After the service, I have been invited to join a couple in the church for dinner. His name is Victor and his wife is Janice. He is a doctor and was a part of the church when I was here before. They are married and have two children. Victor will be overseeing the renovation as well as serve as the chairperson for the Board of Directors. I will enjoy hearing their story.
I will be returning home tonight to pack my bags and get ready to leave on Sunday. We will leave the retreat center at 7 AM by taxi to New Town Plaza where we will take the bus back to the airport. It will take 45 minutes. Tim, Russ and Dave will catch a flight at 10:20 AM that will take them to Osaka where they will visit a friend of Tim for two days before returning home. I will take the same flight I took to come to Hong Kong to go back to Chicago. From there I will catch a flight back to Indy. My interation indicates that the trip will be finished by 3:15 PM.
I want to thank those who have written comments on this site. It has been nice to hear from you while I was here. I have enjoyed sharing in this format and I hope that it has helped you understand the significance of this trip to me. What a blessing it has been!
I will attempt to place pictures on the site when I return.
This will be my last entry but the journey will not end. The experiences will continue to shape my faith and life in the coming days I am sure.
Blessed for the journey,
Friday, November 9, 2007
Edmund and Lisa Leung
Edmund and Lisa are the key leaders here in this church. They have been married 5 years. They are in their mid 30's
Edmund is the pastor of the church. He has much on his shoulders. Before I left the church began to structure the ministry around small groups. Cell groups are not optional like it might be in the church in the US. It is expected that to be a part of the church means that you a in a cell group. For that reason there now are more people in the cell groups than there may be in the worship service. Currently they have 20 cell groups with 10 in each group. Many of them meet at the church but some meet in people's homes (which previously they would not have done because it is not the custom to visit in homes but gather at the restaurants). Sunday we had 90 in the morning worship on Sunday and we were told 50+ on Saturday afternoon (mostly junior and senior high students) The four of us will be going to the afternoon service today. I have been asked to preach. The service is much shorter than the one on Sunday. It lasts 1 1/2 hrs instead of the usual 2 hours + on Sunday!!! (People in the US get squirmy when the service goes past 1 hour)
One of the strategic plans was to begin to train pastors in training. 4 people have already started this training. One will graduate this year. All four of them are paid by the church. In turn, they are committed to study, assisting with the groups and being with the other leaders for instruction and guidance. Then they go to seminary for training. Two people in the church have a burden for China and want to become missionaries. Edmund is the spiritual leader for this group that will lead the growing church here in Hong Kong. It is their expectation that the church will double in size (to over 400) in just a few years.
Over the past twenty years, the church has operated three social centers in order to have facilities to do ministry (make contacts and have worship and cell group meetings). Two of those centers have been open up to now. One was a study room for secondary students to study. It opened in 1989. The other was a family center for social programs for the entire family. It was opened in 1994. Both will be closing by the end of this year. In their place the church has purchased a space on the second floor that is very close to the train station in Tai Wai. It is approx 2,000 sq. feet, the same size as the family center that the church operated. This new facility will be able to be divided into small rooms for groups as well as be open for worship. The price tag? US $ 1.2 million dollars. Patrick and Jamie helped raise US$300,000.00 from churches in the States for a down payment. The rest will the mortage will be paid by this young but growing church. (One week after buying the property they were approached and told that someone would give them US$300,000.00 more than what they purchased. They had not done any renovation or would need to do anything than what existed when they purchased it to make the deal - they turned it down). The renovation was to cost US$70,000.00 which was not in the budget. Edmund and the board asked the 14 families that tithed if they would give extra money to cover this cost. Many gave from the profit they had made from their home or the little saving that they had. The renovation started last week. We toured the place after the Sunday Service. It was remarkable to see this unfold. It was remarkable to see a youth group church to accept the challenge to grow and move to the next stage for ministry.
