FROM K, WITH LOVE

I arrived in Central Asia on 23 August 2025. It is December now.

Please pardon me because I can’t write freely about my experiences, or identify my new friends here. I’ve been told to be very discreet, so my article may feel a bit secretive. But there is still so much I can write about, and so much that I’m thankful for.

I’m in K. K is a Muslim-majority country in Central Asia. It is one of five republics in Central Asia that became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is sprawling and mountainous.

Just a few months ago, I had thought that perhaps I would grow old and retire in the organisation I have worked in since I graduated from university in 1999. I have never changed jobs. That was before the Lord jolted me out of my comfort zone and started me thinking of exploring overseas missionary work.

But trust me, this was never in my game plan. I have been on many church mission trips. I served on the church’s mission committee. But I have never thought (and to a certain degree, I still believe) that I’m not a missionary natural because I don’t adjust well to new environments, and I’m highly dependent on my mother. I can’t imagine how I would survive without her. Uproot and plant myself in a faraway land for a year, maybe longer? That would not be me. But I guess the Lord has other plans.

I spoke to some people, and they felt that if I wanted to know what living and working in the mission field is like, then going for short trips is not going to tell me much. Most church mission trips are four- or five-day expeditions that are jam-packed with exciting programs like an afternoon of games, a few classes teaching English, a concert night with a gospel message. Then you pack your bags and go home.

But short-term mission trips serve their purposes, especially if they open up opportunities for the long termers in the field. I guess I wanted more.

Through God’s divine arrangements, I was given the opportunity to serve with an organisation in Central Asia that works with young people. It would be six months. After much deliberation and prayers, I signed up.

It wasn’t easy to go, but with six months, I knew I wouldn’t have to rush through a barrage of fast-paced programs. I would get a chance to experience not just the work, but also talk to my heart. I will have time to learn the rhythm, the struggle. I will learn to pray.

It was the tail end of summer when I arrived in August and the temperature was about 30 degrees. So it was pretty much like Singapore, except that it’s very dry here. Climate-wise, an easy start! But that soon changed when autumn came and the temperature dipped and it snowed.

Till today, I have no idea why that happened. I thought I would be quite excited seeing snow for the first time, and yes, I was excited. But only for the moment. I waited but the snow didn’t go away. Very soon, I decided that I didn’t like the cold very much. The strong winds that blew made it colder. I stopped going out and told everybody, “I will see you after winter.”

When autumn formally became winter, everyone laughed at me and said that this is already a very warm winter. I can only say God is gracious. I’m doing better now with a thick jacket, many layers of clothes and a good pair of winter boots that I got from the local bazaar.

The bazaar, which is half-an-hour’s walk from our apartment, is an important part of the lives of the people here. It is where they get their fresh produce, stationery, clothes, toys, shoes, household items, noodles and bread. The stall owners and shopkeepers work very hard. Just don’t for a moment think that they have everything we’re used to in Singapore. I was looking to buy a mechanical pencil one day and discovered that they only sell wooden and stacking pencils. But these work well, too. It’s just that coming from Singapore, I’m spoilt for choice.

Back home, I have never had to worry about cooking and home chores. I have mom. Therefore, I was worried that I would be a burden to the team. I arrived at the apartment with two heavy bags very late at night. This was the cosy space I would call home for the next six months. Though the flights and transfers were very smooth, I was hungry and tired. My housemates were very sweet. They welcomed me with big hugs and a nice, homecooked dinner. Their love really warmed my heart.

I soon got to know the two sisters in the team. They were very patient with me and through their coaching, I have now ‘mastered’ three dishes – fried rice, fried tomato-and-egg, and a japchae lookalike dish that was made using every thing in the fridge.

But living and working together definitely had their challenges. In September, I got very frustrated with one sister and spoke to her angrily. When we got home that evening, the three of us sat down and talked. We shared openly and honestly and took turns to apologise to one another. I thank God that despite our differences, we can be and are one in Christ. God is moulding us to make us aware of our weaknesses and to be more considerate about one another’s needs. Perhaps you will not have this experience on a short-term trip of only a few days.

