On 16 October, we had an early Christmas outreach event for the ACS (International) students from China, hosted by Uncle Jack and Auntie Celine*. It was such a meaningful and fun session. There was so much delicious food and the conversations I shared with the students over the meal were also very insightful, as I gained further understanding about the students who have moved here for their education."
- Xavier Mah (Youth Ministry - YM)
"We were happy to see familiar faces from last year, amongst the guests, which also meant that it was easier to break the ice and have conversations with them. Pastor Joseph Chen, from Kampong Kapor Methodist Church, introduced his sermon with a Chinese pop song, which was very effective, especially when he invited two guests to sing along. The gospel sharing, in Mandarin, was simple, but truly encouraging - Pastor Joseph shared later, that two students had responded to the invitation to know Christ. All in all, it was a positive experience for me, and I do hope that it was the same for our friends from China.”
- Aaron Ho (Christian Ministry staff, ACS (International)
“Having a Christmas Party with the ACS(International) boarders has always been very meaningful. Singing carols, playing fun games, and spending time with them is a great way to get to know them. Sue-Anne (Staff - School Ministry & Youth) led the activities and Karik shared his testimony. We joyously sang worship songs, in both Mandarin and English.”
- Joshua Xie (YM)
“Before the outreach session, I was nervous as I had never participated in such events before. However, prayer beforehand really helped to remind me of its purpose and that God uses us to sow seeds which might take some time to grow. The icebreaker games allowed us to get to know the boarders and make new friends! We definitely warmed up to each other in no time. I hope that this event helped the students to understand more about our church community and the gospel!”
- Elizabeth Khor (YM)
Audrey (extreme left)
I had a wonderful time at the gathering organized by my guardian, Celine, in collaboration with HVMC. We had a delicious Chinese dinner, where everyone gathered around the table to share food, stories and laughter. The warm and lively atmosphere made the meal even more enjoyable.
Before dinner, we competed in teams to build the tallest structure, using only straws. It was exciting to brainstorm ideas, test different designs, and cheer one another on as the towers grew taller, and occasionally wobbled or collapsed! The friendly competition encouraged creativity, communication and teamwork, while giving all of us a much-needed break from our busy routines.
The relaxing gathering was especially meaningful during the stressful exam period. It gave me a precious opportunity to step away from academic pressure, clear my mind, and simply enjoy the moment with my friends.
My sincere gratitude to the pastor wo specially joined us and offered a meaningful prayer. His presence and words brought comfort, peace and a sense of blessing to the gathering. It was a truly memorable evening. I am very grateful to my guardian for organising it and to everyone who made the gathering such a special experience.
- Niu Xiaoran Audrey, ACS (International)
Our youth volunteers with Ps Joseph & Sue-Anne
L to R (front row): Elizabeth, Deborah. (back row): Joshua, Ps Joseph, Karik, Sue-Anne, Xavier, Rebecca Renz (not in picture)
Compiled by Xavier Mah
*Jack & Celine Toh are members of HVMC and provide boarding for some of the ACS (International) students under their guardianship.
