Encounter The World With Central - Hong Kong

Hong Kong: My Last Words

2008-12-01T23:41:00.001+08:00

My three months at Hong Kong have finally come to close. In some ways, I have so much to say about my thoughts and feelings…..yet I do not know how to say them. To say this has been an amazing spiritual and academic journey would be true but a little over the top. What I can say is by taking the leap of faith and coming to Hong Kong the Lord changed me and taught me in ways I had not anticipated. I had not anticipated being so emotional having to say goodbye to my friends at the church and at the school. I do not know if I will ever come back to Hong Kong. I hope to someday, but for now, I rest knowing that faith had brought me to Hong Kong and through faith, I am connected to these dear friends.

My last request is for your prayers as Emily and I travel in Asia over the next two weeks, before we head home. As always thank you for your prayers and support. May this holiday season be one of love, joy, peace, and hope

Chin-English Phrases I will miss:

1. "No Need"

2. "Of course"

3. "wOUOW"

4. "Are you boring?" – we think they mean," are you bored"

5. "Have you had your breakfast?" (You think this would be self-explanatory but it's not)

6. "Take a rest" At first I thought this meant take a nap…but it really mean sit and relax until we come and get you.

Culture and Relationships

2008-11-27T11:17:00.000+08:00

Highlights of the Week:

1. I have come to discover that most Hong Kong holidays included meal, snack, drink, snack, meal, snack, snack, snack, drink, dessert, meal, and snack. In Macau I ate 9 different times half the time eating more than one item at once. Good fun!

2. This week I taught the cultural club about the American west and folk tales. Watching thirteen-year-old girls act out the story of Paul Bunyan was quite comical.

3. Saturday morning we received a phone call telling us one of our Thai students wanted to cook us lunch before class. The meal included green curry soup, pork, and sticky rice/coconut milk/mango for dessert. It was a meal of celebration: for our friendship and for our Savior. What a joy!

4. After our 'daytrip' with the Form 7 girls, several of these new girls have been seeking us out. Praise God!! While I'm sad we only have a few more days to get to know them, I thank the Lord we have the chance.

5. Though this was not something that happened this week I feel compelled to mention it….in a museum in China there is a very ancient bolder with the Christ story carved into it. What makes this stone amazing is it's dated to the 700 c.e. It leaves me in awe and humbled to know that 'Christ's name" has been spread in China since 700. The Lord never fails to amaze me.

Hong Kong: Sun, Family, and Haircuts

2008-11-27T09:48:00.001+08:00

Fun Fact: At most, restaurants people rewash their dishes with tea at their table. At this I have became quite proficient.

Top 5 Highlights

1. Watching Emily get a Hong Kong haircut.

2. Going to a new island with Form 7 girls from school for a relaxing day in the great outdoors.

3. Teaching the Thai women how to talk about 'family' in English and then getting to see pictures of their relatives.

4. Sitting and praying with Form 7 girls.

5. Riding the Trolley from Downtown Hong Kong to Causeway Bay.

As always, thank you everyone for your prayers. They are much appreciated!

Chopsticks: Are you hungry?

2008-11-17T22:49:00.001+08:00

Highlights of the Week:

1. Taking the Cable Car 360 on Lantua Island up to the Big Budda with the Senior Citizens of the church (age 50-95).

2. Teaching the Culture Club how to line dance.

3. Having Eskimo Night where Emily gets to turn down the temperature in the apartment as low as she wanted. I just pretended it's winter!

Chopsticks: Are you hungry?

Packing furiously for this trip to Hong Kong it never crossed my mind that I would have to use Chopsticks. In the States, I probably eat Chinese food 3 to 4 times a year, maybe attempting twice to use chopsticks and failing miserably. Every time I eat out with friends in Hong Kong I get the same question, "You know how to use chopsticks?" I usually laugh and say, "I didn't but I do now. You can't eat in Hong Kong unless you know how to use chopsticks." I quickly learned that starvation and not knowing how to use chopsticks walked hand in hand. So I learned. Did I have a choice? Not really, if I wanted to eat I needed to learn.

