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!!!)
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
A Little Work and Sweat Part II
( you want to read the blog underneath this blog to understand what this blog means)
We came back and started welding the pipes together. The worker from the retreat attempted to use the welder. We turned away from the brightness of the welder. He had a shield but would often go without using it. I have observed that safety is not always observed by the workers. Getting the job done quickly is very important. I wonder what his eye sight will be in a few years. While they were working on this project, I went up with Tim to ask about the concrete. How about mixing it in a wheelbarrow and then running it down the walk to fill the holes? No, we don't do this way here in Hong Kong. Instead he lays down a thin sheet of plywood and we poor the cement dust and sand and begin mixing it by hand with shovels. Then we had rocks that we added to the mixture that was rather dry even though we had added some water (kind of like cookie dough but I did not ask to lick the shovel!) After spending twenty minutes working the mixture he sprays the edge gently and we scoop a shovel at a time and walk the cement down to the holes. The wall seemed to get longer with each trip balancing the shovel so that the cement gets to the designated hole and not on my shoe or the side of the hill.
It took all day and a little sweat but it felt good helping the retreat and making the walk safer for this retired pastor. We have enjoyed Hong Kong Hospitality by meaning, eaten many good meals and will probably be taking back more souvenirs than we should. But it will be nice knowing we will be leaving something that will be a reminder of our time here.
Oh yeah, I mentioned monkeys. There is a hill on the other side fo the mountain will wild monkeys live. More and more are making their way into the urban areas as well as in the hill country. We had a large monkey who was on the path no more than 5 feet away from us. As he moved closer he showed his teeth. The Chinese workers yelled but that did not scare him away. He finally picked up a rock and chased him away. The monkey only ran a short distance and climbed a tree to obseve these strange creatures. Several small monkeys we also climbing in the trees. The ground keeper brought his dog to stand guard for us. We asked what the dog's name is ..... "Smart" I wondered how he got his name. Whatever the reason it was really a smart plan!!!!!
your Hong Kong Cement Mixer,
We came back and started welding the pipes together. The worker from the retreat attempted to use the welder. We turned away from the brightness of the welder. He had a shield but would often go without using it. I have observed that safety is not always observed by the workers. Getting the job done quickly is very important. I wonder what his eye sight will be in a few years. While they were working on this project, I went up with Tim to ask about the concrete. How about mixing it in a wheelbarrow and then running it down the walk to fill the holes? No, we don't do this way here in Hong Kong. Instead he lays down a thin sheet of plywood and we poor the cement dust and sand and begin mixing it by hand with shovels. Then we had rocks that we added to the mixture that was rather dry even though we had added some water (kind of like cookie dough but I did not ask to lick the shovel!) After spending twenty minutes working the mixture he sprays the edge gently and we scoop a shovel at a time and walk the cement down to the holes. The wall seemed to get longer with each trip balancing the shovel so that the cement gets to the designated hole and not on my shoe or the side of the hill.
It took all day and a little sweat but it felt good helping the retreat and making the walk safer for this retired pastor. We have enjoyed Hong Kong Hospitality by meaning, eaten many good meals and will probably be taking back more souvenirs than we should. But it will be nice knowing we will be leaving something that will be a reminder of our time here.
Oh yeah, I mentioned monkeys. There is a hill on the other side fo the mountain will wild monkeys live. More and more are making their way into the urban areas as well as in the hill country. We had a large monkey who was on the path no more than 5 feet away from us. As he moved closer he showed his teeth. The Chinese workers yelled but that did not scare him away. He finally picked up a rock and chased him away. The monkey only ran a short distance and climbed a tree to obseve these strange creatures. Several small monkeys we also climbing in the trees. The ground keeper brought his dog to stand guard for us. We asked what the dog's name is ..... "Smart" I wondered how he got his name. Whatever the reason it was really a smart plan!!!!!
your Hong Kong Cement Mixer,
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
A little work and sweat
This morning I am writing you from a coffee shop called Pacific Coffee. With my Alto Vanilla Cappuccino at my side, I am surrounded by a place that could easily be the setting I would find in Chicago or San Francisco but it instead is on the second floor of a high upscale mall called Festival Walk. It is filled with high end shops with designer names over the door. It has seven floors and is designed with marble floors, chrome and glass. School children from elementary to high school are climbing the steps just outside the entrance of this shop with wearing there school uniforms and making their way to class.
