Pray for Hong Kong

  

The Lutheran Theological Seminary suspended its classes on Monday and Tuesday due to demonstrations and protests for true democracy in Hong Kong. A prayer service was held on Monday and the candle lit chapel remained open for prayer on both days. 

Oct 1- 2 (Wednesday - Thursday) are public holidays in Hong Kong. During this time we, along with our students at LTS, are learning about the Church and its engagement with democracy, as prayers are lifted up for students, society, government, police.

Last night one of our colleagues organized a night hike/prayer walk for Hong Kong.

Arrival to Hong Kong Island by Star Ferry on Monday night.

Various professors have been accompanying small groups of seminary students to witness the actual protest situation.

Wayne took this photo Wed night, Oct 1, impressed to see even
children and young families engaged with this peaceful protest

Tomorrow (Friday) our seminary President and Dean have arranged for continued prayer and discussion of Hong Kong churches' engagement with the protests, including presentation of a paper "Civil Disobedience - An Impact on the Hong Kong Churches, " written by LTS professor, Dr. Pilgrim Lo. It provides a little history of the pro-democracy negotiations and then discusses the value and possible application of Luther's views to the situation (we are a Lutheran seminary!). 

On the one hand, Wayne and I find ourselves wondering  if the world has ever in its history seen such a peaceful way of protesting. We've followed the reports and also seen first hand how food and water is being distributed, contingency plans are in place to help any first aid or emergency vehicles to get through the crowds - protest signs and speeches seem remarkably polite and positive. I found myself behind this guy on Monday night -- fanning not only himself but reaching out to fan other demonstrators and bystanders, including me!

A moment later he fanned me - a welcome second of relief
in the Hong Kong heat.

water bottles ready for distribution in heat indexes reaching over 100 F.

On the other hand,  many of our Chinese friends and colleagues here are worried. What may happen if the students decide to stay after Thursday, when a "normal" work day should resume?  What will happen if the leaders of the students and Occupy Central and the current Hong Kong administrative leaders do not go to the negotiation table? The terrible shadow of Tiananmen Square 25 years ago hangs heavy over Hong Kong.

Wherever you are ithe world, we invite you to say a prayer for beautiful Hong Kong and all of God's beloved people here - students, Occupy Central demonstrators, government, police, and especially the leaders and emerging leaders in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

May God have mercy to allow this peaceful witness to continue - some how - into a peaceful resolution.

As Wayne is a Reinhold Niebuhr fan, he suggests one of his favorite Niebuhr prayers:

"O God, in whom there is no darkness at all, we thank you that though we walk in darkness, you have give us enough light in which to walk.  As the sun dispels each morning the shadows of the night, so your mercies,which surround us, pierce the shadows of sin ever again, and help us to see the meaning of life.  Give us grace to triumph over the confusion of impulse, in which we are so easily ensnared, and to walk in the way of wisdom disclosed by your wisdom.  Grant us clearness of vision especially when good is intertwined with evil, and duty conflicts with desire, so that we do your will this day and always.  Amen" 

Fantastic Creatures of Hong Kong

 Winter's cold has been lasting unusually long here in Hong Kong. Temps in the 40's and 50's F can be very chilly in unheated apartments, offices and classrooms

The season of Lent continues, with contemplation, prayer, and attempts to be of service in this world, especially for and with the poor and the poor in spirit.

But sometimes you just have to get out! One of the unique and beautiful things about the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong is the international Christian community life - pictured are students from Myanmar, USA, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos! Once a month the seminary "family groups" go on outings, and Friday was the day!

First order of business -- It's Dr. Wayne's family group, so that means a stop at an Indian buffet!

Yum! This is Trang, one of our two Vietnamese students this year (she's married to the only other Vietnamese student!). She's the mom of the little boy who had the honor of being LTS's youngest student ever... sitting in theology classes with his coloring books and pillow until his parents were able to get him situated in a local pre-school. Some of you will remember from earlier blog posts that it took us over 6 months and a five inch stack of paperwork to get this young family their student visas for Hong Kong.  But God is good! They've finally arrived!!!

The second part of our "family day" outing was a trip to the Hong Kong Art Museum... Fantastic Creatures!  [and so we are!]

There were a lot of dragons, dark and dastardly!

But we had no fear!

 At that time God will unsheathe his sword, 

his merciless, massive, mighty sword.
He'll punish the serpent Leviathan as it flees,
   the serpent Leviathan thrashing in flight.
He'll kill that old dragon
   that lives in the sea. 

 -- The Prophet Isaiah 27:1 (The Message version)

In Anticipation of Thanksgiving...

One of our students was kind enough to provide us with this photo from one of our recent fiestas.  After nearly two years in Hong Kong, and loads of experiences seeing the sights, dining out,  and meeting all kinds of people, one of our favorite things in life is still just sharing a meal... often yes, served in pots and pans rather than making more dishes for our chief dishwasher (Youngest Son).

