Happy in Hong Kong

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.

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.

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.

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!

Dancing & English in Hong Kong

if there are two things you can come and do for work in HK it's definitely these two.  just so happens that my wife is qualified and experienced in both.  I guess my special skill would be cooking -- that is, if you would consider using a blender as cooking.  it was "Healthy Week" for our kids, so I made fruit smoothies and chicken burritos with my students, and Sonia made salad.  these are all dishes that average HK families don't eat very often at all.  they cook their veggies, and that's about the only way they eat them, strangely enough!

new house and pictures

Just wanted to let everyone know that we've just uploaded more pictures in our Family & Friends picture album.  they show the first pictures of us moving into our new village house in Tai Shui Hang Village.
I also uploaded some old photos of when my parents visited HK last February into our HK Places album.  I thought they deserved being added, even this late.
Take a look!  It's more than worth it.

missing New Zealand and loving HK!

--picture of Lake Tarawera, N Island, NZ.

recently, we've encountered other aspects of Hong Kong that make us think back to the simple life in NZ.
...when I forget my keys or my wallet, it takes me going thru two security gates, waiting for the lift, standing in a crowded Asian-size lift, then doing the reverse.
...always second-guessing the way I think in this context, and the assumptions that are second nature in NZ don't exactly play out well here in Asia's World City.
...having to negotiate prices and contracts or else get ripped off
...seeing a beautiful sunny afternoon, but knowing that you can't just open the door and sit down in your lawn chair outside
...not having the freedom to go out driving when you get stir crazy with toddlers gnawing on your leg
...dealing with crowds no matter how much effort you exert to get the opposite

We love Asia and all its complexities.  Of this we are sure.  There are sacrifices, but the daily surprises, the bright and lively people, the local amenities, the modern way of life, and the endless opportunity to put your dreams to work are undeniably wonderful!

Who are you??

Who are you? I saw you today sitting on the side of the pavement begging for money from the thousands who rushed past you. I cried for you today cause I saw in your eyes that you knew exactly what people thought of you, or rather the fact that people didn't even think or even take a look at you. I watched someone step over your hat and I felt the pain of that. You only had $10 and I was the only person out of the hundreds to stop and talk to you and give you some money. When I touched your knee your leg was so thin. God I hope he doesn't go hungry tonight please don't let him go hungry anymore.
Burnt from some dreadful accident and left too ugly to work or be productive in this society, thrown out to be stepped over and left in isloation.
What makes him different to all you suits that walked past him today? You tourists who didn't even look twice what would your fate be if his story had happened to you?
Only God can save him and help him, but only God can save us and help us from being eaten alive on the inside with the greed that is destroying our love for those in need.

Who is worse off? The man with nothing? Or the man with everything but who can give nothing?

But for the grace of God that could be me.......

Flat Stanley in kindergarten

for all those kindred spirits....(family or those desperately looking for children activities)....my most recent kindergarten video is ready to view.  you can view it and read info about the activity on my video page

kindergarten photos from Hong Kong

I've put heaps more photos up in the "Wellborn School Photos" album in the left sidebar. Be sure to have a look.  Might give you some creative ideas for activities with your children or with your classroom if you're a teacher or parent.

You still lack one thing...

Thoughts of the week...
Luke 18:22
When Jesus heard this he said to him, " You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
24
"How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! Indeed, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

How many of us still lack this one thing.....we may check the box in every other area of life, church attendance, good stewardship, being responsible, even sharing our faith with those we love.
So together we groan with those who heard Jesus the first time saying these words
" Who then can be saved!"
Jesus replies " What is impossible with men is possible with God."
" I tell you the truth no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the  Kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come, eternal life."

We have forgotten that salvation is in itself a 3 dimensional thing. We are saved in a moment in time when  we turn to God and ask forgiveness, we are being saved as God transforms us and challenges us to become more like him, and we will finally be saved when we are in heaven.

What does God require of you today?
I asked myself this question this week.
And here is my answer, To give to the poor and to follow him. To give my life for the poor and to give my life for Him because when we do one we will automatically do the other. I know this doesn't look the same for everyone because God requires us to give and pour out our lives for those who are poor in spirit as well as physically poor. but the picture is the same to me......to pour out our lives for the hungry, for those who have a hunger both physical and spiritual.

And I am not to expect or require thanks and approval from man. I was impacted by this verse:
" Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say ' we are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
Luke 17:9-10

Have we been obedient to do all God asks of us?
Maybe you are like me and checked some boxes and felt good about yourself, but have you poured out your very life for those in need? And are we all required to live such dedicated lives?
well are we not all servants? or is there a ranking order where servants who don't feel comfortable doing certain chores have no responsibility in sharing the load while others carry their share?
Do we not all owe our lives to Christ if we confess him as our Lord?

Thank God he is merciful and he only asks us to carry this load because we love Him and not out of guilt or trying to earn our way into heaven. God has been so merciful to me.

Lord Jesus please show us how to be your hands of love for the people who need you today.

- Sonia

getting a bigger place!

last night we received another totally unexpected gift from our kindergarten.  Sonia and I had been complaining and ranting and raving about how small our high-rise apartment is, especially with two kids under the age of 3.  So after far too much navel gazing we decided to go out to get some yogurt, since we were running low.  That's when we bumped into the boss of our kindergarten, and after greetings and pleasantries, she surprised us by informing us that the big boss had given his permission for our school to start looking for a village house that we can move into within the next 2 months.  We'd have ground floor access and more inside space, too.  We might even have a rooftop garden/play area if God really decides to spoil us.  The village is the one right next to our school, so now we'll have a 5 min walk to work in the morning, and Sonia can have better access to the kids at home, and we'll be able to do more with them all throughout the day.  I can pop home during lunch, the kids could come for a quick play, and the list is endless!  Wow.  more info, pics, and videos to come...

observations and insanity

So I don't know if this is normal but every single time I have sat on a bus recently I am sitting next to someone who starts to clip their nails right next to me. Is that normal? I was trying to remember if I would ever do that in public transportation in NZ. it's become funny to me now though as these are the most health conscious people I've ever met!
We are having fun with Greg's family visiting us at the moment and getting to do all the tourist things with them. The Peak is now a favourite as it is so breath taking up there looking down on Hong Kong.
School has been crazy since getting back after Chinese New Year. I now have 26 two year olds in my class, with two helpers, and it is difficult to manage some days as a few of them are crying everyday all morning. Anyone with kids of their own knows how hard it can be when a child is crying and you don't know what is wrong and how to fix it. Things should settle down again soon as the new children will get used to the routine and being away from their mummies.
I am also getting to know some mums in my building, we have tim, HK Chinese 2 years old, over once a week for the afternoon now while his mum teaches so it has been fun to get to know their family a little more.
Caleb and Elijah :
Elijah is now walking steadily and very active, chasing his older brother and squealing at the top of his lungs is his new favourite acitivity.
Caleb is still staying home with Eli in the mornings and has been showing some talent in the art department, although everything he draws is a monster. He is also quite an actor putting on magic shows and entertaining everyone he meets.
Have a look at our new pics in the album
Love and hugs
Sonia