Lisa is a leader in her quiet spirit and deep faith. She is also living with three tumors behind her eyes and nose that doctors do not know if they are maligant because it is too dangerous to do a biospy or to have surgery. She had cancer 11 years ago in her throat that was taken out and she went through chemo and radiation therapy. These growths were discovered when a growth had formed in her nose. Each time they did an MRI they discovered more growths. As she said, "the news kept getting worst each time the doctor talked to us." She went into the hospital because she had fainted and they were not sure of the reason. She kept it quiet from friends and family because she did not want them to worry. But after being in the hospital a week, she knew that she had to tell her family and friends. She was afraid of her parent's response. She did not want them to go to the Buddhist temple to pray for her or to insist on other treatments. During the first time of having cancer as she shared with her parents they agreed to pray with her and her sister. This was a major victory for her even though they had not accepted Christianity personally as she had, they were open to receive her experience of faith. This time as she shared they acknowledged that they believed that there was a God and was trusting him to care for her.
As I sat with her and listened she shared from her heart of the pain and hurt that this had brought to her life. But what she shared was not what I expected. Her pain was that she was not able to do what she had done in the past at the church and that many people were worried about her. They would often ask what they could do for her or how she was feeling and she could not answer them. The Lord has given her a peace but there has been a silence from him in her knowing what she is suppose to do. She said "Lord, whatever you want to do in me or for me to do for you, just tell me." No direction has come to this point. But she senses the Lord's presence near her. She asked the Lord for specific things. She did not want to go through the painful experience of biopsy and did not want to have to decide whether to have surgery to remove it. The doctors told her that it was not possible to do either because it is close to the central nerve going to the brain and is close to the artery that supplies the brain. She smiled at me and said, "God answered my prayer!" She also said that she has been pleased to see that her parents are starting the journey to discover God. Jamie told me that when she had cancer the first time, she asked God for 12 years more on her life so that she could see her parents accept Christ.
I asked Edmund during a time together what has been the highlight recently for him. He thought for a moment and said, "When my mother was baptized two years ago. I was able to witness that in person. I have 8 brothers and sisters and half of our family is Christian. My older brother is also a pastor."
We all have gotten older. I remember them as young people but they were strong in their faith and love for Christ even then. God has used that faith and love to lead others since I have left. I am fortunate to have had parents and grandparents who were followers of Christ. I do not know what it means to be the first generation Christian in your family - to wait and long to have your parents understand your Christian faith and to experience that as well. I have had experiences since I have left that has taught me about grace and mercy from God and has helped build character in me and to form the likeness of Christ in my daily life.
Wednesday night we sat and ate Chinese food. They asked me what I wanted and I said to surprise me and they did - Ribs with peace and pinapple, ground beef with bean curd, vegetables and mushroom and pork. What an enjoyable meal and time together. How great to hear their story and to share mine. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
This afternoon I will be going to the center for the afternoon worship. The room will be filled with junior and senior high students. As I look over the group gathered for worship, I wonder who will be the "Edmunds and Lisas" in this group that God will fashion lead and use for his work in the coming years. Jesus said, "Behold the fields are ripe for harvesting." How true that is here in the church and in this exciting city of Hong Kong.
Partners in His service,
Edmund is the pastor of the church. He has much on his shoulders. Before I left the church began to structure the ministry around small groups. Cell groups are not optional like it might be in the church in the US. It is expected that to be a part of the church means that you a in a cell group. For that reason there now are more people in the cell groups than there may be in the worship service. Currently they have 20 cell groups with 10 in each group. Many of them meet at the church but some meet in people's homes (which previously they would not have done because it is not the custom to visit in homes but gather at the restaurants). Sunday we had 90 in the morning worship on Sunday and we were told 50+ on Saturday afternoon (mostly junior and senior high students) The four of us will be going to the afternoon service today. I have been asked to preach. The service is much shorter than the one on Sunday. It lasts 1 1/2 hrs instead of the usual 2 hours + on Sunday!!! (People in the US get squirmy when the service goes past 1 hour)
One of the strategic plans was to begin to train pastors in training. 4 people have already started this training. One will graduate this year. All four of them are paid by the church. In turn, they are committed to study, assisting with the groups and being with the other leaders for instruction and guidance. Then they go to seminary for training. Two people in the church have a burden for China and want to become missionaries. Edmund is the spiritual leader for this group that will lead the growing church here in Hong Kong. It is their expectation that the church will double in size (to over 400) in just a few years.