This is a far cry from what I was doing yesterday. Yesterday I was digging in the dirt, carrying cement with a shovel and being chased by monkeys! (Yes I was still in Hong Kong) The main purpose of our group was to come and do a workcamp for the new facilities. While this was our plan it did not seem that it would be a possibility. Russ Jones has his own construction company in Indianapolis. He feels most comfortable when he has a hammer in his hand (he has gone on 72 workcamps so far and his feet have touched every continent except Antarctica). David Brown is an electrical engineer and has worked for GM for 40 years. They wanted to not only get to know people in the church, see sights in Hong Kong, but get their hands dirty and shirts sweaty doing a project. So we checked with the manager who runs the retreat center if they had any work that we could be of help.
Their first response was to be a bit puzzled. Construction work and manual labor is done by the lower class. Why would we pay the money we did and travel as far as we have to do "hard labor." As it began to sink in they were very glad for our offer. Not long they came back with a project. On the property lives a retired pastor and his wife. They are both in their 80's and in good health. Their house is on the side of the mountain and a small steep path is the way they must leave to go anywhere. The edge of the concrete walk and steps the hill drops down steeply. Could we help install a railing for their benefit and safety? The challenge was before us - it was the opportunity our group welcomed.
The first step was to dig holes for the poles that would support the railing. We were given the necessary tools - a pick and a bar, shovels and gloves. Each of us took turns working our way down the steps digging holes five feet apart. Above us was a canopy of trees that provided shade and a breeze made the upper 70's very pleasant. When it was my turn I was handed a pick and "dug in" to the job. As I mentioned the area was very thick with forest and so it was common to hit roots that needed to be broken to make the 18 inch hole we needed for each pole. The ground was loose but rocks were plentiful where we worked. I hit something hard. No problem just put a little more sweat into it. As I did came a big spark and a loud pop. We checked with our Chinese workers who assured us that we hit a rock. No it was something more. A few minutes later Dave was using the bar and had the same experience. No exactly what we were looking forward to having. After careful investigation we discovered that the 2 inch power line to the pastor's house was buried along beside the walk. Hong Kong uses 240 voltage and so we felt very lucky to escape a potentially dangerous situation.
We worked through the morning to prepare the holes, carry the 21 ft. 2" galvanized steel pipe and lug the 90 lbs bags of concrete and 10 lbs. bags of sand which we carried around to the sight. Lunch came at 12:30 and we were glad for the break. The manager invited us to eat with him. I was glad for another chance of a Chinese meal that you could never have back in the States. The dishes of different vegetable and meat were at the center of the table and we enjoyed eating family style with chopsticks as well as western utensils.
I have been waiting to meet Dave Aulfrance who is a long time friend, long term missionary with OMS (over 20 years). I will continue this story later. Stayed tuned.
Drinking my favorite coffee in Hong Kong,
This is a far cry from what I was doing yesterday. Yesterday I was digging in the dirt, carrying cement with a shovel and being chased by monkeys! (Yes I was still in Hong Kong) The main purpose of our group was to come and do a workcamp for the new facilities. While this was our plan it did not seem that it would be a possibility. Russ Jones has his own construction company in Indianapolis. He feels most comfortable when he has a hammer in his hand (he has gone on 72 workcamps so far and his feet have touched every continent except Antarctica). David Brown is an electrical engineer and has worked for GM for 40 years. They wanted to not only get to know people in the church, see sights in Hong Kong, but get their hands dirty and shirts sweaty doing a project. So we checked with the manager who runs the retreat center if they had any work that we could be of help.
