Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Goodbyes with church friends

We're going to have to come up with a new name if we continue this blog, as we are no longer in Malaysia (physically at least)! Moving is never easy, but this move was much easier than it was heading out to Malaysia--at least in terms of stuff. We managed to get back down to four suitcases again with a bit of effort for our December 28 departure. Saying goodbye was tough though. So many friends wished us well, prayed for us, and left us with parting gifts to remember them by. It's an incredible blessing to have such good friends, but it makes leaving harder. Fortunately, technology allows us to close the gap a little bit.

New Year's in the Adirondacks

The shock of arriving in winter hit us immediately, as we were delayed in Chicago by an ice storm, braved below-zero temperatures in the Adirondacks just after the new year began, and have just survived the blizzard of 2016 with 22 inches of snow in Philadelphia! But I was reminded by a Malaysian friend, who was complaining about the hot temperature, that I had been looking forward to the change! Thank you God. The warmth of our welcome makes up for the chilly weather. Our son Joel greeted us upon arrival with our winter coats, and we have been "loved on" by family and friends each step of the way.

So what are we up to? In essence, we feel God calling us to serve in similar ways to what we did in Malaysia, but closer to family:

Tom's desire is to continue teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) in a university setting where he can interact with international students, and live close enough so that we can get involved in their lives. Two weeks after we arrived in the US, he started working as an adjunct lecturer in the University of Pennsylvania's English Language Program (ELP). They offer intensive English classes in 8-week cycles, hiring one cycle at a time. We hope Tom can transition to a full-time situation eventually, either at Penn or elsewhere in the area, but for now he is happily teaching students from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

Janet wants to continue her ties with CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) in the work that was started in Malaysia, as well as do some local counseling in a church or counseling center. She is continuing to grade online courses for CCEF with a focus on Malaysian students, which isn't too different whether sitting at her computer in Malaysia or Philadelphia. She has also had quite a few skype exchanges with friends and counselees in Malaysia already. In addition she is pursuing prospects for counseling locally once we get settled.

Our new apartment
 (top 2 windows on right)

We are eager to live and worship in an area that is close to where we work, so that every aspect of our lives can be lived out in the neighborhood we choose. We have just secured a lease starting February 1st for a lovely 2-bedroom apartment that is 12 blocks away from where Tom works. It so happens that it is also right across the street from a neighborhood church we are likely to go to. God has been incredibly faithful!

It is still quite a thrill to get random calls from our daughter Jen, who lives a little over half an hour away, and has already stopped by numerous times when she has free time. It's great to be so near her and Keith, and spend more time with them. And we are already planning another visit with Joel in Boston so we can see more of his life there before he gets married in June.  Life feels good.

All in all, we have seen God provide in so many ways. While looking for housing, we've been staying with Janet's sister, which is an easy 20-minute commute for Tom. We have the use of Janet's parents' car until we get one ourselves. We have seen God provide again and again. The word that comes to mind is Shalom. A sense of peace, or rest, because God is looking after us, as he always has. So we are very thankful as this new chapter in our life begins, even though it still feels a bit unreal. Hopefully as things settle we will be able to see many of you in the area--Philadelphia is not far at all from our friends and church family in Ewing/Princeton, and our second bedroom is intended for those who come from farther away (such as Malaysia!).

Much love,
Tom & Janet

Coming to the End of a Chapter

A well-written novel often leaves you hanging at the end of a chapter, excitedly awaiting what will come next. That's where we are right now. After much prayer and consideration, we decided (some time ago) that it was time for a new chapter. With one wedding behind us (Jen & Keith, May 2015), and one coming up (Joel & Rachel, June 2016), we felt it was important to be able to invest more relational time closer to home and get to know the newer members of our family better, as well as be closer to other family and friends.

Supporting some church friends at a concert debut

So we are headed back to the US, landing in Boston on December 28, where we will spend some time with Joel, Rachel, and her family, before bringing in the new year with Janet's family. The rest of the chapter is still unwritten. Tom is sending out his resume, looking for a full-time position at an English language center at a university where we can be at least somewhat near family (probably in the DE-PA-NJ area).

