Reality Check

Accompanied my mum on a ministry trip or mission trip (whatever you call it) sometime in October. It was a trip full of inspiration in the spiritual sense but also one that caused my soul to perform a reality check. The place was Tanjong Pinang, a district on Bintan Island.

The inhabitants of the island were a mixture of malays and chinese who were teochew speaking. Somehow, it did not feel like I was far from home and in a foreign land due to the high concentration of chinese speaking one of our local dialects.

The Christians there were a humble lot who respected pastors and displayed a spiritual hunger that would put we Singaporean Christians to shame. I was inspired and deeply encouraged by such humility and spiritual hunger. The trip to Tanjong Pinang was like going back to Singapore 30 years ago. The infrastructure was not as developed and sanitation was wanting. I even developed a really bad cough while I was there. Just by being there caused me to appreciate the blessings that we in Singapore are so loathe to take for granted.

Indeed, it was a reality check!


The ancient toilet at the back of a coffee shop.


The narrow street in downtown Tanjong Pinang


The view outside of a church member's house, on top of the sea.