Over the past twenty years, the church has operated three social centers in order to have facilities to do ministry (make contacts and have worship and cell group meetings). Two of those centers have been open up to now. One was a study room for secondary students to study. It opened in 1989. The other was a family center for social programs for the entire family. It was opened in 1994. Both will be closing by the end of this year. In their place the church has purchased a space on the second floor that is very close to the train station in Tai Wai. It is approx 2,000 sq. feet, the same size as the family center that the church operated. This new facility will be able to be divided into small rooms for groups as well as be open for worship. The price tag? US $ 1.2 million dollars. Patrick and Jamie helped raise US$300,000.00 from churches in the States for a down payment. The rest will the mortage will be paid by this young but growing church. (One week after buying the property they were approached and told that someone would give them US$300,000.00 more than what they purchased. They had not done any renovation or would need to do anything than what existed when they purchased it to make the deal - they turned it down). The renovation was to cost US$70,000.00 which was not in the budget. Edmund and the board asked the 14 families that tithed if they would give extra money to cover this cost. Many gave from the profit they had made from their home or the little saving that they had. The renovation started last week. We toured the place after the Sunday Service. It was remarkable to see this unfold. It was remarkable to see a youth group church to accept the challenge to grow and move to the next stage for ministry.
Lisa is a leader in her quiet spirit and deep faith. She is also living with three tumors behind her eyes and nose that doctors do not know if they are maligant because it is too dangerous to do a biospy or to have surgery. She had cancer 11 years ago in her throat that was taken out and she went through chemo and radiation therapy. These growths were discovered when a growth had formed in her nose. Each time they did an MRI they discovered more growths. As she said, "the news kept getting worst each time the doctor talked to us." She went into the hospital because she had fainted and they were not sure of the reason. She kept it quiet from friends and family because she did not want them to worry. But after being in the hospital a week, she knew that she had to tell her family and friends. She was afraid of her parent's response. She did not want them to go to the Buddhist temple to pray for her or to insist on other treatments. During the first time of having cancer as she shared with her parents they agreed to pray with her and her sister. This was a major victory for her even though they had not accepted Christianity personally as she had, they were open to receive her experience of faith. This time as she shared they acknowledged that they believed that there was a God and was trusting him to care for her.
As I sat with her and listened she shared from her heart of the pain and hurt that this had brought to her life. But what she shared was not what I expected. Her pain was that she was not able to do what she had done in the past at the church and that many people were worried about her. They would often ask what they could do for her or how she was feeling and she could not answer them. The Lord has given her a peace but there has been a silence from him in her knowing what she is suppose to do. She said "Lord, whatever you want to do in me or for me to do for you, just tell me." No direction has come to this point. But she senses the Lord's presence near her. She asked the Lord for specific things. She did not want to go through the painful experience of biopsy and did not want to have to decide whether to have surgery to remove it. The doctors told her that it was not possible to do either because it is close to the central nerve going to the brain and is close to the artery that supplies the brain. She smiled at me and said, "God answered my prayer!" She also said that she has been pleased to see that her parents are starting the journey to discover God. Jamie told me that when she had cancer the first time, she asked God for 12 years more on her life so that she could see her parents accept Christ.
I asked Edmund during a time together what has been the highlight recently for him. He thought for a moment and said, "When my mother was baptized two years ago. I was able to witness that in person. I have 8 brothers and sisters and half of our family is Christian. My older brother is also a pastor."
