Team Hong Kong

See You Later

2008-07-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

July 27, 2008

Our final week in Hong Kong was filled with last minute things we wanted to do and people we wanted to see once more before our departure. There is a saying in Hong Kong that we had found to be fairly accurate: "It takes 2 years to make a friend." Yet at the airport when it was finally time to say "goodbye" -- or as we preferred, "see you later" -- we realized how deeply we have come to know a few people. As tears ran down their faces, we finally saw that we had built good relationships. And maybe that old saying wasn't as true as we had thought.

Now, as we look back over our time in Hong Kong, we become increasingly grateful for the many things we have experienced, the people we have met and gotten to know, the ways we have been taught and challenged and stretched. We praise our glorious Father who has given good gifts to His children. Yes, there were hard times in Hong Kong -- times when we did not understand why God had called us to this place, times when we thought that it would be better if we had not come at all -- yet He has remained faithful in both the good and bad, the rain and the sun, the busy times and the time when we didn't have much to do.

But now, a life-changing, formational part of our life is reaching its end. And although we are sure that there are still many more things for us to learn and experience, each of us will now go on our separate way. God called us together for a blessed time and now it is time to move in different directions (still keeping in contact of course, but no longer spending most of our waking time together). And we just wanted to take this opportunity to inform you of our future plans:

Maria is not sure what her next step will be. At this point she is returning home, getting a job, and discerning where God is taking her.

Ben will be returning to Harrisburg Discipleship Center three weeks after re-entry is over to spend a year on the volunteer staff there, helping coordinate community outreach, general house keeping, and doing other tasks.

Joshua will be attending Albright College in Reading, probably studying something along the lines of secondary education with mathematics and/or computer science.

Karen is planning to return home and get a job. At this point, she is thinking of attending a LPN (practical nursing) program in 2009.

We thank you, our readers, so much for the time that you have put into keeping track of what we were doing and in also faithfully lifting us up in your prayers. We have all definitely felt the effects of your prayers and can never express our full appreciation to you all. You may continue praying, of course, both for us as we enter the next phase of our lives and the church in Hong Kong as it continues to grow. Our desire is to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," boldly proclaiming, "to Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (our theme verse, II Peter 3:18)

2008-07-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #30
The Final HK Letter
July 14, 2008
by Karen Martin

Sometimes things don't go the way I expect. It is in these moments that I often learn a lesson. Tuesday we spent the day at Ocean Park with six students from the local Sha Tin Methodist School. We traveled to the park during a heavy rainstorm and I expected we would need to cancel our plans or find some other indoor activities. Amazingly, the rain ended as we entered the amusement park. Minimal sunshine and fewer people make a day in an amusement park quite fun!

After our exciting day at Ocean Park we planned to meet with these students Wednesday through Friday afternoons for a Bible Camp. As the team was making final preparations Wednesday morning, we received a phone call from one of the students. She was sick and would not be able to come. The other students also had other obligations or decided not to attend our Wednesday session. As a team, we were quite disappointed and questioned how to handle this situation. Why do events continuously get cancelled? We've put hours of planning into this camp, now what? God, what are you trying to teach us?

In reflecting, I realize that no matter how definite my plans seem to be, God is still in control. I need to trust that God has a plan, even when my definite plans don't happen. As for the students, we were able to spend more time praying for them. Relationships and conversation became a stronger focus during our Thursday and Friday sessions. I am thankful for the relationships that have been built and a lesson that I have learned!

Praises
- Praise God - through all of our strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and fears - He has placed us on this Hong Kong team, changed us, and allowed us to be His hands and feet!

Prayer Requests
-That we would be able to have a wholesome closure to our time in Hong Kong
-This week we are saying final goodbyes to many people
-For safety in our travels on July 18

One last Chinglish posting

2008-07-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

oops. maybe we should have picked a different name.

Starting to say Goodbye

2008-07-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 29
Starting to say Goodbye
July 7, 2008
by Ben Herr

As the days pass by, bringing the date of departure nearer, I've been starting to realize how short of a time eight months really is. As our remaining time here has gone from a month to three weeks to eleven days, it has come time to start saying goodbye, or preferably, see you later, to the many people we have learned to know. We got to spend the past weekend with many of the youth from church.

We had known about the weekend for a while. That we were going camping was about all I knew. I was curious to see how they did "camping," but it turned out to be what we would generally call a retreat (no tents, camp fires, or woods involved). It was almost shockingly similar to youth retreats I have been to as far as schedule and activities. Lots of group activities, sessions, free time on Saturday afternoon, and lights out time being followed about as much as a stop sign in Central America.

Despite the lack of sleep and not always knowing what was going on, we all had a good time. It was fun being with the group as a whole for the weekend, because even though we will likely see many of them again before we leave, it probably won't be in the same group setting. Even though I didn't say any goodbyes this weekend, it felt like "one last time" with all of them. I am very thankful for the time I've had with them (and still will have). They are a great group of people.

Praises:
- Our program this past Thursday at a local school went well. Although only a few students came, we had a good time of interaction with them.
- Wednesday was our last day at Crossroads. It was sad, but we made a lot of good memories there.

Prayer Requests:
- We are doing a Bible camp this week (Wednesday through Friday) with several kids from the school.
- For the remainder of our time here.

Discussion groups
Fetching a paper airplane without crossing the line
Balance your group on one foot and five hands

2008-06-30T07:40:00.001-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 28
Evangelistic Night
June 30, 2008
by Maria Sensenig

This past weekend we joined with Agape Mennonite Church in hosting an evangelistic night. The event was being planned for weeks and a lot of work was put into it. To be honest, not many of the invited guests showed up and to my knowledge, no one made a commitment that night. But it was a beautiful evening and we were privileged to see God at work.

The youth of this church were the ones who did most of the planning and took charge of this event. Now from our point of view, when we first met these young people, there really did not seem to be a whole lot of interest in spiritual things. But over the past few months we have had the privilege of watching that change. And it was especially evident leading up to and during this night. A group of them, having never fasted before, decided to fast and pray for nearly three days leading up to this evening. We were able to join them for one of the prayer meetings and even though I could only understand a few words, the passion in their voices was undeniable. We also all joined together for a pre-meeting worship time and the hall was filled with young people singing and praising God with an excitement and energy I've never seen among them before. As new people arrived it was neat watching the youth welcome them in and after the service they divided into small groups and shared God's love on a very personal level.

We thank God for allowing us to join in with these young people during this season of their lives. It is our prayer that as they continue to serve God and pour out their lives in service to Him, He would continue to fill them up. And even though we won't be here to see it, we're excited for what He's going to do!

Praises:
- We had a fun time in Macau and were able to return safely before the typhoon hit.

Prayer Requests:
- We will be doing a program in a school this week and doing a short "Bible English Camp" with a few students next week. Pray for wisdom and creativity as we prepare and God to be working on the hearts of those who are present during these times.

2008-06-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

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)

2008-06-15T20:05:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #26
Their Stories
June 16, 2008
by Karen Martin

A buzz of excitement filled the air as people chatted and hugged one another. People were continuously snapping pictures. Numerous bouquets of flowers seemed to float from one person to another. All of this took place on Sunday at a campground in Fanling. The Agape Church family was there to celebrate the baptism of six believers. God amazingly held off the rain which came just minutes after the outdoor baptism service. Once we were settled in a very dry and cool room, those who were baptized gave their testimonies.

Words do not come easily in relaying what they shared. I was thrilled and humbled to hear how God has become the lover of my brother and sisters' souls. My teammates and I have spent six and a half months building friendships with the youth (four of whom were baptized). Through our curiosity and questioning they have told us a bit about their families and childhoods. However, their testimonies gave me a much clearer picture.

It was heartbreaking to see them in tears as they shared of misunderstandings with parents, feelings of complete emptiness, and rejection of friends. One friend shared about being raised by grandparents and the feeling that her parents had abandoned her. Another dear friend shared about watching her mother commit suicide and the extreme guilt that was place upon her for not taking action. To say the least, their stories were filled with sadness.

So why did they share these stories? To testify to God's love. He has given them life! The love of our Father has changed each and every one of them. May God be given all the glory for lives transformed by His extravagant love.

Praises:
- We rejoice and thank God for the lives of those who were baptized!

Prayer Requests:
- We will be helping with an evangelistic night at Agape Church on June 28. Pray with us, that God would be at work in the hearts of those leading and attending.

Unnoticed Disasters

2008-06-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 25
Unnoticed Disasters
June 9, 2008
by Ben Herr

We've been seeing a lot of umbrellas over the past couple days. That's not unusual, given that a lot of people here are worried about the negative effects of the sun, but let's just say umbrellas are finally being used for their intended purpose. After a few showers over the last two weeks or so hinted that the spring rainy season was on its way, it has rained non-stop, or so it seems, for a couple days. On Friday, Josh and I went to help take some furniture from the EMM Office to Crossroads, and my shoes were soaked before we even made it to the main street (a 30 second walk from Agape).

On Friday evening, Pastor Jeremiah was here and got a phone call that we should check to make sure the slope behind the church was stable. At first I didn't think much about it; the person who called works for the government doing stuff with slope stabilization or something, and he was probably just doing his job. No problem. However, the next day, we heard that there had been several landslides around Hong Kong due to all the rain. One had buried some homes and stores and (I'm not sure if this was the same one) killed two people from China who were visiting their families here in Hong Kong.

In light of all we've heard about the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Myanmar, my first reaction wasn't very big. Compared to all the pictures we've seen of the devastation in China, it wasn't all that big of a disaster. But the truth of the matter is, it was a disaster, just for less people. Even though it's easy for us mathematicians to say it didn't affect very many people, a handful of people lost their homes, stores, and/or family members.

It's always hard to know what to do when you hear about big natural disasters such as the earthquake, because it feels like there's nothing you can do that will make a difference in the big picture. However, it's important to remember that there are a lot more things happening than what we often hear about. Maybe we just have to keep our eyes and ears open. It doesn't even have to be a "small" disaster. Sometimes it's the smallest things like a smile that can make a big difference in someone's day. We just have to look for the opportunities. They are there.

