Longings for Country

So I know when I've been away from the country too long when... seeing grass is a novelty, when I want to walk through it with my barefeet, when a walk down the flower market street brings a huge smile to my face or when I get excited at the opportunity to ride in a car. What's the saying? You can take a girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl...

It's a foreigner!

There are many things that really shouldn't surprise me about traveling in China. I know I should expect the unexpected... and yet I forget. For example, the tradition for people to perform or randomly ask you to speak to a class of university students for a whole hour. And then the next hour and yet another. And even ask you to sing a song for them! yes, all this and more. And I have to consciously make myself try not to feel like a foreigner, when so many people are watching everything you do. I get used to the looks, and most of the time that's all it is. But, yesterday, the last day of my trip, a little boy suddenly looked up at me. And to his surprise, saw a strange sight. He declared with a surprised expression "Yi ge wai guo ren!" (It's a foreigner!") haha. I laughed for a while at that one.

Musical Chairs: the Hong Kong way of eating

There is one aspect of eating out here that I have not quite adapted to yet. When I eat at little street-side restaurants, I inevitably end up sharing a table with someone-due to the amount of people living here and the lack of space. Well today, I was seated at a small round table with another person, then a family of 3 was seated there when she left. The host asked me if I would move to another table with more room. So I changed lunch companions once again. At my new table I ended up eating with 3 other groups of people. And I didn't think I was that slow at eating! I guess there are no strangers. Anyone could be joining you for your next lunch! When I go home, I might just find myself joining complete strangers at restaurants.

Fa Sang Jeung

Fa sang jeung....peanut butter! that's what I had stuck in my head. In the midst of my thoughts was this single word. I really don't understand how such a random word can fit in with the thoughts of the day. What's even crazier, I never spent any effort trying to remember this word: it was just one of those words we came across in our food chapter in Cantonese class. How can my mind remember such an inconsequential word and not remember the essential phrases I need in the moment I need it. Maybe it's just doing its job... sticking to the roof of my brain! Now, how to get that to happen to the other words I need to know...

Reflections

While spending an evening at the Harbor I wanted to capture the lights of the city. I tried several settings on my camera- the night setting, with flash, etc. All of those tries produced either a bright forefront and dim lights in the distance or blurry lights. After several failed attempts at getting the right lighting, I realized all I needed to do was turn off my flash! The light from the buildings produced the light that I wanted to capture… if my camera produced it’s own light, it would not reflect the lighted buildings in all their beauty. Isn’t that so true of our light that shines. The glory of our King shines brightly, if we try to make our own light we end up making less of Him. Instead we use the power of His light in our

lives to give him that glory!

The Benefits of Learning Cantonese

Knowing just a little Cantonese can get you into trouble. It opens up more opportunities that in some ways may deceive people into thinking you know more. I have been trying to branch out a little more in using Cantonese. After class yesterday, I went to the market in Mong Kok. This is one of the locations you can bargain for the item you want and is also a popular tourist area. I wanted to buy a gift for a friend. So, I asked how much the item was and told them it was for a friend and told them how old she was in Cantonese. Well, this brought on sentence upon sentence of explanation why she thought this certain style or color was better for my friend. After only 1 month of language study, that was just a little more than I understood, so I just smiled and nodded for a while. Then she added ‘Nei sik mh sik tang? Do you understand? hehe. I had to say, no. So she then went on a little more, I got the general idea what she was talking about... I think. But, because I tried talking with her in Cantonese, she gave me a discounted price. So I guess it pays to give it a try, even if you end up being humbled.

I had another language experience today.You know it’s a good thing to know Cantonese when you hear someone yelling. It could be to tell you that they’re cutting down a huge branch and it could fall on you! I’ve grown accustomed to hearing loud talking and not understanding a word… I just continue on my way in my own little world. Well, that’s not such a good thing. Several workers were on the hillside, with an unstable ladder, sawing down a big branch… right in front of my door! In the rain! I would have walked right in the way, if it weren’t for huge hand gestures telling me to get back. So, I waited in the rain as mosquitoes feasted on my skin. The branch fell (almost taking out my kitchen window) right in front of my door. I guess that was a wake up call to either be motivated to learn more! Or just be a little more aware of my surroundings.

An Unexpected Greeting

I went for a walk this afternoon to the post office... On previous walks through the neighboring community, I've often noticed the numerous elderly gentlemen who sit around in the shade of the trees, watching people pass by, talking with each other or playing games together. I've often desired to join them, just to chat with them, but am hindered by the language barrier. Taking a detour through the local market after picking up a package at the post office, an elderly man's huge smile greeted me. Usually that's not the reaction people have as I walk past their produce. Usually I get a look like 'you're a little out of place here.' Then even more strange to my ears, he spoke to me in English! He said to me, "It's not very often I see a foreigner walking here." And from there, the conversation continued for at least 10 minutes. Being the same age as my grandmother, he had lots of wisdom and experience to share with me from his travels around the world. He was born in New York to a family of 20 children! He's lived in several other countries in his life and only lived the last 10 years in Hong Kong. He had lots of thoughts about human nature, animal nature, connecting the two of them, life and death, and the search for God. I pray for another opportunity to speak again with this friendly man, who has a need to know God- who has made himself known to us. My heart is burdened for him, but am also amazed at how God gave the opportunity to talk with him.

The Sovereign hand of God

The events surrounding the trip to Macau:
Back in April I was sharing the ministry at a church. A couple invited me to join them for lunch afterward to talk more about Hong Kong. They also gave me an envelope with some money from Macau and China... he had been on several trips and had that left over, so they wanted me to have it. Well, I accidentally left it at the restaurant! I thought I'd just let it go...the waitress would have a nice tip. hehe. But, later I decided to email them and tell them about it, so at least they could try to get it back. So, they called the restaurant which they found out had actually kept the money and were going to place an ad in the paper for it! The couple picked it up and then proceeded to mail it to me. It was such a kind gesture. Well, I didn't realize just how much that would comfort me later. You know when I was making the decision to go ahead and come without my visa... and I was told that I would just have to go to Macau and return... I could feel God's loving arms around me, giving me confirmation that He is watching out for me... He already knew I'd have to go to Macau. It gave me rest and peace that He was working in ways I hadn't imagined. So when I was in Macau on Monday, I was able to use the money for the bus to get around. It wasn't much, but it gave me such joy and heart filled with gratitude. "When I think about the Lord... what an amazing Father He is and how He wants us to know Him.

"We need to be a corporate body, smitten with the glory of God, committed to the unity of the church, deluged by his love, and faithful as we walk together in obedience to him, even in our suffering. We need to need other people less and love other people more." -Edward Welch in When People are Big and God is Small.
When I consider the love of God as ultimately shown through the gift of His Son, and also as displayed in the love Hosea had for his wandering wife Gomer, I am overwhelmed by His amazing love and then compelled to love others. How could I do any less? Even when I feel as though I have had enough and don’t want to be hurt anymore, God’s love motivates me to keep going, keep showing them love, His love... because God earnestly desires for people to know His amazing, overwhelming love.

I've been encouraged by a dear friend to start writing again. I shared thoughts and stories while I was in China, but have since forsaken this aspect of sharing and even reflecting on what God has been teaching me, how God is working around me, and other great stories that happen along the way. So, as I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead, I want to begin the habit again, for remembering the ways God works and for sharing them with those interested in the journey and adventures in Hong Kong.