Jesus open the door (a plea for the lost)

Her mama loved Jesus
But death stings, living on her own
Picking up the pieces
That were scattered in her home

Never got to ask her
She was just a little girl
Whispers from Jesus
Keep haunting her still

Jesus open the door
We're not going to sleep
Jesus open the door
Knocking will keep
Jesus open the door
Father oh Father
Hear our cry
Be lifted high

He was hurt as a child
Broken homes seem to leave the deepest scars
Tried to reconcile
But it never seemed to take him far

Now he tries to blame the world
Still the pain won't go away
The hate in his heart
Is getting stronger each day

Jesus open the door
We're not going to sleep
Jesus open the door
Knocking will keep
Jesus open the door
Father oh Father
Hear our cry
Be lifted high

He'd been searching for answers
Since he was just a little boy
But the late night dancers
Had him lost and destroyed

Now he doesn't have the money
For a temporary fix
Hears about Jesus...wonders
What he can do with this?

Jesus open the door
We're not going to sleep
Jesus open the door
Knocking will keep
Jesus open the door
Father oh Father
Hear our cry
Be lifted high

When the cross is heavy

When the cross is heavy
Be my strength
When I have no words
Take my place
When tears stream
Wipe my eyes
When the light seems distant
Guide my cries
When I'm all alone
Whisper in my ear
When I'm so afraid
Remove my fear
When the cross is heavy
Be glorified

Day 101- 105 --- April 16th to 27th

I apologize but I haven't recently been able to update my blog. Here is a quick overview of the last ten days or so...

April 16th - Gym in the morning with Mike, Mandarin class, dinner with Tom and Grace, studying for Mandarin exam
April 17th - Saw the great wall! dinner with Tom and Grace, studying for Mandarin exam. (unfortunately i couldn't' get to fellowship for one last time)
April 18th - Studying Mandarin, Mandarin examination, dinner with one of our teachers (Pak)
April 19th - Research for final paper, last goodbyes to Tom and Grace
April 20th - Last time at BICF, lunch with Dan and Kelly, working on cards for friends, goodbye to massage friends
April 21st - Class with Dan, relaxing in steamer and sauna, goodbye cards
April 22nd - Class with Dan, dinner at hotpot, goodbyes
April 23rd - Crazy day! Saying farewell to students. This was extremely hard and emotional for everyone. Goodbyes and dinner with Karma and Carmen. KTV with hotpot friends, packing Thank our Father for giving me the strength to face this day
April 24th - Up early to pack, fly to Chengdu, watched the Forbidden Kingdom in the evening
April 25th - meeting with students from Sichuan university. Lecture in the afternoon. Mike and I went for a Thai massage in the evening
April 26th - Traveled to the Panda Research Centre and Observatory. Had lecture in the afternoon.
April 27th - Attended three-self church in morning. Met up and had lunch with some fellow foreigners. Finished a good chunk out of my John Grishm novel. Update pictures, etc. Relaxed in the evening
April 28th - Tomorrow we fly from Chengdu to Beijing and from Beijing to Toronto. My time in China is finally coming to an end. Thanks again to all who have supported and encouraged me in one form or another.

Day 96 - 100 -- April 11th to 15th

These past few days have been quite eventful. On Friday evening Tom, Grace, Mike, Gen and I boarded a train for Xi'an. Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi Province and is considered one of the most important historical cities in China. The train ride to Xi'an was quite an experience. The Beijing railway station is the largest in Asia - it almost looked and felt like an airport. We traveled on the train and slept on hard-top bunk beds. Our bunks were on the very bottom. During the twelve hour journey we played cards, talked and of course slept. We arrived in Xi'an at around 6:30am where we were greeted by our tour guide. We really hadn't planned on going to Xi'an let alone going with a tour. But Tom and Grace were able to find a local tour which was considerably cheaper.

On Saturday we traveled to see places like where the Xi'an Incident occurred, Terracotta Warriors and Huaqing Hot Springs. The Terracotta Warriors were truly amazing. With that being said, a Chinese tour experience is quite eventful - no English, poorly organized, hidden costs and of course each day is jammed packed! By the end of the first day I was pretty tired. In the evening we played some cards and relaxed at the hotel.

I definitely enjoyed Sunday the most. We traveled to Mt. Huashan and witnessed breathtaking scenery. It took us two hours to get to Mt. Huashan. Shortly after the bus stopped a mini bus came to drive us up to the gondola. The bus ride was awesome! As we winded around the mountain rocks we saw beautiful waterfalls and rapids, cliffs and caves. From the bus ride we scooted up the mountain on a gondola. We had all hoped that we would have had time to hike up the mountain but there was not nearly enough time. Nevertheless, we did manage to hike a fair bit. We began at the Jade Spring Temple and journeyed up to the East Peak (Facing Sun Peak) We climbed stairs and steps for about four hours or so. At the summit we were above the cloud line. Time prevented me from making it to the top of the Eastern peak which has an altitude of about 6,800ft. The others were especially tired but I was so close. I was maybe 200ft from the summit of the mountain. While we found the hike tiring, we often passed Chinese workers who were lugging water, food and goods up to the many tourists stops. These men (often older) carry goods up the mountain every day - and they don't take the gondola. I was equally impressed with Tom, Grace and Gen's perseverance. Mike find the climbing especially difficult as he was fighting a cold. We got back to our tour bus at 5:30 in the evening. Unfortunately, we were delayed an hour and a half by an overly excited shopping couple. By the time we got by a car accident and all the traffic we found a place to eat - it was about 9:30pm. The bus dropped us off near the Bell tower. Xi'an is quite fascinating at night. We walked through the markets and passed the Muslim temples before grabbing some Muslim dish for dinner.

Yesterday was somewhat frustrating. The tour bus arrived two hours after the expected pick up time. Honestly, they are so unorganized but as we keep reminding ourselves - we are in China! We ended up leaving the tour early since the tour guide was going to take us around to some of the tourist shops. Instead we rented bicycles and biked around Xi'an city wall. This city wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved city walls in China. Biking around the city was another one of the highlights of my trip. After biking, we headed back to the tour guide office. We had been hounding them all day to get our train tickets. They finally did get them for us but not the tickets we had ordered. There was little we could do to change our train seats but we did manage to get reimbursed for the change in seats. While we waited for the train, the five of us sat in McDonalds playing cards and laughing our heads off.

The train ride home was better than I had expected. The five us played games and chatted during the evening. Some people nearby on the train asked us to quiet down - but we were suffering from contagious laughter and probably tiredness. I also talked to a man who lives close to Xian for a good hour. He spoke a little English so we were able to talk a fair bit. We went to bed around 10 o-clock in the evening. Mike, Gen and I slept on the very top bunk. It was a unique experience.

We arrived at the Beijing railway station around 7:15am. Tom and Grace took an overly crowded bus home and the three of us took the luggage and headed back home via. bus, subway and taxi. When I got home I desperately wanted to have a shower. We were all tired. I spent the rest of the day working on Mandarin, doing laundry, uploading pictures, emails and just relaxing.

Another adventure in Him

Day 93 - 95 -- April 8th - 10th

The past few days have been pretty busy. On Tuesday we headed up to the school and continued our work with the students. Yesterday, Mike and I spent most of the day studying and working on our assignments. Today we headed back up to the school for a time of study. This evening I went to BICF Fellowship. Tomorrow we leave for Xian. We will be gone for about five days. Blessings

Day 90- 92--- April 5th- 7th

This past Saturday I spent most of the day working on my assignments for Eastern Religions. In the afternoon I met one of my friends from hot pot. We headed over to the Kodak shop to get photos developed. Our friends really want some pictures. Unfortunately, my files were corrupted so I couldn't get them done.

On Saturday evening my friend from young-adults asked me to lead a Sunday school class - which ended up working out. Afterwards I headed up to the 11:30 celebration service. There wasn't a sermon today because they were recording a worship service. From the service we headed out for nice pizza lunch with some of our friends from the young-adult fellowship. In the afternoon I did some shopping at Pearl Market before watching a movie in the evening.

Yesterday morning I worked on my Mandarin before heading to class in the afternoon. In the evening Mike and I worked on our homework at a nearby coffee shop. From the shop we headed to pick up the pictures that we were getting developed. Mike and I ended up talking with our friends at hot pot for an hour or so.

Another day

Day 88-89 --- April 3rd to 4th

Yesterday I finished my paper! I really have a lot to do and when a free day comes around like this I have to take advantage of it. In the evening I headed over for young-adult fellowship at BICF. Tom and Grace also came along as they wanted to experience and see what it was all about. After fellowship I went out for pizza. The food on the menu was pretty pricey so I just stuck to a glass of orange juice. There were a fare number of us so we had to split up at different tables. I was sitting with American brothers and sisters. Over the course of the evening it was interesting to listen to some of their various political standpoints. I can't help it - a few comments were priceless. At one point, one of the guys was trying to defend American might and health. He began his argument with the phrase, "Besides the economy..." I am sorry but I couldn't help but laugh. An interesting evening nonetheless.

Today Mike, Grace, Tom and I left the apartment at around 8am. We took the 801 bus up to the Summer Palace where we met Carmen and Karma The Summer Palace is a tourist attraction and has probably been my favorite site to date. It was the cottage like residents for emperors. It is surrounded by a lake, waterways, mountains and various sorts of vegetation. Of all the displays I especially liked the last section. It had a Venice-like feel. Around five or so we took the bus back home and had dinner at a little local noodle shop. In the evening I completed my monthly budget and reports for CBM. Another day

Day 85-87 -- March 31st to April 2nd

On Monday morning Mike and I headed to the gym. My neck was really hurting this morning so I didn't workout for very long. In the afternoon, I had another Mandarin class with Tom and Grace. In the evening, I worked on my outline for my paper on cross-cultural communication.