Praises:
- We are anticipating the baptism of 6 people from Agape Mennonite Church this Sunday, four of which are youth that we have been very involved with during our time here.
- June 4 marked 6 months since we arrived in Hong Kong. It's amazing to look back over the time we've been here. Where did all that time go?

Prayer Requests:
- Remember to keep those affected by the earthquake, cyclone, and landslides in your prayers.
- There is an evangelistic night being planned for June 28.

2008-06-02T02:32:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 24
More China
June 2, 2008
by Maria Sensenig

"But it's so dangerous!" "It's really dirty and nobody pays attention to traffic rules!" "You have to watch your wallets so carefully, there are pick-pockets everywhere!" These were the responses we recieved from several of our friends here in Hong Kong when we asked them if they'd like to accompany us to China. I think they really were unable to understand our excitement in going, but we had visas (for which we paid a pretty penny) that were about to expire and there was no chance we were going to forego our last oppurtunity to get into this country. After much persuasion and the added offer of them spending the night and enjoying a Ben and Josh created breakfast, they finally consented.

The next morning, our stomachs quite satisfied by pancakes and shakes, we headed off full of energy and enthusiasm. Our main destination was a park in Shenzhen. The purpose of half of the park was to represent many different people groups from all over China through replicas of their homes, people dressed up in costumes, performances, etc. The other half of the park had miniature versions of all the highlights in China such as the Great Wall, the king's palace, etc. Unfortunately our enthusiasm was a bit short-lived, as the heat of the sun combined with the ridiculous level of humidity absolutely drained us. By mid-afternoon we were all sunburnt and irritable. I think by this time our friends began to regret their decision to join us, not because of the dirt or the danger, but because we are not nearly as much fun after spending so many hours in the heat.

Eventually we'd seen enough of the park and headed to another part of the city where we wandered crowded streets and paid close attention to the whereabouts of our money and passports. We ended our time in China with dinner and then happily headed home, relishing the thought of air-conditioning and not doing any more walking.

After we arrived home, we were reflecting on the day and discussing whether or not we had fun. Our friend Flora put it this way, "It will be a special memory." I think we could all agree. It was incredibly exhausting, but in retrospect we had some really fun moments and no one regretted their decision to go.

We discovered we had a huge interest in this cave-dwelling people group. In order to make their home more realistic it housed one of the only air-conditioners in the park. A few of us may have actually fallen asleep in this exhibit.

Praises:
- We really haven't had any health issues. Sometimes I take this huge blessing for granted!
- We've had some times of worship and also times of prayer for the city recently that have been really meaningful to us as a team.

Prayer Requests:
- We are planning an Enlglish Bible Camp for the students we used to meet with at the school. We were looking forward to inviting them personally but our last time with them was cancelled, so please pray that we will still get a good response!
- That we can remained focused during our remaining time here.

The Vibrating Pipes

2008-05-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

So we have this small plumbing issue. We know it occurs when multiple sources of water are being used, including our neighbor's, but we haven't yet figured out how to solve it. Or when it will strike. Please enjoy a short moment in the life of the Hong Kong Yes Team.

Credits

Starring: Maria Sensenig

Videographer: Karen Martin

Technical Assistance Manager: Joshua Blank

Vocal Talents: Karen Martin and the Pipes

Former Technical Assistance Manager: Benjamin Herr

Overall Consultant: Benjamin Herr

Cameos: songbook, Ben's Chinese New Year Flower, and the toilet

Blog Designer: Joshua Blank

Former Blog Designer: Maria Sensenig

Obsessive Compulsive Deleter of Videos: Maria Sensenig

Video Resurrection Team: Joshua Blank

2008-05-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #23
The Small Picture
May 26, 2008
by Joshua Blank

Sometimes writing a newsletter is hard because there does not seem to be much happening. There is no good story to tell, no major event that stirs the heart, no once in a lifetime incredible experience. But what I often forget is that life is not usually made up of huge cataclysmic events, but rather small day-by-day happenings that, when combined, form a beautiful web that can only be seen in small bits and pieces and certainly cannot be described in three or four paragraphs. But this past Sunday, I was able to catch a small glimpse of the amazing ways God has been using people to influence others in seemingly minuscule and often unnoticed ways.

Sunday afternoon we went out to the Tuen Mun Center for a short time of worship after which we traveled by bus to a nearby beach for a baptism in the ocean (similar to the one Ben talked about way back in newsletter #5). And there was nothing spectacular or too exciting that happened. But afterward I thought about the people being baptized and those that were helping with the baptism. Of those being baptized, three are ladies who are part of a small group that was formed by some women in the church willing to invest their love and time into the lives of others. The other, Lia Kauffman, is the daughter of one of the missionaries here. June Kauffman (Lia's mother) and Rita (another member of the church)have both been involved with the women's small group and led each person into the water to be baptized. The two men doing the actual baptism were Glenn Kauffman (husband of June and father of Lia) and Mr. Fu (the pastor who just recently joined the ministry at Tuen Mun). Glenn has been working with the Mennonite church in Hong Kong for about 15 years and Mr. Fu just came on board a few weeks ago, but has taken an active role in the church at Tuen Mun which has been really neat to see.

Above, from right to left, Rita, one of the ladies being baptized, June, Pastor Fu, and Glenn.

Well, that's a lot of details, so you're probably wondering what the point is. I guess it is just neat to think about all the little pieces that formed this rather nondescript-looking picture. So many different people involved in little ways that, seen from the outside, doesn't really look like much -- just a few people getting dunked in the ocean while a small crowd watches. But it is really a small picture of what God's work looks like: one event leading to another, one little opportunity taken to reach out into the life of someone else leading to another opportunity, one small commitment of time leading to a greater commitment -- an ongoing cycle that can radically transform lives, which goes on so slowly that it is little known or recognized by the world, yet celebrated with all sorts of rejoicing in Heaven.

So what opportunities am I missing? Too focused on the big picture and the big problems that need to be fixed, I lose track of the details and the day-by-day ordinary-looking choices, which is where God desires me to be acting. The truly great things, the things that will last the longest, are not one time here-and-done events, but a culmination of hundreds if not thousands of tiny choices, which seem so insignificant on their own. Sometimes none of the affects are ever seen until many years later, but the big picture never happens unless the small steps are taken.

Praises:
- How God is working, even when we don't see big immediate consequences of our actions.
- The blessing that the visit from Maria's parents was.
- The concern that the church here has shown for our brothers and sisters affected by the earthquake in China, resulting in an outpouring of prayer as well as financial support.

Prayer Requests:
- That we as a team could remain focused on our work here, not disengaging from the work until it is time for us to go home.
- That we would remain strong and able to continue doing whatever we need to be doing, even with the increasing heat and humidity that can be quite draining.

Maria with Lia Kauffman

2008-05-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #22
Prayer
May 19, 2008
by Karen Martin

I glanced at the speedometer and then looked a second time. The indicator really was resting at zero. Meanwhile the taxi was moving quite rapidly. The pouring rain was making it hard for the driver to navigate the slick rutted dirt road. And so began the journey from Cambodia to Thailand. In the midst of this I prayed, asking that God would protect us and allow us to arrive safely at the Thailand border.

I was sitting under a mango tree in a Thai village two days later. Slurping yet another piece of delicious mango and gazing peacefully at my surroundings - the fields of rice, the dirt road, the village houses, and the villagers gathered on the porch a few feet away. Could I really be in Thailand? I listened as a Thai believer shared with the villagers. It was the first time many of them had heard about our Creator. This time I prayed that God would stir the hearts of the villagers.

Finally, I was climbing the steps to Agape Church. Tired after 24 hours of traveling by truck, train, taxi, airplane, and bus. My teammates and I stopped to thank God for bringing us back to Hong Kong safely and to praise Him for all the experiences of the past two weeks.

Stories of our trip to Cambodia and Thailand are still fresh in my mind. I wish I could describe the entire experience or just take you there. I hope that you've caught a glimpse and also recognized the theme of prayer. It's vital.

There is heart felt sadness here in Hong Kong. We continue to see and hear the stories of those effected by the earthquake in China. This is the homeland of many who live in Hong Kong. What can I do? What have I seen my brothers and sisters in Christ do? Let's start by praying.

Praises:
- We have happily settled back into our normal routines and look forward to the coming weeks we have here in Hong Kong
- We are thankful for the wide variety of experiences we had in Cambodia and Thailand
- The past week we've had sunshine and lower humidity when usually it rains at this time of the year
-Maria's parents have arrived safely

Prayer Requests:
- That we can use the remaining time in Hong Kong wisely
- For those who feel the effects of the earthquake in China

Funny English China Edition

2008-05-18T01:42:00.000-07:00

I love Chinglish and it's great in China (go figure). Here's some we saw in just four days.

I guess there's nothing wrong with self flattery

I guess if it's not actually fresh, this provides a nice loop hole
There once was a felephant who tried to use the felephone

Hongy dew fiavouned ice cream anyone?

Advertisement for an arcade if you couldn't make that out
To this I quite simply have no explanation
Most are great, but if you only have time for one, read #5

And the grand prize winner is:

bum

Cambodia/Thailand

2008-05-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #21
Angkor Wat
May 12, 2008
by Ben Herr

"Pineapple lady!?" (!? indicates a rising vocal tone, contrary to the standard high-then-low tone we would generally apply to a sales call such as "Peanuts! Popcorn!") "Mangos, bananas, cold drinks sir!?"

As you probably already know, the last two weeks we were in Cambodia, to provide child care at the EMM retreat, and Thailand, for our team vacation. During our time in Cambodia, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Angkor Wat and the temples around it. At each and every entrance to each and every temple, you could hear the voices of people selling fresh fruit and cold drinks (see above) mixed with the more subtle voices of small kids surrounding you, all selling postcards, bracelets, and bags. When all the voices blended together, the resulting sound was as distinctive as the temples.