We all have gotten older. I remember them as young people but they were strong in their faith and love for Christ even then. God has used that faith and love to lead others since I have left. I am fortunate to have had parents and grandparents who were followers of Christ. I do not know what it means to be the first generation Christian in your family - to wait and long to have your parents understand your Christian faith and to experience that as well. I have had experiences since I have left that has taught me about grace and mercy from God and has helped build character in me and to form the likeness of Christ in my daily life.
Wednesday night we sat and ate Chinese food. They asked me what I wanted and I said to surprise me and they did - Ribs with peace and pinapple, ground beef with bean curd, vegetables and mushroom and pork. What an enjoyable meal and time together. How great to hear their story and to share mine. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
This afternoon I will be going to the center for the afternoon worship. The room will be filled with junior and senior high students. As I look over the group gathered for worship, I wonder who will be the "Edmunds and Lisas" in this group that God will fashion lead and use for his work in the coming years. Jesus said, "Behold the fields are ripe for harvesting." How true that is here in the church and in this exciting city of Hong Kong.
Partners in His service,
The Dream of International Christian School
In 1992 several missionaries felt the need to start an International Christian School here in Hong Kong. It was just a dream that was up against sizeable issues: the high cost of land, accrediation, funding, the list went on and on. Six mission groups agreed to be sponsors of the endeavor. They were willing to commit representation but we could not expect financial support. I was asked to be on the Board of Directors just after the initial meetings were held. It would mean countless meetings recruiting teachers from many different countries. We hired a principal from the United States. We wanted it to be an American based curriculum with a Christian foundation. I remained as a Board of Director for 3 years until we moved back to the States. During that time I was the School Superintendent for six months.
Prior to the planning of this school, seven missionaries families had come together to form a home school for our children. Previously the children had gone to British schools that provided an excellent learning opportunity. But we wanted to encourage their creativity and give more personal attention to each of the children. Each of the wives had experience in teaching and agreed to teach different subjects. Diane was one of the teachers. Rachel and David were in the school. Matthew was still a baby. They had one classroom which included grades 1-6. It was quite an adventure for everyone.
When we started ICS we only had 56 students for grades K-8. We could not afford much to rent a place nor could we find many places. We did find a location that had a Chinese seminary and Chinese kindergarten. But there were many classrooms free that had not been used for some time. They cautiously entered into an agreement with this little group that had no history of running a school. Oh by the way, the school was in the flight path of every plane that landed in Hong Kong at that time. The planes came so low you could almost count the rivets! They were so loud that the kids had to scream in the courtyard to hear each other and the teachers had to pause frequently when one passed overhead. It was a mission of love in which everyone gave all that they had and we did a lot of praying.
From day one there was a special atmosphere for the students. My kids loved going there. I taught junior high basketball for the boys and the girls. I remember each team going undefeated as we played area schools. I left hoping that this dream would continue after 1997 when China regained control of Hong Kong.
On Tuesday I was invited to go back to that campus to be interviewed by the staff of those early years as they are celebrating 15 year anniversary. I was flooded with memories as I walked back on the campus, remembering friends that had been there with us, almost seeing in the students who moved past me my own children when they were there. What had happened while I was gone was beyond my expectation but not beyond the dream from the start. The school was given prime land next to a train station near Shek Mun. The government also gave a HK$100 million grant (US$14 million). The school has raised HK$140 million (US$ 20 million) from friends and families in Hong Kong. They still need to raise another HK$ 80 million (US$11 million) by the end of the year. They do not expect to have problems raising the remaining amount.
The Assistant principal for the elementary gave us a tour. The elementary school just moved in three days ago. The high school will be finished and open by the end of the year. Each grade will have three classrooms in the elementary. No classroom has more than 25 students (in Hong Kong the average is 40 students). The rooms are fitted with the latest furniture and teaching aides from the States and wired for the latest in technology. The elementary school will have it's own science lab. They also have their own counselor and staff to assess the students. The students must be fluent in English but they will be learning Chinese and French from grade 1. They also built studeo apartments for new teachers to live in during the first year.