Their first response was to be a bit puzzled. Construction work and manual labor is done by the lower class. Why would we pay the money we did and travel as far as we have to do "hard labor." As it began to sink in they were very glad for our offer. Not long they came back with a project. On the property lives a retired pastor and his wife. They are both in their 80's and in good health. Their house is on the side of the mountain and a small steep path is the way they must leave to go anywhere. The edge of the concrete walk and steps the hill drops down steeply. Could we help install a railing for their benefit and safety? The challenge was before us - it was the opportunity our group welcomed.
The first step was to dig holes for the poles that would support the railing. We were given the necessary tools - a pick and a bar, shovels and gloves. Each of us took turns working our way down the steps digging holes five feet apart. Above us was a canopy of trees that provided shade and a breeze made the upper 70's very pleasant. When it was my turn I was handed a pick and "dug in" to the job. As I mentioned the area was very thick with forest and so it was common to hit roots that needed to be broken to make the 18 inch hole we needed for each pole. The ground was loose but rocks were plentiful where we worked. I hit something hard. No problem just put a little more sweat into it. As I did came a big spark and a loud pop. We checked with our Chinese workers who assured us that we hit a rock. No it was something more. A few minutes later Dave was using the bar and had the same experience. No exactly what we were looking forward to having. After careful investigation we discovered that the 2 inch power line to the pastor's house was buried along beside the walk. Hong Kong uses 240 voltage and so we felt very lucky to escape a potentially dangerous situation.
We worked through the morning to prepare the holes, carry the 21 ft. 2" galvanized steel pipe and lug the 90 lbs bags of concrete and 10 lbs. bags of sand which we carried around to the sight. Lunch came at 12:30 and we were glad for the break. The manager invited us to eat with him. I was glad for another chance of a Chinese meal that you could never have back in the States. The dishes of different vegetable and meat were at the center of the table and we enjoyed eating family style with chopsticks as well as western utensils.
I have been waiting to meet Dave Aulfrance who is a long time friend, long term missionary with OMS (over 20 years). I will continue this story later. Stayed tuned.
Drinking my favorite coffee in Hong Kong,
Monday, November 5, 2007
Comments from Tim Broyles
Tim is one of those in our group. He is also the mission pastor at Church at the Crossing. I thought you might enjoy seeing a few scenes he paints with words on his blog: (his blog is linked here on my site)
This afternoon, we visited a Buddhist cemetery and it's accompanying temple called "The Temple of 10,000 Buddhas". There are literally thousands (10,000.. who knows?) of statues of Buddha around the cemetery; along with incense, offerings, fire pits for prayers/gifts, etc. I have visited this place before and find it intriguing, yet cold and empty. It is a good location for us 'westerners' to learn about and understand Buddhism, and the cultural mindset here. After some rest, we did the 'tourist' thing and took a tram to the highest peak to look out over Hong Kong harbor and the overwhelming view of the skyline of Hong Kong. We had dinner there and got to see the same view at night....then took a quick taxi down the mountain and ferry across the harbor to catch the daily 8pm "Largest Permanent Light Show on Earth" in which the buildings of Hong Kong island are a virtual Disneyland of laser lights and sounds. It is not just lasers ON the buildings.. entire perimeters of the tallest buildings are covered in light shows, screens that wrap around buidling completely with images and words. It is just incredible.... extends from far to your left and far to the right... you can't take it all in in one view. This city is so advanced in technology and in wealth and in celebrating their accomplishments. Just incredible.
I could not have said it better Tim!
