This tastes like America!

Hello again and Happy Monday!

We hope you had a fabulous weekend and that you were able to enjoy some good old fashioned American football–we miss that here!!!  Our weekend was wonderful and relaxing.  We enjoyed waking up late both days and then getting out in the city.  On Saturday, we had a “date night.”  We found a delicious Italian restaurant and then a bar with a band playing Blues music.  Who would have thought, all the way around the world, a Blues band’s favorite song to end with is “Free Bird.”  Granted, the lead singer spoke like an American–a southern American at that.  And most of the club was filled with western expats.  Sometimes it’s great to have a little taste of home:)

Yesterday (Sunday) was a wonderful day of rest.  We slept late (again) and then set out to find lunch within a few minutes walk of our condo complex.  We stumbled upon this cute two week old coffee and sandwich shop and had one of the best lunches we’ve had on the island.  And, to top it off, the lady who runs the place–Aileen–was very sweet.  She wants to bring books from home to her shop so her customers have something to read while they dine and wants to create an environment of good conversation and friendship.  We’re excited to see where this place goes.  Perhaps the best part of our dining experience at Aileen’s restaurant was the dessert.  We had some delicious apple pie and ice cream that “tasted like America.”  It was a wonderful treat!

Last night, we went back to Orchard Road Presbyterian Church–the first church we visited when we got to Singapore.  The minister is from Austrailia and has a real gift of bringing the gospel to life and applying its teachings to everyday life.  John and I have left–both times–feeling invigorated and renewed for our new week in a strange country.  We were certainly blessed to have found such a wonderful church so quickly.  We may continue to church hop for a few weeks, but there is great comfort in knowing we have found such a wonderful place to worship.

Just a side note.  One interesting thing about Singapore is how prevalent American culture is here.  For example, we were taking a cab back to our apartment one night and happened to ask our cab driver about his favorite music.  He told us “John Denver.”  Next thing we know, “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane” is playing on the radio and we’re being serenaded–no extra charge.  The democratic national convention was aired here real time and people discuss Barack Obama as if he is someone running for office in their own country.  To be honest, the prevalence of American culture makes being this far from home a little bit easier:)

That’s all for now.  More good stories to come.  Soon.