Finally here!

Hello! I'm finally here...Hong Kong. It's amazing. I got here on Thursday and was welcomed by Mike, Melissa, and Izzy...along with 5 of the kids from the youth group....they made me feel so special! They even made me a DVD showing me their favorite places in Hong Kong! That day I just mostly settled in and organized my suitcases. That night we went out to dinner with some of the girls...We had dim sum (it's like a bunch of appetizers) and Peking Duck. It's not as good as Mike thinks, but I did enjoy a lot of the other food, and the company...the girls are very sweet! Then yesterday, I just lounged around, trying to get rid of jetlag, went grocery shopping with Melissa, and in the evening we met a couple for dinner at the Outback...which is still very good. I crashed last night and woke up fairly early this morning. Today is Saturday...This afternoon there is a welcome party for me at the Enns' house. They live out in the New Territories ( in the country, and closer to China) I'm going to be staying with them starting Sept. 5. Everyone is making me feel so special, and I'm very excited to meet the rest of the group. I'm kinda scared to go outside, for fear of being lost instantaneously. It's so big here, with so many people. Well, that is all for today, I'm sorry about not having pictures yet! My computer is being so dumb, and the internet won't work. So I'm on Melissa's computer. Well, adios mis amigos!

Chapter III: Motivation/Fun

Ok, so just as a precursor...these notes are exactly as they are in my notebook, EXACTLY! Since then, I have figured a few more things out. But I thought I'd post what I was thinking, then go back and answer my own questions...hope your coffee's strong, I was feeling cynical that night:
*What does the we(st) have to offer the majority church (not including funds and manpower)?
It seems that in our attempts to serve them, they end up serving us!!! I'm so frustrated!!!! WHAT DO I HAVE TO OFFER THEM????
*Do short term mission trips enforce or change stereotypes?

Ok, now here are my current thoughts:
The western church does have a lot to offer the majority church. It is yet one member of the body. And by no means is the majority church superior (different, and in a different stage, but not superior). I think I had to figure that out in my head. American churches have, as of late, in my mind been so "blaughck". We offer them a different view of God, in exchange for their's. I think that I was being very me focused in my "attempt" to being others focused. We are to serve God FIRST, and in doing so, will serve others, not the other way first. I don't think it always works vice versa. So yes, in going to Hong Kong I will learn from them, and hopefully they'll learn from me, but not "me-ness" but the "God-ness" about me. And as for offering something to them, let me offer it first to God, and let Him multiply and bless and dish out what He chooses.
For the second question, I think that short term missions trips can, and hopefully do a little bit of both.

Chapter Two...The Church

*Is communal decision making such a new concept??
Livermore makes it sound like communal decision making isn't used very often in the west, but more with tribal communities. He says that big decisions usually end up being made by one guy. I thought this was kind of odd, because, in most churches, I see the communal decision making in action: with elder boards, governing boards, youth group leadership teams, etc. etc. Are the churches that I've observed really the minority in this?

*Why doesn't the American Church experience spiritual forces the way the majority world church does?

*Does this correlate at all with the amount of persecution we(st) face?
*The American church has been given an amazing amount of freedom,
1) Why aren't we thriving?
2)What is our responsibility with this freedom?
-Leadership, how does the west compare?
3)If the majority church is trhiving so well, do they really need a western type of leadership training? What kind of training is necessary for them, and is it necessary at all? (Is daily life training enough for them?)

This chapter made me really frustrated. Most of the cultural examples in the book are from Pastors who did leadership training in another country...it seems so arrogant that a church who is (generally) stagnant is sending its leaders to other countries to train leaders of churches who are growing exponentially. And I'm not just talking about the numbers. I know this may seem very hypocritical for a person who is going to another church across the world to teach and to serve, straight up...I don't feel very adequate. And I'm trying to make sense of this whole idea...meanwhile...I'm excited to go b/c I know that God has called me to go and given me this opportunity.....unkown...here I come.

