Poor old shoe

I put on my trusty sandles this morning on my way out the door to go for a swim, and found to my shock and horror they'd broken! While having been wearing down for some time now they were still highly functional (although far from pretty) until the toe strap broke. Good for short walks still, unfortunately, based on a similar demise of some black sandles I got when last in Toowoomba, I deem them dangerous for day long wear.

I've had these shoes for a good 3 years now, and only bought them when I was at the coast due to my others giving me horrible blisters. I thought them terribly ugly but they were CHEAP, and soon grew on me. A bargain bin $20 buy has been one of those long time shopping successes... and I am sad.

Here's hoping Stanley tomorrow will provide a faithful replacement!!!


P.s. My two pairs of Docs though are still holding up strong after 7 & 5 years respectively, some of the only shoes that have survived HK without needing re-soling

P.s.s. Yes - a very boring blog I'll admit, but to honour these sandles less would be a travesty

My Day

After a late night I decided to skip the 9am service (leaving here at 7:45!!) and head to the 11 o'Clock instead which was very lively by comparison indeed. I was almost shocked when the pianist ran his down down the keys during one of the more exuberant choruses... mind you, to put it in perspective, the song was a 70's classic and the only instruments were the piano, an organ and a small choir. It makes me wonder how on earth I'll cope fitting back into my church back in Toowoomba where the service I attended while back home on holiday last year began with some of the youth leading stretching exercises so that we could all "limber up" for the praise and worship...!

Following the service I joined a small group of girls that I've recently met at St Andrews for a Vietnamese meal. It's been a while since I've had a meal with such banter and laughter around the table. I declined an offer afterwards to go shoe shopping (although I did admit to shoe envy of Kirsten's sandles...) and instead went window shopping to discover if Ian would get a Fabio Caviglia tie for Christmas that I saw displayed whilst using the Peninsula's lavatory the other week (see blog below). After a search through the Peninsula's arcade, I hopped over to Harbour City and finally found the displayed items... for HDK2,900 a pop! Sorry Ian... no wonder I liked them! (yes, that was 1 tie for about AUD450, but they were stunning)

Whilst browsing through Harbour City I grabbed a loaf of bread and a mango juice from the bakery and stood listening to the free concert being given. It was amazing standing there listening to this very talented gentleman play, and then watching him ask for requests and play the tune (sometimes after listening to how it actually went on someone's mobile phone).

I walked through Kowloon Park on the way home, realised that we've got 418 days until the Beijing Olympics and hopped on the mini bus home.

After two phone calls, I'm lying on my bed, typing this and listening to Talking Life on 96.5.

A FABULOUS DAY :)

... BTW - long weekend, hoping for a lazy day tomorrow and going to go to the dragon boat races on Tuesday at Stanley... hopefully I'll remember my camera...

A Joke!

I'm working from home today ailing from one of Hong Kong's random stomach bugs which require proximity to home comforts (probably too much information?) anyway... My mom left a message asking me to ring home, and when I did Dad told me a joke... very unlike dad (the joke that is) but I'm still laughing at it, not really because it's that funny, but because my staid and responsible father told it (and said he really didn't just say that afterwards!):

Why is PMS called PMS?
Because Mad Cow Disease was already taken

A Lovely Visit

I just had a wonderful "visit" and cup of tea with Laura who's down from Shanghai for 2 weeks. It reminded me of how much I love a sit and a great cup of tea (loose leaf served in fine bone china of course!) which is only enhanced by a good old chat and catch up.

It was really encouraging too, and I was very much blessed with her simple, heartfelt statement that she believes God's got some really exciting things ahead of me. With my distinct lack of trust in him, it was nice to know that I truly am in safe and caring hands.

... dreaming more of opening up a tea shop...

Weather Forecast for this week!!!

8/6 (FRIDAY)	9/6 (SATURDAY)	10/6 (SUNDAY)	11/6 (MONDAY)	12/6 (TUESDAY)
Cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Showers will be heavy at times.	Overcast with heavy rain and thunderstorms.	Overcast with heavy rain and thunderstorms.	Scattered showers with thunderstorms.	Scattered showers with thunderstorms.
Southwest force 4 to 5.	South to southwest force 4.	South to southeast force 3 to 4.	South force 3 to 4.	Southwest force 4.
25 - 30	25 - 28	25 - 28	25 - 29	25 - 29
85 - 95	85 - 95	85 - 95	85 - 95	80 - 95

and it continues on just like this!!!

... we're not in Kansas anymore...

Having lived in Hong Kong almost two years now I have become quite accustomed to the little oddities that surround me. It's normal.

As I'm going to be leaving though in 3 months my eyes are opening up to the things that really startled me when I first came here - Take this picture for instance, it's 32 degrees outside with 60% humidity and after doing washing and a bit of pottering I'm hiding away in air-conditioning and a summery dress sweating, and people are wandering around outside dressed like this whippersnippering the lawn, cleaning rubbish, sweeping paths!!! Seems strange not to see the whipper-snipper accompanied by the boots, stubbies and Bonds Singlet.