Seeing Hong Kong with new friends from CATC,
This afternoon, we visited a Buddhist cemetery and it's accompanying temple called "The Temple of 10,000 Buddhas". There are literally thousands (10,000.. who knows?) of statues of Buddha around the cemetery; along with incense, offerings, fire pits for prayers/gifts, etc. I have visited this place before and find it intriguing, yet cold and empty. It is a good location for us 'westerners' to learn about and understand Buddhism, and the cultural mindset here. After some rest, we did the 'tourist' thing and took a tram to the highest peak to look out over Hong Kong harbor and the overwhelming view of the skyline of Hong Kong. We had dinner there and got to see the same view at night....then took a quick taxi down the mountain and ferry across the harbor to catch the daily 8pm "Largest Permanent Light Show on Earth" in which the buildings of Hong Kong island are a virtual Disneyland of laser lights and sounds. It is not just lasers ON the buildings.. entire perimeters of the tallest buildings are covered in light shows, screens that wrap around buidling completely with images and words. It is just incredible.... extends from far to your left and far to the right... you can't take it all in in one view. This city is so advanced in technology and in wealth and in celebrating their accomplishments. Just incredible.
I could not have said it better Tim!
Seeing Hong Kong with new friends from CATC,
Mountain top experiences
It was kind of symbolic on Sunday morning we had to come down the mountain to get to the church. The previous day had been "a mountain top experience." Literally I had been riding at 50,000 feet above the ground for 15 hrs. in the Boeing 747-400. Though I came down a few thousand feet when we landed, I don't think my shoes were touching the ground because I was so excited to be back in Hong Kong: to ride the double decker buses again, to try my Cantonese on the taxi driver, to see familiar places with new buildings and roads under construction. We arrived at the retreat center after dark and so the view was spectacular of the valley. High rise buildings were squeezed together in the valley with only enough space for the maze of roads that divided them. They are between 30-35 stories tall (6-8,000 people in each building) and in the dark night they looked like Christmas trees with the lights from each home shining. Daybreak removed the collage of colors displayed during the night and revealed the "concrete jungled" that is the home of 1 million people.
Sunday morning we started down the mountain on foot walking along the narrow road that hugged the side of the hill and broke off steeply on the other side. The road was similar to the road that led to our house where we stayed 12 years ago. I remember many Sunday mornings that I had walked down that steep road to the center to make preparations for worship. Today, it would be five minutes walking before we would come to a taxi that could take us into the "concrete jungle" where the congregation would meet at one of the social centers for worship. It had been some time but the sidewalk seemed so familar but so different. In the past I had walked with my children up the steps and now Tim, Russ and Dave, members of our group followed me. As I entered I heard the worship team practicing in Chinese the songs that would be sung in a few minutes. Many I recognized from the past. It was like being gone only yesterday as we greeted and embraced. Yet there were many others I was meeting for the first time. Edmund and Lisa (the pastor and his wife) arrive and we embrace. They were still in school when I was here. Now they are married, both have graduated from the univesity, and he has graduated from seminary with a Master of Divinity. We both look different with 12 years but yet out hearts reconnect.
The center that we are using we opened in 1989 as a study center for secondary students. The center that they had been using for worship they have closed and given back to the government. I had opened it in 1995 and it served this growing church over the twelve years. More was needed and a new place had been found. But renovation would keep them from using it until December of this year. In the transition of these few months required creativity and flexibility. The church had grown from 30 in 1989 to over 200 presently. This study center was divided by a wall with only a door between the two rooms. Each room was 20 X 20. One room would be used for worship. 50 chairs were all that could be squeezed into the room but they quickly filled as the service began and more came in. After 10 minutes more than 30 people had to stand to be a part of the service. The music and prayers lasted for 45 minutes. No one complained. It came time for me to preach and everyone sat down after standing for the music and prayers. Those who had no seat went to the other room where they could only listen. The oldest person was under 40 and most of them are in their 20's. I preached and Edmund translated - it took 45 minutes but no one complained. They came here to worship and praise God. 50 junior high and high school students had comes Saturday afternoon for a worship service. All of them are first generation Christians. They come with commitment and excitement. I had the opportunity to preach the Word of God but they were living out the message as they gathered together.