The Assistant principal said that ICS has maitained the high standards of education. Outside the United States, ICS is the top school in the world in AP classes. Every student who graduates can and does go on to further study at the university whether that be the US, UK or Australia. The layout of the school was designed to meet the student's learning needs not maximize the number of students that could be enrolled. The school started in 1992 with 56 and now has over 1000 students. It is a leader in many ways already in Hong Kong and connected with other International Schools throughout Asia.
I walked in amazement as I was given the tour. I was encouraged that the growth and funding has not changed to spirit of the team or the commitment to the values we started. I walked away from the tour thankful that I had just a small part of this dream. I was glad that God had a much bigger dream and challenged us to step forward in 1992 for that dream to become real in Hong Kong. Many worried that China would wipe out Christianity and the chance to reach people. Many of us did not know what the future would be but walked by faith. As we did I can now look back and see that God's plan was too big for us to fathom then but not too for God to have for the people of Hong Kong. ICS is an education in faith.
Learning and growing in Hong Kong,
Prior to the planning of this school, seven missionaries families had come together to form a home school for our children. Previously the children had gone to British schools that provided an excellent learning opportunity. But we wanted to encourage their creativity and give more personal attention to each of the children. Each of the wives had experience in teaching and agreed to teach different subjects. Diane was one of the teachers. Rachel and David were in the school. Matthew was still a baby. They had one classroom which included grades 1-6. It was quite an adventure for everyone.
When we started ICS we only had 56 students for grades K-8. We could not afford much to rent a place nor could we find many places. We did find a location that had a Chinese seminary and Chinese kindergarten. But there were many classrooms free that had not been used for some time. They cautiously entered into an agreement with this little group that had no history of running a school. Oh by the way, the school was in the flight path of every plane that landed in Hong Kong at that time. The planes came so low you could almost count the rivets! They were so loud that the kids had to scream in the courtyard to hear each other and the teachers had to pause frequently when one passed overhead. It was a mission of love in which everyone gave all that they had and we did a lot of praying.
From day one there was a special atmosphere for the students. My kids loved going there. I taught junior high basketball for the boys and the girls. I remember each team going undefeated as we played area schools. I left hoping that this dream would continue after 1997 when China regained control of Hong Kong.
On Tuesday I was invited to go back to that campus to be interviewed by the staff of those early years as they are celebrating 15 year anniversary. I was flooded with memories as I walked back on the campus, remembering friends that had been there with us, almost seeing in the students who moved past me my own children when they were there. What had happened while I was gone was beyond my expectation but not beyond the dream from the start. The school was given prime land next to a train station near Shek Mun. The government also gave a HK$100 million grant (US$14 million). The school has raised HK$140 million (US$ 20 million) from friends and families in Hong Kong. They still need to raise another HK$ 80 million (US$11 million) by the end of the year. They do not expect to have problems raising the remaining amount.
The Assistant principal for the elementary gave us a tour. The elementary school just moved in three days ago. The high school will be finished and open by the end of the year. Each grade will have three classrooms in the elementary. No classroom has more than 25 students (in Hong Kong the average is 40 students). The rooms are fitted with the latest furniture and teaching aides from the States and wired for the latest in technology. The elementary school will have it's own science lab. They also have their own counselor and staff to assess the students. The students must be fluent in English but they will be learning Chinese and French from grade 1. They also built studeo apartments for new teachers to live in during the first year.
The Assistant principal said that ICS has maitained the high standards of education. Outside the United States, ICS is the top school in the world in AP classes. Every student who graduates can and does go on to further study at the university whether that be the US, UK or Australia. The layout of the school was designed to meet the student's learning needs not maximize the number of students that could be enrolled. The school started in 1992 with 56 and now has over 1000 students. It is a leader in many ways already in Hong Kong and connected with other International Schools throughout Asia.