While we were walking through the temples, which are now sometimes referred to as ruins, I kept wondering what it must have looked like when it was built. The tall towers, structures, and carvings are still impressive, but the plants growing on them, the continual restoration work, and the way trees are slowly pulling parts of one temple apart was a constant reminder that their glory days were long past. Other people who were at the retreat had some similar and some slightly different observations, but they all seemed to zero in on the same thing: Man-made kingdoms come and go; only God's kingdom is eternal.

Praises:
-We had a good time with the kids at the retreat.
-Safety in travel.
-God's protection. In Thailand I was bit by a 6-inch centipede that can sometimes be poisonous/people can have bad allergic reactions to them. I only got two small bumps that went away in a couple of days.

Prayer Requests:
-For renewed focus now that the retreat, which was something we were doing a lot of planning for and looking at as "the next big thing" is over.

Here are some pictures from our trip.

One of the smaller temples

Another lesser known temple, but my favorite

Some trees growing on the structures

We got to see Greta in Cambodia! (We trained with her in Harrisburg, and she goes to my church. Or I go to hers. I don't know.)

steep stairs

Playing doctor with retreat kids

Angkor Wat

the Bayon

Some waterfalls in a national park we visited in Thailand

2008-04-27T02:43:00.001-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 20
China
April 26, 2008
by Maria Sensenig

I hate to admit what a complete tourist I was. Everywhere I went I was snapping pictures left and right. This put me in grave danger as the chances of stepping on something or being plowed over by a moving object are quite high when one is distracted, even for a moment. I decided the risk was worth it, even though deep down inside I knew that no matter how hard I tried there was no way I could capture what I was feeling and seeing.

One thing I thought about a lot was all the contrasts that were around us. One moment we were out in the country surrounded by newly planted rice fields and everything was so fresh and a vibrant green. Soon after we were on a bus passing factory after factory, tall, drab, and depressing. One minute we wondering the aisles of a huge department store, the next we were in the wet market passing piles of jumping frogs and side-stepping pools of chicken blood. One morning we walked through a rural village with a population of about 30; by evening we were walking a city street that had 100 times that many people.

It only took a few moments in this place to realize that it isn't Hong Kong and everything moves at a much slower pace. I really enjoyed the laidback feel, but after spending more time there and discussing this with June we realized that it was actually a hopelessness we were seeing. But was there a contrast to this hopelessness? Yes, there certainly was. Hope in the form of a teenager who has no longer been bothered by evil spirits since committing his life to Christ. Hope in the form of several churches in this region that have been able to re-open since being closed during the cultural revolution. Hope in the form of a baby being dedicated to the Lord by her parents and church family. Praise God for the way He's moving among these wonderful people!

Praises:
- We had a safe an enjoyable trip to China.

Prayer Requests:
- We will be leaving for Cambodia tomorrow and then going from there to Thailand. Please pray for safety as we're traveling, continued wisdom and energy as we take care of the kids, and a relaxing vacation!

Funny English 2

2008-04-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

Here is another tiny taste of the phenomenon that is bad English. Sometimes I wonder how it would turn out if I tried to write something in Chinese.
and Greetings, all of you faithful readers, as I'm living in Hong Kong! Enjoy every blog...Boony

If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times! stop it!
"many old people thought by themselves and earrled ll oul." Also says "noving nation" under Iron block 66.
And for the high class, we have fountain rens
"I'm a surfer and I'm surfing all day. When I don't surf I eat some food. I'm always in " (the surfer's head cuts off the rest)

found on the edge of a fountain/pool. Our best guess is that padding is something done in the water?

2008-04-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #19
The Balloon-Making Master
April 14, 2008
by Joshua Blank

"What animal would you like?"
"I would like a...a dog."
"What color?"
"Red. I would like a red dog."
(Here's where I would insert cool sound effects, but since I don't really know how, you'll just have to make up your own.)
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
"What animal would you like?"
This is a short example of what my day was like yesterday. I was making balloon animals for kids, and trying to get them to speak some English before handing over the balloon. On my left, Mike, a teacher who just recently has come to Hong Kong after teaching in China for about 10 years, ran an "English Corner" where he played simple games with the kids which forced them to use some of their English. Also close by, Ben helped the kids do the really cool hole-in-one mini-golf challenge he had built earlier in the week.

It was all part of the festivities the Tuen Mun Center held on Sunday. After a joint worship service with the 3 Hong Kong Mennonite Churches, they held a small flea market kind of thing inside the Center and also set up six stands in the square in front of the Center for interacting with the kids in the area. It was all designed to bring awareness about what is happening at the Center -- for both church members and the surrounding community.

I think it's really been neat to see the Center grow. When we first arrived, it had just been purchased and we helped with the renovation for two weeks. It had it's official opening around Christmas, creating a place for classes to be taught, Bible study groups to meet, and for people to gather for the many other activities that occur there -- including the church service that is held every other week. But the work behind the opening of this Center has been in process for over 10 years. It involves a long story about how God has clearly called some people to work in the Tuen Mun area, and how God has opened the right doors at the right times, allowing everything to fall into place in His perfect timing. I won't attempt to go into all the details since I'm not all that familiar with them myself, but I do know enough to say that it is a truly amazing story of God's heart for the people of Tuen Mun. Just as it was difficult for the kids to tell what part of the balloon animal I was making at any particular time until I was finished (and even then sometimes it was still difficult to tell, but that's not the point), so also it is often quite difficult to see the good things that God is doing until He's put the finishing touches on it and is handing you the balloon. While during the process it often looks like a jumbled mess, in the end, you can see what the intent was all along. And fortunately for everyone, God's the balloon-making Master.

Praises:
- There was an amazing turn out for the festivities yesterday, not to mention the beautiful weather.
- On Friday we had our lunch time Bible study with some Form 4 (about 9th grade) students. There were more students than the previous time, and our discussion went well.

Prayer Requests:
- On Saturday we are leaving for a 4-day trip into China.
- Continued guidance and creativity as we are planning activities for the kids during the EMM Cambodia retreat in early May.

Here you can see some of the stands they set up outside.

This is Ben's hole-in-one challenge. He made it out of some extra wood one of the missionaries had lying around from random pieces of random furniture. On the left you can see Glenn and Austin Kauffman looking into the prize box.

Here's the line of kids waiting for a balloon. I learned how to make some of the animals really fast.

While the stands were doing their thing outside, it looked like complete chaos inside. On the right, you can see Pastor Jeremiah, with his back turned to the camera.

2008-04-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #18
A Change of Plans
by Karen Martin
April 7, 2008

Plans were set for Maria and me to do child care on Sunday. We were going to read the ever famous story of Noah and then have the children color a picture of the ark and animals. Sometimes plans change. Instead of entertaining the kids, the kids entertained themselves. Meanwhile, Maria and I spent the morning talking with Rachel (named changed because of my inability to translate Chinese names into English pronunciations). She told us how touched she was to celebrate Easter this year. With tears in her eyes Rachel shared that she is still moved by the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us. I could sense a burden on her heart. Rachel went on to describe how busy and unfair life is for her family. Her desire to grow in her walk with Christ was very evident. The stress of a job and caring for her two small boys leaves little time for quiet reflection on God and his Word. As the three of us sat in a tiny cluttered room surrounded by chattering children we prayed that God would fill Rachel with hope and joy.

Rachel came to us to share her story and in turn we were able to pray and support our sister in Christ. I have found that it is somewhat rare for those who are native to Hong Kong to share openly about their faith with us. I know and believe that God is at work here in Hong Kong, but this experience left me very encouraged. These were not my expectations for Sunday morning, yet God was most definitely working in the midst of it all.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Prayer Requests
-We have much creative planning to do in preparation for the EMM retreat which will be held in Cambodia at the end of April.
-On Sunday we will be part of festivities at the Tuen Mun Center. Many activities are planned for this day to allow the local community to become involved with the Center.

Praises
-Hosting the Blanks and Herrs was fun, encouraging, and a blessing to each of us.
-There are 6 people from Agape Church who will be baptized in a few months (several of them are youth who we have been working with).
-Praise God for His work here in Hong Kong . . . and that it is not limited to what we see!

2008-03-31T05:11:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #17
Friday Lunch
March 31, 2008
by Ben Herr

Hello, all

This will probably be my most informal newsletter as I'm writing it quickly during a break in the busy schedule. Joshua's and my parents are here and we've been busy taking advantage of them arriving simulateously with a bit of a lull in our schedule. We've had fun showing them some of the different places around here and introducing them to people we've been working with. So far, we've gone hiking, walked around different streets of Hong Kong, and visited a small island in eastern Hong Kong. So as not to bore you with small details, however, I'll talk briefly about things you are really interested in.

On Friday, we had our first "over lunch Bible study" at the school where we did the Easter production. We will be meeting with a group of students over their lunch break on Fridays (if you couldn't deduce that from the previous sentence) and the first one went really well. The kids were a bit quiet at first, but as the hour went by, and we started the discussion on the Bible passage (parable of the lost son), they opened up a bit and talked more. We're all excited about the upcoming times with them and there will be about twice as many students next time as there were this week. We've really liked the kids we've met so far, and we look forward to getting to know them better.

Prayer requests:
-Friday lunches. We hope to get to know the students and eventually invite them to church.
-At the end of April, we will be in charge of the children/youth (ages 2-17) at the EMM retreat. We have a lot of planning to do and want to be able to make it beneficial for both the young kids and the older kids.

Praises:
-The afore mentioned visit from the Blanks and the Herrs and being able to see them again.

Here is a view of Agape and the surrounding area. Agape is the white building that sticks out behind the other buildings in the village on the left.
Me and my family at the top of Needle Hill, the destination of our hike. (note to self: finish chewing before having a picture taken)
On the way down

On the island Tap Mun, amid driving wind and rain

2008-03-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 16
Easter Fun
March 24, 2008
by Maria Sensenig

"Scratch a friend's back, scratch a back next to ya, scratch a friend's back and sing along!" I sang with all the energy I could muster as I wandered through the crowd of 7th grade students, who were all avoiding eye contact and hoping that it wouldn't be their back I chose to scratch. This was our attempt to get everyone engaged and interested and although they seemed a bit skeptical at first by the end some were participating and the rest at least smiling and enjoying the song. Really, who can resist such a cheery tune, especially when it's accompanied by Josh and his accordian?