The seeds that had been planted 20 years ago was now producing a harvest of hearts and lives loving and serving God. It wsa a time for me to celebrate. I had come down from the mountain to get to the center and to participate in worship. Truly God has come much farther from his place on high to be among these young people. Coming here allowed me to pull the curtain to see what had happened during my absence. Next Sunday at worship time, I wil be gone, traveling on back in the air on a 747-400 . But God will still be there working in their lives and in this community of faith. I will take this experience and treasure it in my heart. With it there, my shoes may not touch the ground for I have been lifted up in my spirit. In many ways coming back to the church has been "a mountain top experience" being with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Serving the God of Mountain top experiences,
Sunday morning we started down the mountain on foot walking along the narrow road that hugged the side of the hill and broke off steeply on the other side. The road was similar to the road that led to our house where we stayed 12 years ago. I remember many Sunday mornings that I had walked down that steep road to the center to make preparations for worship. Today, it would be five minutes walking before we would come to a taxi that could take us into the "concrete jungle" where the congregation would meet at one of the social centers for worship. It had been some time but the sidewalk seemed so familar but so different. In the past I had walked with my children up the steps and now Tim, Russ and Dave, members of our group followed me. As I entered I heard the worship team practicing in Chinese the songs that would be sung in a few minutes. Many I recognized from the past. It was like being gone only yesterday as we greeted and embraced. Yet there were many others I was meeting for the first time. Edmund and Lisa (the pastor and his wife) arrive and we embrace. They were still in school when I was here. Now they are married, both have graduated from the univesity, and he has graduated from seminary with a Master of Divinity. We both look different with 12 years but yet out hearts reconnect.
The center that we are using we opened in 1989 as a study center for secondary students. The center that they had been using for worship they have closed and given back to the government. I had opened it in 1995 and it served this growing church over the twelve years. More was needed and a new place had been found. But renovation would keep them from using it until December of this year. In the transition of these few months required creativity and flexibility. The church had grown from 30 in 1989 to over 200 presently. This study center was divided by a wall with only a door between the two rooms. Each room was 20 X 20. One room would be used for worship. 50 chairs were all that could be squeezed into the room but they quickly filled as the service began and more came in. After 10 minutes more than 30 people had to stand to be a part of the service. The music and prayers lasted for 45 minutes. No one complained. It came time for me to preach and everyone sat down after standing for the music and prayers. Those who had no seat went to the other room where they could only listen. The oldest person was under 40 and most of them are in their 20's. I preached and Edmund translated - it took 45 minutes but no one complained. They came here to worship and praise God. 50 junior high and high school students had comes Saturday afternoon for a worship service. All of them are first generation Christians. They come with commitment and excitement. I had the opportunity to preach the Word of God but they were living out the message as they gathered together.
The seeds that had been planted 20 years ago was now producing a harvest of hearts and lives loving and serving God. It wsa a time for me to celebrate. I had come down from the mountain to get to the center and to participate in worship. Truly God has come much farther from his place on high to be among these young people. Coming here allowed me to pull the curtain to see what had happened during my absence. Next Sunday at worship time, I wil be gone, traveling on back in the air on a 747-400 . But God will still be there working in their lives and in this community of faith. I will take this experience and treasure it in my heart. With it there, my shoes may not touch the ground for I have been lifted up in my spirit. In many ways coming back to the church has been "a mountain top experience" being with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Serving the God of Mountain top experiences,
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Words Now - Pictures Later
