Unnoticed Disasters

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.

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

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

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

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

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

bum

bum

bum

bum

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Cambodia/Thailand

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