Four or five days a week, I take a 25-minute walk to a university or a 20-minute walk to a technical college. Our ministry work is to reach their students. Being 15 to 21 years old, the youth here are really not very different from Singaporean youth. They enjoy hanging out, eating with friends, they follow celebrities, take risks and are very into social media. Even though TikTok is banned in K, many of them are on TikTok.

Because of K’s history, the official language here is Russian. Most of the country is rural, so there is farming and agriculture. Almost every student I have spoken to wants to get out of the country. Hence, they are very keen to learn English, and for some, Chinese. They hope that proficiency in these languages would help them go abroad for further studies or work.

As a young republic-in-transition, K has significant social problems like alcoholism, gambling and drug trafficking. I think K is considered a poor country, but it’s developing. There are big malls and 5-star hotels in the capital city now. A student brought me out to see the impressive hotel she was working in. I snapped some photos. If some of my Singaporean friends are thinking of coming to this country, they should have no reason to hesitate!

The Chinese have built many hotels here, and so has Russia. I also learned that the U.S. and Japan are not far behind. They too have strategic interests in Central Asia.

At the university and college, we run English and Chinese talking clubs for the students. These talking clubs are informal groups we have formed with students who are interested to practise the languages with us. The school authorities know about them and are glad we are helping their students.

With the schools’ approval, we would go into the campuses and park ourselves in the school canteen or courtyard. We talk to some 10 to 15 students every time we’re there. Some students are fairly proficient while some others can only manage, "Hello, my name is __. How are you? Where are you from?" The funny thing is when I say that I'm from Singapore, most of them will nonchalantly say, "Oh, Singapore." I found out later that most of them did not know where Singapore was. They were just saying, “Oh, Singapore” without knowing anything about Singapore. I've since heard that many students think Singapore is part of China, India, Malaysia and the Philippines. I'm quite amused!

Two days after I arrived, my team mates brought me to the university. There I met a young girl who was a freshman in the university. She looked lost and anxious. She said she didn’t know anybody or anything. My heart went out to her. I tried to reassure her. I told her to be patient since this was only her first day. She didn’t know I felt as lost as she. I hope she understood what I was trying to say.

I asked two boys what they did during the summer. They said they sold water melon, petrol and sheep. One boy was worried that I didn’t know what a sheep was, so he said “baa-baa!”

For my part, I’ve started to learn Russian. It has not been easy.

A was a girl who spoke only Russian. She enrolled in the university to learn Chinese. She speaks very little English. But we became friends. Eating lunch together in the noisy canteen, we resorted to “talking” using Google Translate. It was hilarious because we were typing away on our phones. But this would have to do until she learns her Chinese, and I, my Russian.

D is a fourth-year student in the university. He is a very friendly boy who would sit with us whenever he sees us at the canteen. Not too long ago, he had a disagreement with his father. While this was not the first time he and his dad had a misunderstanding, this was the first time D responded rudely, and it greatly affected him. My friend sensed this and asked if he would like us to pray for him, but he politely said “no”.

On another occasion, when we were in his school library, I found a book of Job on the shelf and thinking that this might be a good way to start a gospel conversation, I asked if he knew this was a book found in the Bible, and if he knew how this book ended up in the library. I could see he was not keen to discuss this when he simply told me that the school probably selected its books randomly. I realized that the Lord was saying, “It’s not the time yet.” I need to be patient and pray for an open door with D.

Once, while hanging out with some college students I had made friends with, the topic of religion came up. Some boys told me that they don’t listen to secular music because it’s considered haram. Then they asked me about my religion. I’m a Christian, I said. One boy then very excitedly asked me if I knew who Martin Luther was. I was curious to know how he knew about Luther. He then replied that he liked to read history books. He said he learnt that Martin Luther pinned 95 statements on the church door. I asked if the boy knew why Luther had to do that. He replied, “For revolution!” I briefly explained why Luther “revolted” and left it at that because I wasn’t sure if everyone in the group would be comfortable if I shared more. But here, God gave me a conversation starter to share a bit of the gospel with the students.