"Colour Walk" supporting stroke survivors

It will be hard saying goodbye in Malaysia, as we have invested much of our hearts here, and will be leaving many close relationships, but perhaps God will bring us back for another chapter in the future. We are certainly open to such a step, as we have enjoyed and learned so much during our time here. Some highlights from the last few months:

Our involvement at church (CDPC) will keep us busy right to the end. We have been active on the leadership team at a significant time in the life of the church, which at 5 years old, continues to take steps toward growing in maturity and reaching out to the community. At a recent meeting, taking part in planning priorities and goals for 2016, it was encouraging to think about what God has been up to, and how he continues to use the church as an instrument in people's lives.

Tom's book club carving pumpkins at Sunway

What that looks like for us right now is helping plan a Christmas program that brings many ministries
together. We will be having a family-friendly Sunday that includes crafts and games, as well as a service of lessons and carols, telling the Christmas story through puppets, and celebrating through song, including a Christmas choir that just began practicing this week (it was awesome!). We anticipate a big crowd, including our own church families as well as families from the community who enjoy our Children's Library and monthly Playgroup.

Passing on pie-making skills

We have also enjoyed co-leading a small group using CCEF's How People Change curriculum, with the hope that the curriculum can continue to be used when we are gone. We have learned much at CDPC about deepening relationships in small groups, and this group has been a good example of that. Case in point--everyone in the group found time to get away for a night so that we could learn and grow together, have fun, and of course enjoy food together! Fellowship Malaysia-style.

Other highlights mostly revolve around people. Meeting up with good friends from church. Walking alongside struggling counselees. Sharing meals with students (especially when they cook for us!). Stimulating discussions at the book club. Interacting with children and their parents at the playgroup or children's library. Sitting in to help with other small groups. Helping young adults pursue their dreams. In a word--community.

And of course another highlight is the get-aways we've tried to squeeze in before leaving this part of the world. We've covered much of Malaysia during our time here. In the last few months we were able to add Thailand to our list of visited countries--both Chiang Mai in the north, and the beaches in the south. A lifetime would not be long enough to visit all the amazing things God has made around here, but we've enjoyed a few!

Elephant-riding in Northern Thailand

We would appreciate your prayers as we finish up our last couple of months here. We want to finish well in our day to day responsibilities, and leave them in good hands when we leave. There's no way to "finish up" in the same way with our friends, but hopefully there's a sense in which part of us remains here, and our friends come with us, at least in terms of the impact we have had on one another. And of course we look forward to being closer to family and friends on our return. Hopefully God will give us more clarity before we go as to where we will end up!

Blessings,
Janet & Tom

The Ongoing Adventure

Once again, time has a way of getting away from us. In some ways, as I read over our previous blog, nothing much has changed. In another sense, so much has happened. I guess that's the way of life!

Perhentian Island Vacation, East Coast of Malaysia, Aug 2014

The most significant development is family news! We had a great visit and grand tour of Malaysia with Jen and Joel in August 2014, followed by a trip over Christmas to Oregon to visit with Tom's side of the family (with a brief stop visiting Shanghai). Shortly thereafter, Jen announced her engagement to Keith Hartman. So we will have a very busy trip to NY/NJ/PA/DE/MD for Jen and Keith's wedding (Newark, DE) on May 16th, and Joel's graduation from Peabody at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD) on May 21st. After much hard work he has completed his Bachelor's in performance in jazz piano (last year) and will be receiving a Bachelor's in Sound Recording and a Master's in Acoustics.

Oregon Christmas 2014

We look forward to catching up with some of you in Princeton at Princeton Meadow Church on Sunday, May 10th, or at the Wegman's nearby that afternoon, where we will settle ourselves from about 2:30-4:30, hopefully in-between Mother's Day celebrations for brunch or dinner.


As to the ongoing adventure in Malaysia, Tom continues as a lecturer of English at Sunway University. In addition to the various clubs he supports, he has been working on a research project with a fellow lecturer as well as participating in a number of faculty groups working on curriculum development and the use of technology at Sunway.

Sunway University's new building opened March 2015

Sunway University had its grand opening of a new building a few weeks ago, a great step in its development, which Tom has been watching from the balconies of the old building for as long as we've been here. It's a great privilege to be here when something of this magnitude is completed. But far more significant than building development is the continuing involvement in the "building" of students' lives. Because of our role here and our proximity to the school, we continue to be invested in students' lives as they struggle through a stage of life wrought with difficult decisions, relationship challenges, struggles of keeping up with schoolwork, etc. We try to do our part to walk alongside them on the journey.