Yesterday on the the bus home, I saw a man surrounded by rubbish getting out from swimming in the polluted shipping channel that leads into the Tsuen Wan harbour. (I almost got off the bus at the next stop to take a photo, and am regretting my refraining)

Or this photo from when Barb Bluett visited and we snuck into the Peninsula to use their flash (and WONDERFUL) toilets. Next to the Rolls is a car decked out for a wedding... yup... look closely and you'll see Hello Kitty toys stuck to the bonnet parked outside one of the most prestigious hotels in HK.

Tonight I'm heading into town with Debbie to grab a Fullers Organic HoneyDew and I'm looking forward to seeing more of this delightful City State.

I'm going to miss Hong Kong!

Perspective

I have a skewed perspective. I often think the worst situation will happen, or that someone who has always been faithful will be unfaithful. That I will let people down or that people won’t “perform” as I’d expect and I’ll be disappointed.

No matter how history has proved otherwise, I still doubt, not only others and myself but also God.

It’s a wrong perspective, and one I want to fix, but I know I can’t alone. It’s there for whatever reason and I need God, by his Grace to change my perspective. Part of the reason I know is tied into the fear I hold on to in my life, partly because it’s always nicer to think the worst and then be surprised by something better, and in many ways I think its also part of my perception of God.

It's a damaging habit though, and one I'm not proud of.

I know that God is loving. I know that he is patient. I know that he is generous. I know that he won’t give a stone when we ask for bread. I know from my privileged Western background he’s always been faithful. I know that he invented the concept of Grace. I still resent some of the challenges though, and I question this image of God when I see the tragedy so many go through, and I struggle with the “problem of pain”… or famine… or war.

I still think at times that God will let me go. That he won't run after the 100th sheep, that he won't welcome the Prodigal Son.

In light of this ongoing battle, lack of trust and abundance of insecurity I was really encouraged by this song of Matt and Beth Redman’s, along with the story behind it:

You Never Let Go (Even Though I Walk)

Verse 1:
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
Your perfect love is casting out fear.
And even when I'm caught
in the middle of the storms of this life,
I won't turn back, I know You are near.

PreChorus:
And I will fear no evil,
For my God is wi th me.
And if my God is with me,
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, you never let go,
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, you never let go,
In every high and every low
O no, you never let go
Lord, you never let go of me.

Verse 2:
And I can see a light
that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare.
And there will be an end
to these troubles, But until that day comes,
We'll live to know You here on the earth.

Bridge:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming
for the heart that holds on,
And there will be an end to these troubles,
but until that day comes,
Still I will praise You,
still I will praise You.

©2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Listen to this song here:

http://chrisleigh.vox.com/library/audio/6a00cd97014dcc4cd500d41424e8ae3c7f.html

An interview with Matt Redman covering this song can be found at:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2007/mattredman-mini-0207.html

YUM!

I spent the weekend in bed with a cold (that's right! Poor Liz!) but it was actually a good thing because I went out and bought enough fruit to make a HUGE fruit salad that I, and my roomie Marnie are still eating. (Watermelon, Mango, Strawberry, Blueberry, Apple, Banana, Apricot - Yup, there's some GREAT things about living in Hongkas)

I kept out of the fruit salad this nectarine, my first of the season and bit into it when I came back from work today... WOW! Few things beat that first Nectarine of the season (or Cherry, or Mango, or Lychee... mmmm....)

Yes, I'm gloating over my fruit magnificence!

Peace

This evening, after sudden notification on Thursday night that his ticket might not be able to be changed, my boyfriend Ian flew out of Hong Kong, back home to the USA.

It's been a incredibly difficult working this decision through, and finding peace in it, and then challenging that peace, and then finding it, and then being selfish and wishing it wasn't so, and then finding that Peace again come back.

That peace is firmly with me now, as it was after I shed a few tears and hugged him through that gate. I'll miss him, I'm sad, but that peace is there. Peace doesn't take away the emotion I'm finding, but brings comfort in it. I have a choice whether to find rest in it, or focus on the emotions, and while I'm tempted immensely to wallow, my desire is to rest.

I have two scriptures running through my head, the first is Isaiah 55: 8-9

"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

and Numbers 6:24-26

The LORD bless thee and keep thee; the LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

I know this post has been more personal than a lot of others, naming names and a specific circumstance, but I wanted to share it in an effort to be honest, and also to be able to look back on this as a reminder of the peace God brings in right decisions, regardless of other emotions.

The gate closed 4 minutes ago and in 16 a plane will depart from Hong Kong to London from where in 13 hours it will deposit its passengers for 5 hours prior to taking off for its final destination of Philadelphia (landing 8 hours after). On Wednesday the thought of this plane had never crossed my mind, now it is very much in my thoughts and heart.

I’m interested in Nakedness.

Not nakedness in the bodily sense (although I bet the title made you think!), rather, nakedness in being open, honest and transparent.