In November we are anticipating a LOT of special meals.

Did I mention that I have started yet another new part-time job?   Two nights a week I now go and teach English to adults.  So far so good!  My first lessons included helping people to enunciate clearly the difference between "beach" and, um a similar sounding but very different-in-meaning word.   Ditto with the word "fork" AND the ever present tendency (in religious circles) to interchange "blessed" with "breast".

Tomorrow night I get to do my first "Fun with Christa" night.  Yup, it's really entitled exactly that, so I'm a little nervous.  If anyone has some games using English that's not too adolescent... pass 'em on. (I googled "English games adults" and you might be able to imagine what kind of stuff came up on the screen.  Not very helpful. 

Friday night we are having an outdoor Thanksgiving event on the lawn with about 35 people.  (Thanksgiving Day itself will not be a holiday here in Hong Kong, of course, so we are celebrating early).  I haven't snagged the cans of pumpkin yet, though others have assured me they are to be found in Hong Kong, if you look hard enough and are willing to pay the big bucks!

On Saturday I will be celebrating Holy Communion at the prison.  It is the first time our ministry team is attempting this, and it will be a stretch in every way - practical (I just got word today that we can only bring in "church type white bread" - do you think I can get by with pita bread?) linguistic (half the group speaks Spanish!), theological (these are NOT all Lutherans and have a wide variety of understandings of the Lord's Supper), pastoral (some may not be baptized, or not be ready to receive communion for a variety of reasons) and liturgical (How to best conduct the service in the  cluttered, classroom-closet kind of space we have, filled with long benches...)

So we are anticipating a variety of meals in the coming few weeks.  Stay tuned for the updates.

Guide me ever, great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren* land. 
I am weak, but you are mighty; hold me with your pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore, 
feed me now and evermore.            -- traditional hymn

*(although Hong Kong is NOT so barren... see below)

On the way home from church on Sunday we chanced upon this lovely bit of creation.

note to self- I will invest in a better camera, I will! And learn how to use it.

We heard there was a party!

Mmm, wonder what's flying by for dinner today?

                                            

Happy Buddha's Birthday!

Is it wrong for a Christian to celebrate Buddha's birthday by sleeping in? Well, in Hong Kong it's a public holiday so guess what?!  We are celebrating!

What do  people do on Buddha's birthday? I had no idea, but thankfully, the Chinese department at Eric's school (Hong Kong International School) sent us the following helpful info:

Buddha’s Birthday, May 21, 2010

Since the Yuan Dynasty, Buddha’s birthday is usually celebrated on the 8^th day of the Fourth Moon.  This year it’s on May 21^st  (Friday).  Hong Kong Government declares it as a Public Holiday.

Some Chinese people celebrate this day as the day of the “Bathing Buddha.”  On this day inside each of the Buddhist temple, it is a custom to “bathe” the Buddha with perfume water.  Then the worshippers will take some of the holy water back home, hoping to bring peace and blessings to their family.

           

In addition, this is also a celebration of the birthday of the ox.  In rural areas, farmers usually take this day to give oxen a big bath.  Some farmers even express their thanks to the oxen by giving them a day of rest.

Well we don't have any oxen, so we are giving ourselves a day of rest instead.

Happy Holiday!  :)

Christa

  The fear of the LORD leads to life;
       then one rests content, untouched by trouble. 
                                                     -- Proverbs 19:23

The sublime & the ridiculous

Sight seeing with one's grown sons is a wonderful mixture of the sublime and the ridiculous.  At times they are in awe of the sights and sounds (and sometimes the smells!!) of Hong Kong, and then the next minute they are shoving each other and sitting on each other's laps in the subway, as if they were 7 & 8 years old again.  Only here in Asia, I can't pretend I don't know them (one of my coping methods in years past) because, well, it's pretty obvious that we belong to each other.

The largest bronze sitting Buddha in the world, on Lantau Island.

 I

 On top of Needle Point, a hike up into the hills, straight up from our home in Shatin. (My calves are still aching from that climb!)

They are leaving in 4 short days.  The house will be cleaner, quieter, and Hong Kong will be way way emptier.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; 

His greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another, 

they tell of your mighty acts.  

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty-- 

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

-- Psalm 145:3-5

Body Slapping Dance

My friend Yoko invited our family to a Japanese/ Soka Gakkai Buddhist cultural event here in Hong Kong and it was fabulous!

Little did I know that my quiet, shy, tiny, very decorous friend had been the lead drummer in her high school band, and man did she belt it out during the "Body Slapping Dance" part of the afternoon festivities.






The whole afternoon was an incredible mixture of traditional Japanese, folk Japanese, and modern Japanese culture, all in a Chinese/Cantonese setting.



Wayne & Eric came along... Eric very reluctantly as he was afraid there was going to be audience participation required.  Can't say I blame him for being nervous about that idea!  The flyers for the event were written mostly in Chinese so  we had little idea of what was going to happen.


