My International Christmas Part I

Well, I haven't written for a while, and now the advent season is at its peak, it's Christmas Eve!!!
This Christmas season has been quite different for obvious reasons. Last night was the CityWide Christmas Celebration. It is put on by a committee of people and sponsored by business men all over Hong Kong. The goal of the event is to bring together the English Speaking Congregations and the Cantonese Speaking churches. We had 6 kids go plus a one family. It was over on the Island in Hong Kong Stadium. The big event of the stadium is the Sevens. (The Rugby Sevens) About 8,000 people were there, and it was a three hour long program translated in both Cantonese and English. An Australian band did the worship, there was a speaker, and dancers, and also a really cute Christmas program. It's so fun to be in such an international place. I never thought I would hear Mary say, "Hi-ya, hi-ya, the baby is coming!" It was so cute. Again, I just stopped and took a moment to look around at the place I am, and where God has placed me for this short while, and I am in awe, and so thankful. Even though it's not the most convenient, it was fun to need to listen to a message through a translator.
And that was Part I of my Christmas Extravaganza

Cold Weather Warning

Melissa just read me this blurb from the Hong Kong Observatory (weather site), and I thought that everyone might get a quick out of this...PS. the temperature in Fahrenheit is 61 degrees...the humidity is like 30%. Yeah, this is Hong Kong for you....but fyi, I was even chilly today...there's just something about the cold here, it's just different.

COLD WEATHER WARNING

COLD WEATHER WARNING

THE COLD WEATHER WARNING IS NOW IN FORCE.

THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY IS FORECASTING COLD WEATHER IN
HONG KONG DURING THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD AND TOMORROW MORNING.

AS HONG KONG IS BEING AFFECTED BY A COLD WINTER MONSOON,
PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO PUT ON WARM CLOTHES AND TO AVOID
ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. YOU MUST
ALSO ENSURE ADEQUATE INDOOR VENTILATION.

IF YOU MUST GO OUT, PLEASE AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO
WINTRY WINDS.

The Return of Liturgy

I've decided to start praying before my meals again. I haven't regularly since last spring. It was at that time when I realized (via lectures of a certain professor) that I wasn't bound and sworn to pray before every meal, and that, in fact, sometimes going through the motions leaves out the heart of what we do as Christians. So from then on, I have only sporadically given thanks before my meals. Not because I wasn't generally thankful, but because I was just going through the motions without my heart. Is that a greater sin to pray without heart, or to not pray at all? I'm not quite sure any of us can say. Pastor Ed recently spoke about the freedom we have in Christ. We have freedom from sin, and as Paul says, everything is permissible, but not beneficial
(I Corinthians 10). He talked about how many Christians these days focus most on the freedom aspect than of our slavery to everyone in righteousness.
I am currently reading MUDHOUSE SABBATH, which is a great book, that I highly recommend. That author tells of the richness of Jewish Tradition and Liturgy, and how it can enrich a Christian's life. So I bring back my thrice daily (and sometimes more if we count snacks) liturgy of mealtime prayer. Not because I feel obligated, or that I have suddenly realized that I need to verbally express my gratitude to God. (Which of course, I do), but because eating is something that I do regularly, and praying is something that I should do even more of. Winner, (the author of MUDHOUSE SABBATH) talks about the rhyme and rhythm, and how liturgy brings that into our lives. The regular (which doesn't have to be mundane) pattern of connections that we make with God. So with that, I bring back more of my daily liturgy, and maybe some new. Starting with my mealtime prayers. Hopefully it starts a new pattern of meaningful connections with God. And who knows, I may feel the need to stop the liturgy again for a time, and I may not. But even so, I will try, and I challenge you to as well, to bring back a bit of liturgy, of daily rhyme and rhythm back into your life. Because with, "Great freedom, comes great responsibility." (Uncle Ben--from Spiderman)

Brief Explanation

The previous post is partly the product of introspection and part of procrastination (I was supposed to be writing a paper at the time that I wrote that poem) The words are a bit cheesy, yes, but at least I enjoyed writing them.