We were asked to do the Easter program for about 200 students of a nearby Methodist school. Despite the fact that the school is Christian, most of the students are not, and it really doesn't differ much from any other school around here. We saw this as a great oppurtunity to share the real significance of Easter, through our words, as well as more songs and a skit.

As we planned for our time there, what we would sing, what we would say etc., I kept thinking about how I wanted it to be perfect and I really wanted these kids to grasp what we were trying to say. But then I was reminded that this isn't our job. Of course God wants us to put thought into what we're doing, but ultimately we won't be changing any hearts. It is my prayer that even though our time there was short, and even though everything had to be spoken in simple English, that it will have made an impact on the students.

Prayer Requests:

- We will be returning to this school on several occasions to have a Bible study with some of the students during their lunch hour. Please pray for wisdom as we prepare and a responsiveness from the students.

Praises:

- The first half of outreach went well and we are eager to see what the next half has in store!

Needle Point

2008-03-23T02:03:00.000-07:00

This past Monday, Ben and I went on a hike. There’s a very tall mountain that we can see from the church. The first time Ben saw it, he thought "I want to climb it and see the view from there." Well, he finally got to try it. We didn’t really know where to begin so early in the morning we packed our bags and headed off in the direction of our objective. I wasn’t sure that we’d be able to do it, because I wasn’t sure we’d find a trail -- even if there was one -- until we were very close to the top.

Our objective, as seen from Agape

So we walked through Tai Wai village proper and began walking along the range of hills of which our goal was part. We saw a path headed up. It seemed a little early, but we wanted to check all possible routes so up we went. The path led us to a highrise under construction that we could see from the roof at Agape, but also revealed a little village in the hills. Unfortunately, the path ended with a fence and a gate, so we went back down and continued on along the base of the hills. As we drew nearer to the base of the mountain, it became apparent that it was actually a series of 3 peaks, with each one getting larger as you went. Our objective was of course the tallest one, much taller than the other two.

We found a road leading through a valley along the base of the mountain and followed it back in. But then the path veered off to the right, in the opposite direction of where we wanted to go. We were about to turn around again, when we spotted a staircase over to our left. Staircases like this are quite common and used for maintaining the drainage systems built into the steep hillsides in order to prevent landslides. Usually they go as far as necessary and then end abruptly, but we wanted to make sure that it wasn’t a trail so we went up to have a look. The stairs led us up right along the highway and were indeed used for maintenance. However, where the concrete stairs ended, a dirt trail began. The shacks of several squatters dotted the area and the path was probably used by them. As we continued on, the trail faded away. Fortunately, one of the drainage canals ran along side the remnants of the path, so we walked along this and continued up the hill. Then we ran into some more stairs used for maintenance and walked up to a small road.

We looked up and down the road, but both directions seemed to be going down. But we saw another path leading up. Where the path started, there were signs informing us that there was some kind of station (for water or power or something) up the path. I was afraid it would be another dead end with a gate a fence, but we walked up just to make sure. We found some more squatter shacks and again the concrete stairs ended and again a path began.

By this time we were quite close to the top of the first peak and commanded a good view of the Tai Wai area, but the tallest peak -- our objective -- still seemed just as far away as it had previously. As we continued on, the path meandered around and along a ditch that rainwater had formed flowing down the mountain. At times the path seemed to disappear, swallowed by the tall grasses and shrubs that bordered both sides, but then we were always able to find it again.

The view from the first peak.

The next 2 peaks, as seen from the first one.

We pressed on until we reached the second peak. I guess maybe I should explain at this point that what I call peaks were really not peaks. We never traveled down, but only up. The "peaks" are really just points that stick out from the main hill and were good vantage points. However, the view from this second peak was not really any better than that from the first one. So I began to doubt the wisdom of continuing on to the third -- but since to stop now would be giving up, we kept hiking.

The trail got steeper and steeper. Looking up ahead and back behind, it looked almost impossibly steep (although we were never in any real danger of falling. It wasn’t quite that steep, but it did feel like it). Eventually, very close to the top, our little trail took us to a main hiking trail, wide and well-maintained. We traveled up this last part quite quickly the short distance to the top. Here a sign informed us that we had reached the top of Needle Point, about 1,745 feet above sea level. From this vantage point we commanded a 360-degree view of the surrounding area -- so we could see parts of Sha Tin, Tai Wai, and even Tsuen Wan. It was spectacular, even though the air wasn’t clear enough to see anything real well or get any good panoramic pictures. We gratefully dropped our bags and enjoyed the view, as well as our lunch.

Ben is supposed to be pointing out the steepness, although the picture doesn't make it look steep at all.

There, now you can see how steep it is.

That's me, at the top.

Shing Mun Reservoir. In the upper left corner, you can see a bit of Tsuen Wan.

The winding path down toward Sha Tin.

- Joshua

2008-03-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #15
Taboo, only without the Taboo
March 17, 2008
by Joshua Blank

"I like them, and you do not like them."
"They look like umbrellas."
"The colorful ones are toxic."
"They grow anywhere."
"They are soft."
"Do you know what it is?"
This is an excerpt from part of our Friday night English class. Above my head where I could not see it but everyone else could, Ben held open a picture book filled with simple English nouns. Similar to the game "Taboo," each person around the table took turns giving me clues about the picture without saying the word itself.

The class went pretty well, but our only students have been members of Pastor Jeremiah's family and one of his neighbors. But although we have not had very many students in the class so far, I think that it will grow. We have only had 2 classes, and there have been a number of people who have told us that they are interested in coming -- even if they have yet to actually walk through the door. There have been some scheduling conflicts and some other things which have prevented some of the people from participating in the class.

The purpose of the class is to provide a comfortable, casual atmosphere where people can practice what English they know and hopefully learn some more through the process. I am quite excited about how God can use this ministry to introduce the students into a setting where they can hear about His truth and the life that He alone can bring. Jeremiah's neighbor, Bruce, is a 16-year-old recent immigrant from mainland China. Since the class has started, he has taken an interest in some of the other activities in which the youth from the church are involved, including Saturday night youth group.

Praises:
- On Monday night, we had the opportunity to invite Pastor Jeremiah and his family over for dinner. Although it was an interesting and sometimes awkward mix of cultures, we were very grateful to serve the Choi family as they are such a blessing to us in so many ways.
- The weather is beginning to warm up, allowing us to wear some different clothes (like short sleeve T-shirts and shorts) without having to wear a coat.

Prayer Requests:
- That we would be able to reach out to people in the community through our English class.
- On Thursday, we have a presentation at a secondary (middle/high) school. Pray that we would be able to effectively share with the students there. Also, this presentation may bring about some other opportunities for us to get involved in the lives of students at this school.
- There has been an outbreak of the flu at a few primary (kindergarten/elementary) schools in different parts of Hong Kong, resulting in the death of two students. Extremely cautious in light of the SARS and bird flu scares, the Hong Kong government has taken the drastic step of closing all the primary schools in Hong Kong until after the Easter break. Please pray for the peace of Christ to guard the affected families from the fear that can so easily grip their hearts. For more information on this situation, feel free to follow this link.

2008-03-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #14
Out To Eat
March 11, 2008
by Karen Martin

Every Tuesday morning we leave at 8:45am. After riding two buses, which total to one hour of travel, we arrive in Tuen Mun. The morning is spent learning Cantonese taught by June Kauffman. One way of practicing the words we learn is simple hands-on experience. This is done at HoHo Restaurant. It is important to note and remember that in Cantonese hoho means 'very good'. Now back to the story. HoHo isn't just any restaurant. It's the place where we eat lunch every Tuesday. If by chance it was closed for a day, we would be absolutely heart broken. The place is know in Cantonese as a 'Dye Pie Dong' which equates to a highly authentic and cheap Chinese outdoor restaurant. We sit on small plastic stools around a small table under the shade of a tree. Sometimes seats are offered to us before the table has been cleared from the previous customers. I've learned that this can be good thing. Looking at other peoples plates of food expands my own ordering options.

The process of ordering at HoHo gives an interesting perspective on our team. Typically it goes something like this . . . We sit down and Maria places before us the pink tattered menu she faithfully carries for our reference (we've translated nearly every item on the menu). After staring at the menu for a few seconds, our waiter (affectionately named 'HoHo') appears. June encourages us to order in Cantonese. Ben looks at the menu for reference then rattles off his order to HoHo (in Cantonese). Next is Maria's turn. She barely has to open her mouth before Hoho says 'sing jua chua my'. Singapore noodles have become a predictable favorite for Maria. Now it's my turn. I turn to June telling her that I would like to order what the person is eating at the table next to us. The words aren't familiar to me, so June gets the task of explaining my order to HoHo. My love for variety can be a nice disguise for not remembering many Cantonese words. Next we turn to Josh who isn't ready to make his meal selection. He's looking at the papers on which he has listed every food item we've learned or heard of. After contemplating for a few more seconds, he clearly states his order. HoHo seems very impressed (along with June and the rest of us). In a matter of minutes huge portions of rice, noodles, pork, beef, and vegetables will be sitting in front of us. HoHo Sik (delicious)!

Prayer Requests:
- We are preparing to lead an Easter themed presentation at a local school on March 20. We'll be sharing in 'simple' English with 400 students. This is a new and exciting challenge for each of us.
- We are going to Cambodia for a few days in May to be a part of EMM's retreat for the missionaries here in Asia. Our task is to provide activities/teaching for the children. Pray for us as we make preparations - for creativity, excitement, wisdom, and discernment.