How many times is this true in our spiritual live? We do not learn until we're forced to do it. Maybe it's reading your Bible everyday, trying to memorize scripture, or getting up to pray in the morning. It's something in our lives we know we need to work on spiritually. We try half-heartily, but in the end we might give up because do not commit ourselves to the task.

When I was forced to eat with chopstick I learned - it wasn't easy. I went some nights back to the apartment aching for another meal because I failed to get most of my lunch into my mouth. Yes, it was comical and yes I did (still do) get food all over the table and sometimes on others. But hunger was great motivation. What if we had that motivation in our own spiritual lives because it was survival? What if we felt hungry if we didn't get our spiritual fill? What if we wouldn't survive if we didn't read our bible, memorize scripture, or pray daily? The thing is many of us are starving spiritually because we have forgotten how to be hunger. We've gone hungry so long we do even notice it anymore.

God always has our best in mind and he hates to see us starving, so he gives us opportunities to fix it. Though chopsticks are not on the same level as spiritual matters, the principle is the same. If I had tried to learn how to use chopsticks anytime over the last 23 years my first few weeks in Hong Kong wouldn't have been so shocking (hunger wise). God will give us the opportunity to eat spiritually, to be full, but He may give us a tough or difficult situation to make us realize we are hunger. Do not wait for that situation, commit yourself today. Tomorrow I am getting up 15 minutes early to pray. Will you join me?

2 Months: Who changed?

2008-11-05T09:51:00.001+08:00

Fun Fact of the Day:

When picnicking in Hong Kong watch out for crafty Monkeys who steal picnic baskets.

Two Months. Who changed?

The two most common questions I am asked here are, "First time in Hong Kong?" and "What do you think of Hong Kong". The first question is always answered with "yes" but the answer to the second question has grown more complex over these last two months. At first when I was riding the low of culture stress I would smile politely and say "Hong Kong has a great transportation system"- which it does, however that was all I could think to say. Now when people ask I start with the great transportation system and then ramble on about the impressive activities available, the diversity of world restaurants, the fun food/clothing markets, and the endless amount of places to visit in the city. While, I vow never to live anywhere without a car again every time I have to carry three twenty-pound grocery bags the half mile walk back to my apartment, Hong Kong is starting to grow on me. Plus the walking is great excise, though my constant cravings for chocolate counteracts the affects.

Locals seem surprised when I spout out the list of likes about their city and usually follow up with the comment…"but the air is so bad." Back in Illinois, we never consider the air quality because we're surrounded by miles of blue skies and open prairies where breathing fresh air is like walking, but in Hong Kong the air is heavily polluted. Emily went jogging outside once and had a chest cold for two days from the pollution. So no, it's not perfect and sometimes it can be kind of smelly. Yet, despite the forced exercise, the pollution and smell; Hong Kong is city full of energy, excitement, culture, and it's contagious. Did I mention it is starting to grow on me?

Prayer Requests:

1. Over the last month, I have realized that many of the Pooi To girls have become believers through the school who among other things had weekly assemblies about Jesus. Just today, I ate lunch with a young teacher who said she accepted Christ after hearing about him through her own school as a child. Wow! Please continue to pray for the girls who have not accepted Christ that their hearts will be soften toward him. Please also pray that the Christian teachers will not be discouraged in the midst of adversity.

2. In just one month my time at Pooi To school will end I ask for your prayers that I will be attentive to the Lord's voice and use this time efficiently for his plans.

3. Thank you for all those who were praying I am now fully recovered!! Amen! Thanks also to Dr. Mom and Dad who endured very early and very late night calls from HK in the process. J

China Adventure and Strange Foods

2008-10-30T14:56:00.001+08:00

Fun Fact of the Day: Praise the Lord, it's late October, still in the 80's, and I am wearing short sleeves!

Top 10 Strangest Things I Have Eaten:

1. Chicken claw

2. Fish skin

3. Shark fin

4. Goose liver

5. Thousand year old egg

6. Squid

7. Fish Balls

8. Oysters

9. Bamboo

10.Things with eyes staring at me….

Highlights Swatow, China

1. Since, this trip was planned specifically for the 70^th Anniversary, 75% of the trip participants were former church members visiting from abroad. Watching the trip through their eyes made it ever more memorable as I heard learned about where family members use to live, what foods were their favorite, and more about China's rich history.

