Yearly Awaited Chinese New Year Night Market

Like previous years, nearby the Tg. Pinang market area (Merdeka Road & Plantar 2 and nearby), there is a bazaar in conjunction with Chinese New Year. The locals call it as “Pasar Malam” or Night Market. At this year, the Night Market is organized by January 5 until February 9, 2013.

Tg. Pinang and nearby towns / villages societies especially the Chinese will come to this place for sightseeing after dinner and purchase something as preparation for the new year. Furthermore, there are not so many night activities at this Gurindam city during night time, so the Night Market will always flooded with people.

What stands that you can see at the Night Market? There are quite a lot of choices that you can enjoy. Starting from foods: Homemade Chinese Spring Roll (the most long queue every day, Taiwanese Style of Grilled Sausage, Smashed Chicken (Ayam Penyet), Satay, Fish Yam Soup, Fried Finger Foods, Grilled Slices Pork (Bak Kwa) and many more…

If you needs some stuffs for Chinese New Year, you may buy from the knick knacks to decorate your house, red pockets (hongbao), cookies and sweets until some vegetables and cooking ingredients to prepare the reunion dinner. To be fashionable on the New Year day, there are also some fashion products from T-shirts, pants until accessories sold at this place.

For the prices, don’t worry that these products are still affordable and can be said quite cheap. You can also bargain with the sellers for some products.

You may click on this link to see how the Night Market is:

Night Market for CNY 2564

An Expedition to Snake River

After a long time hearing about the “Snake River” which is located not so far away from Senggarang, finally, today; Thrusday, 17^th January 2013, we took this chance to see what was special about this river.

With a boat (pompong) we departed from the stairs to board the boat which was placed next to the house. By passing the water village Senggarang, then Kampung Bugis and few ferries docks and finally we arrived at the entrance of a mangrove jungle.

Do you know why is it called as Snake River? Yes, it is because this river shapes zig zag and looks like snake. The sides of this river is the mangrove.

Our boat entered the Snake River. We really enjoyed the natural view of the mangrove jungle which had not been touched by human hands. There was birds singing when we cross over the river. Unfortunately, it was quite hot so some animals did not appear. Yup, this was the natural mangrove jungle.  

Around seven minutes journey from the entrance, we finally reached the gate of paths that would lead us to the Snake River Temple. Along the paths was the land owner’s plantation. The temple was belonged to the same owner. Actually, we knew the owner as his son was our English tuition student.

We were welcomed with cold mineral water which were very good to the thirst as we were travelling on a hot sunny day. We took pictures at the temple and went around the rambutan plantation. Ms Silpa was very happy to pick the fruits directly from the trees. As souvenirs, we were given rambutans to bring back home.

Dear friends, if you want to enjoy the Snake River, please come to Gloria Senggarang Mission Home, we will bring you there. The memories from this expedition can be see from the link below:

An Expedition to Snake River

2013 Ministry Calender

Praise God for His guidance in the Gloria Senggarang Preaching Point Ministry in the year of 2012. Most  for last year ministries have been successfully organized although there were still a lot of homework to be done in this year. But, we believe that only by His Grace, we will be confidence to walk over this year with optimistically.

Routines like English classess will still continue based on each class schedule. Likewise, the Sunday School, with more directional topics. Besides, housewives activities will be aimed at involving them to be more actively participated on activities so we will have further chances to know them.

No	Special Events	Date
1	Chinese New Year Open House	10 February 2013
2	Easter	29 March 2013
3	Mothers and Kids Make Up Competition	4 May 2013
4	Cooking / Arts Competition Among Fathers & Kids-End of Semester	15 June 2013
5	Kids Festival	13 July 2013
6	The 68th Indonesia’s Independence Day	17 August 2013
7	Study Trip To Tg. Pinang Local Library	September 2013
8	Gloria Senggarang Preaching Point 4th Anniversary	5 October 2013
9	2013 Christmas Celebration – End of Semester	December 2013

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we, with the open hearts and hands are always looking for your kind supports in this ministry, with prayers, assistance and funding to make this ministry a success. If you need any further information and assistance about this ministry, please do not hesitate to contact us with the contact details stated on the right column of this blog. May God bless us in all what we do to glorify His name!!! AMEN!!!