Praises:
- We now have visas for China
- Karen's hand is healing quickly after being burned by hot coffee

Smile Big

2008-03-03T00:24:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #13
Smile Big
March 3, 2008
by Ben Herr

Smile big. Extend hand. Hmm. What is that facial expression saying? Is it, "I wonder what that is?" or is it "I wonder what this foreigner is trying to give me?" Well, they took it, for one reason or another. Smile big. Extend hand. Hmm. They're looking at it, but showing no interest. They're almost passed. I guess I'll pull it back so as not to seem pushy. Woah! Their hand just came up! Here! Take it!

That's just a small example of the monologue running through my head a couple Sundays ago for about an hour and fifteen minutes. We were with several members of the church handing out gospel tracts along with a few inserts about Agape Mennonite Church and events. I was with Pastor Jeremiah, standing at the exit from the MTR (Mass Transit Railway). When most people put their heads down and angled for the space between Jeremiah and myself or towards the walls, I thought it was kind of rude, until realizing that was exactly what I did whenever I passed someone handing out fliers. It is very common to see people here handing out various kinds of leaflets to people on the street so a majority of people tend to be unreceptive to it.

So I stood there feeling a bit helpless, knowing most people weren't really interested and not being able say anything in order to interest them. However, as people would look at me, then at the brochure, then take it, I was once again reminded how God can use us in our weakness and inability. Even though I couldn't do much to make people want the brochure, it's very possible that many people, who wouldn't have done so otherwise, took one out of curiosity, just to see what the foreigner was passing out.

Praises:
-We've had several opportunities to connect with youth on a deeper level. This is something we have wanted to happen for a while, but is difficult due to a more reserved culture.

Prayer Requests:
-One of the inserts we handed out was for an English class we'll be teaching on Friday evenings. We know of at least one person signed up for it right now.

2008-02-25T00:48:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 12
This Week at Crossroads
February 25, 2008
by Maria Sensenig

"Would you like a small or a large? Is that for here or take away? Did you want the vanilla chai or the spiced?" These were the questions coming out of my mouth on Wednesday and Thursday as Karen and I started our first days at the cafe at Crossroads. After several weeks of moving around to different departments and doing all sorts of odd jobs, we've now been placed into different areas where we will hopefully stay for the remainder of our time there.
Now as you may or may not know my plan for this past fall was to move to Seattle and work in a coffee shop. God interrupted that plan, but here I am in Hong Kong, working in a coffee shop. I really see it as a gift from Him. Unfortunately it wasn't all fun and games this week. My patience was tested to the limit by our trainer, the broken espresso machine, and the computer messing up all our records at the end of the day. We are, however, feeling very optimistic and ready to give it another shot this week.
As mentioned in an earlier newsletter, along with distributing goods all over the world, Crossroads also does many simulations, games, and other activities to raise awareness about everything from AIDS to refugees to what it's like to be blind. The purpose of the newest activity is to enlighten people about sweatshops and child labor and we were part of the guinea pig group that got to test it before it goes into full swing. It was quite interesting as Karen and I, workers from a clothing factory, found ourselves arguing our case with Ben and Josh, owners of a shoe store, and others who represented the CEO's of the shoe company and the actual sweatshop owners. While we presented our conditions and demanded improvements to be made, the other groups spent the time shifting the blame from one to the other, not wanting to commit to anything that might reduce the millions that were flowing into their pockets. It was interesting and thought provoking and just one more way Crossroads is helping the world.

Prayer Requests:
- We handed out about 800 flyers about an English night we're starting, pray for a good response!

Praises:
- Only a few hours after handing out the flyers someone was at the church doors ready to sign up!
- After a few months where we saw little progress in connecting with the youth, we had a really good night on Saturday. We were able to join in their sharing and prayer request time and it was great listening to them as well as sharing what is going on with us.

2008-02-18T00:06:00.001-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #11
Crunch, Crunch, Mmm...
February 18, 2008
by Joshua Blank

Although the Chinese New Year officially lasts 15 days (until the 21st of February this year), the majority of the celebrations ended last week. As most people returned to work, things quieted down and everything began returning to the normal, busy pace of life in this city. We also have continued to settle down into a more regular routine. In light of this, I was a little unprepared for what I experienced yesterday:

People were milling about everywhere. Some were scurrying around taking care of last minute details while others leisurely mingled and talked with their friends. I was attempting to be helpful without getting in the way of too many people, but was not being all that successful at either task. Finally, Pastor Jeremiah got everyone's attention and had us all sit down. I found myself seated at a small table boasting an enormous bowl of food, surrounded by church members who did not speak much English. As the only Westerner at the table, everyone felt that I needed special attention so I was served first. The centerpiece among the strange-looking and unidentifiable food items heaped into my bowl was a big shrimp, with all the parts attached (but I think that knowing some of the other contents of my bowl would have been more disturbing than this was). Eating the shrimp, however, was a bit of a problem. I would have liked to pull off the shell with my hands before eating it, but everyone else at my table was separating the shell from the meat in their mouths. Not wanting to be rude, I attempted to do the same, but with limited success. Let's just say I ate more of the shell than I had intended to.

It was all part of the festivities surrounding the 32nd anniversary of Agape Mennonite Church. After the morning worship service, which commemorated how God has blessed the church this past year and detailed some of the plans for the future, nearly 50 people filled the building for a time of food and fellowship. Coming right on the heels of the Chinese New Year, everyone seemed to be in a festive mood. It was a wonderful time of celebrating the past and looking forward to the future.

Praises:
- For the amazing things that God has done during the past 32 years at Agape and the amazing things that are still to come.
- The chance that we have had to experience Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, opening our eyes to some of the culture and traditions upon which this city is built
- Many new opportunities are developing for us to get more involved in God's work here

Prayer Requests:
- That we would be able to take part in the developing opportunities for ministry here
- Continued patience with the language barrier
- The 3 Mennonite churches have talked about coming together to form 1 bigger church, possibly even this year. Pray that the leaders would have wisdom in decision making throughout this process.

Dragon/Lion Dance

2008-02-15T06:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a more elaborate dragon/lion dance than the last one I posted. This one has both the dragon and the lion, whereas the last one was only the lion.

and, to finish with a bang, the grand finale of Hong Kong's Chinese New Year's fireworks!

-Ben

2008-02-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #10
Welcoming in the Rat
February 10, 2008
by Karen Martin

Somewhere in the haze of waking up I heard the thump of drums and the crashing of cymbals. Yes, it was slightly unusual. The truth is, there are quite a few noises that I have trouble identifying from my bed. As I listened a bit longer, I realized that it was the beat of a dragon dance. This is a traditional way to welcome in the new year.

The Che Kung Temple is not far from Agape Chuch. I could probably walk there in a minute. Right now the soccer field in front of it is filled with small stands. It's a sparkling mass of red. There are sticks of incense, hand held fans, wind catchers, and other plastic toys being sold. The amount of people coming to the temple is unbelievable. They come to offer prayers to the god, in hopes that the coming year will be successful.

Chinese culture and tradition were a very rich and vivid part of our week. Even for those of us who have not grown up with these traditions, celebration of the Lunar New Year was a highly anticipated event. Thursday marked the beginning of the Year of the Rat. There has been an unfamiliar sense of celebation in the air. Mostly out of curiousity, I took a walk yesterday to see, hear, and observe. People were everywhere. Many were dressed up and walking with family members or friends. They seemed to be relaxed and happy. What a contrast to the normal pace of the streets! Usually people quickly walk by while jabbering on their cell phones. It has been interesting to be in the midst of the new year's celebration. I have learned that there is meaning in all the foods, flowers, and activities which make up these 15 days of celebration. Most of the symbolizms or meanings involve good luck, prosperity, and a good future. 'San nihn faai lohk' - Happy New Year!

This week also brought the beginning of Lent. We remember Christ's sacrifice and anticipate the celebration of His resurrection. This is a season of preparation. During this Chinese new year's time, we have set aside time to reflect on our Creator. Psalms 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." We invite you to join with us as we quiet our hearts and listen to His voice.

Praises:
-This week has been a flurry of activity and celebration
-We have spent more time than usual with the youth from Agape Church

Prayer Requests:
-We are setting aside time this week to specifically pray for our remaining time here in Hong Kong. We invite you to join us.

Chinese New Year

2008-02-07T22:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! The last couple days, we've been experiencing some interesting cultural events. Here are a few pictures and videos of some of them. The days leading up to Chinese New Year are huge days for flower markets. They sell all kinds of flowers, some I've never seen or heard of before, as well as balloons, food, and the same kind of useless stuff you would find at a carnival. On New Years Eve, even the smaller markets, like this one, are packed.

This was my favorite of the "New Year" flowers. Since we were told that prices start falling after midnight, I went and got one at 2am. During the first couple days of the New Year, groups of people will go around and perform dragon dances. Store keepers and business owners pay them to dance in front of their buildings, which they believe will bring good luck for the next year. The smaller version of a dragon dance is a lion dance. We heard drums down by the street and got there in time to see some of a lion dance (although for all I know, it could be a small dragon).

2008-02-03T23:27:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #9
The Couch
February 4, 2008
by Ben Herr

Chinese New Year is a time of getting rid of the old, and bringing in the new. Because of limited housing space, bringing in the new means taking the old to the dumpster. So Chinese New Year is a great time to get your furniture as well as other things. You can find nice stuff in the dump.

That was the advice we were given, that was the advice we took. So after the first couple dumpsters we walked past had shown nothing more exciting than a suitcase, we found what would be the last one before we went home. And there it sat. Being the unobservant dumpster diver that I am, I noticed that one of the dumpsters was about twice as tall as the rest and very oddly shaped. It took me a while to realize that it was a sofa sitting on top of a bin.

So after Josh and I performed the hauling job, the couch was sitting in front of the church. We wanted it on the roof. And it certainly wouldn't fit through the door that leads to the roof. Fortunately, there was a balcony conveniently located halfway up the building. With the help of a ladder, a makeshift rope job, and a little pushing and heaving, we got the couch to the balcony. That was the easy part.