On Tuesday morning Carmen surprised us by arriving half and hour earlier than normal. This morning it was pretty rainy and the traffic was bad on the road. I am really enjoying my time at the school. Although I can hardly communicate, I am finding that I am having a growing love for each of my brothers and sisters. It was hard to leave Tuesday night and I would have loved to stay. Once again we stayed over at Carmen's house for the night.

On Wednesday morning we got breakfast from a street vendor near Carmen's house. Grace and Tom joined us at the school and got to see what we were doing. When it was time to leave, Peter (the person in charge) asked if I wanted to ride with him on his bike. It was a unique experience riding through northern Beijing. The bike itself is battery-operated - pretty slick. Peter dropped me off at the bus stop where I met the rest of the gang. On the bus ride home I had a bit of a sleep. There were so many people on the bus that we couldn't get off at our stop. In the evening we headed over to see our friends from hot pot. We have been really busy and haven't got to see them a whole lot. Back at the flat I worked on homework for the rest of the evening.

Things are getting busy here so my posts will probably be a little rushed.

Blessings

Asleep in the Light - Keith Green

Asleep in the Light - by Keith Green

Do you see, do you see
All the people sinking down
Don't you care, don't you care
Are you gonna let them drown

How can you be so numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the job's done

"Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord"
You know it's all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts
No one even sheds one tear

But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds
And He cares for your needs
And you just lay back
And keep soaking it in,
Oh, can't you see it's such a sin?

Cause He brings people to you door,
And you turn them away
As you smile and say,
"God bless you, be at peace"
And all heaven just weeps
Cause Jesus came to your door
You've left him out on the streets

Open up open up
And give yourself away
You see the need, you hear the cries
So how can you delay

God's calling and you're the one
But like Jonah you run
He's told you to speak
But you keep holding it in,
Oh can't you see it's such a sin?

The world is sleeping in the dark
That the church just can't fight
Cause it's asleep in the light
How can you be so dead
When you've been so well fed
Jesus rose from the grave
And you, you can't even get out of bed

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead
Come on, get out of your bed

How can you be so numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the job's done
You close your eyes
And pretend the job's done

Don't close your eyes
Don't pretend the jobs done
Come away, come away, come away with Me my love,
Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, my love.

Favourite Songs (Current)

No particular order

Be lifted high - Leeland
In Christ Alone - Newsboys
With all I am - Hillsong
Shine Jesus Shine
At the cross - Hillsong
None but Jesus - Hillsong
Hosanna - Hillsong
Never let God - Matt Redmen
Consuming Fire - Tim Hughes
Beauty of Your Peace - Tim Hughes
Facedown - Matt Redmen
Tears of the Saints - Leeland
Lord Have Mercy - Michael W. Smith
Majesty - Delirious?
You Said - Urbana Praise Team
Beautiful Sound - Newsboys
Here I am to Worship - Tim Hughes
He's Walking Her Home - Newsboys
Amazed - ATF
The Father's Song - Matt Redmen
The Friendship and the Fear- Matt Redmen
Somewhere in the Middle - Casting Crowns
Love them like Jesus - Casting Crowns

Day 83-84 - March 29th and 30th

On Saturday morning I worked on a paper. In the afternoon Mike, Gen and I went out with Kevin. We went to a village community in the northern end of Beijing. It sells cheap silver jewelry. After that we went over to a cell-phone store where Mike and Gen bought some stuff. In the evening we had dinner with Kevin and Wei Wei. Kevin's mom and dad are very friendly and hospitable.

On Sunday morning I helped out a friend from fellowship with a teen boys bible study. It went pretty well. We had fifteen guys who for the most part were in grades nine and ten. Once we were done, I headed off with Billy to the English celebration service. Because we got our seats early we were assigned to be ushers for the offering. The sermon was based on the story of Esther and titled "Influence your world for God." The four points were 1) Using your ethnicity for God 2) Be mentored by others to the glory of God 3) Use your gender to the glory of God 4) Sacrifice it all for the glory of God. Sorry, but I don't really have time to comment on each point. However, I will say that I never realized the importance of Mordecai; especially his wisdom, encouragement and obedience.

In the afternoon I attended a seminar called S.H.A.P.E or spiritual gifts + heart + ability + personality + experience. It was mainly geared for those who are staying in BICF for a while but nevertheless, it was helpful. As BICF prepares for the Olympics the need for volunteers has increased greatly. BICF is already huge and is expected to at least double during the Olympics. What an opportunity!

Day 80-82 - March 26th to 28th

Wednesday - The three of us stayed over at Carmen's house last night. It seemed make more sense since we had to be up at the school early in the morning. This morning we reviewed Tuesdays' English lesson with the students. Carmen had to leave early so we didn't really do a lot of teaching in the afternoon. Instead we did a whole lot of laughing and playing games. When I got home I was feeling pretty tired. Mike and I slept for an hour or so before we went over to see our friends.

Thursday - Yesterday I pretty much did homework all day. In the evening I went out to BICF. It was the one year anniversary so they had a little party.

Friday - Today Mike and I went to the gym in the morning. In the afternoon we had Mandarin class. The semester is going by so quickly. We only have a few Mandarin classes left. After class we went to the market to do some shopping for dinner. In the evening I did a little homework before relaxing for the rest of the evening.

Day 79 - March 25th

Today we got up bright and early! Once again we travelled to teach English. We were there the whole day in left sometime shortly after dinner. This experience has been quite amazing. Today we had an opportunity to share with our friends and learn about their lives. One story in particular stands out. Ruth, a dear sister shared about her experience with Hannah on a short-term mission trip. They stayed in a remote, poor and cold village. The hosts gave them the best they had. They slept in a mud hut and share a small blanket. Ruth shared how cold they were during that time and how emotional it was. All they could do was cuddle and cry together. But during this time God gave Hannah a beautiful song that I really want to learn. This is just a snipet of the time of sharing and learning.

A brother named Will also has encouraged and challenged me. Will is a slow learner and doesn't really thrive in school. But Will is a prayer warrior. Seriously, I have never seen someone so engaged in communion with God. Every day when we are at the school, Will sits on his bed praying. When we are out talking or playing games we know where to find Will - on his knees. Wow!We are so blessed! I have so much to learn about true discipleship. I have so much to learn from these dear brothers and sisters.

Day 76-78 - March 22nd - 24th

The last couple of days have been pretty eventful. On Saturday I worked on my homework in the morning. In the afternoon the three of us went out with Tom and Grace. We took the bus and subway over to the center of the city. In the afternoon we biked around and through the old villages which are known as hutongs. It cost about 10 kuai to rent a bike for the afternoon. That probably somewhat explains why I had to go back and get a new bike - my pedal fell off! Biking in the little alleyways was pretty eventful. We always had to be aware of our surroundings as dogs, wagons and people ducked and dodged through the narrow streets. After our biking adventure we headed over to Wong Fu Jing where we grabbed dinner in an underground street market.

On Sunday we walked over to BICF for the nine thirty service. For some reason I couldn't really focus during the service. Tom and I had a pretty intense theological discussion and I was caught up thinking about it during the service. After the service I looked around at some wonderful art. BICF was hosting the largest Christian local art gallery. Some of the paintings (or rather most of them) were fantastic! Once we were back from BICF we spent most of our time relaxing. On Sundary afternoon we did have an unexpected visitor to our flat. A man with a badge was looking and inquiry into our stay. An interesting experience none-the-less.

On Monday I headed over to the gym at 9am. Once I got back I worked on my Mandarin while getting caught up with my emails. We had to head over to the school a little earlier because Carmen wanted to have a meeting with us and plan out our schedule for the rest of our stay. After class we came back to the flat and cooked dinner. I needed to find a quiet place to study so I headed over to KFC where I prepared my outline for a paper. Before heading home I stopped by to see my friends from hot pot. Once again there were many moments of confusion but also great laughter. At one point the manager asked me a question about the resurrection. I couldn't make out what she was saying. It was a close call when a guy sitting by told me he spoke English. He asked if I needed him to translate but I assured him that everything was ok. Shortly after I headed back to the flat. On my way up the elevator I ran into an overly curious man. Please keep us in your prayers. The manager of the hotpot had given me a piece of paper with some Chinese on it. Once I found it that she was talking about the resurrection I was again overwhelmed with excitment and thanks. I got in touch with Mike (who was at the gym with Tom) and told him that the manager was trying to ask me a question about the resurrection. We ended up heading back over to see them. The store was closing so we ended up walking with our friends back towards our home. On the way home, the manager was talking to Mike about the resurrection. She has been reading the book of John and she is confused and has a lot of questions. She said she mentioned the stories of John to her boyfriend but he insisted that it is just some other fairytale. Please pray for Yi Bo boyfriend too. With that being said, we ended up going out for tea with the manager and the cashier. We talked for about an hour or so. Up until tonight, the cashier had no idea about the gospel. Pray for our friends. When I called Tom and Grace to tell them what we were doing Tom seemed a little concerned. But after sharing and talking with him back at the flat he was so encouraged and excited. Early in the day Tom had met a lady of faith at a clothing shop where he had the opportunity to talk with her for a half-hour or so. Tom also shared a story about his friend, who had encouraged a man who worked at a massage parlor to share his faith with the other workers. Today the whole massage parlor believe in my Father and are seeking to share and tell about this truth. These stories are truly amazing. I am so thankful to be part of the journey. Another day in Him

What if it's true?

