Merry Christmas from Hong Kong! I truly miss each one of you, my dear family, friends, and prayer warriors!
Celebrating Christmas away from family and friends is challenging–it’s my first Christmas to be away. However, as a long-term friend I met here in China reminded us (and herself), so many around the world do not know the True Meaning of Christmas–Jesus Christ’s birth as the way to have salvation through His death. So giving up my comforts is worth it for their eternal gain and Christ’s glory. On an encouraging note, we also baked some Christmas cookies and are planning a Christmas eve service, so I hear. Also Christmas dinner is catered, giving our wonderful cooks a well-deserved break
During November and December, we were in China (yeah! I’m allowed to say that now!) working along side various ministries, including a cultural exchange program, importing my favorite Book (a life-long dream of mine!), teaching at elementary and middle schools, and prayer walking where long-term friends live. While I have enjoyed the people I have gotten to know well, the country itself has been super challenging for me, the hardest country:
- Physically: The smoke in China has been hard on my asthma, and I’ve had the stomach flu for the last week…It started on a 26-hour train ride (the last of the five long train rides we took while we were in China). Yes, I saw the doctor yesterday; I’m starting to feel better. I hear my mom asked many church friends to pray for me — thank you! Please continue to pray for our health. (I hear Manila is also very smoggy!)
- Emotionally: Thanksgiving, my mother’s birthday, and Christmas away from family and friends have been challenging.
- Culturally: China really is on the other side of the world, where in many places people have never even seen a western foreigner, where spitting anywhere and everywhere (even inside buildings on a floor) is acceptable and actually encouraged, where tissues are used for toilet paper (that goes in the trash bucket beside the squatty, of course) and runny nose drippings are nosily extracted landing on the floor/ground. Yet it’s also a culture of faithful friendships and family-oriented lifestyles. So basically once you’re “in” the sphere of someone’s friends, you’re in for life.
- Spiritually: Hard. It’s like farming in all rocks. Yet, the Lord is All-Powerful. We made two new “friends” while in China, and impacted and continue to pray for many more. And with what I hear has been in the news lately, it makes me all the more appreciative of the friends I have never even met (from China and all over the world) who are serving the Lord fearlessly in China. I now know how to pray for them more fervently. Please join me in praying for Christians in China, especially for leaders and workers.
I hope to blog more about stories and experiences later. In a couple hours, we leave for the Philippines where we will spend Christmas on the beach before heading back to Manila for New Year Eve celebration. Then we will stay in Manila for a month doing ministry. (I haven’t been told what type of ministry yet.)
On a broader view, the current rumor is that we will be in Nicaragua in February (for my 30th birthday!), and then Guatemala and Mexico in March and April. Our end date has now been moved back to April 30. After which, my mom and I hope to visit my brother and sister-in-law and their soon-to-be little one (due in April) in Africa. After that….?? Please already begin to with me that the Lord will guide each step, that He will clearly open doors where He wants me to serve Him for His glory.
Thank you, my dear friends, prayer warriors, and family. I love yal lots. And remember to keep looking to Jesus–He’s the Hope of the China, America, and the whole world. He will get the final victory! Here’s your Christmas card for this year:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord….Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased…And You, child, will be called the Prophet of the Most High; for You will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 2: 11, 14; 1:76-79).
John {the Baptist} saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29).
Jesus, knowing that all was now finished,…said, ‘It is finished,’ and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit….Those who were {watching over Jesus’ death} were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’ (John 19:29-30; Matthew 27:54).
And I {John the apostle} saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…and they sang a new song {to Him}, saying worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God for every tribe and language and people and nation. (Revelation 5:6, 9).
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