From this point on, however, things got a lot more complicated. Using the ladder on the balcony was not ideal, because the balcony was narrow, and we didn't want someone standing on the ladder pushing up, because of the potential tip factor. There was also a ledge that stuck out about three feet from roof level that we would have to get it around. My brilliant idea to take it around the side of the building where there was only a small ledge was initially vetoed because we couldn't be on the tin roof below (snicker snicker) because we weren’t sure if it would hold us and we definitely didn't want to drop it there (cough cough) because one step down from that part of the roof was the neighbor's roof. After the situation was analyzed, however, the upside of my idea was realized and we decided to go around the side of the building.

Josh found some electrical wire to give some extra length to our short rope, so we tied up the couch--which, by the way, wasn't very heavy for a couch, but wasn't the lightest couch either--and Maria, Karen, and I pulled from the top, while Josh guided it off the balcony and around the corner.

We had it to lifting position, so we began to pull. We pulled about two inches before gravity won the battle. Our wire turned out not to be strong enough, it snapped, and the couch thumped down onto the roof (see the "cough cough" above). Fortunately, it stopped on our part of the roof and didn't go onto the neighbors. Unfortunately, the loud bang brought out the neighbor.

We interrupt this story for a brief history on our neighbor and what we knew about him. Our neighbor is a older man who has a dog or two (there's Lisa and occasionally there will be another one around) and has a nice garden of potted plants. We've heard him play some kind of instrument but we still haven't figured out what it is, and we have guessed from some evening smells that he is a very capable cook. We never found out his name, but one day saw him wearing a shirt that said "Andy" on the back, so it stuck. The most important thing to know about him right now is that he speaks zero English.

I can't imagine what he must have thought when he stepped outside his house to see the foreigners standing on the roof and balcony looking at a couch on the roof. Through a series of hand gestures, he correctly guessed that we were trying to get it on the roof. He disappeared into his house, came back out with a basket full of rope, climbed onto the tin roof (see the "snicker snicker" above) and walked right on up to where the couch had landed. By that time, Josh and I had gotten the couch back on the balcony. The next bit was very interesting to say the least. "Andy" went to work tying up the couch and trying to communicate with us mostly through pointing, gesturing (funny how none of the Cantonese we had learned translated to getting couches onto the roof), and after several tries at doing what he wanted (he chuckled when we misunderstood him) we were all set. He and Josh got the couch onto the roof, and from there, we pulled, pulled, stopped to get around the air conditioner, pulled some more, and finally had the couch on the roof. Josh went and invited him to come up to the roof with us (though I'm not sure how) and we all laughed and took pictures with him and the couch.

Despite not having much contact with him during our first two months, I had always assumed that at some spur-of-the-moment event, we'd do something with our neighbor. I just never guessed it would be such a bizarre spur-of-the-moment event. I was extremely surprised by his willingness to help us with the couch, and blessed by his cheerful personality. We got him a bag of pistachios as a thank you gift, and I hope this will have been the first of many interactions with him.

Praises:
-More outreach opportunities are being planned

Prayer Requests:
-Even though we are getting more outreach opportunities, we wish we be more involved with people from Hong Kong. Pray for wisdom to know how to do this despite the large language barrier.

2008-01-28T01:46:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 8
Watching the Sunrise
January 28, 2008
by Maria Sensenig

It was a crisp, clear morning (quite rare in Hong Kong) and we were on our rock. Now, even though I like to refer to it as "our rock" and to pretend that we are the only ones who know it exists, I realize this is not the case because a ladder and steps have been built to help one climb to the top. This rock sits atop the hill/mountain behind our home and offers an incredible view of the surrounding area. On this morning we had gotten up early in order to watch the sunrise.

There is something truly special about sunrises. Usually you are surrounded by nature, maybe in the mountains or at the beach, and the beauty of God's creation just puts a sense of awe inside of you. On this morning I was indeed in awe of what God had created, but it wasn't the mountains or even the sunrise that I was thinking about; instead, it was the people of this city. Everywhere I looked there was high-rise after high-rise, filled with thousands and thousands of people. Even at this early hour the streets were filled with buses and I watched as train after train pulled out of the station. This city is absolutely packed with people, and each and every one of them is different, with all kinds of different talents, personalities, and numbers of hairs on their heads! God hand-designed each one of them and knows them better than they know themselves, and here they are scurrying here and there, with no idea who their Creator is.

It saddened me to think about all of this. The people of Hong Kong are looking so hard to find something to bring them fulfillment. The pressure to succeed begins at a very young age. Parents strive to get their children into the best kindergarten (at age 3) and put huge amounts of pressure on them to do well, so that they can get into the best primary school, so that they can get into the best secondary school, so that they can get into the best university, so that they can get the best job, so that they can make the most money. How can we help them realize that they will not find happiness this way? How can we tell the youth that their value does not depend on the university they're in or the grades they are getting? How can we show the little children at the center how special and gifted they are even though everyone else is telling them to do better, to try harder?

Praises:

- The Tuen Mun Center is now having Sunday services. We joined them yesterday for their second service and they had a much better turnout than the previous week.

Prayer Requests:

- We, along with Pastor Jeremiah, are planning to start a cultural exchange program for students at a local school, with the hope of them then getting involved here at the church. The program is scheduled to start on Saturday but unfortunately no one has signed up yet. Please pray and believe with us that 15-20 students will sign up this week!

2008-01-20T22:48:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 7
Crossroads
January 21, 2008
by Joshua Blank

The guard eyed me suspiciously as he looked once more at my identification card. "What is your name?," he asked as if daring me to lie to him. "Akram," I said again, keeping my head bowed in submission and fear . Finally, after taking what money I had, he let me into the refugee camp. I was in a total daze after being forced to flee my village at gun-point, walk through the treacherous mine fields, and fill out a near-incomprehensible refugee camp form. Of my family of nine, only I and one of my daughters had made it safely. But the camp turned out to be anything short of safe -- soldiers taking what food we were given and terrorizing us day and night, the stench of death and dirt filling the air, sleeping with three or four others in a tent made for one very small person, "relief agents" taking any valuables we might still have in return for the most basic supplies and services, and people promising hope but delivering only more sorrow. One would think that a refugee camp would be a place of refuge, but it is almost worse than the devastated war zone not far from the camp's borders.

This is what we were able to experience for a short time this past Thursday during a simulation at a place called Crossroads International. Crossroads is a distribution agency that collects surplus goods such as clothing, furniture, medical supplies, electrical equipment, and pretty much anything else that could be useful at their 14 acre site on the western side of Hong Kong. Then, the 50+ staff and the other volunteers sort, clean, repair, and test everything in preparation for delivery to other charitable organizations around the world. It's an amazing ministry, and one of the many things that they offer in addition to the distribution of goods, is the opportunity to take part in intense simulations demonstrating in a very real way how people are suffering around the world, providing a fresh perspective on the many blessings we have here and reminding those involved in the ministries of Crossroads why they do what they do.

We will be working at Crossroads one or two days a week, quite possibly for the rest of our time here in Hong Kong. There are many amazing opportunities to help out there -- anything from stacking furniture to building a scale model of the facilities, from sorting clothes to testing appliances, from office work to acting in the simulations. I think that I can say with some confidence that we are all looking forward to what we will being do there.

Praises:
- The second English session this past Saturday at the Tuen Mun center went very well
- Our schedule is becoming more regular

Prayer Requests:
- Continued patience for learning Cantonese
- That we would be a blessing to Crossroads as they are to many others

English signs

2008-01-15T20:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a collection of signs (and book covers) in English that we found amusing for grammatical reasons and for just being funny.
Enjoy.

2008-01-13T06:47:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter
Learning the Language
January 14, 2007
by Karen Martin

I held the book in my hand, eager to interact with these students for the next half hour. Yes, it would be challenging for all of us. No matter how exciting singing a song and listening to a story may be, it’s hard for young children to sit still sometimes. I think for these kids, the challenge of learning to communicate in English is much harder than trying to behave.

Saturday morning we helped to teach English at the Tuen Mun Center (the place we previously helped to renovate). For this first session we taught six kids who were between the ages of 4-8 and were accompanied by a parent. Learning English is of value to many parents, especially as their children are being taught in school. Sessions like this give parents the opportunity to also study and practice speaking English. The activities were centered around learning feelings such as happy, sad, excited, angry, and bored. Each of us helped to teach through various activities - I led a song and read a story, Josh played a game with them, and Maria and Ben helped with a craft.

As I encouraged the children to introduce themselves and talk with me, I recognize that I too am a beginner. I have endless opportunities to step out and try a new language. Sometimes it means repeating the same phrase over and over again, willing my brain to remember it and promptly forgetting what it means. Other times associations help, but most of the time it’s those crazy mistakes that help me remember the best. (Yes, there are stories to tell, but that will have to wait for another highly anticipated post)

Praises:
- This week we are officially beginning language study! . . . is this a praise or prayer request?
- Teaching the children at the Tuen Mun Center went well and we are excited for the next two sessions

Prayer Requests:
- For joy and perseverance as we learn Cantonese
- For boldness to ask questions and love in sharing our lives with others

2008-01-07T03:13:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #5
Is Everything Different?
January 7, 2008
by Ben Herr

The first thing one notices when arriving in a another country is how a lot of things are different. The trees, the architecture, and certainly the language. The next thing one realizes, which comes after several days and continues for a while, is how pretty much everything is different. Table manners, queuing style, and pretty much how things are done in general. Even things you would expect to be the same find a way to be different, such as the fine dining Pizza Hut nearby.

The last Sunday of advent, three people from Agape were baptized. An older man, and two guys my age or a bit older. The church rented a bus, and after a joint service with the other Mennonite churches in Hong Kong, we drove to a beach. We sang a few songs and then proceeded with the baptisms. Throughout the service, I kept thinking about the ways in which it was different. It was on a beach, that was the big one, and it had a much more casual feel to it than baptisms I've been at in the States. I really liked seeing how it was done in a different part of the world.

After they were baptized, the three people gave their testimonies. I was struck by how similar the testimonies of the two guys sounded to some that I've heard back at home. It was a great reminder to me that even though they live in a different setting and culture, the one thing that isn't different is the people. That's something I've continued to notice whether it's Christmas celebrations or one of the youth cracking a joke about something. Despite cultural differences, people are a lot more similar than it may seem at first glance.