Friends & Food--A Malaysian Specialty

Janet continues to encourage (and grade) students taking the online counseling courses offered by CCEF. In preparation for our trip to the US, which will include a visit with CCEF, it has been encouraging to conduct some short interviews with former students and be reminded of the impact on students' lives. It is indeed a privilege to watch students grow in their faith and deepen their relationships with God and others as they work through the God-centered curriculum that Janet is helping to spread in Malaysia. Meeting one-on-one with people continues to be a priority as well, whether in a formal counseling arrangement, or more informally through relationships formed through church or other contexts.

Loving One Another Deeply Church Retreat (Kids' Song)

We both continue to be active coming alongside the leadership team of our church, CDPC Puchong. We each led small groups through November 2014, and have joined the leadership team for the small group ministry this year. We look forward to leading a small group together following our trip to the US. We've also helped in some significant steps the young 5-year-old church has taken--a church-wide retreat in October, helping set up a membership program in November, an outreach program that took place January-March, a leadership retreat, and a church-wide interactive Good Friday program most recently. But apart from the "program" side of things, we have enjoyed deepening friendships with the people in our church, which has been an on-going priority church-wide. We are so thankful for all we are learning in the way of loving God and loving others more.

Looking forward to catching up with some of you soon!

Much love,
Tom & Janet

Oh My, How the Time Slips By!

Relaxing at Pangkor Island

Who sped up the clock? We've just had our first mini-vacation since Christmas, and it was a welcome one! We spent a night away at a quiet island enjoying Malaysia at its best.

It's hard to believe...
...it's been so long since I've updated you...
...it's been nearly two years in Malaysia...
...Joel is finished with his first college degree...
...Jen is beginning her 3rd year with InterVarsity...
...we'll be celebrating our 28th anniversary this week!

Joel got his Bachelor of Music in
Jazz Piano

I was encouraged by a friend who asked me about progress of CCEF's influence in this part of the world. It caused me to step back and reflect a bit. I'm in my 6th term of helping with CCEF's online program in Malaysia. There have been about 50 Malaysians who have taken at least one course, many of them multiple courses, not to mention others who are in the area who have benefited. As I think of the people those students (and I) are in contact with, there is an even greater number of people they are influencing who are being encouraged about how God is on the move in their lives. It gives me great joy to be a part of what is happening here.

Our lives continue to revolve around students as Tom's interaction with them grows. He is in his 6th term at Sunway University, and his opportunities to learn and contribute continue to expand. He is doing a research project with some of his classes to assess effective feedback approaches to help students improve their writing, and is facilitating a

Tom with students from the Christian Fellowship

forum of faculty who are interested in using technology more effectively in the classroom. As a faculty advisor of a book club and film club, and a regular participant in the campus fellowship group, he has opportunities to have discussions with students thinking about the more significant issues of life. And he loves having a say in the lives of those students who come to him for further advice and guidance.

Part of Janet's small group

We are both involved leading small groups at church, and it's been a great blessing to engage in animated discussions about God's word and people's lives. Tom's group is studying the gospel of Mark, and Janet's is
studying Genesis. We've also helped plan some bigger events at church. For Good Friday we helped with a service that provided an interactive exploration of the events Jesus went through, helping people to soberly consider why Jesus had to sacrifice himself on our behalf, and prepare for the joy of Easter. We are also helping plan a church-wide retreat for September called "Loving One Another Deeply" that will focus on the church community growing in relationship and encouragement of one another. Janet continues to help out at the Children's Library periodically as well.

One special person who has been part of our lives is a young woman from another country. She has become like family to us while exploring what to do next in her life. We are in the process of helping her further her education, which we will write about separately to some of you.

We appreciate your continued prayers and love to follow your updates on Facebook or email!

Much love,
Tom & Janet

Christmas Greetings!