It is hard to believe that I am sitting on the side of a mountain at a beautiful retreat center in Hong Kong and be able to stay in contact with friends and family through the internet. The last time I was in Hong Kong (12 years ago) we were still excited when a letter arrived by "slow mail" with news from home. Phone calls were made on rare occasions to the United States because it cost $10 @ minute. Last night my cell phone rang once with an unknown call (sorry, I didn't answer it - it was 1:00 in the afternoon in Indiana and 2:00 AM IN HONG KONG! The group says I need my beauty sleep and besides I was tired). I am not able to download pictures from this site so I will attempt to let you see what I am describing when I return to the States. I hope that you can get "a picture" of what we are experiencing. I am still pinching myself to believe I am really here - meeting old friends and new, eating all the Chinese food I can, and rexperiencing the sights, smells and tastes of Hong Kong. JOI GIN (Chinese for see you again)
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Getting from there to here
We left at 7:30 am from the Church at the Crossing located at Keystone and the Crossing in Indianapolis and I am staying at Tao Fong Shan Retreat Center on the side of a mountain that is beside Tai Wai in Hong Kong (I am writing this at 4:30 AM because I can't keep my eyes shut - body clock, jet lag, you name it) We took off from Chicago at 12:30 pm (Friday Nov 2) and arrived at 4:39 pm (Saturday Nov 3) in Hong Kong. It was 15 hrs. and 39 minutes of cruising at 50,000 ft above the ground. We flew on a Boeing 747-400. The 400 means there were 399 people sitting up there with me. I don't like sardines but if I did I would stop eating them just out of respect because I have a new understanding of "being packed in like sardines." I was sitting in 52A - the good thing: a window seat. It was great to see out the window. We went straight north through Canada, Iceland, Artic Circle, Siberia and China. I saw mostly clouds but there were moments before the sun set that I could see the scattered islands of Greenland and then the continuous frozen ice and snow around the artic circle; - the bad thing: I couldn't get out very easy. (I wished they had a giant shoe horn that could have helped me into my seat.) I sat beside a couple from New York (I assume that because he wore a Yankee hat) that was going to Singapore after the plane dropped most of us off in Hong Kong. I attempted to get out in the aisle twice in those 15 hours to get circulation back in my legs and to give relief to my bladder.
The Hong Kong Airport was so beautiful. I watched them build it 12 years ago by cutting off part of a mountain and pushing it into the sea to have the land needed. It was spacious and easy to get through immigration. Customs never stopped us. We exchanged money from US to Hong Kong Dollars. ($100 US gave me $716 HK - I felt rich until I looked at the menu and saw the hamburger I ordered cost $103. I will let you calculate the exchange) We met Jamie and Patrick Natchigall and their 5 year old son Marco outside of customs. They gave us a cash card that gives easy access to the trains and buses without having to always keep looking for the right change. We rode a double decker bus across the suspension bridge, through the tunnels that took us from the harbor through the mountains to the New Territories, where we took two taxis loaded with suitcases and drove to the retreat where we are staying. It is a Christian retreat that is a Christian mission to Buddhists. The architecture looks similar to a Buddhist temple but with Christian symbols.
After getting settled, we walked 10 minutes down the road to catch another taxi that took us back to a large mall where it seemed everybody was out shopping, eating and just hanging out. We caught a bite to eat at 8 pm. and took a taxi back to where we stayed for a hot shower and a little sleep (in the horizontal position instead of in vertical on the plane). We are heading to Sun Chui where the church operates a social center and we will have worship.
I had so many things rush through my head and my heart as I put my feet back on Hong Kong soil. First it reminded me of our time here. I could remember pushing carts with our suitcases and two small children (Rachel 3 years and David 6 month) through the airport for the first time. I heard the sounds of Catonese (Chinese dialect) and my ears recognized the sounds but my mind was still jumbling around trying to recall what I had learned. I remembered why they call it "the concrete jungle." The tall buildings I remember have now been dwarfed by the more recent ones. I kept saying "it has really changed." I am sure the group will get tired of me saying this if they have not already. As I tried to recall things from my past, Jamie would often say, "Oh yes, that use to be there but they tore it down a few years ago to build what we have now." I soon realized how much faster life moves here in comparison to what I have become accustom to knowing back home in the States. In some ways I feel "old and outdated." But in other ways it is stirring within me this part of my life of having lived in Hong Kong surrounded by Chinese. There seems to so much energy in the air as people are out. There seems to be so much optimism as new construction is everywhere. It reminds me of magnitude of humanity as we are rubbing shoulders with people, keeping up a good pace as there are thousands behind us heading in the same direction. I have swam in this "sea of humanity" but it reminds me of how different it is from "the pond" back home.
