Practically Local

Now that the jet lag is wearing off, I think I’m coherent enough to give you a somewhat accurate and hopefully amusing account of my first week in this city. With a little assistance from the Starbuck’s across the street, and my Simply Sleep tablets, I’ve been able to thoroughly confuse my body clock into thinking I’ve always been in this time zone. Thankfully I haven’t been staring at the ceiling at 3am wondering if I should get up and make lunch. Siesta patterns aside, I’m growing more appreciative of my previous YWAM treks that have taught me to acclimate to new cultures fairly quickly. Fortunately for me, Hong Kong is so multicultural that walking down the street feels a lot like a United Nations gathering, so I’m not constantly sticking out like sore thumb (my face doesn’t exactly scream ‘local’ but that might be asking too much). So after my first week learning the lay of the land, I’ve learned some important lessons that may be useful for you future travels to my new home: #1 It’s impossible to survive without an octopus card, which is a little plastic pass that can be electronically loaded with money and used not just for the purchase of bus and train tickets, but in the majority of restaurants and shops as well (rumor has it the next step is implanting it in your wrist, but I’ll jet outta here before that one). #2 I’ve become an expert in the multiples of seven, as the exchange rate from Hong Kong to US dollars is currently 7.7 to 1. #3 I’ve found that you can’t buy tortillas or natural peanut butter at the grocery store, but you can buy as many duck tongues and chicken feet as you can carry. I’m brave, but maybe not that brave. #4 On any average day, I will walk the equivalent of approximately one marathon. Unless I develop some willingness to sacrifice my stilettos that are perhaps more appropriate for a 5k, I’ll have to opt for the flip flops. #5 No matter how much quality time I spend with my hair straightener, the 100% humidity will always win out in the end. I will learn to love the curls that the good Lord gave me.
I’m sure this list will grow to a small novel in the coming months; I’m currently accepting offers for a book deal. Anyway, it hasn’t all been fun and games as Tuesday was officially my first day on the job with the Call2All. My job here is very similar to what it was with the Impact World Tour. I work with local volunteers toward the global congress this June. We’re still in the process of vision sharing and promoting, in not just Hong Kong, but all over Asia. The goal is to have delegates representing every nation on Earth. When we are strategizing to fulfill the great commission, it has to include every country.
Our local committee has welcomed me into their team and we’ve jumped head first into the preparations for the coming congress. I’m still trying to recover from the devastating blow that I won’t be living on Noah’s Ark with animals two by two. I did however attend a vision casting meeting on the ship that made me realize it was quite a blessing to avoid the multiple ferries and train rides required to get to the incredibly secluded island.
For the Call2All Congress we’ll be using the Asia World Expo Center, which just so happens to be one of the most impressive structures I have ever seen. After our visit there on Friday, I came to the conclusion that we could fit the entire population of Hong Kong inside this massive center.
All in all, I’m so grateful for how God went ahead and prepared the way for me to come here. I feel so blessed to wake up here every day and be a part of this ministry. This has been a wonderful induction to my time here, and it only raises the anticipation for what God is up to.
Stay tuned, I’ll be posting pictures as soon as possible! And keep your eye on the best seller list for my up and coming book, Hong Kong for Gringos.

Welcome to the Mayhem

I’m really hesitant to tell you my first impression of China. Not because it was a bad one, but rather you might be forced to question my sanity. I’m incredibly determined not to miss a single moment of this experience, so I’m constantly telling myself to take note of every detail. Remember every sound, and face, and color.
It was about 7:30 in the evening when I finally found the exit doors of the airport. Everybody knows that you haven’t actually visited a new country until you’ve been outside of the airport, so this was my big moment. I could see the waiting car through the automatic glass doors and as I approached they were thrown open before me. The months of anticipation and planning and excitement collided together and like a wave, it hit me: pancakes. Seriously, China smelled like pancakes. I thought it was strange too, that my first inclination was to make a run for the nearest IHOP. I wasn’t even hungry.
I didn’t have a whole lot of time to dwell on breakfast food because in just minutes we were zipping through the most densely populated city I had ever seen. This place makes New York City look like wide open space. Every single available surface is utilized to its full potential, allowing 7 million people to exist in approximately 15 miles. A far cry from the expanses of my native Colorado. Our driver expertly navigated his way to Kowloon, the most central part of the city. My eyes began to adjust and decipher the messages that the sea of neon was screaming at me. British, Japanese, Thai, Italian, you name it, they’ve got it. And it’s probably all in the same block. There are enough Indian tailors encamped on street corners to keep the entire nation of Ethiopia looking like Armani models. And judging from their sales techniques, the mere color of my skin is a billboard telling them that I am desperate for a new custom tailored suit.
In Kowloon, we came to a stop in front of Hankow Centre, my new home. One of my favorite couples that I have worked with on the Impact World Tour for years, Marty and Candice Emmett, have adopted me into their family that just a year ago grew by identical twin boys, Malachi and Josiah. The five of us share a wonderful apartment that by Hong Kong standards is huge. The local committee here decided that this location was much more conducive to the demands of our job, so we won’t be living on Noah’s Ark after all. Though it was quite a disappointment to realize I won’t be needing my life guarding skills, it’s hard to be upset about the incredible location that we now reside in. Flexibility has always been the name of this game and the Lord has blessed us through it. Our apartment is actually in the same building that our office is in, and quite literally a stone’s throw to the nearest starbucks. But I checked, and they don’t serve pancakes.

