Team Hong Kong Newsletter #27
Forgotten
June 23, 2008
by Joshua Blank

"I need to see your identification," the guard politely but firmly told me. When I showed him the slip of paper I had been given, he waved me on through the gate. Other guards continued to guide me in the proper direction until I had reached the crowd that had gathered in remembrance. There are a lot of things worth remembering in this world, and some deserve more than a simple gathering on one day of the year.

It was part of Crossroads’ program on World Refugee Day, Friday, June 20th. They had spent weeks in preparation for this one evening. Past and present Crossroads volunteers mingled with government officials as well as representatives from UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). A huge tent housing main program was surrounded by some small tents like those which are used in refugee camps. Instead of refugees these smaller tents displayed the handiwork of less fortunate people from all backgrounds all around the world -- including refugees. After some time for looking at the crafts and eating some snacks, a program started in the main tent. It featured several speakers, the Australian Green Valley Youth Choir, and Crossroads’ own Helen Mottee singing some of the songs off her new album just released that evening. For many years, Helen has been writing songs which talk about the (formerly) unsung tragedies around the world, anything from the plight of refugees to modern society's abuse of television, from starving people in Africa to those affected by the recent cyclone in Burma.

It's something that Crossroads is very good at -- remembering the forgotten. When is the last time you've thought about the victims of the cyclone in Burma or the earthquake in China? When is the last time you heard anything about the situation for many children in Sudan who leave their homes every night to sleep in nearby towns for fear that the rebels will come and force them to join their army or die horribly? When is the last time you heard anything about human trafficking in Cambodia? When is the last time you thought about the thousands of displaced families in Afghanistan? And if you have thought of them, if you have heard of them, what have you done? Yeah, it's easy to say that the world is full of problems and there is nothing that any one person can do to make it better. But everyone can certainly do something, whether that be praying or giving money or going to help firsthand or getting the word out to others about opportunities to get involved. What can I do?

Praises:
- We've been seeing the sun and blue sky for the last several days. It's a welcome change after some of the rain we've had.
- We have the opportunity to visit Macau tomorrow!

Prayer Requests:
- For the evangelistic night at Agape this Saturday. Pray that those who come would experience God in a new way.
- We are planning some different activities the first week of July for some high school students.

If you're interested in Helen Mottee's music, you can check out a video by clicking here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H7CgwQhDZg&feature=related)