With 4 weeks of swift settlement into AMK in Oct, it was time to prepare for the year-end long retreats in Chiang Mai.

Nov – The first 10-day retreat saw 16 participants with 8 from WRPF and the other half a mixture from various churches.  In retreat were also workers from the Mainland and a minister from Malaysia.  A handful was first-timers who came to know of Listening Inn through word of mouth.

Dec – Before the second 10-day retreat, we had our personal retreat with Fr Miguel from Spain.  This was followed by two days’ break to prepare for the arrival of the Dec group.  Dec saw a full-house with 18 participants, of which 9 were from WRPF and the other half from various churches.  Special mention must be given to the workers from Myanmar, Vietnam, Turkey and Japan plus a minister from Singapore.  Though the retreat was full house we ended on a very high note with energies to give a third retreat if there was one!

We are very grateful to the Lord for His overflowing grace that was more than sufficient for us to facilitate and accompany each one who came and for all the retreatants to meet with God; and to you for your prayers throughout.

Jan – Signify a very unusual start for us when we gave our first retreat on the last weekend with Hakka Methodist Church at the ME House, Punggol.  In years past we would commence work only in March.  Ps Daniel Lee had invited us to give retreat to his leaders while we were in Chiang Mai.  It was a good kick-start for us to the New Year!   And now they have invited us to be their Camp Speakers in June.

Feb – A short month but planned with 3 retreats for various churches.  The month started with a Quiet Day for 37 leaders from St Hilda’s Anglican Church at the Montfort Centre.  What followed on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year was a 3-day beginners’ retreat for Victory International Church.  The month ended with a weekend retreat for a Cell Group from Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

What’s most heartening for the Jan and Feb retreats was for us to see how fully the senior pastors of the churches above gave themselves to the retreats even though some of them have been on retreats before.  Their eagerness to draw to God and 100% presence at the retreats permeated and impacted the disposition of their own church members.  We are blessed!

Mar – In its 4th year running, SJSM has been organising 2 beginners’ 3-day retreats for their members with the first one in Mar and the other in Sep during the school holidays.  Without fail the retreats are always well attended if not full house.  March saw a full-house attendance of 21 retreatants and some are returning for the Easter silent retreat.

We are most grateful to God for the partnership of SJSM in the retreat ministry all these years; and pray that God’s word and work deposited in all who came will blossom and flourish wherever these people go.

We have also met up with our website designers to fine tune the contents.  Target date for Listening Inn’s website to be activated is 31 Mar, God willing.  Otherwise it will be up by Easter.

The month ends with preparation for the annual Easter Retreat which is in its 4th year running.

Apr – Last year we had only 5 participants at the Easter Retreat which was held at The Nest.  But this year the number has rebound to that of previous years with 13 participants coming to the Montfort Centre.  Out of the 13, four are from WRPF.

This year our focus will be on the Stations of the Cross starting with Jesus’ last Supper with the Disciples.  We will be following the records of St Luke’s gospel.

After the Easter retreat the rest of the month will be devoted to study and preparation for a preaching engagement at St Hilda’s on 9 May and the church camp of Hakka Methodist Church from 6-9 June in Desaru, Malaysia.

Thank you, Church, for your companionship in prayers, those of you who do pray for us and remember us from time to time, in the work of God in Listening Inn.  Thank you also for bearing with our absence from time to time.  We are thankful for your loving support and patient kindness.  This past year has been a most interesting year of self-awareness and God-discovery.  But suffice to say God is Good at all Times! Especially at difficult Times!  So, get to know Him for yourself!

In Christ

Simon n Rinda

Listening Inn