Praises:

- Thursday morning I slipped and fell off a ladder from about seven or eight feet up and my right foot landed on the edge of a concrete step. It was the worst I ever twisted/rolled my ankle and I expected it to hobble me up for a while, but as of now, I'm walking around fine.

Prayer Requests:

- For increased understanding as we continue to try to learn Cantonese.
- For patience as our schedule slowly develops.

2007-12-30T23:42:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter # 4
A Holly Jolly Christmas
December 31, 2007
by Maria Sensenig

Christmas in Hong Kong means time to celebrate. We learned this first-hand, as the church, aka our home, was the location of four parties over the span of four days. We happily joined the festivities and were able to meet many new people, learn new games, and of course sample a great variety of new foods.

Christmas Eve was my favorite of these celebrations because we were able to spend a large amount of time with the youth from Agape and connect with them in a way we hadn't previously. It began when they arrived early in the afternoon and suggested we all go out for tea. When I say tea, I need you to remove the images of hot beverages and pastries from your mind. They ordered a plate of this and a dish of that and were all very excited to watch us sample all the different things, laughing at our chopstick skills and sometimes insisting that it'd probably be better if we finish before they explain what all we were eating. Some of the fare was extremely delicious, some was a bit harder to swallow while still maintaining a smile. But it was all a lot of fun and ended with a rousing game of rock, paper, scissors to polish off the leftovers.

The church was already filling up when we arrived home and was soon packed out. We spent the evening playing games, eating more food, and watching a talent show. It was all quite fun but a bit on the chaotic side most of the time. As the party drew to a close everyone from the church headed out to the train station where we joined several hundred other people in singing Christmas carols and worship songs. By the time the singing was over we were all pretty exhausted but everyone else was still going strong and announced that it was now time to go for dessert. Despite our tiredness we were of course delighted to join them and spent the remaining few hours until Christmas eating tasty (and much less sketchy) treats and talking about everything from our first impressions of each other to why dating isn't allowed in YES. Good times were had by all.

At the Christmas party with Santa Ben

Along with all the parties, we were also able to get out of the city a number of times this week and experience the natural beauty of Hong Kong. We spent one day hiking, another on a bike ride by the sea, and we were also able to go to the beach twice, once for a baptism, and the other time for a BBQ.

There's more to Hong Kong than skyscrapers!

A leisurely and scenic bike ride

BBQ by the beach

May you all have a Happy New Year!

Praises:

- We've been able to spend a lot of time with the youth and are getting to know them better
- We were able to have an enjoyable Christmas despite being in a new place and away from our families

Prayer Requests:

- That we'd be an encouragement to the church here, and especially to the youth as the group seems to be dwindling and many of them are not very involved in the church
- That we could continue to understand the culture and the people and love and appreciate them even more

2007-12-23T05:41:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #3
Religion and Christmas
December 23, 2007
by Joshua Blank

On Friday morning, Maria, Karen, Ben, and I made the short hike along the winding path through the thick underbrush up the small but steep hill behind Agape Mennonite Church. At the top, there is a huge boulder from which one can command a good view of the surrounding area. The rumble of traffic, the din of construction, and the other noises of the city can be clearly heard from this vantage point. It seems very out of place to me that after climbing a forested hill, I look around only to see that I am surrounded on all sides by city. (Ben posted some pictures below.)

At many places along the path up the hill, there are little pots filled with incense or food items in front of small monuments, set up for the remembrance and veneration of ancestors. Little spots like this are very common, even on some street corners. Larger or more wealthy Chinese families build temples in which they can worship their deceased family members in the hope that their ancestors will bring good luck and fortune to them so that they may become old and rich. The traditions upon which these practices have been built have been around for thousands of years and are deeply embedded into the people -- even with the strong Western influence that exists here in Hong Kong. This depth of tradition becomes increasingly evident as it draws near to Christmas. To the Chinese, this is just one of the many celebrations during which many people have off work and can (or must) spend time with their families. Christmas becomes simply a reason to party.

In contrast, we spent the beginning half of this week finishing up most of the work at the Tuen Mun Center, which is to shine out as a light for Jesus in that community. At the front of the Center is a silver cross, which really does shine out into the community, since the main entrance is all glass and the cross has a light behind it. There is also a path of floor tiles different in color than the rest which begins at the foot of the cross and gradually increases in size as it extends across the room to the main entrance. It is a powerful reminder of the purpose in the work that is going to be done there. Tomorrow night -- Christmas Eve -- is the grand opening, a celebration in the true spirit of Christmas focused on Jesus, His birth and ministry, and ultimately our salvation -- remembering that it is only by His grace and strength that we live and not by those who have gone on before us.

May you all have a blessed celebration of Christ's birth.

Praises:
- We were able to finish all of the major work at the Tuen Mun Center
- We had some time to relax and catch up on some rest this weekend in preparation for the busy week ahead of us
- It's Christmas time

Prayer Requests:
- That God would use the work at the Tuen Mun Center to extend His kingdom in that community, and especially for the opening festivities that will be happening there
- For patience as we struggle with the language barrier
- For guidance as we get more involved with different ministries here and for wisdom in interacting with the people, both those involved in leadership of those ministries and those to whom we will be ministering

Karen's Post

2007-12-21T19:50:00.000-08:00

So, I'm the one to finish the blog postings informing all of you about me. In 'the picture' I'm the one with blonde hair and blue eyes. And yes, in HK I'm pretty easy to pick out of the crowd. I really value personal relationships which might be why I find it hard to write a description of myself to people I've never met. If you know any of my teammates I'm sure they'll be able to tell you a lot about me, maybe even more the they or you want to know!

All of that being said, I am 19 years old and from Reinholds, PA - a small community in the northern tip of Lancaster County. My family (whom I love dearly) consists of my parents, my brother, my sister-in-law, my sister, my brother-in-law, and my 2 nephews. Are you confused yet? I graduated from Lancaster Mennonite High School in 2006, spent the summer of '06 in STAT (outreach in Germany), and worked the following year as a nurse aide.

A few of my likes and loves: right up there at the top would be my family, especially those two cute nephews! Music has forever been a love of mine, especially playing the piano, flute, and singing. Here at Agape Church they have a keyboard which is getting a lot of use from myself and my 3 teammates. Hong Kong is turning out to be a big like, maybe even a love. This city is jammed full of beauty and excitement - the people (way more than I can count), the city sky-line (amazing at night), the trees (first time I've seen palm trees in their natural habitat!), the food (I'm well on my way to mastering the art of eating with chopsticks), the indescribable smell of Asia, the 70 degree weather, and so much more.

And to give you a description of the very simple joys in my life, I'll phrase it like this - "I really enjoy my day if" . . . I can have coffee of some type in the morning, see the sunrise or sunset, wear a short-sleeves and flip-flops, bake something sweet, have clean smelling clothes, write in my journal, spend quality time with God, have a good laugh, clean something or throw away clutter, be artistic or creative in some way, and go to bed tired. Many of these things I've come to really appreciate since moving to HK whether they are or aren't a part of my day. So this is me. I guess if you want to know more you'll have to come and visit Hong Kong . . . or continue reading our blog.

Maria (all the titles I could think of were cheesy)

2007-12-21T19:44:00.000-08:00

I like to write when I feel inspired and not forced. Alas I was told in no uncertain terms by the members of my team that it is time my biography is posted so today I have no choice.

I am Maria Sensenig (this is the part where you burst into song with something from the Sound of Music, West Side Story or some other random song floating around out there with my name in it) and I am 21 years old and from Ephrata, Pennsylvania. I graduated from Garden Spot in '05, spent the next half year in YWAM (Seattle and Thailand) and then came home, worked for the next year and half and joined YES this fall.

I love to travel (although my list of previous destinations doesn't begin to rival Ben's) and find learning about other cultures very fascinating. I enjoy people, whether it be sitting in a crowded place watching strangers interact, or spending time with those I love most. Speaking of those I love most I forgot to tell you about my family, which consists of some pretty amazing parents, and a brother (also quite amazing actually) who is two years older than me. Some other things I enjoy include reading, writing, food (both making and eating, especially new and unusual things) watching movies, piano, coffee, taking walks, jogging, playing games etc. etc.

It is a strange feeling to be in Hong Kong. Many times I still wake up and wonder what exactly is going, how I ended up here and what God wants to do with me in this place. But I'm really beginning to love this city, with its millions of people, long crowded bus rides, over-the-top Christmas decorations, laundry hanging from every window in the high rises, the fact that the grocery store consists of an aisle of rice, an aisle of noodles, an aisle of oil, an aisle of soy sauce, and if you're lucky maybe a few other things, that I can wake up with birds chirping and a pleasant breeze blowing over my face and realize that I am sleeping on a roof and the list goes on.

I hope that gives you a bit of an idea who I am.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sign. If Hong Kong's cuisine could be captured in one phrase, here it is.

The Surrounding Area

2007-12-21T06:46:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

A couple days ago, Joshua was exploring the hill behind Agape and found a big rock at the top that offers a terrific panoramic view of the surrounding area. It was a beautiful day here on Friday, so we all went up. Here are some pictures.

looking north (roughly)

looking west

looking south (Agape is behind the trees at the bottom)

looking east

2007-12-16T06:13:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #2
Journey to Tuen Mun
December 16, 2007
by Karen Martin

Traffic roars past me as I stand in line at the bus stop. The sidewalk is crammed with people waiting for the next bus. There’s a perpetual smell of exhaust that fills the air. In a matter of minutes I’ll be on a double decker bus headed for Tuen Mun. I like to sit on the top level of the bus, in the very first row. From here I can see all the action. There’s a never ending flow of traffic which is mostly taxis, busses, work trucks, and more busses. The store fronts catch my attention too with their large brightly lit signs flashing - yellow, red, purple, green - it’s a never ending rainbow. As we near the next bus stop another long line of people wait to board the bus. Several people run along side the bus waving there arms to alert the driver to wait for them to board before it pulls away. My journey continues and I begin to notice the apartment buildings. These are 40 or 50 story buildings lined up one after another. There are more than I can count. I have to wonder what it would be like to live on the 30th floor, never being able to fling open my window and see the clouds floating by. As the bus nears Tuen Mun I stand up and clumsily make my way to the exit. I have yet to learn how to gracefully walk on a moving bus. In Tuen Mun my teammates and I walk through a maze of buildings and shops until we reach the Center. Now it’s time to start our day of work.