2. On the second day of the trip, we visited three Baptist churches that our church has been sponsoring for many years. Each of these churches was in an area the faced strong opposition from town members, lack of ministers, and low monetary resources which makes it difficult for the churches to continue. Please pray for encouragement for these believers who face so many spiritual battles.

3. Sitting in my comfortable tour bus, I watched street after street of poverty-stricken people living from day to day in China. Being raised in the USA, I never had these worries and I wanted to jump from the bus to do something, to help somehow……yet, at the same time what can I do? Though there is so much I want to do, the best place for me to start……..Prayer.

Note: Thank you all again for all your prayers. If you ever have, any questions or comments about my blog please feel free to post them. Blessings- Margaret

The adventure continues

2008-10-29T15:43:00.001+08:00

I am sorry for the tardiness in my update, but I have two very good reasons.

1.) I was in China for the first half of the week (more on that next week).

2.) When I got back to Hong Kong I caught the stomach flu L Which is awful, if you've had it you know…misery galore.

The last week and half have been quiet eventful. Therefore, I will touch on a few highlights that led up to my trip to China.

Highlights Oct 14-19th:

1. Wednesday night I had the opportunity to see an old friend (an exchange student at my high school) from Hong Kong who has resided here after university. Not only did we able to catch up on old times, but she also agreed to attend church with us on Sunday. That Sunday she also brought her sixteen-year-old cousin who wanted to work on his English. Both of them have lived in Hong Kong almost their entire lives and have never gone to church. Please pray for the Lord's continual blessing and movement in this relationship.

2. On Thursday, we had our first Cultural Club Meeting with Emily leading about 25 students in 'Yankee-Doodle". Though we had some technical difficulties, it was a great kick-off to the club and I am anxious to see how the Lord will work next.

3. Through out Saturday our building was suppose to have our toilet shut down for…who know what. Yet when we returned that evening, our toilets were still turned off. Long story short, after walking to McDonalds for 24 hours to use their bathrooms we had a friend (via cell phone) talk to our Security Guard to find out what was going on. It appeared our water main broke and the toilets would be out of use until Tuesday night! Thank the Lord we were headed to China the next day- where they had working toilets.

Prayer Requests:

Besides what I have just mentioned please please pray for the Lord to quickly heal by body. The worst, I believe it over but I have a busy week ahead of me starting with the pentacle 70^th anniversary church celebration (which they have been celebrating for 2 months) tomorrow which is an all day event from 8am- to midnight.

Hitting the Halfway Point

2008-10-14T12:02:00.001+08:00

Greetings!

Highlights of the Week:

1. Celebrating my last national holiday in Hong Kong. During this holiday family members go to bring flowers to their ancestor's graves.

2. Though sports are not a major emphasis at Pooi To besides basic P.E. it was fun to get a lunchbox (getting fast-food) and cheer on the girls in the volleyball tournament between all the classes (about 50 classes).

3. At the church, each member is assigned a membership number when they join the church since its beginning in 1938. On Saturday, I had the honor to attend the funeral of the first church member (#001) who helped found the church. If anyone is interested in learning more about a Hong Kong funeral just e-mail me.

4. As much as I enjoy Asian food I have missed Western food, but I had my fill this week with first eating out at a Mexican restaurant and then an American restaurant. A great taste of home! Thank you to those who made it possible – you know who you are.

5. On Friday our mentor took Emily and I to the largest bookstore in Hong Kong, which was on the 8^th floor of an office building. It gave me a chance to read a few commentaries (in English) for my Sunday school lesson. Plus, we also visited the Hong Kong Baptist Convention.

Prayer Requests:

1. Thank you for those who have been praying for the establishment of the new culture class! It is now underway with a large response from the students but with some administrative issues. This Thursday is our first week club meeting please pray that these lessons will be clear and it will open up the opportunity to build new relationships.

2. Over the last two weeks, we have been trying to get internet in our apartment along with two friends who have done lots of research for us. Yet, we have hit wall after wall trying to get the plan we need without paying our lifesavings and one that we can terminate in less than 2 months. Please pray that this works out, as it would relieve some major stress with our homework and lesson planning.

Blessings- Margaret

Finding My Way

2008-10-09T13:54:00.001+08:00

Greetings!

