realized that I have more to learn and is still learning.

I have to confess that Im no bible thumping from cover to cover. Ask my mom and she complains that I don’t even memorise the order of the bible be it the Old or New Testament. I now cheat by having tags on the sides of it.

Having done a few shows have helped me studied the bible (not all of it yet). You see I have to memorise the script and most important of all thoughts will be flying through me and it does seem that God is speaking to me through the script. Here are some excerpts from the scripts I have learnt.

In The Gift by Glenn A Hascall (Reader’s Theatre), our lines are only either one word or phrase but yet it kept telling us what this Gift from God is where it is from, where it is coming. Priceless, precious and perfect gift. And we all know that the Gift is Jesus.

Temple Merchant (John 2:13-23) by Debbie Lee. This is the only chapter that I will shiver if had been in the temple. I wouldn’t have thought that Jesus would be so angry. I can safely say that I don’t come to church to make money but on hindsight Church has often been my playground. I get to meet and chat with friends and sometimes loose my focus of coming to church.

All of us know the Lord’s Prayer by heart but what does it actually mean? I only got in depth when I did the Lord Prayer by (I don’t have the name) . Hallowed be thy name, and just like my part in the script that says “It means….it means…(loss of words) Goodness! How should I know what it means? It’s just part of the prayer. (pause) By the way, what does it mean? Does it break your conscience when you say “Forgive us our debts even as we forgive our debtors?” It was quite tough doing this script, I did sit down and cried a few times. I need to reconcile with what I have to say and now it is a constant reminder to me whenever I say it.

In a Christmas play “Saviour” no idea who wrote this. I learnt of the prophets from the Old Testament who predicted the Messiah’s birth. Micah predicted that the messiah would be born in the village of Bethlehem and it’s the village where King David is born. Isaiah predicted that the messiah will be born into the family of King David. Isaiah also predicted that the messiah of Israel will be God himself in human form. The messiah will be known to his disciples as Immanuel which means God with us. Mary already knew that her baby will be a boy who is the messiah. He will be called Joshua, a Hebrew name which means God is Salvation. The Greeks will pronounce His name as Jesus.
So yes, Christian drama does help me understand the bible better. It also helps me to have a closer walk with God. I just cant go out and say lines without it’s true meaning.

SIEW CHENG LEE, Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore

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CITA in Singapore

+ & - Space
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.

A good exercise for helping us get past not wanting to touch each other. Our bodies are the positive space, the first person in a marked out square on the floor makes an interesting shape and one by one the rest fill up the "negative space" with other odd shapes!

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"The Ledger People"

"The Ledger People"
Originally uploaded by K!Mberly.

The Thursday after their success for the Focus on the Family Singapore Partner dinner, they ran it through for us.

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PRESCRIPTION: the Spiritual RED BULL of fellowship in Egypt

SINGAPORE. 60% Daoist Chinese. 16% Christian.        

Pop: 4 million. Cultural hub of Asia.

My head is spinning from jet lag, career euphoria and a clash of cultures. There’s an Indian Festival going on in the common area of our concrete apartment blocks. My boys are playing funky American hip hop on the stereo. And though Asia has been our home since 1997, I just got back from turning 47 (middle aged?) in the Middle East.

ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT. 90% Muslim. 10% Christian. 

Pop: 80 million. Cultural hub of the Middle East.

No. I didn’t mix with the terrorists suspected of bombing a popular tourist spot (Day 1) or have a chance to meet more than one Muslim; a girl who’d just graduated from college in Islamic Law (Day 11). I spent all the time in the middle with 80 of the most passionate followers of Jesus of the millions of Arabic speaking Coptic Christians living in the 10/40 window.

SELF-DOUBT. Is it really a good idea to leave your family for 11 days? I mean really, you’re depressed. You’ve had a hard time juggling homemaking and a few teaching commitments. You’re rarely speaking your hard earned and easily forgotten Chinese in day-to-day life. What are you doing running off to the Arab world to teach drama when you’re a failure in Asia as a wife, mother and missionary who can’t keep toilet paper stocked in the bathrooms let alone be involved in any really significant theatre related work or ministry? 

HEALING. Despite having the world’s most supportive and positive husband, I have become world-class at negative self talk. 

