"What time is it? Showtime!" Before our mission I enjoyed the musical Hamilton and listened to the soundtrack many times. I wondered if this phrase started with that musical, but learned that is actually is common in the theater. ChatGPT says it may have started with vaudeville. In any case I have been thinking about a blog post on the signs of Singapore for many months and have been collecting photos of those that interest me for various reasons. Since "the signs of the times" of both our mission completion and the Second Coming of the Savior have also been on my mind, I thought I would add some signs of the times of Singapore missionary life to the mix. So .... it's showtime!
Watching
In my younger days in Idaho I often moved irrigation pipes on land that was far away from any city and only visible from our home. I often had the sense of being all alone, and certainly didn't have anyone watching me (although my dad would occasionally look out our big picture windows with his binoculars to observe what was happening on the farm). This "watching you" sign is often seen in Singapore near MRT station bike lots. It always strikes me as being a little bit creepy, as none of us really wants to think that we are being watched. The reality is that there are many security cameras all around us, not to mention the cameras we allow into our homes as part of our technology use. We often put ourselves on display to be watched by our family members, friends, and random people through our use of social media. I'm not here to make any specific commentary on the right or wrong of this reality, but it is definitely a sign of our times and seems more intense in a big city than on the farm where I grew up!
Need a Lift or a Way Out
This is a sign commonly seen in MRT stations. Since the British colonized this area at one point, the use of English here is often closer to what you would see in England instead of the United States. This sign makes me think that there is ALWAYS a way out, even when we feel hopeless or cannot see any way out of our situation. I believe that Jesus Christ offers that way out because we can always turn to Him for peace. And If you need a "lift" prayer can provide it. OR if you are lost in the MRT station you can just follow the signs for the nearest exit or elevator.
No, No, No...Okay, Fine
We have probable joked in this blog before about how Singapore is a "fine city". This is a common sign found in MRT stations, trains, and on public buses. You simply do no eat or drink in public places unless they are specifically designated for eating and drinking. As we are nearing the end times of our mission, I can't help but think about how our mission itself has been a fine and even extraordinary experience. I have been a good citizen and avoided eating and drinking on public trains and buses, and I have done my duty to try out durians (in a place where they were allowed). Overall it has been an amazing experience to live in a large city like this, but I can also say that I am
not a city girl and that I prefer the country or quiet suburbs over living in a high rise any day!
What?
I actually really like these mints, but every time I read the package I have to smile about the description. I'm sure they are going for my smile so it works. I will also always associate these mints with the missionary who gave us our first one. He is a funny missionary who has no fear of talking to anyone and a real desire to do good. And sometimes talking to him felt like "gliding down a twisty-turny slushie slide and landing in an anti-gravity galaxy of oohs and ahs." 💕 Oh, how we have grown to love these wonderful young missionaries who are learning so much about who they are while serving the Lord. They are a sign that the world still has so much good and that we have hope for great leaders in the future!
Stretching
Throughout my career as a marriage and family therapist I often said to myself, "This is the hardest case I have ever worked on." The last year before serving our mission I hit one of the most stretching cases of my career. Now even though we are well into our mission experience and I have seen a lot of things in my work with missionaries, I feel the same way. There might still be cases that will be more stretching, but right now I'm in the middle of learning new things again with a really stretching case. Maybe one of the biggest signs of the times is that if we are willing, the Lord will continue to give us experiences that will help us grow and stretch our view of and compassion for others.
As we look at the signs in the world around us, we are so grateful for a prophet to guide us in knowing what to do and always encouraging us to prepare. The best signs of all come in prophetic words like these:
Finally in closing here is an assortment of other interesting and random signs I have photographed over the last few months
I love the straightforwardness of the signs!