Hans Urs von Balthasar once said, "If one does away with the fact of the Resurrection, one also does away with the Cross, for both stand and fall together, and one would then have to find a new center for the whole message of the gospel."

Since its Easter Sunday, I would like to briefly comment on the resurrection. There are no if's ands or buts - The Christian faith lives and dies by the resurrection. The apostle Paul described this reality in 1 Corinthians 15:14 where he said, "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain."

But what if the claims about the resurrection are true? What if Jesus really is the resurrection and the life?

I should say that while there is credible evidence for the resurrection one cannot undermine the need for faith. We cannot come to faith in Jesus Christ through or by any human effort. Salvation is the gracious invitation of God. Here are a few points that add credibility for the resurrection.

The Eye witnesses - The amount of witnesses chronicling the resurrection are great and numerous. If a court room were filled with this many witnesses the judge would not be able to merely throw out a well established claim.

The Empty Tomb - Historical Jewish and Roman records speak about the empty tomb. But what really happened some 2000 years ago. Jesus was wrapped in linen that was weighed down with about 100 lbs of spices. A large stone that weighed about 2 tons or 4000lbs was placed in front of the entrance. Moreover, a trained Roman soldier stood guarding the tomb. The Roman seal would have acted as a deterrent for anyone thinking of defrauding the buried body. If someone did such a thing they would be subject to the wrath of the Roman law - meaning being crucified while hanging upside down. Secondly, the early followers of Jesus preached the resurrection in the most unthinkable city of Jerusalem. Paul Althaus states that the resurrection "could have not been maintained in Jerusalem for a single day, for a single hour, if the emptiness of the tomb had not been established as a fact for all concerned." Thirdly, why would the Roman guard vanish and disappear? He would automatically be subject to death under Roman law. Fourthly, how can one describe the unaltered and unmoved grave clothes which lay in the empty tomb? Some suggest that we have identified the wrong tomb. But really, would the Roman army (who was asked to guard the tomb) have been mistaken about the location? It can neither be considered geographically inaccurate because the Jewish authorities would have immediately replaced or come up with a body. Another suggestion has been that the body was stolen. The disciples were scared and were in no position to risk death under Roman law. Equally, one cannot say that Jewish and Roman authorities moved Jesus body. As Josh McDowell explains saying, "If the authorities had the body in their possession or knew where it was, why, when the disciples were preaching the resurrection in Jerusalem, didn't they explain: "Wait! We moved the body, see, He didn't rise from the grave"?

The Embarrassment Factor - Why would the disciples preach a embarrassing message - one that would lead to endless persecution and for some death. Why would they lie. As someone once said, "Lies don't make a martyr." Lies die out. If it weren't true, John would have been back fishing, Matthew would have been back collecting taxes, and so on and so on.

The gospel records are brutally honest. They convey emotions of doubt, fear and joy. Why would the gospels write against cultural norms and address doubt if they were trying to convey anything but the truth. For example, the testimony of a women would have been seen as non-sense or insignificant. Yet, the first persons to encounter the risen Christ were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Mary. The Bible also doesn't seek to cover up the fact that initially some of the followers doubted this "absurd claim." But Thomas one of the twelve was truly taken back when Jesus appeared to him saying, "Put your fingers here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side." Thomas response was simple, "My Lord and my God!"

Day 75 - March 21st

Today it was somewhat of a gloomy and rainy day - pretty fitting when you think about it. Mike and I went to the gym in the morning. I didn't get to finish my workout because the electric breaker that powers the treadmill blew up. Right when I got back from the gym I got a call from Carmen. We kind of have a bit of a different schedule for the rest of our time. Instead of teaching English on Tuesday and Thursday we will now spend two full days with our students on Tuesday and Wednesday. With that being said, we will only have Mandarin class on Monday's and Friday. I think because it was good Friday we didn't have class today. As a result, I spent the afternoon working and reading for my other classes. Mike and I also visited our friends from hot pot in the late afternoon. We had a really amazing home cooked meal - thai green curry. The only downfall was that we were a bit rushed for the good Friday service at 7:30. We ended up taking a taxi to the service. Because it was rush hour it still took us fifteen minutes. Nevertheless, the service was special. We took communion together and sang some songs. I was tearfully moved by the Passion of Christ video and the music that played along with it. After the service we walked back home. Mike and I stopped off again to see our friends from hot pot. Although I was pretty full, they really wanted to treat us to some homemade dumplings. I don't know why but I was pretty clumsy and dropped two of them. Hey I am using chopsticks right. Until next time,
Jon

Day 74 - March 20th

This morning we traveled back up to the school. Unlike most mornings, today we shared our testimonies, sang and played games. I tried to share my story in Mandarin. Pretty amusing. It truly is amazing how God has brought people from all over the world into His family no matter their race, gender or social status.

All the stories were great but one particularly stood out. Here is a brief overview of Kathy's story. Kathy grew up with both her father and mother. Her father was always away working and making good money for the entire family. After awhile Kathy's father stopped sending money home to support his family. One day Kathy's parents got into an ugly argument. Out of these difficulties, Kathy's parents abandoned the children. For a long time, Kathy was overwhelmed with looking after her family. She was angry at her parents. She wanted to end her life. She hated her past, her family - her sin. One day a friend from stopped by and invited Kathy to church. The rest is history, praise God! Today Kathy prays that both of her parents will come to know Jesus. Will you to pray for Kathy and her family.

These students or rather brother and sisters are my age. They have no formal education let alone theological education. They lack the status and prestige and they carry little with them. But one thing I cannot deny is their overwhelming joy and trust in our Maker.

This evening we headed back for another time of fellowship at BICF. For the past few weeks a wonderful couple from South Carolina has been speaking on relationships. Today we broke into gender specific groups and talked about purity and living a life worthy of the calling. Our time of fellowship ended with worship. What a wonderful time it was.

Before we went to bed, we had a miniature like Maundy Thursday service. Tom, a pastor from British Columbia suggested that we celebrate the Lord's Supper together. Gen and Grace were sleeping so the three of us celebrated this sacred meal. We didn't have any wine or grape juice but I am sure the good Lord doesn't mind that we used orange juice. It was a special! We read and reflected on Scripture from Luke 22-23 before praying together.

Cost of Discipleship

The last week of so I have been really challenged and stretched. The gospel message really is hard to believe. Jesus didn't promise wealth and health but an abundant life in serving and abiding in Him. The Bible is not some self-help book but a song of His faithfulness and gracious invitation. The gospel is not built on hyper-grace and limitless forgiveness and bliss. It's built on the bedrock of death to self.

Here in Beijing it is Good Friday. Today we remember our sin, the very sin that put our Redeemer on the cross. Today we find hope in our sufferings and pain because we have a great high priest who sympathizes with us. We know the ending or rather the climatic moment. We know or rather ought to know that sin has truly lost its grip on us. While we once lived in shame we now live under grace.

To many who read this, the gospel message seems simple. But the reality is that the gospel message is totally hard to believe. In fact without the transforming power of the Holy Spirit it is impossible to believe.

I pray that this Easter holiday God will touch, convict and minister to you in new and marvelous ways.

Day 71-73 - March 17th- 19th

On Monday I went to the gym in the morning with Myke before working on my Mandarin. From class we went over to the market to buy food for dinner. Tom and I cooked a curry-like dish. After dinner I relaxed and did some reading for one of my classes.

On Tuesday morning we headed back to the school to teach English. I really feel so blessed to have this opportunity. These twenty or so young people have sacrificed so much for His mission - not to mention their families and churches. Each Tuesday we spend a full day with them teaching English. After an hour or so, we usually split off into smaller groups. I love my small group! I was greatly moved by our time of prayer. My friends have little education, little money and little status but they carry an incredible joy and trust in Christ. On Tuesday evening the three of us went out for dinner with Tom and Grace. I spent a good part of the evening reading for one of my courses.

Yesterday morning I got up early and went over to the gym. Mike was busy and couldn't join men. I spent the rest of the morning studying Mandarin. After that Mike, Gen and I went out for lunch at a restaurant near our school called Kung Fu. After class we came home and cooked dinner. For the rest of the evening I continued to read for one of my courses. The book is over 600 pages but thankfully I should be done in the next couple of days.

Blessings

Day 69/70 - March 15th and 16th

Yesterday I finished my reading summaries for my course in Eastern Religions. I also did a bit of reading for my other courses. Mike and I met up at hotpot and talked with our friends for an hour or so. Once we were back at the flat Grace and Tom hinted that they wanted to try hot pot. So once again we headed back to see our friends. The last couple of days I have been feeling discouraged with my Mandarin. Tonight I was encouraged by the managers kind words. She said that she appreciated my sincerity and admired my hard work. I don't say this to toot my own horn, but to return praise and thanks to God who is the author of all good gifts.