Stepping out in Hong Kong,
Alan
The Hong Kong Airport was so beautiful. I watched them build it 12 years ago by cutting off part of a mountain and pushing it into the sea to have the land needed. It was spacious and easy to get through immigration. Customs never stopped us. We exchanged money from US to Hong Kong Dollars. ($100 US gave me $716 HK - I felt rich until I looked at the menu and saw the hamburger I ordered cost $103. I will let you calculate the exchange) We met Jamie and Patrick Natchigall and their 5 year old son Marco outside of customs. They gave us a cash card that gives easy access to the trains and buses without having to always keep looking for the right change. We rode a double decker bus across the suspension bridge, through the tunnels that took us from the harbor through the mountains to the New Territories, where we took two taxis loaded with suitcases and drove to the retreat where we are staying. It is a Christian retreat that is a Christian mission to Buddhists. The architecture looks similar to a Buddhist temple but with Christian symbols.
After getting settled, we walked 10 minutes down the road to catch another taxi that took us back to a large mall where it seemed everybody was out shopping, eating and just hanging out. We caught a bite to eat at 8 pm. and took a taxi back to where we stayed for a hot shower and a little sleep (in the horizontal position instead of in vertical on the plane). We are heading to Sun Chui where the church operates a social center and we will have worship.
I had so many things rush through my head and my heart as I put my feet back on Hong Kong soil. First it reminded me of our time here. I could remember pushing carts with our suitcases and two small children (Rachel 3 years and David 6 month) through the airport for the first time. I heard the sounds of Catonese (Chinese dialect) and my ears recognized the sounds but my mind was still jumbling around trying to recall what I had learned. I remembered why they call it "the concrete jungle." The tall buildings I remember have now been dwarfed by the more recent ones. I kept saying "it has really changed." I am sure the group will get tired of me saying this if they have not already. As I tried to recall things from my past, Jamie would often say, "Oh yes, that use to be there but they tore it down a few years ago to build what we have now." I soon realized how much faster life moves here in comparison to what I have become accustom to knowing back home in the States. In some ways I feel "old and outdated." But in other ways it is stirring within me this part of my life of having lived in Hong Kong surrounded by Chinese. There seems to so much energy in the air as people are out. There seems to be so much optimism as new construction is everywhere. It reminds me of magnitude of humanity as we are rubbing shoulders with people, keeping up a good pace as there are thousands behind us heading in the same direction. I have swam in this "sea of humanity" but it reminds me of how different it is from "the pond" back home.
Stepping out in Hong Kong,
Alan
Monday, October 29, 2007
How the Dream Began
It seemed like forever since we had lived and worked in Hong Kong. That was particularly true when I heard from Ilene Bertschman that a group from the Church at the Crossing, in Indianapolis, was going back to help the church with renovation of a new facility.As she shared about the trip, I said, "I would love to go back to see the church, but I am in the middle of residency training at Methodist Hospital (in Indianapolis) and there is no way I could afford it on the stipend that I am receiving this year."The next week, Ilene told me that the church would pay 1/2 of the cost of my trip. Wow! I wasn't sure if I could take 10 days off in the middle of my unit. I checked with the coordinator of the program and she agreed to let me go. I couldn't believe it.
I needed to give the group (going to Hong Kong) a response in one week if I was going . The problem was that I did not know from where the rest of the funds would come. Talking to Tim Broyles, the mission pastor at the Church at the Crossing, he said, "I believe the Lord is wanting you to go and he will work out this need." I stepped out in faith.
I wrote letters to a few former churches that had supported us when we were missionaries in Hong Kong. I received responses from the Maiden Lane Church of God in Springfield and a few members from the congregation in Bedford, IN where I had pastored. The funds had been supplied and the dream began.