Chapter One!

Here are some more thoughts of mine. Chapter one was on The Globe:
*Does it matter that the standard for poverty changes with the country or region?
For Example: many people, when talking about poverty, state the fact that, "even America's poor are fat" While I know this statement is true, compared to many countries, can we just simply blow off America's poor? I know that there are many opportunities for the poor here, but I know many people are getting slammed by the system that is supposed to help them. While I agree that the poor here probably don't deal with the level of disease and poverty that is all over the world, I'm still just not sure how to deal with that fact...can we say, "who needs us the most?" with a clear conscience? (THis last statement is a real question...anyone have any opinions?)
*Need vs. Want
I thought that this was a great point. I want so many things, and many times, I pass it off as need. This is so apparent to me right now especially: I have my suitcases right now in my basement for HK, and I'm starting to fill them. I know that I don't need to fill two gigantic suitcases with things...but it is tempting!
*Is globalization just westernization?


That's all for now folks

So, after I read the forward, I thought.....

PS: These are notes directly from my notebook that I made while I was reading the book>

I whish everyone was more aware of cultural intelligence, just last night, Conan O'Brien made a joke about Viet Namese and Nail Salons...I have been thinking a lot lately about short term (in every aspect of ministry). After taking Urban Intercultural studies, I've been thinking a lot about the value of extended service projects to the city, and how suburban churches can partner with city churches in a way that actually helps them. (Anyone have any suggestions here?) I've been thinking especially about short term missions, especially those who arent doing a work project. Is a work project more productive in the long run than a short term trip based only on evangelism? Esp. for people who don't have CI, I feel like an evangelism trip may be more harmful than helpful in the long run.

Conversations in a Coffee Shop!

Hello Everyone!
These next few posts will be about one subject: Short Term Missions. If you have looked at my previous posts, you will know that I was frustrated about a book called "Serving W/ Eyes Wide Open" By David Livermore. Well, I had (and still have) a lot of questions that the book brought to my mind. So the next posts are going to be a conversation between me and Pastor Mike Rose (some may know as PM) who was my former youth pastor and is serving God in Hong Kong, but in August he will be my mentor for my internship. I would love anyone who has any thoughts to join in the conversation, share some answers and maybe questions of your own. Grab a cup o' Joe and start thinking!

PS: These pictures are just to help you visualize!

Being Genuine

Hey all! Lately I've been thinking about and been convicted by the word "genuine". Isn't it such a refreshing term? I have been thinking about this a lot. Is it better to be genuine, or to hold your tongue and go along with something (not neccessarily something bad) for the sake of peace? Or can you do both? Anyone have any thoughts on the word genuine and what it means?

I Wish I Were a Man!