I'm happy to report our safe arrival to New York yesterday afternoon. We are sad to miss out on the Christmas celebrations with our Malaysian friends, but looking forward to spending the next couple of weeks with family. We will be in the Princeton area from Jan. 3 to Jan. 8. Since we won't be able to spend time individually with everyone we would like to see, we have a couple of "group gatherings" planned that weekend if you would like to stop by and catch up with the Nygrens. Saturday, Jan. 4 we will plan to hang out upstairs in Wegmans from noon to 4 pm. If you'd like to grab a bite to eat and visit with us, we hope we can spend some quality time with you (shared with others as well). On Sunday, Jan. 5 Tom will be preaching at Princeton Meadow Church, then we will stay after for brunch and share some updates (including pictures) of what's been going on in our lives in Malaysia. If neither of those times works for you, send me an email (janetnygren@gmail.com) and we can see if something else would work out. Our time is limited since Tom's new semester of teaching starts Jan. 13.

I've been reminded again this Christmas season that our world and often our lives can so easily be touched by sorrow, frustrations, and suffering--if not in our own, then in our friends or family. So it is with great joy that I remember that God chose to enter into our world at Christmas,
and offer us new life through his Son, Jesus Christ, who experienced what we have experienced but leads us forward in fullness of life, restored in relationship to the God who loves and provides for us in more ways than we could ask or imagine.

Christmas Blessings!
Tom and Janet

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

This fellow greeted us at our resort in Sabah.

Wow! It's been awhile since we last wrote. Who sped up the calendar? It seems like time is going by at breakneck speed, so you might be a little surprised by the metaphor I (Janet) came up with for myself recently: a turtle! It was one of the discussion questions in one of the courses I supervise--what metaphor would you use to describe your life? At the time I felt like I was steadily plodding through things, gradually making progress--in counseling, in relationships, grading papers, and in feeling at home in Malaysia. At times I feel like I have this tender interior protected by the protective shell of God's love and guidance. As I think of a turtle's favorite hangout, I also feel God's rock solid presence below me and the warmth of basking in his love in all that he's doing here in Malaysia.

Weekend away in Sabah

In many ways, little has changed. Tom and I are both getting near the end of our semesters, beginning to feel the pressure of papers to grade. Tom has 3 sections of English classes, and I am helping supervise 2 of the foundational counseling courses with CCEF. In between keeping up with classes, we are spending time with all kinds of people. Tom with students, whether in his office, at various clubs he's gotten involved with, or around our apartment. I am regularly meeting with counselees, women in my Covenant Group, or with people staying at or near our home. Somehow God seems to balance the schedule so there's always just enough time in the day for what needs doing or who I need to meet with. One new thing coming up next week is an academic conference Tom will be presenting at, using some of the research from his graduate studies.

Angkor Wat in Cambodia

We've had some lovely breaks in between our usual routine. A week in August in Cambodia to visit Tom's cousin and understand the highs and lows of the country's history. A long weekend in September in Sabah (East Malaysia) with my Covenant Group to continue growing in our friendships together and see a different part of the country. A couple of day trips in October to hike and explore nearby sights, which generally involves climbing up and down steep jungle pathways.

The longer we are here, the more there is a sense of deepening and building--through the experiences that we are growing in, and especially through the relationships we are developing. Tom's recent metaphor for life incorporates that picture of building. Sunway University where he works is in the midst of a huge building project which he

Building Project at Sunway Univ.

enjoys watching on his way to and from work (and sometimes on breaks during the day). There is a sense of mystery to what they are doing--it's not always obvious what the purpose for a particular phase of construction is. And he doesn't know how it will turn out. Sometimes the work they do serves only as a temporary structural support--bolstering up some wall or bit of ground for the time being only be torn down again later when that phase of building is completed. It's only as things get finished that he can look back and make sense of some of the things they did. Our lives seem very much like that. A building in progress that is beyond the scope of our imagination. Sometimes built up, sometimes painfully torn apart, but ultimately built according to the master plan that can only be discerned by us as we look back and make sense of things. Thankfully the master builder knows what's going on all along.

What metaphor would YOU use to describe your life? We look forward to hearing more from you. For those of you in the US, it won't be long until we have a chance to see and catch up with many of you.
We will be travelling home for Christmas, spending the first couple of weeks with family, then visiting in NJ, Delaware, and Philadelphia from January 3-9. We'll keep you posted as to where you can find us if you want to catch up then.