Last week represented a changing point in our ministry here in Hong Kong. After being here for a month, I evaluated what had happened in those four weeks: What did I learn? What had changed? Where do we go from here?

Short Version:

Despite my busy schedule, I was feeling rather useless at Pooi To School where my duties and interactions with the young women had decreased greatly due to intensity of school and our location. For more details please read below. Therefore, I started to brainstorm some ideas on how I could benefit the school and get more interaction with the girls. The idea I developed was creating curriculum about American culture to help improve the students' English; then Emily and I could execute this one of two ways, as substitute teachers in the classroom or by starting an after school club. We set up an appointment with the Principal to discuss our ideas and she embraced it but was a little fuzzy on the execution of the plans and is trying to work something out. Please pray that we will be able to take a more active role at the school. Please pray that these classes work out so we are able to share the love of the Lord with a new group of young women.

Long Version:

Besides the daily lunch meetings, initial introductions to the upper form classes, an assembly speech, involvement with English club, and occasional assistance with morning announcements I really did not feel useful at the school. Though it may look like several of those activities would keep us busy you must count in the fact we spent about 27 hours at the school each week. 85% of that time students are in class so we work on other projects or meet with teachers. Unfortunately being on the 7^th floor of a building where students are required to take the stairs doesn't give them strong motivation to come and visit (despite our cheery dispositions). Plus, our isolation up there causes teachers to forget us also, so we don't get any classroom invites. Truly, I enjoy the few quiet hours to work on homework and the use of the internet as we don't have it in our apartment. But this isn't why we came.

I wanted to be useful while I was at the school…..so I started working on American culture lesson-plans. I began putting together some ideas for curriculum, that maybe Emily and I would be able to use in the classroom if a teacher needed a substitute. Substitute Street and Fine to the rescue! As I described my plan to Emily, she suggested we ask to start ‘An American Culture Club” after school where we would address the same type of issues (Religion, Politics, Holidays etc in the US). With these ideas in mind, we meet with the Principal who embraced them but was a little fuzzy on the execution of the plans and is trying to work something out.

What many do not realize is school in Hong Kong is intense…..Senior students study constantly to try to pass their exam to get into college….only 18% of the student qualify to go to University in Hong Kong. The rest usually cannot afford to go overseas so they get jobs. This atmosphere makes it difficult for older students to be involved in any activities outside of studying.

Please pray that we will be helpful to the school no matter what happens here. Please pray that these classes work out so we are able to share the love of the Lord with a new group of young women. Finally, please pray for the Principal as she is under immense stress.

^“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
      do not depend on your own understanding.
    Seek his will in all you do,
      and he will show you which path to take.”

-Proverbs 3:5,6

Blessings,

Margaret

A Limitless God: Using Mickey

2008-10-02T10:36:00.000+08:00

On September 19^th I had an experience that I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have in Hong Kong…..I got to go to Disneyland! For one I didn’t even know Hong Kong had a Disneyland or the God can use Disneyland to spiritual revitalize someone. I’m repeatedly learning not to limit the Lord.

A few days before the 19^th our Internship Mentor told Emily and I, she had gotten us free tickets to go to Disneyland. Who can say no to free Disneyland tickets? The day before we went I was so stressed with work I didn't know if I would go, but being the good friend she is Emily told me I was going. That morning as I walked into the theme park, seeing friendly Disney Characters whom I had grown up with produced an overwhelming sense of joy and peace that I hadn’t realized was missing.

That day I flew with Dumbo, waved at Buzzlight Year, climbed Tarzan’s tree house, floated through ‘it is a small world,’ sang with the High School Musical, and sat in awe as my favorite characters paraded across the stage. Walking out of the glistening park, I felt my cultural stress and internal frustrations replaced with calmness. Having the opportunity to step outside my normal schedule made me recognize that my focus had been on the lack of control in my life, instead of the total control that God provides. Most of us do not realize how caught we are in the net of life’s woes until we step back and gain perspective. Thank you Lord for using whatever means possible to reach me, even a smiling mouse.

General Update:

1. Sing Along- The Pooi To girls love to sing so many will come up to our room after school and we will all sing praise and worship songs together. If you have not sat down recently and just sang some of your favorite worship songs I recommend it.