(This is a view of Agape from the street.)

For the past week our team has been helping to renovate a building in Tuen Mun. This facility will house a dream which has been on the hearts of people in Hope Mennonite Chuch for many years. They plan to provide various classes as an outreach to the community and eventually develop a church. Our team has been working hard at painting the building. We’ve completed the largest room, the medium size room, the office, the bathroom, and the outside wall. Maria and I have also learned how to put in flooring. And yes, it looks quite good! We are happy with our progress, considering that they plan to have an opening party on Christmas Eve. Our work is cut out for us this coming week as we continue with the flooring and other fix-up jobs. In the coming months we hope to help with some of the classes. I think a real sense of satisfaction will come when we can walk into this building and see it filled with people from the Tuen Mun community.

Here's a little visual aid to prove how hard we're working. This is especially for those who doubt Maria's and my ability to install flooring!

Praises:
- Our first week of work at Tuen Mun was successful
- We are over jet lag and sleeping quite well
- We have gained some independence and are able to do things on our own, like riding the bus and eating out

Prayer Requests:
- Continued patience and wisdom as we soak up Cantonese
- That God will guide and bless those who are leading activities at the Tuen Mun Center
- We spend Saturday evenings with the youth of Agape Church. We are excited to see how God is working in their lives.

Some things about Joshua

2007-12-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, I guess it’s my turn. I’m Joshua, as you probably already knew by use of clever process of elimination since I’m the only other guy on the team. I’m the shorter guy seen on the left on the prayer cards or on the right in the blog picture. Of course, being the intelligent people that you all are, I’m certain you also already knew that, since I am a guy and not Ben. Joshua is not a good girl’s name, no offense to anyone who thinks otherwise. Of course, if you are reading this post before reading “A Bit About Ben” (the post immediately below this one) this paragraph may have been rather confusing, but since I said nothing important, please feel free to proceed with reading the rest anyway.

You may call me "Josh," but I think "Joshua" looks nicer which why it is usually written like that on this blog.

Like many people in the world, I have a family. My parents are Ervin and Donna. My dad thinks he is pretty cool and my friends agree with him, which I find to be a little scary. My mom is one of the most amazing cooks in the world and the most normal one in our family. I also have one sister, Lindsay, who is now married to my brother-in-law (it’s amazing how that works), Nathan Hoy. If you are interested in playing the Mennonite game look for connections to Hursts or Stauffers. We are not, however, related to Keith Blank just in case you were wondering like everyone else I have met from the Lancaster County area. This fact is probably to his credit.

Although Hong Kong is my current residence, my home for the previous 6,826 days of my life (give or take a few) was/is/will be outside Milton, Pennsylvania, which is about 1 hour north of Harrisburg, very close to Lewisburg (not to be confused with Lewistown). Of course, no one who just read that actually cares except the people who already knew that and they don't really care either. I wrote it only because it was expected. Sometimes I wonder why the world is the way that it is. Then I go inside and curl up on the couch with a book that will take me somewhere else. Also not of interest: I am 18 years old, 2 days younger than Ben and the youngest on this team. I graduated this past spring from Meadowbrook Christian School.

As you’ve probably noticed by now, I enjoy using some dry humor every once in a while. I also like math, just in general. Climbing things like trees, rock walls, and fences is also rather fun. Although I know very little, I like to pretend that I know something about computer software stuff and enjoy trying to figure things out. So far I have managed to not crash any computers and I think that means success. Like everyone else on this team, I play the piano. Unique to myself though, I play the accordion. In fact, I have it along with me here in Hong Kong. I wouldn’t recommend carrying an accordion around for anyone out there who is considering it. They do get rather heavy after a while. They are great to have. Just try to avoid traveling with them for long distances. Around the world may be a little too far.

Since Ben stole most of my favorite books, I will name some authors: Stephen Lawhead, C. S. Lewis, Frank Peretti, God Almighty, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Mark Twain.

Hmm... I’m trying to think of other things that you don’t care about and might like to not know. I’m drawing a blank, and I’m not good at drawing -- especially people like my family so I’ll just stop while I’m ahead, or rather a person with a head.

A Bit About Ben

2007-12-12T05:31:00.000-08:00

We have decided that each of us write a little bit about ourselves so that those of you who don't know all of us have an idea of who everyone is. Since I wrote the first newsletter, I'll go first.

I'm Ben Herr, the tall one on the right without any hair if you're looking at our prayer card, or the one with long legs on the left if you're looking at our blog picture. My parents are James and Carol Herr and I have an older brother, Jonathan, and a younger sister Christyn. I'm 18 years old, and graduated from highschool this spring after being home schooled all my life. I attend Mountville Mennonite Church. My hobbies include sports; especially soccer, football, and church softball; playing music; hunting, I can tell many hunting stories, most of which are misses, mis-cues, or buck fever; imitating John Madden; trying new things; finding difficult ways of doing simple tasks; and doing anything and everything to make myself or someone else laugh.

Favorite books: The Oath, The Lord of the Rings, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Favorite sports teams: The Philadelphia Eagles, whoever is playing the Dallas Cowboys or New England Patriots (these teams are a very close second and are collectively doing very poorly this year), and the Baltimore Orioles.

Favorite Quote: "At the end of the day, whichever team has the most points is going to win the football game." -John Madden.

Second Favorite Quote: "The United States and Japan have been friends for over 150 years." -George W. Bush (apparently he forgot about a little something called World War II)

This bugs me: The birthday question, "So what does it feel like to be (insert age here)" because one day really doesn't make any difference.

Countries I've been to: Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, HONG KONG, Nepal, India, Thailand, Singapore, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Italy, The Vatican, France, The United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Kenya.

Something difficult about living in Hong Kong: Putting aside the obvious things like language barrier and such, I'd have to say being 6'1". So far I've found plenty of things to bump my head on in a city built for shorter people.

This me almost getting run over by a floor sweeper car while sleeping in Toronto airport

2007-12-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

Team Hong Kong Newsletter #1
Travel, Arrival, and Orientation
December 9, 2007
by Ben Herr

Greetings on behalf of the Hong Kong team. It has almost been a week since we left Harrisburg, and we are excited to have arrived in Hong Kong to begin the adjustment to a different culture, language, setting, and time zone. Starting from the beginning of our travel, our flight from Philadelphia to Toronto was delayed due to bad weather in both places. Since we only had an hour layover in Toronto, we were going to miss the flight from Toronto to Vancouver. This turned out to work for the best, because we got a flight from Toronto straight to Hong Kong, so we actually saved about five hours of travel time because of the delay. We did have to spend 12 hours in the Toronto airport, but we were going to have to do that in Vancouver anyway, so we weren't unpleasantly surprised. We did have to laugh, though, that twenty hours after we had left Harrisburg, we were still only in Toronto.

us trying to catch some sleep in Toronto

We were met at the Hong Kong airport by Glenn and June Kauffman, long term missionaries and the EMM (Eastern Mennonite Missions) Area Representative to East Asia; Shelly (I haven't heard her last name yet), another missionary; Pastor Jeremiah Choi, the pastor of Agape Mennonite Church; and Wincy Wan, the EMM office assistant here in Hong Kong who also attends Agape Mennonite Church. We took a bus to Agape, where we'll be staying for the next eight months. We have two bedrooms that are about 6 1/2' by 9', a bathroom, a shower room, a roof top, and a kitchen. Everything but the kitchen and the roof are on the second floor of the church.

our view from the roof

The first few days Glenn Kauffman gave us an introduction to the mission vision for East Asia, something he does for every missionary or team that comes to serve in this part of the world. We also talked about Hong Kong customs, cultural taboos, and other related topics. We've had a crash course in survival chopstick use, and considering that I never really used them before, I've reached the conclusion that they are easy to use, but difficult to use well. Or even somewhat well. On one occasion, Pastor Jeremiah playfully scolded me for playing with my squid, after my attempt to get a piece of squid from the serving dish to my bowl only succeeded in getting it onto the table and under another dish. We've been offered several "cheats," such as serving spoons, forks, and assistance, most of which we, especially Joshua, have tried to refuse. While I'm on the topic of food, we had heard that Chinese people will eat anything that walks, crawls, or moves. We are finding this to be true, but not only that, they eat just about every part of it. Some of us view this as an interesting opportunity to try new food; others wouldn't agree.

downtown Hong Kong

view of Hong Kong from The Peak

front and center: Chicken feet!

We are also trying to get a hang of the transportation system. This is difficult because the only part of a bus sign we can read is the number of the bus. So far we can get from Agape to the EMM office. That brings up the topic of language. We knew we didn't know much Cantonese, but that is becoming more and more evident as we are surrounded by it. Occasionally we'll catch phrases like "8 o'clock, okay?" or "I don't know," but for the most part, it all sounds new and strange.

For the next two weeks, we'll be working at a center in Tuen Mun where they have English and other classes for kids. We'll be working on fixing it up a bit -- scraping paint, sanding, and painting -- to get it ready for the start of classes. Friday night we met with Susanna Yang, our outreach coordinator, and other members from churches and talked about other possibilities for things we may be involved with. You will definitely be hearing about some of these things in the future.

Praises:
-safety in travel to Hong Kong from Pennsylvania.
-good connections with local church members.
-a relatively smooth recovery from jet lag. I'm not sure I've completely recovered, but I'm certainly well on the way.

Prayer Requests:
-for continued adjustment to a new culture.
-to be able to learn enough Cantonese to communicate.
-for good communication with the churches as we begin to set up different aspects of our outreach.

-Ben Herr