This morning I headed over to BICF. I was hoping to help out one of my friends from Thursday fellowship but I couldn't find him. Next week I hope to assist him with the teenage guy fellowship group. I met up with Grace, Tom, Mike and Gen at the Mandarin/English service. Today was Palm Sunday! We had a guest speaker from Texas who spoke on prayer in a message titled "The kind of prayer that get's heavens attention!" It was good. After the service I headed back to the apartment and had lunch before lying down for an hour or so. Once Gen and her friend returned home from the second service all of us headed off to see the Forbidden City. It is truly something spectacular! You really can't understand the magnitude of the Forbidden City unless you see it first hand. I especially enjoyed walking through the Imperial Gardens. There were some unique and ancient trees that were pretty interesting. I am sure that this experience will be etched in my life memory bank for a long time. From the Forbidden City we headed off to the street markets in Wong Fun Jing. I bought some lamb and tried some of Mikes ostrich and deer. The ostrich was really good. I was rallying the guys up to try fried scorpion. We tried it and actually it wasn't bad at all. It tasted kind of like a potato chip. As much as I love the experience of the street market I absolutely hate the smell of stinky tofu. Even many of the local Chinese plug their nose when walking by stinky tofu vendors. After we had dinner at the street market, we browsed around some of the shops. Mike has been feeling kind of sick the last few days and wanted to get going. I really couldn't complain, most of you know how much I love shopping. Back at home I spent the rest of the evening relaxing and getting caught up on emails and things like that. In Him

Praise and Prayer

Praise and Thanks

1) Thank our Father for His wonderful provision in my life.
2) Thank our Father for orchestrating and directing our many relationships
3) Thank our Father for sowing seeds of unity in my hometown
4) Thank our Father for blessing me with great fellowship
5) Thank our Father for the amazing work He is doing in China
6) Thank our Father for giving me the opportunity to serve and work at the factory again this summer
7) Thank our Father for the privilege of education
8) Thank our Father for music and song
9) Praise our Father for the gift of hope
9) Praise our Father for His grace and mercy

Prayer for Requests

1) Pray for our friends from the hot pot restaurant. Pray that God will draw them to Himself through the power of His Holy Spirit. Pray that His glory will fill the whole restaurant as it fills and will fill the whole earth. Pray that we will be wise in our actions and with our words. Pray that we will not neglect the urgency of the gospel message. For His name

2) Pray for BICF as they prepare for the Olympics. Pray that in the coming months China will experienced the mighty power of the Holy Spirit in new and marvelous ways. Pray that our Father will open up doors which will impact and transform China as well as the entire world.

3) Pray for my family and friends who don't yet know or have yet to embrace the gospel message. Pray that our Father will bring faithful witnesses into their lives who will faithfully join in prayer and walk in love. Pray that the prodigal son (daughter) will return home to the Father.

4) Pray for the factory I will be working in again this summer. Pray that our Father will be glorified in incredible and miraculous ways. Pray that I will be persistent and faithful in prayer.

5) Pray that God will open doors for the coming year. Pray that I will know where He wants me to live and what He wants me to be involved in or not involved in.


Some nice quotes on prayer
When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy.
~Corrie Ten Boom

Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons; but they are helpless against our prayers. -
~ J. Sidlow Baxter

Day 68 - March 14th

Today I got up around 8:00am. Tom and Grace moved in last night so I spent a bit of the morning helping them get settled in. Mike and I rushed over to the gym for a quick workout. We had to meet Tom, Grace, Carmen, Karma and Grace for lunch at the office. Mike and I got held up a bit at the gym. One of our friends there had gone out to get Mike a cake for his birthday. Quite a nice gesture. Hopefully in the next few weeks we will be able to hang out with them a bit more. At the office I had lunch with the whole group. Mandarin class was a little shorter today. Even still, it is getting a little overwhelming. After class we did some shopping at the nearby market and grocery store. At the grocery store I talked to the manager of the hot pot for a little bit. When I say talk I really mean interact with. Back at the flat, Tom and I made a stir-fry and rice dinner. It was pretty good. After dinner Tom, Mike and I sat around talking for a good hour or so. In the evening I got caught up on my emails and of course my blogging. Tomorrow I have a lot to do. Saturday is really my only day to do school work. In Him

Day 66-67 - March 12th and 13th

On Wednesday Morning I got up early again. Before heading to the gym I studied a bit of Mandarin. Before class Gen and I tried to no avail to get Mike's gift finished. We had made a video for his birthday. I went around to some of our friends and got them to say something brief. Anyways, once we were at the office we were able to finish his gift. Carmen and Grace had got Mike a cake so we had a brief celebration before class. Today's class was pretty long. I wasn't really physically exhausted but more mentally tired. After class Carmen, Karma, Grace and the three of us went out for dinner. The meal was delicious! We had sushi and chicken wings. Once we were back at the flat, I relaxed for a bit before heading out. Wednesday evening we went out with our friends from hot pot to celebrate Mike's birthday karaoke style. It was a fun evening. There were a lot of English songs, even one by Michael W. Smith. I am really going to miss our friends when we leave. Sometimes I get caught up thinking about the goodbyes. From my time in Zambia, I know that this is a hard and emotionally draining time. While I hate it I know that I ought to keep engaging and building relationships. If you are new to my blog I have seem to talk about our friends at hot pot a lot. We call them our hot pot friends because they work at a nearby restaurant. Hot pot itself is a traditional Chinese cuisine where you individually cook and boil various meat and vegetables. Please remember our friends when talking to our Father. He is opening up wonderful opportunities to share and trust Him. By the time we were finished karaoke it was 2am. A late night indeed, especially since we had to be out the apartment at eight in the morning. Almost all day Thursday I was running on built up adrenaline. In the morning, we returned to northern Beijing where we are teaching English. We got back by the early part of the afternoon. Carmen and Grace went to pick up a couple that will be staying with us for the next little while. In light of the soon to be new arrivals, the three of us spent the afternoon thoroughly cleaning up the apartment. I did manage to get a quick nap in before heading over to BICF. Although tired, I once again had a great time! In Him

Day 64-65 - March 10th and 11th

Yesterday the weather was great! I didn't even need to wear a coat. At 9am I went over to work out at the gym. Mike joined me a little later on. I worked on some Mandarin for the rest of the morning before heading over to the office for class. Grace met us a class. She has just gotten back from a research trip in Hong Kong, Philippines and Thailand. We will be sad to see her go this coming Saturday. Actually this week another couple is coming to live with us. After class we headed out for hot pot. Gen didn't come because she was tired and had to finish a paper. The last couple of days or friends have been really tired and overwhelmed with work. It was good to see them smiling a little more. After dinner we did some grocery shopping. In the evening I worked on my Mandarin before getting to bed early.

Today, I woke up at 5:30am. We left the apartment at 7:45am to begin teaching at 9am. Today we spent the full day with our students. They are great and lots of fun. In the morning we sang and reviewed some material. After lunch we broke off into small groups. There are six students in my small group. They are James, Joseph, Will, Ruth, Victoria and Rachael. I really enjoy my group. With that being said, I don't know what I am learning more Mandarin or broken English. By the time we got back at five I was pretty tired. I stopped off briefly to see our friends from hotpot and put the finishing touches on our gift for Mike's birthday tomorrow. After I had a brief nap we all headed our for dinner. I got to be honest the food was pretty bad. After dinner I worked on my summaries for eastern religions. Another day in Him

Day 63 - March 9th

This morning Kevin and Wai Wai joined us at BICF. If you can't remember, they are Mike's friends from back in Canada. For the past couple of weeks it has been harder to access BICF. The communist party has been holding their annual meeting; which if I am correct has been going on for over a couple of weeks. It really only is a challenge to enter and find parking. This morning all of us attended the Mandarin/English service at 9:30am. BICF is now finished the series on Contagious Christianity and has started one on prayer. After the service we surveyed and spoke with people about various service opportunities. BICF has the impact fairs to promote and encourage service in the community of Beijing and around the world. Being in China I have found out more and more just how many opportunities there are to serve. What did Jesus say in Luke 10:2, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Our small group study had finished last week. Since Kevin and Wai Wai were with us we headed out for lunch with them. Kevin and Wai Wai took us to a small restaurant in the north west part of Beijing. It was probably one of the best meals I have had hear in Beijing, and it wasn't expensive. From the restaurant we drove over to the international university. Kevin had hoped to get in and show us around but he didn't have a permit. Instead we stopped off at one of the largest Three-Self churches in Beijing. We walked in and looked around for a bit. We also sat in on ten minutes or so of the service. The church was full and this wasn't even there many service. From the church we headed off to the electronic shop we had been to before with Kevin. We spent a little while looking around. I bought a new battery for my pda and a SIM card. The stuff was still cheap but there is no question that businesses are gradually elevating prices for the Olympics. We ended up getting home around 4:00pm. I pretty much relaxed for the rest of the day.

You know you read the words of Jesus and think "ya that's good and all", but the implications and promises are really quite radical. Matt 16:19 says, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." The message of the gospel is the only key to heaven. Interestingly it doesn't say whatever is bound/loosed in HEAVEN shall have been bound/loosed on earth. It is the other way around. There is a heavenly authority behind our earthly actions. This is crazy stuff! Today I was also thinking a little bit more about the Church. (I have purposely capitalized) Unapologetically, I love the Church! When we the Church pray and ask for God to heal, restore, revive and bless, are we limiting ourself geographically. God is indeed working all over the world and answering prayers from all over the world in and through His sovereign will. Jesus taught us to pray this way in the Lord Prayer. Lots to think about.

Day 59-62 - March 5-8

The past few days have been busy. On Wednesday morning I headed back to the gym with Mike before heading off for my Mandarin class. Mike and Gen didn't go to class so my teacher did a bit of a review. It was helpful. In the evening we had dinner with Carmen at a nearby noodle shop. Because we had to leave early the next day, Carmen stayed over at our apartment.

On Thursday morning the four of left around 8:30am to teach English in northern Beijing. I would love to elaborate more but that will have to wait for another time. Before leaving we were treated to hot pot. It was ok. Once we got back Mike and went to the gym before heading over for young-adult fellowship. Once again I had a wonderful time of fellowship. There were probably about 50 people at BICF. For the next few weeks a couple from South Carolina will be teaching and sharing on relationships.