Free Verse

Life as we know it,
it's only part of a chorus
of the grand symphony that is being directed
let the music of mystery flood your ears
let the unknown notes fill your page
Let your fingers flow with the unknown rhythm
Of the song

Life as we know it,
it's only a portion of the picture
like a poloroid half developed
let your eyes open to the whole
let them float over the beauty of the colors
over the lines and the texture
soak in the beauty
contemplate the meaning
Of the picture

Life as we know it,
is only a drop in the glass
of the waters that could cover the highest mountain
Let your limbs free flow
Let the air fill your lungs before you take the plunge
and swim in the vast depth
of the water

Life as we know it,
is only a small coal
in the fire that burns and refines
that melts the gold down
Let the heat surround your heart
Let the fire burn your soul and purify
As you slowly become a diamond
A diamond still
In the fire

A Penny For My Thoughts?

Here are some random, unstructured thoughts of mine.

*I like high school band concerts, as long as:

a. They don't go too long (two hours is the max)

b. There is enough variety

c. The chairs are comfortable

d. There is a minimum amount of talking

*Spaghetti House lasagna is the best in the world

*I am really excited for Christmas

*Tomorrow is my day off

*John Travolta sucks

*Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha is the best coffee holiday drink in any coffee shop

*Red sprinkles totally makes anything better

*It is always fun at a social gathering to sit next to someone and comment on everything. Ex. Sitting next to PM at the band concert...so funny. The poor people in front of us probably hated it. We played Peggy Kohl's clapping game. Peggy, I wish you had been there!

*My mom is coming to Hong Kong in a couple of weeks

*I wore an Indian tunic thing today and I felt very Indian

*I have a great new Chai recipe

*Hummus is still the best

*Canadians say "drama" (Draw-ma) like d-ram-a, with the ram pronounce "ram"

*Ballroom dancing is sweet...I wish I knew more dances and had people to dance with

*It's getting "chilly" here, lower 70s, and 60s at night

Here are some random, semi-structured thoughts of mine:

The roof of the Enns' house is one of my favorite spots in Hong Kong, and almost from the beginning, I thought that it would be so beautiful to string white Christmas lights and have a party up there. So I decided to throw a Christmas party for the Enns' last night instead of trying to buy all of them presents that they would like. I had so much fun planning this party: I bought white Christmas lights and strung them along the roof, then I got fake evergreen strands and hung them across the clotheslines, and I got hors d'oeuvres, made a cake with "Merry Christmas" on the top, and I got lasagna from Spaghetti house. Seriously, that is the best lasagna in the whole world. Then we all ate on the roof, it was so pretty with the white lights, the foggy mountains all around, and the Christmas music playing in the background from my computer. I had so much fun throwing it for them, I appreciate them so much.

Tonight was the CAIS Christmas band conference. Christian Alliance is the school that Art Enns is the headmaster of, and our church works pretty closely with them. I eat lunch there with the kids once a week, and about 10 of our kids go there. Tonight the 5th, 6th, concert, philharmonic, and jazz bands played. The dance class also did several ballroom dances. It was so fun going. As me and Lori and Mike were waiting in the foyer for the doors to open, and I realized how many people I've gotten to know. I was able to say hi to several parents of kids I know and a lot of the teachers as well. Then when the bands started playing, I was able to pick out kids that I know, which happened to be a lot, and just be excited to see them play. This fall, our main theme in the youth group has been the Jesus Creed from Mark 12(Love God, Love others). I could say that the reason I am here is "for the kids, and to get to know them and lead and serve them" (which I have said before, and it is true, but it's so much more). But what God has called me to is living globally or doing ministry globally (that is my new term for missions or being a missionary). Living as a Christian means glorifying God and loving others. Most often, this means getting into their lives, and letting them get into yours as you glorify God, love them, and serve together. As I was sitting there, watching all the kids, I realized how much I've gotten to know and started to love these kids. And they've gotten to me as much as I have to them. It was so fun to pick out kids and know their personality, and who their friends are, and who they are.

And one more thing:

Last week, Kay, one of our (R)evolve girls asked me if there was going to be a girls' Bible Study, like the one that Mike leads with several of the boys. Of course I said yes, and in fact, this is something that Mike had in mind from the beginning. I will start it after Christmas. But I'm really nervous about this. I know I just need to dive in and do it, but it's new, to lead a Bible study alone, with people who aren't my peers. So I have to find a Bible study that would be appropriate and that would be a good fit for the girls. And I'm mostly nervous about the actual teaching part. Teaching isn't exactly my forte, relationship building is. And I know that knowing how to teach just takes practice, which I will get plenty of this year. And I think I'm partly nervous about the preparation and the personal responsibility it means for me as well. Like I said, I am a relational person, and leading kids that are 3 years younger than me (those are the oldest) is hard. It's hard not to go into friend mode, and I need to remember that I must first be a leader and that their spiritual lives are most important, and friend comes last. So with that, please just pray for every aspect of this upcoming Bible study: That I will know which study to choose, that I would be able to dive in with my heart, and that it would all just fall into place, and that God would lead me and show me how to lead as well.