I walked in amazement as I was given the tour. I was encouraged that the growth and funding has not changed to spirit of the team or the commitment to the values we started. I walked away from the tour thankful that I had just a small part of this dream. I was glad that God had a much bigger dream and challenged us to step forward in 1992 for that dream to become real in Hong Kong. Many worried that China would wipe out Christianity and the chance to reach people. Many of us did not know what the future would be but walked by faith. As we did I can now look back and see that God's plan was too big for us to fathom then but not too for God to have for the people of Hong Kong. ICS is an education in faith.
Learning and growing in Hong Kong,
Dawn to Dust/Morning to Night Part IV
I did some shopping for my family and then met the rest of the group on the KCR train where we went to Outback Steak House for supper. It was reasonably priced and tasted very good. Tim Broyles had a friend whose husband is working in Hong Kong and we invited him to join us. Following the meal we went to Yau Ma Tei where we went to the night market. Here a six block stretch between old apartment buildings has been closed so that venders of all kinds can spread out their merchandise for eager customers. There is some bartering but buyer beware there is no return policy! Many of the things we find in the US that say, "made in China" go through Hong Kong and we can usually by at a fraction of the cost. The other guys picked up shirts, silk items and Chinese bottles. I won't get more specific because I am sure they want to surprise their families who may be reading these blogs. By the time we were done it was 10:30. The trains were still quite full. David Brown estimated 1,000 people in each car and the train has 12 cars. The trains come every 5 minutes apart. EVen as dust falls and we are in the blackness of the night, the lights of Hong Kong shine bright and people are alive and well. We make it back up to the retreat center after taking a taxi. The clock says 11:45. My body says it has been a long day - a good day - but a tiring day and I welcomed my bed and the rest it gave me.
Walking and Talking in Hong Kong
Walking and Talking in Hong Kong
Dawn to Dust/Morning to Night Part III
As I talked to Ms. Tong, she shared with me that more and more medical staff are using the chaplain service. They have a chapel and have services there on Wednesday. I asked what would be different here than in the US. She said in this particular area because it is more country that when someone dies that 20-30 people may come and need to be attended to by the chaplain. The intern chaplains do not go on call at night or on the weekends but goes with a staff chaplain. She also said that if a person in the hospital becomes a follower of Christ and wants to be baptized that the chaplain would not baptized them but ask a local pastor to come to do this. There are two reasons, that pastor will be willing to do a Christian funeral and will be able to request that their ashes be allowed to be placed in a Christian crematory. She said if people can not afford a funeral that there is a room in the hospital where the casket can be taken for a small service to be held by the chaplain. The room had Christian symbols and could have accomodated 10-15 persons. Outside where the casket will be taken to the vehicle there was a box of sand for relatives who are Buddhist to light incense for their loved one.
I was touched by their openness to recieve me and their compassion to serve when patients may question even more than I have found in hospitals in Indianapolis. They are in many ways missionaries in their own city .... missionaries of compassion and grace.
healing the hurting in Hong Kong hospitals
I was touched by their openness to recieve me and their compassion to serve when patients may question even more than I have found in hospitals in Indianapolis. They are in many ways missionaries in their own city .... missionaries of compassion and grace.
healing the hurting in Hong Kong hospitals
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Dust to Dawn/Morning to Night Part II
In the last blog I started sharing about meeting a CPE supervisor. The hospital was located in Tai Po. I needed to ride the KCR train northward from Tai Wai northward toward China. It would be 4 stops - 20 minute ride. As I went toward Tai Po, the train stopped at University. I remember traveling here for language study for 2 years. How energetic I was in those days. The balance that I attempted to manage between spending time in the books and spending time with my two children. Yes, I started school with two and ended school with three! Matthew was born here during the second year of study. As I made my way out of the Tai Po Train Station I saw familiar scenes from the past: men sitting in the park with their bird cages hanging from the trees, people riding bicycles, students in their particular school uniform at the bus stops and a blind man playing a Chinese 3 string instrument sitting on the floor with a mat in front of him for people to show pity and drop a few coins for his benefit.