On Friday morning the three of us had to be up early. The land lord had called the night before and there was some paperwork that needed to be looked after. After it was taken care of Mike and I headed off to the gym. The gym also has a ping pong table. Give me one week and I will be able to beat Mike. I had the Subway special for lunch before heading off to class. After class Mike and went and talked with our friends from hotpot. Again my great Father facilitated a time when we could answer and share. The manager of the hot pot is really thinking and at the same time confused. For our friends, the stress of work and life don't always leave time for meaning centered reflection. I never really thought about it from this perspective. Back at the flat I did a bit of work. Mike and Gen went out for dinner at KFC. I didn't go because I had half a sub left over from lunch. It worked out well. I was able to call and talk with my grandmother. At ten or so Mike and I went off over for a cheap massage.

Today I got up pretty early. In the morning I headed over to see our friends at hot pot/ I have asked them to help me with a gift for Mike's birthday on Wednesday. Unfortunately I didn't get to the gym however, I was able to get some work done.

Day 57-58 - March 3rd and 4th

On Monday morning we headed over to the gym were I listened to a couple podcasts. Surprisingly, I just recently found out about sermon podcasts. Some of my favorites are John Piper, Ravi Zacharias, James MacDonald, John Macarthur and Tony Campolo. Monday night I relaxed and did a bit of studying before heading over to see our friends at hotpot.
Yesterday after Mike and I got back from the gym I worked on one of my papers. It's almost done! For dinner, Mike, Gen and I had hotpot. Back at the flat Mike and I watched a movie before hitting the sack. In Him

Day 55-56 - March 1st and 2nd

These past few days have been interesting. On Saturday morning I worked on my Mandarin for a couple of hours. In the afternoon I read a bit for my courses before we headed off to Carmen's house. It takes a couple of hours to get to her house in the south. Carmen's house is very nice. We had a nice pasta dinner and time of fellowship before staying the night. The next morning we went for a unique time of singing and learning. It was pretty neat to experience. By the time we got back home, the three of us were pretty tired. Mike and I slept for a couple of hours before heading out for dinner and then bubble tea. I also was deeply impacted today by one of John Pipers podcasts titled "[kneel] like this." In Him

Insight from Ravi Zacherias

Ravi Zacharias continues to teach and encourage me. I would urge everyone to take some time and listen to him. Here are a few quotes

"A man rejects God neither because of intellectual demands nor because of the scarcity of evidence. A man rejects God because of a moral resistance that refuses to admit his need for God."

"When the sharp edges of reality are exposed - from infancy to maturity - the 'whys' of life proliferate, silencing the scientific voice and stumping the philosophical mind."

"The older you get, the more it takes to fill your heart with wonder, and only God is big enough to do that."

"Man is not at peace with his fellow man because he is not at peace with himself. He is not at peace with himself because he is not at peace with God."

"The use or abuse of Christianity in contradiction to the very message of the gospel reveals not the gospel for what it is, but the heart of man. That is why atheism is so bankrupt as a view of life, for it miserably fails to deal with the human condition as it really is."

http://closertohere.com/quote.search.php?find=Ravi+Zacharias

Gangs - Tony Campolo

Today I was listening to a Tony Campolo podcast on gangs. There were a lot of interesting and thought provoking comments. At one point Tony shared insight from a Harvard study on gangs. The study asked why young drug dealers continue to live with their mothers. It showed that most of their earnings end up in the hands of kingpin drug traffickers. They suggest that these kids only earn 4 US dollars an hour. Tony shared another story about a young African American who came to work with Tony and challenged popular understanding of youth groups. He argued that young guys (primarily) cannot find identity and worth from hanging out for only an hour a week. Instead he suggested that he start his own faith based gang. Although it was very time consuming it proved to be successful. I would encourage you to listen to his talk on gangs. Whether you agree with his convictions or not, Tony raises important questions. Campolo also has many provocative quotes. Here are a few


“[According to a profile in Christianity Today entitled] The Positive Prophet, ... I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”

"When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will YOU be happy when everybody else is crying?"

Day 54 - February 29th,2008

This morning I worked on some Mandarin. The basic characters are slowly becoming more recognizable. Before lunch Mike and I headed back to the gym. The past few Mandarin classes have been stressful. I am slowly figuring out how to best prepare for the class. Since Mike already knows Mandarin and Gen isn't taking it for credit, each session is mainly focused on me. While I often get frustrated, I am certainly not lacking motivation to learn and speak the language. Every conversation and interaction only adds discipline and fuel to the fire. After class Carmen and Karma came back to the flat to pick up some stuff. Karma was also able to fix our internet. Mike and I had dinner at hotpot. It had been awhile. Normally, we stop by and chat or pick up a bubble tea. Tonight they were pretty busy so we didn't get to talk to them a lot. Another day in Him

Day 53 - February 28th,2008

Yesterday morning Mike and I went to the gym and worked out. We hadn't been for awhile so we were a little sore afterwards. After lunch I had a nap before I did some reading for my courses. In the evening we headed over to BICF for young-adult fellowship. Once again, I was really encouraged by our time together. A racing summary. In Him

Day 52 - February 27th, 2008

Today, I worked on my Mandarin in the morning, had lunch and then headed to class. As excited and eager as I am, I have found the Mandarin classes mentally exhausting. It is essentially intense one on one tutoring for three hours. After class the whole gang went over to IKEA where we had dinner. In the evening Mike and I headed over to see our friends at hotpot. We showed them some of the pictures from last night. The Captain was explaining how much they all enjoyed the birthday party. Before we leave Mike and I are going to make a photo album for each of them. Back at the flat I uploaded and edited pictures for about two and a half hours. It needed to be done. Another day in Him

Day 51 - February 26th, 2008

Wow today has been quite the roller coaster. In the morning I got up and went for a walk with Carmens dog. The rest of the morning was spent cleaning, doing laundry and studying for Mandarin. At around 2pm Mike and I headed to the bank before we headed over to Subway for their Tuesday special of Chicken Teriyaki. We had just sat down when Yi bo the manager from hot pot called us. We have been talking about going out for lunch for sometime. Mike and I had planned to do some work at Subway this afternoon but we rightly got diverted. We met Captain as we call her at a nearby KFC. We spent about 2 hours talking to Captain or rather Mike talked and I listened and chimed in when I could. It really has been a humbling experience. My desire to share the hope has and is being channeled exclusively through the power of the Holy Spirit. I have found a song by Leeland most comforting. In it Leeland says, "...you be lifted high, you be lifted high. You be lifted high in my life oh God, and I fall to my knees so its you that they see not I, J*s(s you be lifted high." We headed with Captain back to the hotpot. We talked with her for a little while longer. At one point she explained that her mother was a believer before she passed away. Tears filled her eyes. Our eyes became watery too. He is mighty to save. Before we left Captain invited us to join them after work for a birthday celebration. Later in the evening Mike and I headed back to the hotpot. We celebrated with the staff and enjoyed a wonderful meal along with a whole lot of fun. The camera was a real hit. When it came time for the birthday cake the whole hotpot kitchen turned into a laughing icing throwing party. It was great to see and learn more about our friends, and they too us. There really is too much to say and it is getting late. One thing I do know is that this day will go down in my memory books for China. Kneel for China, kneel for our friends, kneel and praise and thank Him for the wonderful work He is doing. Living in awe and wonder.

Day 50 - February 25th, 2008

This morning I studied for Mandarin. Mike, Gen and I had some lunch near the school before class. Today's class was both fun and challenging. I have been making some progress which is encouraging. At the same time the three hour class has been tiring. I have never had one on one tutoring for three hours. It is pretty intense. Nevertheless, once I got home I relaxed for a bit. Carmen (our field staff in Beijing) is staying with us for a couple of nights. Carmen treated Mike and I to pizza at a nearby restaurant. It was pretty good. After dinner Mike and I headed over to see our friends at hotpot. Mike and I were able to share a little bit of our life and hope with the manager. After asking me, Mike translated and shared my testimony. I couldn't understand what they were saying and all I could do was kneel and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit. These times have been really humbling. It's not me they need or my apologetic explanations - they need my Father. Please thank Him for the wonderful opportunities and kneel with us. In Him

Day 49 - February 24

This morning Mike and I headed over to BICF for the Mandarin/English service. I have found the service helpful in my learning of Mandarin. While Mike and I normally join Gen for the second service today we headed out for lunch with Rachael and her husband. Rachael is our small group leader. After that Mike and I relaxed before our small group at two o-clock. Small group was pretty good despite the small turnout. When Mike and I got back to the apartment we were a little irked because Mike lost and I forgot my keys. We were both really tired but it was clear we were not going to get in until Gen got home from shopping. So we headed over to see our friends at hotpot. Mike and I just chilled and talked to the girls. We were also able to get some work done for our studies. I really have enjoyed getting to know our friends at hotpot. Sometimes I feel so frustrated and impatient that I can't learn the language fast enough. There are so many people who I want to talk to but I feel handcuffed. Please kneel and ask that I will remain persistent and patience with my Mandarin. Blessings

Day 48 - February 23rd

Today I spent the morning answering emails and doing various sorts of housekeeping. In the afternoon I studied Mandarin. I made a lot of flash cards. Hopefully I will be able to master basic Chinese characters soon. Mike, Gen and I headed out for dinner at the nearby Korean barbecue. It was pretty good especially the cow tongue. Seriously, it tasted like prime steak. With that being said, I wasn't really a fan of the octopus. Another day

Top 5 Personal Reflections - Week 4-5

1) Life Experience - At Crossroads I had the opportunity to experience a glimpse into slum life as well as the life of those who live with HIV/AIDS. Although it was only a simulation type experience, I was greatly moved and challenged. Please visit day 40 and 41 of my China Diary for more in depth reflections.

