十内存

Top lists -

Meals ::

1. ChiuChow Cuisine with Kwen Ip (where Scott ate a chicken foot)

2. Jasmine Thai where we laughed pretty much the whole meal.

3. Guys night @ Taco Loco. Yes, the couple behind us made out the entire meal. 

4. Dan Ryan's our last night, here's to "American" portions. No wonder America is fat. 

4. Early morning McDonalds with Orme, Hannah, and Mary Reading.

5. Amarone's with Maik and the Bell family. 

6. Passion Volunteer Room Pizza. 

7. Chicken bowls. 

8. R66 with our Auburn alum friend Chase. 

9. Outback with Robert before the rest of the team arrived.

10. Starbucks with Kwen. 

Sights ::

1. Passion HK - Seeing a picture of many hope in Christ.

2. The Peak on Saturday night.

3. The R66 360* view of HK.

4. Two park benches in Kowloon Tsai park.

5. Island ECC Sunday.

6. My old friend, Ocean, in the Central MTR station. 

7. The floods of 18-25 year old people. Everywhere. 

8. Our massive 400 sq foot apartment. Hung Hom = Temporary Home. 

9. Scott in the MTR ("Why would I need a TV if I have a mirror?")

10. April, Josh, Caleb, and Luke with "Welcome Home Daddy" Posters in the ATL airport. 

H to the K so far.

So far, this has been an incredible week, no wait... two days. Yes, we did fly into time from Friday dawn to Saturday night around the world. Sunday, we woke up and went to Island ECC. It's funny how you can be 8000+ miles from home and feel at home among other believers. We met our Auburn alum friend, Chase, where from there we went to R66 on top of the Hopewell Center to overlook the cityscape during high tea/lunch. More than anything, this was a good conversation. After lunch, we met up with Ocean and Maxine, two of our HK friends. We went to the afternoon service at The Vine, and after that we went out for Korean food in Times Square (picture above). 

Yesterday, we toured a school in Sha Tin and then met up with our new friends Alan and Maik over lunch, where we shared thoughts on collegiate ministry. Imagine a world city, like HK, with multiple universities: City University of HK, Chinese University of HK, HKBU, Hong Kong University, HK Polytech, Shue Yan University (to name the bigger ones and there are more). The Church is alive and well (small as it may be), yet there is an openly admitted gap when it comes to focused, intentional ministry to young adults. 18-35 year olds seem to be everywhere.  More on this later. For now, I can say after this lunch, we found ourselves in Kowloon Tsai park (where two summers ago I took Josh and Caleb swimming many nights). Scott, John, Jason, Robert, Mary Reading, Hannah, Katie and I pulled two benches together and we talked and prayed. Good stuff. A holy moment. 

Last night we went to Mong Kok / Langham Place to take in another scene of people / markets / smells / sights. 

Next post? Top ten lists. 

 

this is never easy.

It's 3:!3 am and my bag is halfway packed. In two hours, I'll join my staff team in the driveway, where we will load up in the GCM Excursion and drive to ATL where we will yawn and laugh, waiting to get through customs. Tomorrow, we fly to Hong Kong. This trip is meaningful on many levels, but most importantly, it is a response: Yes Lord. 

It is from that response that I can trust Him with all my hope and admittedly all my fears. There is something about leaving my wife and (now) three children that gets me every time. Those precious people mean more than words to me. 

Josh, I am so thankful to be your father. I am in awe of your curiosity and love for learning more. Reading the story about Jesus lastnight and your honest questions... and your childlike faith in God, is such a picture of the kingdom. You have changed my life forever. Thanks for being such a great older brother to Caleb and Luke. I love you. 

Caleb, lately, we have connected more than ever before. I have truly enjoyed every moment of being near you lately. We have laughed, tickled, and wrestled so much these days --- and you are still quite squeezable. You bring joy to my heart. I love you. 

Luke, what can I say -- these past six weeks. Life changing. The little moments we have shared are priceless to me. Putting lotion on your little feet, or changing the many diapers, or trying (in futility) to make eye contact with you...You are a great addition to our family. I cannot wait to know you and throw you in the mix of father / son wrestlemania. I love you.

April, you are beyond anything I can expect from a wife. Seriously. I am so very thankful for you. These past days of laugher have been rich. Thanks for being selfless and for encouraging me to do this trip. You and I both know what's at stake here. Good stuff. I love you.

the peacemaker.

So we are trying to teach Josh and Caleb to work things out -- peacemaker style. Rather than take the easy (and less humorous) way out of separating them upon conflict, we are "encouraging" them to work it out -- as in, put the toys down, sit on the stairs, and don't get up until you have worked it out.

Josh " It's my toy."

Caleb " It's my toy."

Josh " No...it's mine..."

Caleb " No it's MY toy..."

***** 10 minutes later

Josh "Hmm... ok I'll share"

Caleb "Ughh... ok, I'll share"

Peacemakers. 

Now, just to remind us that these children are still in process, here is a direct quote from Josh while playing with both action figures later on that afternoon.

"I'm a peacemaker, and I'm going to killlllll you" 

Priceless. 

give grace

For those new to this blog - be sure to check out Give Grace for the latest updates on all the news. This month has been good - We've been able to partner with two local ministries: The Way Ministries and Love Is Free, both of which reach out in our area to care for people.

Also, we have been able to sponsor 5 more children in Bethany Village, Gaaba, Uganda. 

beautiful city.

Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it. Jeremiah 33:9  

This morning our staff team met for prayer as we prepare to leave as a team on friday. Next week we will explore the area, spend time on university campuses, volunteer for Passion Hong Kong, and reconnect with some students we know. 

Maybe eat some crazy food as well. Beef tendons anyone? 

We are excited for all this trip holds.

raising sons that will be men

Every father leaves a legacy behind. I am thankful for my dad, who never failed to show me, tell me, and hug me - all to say he loves me. Still to this day, I can count on him for those same things. Imperfect he is -- and so am I, but now as a father, I can see through eyes of grace, how in our weaknesses and shortcomings, 

God's perfect fatherhood shines through. 

For my sons, I know one the greatest legacies I can leave them -- is that they are convinced they are loved by the Perfect Father, by way of an imperfect father who knows the difference. 

These sons will be men one day who will know grace, love, and honor. 

pumpkins are nice.

even elephants don't wait this long

Some African elephants have a gestation period of 660+ days. If you want to adopt from China -- well, consider the wait for a mother elephant, and then add way more time... double it. Best case for us? Around 1275 days -- and that can still increase.

Today, we received disappointing news. While not surprised, we were holding out hope that the timeframe for our adoption would not increase anymore. Originally, the whole process was 12-18 months. As time has passed, it turns out the process has grown each month. Our log-in date is April 14, 2007. That means, all of our paperwork was received in China (We started that paperwork in the summer of 2006). Currently, China has processed applications (meaning referring orphans to parents for adoption) through February of 2006. Ready for this one? The wait time for a referral is now 31 months FROM log-in date -- which would be (at best) November of 2009 -- but the wait time is growing every month by almost a month. Read more on the calculation.

What we know? 

God loves our Anna Grace more than us. 

God knows we'd get on a plane today to get her if we could. 

God knows the best time frame for her to be with us. 

God knows the longer the wait, the more awareness is raised for more than 100 million orphans worldwide. 

longhorn friends

Last night, we had dinner with friends, celebrating the 24th birthday of Cihan Uzunpinar. Jason and Scott helped us play zone defense with Josh and Caleb, while we caught up with old friends at the end of the table. Santa Fe Chicken + Bleu Cheese Wedge Salad + Julie's Turkey Cake. Good.