The Sky Looks like Grape Pop

The other night I was walking on the sidewalk, and it was getting dark. Through a clearing in the skyline, I could see the buildings across the harbour. The sky should have been dark blue or black, but for some reason, with the lights and the pollution, it looked exactly like the color of grape pop. I don't particularly like grape pop, but I liked the look of the sky, and it amused me. I thought to myself, What a great beginning to a blog that would be... so I started writing this. But there is nothing really to follow this great, random thought of mine. So with that thought, I leave you with this: May you see a sky that looks like grape pop sometime in your life, and share a smile and a chuckle with me that is not subject to time or distance.

El Fin

A Plethora of Thoughts

That's right, I used the word plethora. You know you're impressed. Well, I'm pretty sure a lot has happened since I wrote about frames. My last blog that was my update letter doesn't count. So let's see. The next thing that happened was my birthday.
Let me tell you, I wasn't really looking forward to my birthday. Actually, my plan all along was to be very apathetic about my birthday. I didn't have my family (immediate) around, and the fact that I was leaving my teen years behind just wasn't helping me get excited for it. So I decided just to not tell anyone about it. And I was totally OK with it. I was just gonna do some random things to celebrate in a little way. Like ride first class on the train (which I have never done, but I did do on my birthday). It was very fun. But my birthday wasn't at all what I expected. Which was really great. My birthday was on Sunday, 3 december. About a week before, Lori asked what my family usually does to celebrate birthdays. We had been talking about family Christmas and holiday traditions, so it fit, and I really didn't think anything of it, especially since I hadn't mentioned my birthday to anyone. But then on about Wednesday of my birthday week, Lori was like, "So since your family and our family usually does the same things for birthdays, how about on Saturday or Sunday, we have Mike and Melissa over and I can make whatever you want for dinner, and you can pick a cake..." I smiled and was like, "How did you find out?" I guess Brett told her, at that time, I didn't know how Brett knew, but I found out later Mike had sent out an e-mail to everyone about it. How he knew...well, he just seems to know those things.
So I requested tacos, and at her suggestion, chocolate cheesecake. So on Saturday I went to AWANA, and went back to Tai Po with Mike and Melissa (or more like met them there...ha ha ha...). So we walked in the door, and there was streamers and balloons above the counter, homemade tacos with refried beans (oh heaven!), and the table was set all nice with wine glasses (they even got sparkling juice!). It was really amazing. So yeah, we all hung out and talked, and ate, and then Lori brought out this magnificent chocolate cheesecake adn started cutting it, and then the lights went out and all I saw was sparklers and 20 candles, and everyone started singing. It was sweet! I blew out 15 candles, and Caleb was all excited that I have 5 boyfriends. It made me chuckle. So yeah, then we all ate the cake and then presents came out! It was incredible. Brett got me these huge monster slippers (he and his girlfriend have a matching pink and blue pair), Caleb got me a necklace and earrings, and a Christmas CD, Art and Lori got me a polo sweater that is beautiful adn some bath wash, and Mike and Melissa and Izzy got me my first STARBUCKS CITY MUG COLLECTION mug, Hong Kong of course. It was sweet. Actually, it was more than that.
There have only been a few times in these past two decades of mine when I have been really blown away by undeserved love and kindness towards me. This is definitely one of them. The Enns' have been such a huge blessing to me. If you read my update letter, you will remember how I mentioned that God has been showing His amazing love and blessing for me by using other people, and showing me the sufficiency of all that He is. He has been blessing me so much through this family. No body will ever replace my family at home, and I miss them so much. But the Enns' have been so amazing to me. They are my family away from family, and Hong Kong has become my second home.
So think that was amazing? It doesn't stop there (I know right?)! At 12:35am that night, I got a text from Jeronica (she's my mini me...my little Indian twin) wishing me happy birthday. Then the next morning, I got up pretty early to have breakfast with Kay, a girl that goes to (R)evolve on Friday nights, but wanted to try our church for Sunday. I just love this girl, and was so excited to have breakfast with her. The previous Friday, she asked if I was gonna start a girls' Bible study, and I was so excited. (And still am). So that should be starting after Christmas, so if you can keep that in your prayers as me and Mike work through the planning of that. So back to Sunday morning. Kay met me with a ton (actually more like 20) Yellow daisy like flowers, and a pan of brownies that she baked! It was so sweet. Then we went to a local Chinese restaurant, and she had me try a new drink. Tea and coffee and milk mixed together (it's a cold drink). I really didn't think it would be good, but I was pleasantly surprised. Then we went to PCC and had muffins and juice. Then we headed across the street to the church and I did some random things and then to the service. I had to leave suddenly in the middle because I remembered that I was playing piano for the children's church Christmas Program Practice. So I raced out of there and got upstairs. That went OK. Then I had to run to JUSCO before Sunday School to grab some balloons. When I got upstairs to Sunday School, everyone sang Happy Birthday, and Melissa had made TWO (yes two) cakes with Real (yes real) AMERICAN frosting! Wahoo. Seriously, I've been looking for frosting in a tub (like the betty crocker kind) forever. We finally found it the other day at OLIVER's. So yeah, and the cake was complete with candles! Yes, AGAIN! Then we ate cake and played some games. One of the games was a version of Shuffle Yer Buns and when you lose, you have to stand up in the middle and say something. This time it was something that they liked about me. It was so precious (as Jamie Jo would say) to hear what they said. One boy said, "The ride home on the train after (R)evolve is always fun" and a boy in my AWANA group like how I draw him elaborate smiley faces when he finishes a section. Yeah, it made my heart all warm and fuzzy inside. So I guess Mike had e-mailed everyone telling them to bring a present for me. I got some amazing gifts that I will treasure forever. Many of them were hand made (like drawings and sweet notes) and the whole day just made me feel so loved. My friends from home also sent me several video emails! I will never forget my twentieth birthday, and it was a great way to start my third decade of life, it's sure setting a high standard for the rest of the ten years.
Then later, we had the Christmas Banquet at church. That was a lot of fun, but the coolest part of the night actually was brought to attention on Tuesday...If you read Mike or Melissa's blogs, you probably already know. This fall, Mike and Melissa have been getting to know this Canadian couple who have a young daughter. I have been so impressed by Melissa, she has been such an example to me. She is truly living out her faith where she is. Sometimes that's on the play ground, and she has been loving whoever she comes across. So yeah, they have been getting to know this couple, and they started coming to church pretty regularly too. So after the Banquet they didn't really say much, but it turns out that this woman (who is visiting them) and her mom both accepted Christ. Fiesta en los cielos! Ay ay ay! (imagine a Mexican guy doing the "ay ay ay"s and it makes that phrase so much better!) And with that, Adios! Necesito Duerme. (I hope I conjugated that correctly!)

