After a lot of thought I think the one of the main things I am learning to do is wash feet and serve others.   Washing feet (serving others in all kinds and manner of ways) is often done when no one sees who you are or what you are doing.  You do not always get the expected praise we so often strive to achieve and furthermore sometimes the person whose feet you are trying to wash kicks you in the face as you do it.  However this does not mean it not worthwhile, and I have been challenged by this passage in the bible in particular:

³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸ And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹ And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.”’(Mathew 25:35-40)

To me this basically says that when I serve another person, physically first and in doing so spiritually you do it as if you are doing it unto Jesus.  This means literally and tangibly caring for the last in the world and when you do so you find amazing grace.  My time here so far has not always been easy but I know that by all measures it is worthwhile and everyday I see miracles and the gospel lived out around me whether small or huge they are all miracles.  They range from people physically and emotionally being healed to simply brothers of colorful backgrounds living in community together. In small things you see Gods love, such as a brother serving another who previously he had been fighting with to someone blessing another with the little they have.  I could list handfuls of examples but I will share that for another time. What I really want to say is I have been a Christian now for over 12 years, and it has taken me this long to begin to understand God as my sustainer in all circumstances, to begin to fully rely and trust everything and to learn the gift of truly serving others.

So what’s next you may ask? Well next month I will be in the Philippines for just over 2weeks to complete a primary health care course in the slums, as well as see some projects and hopefully visit the beaches.  After that I will be back in Hong Kong to finish my last few months living in new boy house, whilst enjoying all the new facilities, which will open in March. 

The future, well personally I don’t know right now but God does.  I can say I really want to travel more in particular Africa to spend some time working with street kids and orphans, and maybe just travel Europe, so will wait and see…

Prayer:

1.          Health

2.          My ability to learn languages (I am rubbish)

3.          Energy

4.          To continue to trust God in all I do

5.          Gods provision for St Stephens as they begin to pay for all the building work

6.          God would speak clearly about my future And provide the resources for it to happen

I found this picture at the Hong Kong Alpha holy spirit training day. It speaks to me in so many ways and is a great image of the truths i am taking hold of here in Hong Kong ministering to the poor.

Thoughts of the month

Well i can not actually believe i have been in Hong Kong almost a month, the time has flown by literally and i have had little time to stop and think.  In reflection this month has been alongside finals at university one of the most fast paced intense months of my life.  From doing a 20hour day once a week to constantly time manging the day and learning to fully really on God when times are hard.  I have not once doubted that coming here was the right decision.  Everyday in a new way i am learning so much about bringing and living the kingdom of God both spiritually and practically.  The majority of the time my head has felt like jelly as i have been attempting to process all that i am seeing feeling and hearing, both good and bad, in the sense of walking through highs and lows within a matter of hours.  If asked ‘what is the real highlight or lesson i am taking hold of by being here right now?’  I would simply say that for the first time in my life i really feel like i am taking hold of the bible and learning it and its application into everyday life.  It really is my daily bread and provides the source of what we are doing here.  I am finding the daily training on mobile inspiring and challenging, everything is discussed and taken for the bible, and my passion for Gods word is growing. 

I have been asked many questions about different aspects of being here, so i want to tackle a few frequently asked questions and provide a few story’s of life in Hong Kong.

Mobile Training

Teaching

Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and some Thursdays i spend the day on a training course designed to enable us to work out our individual calling both spiritually, practically and biblically in minstering to the poor.  This involves each morning two sustained periods of teaching in the first week by a lady called Marget, and since then by Jackie Pullinger herself.  These times of bible exposition and discussion have been exceptional in proclaiming biblical truth in relation to Jesus and Gods heart for the poor.  They have left me feeling tipped upside down and shaken by what it means to minister and care for Gods poor and broken especially when i come from a western background of capitalist greed and consumer culture.  So far we have looked at the ‘Kingdom of God’, ‘Why minister with the poor?’ and ‘Healing is sharing God’s abundance with the oppressed poor’.  Classes involve worship then what they call a sharing so sermon with practical discussion and Jackie shares story’s from her experience of caring for the poor now for over 40years.

Outreach

The second half of mobile is turning theology into application, so we take Jesus onto the streets in a number of ways from going to Nepalese districts of HK and running workshops to hanging in parks playing with kids and just seeing what God is doing. To going on prayer walks and reclaiming broken districts and places for God and in this seeing who we meet along the way.  To put it simply outreach has been incredible, every time i have been out with a group we have seen people of all ages accept Jesus into their lives, healing on the streets and new believers speak in tongues.  I’m not really sure where to start with story’s and examples as there are so many. 

The most recent outreach i went on was a group to an area called Jordan in HK, a largely Nepalese district.  This outreach particularly moved me in several ways because of what i saw and what happened.  We started by worshipping God in the middle of this large park crammed full of people at around 8pm playing football hanging out and kids playing in the recreation area, it was a place of action everywhere you looked.  When we worshipped people were drawn in and some small children danced in the middle of our group, as their parents looked on. 