2) Finding joy in the day when you feel sick - During my time in Hong Kong I really struggled with what turned out to be bronchitis. Out of this struggle I know that my Father was teaching me more about His daily joy and the strength that is found in Him. I am sure that I didn't help my cold when I was scrapping paint of dusty walls while forgetting to regularly take my cough medicine.

3) Turning my worries into trust - Out of my daily experiences and the many unknowns that come from living in a foreign land my Father has been challenging me to worry less. I think sometimes my worry is misguided and a waste of my energy. I think out of all this my Father has been unpeeling the truth of Proverbs 3:5-6. It says, "Trust in the Lord God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

4) What a wonderful global family - In Beijing in Hong Kong I have truly been encouraged by the community of faith. Although we come from all over the world we share in common mission and love. Just in the past month and a half I have met family from countries like these: Angola, Congo, Zambia, Philippines, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Mongolia, Korea, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, the UK, France, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Figi, America and others. Isn't it amazing how the gospel unites people despite the differences in culture, race and the many social spheres.

5) Trade Deadline in the NBA and NHL - I still can't believe the Los Angeles Lakers were able steal Paul Gasol from the Grizzles for absolutely nothing. In regards to the NHL, I sure hope Cliff Fletcher is able to trade a good number of Leafs and begin the much needed and overdue rebuild.

Day 47 - February 22nd, 2008

This morning I studied for Mandarin before heading to class in the afternoon. I think I am beginning to make some healthy progress with the language. After class Mike, Gen and I headed home for an hour before heading out on the town. We decided to watch a movie. There was only one movie to choose - "The Atonement." Although it was slow and hard to follow at times it did have a deep message. Another day

Day 46 - February 21st, 2008

Today I worked on a paper for one of my courses. After dinner Mike, Gen and I headed over for fellowship at BICF. As much as I loved my time in Hong Kong I really have missed these sacred times on Thursday evening. Tonights theme focused on our struggles and weaknesses. I really enjoyed memorizing His Word with other brothers and sisters. The time of praise was also amazing! When it was time to leave the three of us raced home to meet our friends at hotpot. Since today is the last day of Chinese New Year it is also the last day we can set off fireworks. Chinese New Year truly does take over the city. Back in Beijing there has been nothing but non-stop fireworks. If you didn't know what they were you could be inclined to think that the noise was gunfire from war. Anyways back to the evening. We met our friends outside of the supermarket and enjoyed a brief firework display. I think our friends really enjoyed it. Relying on His Spirit
Jon Candle

Day 45 - February 20th

This morning I woke up feeling a lot better than before. Hopefully the medicine is working. After breakfast I worked on some homework in particular reading and memorizing. Mike and I had kongi for lunch. It is like an Asian hot rice porridge - pretty good. After lunch we headed over for our Mandarin class. After class Mike and I grabbed dinner at Subway. I think I would be missing Canadian food a lot more if there were no Subway. After dinner Mike and I worked on some postcards which we later gave to the hotpot girls. A good day.

Day 44- February 19th, 2008

Today I slept in. Mike really thought I should go to the hospital so I reluctantly agreed. I was sure glad that Mike was with me. It was so confusing. With that being said, the hospital system certainly beats anything in Ontario. By the time I was finished the doctor said I have bronchitis. He gave me antibiotics and some medicine. I am inclined to think that it is more than bronchitis because I have had the cold for so long. We will see. Back at the flat, I slept and did some reading for my courses.

Day 43 - February 18th, 2008

I continue to fight my cold. It just won't seem to go away. Nevertheless, this morning I woke up feeling rested. Before leaving for the airport, I headed off to the edge of the island and watched the sunrise. It was really refreshing and beautiful. I love these times of silence and solitude in nature. As I sat watching the waves splash the rocks I couldn't help but think of the perfecting love of my Father. The waves may be comforting or they may crash up against us but through it all my rock is the rock of ages. It was also neat to see the sunrise in the manner that it did. As it rose over the water, the beam of light shone on the rock I was sitting on. Of all the places for the sun's reflection to nest - that is amazing! As I looked out there was a narrow and straight highway of light. This image also got me thinking about my Father's faithful presence and sovereignty and also the journey in light that is mine and yours.

After getting off the ferry we were relieved to find a cart for our luggage. Once we got to the airport train we were surprised to find out that we could check in our luggage. Don't worry all of our luggage arrived safely. As we waited to board the airplane I certainly gave Mike and Gen a scare. For about ten minutes I couldn't find my passport. I knew it was right around me but for some stupid reason it took me ten minutes to remember that I hid it under my t-shirt. Oh well, at least I have it. On the plane I watched a cartoon film called the Bee Movie. It was pretty funny. It did feel nice to be back in Beijing. With that being said, I will really miss my friends in Hong Kong. Not surprisingly, we had dinner at the local hotpot. After dinner Mike, Gen and I headed over to the massage parlor. I got cupping done again. Hopefully it will help my cold. The massage place just hired a doctor and he was telling Mike that I should probably go to the hospital and get my chest x-rayed. He said that foreigners can't fight colds with the same rigor as locals. We will see.

Day 42 - February 17th, 2008

Last night we left Crossroads and headed over to Bethany retreat center where we are living until we fly out Monday morning. The center is located on a little nearby island called Cheng Chau. It really is a lot different from the main part of the city. There are no cars on the island and it has somewhat of a fishing village atmosphere.

This morning I left for a service via. the ferry. Mike and Gen had already gone ahead to meet different friends of theirs. I intended to read and sleep on the hour ride ferry over but ended up having a really good conversation with one of the Bethany staff and Hong Kong m workers. After the service I was really hoping that Carmen's dad would have brought the Microsoft Office software for me that I had asked him about awhile back. I can't get it in Beijing and I really do need it for my studies. He did apologize and said that he would ship it to me in Beijing as soon as he could. I really hope it comes soon.

From the service Bob Jones, Grace, Mike, Gen and myself took the ferry back for the retreat. It was pretty short but helpful. After we got back to our little cottage Grace and the three of us decided to go for a walk. I loved it. After being confined to the busyness and clutter of the city it was great to walk alongside the scenic ocean shore. We ended up walking right around the island and into town where we had some local seafood. Shortly after dinner we said goodbye to Grace who will be away traveling and researching for the next while. Back at the cottage we relaxed and got to bed in good time. Tomorrow we fly back to Beijing.

Day 41 - February 16th, 2008

Today I woke up feeling somewhat better. Apparently crushed raw garlic is an effective natural remedy for the common cold, so last night I had some. This morning at Crossroads I helped out with the weekly cleanup. My job along with a Portuguese man named John was to clean/sweep the work shop. Once finished I worked on my final preparations to leave. Like yesterday, this morning I got to participate in another life experience. For those who didn't read my last post a life experience is something that Crossroads has set up to not only bring awareness but stimulate the minds of those who participate. Today I walked through an AIDS life experience. At the beginning I chose one of four different personal stories. I listened and experienced a glimpse of a life of a child soldier in Africa named Jamuale. I will try to retell the story as best I can. Here it is...

Jamuale grew up in an unstable country of the African plain. On every day that he can remember, the sounds of guns and war were not but far away. Neighboring villages had and were daily been attacked by the rebel forces. Jamuale knew that his town was surviving on ticking land mine and he dreaded the day it would come. One day this horror story did become a reality. It all happened so fast. Rebel soldiers stormed his home and without hesitation shot Jamuale's mother. It was light out but inside Jamuale was become overwhelmed by the shadow of darkness. As Jamuale looked in horror at the sight of his mother bathing in blood he felt so angry. But with no time to grieve, cry or think Jamuale suddenly found himself being confronted by the very soldier who shot his mother. The towering soldier sternly asked him his age. Jamuale replied nervously saying, "Seven." "You are a man!" the evil man replied. Then in what seemed like a second, the soldier grabbed Jamuale's little sister Grace. Dangling her in the air and passing the gun he shouted, "Do you want your little sister to die?" "No!" Jamuale replied. "Kill your brother and then your sister will live," the man shouted with an evil grin. The boy didn't know what to do, how could anyone make him choose between members of his family. The soldier insisted threatening to kill his sister at any moment. "But", "what was that" the soldier replied. A gun fired. Jamuale had killed his little brother. Guilt, shame and dread were seen on this seven year old boys face. A group of soldiers dragged Jamuale and his sister to the camp. As Jamuale and Grace were paraded through the town, neighbors glared in guilt, hate and shame. "How could you Jamuale, how could you," they shouted out.

It was just yesterday that he sat around the fire singing and laughing with mother, sister and brother. Now all hope seemed muted as he lived suffocating behind the walls of the rebel camp. The sound of guns replaced the music that he so loved. At each battle, Jamuale and boys his age were forced to the front of the "enemy line." He felt so used, protecting the wicked but deemed valuable elder soldiers. At the start of each battle Jamuale couldn't help but think that maybe it would be better to be hit by a bullet. But then he would think of his little sister. While every battle had its end, there was no end to Jamuale's work. Even if he was wounded, after every battle Jamuale had to wash and clean the wounds of his superior soldiers. As he wrapped bandages and covered bloody wounds, he sometimes wondered who's blood he was really touching in this bloody pool of evil. Every night, Jamuale worked and watched the soldiers drink and drug and play. The light from the fire was really the only light shining. Sometimes Jamuale couldn't help but wonder if these men deep down had fear and guilt and shame too.