I had walked to the market in order to buy a gift which is custom to visiting someone. The most common gift is to buy fruit (buying flowers is not a good expression because they are usually associated with death because they are often seen at funerals) I bought oranges because to Chinese they represent bringing gold by their similarity in color. Added to them were apples and grapes. I rode a taxi to the hospital and there at the entrance was Ms. Tong. I dwarfed her in size but her gentle face and spirit enveloped me with kindness and grace. I gave her the fruit and she was surprised and pleased to see that I remembered this common but important custom. She took me to the cafeteria where I ordered beef and green peppers with black bean sauce ( my favorite dish). Her six students were waiting at a table. We introduced ourselves and then finished our meal. She gave the fruit to the group and it was shared among all. We bounced back between English and Chinese because of my limitation to remember how to say everything in Chinese and their courage to use English that they knew well but were at times afraid to use.
As the students went back to visiting patients, Ms. Tong gave me a tour of the hospital. It had 450 beds. The surgical departments had been moved to other hospitals. This was for patients who stayed approx 4-6 days. Most of the wards had rooms with six people in each room. This hospital had 4 staff chaplains and one supervisor who taught courses. The courses were only 3 months long. The students were pastors from the area churches that were given permission from their church to study in the hospital. Even though this is a Chrisitan hospital it does not pay the salary of the chaplains and supervisors but a Chrisitan society group provides them financial support. I gather that the churches donate to this group to support this kind of ministry. There are no other chaplains beside Christian in the Hong Kong hospitals. Catholic chaplains have their own training and work in Catholic hospitals.
I will continue this experience later......
I had walked to the market in order to buy a gift which is custom to visiting someone. The most common gift is to buy fruit (buying flowers is not a good expression because they are usually associated with death because they are often seen at funerals) I bought oranges because to Chinese they represent bringing gold by their similarity in color. Added to them were apples and grapes. I rode a taxi to the hospital and there at the entrance was Ms. Tong. I dwarfed her in size but her gentle face and spirit enveloped me with kindness and grace. I gave her the fruit and she was surprised and pleased to see that I remembered this common but important custom. She took me to the cafeteria where I ordered beef and green peppers with black bean sauce ( my favorite dish). Her six students were waiting at a table. We introduced ourselves and then finished our meal. She gave the fruit to the group and it was shared among all. We bounced back between English and Chinese because of my limitation to remember how to say everything in Chinese and their courage to use English that they knew well but were at times afraid to use.
As the students went back to visiting patients, Ms. Tong gave me a tour of the hospital. It had 450 beds. The surgical departments had been moved to other hospitals. This was for patients who stayed approx 4-6 days. Most of the wards had rooms with six people in each room. This hospital had 4 staff chaplains and one supervisor who taught courses. The courses were only 3 months long. The students were pastors from the area churches that were given permission from their church to study in the hospital. Even though this is a Chrisitan hospital it does not pay the salary of the chaplains and supervisors but a Chrisitan society group provides them financial support. I gather that the churches donate to this group to support this kind of ministry. There are no other chaplains beside Christian in the Hong Kong hospitals. Catholic chaplains have their own training and work in Catholic hospitals.
I will continue this experience later......