After this we split into small teams and just allowed God to guide us.  I was with a Nepalese guy ram who used to be a brother and addict, his around 23 and is an amazing guy.  We started by going on a prayer walk and it almost felt like we were building courage and we wandered into a quiet section, ram knew exactly where we were going and headed for two teenagers eating food, one he knew from before.  He quickly entered in to conversation with the guy and we sat and joined them so i chatted to the other guy.  We simply hung out with them laughed and played some guitar and then suddenly ram said the kid was ready to accept Jesus, so he asked Jesus Christ to be his Lord, asked for forgiveness and believed and then received the gift of tongues.  As this happened i explained to the guys mate what was happening who said he was a christian.  Which resulted in us praying with him two and he also spoke in tongues, both said they felt the peace and love of God, the second said ‘my blood feels cleansed by jesus’. 

Then we took them back to the group introduced them and just played some guitar together for around 20minutes until a group of Nepalese lads came along one of them intoxicated and started pushing one of the guys getting violent, it resulted in one having to leave with them.  One of the group explained to me basically there had been a fight and they all had to go and meet another gang to fight.  I have never in my life come across anything like this where in an instant someone has to leave after experiencing Jesus to fight because they are entangled in a web of gang culture, as i watched the 15year old walk away in his gang i couldn’t not think that it might be the last time i see him. Gang fights here are frequent and many are maimed or even killed as result.  I spoke to a good friend of mine who is a Nepalese brother in my house who before entering the house lived a very similar lifestyle and talked to him about such culture.  He told me that in gangs fights they would often use weapons, he personally would use a Samariasword and would slice rather than spear so that the victim would not be killed. 

Outreach is showing me how important it is to hear form God and not step out in your own strength, but more importantly how easy it is to love and care for the lost and broken and lead people to Jesus.  There is a real urgency to share Jesus with those who do not know, because for some it really maybe their last opportunity.

The Team and my House

The Team

Ok, well I’m one of 8 on the eight month internship here, there are 4 Philippines, 3 English including myself and a German.  Furthermore there are a real mixed group of people who have just joined long term or for a few months including some new families with small children who are such a blessing to have with us.  Being part of a large multi-cultural team is a new experience for me and i am learning real patience, how to try and communicate effectively and am becoming an expert at mime.  The other night i manged to translate what God was doing through prayer to a Chinese speaker through mime when we were praying for an American.  We are all from very different backgrounds but here to learn so all i can say is its a necessary experience which i need to work out and can be frustrating at times because of misunderstandings through poor communication, which you learn to just laugh about.

House 3 – New Boy House

I live in house 3 with between 25 and 35 guys who for different reasons or addictions have come into our house to come off addictions and have an extended period of safe nurturing and discipleship which is away from past temptations.  I share a room which has bunk beds with around 14 guys which is actually good fun.  At first i was very nervous but each day relationships grow and i learn so much more and build much deeper relationships with the guys through living in this way.  The showers are cold each day and it really reminds me of being back at Shepton Mallet for New Wine or Soul Survivor when you get a cold shower! The best tactic iv worked out is just to relax because if you tense it gets worse, iv be assured they will be warm in winter but I’m unsure. 

When i am in the house i spend my time just engaging with the guys they spend time either playing games, like Chinese chess, playing guitar, or doing work.  Everyday they have work for a few hours apart from Sunday.  This could be anything from cleaning the bathrooms to sweeping the leaves down the mountain which i did last Friday (ask me about when i return).  

A basic run through of the day is up for 7.30 exercise breakfast, quiet time 9-10, then for a few hours work.  Then lunch at around 12.30. Afternoon is often either work or activity such as cycle ride. 4.30 is football and sports, dinner then evening meeting, bed at 10.30.  This is the average day in the house, which i sometimes do, but at the moment i have many other responsibilities which spreads my day into smaller segments or time.  These maybe teaching English, teaching bible class and doing worship, to doing gate or night duty. My average day is around 14 hours because I’m always in some way working, this does get tiring but i am truly learning to rely on Gods grace to survive. My day off is a Thursday, so i sleep in longer then email and maybe go out for a bit, often i find its so necessary to have time on your own as i am constantly with people all day with little to no personal time.  

Climate

The weather was very hot and humid when arrived but has cooled since, as well as having a typhoon 8 which occurred last week. As well as some heavy rain which gets rid of the mosquito’s

Food

The food the guys cook for us is actually so tasty, have no idea how good the hygiene is but i have not really been ill so far.  It is always so kind of meet with rice, a personal favourite was some kind of pumpkin curry, was so good.  The pork over here has such flavour much better than the tough English pork i have tasted before.  A friend said that many of the animals would be reared in small communities then sold, but I’m unsure if that would provide the scale of pork a place like china and HK would use.  The other day i helped two others cook for 60 people was such a huge task, and i ended up in the shower washing 8bags of lettuce was comedy.