It was great, though, and even Eric seemed to enjoy the afternoon's events. (I say seemed to because for a 16 year old the fact that he didn't ask to leave during the program, but waited to the end before quickly slipping off for home means a great deal).

As for me, all I can say is that it was wonderful, and I am in awe of what a big world this is and how much I still have to learn.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;        extol him, all you peoples.      For great is his love toward us,        and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

       Praise the LORD.   -- Psalm 117

Mid-Autumn Festival

  Praise him, all his angels;
       praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

     Praise him, sun and moon;
       praise him, all you shining stars.

     Praise him, you highest heavens
       and you waters above the skies.  --  Psalm 148:2-4

Mid-Autumn Festival last Saturday -- this is  looking straight up at the moon from our front gate.  "Enjoying the moon" is a big part of Mid-Autumn festivities, as is eating moon-cakes, which are dense, chewy, and delicious bean-curd or lotus-seed filled pastries with salted duck egg, sugar, butter and flour.  Incredibly bad for you, I believe, particularly when eaten in large portions, as I am wont to do...

Children and young-at-heart enjoy the colored lights and lanterns of the Mid-Autumn Festivities.  Unfortunately Wayne & I went for another of our famous long hikes so I was too tired to go out and admire the lit lanterns at night.  Here's a fun photo from the Shatin Park on the morning after.

Perspectives from the Peak

This past week we went to The Peak (highest point in Hong Kong) with our German colleagues & their young family. We took the famous, 120 year old Peak Tram. Although it was a cloudy day, the perspectives, as you can see, were fantastic. It's fun exploring places with little ones. They make us slow down, and take notice of the turtles in the pond and the splashes of water from the fountains, how sturdy the cables of the tram really are (quite strong, dear, we'll be safe) and how quickly the clouds roll in the sky, painting the skyscrapers white, then gray.

For those of you who sent me English language children's picture books... just wanted you to know that they are a HUGE hit with my kids at the Hoppy Palace. It's amazing how good art and funny stories can transcend cultures. The youngest children can enjoy just the colors & the sounds of the words, the slightly older students love discovering new details in the pictures & actions of the stories.

Please ask all the Pray-ers you know to pray for the success (in God's eyes) of the Ma On Shan Lutheran Primary School... where I will be going for the first time on this next Monday afternoon to lead devotions for the staff! I've only met the principal so far, and he's just a lovely, older Chinese man. The school is quite small by Hong Kong standards and this is a pivotal year... there are new housing projects going up in the area and this school would be a natural place for folks to send their kids... and most of them will be families that have never heard the Gospel. However, the projects are not yet finished, and this year enrollment at the school is so low that there is a danger of the school closing before these new neighborhood kids even move in. So the idea is to have a superb English-language program at the school (which would make it a magnet school) to attract area kids and parents, who would then also get to hear the wonderful story of God's love for us through Jesus. I am in awe of the way in which God is using my "tent-making" experience... tutoring small children (from wealthy homes) at the "Hoppy Palace" English language center ... to train me for this "free" work in the Gospel with children from more modest backgrounds here in Hong Kong...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- spoken through the prophet Jeremiah ca. the year 628 BC !

Buddha's Birthday

In honor of Buddha's Birthday coming up (our son can't believe his good fortune - he gets the day off from school!) I thought this would be a good occasion to post a few of my pictures of "the largest outdoor sitting Buddha in the world" on Lantau Island (turns out there are larger Buddha's, but they are either not outdoors or not sitting haha).

So, I just loved the expression on this girl's face as she sits on the bottom of the steps leading up to the Buddha-- (and yes, shame on you earthly minded people, she was wearing a full set of clothes even though you can't see it in the photo!)

Second picture has some of the largest incense sticks I've ever seen, in the gardens and devotional places surrounding the Buddha. The air was perfumed by it, and I couldn't help but think of David's Psalm:


Let my prayer rise up as incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands
as an evening sacrifice. --Psalm 141:2

Third picture is of a guy paying homage in front of one of the gorgeous Bodhisattva statues which surround the big Buddha.

My conclusion? The human desire and creativity in searching out a connectedness to the divine is something which transcends age, culture, gender. I believe that God honors that desire as something beautiful, in fact has created it, and is very near to all of us who reach out in hope of that "something more" to life.

At the same time, St. Paul 's words also echo in my mind:

What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you... Since we are God's children, we ought not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone -- an image made by human design and skill. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. (see Acts 17:16-34)

Celebrating Our Anniversary in Hong Kong

27thanniversary

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Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

okay, I've worked all day to try & figure out how to embed this slideshow... I hope it works and I hope you all enjoy it! Just call me your favorite pastor-technogeek :)
Wayne is on an all day retreat with his new colleagues and students, I'm eager to hear what he reports when he gets back. Meanwhile, enjoy the show below! testing, testing...

tenthousandbuddhas

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