Welcome Jesus @ Senggarang Christmas 2012

Like the song lyrics “We Are The Reason”: As little Christmas, we would dream of Christmas morn, likewise with the children in Senggarang Mission Point who are always waiting for Christmas in December 2012.

The series of Christmas programs are attended by the members of the mother church (Gloria Methodist Church) in Medan. The party arrived in Senggarang on Tuesday, 18 Desember 2012 via Batam. Although the rain flushed the Tanjung Pinang town that afternoon, but it did not dampen the spirit of the Medan short-term missionaries.

The children and housewives of Senggarang have gathered in the mission home around 4 pm that afternoon to participate in the Tea Time & Sharing session with friends from Medan. The Senggarang’s participants looked very enthusiastic to sing the Chinese Christian songs and they shared their stories with the Medan visitors. On the other hand, the children were busy playing. 

After dinner, the Medan team showed off again at the make-up training class. One of the professional, who also joined the team conducted the training session to the mothers who came. The mothers paid their attention seriously to the steps of how to beautify themselves. Believe it or not, after the making up by the experts, the housewives became more beautiful.

On the second day, at Wednesday, December 19, 2012; the mission team woke up so early at 6 pm although the last day was quite tiring. After freshing up, they walked around the village, starting from the home to market to the Senggarang Temple. Afterwards, they ended the journey with fried noodle as breakfast at one of the coffee shop.

Around 10.30 am, the Cooking & Baking Classwas  begun with the Medan chefs. They learnt how to cook few home cooking like Steam Black Snapper  Fish, Sauteed Seafood with Salted Egg, Sauteed Bean Sprouts with Fish, Kietna Chicken and biscuits. Ehmmm, the foods were extremely nice and finished very fast.

In the afternoon, at 3 pm, there was a make-up competition among housewives at the back balcony while the kids were playing at the front hall, waiting for the Christmas celebration. After with much effort showing their skills, Madam Merry & Ang-ngin were selected at the best.

The Christmas celebration was started at 4 pm, leaded by MC Etalia& Mariana. Like previous Christmas celebration, at this year the kids from each class presented Christmas songs. While the moms and kids who had been practicing dance since November with Singapore’s dance trainer also performed a dance. There was also a Christmas drama staged by MsSilpa and also the Sunday School students.

This time, the Christmas story was told by Ev. Risma with the theme “WELCOME JESUS”. By bringing the message that Jesus wants to enter the hearts of children at Christmas this year, the kids were invited to ask Jesus to enter to their lives.

After all the Christmas celebrations items, it was the time to give out all the Christmas gifts. There were presents for the best students in each English tuition class, the best group attendance from the Sunday school, lucky draw for housewives and all the Sunday School students based on their attendance and the four grand prizes (bicycles) for the best Sunday school attendance: Zhi Yan, Ayen, Etalia and Robben. Congratulations to all!! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

To view the pictures of this event, please click:
2013 Christmas Images

Happiness on 3rd Birthday Celebration

Who feels not happy when celebrate birthday? Likewise, the families of Senggarang Preaching Point. From the kids to teens and mothers took part at this year birthday party.

With the theme “He’s Changing Me”, this celebration can be considered as the most rousing at this year. Quite a lot of kids and moms had come to the preaching point around 3 pm although the event would start one hour later.

Celebrated on Thursday, October 11, 2012, the event was started at 4 pm with opening by MC. Afterwards, there were praise and worship sessions, dance and songs from each class. There was also a drama presentation by the Sunday School students with the theme “Before and After” which illustrated the “old” and “new” man (the one who have received Jesus as the Savior)

Besides, the housewives gathered at the back terrace with some friends from Medan to share about their life issues.

At the end of the program, the kids and moms assembled at the main hall to participate in the lucky draw session. Countless prizes to be given out from snacks, shampoo and soap until the door prize: a fan.

May Jesus kept blessing the ministry works in Senggarang in the upcoming years and we hope that God’s works in this place will always become the blessings to the Senggarang people.