Someone whom I managed to share the gospel with was S. S’s father had passed away about two months ago from cancer and when I heard the news, I met and texted her more often. Once at lunch, she asked me what I did on Sunday and I told her I went to church. She then asked if I could tell her more about my religion. I exclaimed, “Of course!” I shared the gospel with her using Google Translate. Like most of the students, S knows mainly Russian, but not English or Mandarin. Thank God for technology.

After hearing my gospel message, S agreed there is a Creator God and that we have sinned against Him. However, she disagreed that the punishment of sin is death. She said we can pay for our sins by praying five times a day and doing good. I replied that I don’t believe good works could save us, and that we are saved only by believing in Jesus Christ. Again, she disagreed. I had some difficulty explaining Good Friday. Maybe the Google translation was wrong. But she knew about Easter Sunday. So, I told her that Good Friday and Easter Sunday are a package, that Jesus died and Jesus rose. She nodded. I think she understood what I was trying to say.

Although K is a Muslim-majority country, there are Christian churches here. I remember my first Sunday inside a local Russian language church. I didn’t understand the language, but the Christian liturgy comforted and touched me. It is important for a missionary to try to be part of a worshipping community, and not be a lone Christian. I was glad to participate in the holy communion. I recognized only one song—“God Is So Good,” so I sang it in English.

My daily routine brings structure to my days. Every morning, I have my own time with the Lord. Then it’s prayer and worship with my two housemates. After that, we head to the university canteen to meet students. Afternoons are spent planning activities. When the day is done, we go for a run or walk at the track near our apartment. Some evenings, we host students with dinner in our apartment.

When it rains or snows, I take a taxi if I need to go out. K has no metro. There are buses, but not in my area. Here, we only have shared taxis. Shared taxis ply fixed routes like buses. They pick up passengers along the way until the car is filled. It is a low-cost way of getting around. Each trip is less than 50 Singapore cents. A shared taxi seats four passengers and one driver. With my thick winter jacket and many layers, it can get very squeezy!

In seven weeks, I will come home. I hope I come back a different person. I have learned a bit about what God is doing in this part of His world. I pray I will see more clearly how I can fit into His plan.

At my interview, the organisation staff member asked if I cooked and drove, and I had to say no. He chuckled and said that my mom will be very proud of me when I’m back. Well, I have done no driving at all in K, but mom now knows I cook, even if it’s only three dishes. Mom is patient with me. Without saying a word, she knows I have grown.

I have only taken a few steps. I know there are more things the Lord wants me to see about working with students in a foreign land. I am learning to be patient with myself.

Soon I will say “Paka paka,” which is Russian for “goodbye” to my housemates and students. I will feel a great sadness. The students will ask when and if I’m coming to K again. Just like the four words that I write when I sign off on my online updates, “From K, with love,” I know that saying goodbye and feeling sad tells me I have given love and received love.

Joyce Peh has been a full-time staff worker with Singapore Youth For Christ from 1999. She came to True Way in 1993, first joining the evening service. All photos were taken by her.

Editor-in-chief Lee Chung Horn • Subeditors/writers Joyce Peh, Michelle Cheong, Soh Lay Bin, Kevin Chua, Jakin Heng, Gracia Lee, Michelle Ng, Yang Hai Kun • Photographers Jimmy Ang, Ang Li Yan, William Neo, Ronnie Koh, Erick Kencana, Jethro Fernandez • Web design Tony Cheung
TOGETHER is published online twice a year. Opinions expressed are those of the authors. All rights reserved. Current and previous issues of TOGETHER are available at trueway.org.sg/newsletters.