Then one day the head of the army announced that little Grace was old enough to be married. She was now only seven but that didn't seem to matter to them. Jamuale watched the evil grins of the men who would soon deface his sister and do the unthinkable. After a little while Jamuale knew he had to escape. While he was aware of the consequences he knew that he had to protect his sister. Jamuale knew he couldn't return to his village because the neighbor's would possibly kill him out of ignorance. Jamuale felt so ashamed. He had heard rumblings of a relief camp not too far away. He hoped that it was what people were saying. Soon Jamuale set up the escaped. He arranged that he would meet his sister in the bush during the next battle. The next battle came, Jamuale and Grace fled to the bush and eventually escaped. The next morning they arrived at the camp where they were fed and clothed. As they sat around waiting for the doctor, they couldn't help but think the worst was over. Maybe this was a light at the end of the tunnel. The nurses had checked them over but for some silly reason they needed to see the doctor. Not long before nightfall the doctor came out and looked at them with a look of gloom and concern. "What is it?" Jamuale asked. The doctor told both he and his sister that they might of HIV/AIDS. Jamuale had no clue what this was but by the look on the doctors face it didn't sound good. After speaking to him, Jamuale knew that the storm was not over. The doctor left them waiting for the results. Jamuale no longer felt relief and a new sense of hope but sunk back into his fear and despair. A while late the test can back in a folded piece of paper. Jamuale slowly opened the paper and saw a plus sign. His head sunk - he had HIV/AIDS. He eventually lifted his head and looked to his sister. Tears dripped down her face. They both looked at each other in fear and sadness.

* At the end of the life experience I opened a piece of paper. I was positive. This could be me. This could be any of you.

Day 40 - February 15th

Today was both encouraging and challenging. Although sick, our time in community this morning was really special. I am really going to miss my Crossroad friends. This afternoon I got to participate in one of the life experiences. Crossroads has set up various life experiences and today I got a glimpse into what it is like to live in the slums. Today about one billion people live in the slums while over two billion people live on less than 2 US dollars per day. One website http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/rxforsurvival/glossary.html describes a slum as "As a household that lacks any one of the following five elements: access to sufficient amounts of water for family use at an affordable price, without being subject to extreme effort; access to improved sanitation, either in the form of a private toilet or a public toilet shared with a reasonable number of people; security of tenure (the rights of a tenant to hold property); housing in a permanent and adequate structure in a non-hazardous location; and, in most areas, a household requiring more than two people to share the same room. However, as housing in some cities lacks sufficient living space for middle-class households to fit this final requirement, the definition of a slum would be modified to require a lack of two of these conditions."

A group of Crossroads staff led us through an activity that showed a small window into the daily life and struggle of these people. We were all put in families - our family had four girls and myself. As a family we needed to make paper bags in groups of 10 and sell them to one of the shopkeepers. Each ten minute segment acted as a week in the life of our family. At the end of this time we stopped and hoped we had enough money to pay for our food, rent and sanitation. Over the three weeks our group managed to afford these three essentials, gain training and send someone to school. However, this came with a cost. I along with another girl sold the goods to the market. I was the main person to sell and go attend training (partially because I wasn't very quick at making paper bags.) As I brought my bags to the shopkeeper I was really helpless. I was on my knees begging, whatever they asked I did, any money was good, I had no choice but to take the little money offered. At one point one of the shopkeepers told me I could not receive the money until one of my sisters came and gave him a "massage" or "hug." He promised me that he would respect her but in reality my sister had no choice but to submit to the perverse and evil desires of the shopkeeper. There was also external pressure and motivation to make money. If we didn't have the needed money by the end of the week we could have visited a loan shark. If we had to resort to this, our lives would be chained to whatever they required or said until they deemed fit to let us leave. This is a brief summary of the game which is in fact a real life reality for many people around the world.

Follow Reflections

We really were at the mercy of the shopkeepers. We didn't have the luxury of dreaming but just hoped that we would not die today. There was no time to talk with our family, or enjoy life, enjoy a salary and stable income. Morality always was dependent on our need to survive. DJ a Crossroad staff told some insight that was shared with him by a beggar in the slums of India. For many people in poverty they feel as if they are looking through a clear -glass ceiling. They see the hope and future on the other side but cannot get out of this vicious cycle. He also shared the importance and hope that is expressed when someone in poverty can receive schooling. With that being said, can we strictly look at world events like terrorism and civil wars through one lens. If a terrorist organization provides a person with food, clothing and shelter that is a means of hope and a means to reduce some of the fear of survival.

What can we do

I agree with the statement that poverty is rooted in broken relationships not mere money. How can we support education in areas of poverty? How can we developed business loans and ways to encourage families sustainability. How can we challenged and lobby at the governmental and local levels? How can we help at ground zero? I have some ideas but I would love to hear from you.

Day 39 - February 14th, 2008

This morning I continued to work and help renovate one of Crossroads apartment. Chief made me garlic soup for lunch. I tried to sleep for the afternoon and sweat out my cold. I don't think I am really any better. Mike and I had dinner at a nearby local restaurant and relaxed for the rest of the night.

Day 38 - February 13th, 2008

Today I spent most of the day scrapping old paint off of walls. There were a bunch of us working to get the apartment ready for an incoming family. By the end of the day I was completely covered in white powder and paint. So after work the first thing I did was have shower. I then raced down the road to get my haircut before our community dinner at 6:30. After dinner we watched Even Almighty. It was pretty funny! Back at the flat, Mike and I called Dan from Tyndale. A quick summary, peace.

Day 37 - February 12th, 2008

Although sick today was a really good. Our morning time of fellowship and singing was really encouraging. The theme for this morning was resting in Him. By mid morning I was working in one of the apartments. A few of us had been assigned to scrape and plaster the walls. Neither job is overly enjoyable but it was nice to get to better know some of the Crossroads staff. Lunch was enjoyable and hilarious. Some how or another our supervisor had heard that Mike is an experienced cook - in reality he doesn't know very much. He was assigned to delegate and cook lunch for seventy people. As fun as it is to tease him about his newfound talent, I was quite impressed that he pulled it together. Once we were finished plastering and scraping for the day I desperately needed a shower. I was covered with old plaster and dust. After watching an episode of Prison Break I went out for dinner with some of the guys from Crossroads. The rest of the evening I relaxed and did some homework. Until next time...

Day 36 - February 11th, 2008

I continue to fight a cold so this morning I tried to get some rest. Mike and I headed out to Tuen Mun for a late lunch. While in Tuen Mun I visited a walk-in-clinic. I certainly didn't have to wait as long as I do in Canada. The appointment and medications ended up costing me 200 HK which isn't too bad. After that we traveled down to central Hong Kong where we had dinner with the Jones and Carmen Wong's family. Bob and Amy Jones are partners with CBM and serve at a church in the HK area. Dinner was good. We had hotpot. Tomorrow I am back to work at Crossroads. In Him

A thought to ponder

I can't think of a better question that every organization and church must ask itself - Why do we exist?

Top 5 Reflections - Week 4

1) Confidence in Him

First, I have been learning and discovering a new appreciation for His Word, a new confidence in the transforming power of His Word. Secondly, I have been challenged to depend on Him and confidently seek His glory through prayer and holiness.

2) HK is ok but Beijing is the bomb!

Hong Kong has certainly been an interesting experience. I have been really encouraged by the work and people at Crossroads. I have really enjoyed seeing the city of Hong Kong - especially at night! But with that being said, Hong Kong has still been a bit overwhelming. The hustle and go of the culture has probably been the biggest culture shock for me. I like the food in Hong Kong but Beijing just seems better. Probably at some level I miss the relationships that Mike and I were forming with friends like at the hotpot place. I think I also miss BICF a bit too.

3) Being joyful when you just can't really stand what your doing

This past week has been a bit of a challenge for me as I have struggled to get the alone time and rest that I have needed. This has also been a challenge because I have been fighting a cold.

4) Misconceptions about China
Chinese freedoms are certainly not as restrictive as they once were thirty years ago. While I am not going to elaborate too much here I will say that in many ways the church in China is more free than the church in Canada.

5) I love the Hong Kong transit system. It is quick, efficient and well maintained. Everyone who comes to Hong Kong always needs to get an octopus card. It is essentially a transit card which can also allow the user to buy goods at certain stores. Therefore, instead of buying tickets or paying on the spot a person can scan their wallet. Pretty neat!