To view the memories from this birthday celebration, please click:
3rd Birthday Celebration Images

Steal A Glance of 2012 Senggarang Kids Festival

Long journey via air, land and sea seems not to be an obstacle to the friends from Methodist Gloria Medan Teen Fellowship as well as the youths from South Korea Methodist Church to participate in the 2012 Senggarang Kids Festival

In Senggarang itself, the preparation of this event has started one month earlier. The kids from the Primary and Secondary have practised few presentations like dancing, singing and memorizing Bible verses. While, the teachers were packing those gifts to be given out on the two days: Monday & Tuesday, 26-27 June 2012.

From Medan, the mission team took flight at 7 am by Lion Air to Batam. At the Batam airport, Ev. Rachel had waited them and directly went with them to Telaga Punggur domestic ferry terminal to take ferry ride to Tanjung Pinang. After lunch at the town, they went directly to the Gloria Senggarang Preaching Point.

The first session was on Monday, 4 pm. About 80 kids and moms came to this session. The Gloria teens led this session with praise and worship, puppet show and Bible story telling which was presented to different classes. The kids’ session was at the main meeting area while at the mission home’s backyard, there was housewives’ session as well. They learnt on how to arrange flower into vase.

After the event, the Medan team took rest for a while as well as took their dinner. Afterwards, the next flower arranging session took place. There were a lot of kids came as well to play and wait for their moms. This long day ended at almost 10 pm.

On the next day, Tuesday-27 June 2012, the second session of the Kids Festival was started at 10.30 am. Like the previous day, the kids and moms had their own session. At this moment, we were glad to welcome the youths from South Korea who joined the happiness in this celebration. The God’s sons and daughters from Medan, Senggarang and South Korea played happily and cooperatively with some games led by the Medan team.   

Tired after playing, the mission teams from both places had their seafood lunch at one of the kelong restaurant in Senggarang. Unfortunately, the South Korea group could not join the last session at the afternoon, so they departed after lunch.

The main session of the 2012 Senggarang Kids Festival was celebrated on Tuesday afternoon at 4 pm. There were already a lot of audiences came even one hour before the event started. The concept of this last session was to and from the participants which meant this event was participated by the people from Senggarang and the Medan team, so each group had to present some items. This session was led by the Secondary students’ group.

The kids from Senggarang presented dance, songs and Bible verse memorizing. From Medan, the team presented a worship song. The unique and unforgettable part of this session was the worship calisthenics. They only practiced the movements at the morning but they seemed to be very happy and energetic when presented this calisthenics.

Before the end of this session, there was prize giving ceremony. For those had received good results on the current semester at the English tuition classes, they were awarded special gifts. For the moms who designed the best flower arrangement, they were also received special rewards. The kids who came on all session, special prizes were also provided for them. As this festival was an joyful event, all the participants went back home happily with gifts and the blessings from our God.

Lastly, we, the workers from Senggarang Preaching Point want to use this chance to express our thanks to the Medan and South Korea team who had visited and contributed to this festival. May God bless our ministry works.

If you are interested to view the happiness of this festival, please click the link below:
2012 Senggarang Kids Festival Pictures

Doughnuts Party @ Thursday Afternoon

Doughnuts can be one of the best tea time friend at the afternoon time. For the kids, doughnuts are their favourite finger foods. Likewise, at Gloria Senggarang Preaching Point, the children and the mothers were happily having the doughnuts feast at Thursday (May 31, 2012) afternoon.

Initiated from Ev. Silpa who wanted to play with the kids from baking doughnuts process, at the end, the teens and the mothers also involved in this celebration.

Around 4 pm, the kids and the mothers were busy to shape the dough which had been prepared before by Ev. Silpa, to the shapes that they wanted. Some made big size, some shaped small size. Some put fillings into the dough with kaya / blueberry jam, even with minced meat.

The shaped dough then were deep fried into the boiling oil. Afterwards, they did put rainbow chocolate rice or sugar on the doughnuts.

When the doughnuts were still hot, these amateur bakers then tried their creativity products. While enjoying a cup of hot tea, they tasted the doughnuts. Some of them even enjoying this finger food with the computer games.

It was really a joyful afternoon when the kids and the moms showed their creativity. They were happy to announce that there will be another session in the near future.

Please click on the link below to view the pictures of this program

Memories from the Doughnuts Party @ Thursday Afternoon