We have lift off

I think I will always remember February 13th as one of the largest and most challenging leaps of faith that God has ever asked of me. In the past, traveling and making my home and ministry in a new place has never scared me. But the trying personal circumstances surrounding this move to Hong Kong meant that every crutch I had relied on, be it friends, family, or even the comfort of my own culture, was suddenly stripped away. The Lord was asking me to step onto that airplane devoid of any tangible security blanket that I could come up with. And believe me, it wasn’t for lack of trying. Many will bear witness to the moments I realized that as soon as the flight attendant closed the doors in San Francisco, even my beloved cell phone would be deemed useless. Through my crocodile tears I paid absolutely no attention to her attempts at teaching me to buckle my seat belt and navigate my way to the exits. That’s right, we’re getting vulnerable now, I cried. No, I sobbed. I made the guy across the aisle wish he spoke English so that he could calm me down. What a day.
Fortunately for me, I had 15 hours of flight time to stare at the seat in front of me and really process this rather uncharacteristic fear of uncharted territory. I won’t lie to you, the first few hours weren’t pretty, although our foreign friend was pretty grateful that the waterworks came to a halt shortly after take off. It didn’t take me long to begin praying through one of the scriptures that I hold tightly in my heart. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27. There is just no way to truly explain the kind of grace that the Lord provides in the depths of your struggles. My dad always says that the peace that passes all understanding is just that, the kind of indescribable calm and stillness that can come solely from the love and grace of the father. It’s the supernatural power to lift your pain-stricken and fearful heart up into the comfort of the almighty.
For the rest of my flight I drifted in and out of sleep (thank you Jesus for the two empty seats beside me!) all the while heeding the Lord’s reminders that he has given me everything I need for this moment. And he will never leave me to fend for myself. I remember feeling a surge of strength as the wheels touched down in the 75 degree February weather of Hong Kong. This was a new journey for God to not only use me in the Call2All, but to do a great work in me. I made my way through customs wrestling with the luggage I was sure outweighed me by at least a few (hundred) pounds. When I rounded the corner I couldn’t help but smile. The friendly Chinese man held a handwritten sign that boldly stated not only my name, but the divine reminder that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

Apartments are overrated anyway.

The irony of the nautical analogies from the last post get a little more hilarious every time I think about the news of our promised accommodation in Hong Kong. Turns out, I really will be needing that life jacket.

Members of Hong Kong-based Noah’s Ark Ministries International have recently uncovered evidence that Noah's journey may have come to a halt near Mt. Ararat on the border of Turkey. While the exploration continues, a full size replica of the ark is being constructed in downtown Hong Kong. The primary purpose is to create a Christian educational theme park in which the full gospel will be presented. However I have taken quite an interest in its secondary purpose: my new home address.

The organization has generously offered to take us in as stowaways in the hotel rooms that apparently occupy the belly of the boat, alongside the creation museum. I am so grateful that the Lord has provided a place to stay, but more so, I'm marveling at his sense of humor in my life...

Right now I'm spending some time with family in Colorado until I leave on February 13th. I can't wait to see how the Lord works not only in Asia, but in my life personally. I know his desire is to continue to teach me and grow me, and as painful as that can be, I'm truly ready for the next step. I beg your prayers for me in this time of transition, it's been a difficult one. Even in the tough times, I'm sitting here chuckling and wondering what would have happened if I had chosen a city-slicker, downtown penthouse apartment analogy :)

Anchors aweigh...