HERE WE ARE.
Today is the day that the DBU team gets here. It's been over a year since I was last on that plane coming to Hong Kong for the first time, and now I'm here in Hong Kong planning camp for a new group of DBU students. It's crazy. Surreal.
I'll be honest when I say I never thought that leaving Hong Kong would be so hard. I feel like I've been on a emotional rollercoaster that doesn’t show any signs of slowing. Recently I've found myself crying in prayer, or on a bus or at home, in my bed, on my runs, it's ridiculous. haha I love this place, and I feel like, well I have made a home here. I've learned what it is like to be on my own, in a foreign country, miles away from anything ordinary, but it all is so normal and ordinary to me know. I have really learned the true meaning of 'make missions your lifestyle.' I never felt like I was on mission here, but just living my life for the Lord in a different place, with different people, who are not foreign or people I'll never see again, but these people are some of my closest friends, and family now. Its just as equally hard saying goodbye to the friends, my students, and church members that I have seen daily here, as it was saying goodbye to my family.
Even though I am all sad sob story right now, I will say that the past two weeks have been great. God has really put a new perspective in my heart about Hong Kong. I just realized how many things I've taken advantage of here. Like on most of my runs I take my iPod, but last week I didn't. I can't tell you how awesome it is to run on the side of a mountain overlooking the island leading into the ocean, hearing the birds sing their morning songs, and feel the cool breeze blow in your face. I'm going to miss my runs here, despite all my complaining about the concrete. :) I’ve also just been able to see everything come together for camp. God is so awesome and he has worked everything out for me here. I don't know why he cares about me or loves me so much, but I am so thankful for him in my life. I was so stressed about our flights, about the hotels, about the food, about the money, about so much stuff. And it was great when God reminded me that nothing can thwart his plans, and all that stuff was stuff. He will take care of it all because he is God.
So. DBU Team gets here today in about 6 hours. I’m about to go to a pool party for an hour or two with my friends, because Today is Hong Kong’s Independence day. :) After the pool party, I’ll be getting the hotel ready for the team. Camp starts the 2nd and we leave for the Philippines on the 4th. We have 22 students and 10 Adults going.
Pray that God will continue to give me a peace about all the details for camp.
For our Students and staff to experience God in a way they never have while in Hong Kong and serving at the orphanage in the Philippines.
That I will be able to enjoy the time I have left and not think too much about leaving.
Thanks for all the love and support!
Love ya’ll!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
33 days left...
It's been the weirdest feeling knowing that I'm leaving so soon. Even though we have been so busy (More than the usual if it's possible) I can't stop thinking about how fast time has flown. I look back and laugh at my first journal post upon arriving to Hong Kong, and the nervousness portrayed in what the year would hold. Would the youth like me? Would I be able to do this job and school? Would I be terribly homesick?
It's amazing to see how far I've come and how much God has truly molded me this year. I feel like a new person with a new life and outtake on what 'missions' really is. I realized that my world view was so small, and God used Hong Kong to wake me up. I learned that it's not about 'missions' but doing life with people who happen to live in a different envoirnment I am not used to. After living here, I can't imagine a life inside the US for too long anymore, and I cringe at the thought of routine and being complacent, and worry that others wont understand my experience here. I will never forget praying that God would reveal to me if living overseas and doing missions as a lifestyle was His will for me, before I came. And I can truly say he did reveal that. :)
I felt like this year was a test of my faith, and my heart's true desires. I guess you can say that God definitely answered that with the growth in my passion for people, and different cultures. There is so much that I have left out in this blog, so many ways that the Lord has truly changed me, so many stories of his Grace and how he has used me, and so many thoughts that I have wanted to share. I'm sorry that I was not as frequent as I wish I could have been, but all in all this year was a 'growing up year' for me in a lot of ways.
I have learned a lot about the Church, and I've seen how hard it is to work at a church, and how rewarding it is at the same time. I am so thankful for our pastors here who have encouraged me to read books and study God's word. Theologically and Doctrinely I have learned so much that I may have never known had I not been here. Working with youth and different families, I have seen what works and what doesn't. I know now the importance of Discipleship in the home and truly investing in a child. More than that I have learned what it would be like to be on my own, in a foreign country. In a lot of ways I feel like I'm out of college, ready to start the next phase in my life, but next year I'll be going back to finish up my senior year.
I really feel like I have made Hong Kong my home this year and I'm very saddened to say goodbye to the friends, family, relationships, and ministry that I have poured my heart into this year. I still have 33 more days, but It feels like I only have 3. There is still so much to do this last month as well! We have our youth camp in July for 10 days in the Philippines, and are spending as much time as literally possible with the youth! I'm going to miss them the most!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone keeps asking if I'm ready to go back home yet, and I'm not. I'm not done here yet, and maybe when I'm on that plane home, then maybe I'll be ready.
"Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with action and in Truth" 1 John 3:18
It's amazing to see how far I've come and how much God has truly molded me this year. I feel like a new person with a new life and outtake on what 'missions' really is. I realized that my world view was so small, and God used Hong Kong to wake me up. I learned that it's not about 'missions' but doing life with people who happen to live in a different envoirnment I am not used to. After living here, I can't imagine a life inside the US for too long anymore, and I cringe at the thought of routine and being complacent, and worry that others wont understand my experience here. I will never forget praying that God would reveal to me if living overseas and doing missions as a lifestyle was His will for me, before I came. And I can truly say he did reveal that. :)
I felt like this year was a test of my faith, and my heart's true desires. I guess you can say that God definitely answered that with the growth in my passion for people, and different cultures. There is so much that I have left out in this blog, so many ways that the Lord has truly changed me, so many stories of his Grace and how he has used me, and so many thoughts that I have wanted to share. I'm sorry that I was not as frequent as I wish I could have been, but all in all this year was a 'growing up year' for me in a lot of ways.
I have learned a lot about the Church, and I've seen how hard it is to work at a church, and how rewarding it is at the same time. I am so thankful for our pastors here who have encouraged me to read books and study God's word. Theologically and Doctrinely I have learned so much that I may have never known had I not been here. Working with youth and different families, I have seen what works and what doesn't. I know now the importance of Discipleship in the home and truly investing in a child. More than that I have learned what it would be like to be on my own, in a foreign country. In a lot of ways I feel like I'm out of college, ready to start the next phase in my life, but next year I'll be going back to finish up my senior year.
I really feel like I have made Hong Kong my home this year and I'm very saddened to say goodbye to the friends, family, relationships, and ministry that I have poured my heart into this year. I still have 33 more days, but It feels like I only have 3. There is still so much to do this last month as well! We have our youth camp in July for 10 days in the Philippines, and are spending as much time as literally possible with the youth! I'm going to miss them the most!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone keeps asking if I'm ready to go back home yet, and I'm not. I'm not done here yet, and maybe when I'm on that plane home, then maybe I'll be ready.
"Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with action and in Truth" 1 John 3:18
Monday, June 15, 2009
Stanley & Times Square
Saturday afternoon me and some of the youth had lunch & ice cream in Times Sq. and went shopping for Kayla's room decorations in Stanley. Just a few shots from the day.
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