Transport

I travel most places by bus or rail, which is so refreshing from driving my car all the time in England, transport is fairly cheap and very reliable, although the bus drivers literally floor it everywhere they go. You pay for travel using an octopus card bit like the London oyster, it is such an efficient easy system and you can even by McDonald’s and refreshments from corner stores with it. 

My Birthday

Thank you to all of you who sent me messages on my birthday.  It was actually a great day, i had 5hours of classes i had to teach which took up most of the day then i enjoyed football and a great film in the evening. (Sometimes on a Saturday night we have a film) On the Friday night we had a joint birthday celebration for me and two others and they baked the tastiest lemon cake iv ever had, was such lovely and the house gave me a t-shirt as a present.  Which reads ‘Coordinator of after hours entertainment’ which in the context of where i am i find hilarious i don’t think my Chinese house leaders fully understood what it means, or the brothers so its fine.  The biggest blessing of the day was when i went in cold from football because it rained and had the only hot shower i have had since being here, i don’t where it came from or why but thank you God.

Prayer Points:

• Endurance
• I’m sleeping much better so pray that continues
• I find the time and make more of an effort learning the language
• Godly wisdom about all i am learning
• Time to process
• Discernment about a situation in my house i may need to speak up about
• Godly courage and faith

Hello from Hong Kong, jo san!

i have finally arrived the flight was fast and i manged to blag the exit isle and a glass of champagne when boarding, which made it practically like first class, 1.5m of leg room compared to 0.5m economy, amazing!

It is really hot and humid out here and it looks like i will be working very hard with long hours. Iam sharing a room with the guys in my house called block 3, with around 14 of us in one room with a divide down the middle, there is no aircon but we have fans, which means it is very stuffy but since a child i have loved having a fan so find the noise very soothing.

The first night i had 3hours sleep, during the rest of the night i counted the seconds go by when i had fan on my body and fan off, was 8 on 8off and it was a long night sat there from 3am waiting for morning wondering what was to come.

Shin Man Springs where i live is the location of the first stage houses where addicts come to get off many different addictions.  There is also around 50 teenagers who are called ‘gogetters’ who live in block 2.  They are not coming off addictions but are usually the worst kids in Hong Kong where no one else will take them or families cannot cope, they are great to have on site and a lot of fun, i was learning some break dancing with a couple the other day.  The site is situated in the mountains in the new territories over looking Sha tin and is stunning.
The guys are called ‘brothers’ and vary in age.  A lot of them, especially the younger ones spend there time getting fit, i have my work cut out for me and am already aching from press ups and football.  Many of them are very tough, are very fit and have tattoos over there arms, shoulders and legs.

The amazing thing i have noticed and learned so far is the sense of family,they look after each other, the sense of serving is incredible.

I have spent my first few days just breaking the ice by jamming with guys with a guitar or drum or playing sport with them.  They love this and my few years playing at church have really helped.  Whats more i find sitting and trying to teach English whilst trying to learn Cantonese is always funny and helps build relationship.
My schedule will be:

Monday to Wednesday -training in Kowloon Tong the big city.  The training is called the big mobile and there seems to be an excitment around the camp, it apparently involves teaching and sessions in the morning (some Cantonese lessons) and then practical in the afternoons when we go out onto the streets and put it into practice, i can’t wait although i am slight apprehensive.  Apparently from what i hear Jackie will be teaching some modules here which she has never really done before on the poor and so people are very excited.

Thursday off – can go sightseeing visit friends and just relax

Friday to Sunday- i will be in block 3 living with he brothers everyday, we have a really well scheduled day which i will write about more in another blog.

I think this year i will really learn the basics of Mathew 22:37-39, basically loving your neighbour as you love your self, and loving your God will all your heart all your soul and all your might.  These make up the two main house rules. God is teaching me the basics in an incredible down to off way and Jesus is real and alive everywhere i look, it is tough and will be long days but i am where i should be at the moment, we are living to create a kingdom culture and i am excited to see how the next few weeks unfold…

Prayer:

• For my energy as i will get very tired
• That my general fitness will improve fast for carrying out daily duties and being able to join the guys in their fitness routines.
• That i would have wisdom and discernment where to lead, where to discipline and step in and where to step back and let things role, even though i do not speak their language or understand (yet)
• For my health, that i would stay well.  – So far as result of poor footwear in hot conditions i have blood blisters on my feet after football (which are improving) – Also the mosquitoes love my white body so pray against them

I have so much to say but little time, but soon i will talk about some new experiences what mobile is like, day to day schedule and post photos.

Hope you are really well and God Bless!