However, New Year’s 2009 found the children and I making seriously positive steps toward equilibrium and health on all fronts (so far, 20 doctor visits, 6 prescriptions, and 4 books to figure it out!). Amazingly, it turns out that part of my healing was a solo trip to Cairo. 

SHOULD I GO? When I was invited to come teach Evangelistic Drama Teams again this year, I brought it up with my sensible lady friends in Bible Study. The 6 who since August have most intimately seen me struggling in readjustment to life in Singapore. Instead of saying, 

Egypt? Are you kidding?,  they said,

Egypt! You HAVE to go!

I called the conference planner. I wasn’t sure how Playback Theatre, the style I’d taught last year, could be used with their theme this year to “Train the Trainers.” I could see how it might work to have 4 days to take Actors, or Directors, or Script Writers or Technicians to a level where they might be able to pass on some skill. But I needed to ask him directly: Do you really need me there this year? I was sure the answer would be “Not really, …but thanks for asking.” Instead we had a 2 hour conversation that started with,

I don’t think you understand that you’ve made a huge impact on these people. You are famous here. The first thing people ask when I tell them about the conference is, “Will Kimberly be there?” I’ve told them all “Yes!”…. You have to come.

(Egyptians, by the way, are world class at making people feel special. He may very well have said the same to all of the other trainers!)

So, by faith and credit card I booked the ticket and knocked on only two doors to pursue extra funds to help cover the cost in our internationally flagging economy. Door number two, a Singaporean pastor, followed up with an email, 

Have my secretary cut Kimberly a check for the entire cost of her flight. 

I made 2 Corinthians 12:9 my theme verse for the trip. The Apostle Paul had been complaining about having some kind of a nagging problem, his thorn in the flesh, when he heard God speak to him:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

WEAKNESS INDEED. I made my itinerary to arrive a day before the 5 other international trainers to make sure I’d get over jet lag. A sore throat and drippy nose hit and the now irregular curse hit my aging female reproductive organs full force. By the 3^rd of the 4 day conference I couldn’t get myself out of bed for breakfast. While my achy body waited for aspirin, vitamins and the healing of Jesus to kick in, downstairs the conference prayed for me because I had no voice. I laughed about my theme verse and thought,

The only way I’d be weaker and his power more perfect is if they brought me in on a stretcher and all laid hands on my English teaching notes to learn by osmosis!

BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN. And he cares about you and I and our little attempts to please him. More than I could have even imagined before, his power was made perfect in my weakness. Needing to be flexible, and not knowing ahead of time who or how to prepare, I brought those notes from last year, and the Holy Spirit clearly lead my pedagogy for each of the 13 training sessions. I fell in love with the 10 students in my Playback section who quickly bonded, learned to love and trust each other, grasped the difficult and unusual concepts for this new style, marveled that they could use their whole bodies in worship and storytelling, stretched their creativity to the limits and told me over and over, 

I didn’t think this kind of theatre & creativity was possible for Upper Egyptians. 

I was skeptical at first, but now I see how amazingly powerful this can be used to bring people closer together and find common ground.

Playback gives us an unforgettable platform for sharing our testimonies, our stories of faith; our prayers. Not just among us in our drama teams, or in our church meetings, but somehow, as you’ve said, God will show us how to use it in our communities to bring down the walls between us and find what we have in common so that maybe we can open doors to share more…

The class did a performance on the last night. You’d have thought they had been rehearsing for more than half a year. One first time observer called it “miraculous.” A dozen told me they wanted to learn it too. Perhaps my class will train them. Perhaps I’ll get a chance to return again. My fellowship with Egyptian Christians for a week was like a Long-lasting Spiritual Red Bull energy drink. I’m more than just pumped, psyched, and excited about being back in Singapore. I’m full of love and motivation to serve my family, navigate the health issues to complete healing, and follow through on many wonderful opportunities I have to merge my other loves: Jesus Christ, artists and theatre. Especially the group of Christians in Theatre that’s recently started meeting Thursday nights. But that’s another story for another letter.

That Self-talking censor is silenced, and I hear myself saying instead, 

I wonder how much Arabic I can learn by 2010?

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About Jane Russell Hollywood Starlett of the '40's

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