2. Please pray for Swatow Baptist Church in Kowloon City as they celebrate their 70^th anniversary- may it be a time of thanksgiving and opportunity to share the love of the Lord with others.

3. On Tuesday, I experienced my first Typhoon with lots of wind and heavy rain; plus the school shut down on Wednesday so we had a ‘Typhoon day or ‘Snow Day’ as we like to call them in the States. Though our area was not hit hard at all, please pray for the individuals who have flooding or damaged homes.

Thank you for your prayers of support!

Blessings- Margaret

Thai Ministry

2008-09-23T10:49:00.001+08:00

When I was talking to my parents yesterday, they asked if I was settling into the Hong Kong culture and I thought for a moment……and realized ‘yes’ I was settling. Now I can identify my favorite Chinese dishes or at least ones that I recognize. I have not quiet worked up the courage to eating Fried Goose Feet but I’m trying to give myself room to grow. Also, I have figured out how to utilize chopsticks…..well almost.

Thai Ministry: A Day at the Beach:

After furiously finishing my homework on Saturday, Emily and I were invited to the Thai Fellowship’s beach day at the Golden Coast for that coming Monday, which was the ‘Mid-Autumn Festival’(national holiday). Even though I do not understand Thai, that day I did understand the passion for the Lord that oozed out of all the Fellowship members. Whether it was singing praise songs on the bus or beach, stuffing me with Thai food (which almost burned by mouth off), or splashing in the ocean the Lord was praised.

In the ocean, Em and I were having fun throwing a ball around with a kindergarten girl (call her Susie) from our group, communicating with lots of laughter and smiles, though I really desired to say more. Later, one of the leaders in our group told me Susie wished she could speak English so she could talk to me. There was so much she wanted to say. That made two of us.

Before we left two Thai women gave Em and I massages on the beach- which was great ‘research’ for the Thai English class we were leading later that week. Now thinking of massages as research can sound funny, but it was truthful. I was able to see what terms and knowledge the women would need to communicate effectively in English for their trade.

Later in the week, after we taught our first Thai English class all the parts of the body plus the head and shoulders song, I could not help but be excited! There is something to be said for seeing immediate results. I have a feeling that they will be one of my favorite blog topics.

Prayer Requests:

1. It’s easy for me to get bogged down with my homework, so please pray that I never get to busy to forget why I am here.

2. Recently, I come across a cultural difference that I was not aware of, but I am trying to be very sensitive to. Please pray for continual guidance on this issue. (Sorry for the ambiguity)

Welcome to the City of Lights

2008-09-16T10:00:00.000+08:00

Greetings!

I have now been in Hong Kong twelve days! Jetlag is slowly fading as I only wake up once or twice in the night opposed to four times. After three flights totaling over 24 hours of travel time I arrived in Hong Kong September 2nd. About 12:45AM on Wednesday, I finally crashed onto a beautiful Queen Bed on the 8^th floor of our (Emily and I) apartment building. The next morning I was surprised to be greeting with two aerobic type groups in the Park right outside my window. One group looked to be practicing some type of Yoga/Pilates and the other a combination of Richard Simmons moves with flapping limbs and sidekicks.

Where we live:

As I mentioned, Emily and I live in a good-sized apartment with 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a kitchen, a family/dining room, an office, and a porch. It has become a haven of peace for us to relax after long days around the city. A true blessing!!!! Our neighborhood is a very local area. After twelve days and much exploration around our neighborhood, local shops, and Metro Station I have only seen 5 Westerners in our neighborhood. It is been an enlightening experience as to what it feels like to be a minority.

What we do:

Right now we will be going to a local Christian school called Pooi To Middle School three days a week. The school has about 1,000 girls from 6^th to 12^th grade whom we got to introduce ourselves to at Monday’s assembly. Please pray that I will learn names quickly. The first week we will observe at the school and finalize our contributions, which may be a combination of Conversational English, building friendships, teaching American culture, and assisting with both the English club and Speech team.

Prayer:

Please pray that I will learn the names of the girls at the school and church staff quickly.

Please pray the Lord will soften the hearts of girls at the school toward Him.

Please pray for culture shock and general cultural stress.

Blessings,

Margaret