My Update Letter

Hey Everyone!
Pasted below is my Update Letter that I just wrote. If you want to be put on my mailing list, leave me a comment w/ your e-mail or get it to me some other way!

Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters: December 2006

Merry Christmas! The advent season has officially begun. Hong Kong is in full swing and has pulled out all the stops for Christmas. Every mall (which is about every 5 miles), every train station, and every street is decorated in winter and Christmas gear. It makes quite a festive atmosphere and it’s pretty impressive for a place where most people actually don’t believe in or celebrate Christmas.

I have officially been away from home over three months now, and what a time it has been. I am sorry that I haven’t been consistent with these update letters. I promise to be better at keeping everyone posted. So much has happened that I don’t really know where to start.

September was really just a month full of new things and introductions. I was introduced into the country, life here, the church, the youth ministry, and into this new season of my life. October was more of a jumping in and learning from experiences and making mistakes. I learned so much about being a leader and stepping out. Not to say that I’m not still being introduced to new things, making mistakes, or learning about leadership, I definitely am, and it would be dumb to only categorize those things by month. I will be doing these things until I leave Hong Kong, and after as well.

A lot of October was planning and preparing for two youth conferences, Love Actually, held over Halloween weekend, and Sanctuary, in the first weekend of November. Love Actually is an annual purity conference, focusing on living a pure life--sexually and spiritually--in a world that doesn’t foster or encourage those things. This was my first experience in helping to plan a large event and having responsibilities in it. I was able to have my first teaching experience. Thankfully, it was more of a group discussion with the girls. The other female leaders would interject as well and help the girls to carry the thoughts through. It was so good to have that support! I only thought it had gone OK, and was so encouraged afterward when two of the girls came up to me and told me it was exactly what they had needed to hear. Proof that God is still working, and amazingly, using me! I had my first cabin of girls, and kept an eye on a few other girls’ cabins as well. It was really good to get to know girls from all over the area, and get to know one of my girls a lot better too. I think the kids thought and learned about some important subjects, and hopefully had a great time too!