From Dawn to Dust/ Morning to Night
Yesterday I had scheduled to meet Steve Wilbe at MacDonald's in Tai Wai at 8 AM. (After meeting Dave the day before at Pacific Coffee, I met Jamie Nahtigall at Starbucks. I was loaded with enouh caffine for the rest of the day and I was on my feet meeting people at the International Christian School and Edmund and his wife for supper. By the time I am back to the retreat center it is 10:30 and I am exhausted and fall asleep, well until 4:15 and 6:00 but it still to early to get up so I turn over. I brought no alarm clock except the one in my head and it did not go off when I wanted. I woke up at 7:50!!!! I quickly got dressed and started walking down the mountain. I was rushing down as fast as I could with out falling. Meeting me in the other direction was, what I call "the Senior Citizen Mountain Climbing Club." They had their walking sticks and sweat towels and were making their way up the hill. I did not ask their age -because I was too out of breath!!! - but I would guess they were in their 70's and 80's - the new 40's in Hong Kong!)
God was on my side because just as I was starting down the hill a taxi came by and he took me to meet Steve on time. It was good to see him again. We did many things together - started ICS - played squash (like racketball) - vacationed on the top of the mountain with our families - our wives both played the piano at the English speaking church - his daughter and Rachel were best friends. Time had separated us but friendships like this we just pick up where we left off. His wife is still teaching at International Christian School. His oldest daughter is teaching in Hong Kong. His other three daughters are now living in the States. He was living Friday to go back to visit them and spend a few weeks with his parents in PA. He shared with me that he had been battling depression for the past three years. I was so sad to hear these words and see the wounded face across the table. I could only wonder what had changed this close friend who was so full of energy and so involved now struggle with things he needed to do that day. There was no time to hear the details. It was not the place and it was information that I didn't need to know. I could feel the pain and struggle. I sat with him and then prayed with him. Our schedules were pushing us on and so we made our way to the train station. I gave him a bear hug and stood on the platform waiting for one train and he the other, each going in different directions. How symbolic it was of our lives. We have gone in different directions but our friendship so special. How thankful that God could be riding each of "our trains" and guiding us. It helped me to know that he will still be with my dear friend when I could not be there.
While I was in the United States, I contacted woman who was teaching Clinical Pastoral Education here in Hong Kong. This is the same kind of program that I am studying at Methodist Hospital. I had asked to visit her hospital and she invited me to meet her students and tour her hospital (breakfast has just been put out on the table - hard boiled eggs, oranges, sliced ham and cheese, toast and British tea. I will have to finish this later - my stomach is making too much noise to hear myself think!!!)
God was on my side because just as I was starting down the hill a taxi came by and he took me to meet Steve on time. It was good to see him again. We did many things together - started ICS - played squash (like racketball) - vacationed on the top of the mountain with our families - our wives both played the piano at the English speaking church - his daughter and Rachel were best friends. Time had separated us but friendships like this we just pick up where we left off. His wife is still teaching at International Christian School. His oldest daughter is teaching in Hong Kong. His other three daughters are now living in the States. He was living Friday to go back to visit them and spend a few weeks with his parents in PA. He shared with me that he had been battling depression for the past three years. I was so sad to hear these words and see the wounded face across the table. I could only wonder what had changed this close friend who was so full of energy and so involved now struggle with things he needed to do that day. There was no time to hear the details. It was not the place and it was information that I didn't need to know. I could feel the pain and struggle. I sat with him and then prayed with him. Our schedules were pushing us on and so we made our way to the train station. I gave him a bear hug and stood on the platform waiting for one train and he the other, each going in different directions. How symbolic it was of our lives. We have gone in different directions but our friendship so special. How thankful that God could be riding each of "our trains" and guiding us. It helped me to know that he will still be with my dear friend when I could not be there.
While I was in the United States, I contacted woman who was teaching Clinical Pastoral Education here in Hong Kong. This is the same kind of program that I am studying at Methodist Hospital. I had asked to visit her hospital and she invited me to meet her students and tour her hospital (breakfast has just been put out on the table - hard boiled eggs, oranges, sliced ham and cheese, toast and British tea. I will have to finish this later - my stomach is making too much noise to hear myself think!!!)
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