Partners in His Service
Details of the Trip
The trip starts Friday morning November 2, 2007 from Indianapolis at 9:43 AM taking us to Chicago where we will catch our next flight that will fly non-stop to Hong Kong. We leave at 12:16 PM and arrive in Hong Kong on Saturday afternoon Novevember 3, 2007 at 4:55 PM Hong Kong time (HK is 12 hours ahead of EST which will make our arrival Saturday morning 4:55 AM - 16 hours of flight time!!!).
I will be heading back to Indianapolis from Hong Kong on Sunday November 11, 2007. Leaving Hong Kong at 11:40 AM, I arrive in Chicago at 11:49 AM that same day. (the tail winds must be really strong, don't you agree!) If memory serves me right from our travels as missionaries, the actual time in the air will be about 14 hours coming back. I will be traveling back alone because the other three men in our group - Tim Broyles, David Brown and Russ Jones will be stopping in Osaka Japan for a short visit.
Between these two flights will be a wealth of experiences that I can only imagine. I plan to spend time with the local pastor and his wife, Edmund and Lisa Leung. Edmund and Lisa were high school students when we started working in Hong Kong. Lisa was my translator when I preached at the church. I mentored Edmund who felt the call to ministry while I was in Hong Kong and received seminary training after I left. Lisa has been diagnosed with three tumors behind her eyes and nose that are inoperative. She is 34 years old. Edmund is the pastor of a church that had 45 members when I left and now has grown to over 200.
I want to connect with Jamie and Patrick Nachtigall, missionaries to Hong Kong and their son, Marco. Our church in Bedford was their largest supporter for the past 7 years. I hope to visit the International Christian School that I had helped start in Hong Kong. We had 200 students for grades K-12. Now they have three separate schools for these grades and the enrollment has grown greatly. Some of our missionary friends are still living in Hong Kong. There is a possibility that I could visit a program in Hong Kong related to Clinical Pastoral Education (chaplain training) to observe the similarities and differences from the program we have here at Clarian Health Partners, in Indianapolis.
So many possibilities. I have not tried to schedule the trip from Indianapolis but go allowing God to work out these arrangements and to be present with those I will meet. It has been said that the Devil is in the details, but I can't help but believe that the Lord is in the details of this trip. I am eager to discover and experience the trip that He is planning.
Partners in His Service,
Alan
I will be heading back to Indianapolis from Hong Kong on Sunday November 11, 2007. Leaving Hong Kong at 11:40 AM, I arrive in Chicago at 11:49 AM that same day. (the tail winds must be really strong, don't you agree!) If memory serves me right from our travels as missionaries, the actual time in the air will be about 14 hours coming back. I will be traveling back alone because the other three men in our group - Tim Broyles, David Brown and Russ Jones will be stopping in Osaka Japan for a short visit.
Between these two flights will be a wealth of experiences that I can only imagine. I plan to spend time with the local pastor and his wife, Edmund and Lisa Leung. Edmund and Lisa were high school students when we started working in Hong Kong. Lisa was my translator when I preached at the church. I mentored Edmund who felt the call to ministry while I was in Hong Kong and received seminary training after I left. Lisa has been diagnosed with three tumors behind her eyes and nose that are inoperative. She is 34 years old. Edmund is the pastor of a church that had 45 members when I left and now has grown to over 200.
I want to connect with Jamie and Patrick Nachtigall, missionaries to Hong Kong and their son, Marco. Our church in Bedford was their largest supporter for the past 7 years. I hope to visit the International Christian School that I had helped start in Hong Kong. We had 200 students for grades K-12. Now they have three separate schools for these grades and the enrollment has grown greatly. Some of our missionary friends are still living in Hong Kong. There is a possibility that I could visit a program in Hong Kong related to Clinical Pastoral Education (chaplain training) to observe the similarities and differences from the program we have here at Clarian Health Partners, in Indianapolis.
So many possibilities. I have not tried to schedule the trip from Indianapolis but go allowing God to work out these arrangements and to be present with those I will meet. It has been said that the Devil is in the details, but I can't help but believe that the Lord is in the details of this trip. I am eager to discover and experience the trip that He is planning.
Partners in His Service,
Alan
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