**Alternate Title: Desperate People**

Today I went to Uptown with 2 friends to go shopping and to eat to celebrate one of their birthdays. Well, anywhoo, on our journey throughout the day...we saw a lot of homeless people with signs. Some of them stood on the side of the road, just holding a sign, some were verbal, some were not, some were men, some were not, some sat, some didn't.
I am not eloquent with words, so I hope that my heart will come through this anyways. Let me give a little background of the eyes that I saw these homeless people through: This past semester I took an Urban ICS class. We explored, debated, and hashed over the culture and injustices of the city. A lot of times, we didn't come to any concrete conclusions. I also was with Streetlight this year, a ministry to the homeless through the Marie Sandvik center. Through my experiences, I learned how to see these people in a different light, as real people, God's creation, whom I am supposed to consider better (not just equal) than myself. Not that I demonstrated that clearly though. One of my friends from the center was named Sammy*, the last time I saw her, she asked me to pray for her b/c she was meeting with someone to see if she could get her own place. She was so excited that the next week she might have a home of her own! And I got to share that joy w/ her. She let me into her life, not vice versa.
Most of the people, actually all, at the center still had pride and dignity, and wanted others to see and respect that. Today, in the very beginning, I saw a man, holding a sign...something about homeless, please help....and he was strong and tall and silent. Yet, here he was, in front of hundreds of cars, holding this sign. What drove this man to such humility? It's not a trait that comes easy to anyone. You could tell that he had an enormous amount of dignity (these are just MY assumptions...not facts). What drove him to this desperation??? Many people say that in America-the land of opportunity- the homeless are homeless b/c they are addicted to something, and that they usually deserve it. These people give up their dignity, holding out signs, in desperation, and/or habit. Whether they are desperate for drugs/alcohol/money to feed some addiction, or for food/shelter, isn't it our duty to help them? Because underneath that other desperation, aren't they just desperate for Christ?
Later on in the day, we were walking to a store and there were 3 homeless people sitting on the sidewalk, most of the time, I just didn't look up and pretended I was focused on walking with my crutches. As we were walking, a young man in the group, (probably a little older than me) asked for money, I said, "Sorry" and kept walking. He had blond dreds, and bright blue eyes, if he had been cleaner and walking around, I probably would have taken a second glance. I felt so horrible, with my GAP bag and all. I don't want anyone to think that I am doing the "holier than thou" thing, that would be stupid: while they were asking for $ and I was saying sorry, I told myself that if I wasn't on crutches and my wallet was easier to reach, or if I was a man and I could let him/her in my car, and maybe if I wasn't w/ friends and had time to chat with the people, etc, etc....BULLCRAP
Anyways...this has just been the impassioned ramblings of a disgusted girl, wishing she had done more, vowing to do more and to be ready for the next time.

*Name changed to protect dignity.

Frustration

Hi...Well, lately I have been frustrated...w/ a good many things...but I'm only going to tell about one of them tonight. I am reading the book "Short Term Missions: Serving w/ Eyes Wide Open" by David A. Livermore. It's one of my internship reqs and I am thoroughly enjoying it...and hating it. I have been questioning short term ministry since my Urban ICS class this sem. and now I'm more confused. Anywhoo...There are so many pros and cons about short term ministry...a lot of cons, in the eyes of the national church. ARGHHHH...hopefully by the end of the book, I will have more hope! On a side note...isn't it awesome that the majority of Christians in the world are OUTSIDE of the US and W Europe?! That is mindblowing. Ok, well, enough for tonight...and enough of [...] as well, I'm sorry that I used a copious amount of them tonight. Adios!
SDG

PS: If you think about it, pray for my knee...I was allowed by the DR. to start putting weight on it (to work up to walking) and I think I overdid it and it's swollen like a baloon now.

Character building...

Does anyone remember that song "Character building" ?? I think it might be from GT and the halo express, or sunday school, or TMI, or something....maybe patch the pirate. Anywhoo. This summer has been all about character building for me....Does anyone besides me think that it's hard? I wish I could say abracadabra and a sky scraper of character would be there. It's kinda interesting that I'm talking about buildings....Ezekiel 13 talks about the wall of Jerusalem being whitewashed and not withstanding the battle...I guess if I'm going to build character, better do it right the first time!
ON a different note...I will be off my crutches in 1-2 weeks! WAHOOOO!!

Vilkommen!

Hi! OK, so I've been sucked in! But I decided that I need to get a place to blog because I'm leaving for Hong Kong soon. So now my parents and friends can read what I'm up to w/o me actually e-mailing them. So convenient! =) (Don't worry guys, I will write you personal notes too!) So yeah. Ok, so you may be wondering what the title is about. Well, here's the story: my brother Luke is really into music and he went through this phase where he really wanted to start a band (and he did). So he was asking me to think of names and the best one I could come up with was Eight Lives Lost. Weird yes, but if you think about a cat, he is supposed to have nine lives, well, 9-8=1!!! I have only one life to live and I plan on making the most out of it serving Christ. Well, that's all for now, I probably won't write too much until I leave for HK.
Adios
SDG