Most of us have been wary of the current economic downturn of late. I've been thinking about this for awhile, and I want to boldly proclaim that it hasn't in fact affected Andy and myself so painfully.
Many have lost the value of their assets and some are afraid of losing jobs. Then, there is also the rise in prices of everything. Amidst all this, the US dollar and the Yen go up. Why the US dollar should go up baffles me. Sure you can tell me all the financial economic reasons but to the layman, why should the US dollar more valuable that my dollar since it is the US that got us spiraling downwards and it is our dollar that help raise their value?
Where does this put Andy and me? Our financial situation has from the start been always tentative. And, if our lifestyles don't proclaim it, then thanks be to God.
Our WorkAndy's job(s) situation has been iffy even before we got married, recession or no recession. At engagement, he had been working miserably in a big sports mnc for a year then went to mission school, after which, he tried his hand at something in Hong Kong but wasn't successful and so was looking for work back here. Since then, he has changed another 2 jobs. Thankfully, mine has been a stablizing factor for us. Right before the spiral, A was offered a contract job that paid more than his previous - even if it was only to be for 2 months. Still he would tide us through.
After that, he got offered a part-time position at an higher-educational institution. Its not much work although renumeration is very reasonable, but its a job in a time when people are losing theirs. It really interests him and utilizes all his experience and its an opportunity for him to learn new skills on-the-job that will hopefully be useful on the mission field. I have to serve 3 years as bond for my post-graduate education scholarship. I'm not saying I got a raw deal - I knew what I was getting into and I have absolute job security during this period, something I began to treasure after I saw how bad jobless can be in a creative-access-country with bad government. Andy is just getting a better deal for himself. So you can't really say we got it bad this way.
Our ApartmentI'm proud to say that despite the turbulent working/financial situation we've had even before the recession, our apartment which we bought in the height of the property market rise, will be paid off at the end of the year. It was amazing to get a place like ours for its price and negotiations were fairly straightforward. After working for 8 or more so years, A had accumulated enough to pay in-full the over-valuation and a good part of the mortgage. Since I had no savings from work, we pay the rest of it out of my CPF (thanks to the kind contributors of my iron ricebowl) and don't worry at all for it. So, with or without A's job, we sleep tight knowing we didn't take a loan that would have us pay from our pockets for the rest of our lifetime. There indeed is a lesson. And a huge blessing. Even the awesome furniture we have in our Bali-nese themed house was a blessing from others. Every single chair in the apartment is a gift, my bookshelves were gifts and those that we paid for were massively discounted.
MissionsMissions is our vision but we really struggle with finding the extra cash to contribute more. So far in Singapore, most people are warmed to the idea of bringing money to the nations but not necessarily in supporting people financially to go. I think most folks believe that if you can't afford it, then its a luxury you just can't have. Those who have the money either can't afford the time or are not ready to get dirty. And unfortunately, we do find certain pride in knowing that we are giving money to the needy and make big of what avenues there are for giving. (Just give already!) A lot of us don't realize that the people who have the time and the enthusiasm for it may not have the financial support for it. This is probably because our lifestyles don't proclaim the need that most folks feel compassion for when they see it.
Miraculously, A has also accumulated enough frequent-flyer miles over the course of his work to fly us both to the states twice over even during the peak period. So, we will finally be making a missions visit to Japan at the end of the year at no cost at all. I'll finally get to get back in touch with the folks on the field there and hopefully bring them some encouragement from here as well as to reignite the flame in us to persevere. Yea so, for those who haven't learnt - this is a missions trip.
Daily LifeI'm also not known for one to scout for bargains - I honestly cannot find in me the energy to trawl the shops for the lowest price of a particular item. I am prepared to pay good money for good stuff and then have the stuff last the longest. I don't have
that many clothes really because I don't really appreciate fashion. Clothes serve a purpose for me; to look presentable and cover all my bits. It may or may not be old but as long as it does its job so I don't see the need to change for 'fall season'.
That said, I do love 3 things very much - stories, technology and food. It brings me glee to have all my gadgets work smoothly and efficiently and recently this means wirelessly as well. I also have a sorry vice when it comes to stories. For all my love of technology, I would still never buy a Kindle. I take sad pride in looking at my bookshelf and all the books I own and think that reading them would make me all the more knowledgable. I am reminded of course that 'of making books there is no end'. Second to books are movies and film - stories in image. Whether it is our new theatre system of the sad state of movies on the big screen, our movie-watching has decreased this half of the year.
FlicksOver the last week, A & I went to the movies to catch one of 'better' films of the season,
Burn After Reading. Thanks to movie club and credit club membership, I got a coupon for one free ticket and another for $6.50. So, our tickets came up to $3.25 each. There are not a lot more movies that caught our attention but A has always had an affinity for cartoons. Thanks to good alumnus, next weekend, we will go watch
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa at $3 a pop PLUS a pre-event brekkie! Awesome when I think about how God can make money go further than we imagine.
booksI've been asking for an iPhone for my birthday & chrissy present - something that we are waiting for my service provider to make available. In the meantime, not one to disappoint, A insisted that I get a present in the meantime. I've been wanting The Message Remix Bible for quite awhile. I'm intrigued to hear the bible in street lingo. So, I went online and go myself one. When it arrived, I realized that it was only the new testament. I wrote back to the store and their reply was apologetic along with a full reimbursement including shipping. So, I got the red, full leather, life-time binding guaranteed Message bible for free!
foodWith all the time I finally have over the school holidays, I also managed to make a lunch appointment with my old friend HJ. The club had given me a $20 voucher for eateries in the vicinity and it had crossed my mind I wouldn't use it but I'm glad it came in useful in the end. I had an Italian lamb shank and she had a grill chicken lunch sets. The full bill came up to $36++ but after 20% discount and money off, we each paid $3 for our meals. That's way better than food court rates! I was so impressed that I decided I should recommend there again for our department lunch, so I went back to them and we are getting $10 full meals of bread, soup, dessert and main meal.
Its a long post, but if you've lasted this long, this is just a testimony to how God has provided for A & I throughout this difficult season for most of us. Its not in ways that we might imagine or hope for but he has certainly not lose our quality time and relational time with others at the expense of the fiscal gloom. Amen!
