We had our Circuit Assembly on the weekend, with 400+ in attendance. Most from our state of Johor, but some of the Singapore congregations fall into our circuit too, which was nice to be together with them.
It was a great program, really encouraging, and I even had the privilege of my first circuit assembly part (man, was I nervous!!).
There are a number of missionaries serving in foreign language congregations in our circuit (they're really local languages like chinese and tamil - you might have seen Naomi's pic on instagram), but since english is their first language, they came to the assembly so they could get a full program in english. We've made good friends with them and its great to catch up with them all at once.
But despite the great program, catching up with great friends, what hit me the most was a conversation I had just after the assembly finished which I wanted to share.
I met a family from Singapore. They had 2 children, the son was 15 and the daughter 16.They told me they were going to the international convention in New Jersey next month and both the son and daughter were going to get baptised there! What an experience for them! The biggest convention they would have experiences so far would be about 2000 people.
But then the boy said, "yeah i wanted to get baptised and we talked about it and we decided to go to the international because we thought the experience would be more faith strengthening." I sort of thought to myself, what does he mean by "faith strengthening"? Your baptism day is something you don't forget regardless of where it is.
Then his father said, "since he is 'going in' in 3 years, we felt this would be a great experience for him to remember and keep his faith strong". I still didn't understand what he really meant.... then it hit me!
I was looking at this young smiling 15 year old, eager to get baptised and keep his faith strong because in 3 years, he's going to JAIL!
At 18 in Singapore it's mandatory military service, any who refuse received a 3 year jail term!!
So this 15 year old boy and his family, are planning how to keep their sons faith strong to help him survive a 3 year jail term, likely involving some time in solitary confinement.
Its something foreign to us, especially from Australia, we think about our young ones first car, or first job, freedom they will have when they're 18 and an "adult"... but there its the exact opposite! At 18 they lose 3 years of freedom, to come out at 21 and try and get back into life. Their parents are thinking about what will get them through, what will keep them strong.
It was an experience that really touched me... to see this young man so determined to have such strong faith that he would get through, and his family helping him prepare from such a young age.
Something for us all to meditate on!!
Frank
