Happy in Hong Kong

Rhythm Dance Studio

Classes are booming and more and more families are finding our studio. Now we have classes from babies all the way through to teens in gym, dance, jazz and hip hop.
The latest news is that I will be working in partnership with a specialist in baby gym and music classes to design a brand new curriculum that really brings together all the benefits of music, dance, gym and creative expression through art. This is so exciting for me as it gives me a chance to put onto paper some of my research and experience in the areas of sensory integration training for children and the lifelong health and educational benefits. WOW what a privilege to be impacting these kids lives by  making exercise both fun and  nurturing  their brains. Our Jazz and Hip Hop classes for older students are also doing well with some really talented kids joining the studio. We will be bringing over international examiners and the choreographers of the BBDS and JazzAddict syllabus to Hong Kong in March 2009. Our students will be the first in HK to have the chance to sit these examinations.

ICC China Job

International Children's Club Shenzhen China.

This is where Greg is currently employed and why he is now crossing the China/ Hong Kong border 6 days a week.
We moved house to Fanling to get closer to the border so the commute is not quite as insane as it would have been.
The school has not yet opened as they are finishing the premises but when it does it's going to be an amazing venue with the best currciculum and resources that money can buy.
Greg is very excited about teaching in this special club.

We're thinking about taking the boys up for 2 days a week to make the most of the classes offered and great play and learning facilities. This is one educational facility that we can both back 100% as the foundations of the center seem to be VERY strong.  They're committed to a holistic approach that will encourage independence and self-esteem while at the same time emphasizing individual strengths and interests.

Project Everlasting and new HK village house

Finding the secret to enduring love....what is it?  Well, my sister has crossed paths with a great man from the US who is devoted to spending a lot of time, energy, and money to go out and look into this ageless and priceless question. The bedrock ideas that this guy asserts are clearly inspired from a superior source of good. There is no doubt in my puny little mind about that.  Please look into his videos and "cool as" inspirations.  I can't wait to meet this guy some day to share with him and pick his heart, brain, and soul.

....and I also wanted to share pictures of our new house, which puts us very near the HK-China border now.  we are loving life and looking forward to the new possibilities this move has opened for us.

NHL Winter Classic -- 1st outdoor game in USA

watch this cool highlight film from the first ever professional hockey game played outside in the USA.  The Buffalo Sabres took on the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it is decided finally by an overtime shoot-out!

Father God's love letter to us

These are God's words taken from about 50 Scriptures, and it shows us how he has expressed his love to us.  Jesus Christ, His Son, was the peak of his revelation of love to us.  I had to share this as a logical second part to my previous testimonial video.

one compelling testimony about Heaven and Hell

still on my quest for truth....
I happened upon this first-person account that is worthy of attention, and I hope you dedicate a short 10 minutes to watching it.
It is very down-to-earth, non-religious, and completely relevant to any individual still alive in our universe.

how can a loving God send people to hell?

I've been pondering this question lately, and when you really stop to think about it, there needs to be quite a bit of explanation in order to satisfy people who are on a genuine spirtual quest...
I hope this video helps you on your journey to find the truth about our world....

first video talks about hell

second video talks about the contentious issue of pain and suffering in the world

third video talks about why Jesus, the Son of God, came to the Earth

Teaching the whole world English

just wanted to share this fabulously beautiful picture of my wife and son at yet another Saturday function where we teach English to Asian children.  We're getting very very close to the opening day of our new dance studio, so we have all hands on deck for that.  We'll try to keep you current on what's happening with it (and actually with my Master's degree program that I started about 2 weeks ago) here, but we'll also be adding a photo gallery and online forum to our dance studio website to document the proceedings.

Sonia Herron Academy of Jazz....Now Open!!

The latest Modern Jazz and Hip Hop Dance syllabus from Australasia. Classes taught in English, Internationally recognised examinations, and all done to the latest trend setting music your child will LOVE!
A safe and positive dancing environment for your child to learn and develop their full potential in dance.
Syllabus info and timetable with prices can be found by click image above.

Register NOW at dance academy website   www.academyofjazz.com

Address of studio is:  Shop 26, 1/F, The Waterside, 15 On Chun Street, Ma On Shan

phone/fax:  +852 2643 9688

Classes start on 20 November.

Don't miss the grand opening specials!!!

A video for our families

We made this video mostly to show our family how much we wish you were here to be with our kids and a part of their lives. Most of it is footage from earlier this year and from elijah's first birthday last december.
We love you and miss you.

Oh, my New Zealand

how could I not post this heart-wrenching peek into my NZ?  hope the whole world doesn't figure it out.
Enjoy.

volunteer trip to Beijing & Urumqi

to say the least, we had a very profitable time.  profitable for our souls, minds, and hearts.  There was great need in the village outside Beijing called Qing Yun Dian.  but the government had just recently sprung the funds for new roads leading up to the Olympics.  every day I would teach English to classrooms of about 12 students, aged 16 to adult.  it was a summer programme, and in the meantime Sonia helped out in the children's home right there on the same campus.  We now hope to go back sometime over the next year with our home (PLUS) group from our church and hopefully financially sponsor one or more children from the home there.  most of them are saved from not getting the surgeries they so badly need from the state-run system.  New Day arranges adoptions or foster families from the community step up to give their help too.
then I had the most amazing side trip -- to the fascinating Turkish (by ethnicity) city of Urumqi.  it's still located within China's western border, but it sure seems like a Muslim place somewhere in the Middle East.  I was warmly welcomed by the director of the largest English language school in that region, Atlan.  The people were so so warm, and they were very interested to sit and hear we four Americans teach and interact with them for seven days.  the student numbers in our classes approached 100 at times.  they were very studious and hard-working, and they were not afraid to converse as well as they could manage.  they took us out 2 or 3 times a day, and students even welcomed us into their own homes.  the people are very expressive, they absolutely adore dancing, acting, and singing, and they love parties.  I sure hope God allows us to visit these people again soon and possibly set up something longer term there.  see two pictures from each city below, and see more pictures in my new Beijing & Urumqi photo album.

Year-end kindergarten show

our kids worked hard on the dance and drama for weeks before the ceremony, and it all paid off on the big day.  they did "Footloose" and as you can see everyone loved it!  See more pictures in the Kindergarten album.

video blog 1.0

living the fast-paced Asian life.  kindergarten, mass transit, tourist destinations, shopping, and heaps of info on how to come and thrive in Hong Kong. we're a family who is doing it and want others to benefit from our experience. God called us to this place, and we know his plan is majestic and worthy of following with all our hearts...enjoy all Hong Kong and Asia have to offer

  Quicktime video -- Download here 

  Windows Media Player DivX video -- Download vlog_intro7.avi 

Sonia takes the boys to a fun gym

didn't want you to miss seeing pictures from last month's trip to Little Gym for Caleb's friend's birthday party.  The boys got party packs and had heaps of fun.  Just look in our Family & Friends Photo Album for the rest of the pictures of their fabulous fun!