Day 35 - February 10th, 2008

Today we left with a large group for church. The last few days I have felt mentally and physically drained. For one we have been on the go constantly. As a result this morning I was feeling pretty sick and somewhat weary. Thankfully, after church I was feeling more mentally rested. It was really great having lunch with some friends who are serving in Hong Kong. It was a real encouragement to see their passion and desire to see His name lifted high among the nation of China. From our time of fellowship Mike and I started to head back home. We stopped off briefly to buy a coconut drink. We were both pretty tired once we got back to the flat. Mike and I rested for an hour or so before heading out to buy groceries for dinner. An encouraging but challenging day. In Him

Day 34- February 9th, 2008

I woke up this morning to one of the brightest and sunniest days here in China. It was perfect because we were going to visit an attraction known as Victoria Peak. Hong Kong is surrounded by peak like mountains the highest being Victoria Peak. It was really unbelievable to stand at the peak and scan the skyline of the city. On the way down we took the tram or cable car. It was quite the adventure trying to balance and stand as the car went down the peak. After the peak Mike and I went along with Gen to visit her old pastor. Although we were tired and worn out the night was worth while after learning about the great work being done in the Chinese factory communities. I got home late and pretty much went straight to bed. Another day with Him

Day 33 - Friday February 8th, 2008

Today we continue the Chinese New Year celebration. This afternoon we went out for lunch in the nearby district known as Tuen Mun where the busyness of Chinese New Year was evident. After looking around some local markets our group took transit down to Hong Kong island. There were so many people gathered to watch the fireworks and light show. Although we arrived over three hours before the fireworks display there were still a ton of people. Hong Kong was absolutely magical. The sky scraping buildings lit up the harbor as we waited for the twenty minute firework show. Once the fireworks ended we remained caught in the crowds for a good while. After they subsided a bit we headed over to the night market to browse and have dinner. On a side note, it was quite funny to learn that Hong Kong has over two thousand 7-elevens. When I think about all the stores I have seen it really doesn't seem that surprising. This was a busy day but a great experience. Happy Chinese New Year

A Reflection or two - The assault on the mind and the attack on truth

Today, many Christians cling to the experiential while denouncing doctrinal truth. (I am not suggesting that Christians are to be emotionless) Whether you categorize it as emergent or liberal the reality is that the western church is enduring a crisis; that which stems from a lack of confidence in the power and accuracy of the Word of God. Pastors pump out media and illustrative sermons which barely scratch the penetrating power and centrality of the Bible. New movements claim to have secret and new insight that has just miraculously been discovered. We no longer confront sin but rather confront a persons self-esteem.

Ravi Zacharias, a well respected Christian apologist addressed members of the UN in a talk on "Navigating with absolutes in a relativistic world." In his talk, Ravi described the four areas in which we search for absolutes: evil, justice, love and forgiveness. He argued that all four converged at the cross of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 66:2 - All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.

That is my prayer and I hope it is yours

Day 32 - Thursday February 7th, 2008

Today Mike and I slept in until 9am before heading out for breakfast with Gen. We did some laundry and had a team meeting. In the evening a group of us headed down to watch the Chinese New Year parade. The parade was pretty good. It really should be described as advertising surrounded by dance schools. Despite the slow start and crowds, tt was enjoyable. On a couple of floats kids were balancing bikes and what not in a way I can't figure out. Being a foreigner we figured out a way to grab the paraders attention - We just shout out gung hay fat choy! Most of them seem so impressed that we know how to say Happy New Year in Cantonese and end up acknowledging or coming over. At one point in the evening, a young disabled girl came up and asked if she could squeeze in to see the floats. My friend and I approved but were thinking in the back of our minds that this little girl was trying to play us for a fool. Watching her excitement and seeing her pointing and calling over the paraders was pretty heart warming. As the Disneyland float stopped in front of us, she kept waving at Minnie mouse. It was nice to see one of the paraders get Minnie's attention for the girl. Although what seemed at first like an annoyance and bother, the little girl really brought life into perspective. Wishing you a Happy New Year!!!

Day 31 - Wednesday February 6th, 2008

Chinese New Year is tomorrow so work is slowing down around Crossroads. Today I worked with the incoming department. Crossroads continues to accumulate a wide variety of clothes, cooking ware, furniture, toys etc, etc, etc. This morning I went with two of the Crossroad staff to pick up furniture from the British consulate and some toys from a business in town. It was really a lot of fun driving and looking around the city. I enjoyed talking with Chris from America and Humphrey from Zambia. We missed lunch because we didn't get back until 2 in the afternoon. After lunch I worked for another hour or so unpacking and preparing deliveries. Tonight we had a community meal in the dining hall. The hotpot was good but certainly not as good as the ones back in Beijing. After dinner we relaxed for the rest of the evening. Connected in Him

The plague of existentialism - A most interesting quote

Before committing suicide, the distinguished Hobart Mauer gave interesting insight saying in the American Psychologists

"For several decades we psychologists have looked upon the whole matter of sin and moral accountability as a great incubus and we have acclaimed our freedom from it as epic making. But at length we have discovered to be free in this sense to have the excuse of being sick rather than being sinful is to also court the danger of becoming lost. In becoming amoral, ethically neutral and free, we have cut the very roots of our being, lost our deepest sense of selfhood and identity. And with neurotics themselves, asking, "Who am I? What is my deepest destiny? And what does living really mean?"

Day 30 - February 5th, 2008

Today was a bit rough. I woke up this morning tired and sick. I don't know if it's allergies or a cold but I keep sneezing and my nose is clogged. Nevertheless, life goes on. As on other days, this morning we had a group meeting from 8:30 to 9:30. After our time of singing and kneeling Mike and I headed up to the incoming department where we worked for most of the day. In the morning I was delegating and working with some grade eleven volunteers. Man some kids really haven't had any practical hands on experience. The whole day was slow but especially the afternoon. It is a lot slower around Crossroads because it is Chinese New Year. Mike and I headed back to the apartment around 4pm. I did some blogging, emails and administrative work before heading over to the drug store. Peace

Day 29 - February 4th, 2008

This morning I woke up at 5am and headed out an hour later to Dan Ryan's where we had breakfast and watched the Superbowl. I have never seen a more exciting football game. I really wanted the Pats to win but I must admit it was pretty special seeing the underdog Giants pull out the win. The Giants defence was imposing and aggressive sacking Brady like five times. The best play of the game was easily the play where Eli Manning was ducking and spinning before eventually throwing a 33 yard catch to Tyree. (amazing catch also)

After the game, a worker named Josh and I took the bus back to Crossroads. I was pretty tired by the time I got back, but I ended up having a pretty full day. Shortly after walking in the door, my roomate from Mongolia, Tsogtoo (or Chief) invited me over to his friends house. Mike was already talking with the lady because they both grew up in India. After talking for awhile, Chief Mike and I headed for lunch at what is popularly called the peak. Like a lot of the Crossroad staff, Chief goes to this little restaruant all the time. It is cheap, the people are friendly and the food is great. While eating we met up with one of the staff from Zambia. I was great to meet and talk with new Zambian friends. Back at the flat, we relaxed until the late afternoon. Grace, Gen, Mike, Chief and I headed out to do some shopping. The girls went there own way and us guys went to look at electronics. Mike and I have been looking into buying a pda for ourselves. I really wasn't completely sure I would get one but I found a good used pda/phone that cost was significanly reduced. Chief loves McDonalds so we ate there for dinner. From the bus, Mike and I did some quick grocery shopping and then spent the rest of the night relaxing. A busy but wonderful day. Peace

Day 28 - February 3rd, 2008

Today a large group of us went to one of the ECC in Hong Kong. Compared to yesterday, the weather was quite plesant. At the service we not only met Carmen and her father Lawerence but also Bob and Amy Jones. This morning Bob spoke on the garden narrative in Genesis. I was really challenged by a video that showed the reality and devestation of the storm in China. After the service we went out for lunch with Bob and Amy and Carmen and her dad. The Indian restaurant the took us to had absolutely fabuous food. After lunch, Gen's cousin took us out to shopping. Up until today, I had not experienced that overcrowded city of Hong Kong. Crossroads is located in an area that is newly developing. The population is less dense and there is considerably more space in the new terrirtories. Shopping in Mong Kok was absolutely crazy! There are so many people who converge and clash as they cross the street. There is no point saying excuse me, because you are always running into some one. The stores are crazy too. I bought a pair of New Balance shoes in a store crowded more than Best Buy on boxing day. Up until now, most of the smells in China have been ok. But in certain parts of Mong Kok I couldn't help but whiff this wretched smelling tofu. Nevertheless, after shopping I was emotionally exhausted. Peace

Day 27 - February 2nd, 2008

Today, was a laborious day. In the morning we cleaned up the work site. However, we spent most of the day loading a container that was going to be shipped to Israel. While it was raining pretty heavily for most of the day, it was fun working and getting to know other Crossroads staff and volunteers. There were certianly a lot of people helping in some form or another with the task of loading the container. We finished work at 4:30pm and I was so wet and tired. I had a shower and did some laundry. Mike and I went for dinner at McDonald's and relaxed for the rest of the night. Peace

Day 26 - February 1st, 2008

Today was my first full day in Hong Kong. I was pretty cold last night. I thought that Hong Kong would have been a lot warmer than Beijing. But really compared to Mike, I slept like a king. Mike hardly slept at all because he didn't have a heater. That is the first thing he wants to get sorted out today. If not I imagine he will be brining his matress and blankets into my room.

Mike and I went for breakfast at McDonald's. I absolutely love the McDonalds egg muffin breakfast. After breakfast we had a team meeting. Every morning from 8:30 o 9:30 the community of hope comes together for a time of singing, kneeling and encouraging. After singing we joined into small groups. We shared about what our Father has been doing in our lives. I was in a group with a lot of kids. I can already say that I really respect the way in which the Crossroad community nurtures and loves all the children, no matter if they are their own or not. One little girl was so cute. She explained how her family had been watching a movie called indescrible where the speaker shared on Genesis 1. That was her favorite memory verse it was like (in her words) "Wow!" Even in a smaller group there were people from many different nations; gathering together in commonality.

For the rest of the morning the four of us had orientation. I took over my computer to IT in hope of a miracle. Every day all the staff and volunteers have lunch together. The food is absolutely amazing. Today we had Indian food. After lunch, Mike and I went worked at one of the warehouses for a couple of hours. While we were busy moving furniture, Grace and Gen were working in the packing department. From the warehouse, Philski (the volunteer cordinator) gave us a tour of the various sites and departments. It is truly amazing how my Father is using this place to bless people from all across the world. Peace