Blessings,
Janet & Tom

Reflections

Amazingly, it's almost our one-year anniversary in Malaysia already (we arrived on July 31st)! We will be celebrating by taking a one-week holiday to Cambodia to visit Tom's cousin and take in some of the sights (I've already been advised to avoid the deep-fried insects and other such crunchy morsels they might offer us).

So what have we learned? What do we enjoy? What do we miss? What next?

First, following up on my last blog, we learned a lot about the people of Malaysia during the recent elections. Many experienced identity as a "Malaysian" more strongly than ever before (rather than Malay/Chinese/Indian) and the turnout was incredible, more than 80%, with people returning from all over the world just to cast their vote! The results were disappointing. Many allegations have been made about foul play, returning the ruling party back in power. And yet I believe God did much in the hearts of Malaysians to help them know themselves better, recognizing both their own failings as well as a greater love for their country, their people and those who are marginalized. There is much to do before the next elections roll around in another 5 years. I found my love and respect for Malaysians growing through this whole process.

Group shot at the end of year Christian Fellowship meeting

But more personally, Tom has learned that he loves interacting with students. His classes and extracurricular activities give him great opportunities to get to know students, their dreams, their struggles, their take on life. Deadlines like grading at the end of semesters are a drag, but every job has its highs and lows. Besides his normal load of classes, he is actively involved in 3 student clubs, where he gets to know and encourage students weekly. He's pretty distinctive on campus as the only American--the old guy with the beard--and so more and more people, students and staff alike, give him a friendly wave as he walks around campus. He's pursuing more ideas that will give further interaction and help with students as well--creating opportunities to help with English writing, pronunciation, etc. It's much more than a job. It's a lifestyle of engaging with people with the love and respect that comes from the fact that they are made in God's image and have much potential as they take important life steps during this formative time of life.

Bonding at the church's Family Day

At church, Tom has gotten involved in a new covenant group that is studying "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality." The group shows a lot of promise already with 14 committed members who are sharing personally and looking at what it means to be changed by the gospel in their day to day lives. He's also getting involved with the church regarding plans for developing a more focused college ministry, which could include an English learning center if certain things come together over time. Right now, we're appreciative of an extra vehicle on loan for the summer which we fill with students joining us for church many Sundays. A number of them are studying Christianity Explored with us after church as well.

Looking over the past year, God has been faithful to Janet in her work in Biblical Counseling through both churches and individuals. There is growing excitement for what the CCEF curriculum offers. To date 35 people in Malaysia have taken CCEF online classes, some of them on their 2nd course now, all under Janet's supervision. How their new-learned skills can apply in their local churches will be the next question to pursue. In the meantime, other churches and denominations have begun asking more about Biblical Counseling, so the networks for CCEF are expanding. At the same time, Janet has been doing much more counseling. The variety of counseling challenges has taught her a lot, not least of which is what it means to rely on God's wisdom and Holy Spirit on a regular basis. It is a humbling yet exhilarating experience to see people's lives changing before you as you interact with them week by week.

Janet's Covenant Group

Janet's leadership of her church covenant group is another place where she gets involved in people's lives. This group of young woman has been studying the gospel of John and asking the question, what does it really mean to believe that Jesus is the Messiah? Who is he really, and what difference does it make in our daily lives? It's a group that cares deeply for one another, and it's both fun and a privilege to be part of.

So where does this lead us? Tom's been offered a 2-year renewal to his contract. This causes us to think about the opportunities God has given us here, but it also reminds us of those we miss from home. We love our skype calls and emails with people as a way to maintain the relationships we so value. Fourth of July certainly wasn't the same, and we lose track of time without seasons. Rain and cloudy skies bring welcome relief to the heat and humidity, a different perspective on weather from before. We find ourselves cooking more Western food at home, and leave the experimentation of other wonderful food to the restaurants and street vendors that do a much better job of it anyway! We greatly look forward to a visit home Dec. 21-Jan. 9 to see family and friends. But we also see God's hand and calling to accept this next 2-year opportunity, to continue what he has begun. So please be in prayer for us, and be patient with our continued absence from those of you who are far away.

With much love,
Tom & Janet