November started off with the Sanctuary Conference. Pastor Mike went to the states for a youth pastors’ convention. It was good for him to get away for a little bit, and it was good for me to experience the ministry without depending on him. Believe me, I was scared out of my mind. But thankfully, I didn’t sink the ministry, wreck any kids’ spiritual lives, and the world didn’t fall apart. (Silly me, thinking that I could actually have the power to do any of those things.) I learned how to do some valuable things, like making decisions and not doubting them, and know where and when to ask for help.

The second week in November, Mike and I helped out at a middle school camp for three days. Our church is closely associated with Christian Alliance Int’l School (CAIS), and we help them with some events. Middle School camp was one of them. It was at a beautiful camp in Sai Kung National Park. It was one of the most beautiful places I have seen in Hong Kong so far. I learned a lot about middle schoolers that week, and I think learning the differences between the age groups and how they relate to each other and me is a valuable thing to learn in youth ministry.

Over Thanksgiving I had a wonderful opportunity to go to Bangkok, Thailand. The Intercultural Studies Majors (my major) from Northwestern are doing there internship, which is a two month missions trip all over Asia, and were in Bangkok over Thanksgiving. If I wasn’t doing this internship, I would be on that trip. My advising professor also happens to be on that trip, and he invited me to spend a few days over Thanksgiving with them. That was a great short holiday to reconnect with my advisor and discuss the ministry and life in Hong Kong with him, to see old friends from NWC, and to spend Thanksgiving with some familiar faces. November was a month of settling into life and more new experiences. Toward the end of November, I felt maybe a little too settled in, and I started feeling a little “blah” about life.

December has started off very well, and I have gotten a new sense of joy and excitement for life and for the ministry. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the next six months, and I don’t want them to go by quickly! As I flew in from Bangkok, I looked over Hong Kong and felt happy to be back. It’s always a good thing when you are excited to come back to a place. This is exactly where I know where I should be, and exactly where I want to be. I have been thinking for the last three months about Christ’s sufficiency for me. It has been an ongoing process, with many questions, frustrations, and also encouragements and hope. As I continue to learn about this, I have been actually struck with a new revelation about it just tonight. While sometimes I want a girl to just watch a chick flick with me =), Christ is so much more sufficient for me and His love is so arching over all the small petty things. He has also blessed me by showing this love through people. I have been blessed so much by getting to know Melissa better. She is such a Godly woman and always gentle and encouraging, and I love hanging out with her. Mike has been a constant source of encouragement and wisdom. They always welcome me into their flat, and I have become sort of an extension of their family. Little Isabella is growing so fast, and I am happy to report that she now loves me! It is such a warm feeling to see a little blond kid holding her arms out to you or opening her mouth to give a sloppy, wet kiss! Another one of those blessings comes in the form of the Enns family. They are the family that I have been living with since September. They have been so gracious, hospitable, generous, and kind to me. They have made me so welcome, and have truly been God’s love in the form of a family to me. No one could ever take the place of my family, but I have been blessed with this temporary family while I am away from mine.

In the last month and a half I have really seen my relationships with the kids growing. I have been able to get to know some of the girls so much better, and I love them so much! One thing that I am really excited about, and that you can be praying for, is a girl’s Bible study that I am about to start. Mike leads one with a few of the boys, and I am supposed to start one at some point in the year, once my relationships with the girls has grown. But last night, one of the girls came up to me and asked if we were going to have one. So that will start after Christmas. I am so excited to lead a group of girls and get to know one another better as we seek God together. I seriously have the best “job” in the world right now!

Before I end this letter, I have a few prayer requests that you can pray for:

*The Girl’s Bible Study that I am going to start.

*Pastor Mike-he is really sick, and has been ill for about a month now, pray also that Melissa and Isabella will stay healthy.

*I have quite a few papers that I have to write for school, that I will be able to get them done by the end of the semester.

*I will be starting Distance Education courses through Northwestern online next semester, pray that I will be able to balance and manage my time well.

*Wisdom and discernment as I continue to grow and learn.

*I am starting a new approach to leading the youth worship team, pray that I will know how to lead that well.

*My relationships with the students and that they would continue to grow.

Thank you so much for all your support, prayers, and love!

In Christ,

Hannah