Searching to be real.

Inside myself, to myself and then out of that, to others. The same line of thought that to be able to give, we must be in a place that is able TO give: To give a man a glass of water, one must first have water to give, in continuance, to be real to others, I must first be real with myself.

I am far from having the answers, or from being honest with myself about all motives, or living a life of transparency, but I think that’s ok… it’s a process, much like undressing. That process must be guided by God, through his word and through Godly counsel, but it must take place.

I also think, in this formative stage, that whilst a vulnerable place, it should bring freedom and life – not only to yourself but also to others. After all, Christ came that we might have LIFE and live it in abundance - and through that glorify Him.

I’d be interested in your thoughts

Also – check out this site. I think the best Blog I’ve seen. http://nakedpastor.com/

By the way, I was talking with someone about their experience with their firstborn’s birth. They said that whilst it was soon forgotten with the joy of meeting his little one, the stench was horrid. I like the parallel that in order to birth the nakedness in us, and go through the transition to new and complete Life, we must go through some fairly stinky patches!!!

A Great Gift!

My brother Steve sent me this book that arrived in the mail today.

Reminded me of something that I used to be quite passionate about (book collecting) and was a real encouragement. Steve - it really was a perfect fit.

A Season for Everything

This past month has been one of a realisation of seasons.

A TIME TO GROW

I have been challenged in this season in painful ways, but through this I am so thankful that through Godly wisdom and care I have grown and been guided. May God continue to grow me!

A TIME TO MOURN

There is a time to die. Unfortunately, it has been a time to remember that life is fleeting, and often there is nothing we can do.

A TIME TO LAUGH

It has also been a time for rejoicing from afar about weddings and births. Congratulations Janelle and Anthony, and Will and Ness – respectively may your new and growing families be blessed.

A TIME FOR REFLECTION

Sometimes the greatest thing we need is space, to be alone and give yourself room to reflect… I’d add with a cup of tea close by :)

A TIME TO WEEP

Yes, that too!

A TIME TO DANCE

My Dad sent me an awesome article on Guidance which I’d love to pass on to anyone. The basic angle of it though was guidance is simply God directing us, much like a male leads the female in dance. God, U & I Dance. He leads, I follow, but it’s gentle and loving and full of his character being evident.

A TIME TO EXPLORE

…and in doing so found the most amazing beer! If you ever get a chance to drink Fuller’s Organic Honey Dew go for it (excepting religious or health intolerance of course!)

A TIME TO CHALLENGE

Not all you hear or have fed into your life is profitable. I have learnt in this past month that some things needs to be challenged, and even if you don’t speak out your disagreement, know what and why you believe, and be willing to challenge yourself, and ask the hard questions. This in itself has been, and continues to be a major learning curve.

A TIME TO APPRECIATE

My Parents are the most amazing parents in the world. Through this season of challenge I have only grown in respect, admiration and love for them and their wisdom.

A TIME TO BAKE

I’m continuing to put my new pie dish to good use, Phil and Sue have now consumed their Beef and Guinness Pie *grin*

A TIME FOR FUN

I highly recommend anyone go and see Miss Potter and Ian would highly recommend all see Spiderman 3!

I could go on and on with things and events from this past month, I will refrain however, and simply say that above and beyond all else I have been reminded that God is GOD, and we are to trust in him, not martyring ourselves, but asking him to guide us gently just as he knows how, through whatever he leads us through…

And if you are praying for me, a prayer request would be that I would start (and continue) to dream again.

Flowering Bonsai!

Yup... not only have I not killed the bonsai but I woke this morning to find it flowering!!!

I've been having dreams about waking up and finding it shrivelled and dead, so to find it not only alive but thriving was a very pleasing thing.

(photo appearing soon)

Miwa in HK: Random gems

Miwa in HK: Random gems

This was an awesome post written by Maria (and whilst I had to walk out of the movie "Beat the Drum" I "hoorah!" her for her noble attitude.)

In both posts were the thoughts "what is the good that I can do today?", "What difference can I make?", "How can I let the love of the one who has redeemed me shine forth"...

They're great thoughts!

revisiting the 8 ball

I just re-read my post on the magic 8 ball in light of some circumstances I'm facing at the moment. I wanted to challenge myself if I really was falling into a wrong way of thinking. I was encouraged instead however, by remembering through it that God does speak. and when he does, he brings life.

The 8 Ball I'm facing at the moment is doubting what God has already given me, and the peace that has come with that, due to words questioning where I'm "at". Other people and their opinions have always been a bit of an Achilles' heel for me.

I have battled all weekend questioning and doubting and confused... when God has already given peace.

I've let myself be tossed and turned by waves, because I rely so much on what people think - I let people influence me so easily - I question myself so easily. Instead, what I need to do is stand firm on what God, and the Holy Spirit have already given me, and trust him, in his love and gentleness and desire for my good, to correct me when I'm wrong. Yes, to lay my life down when called, but as and when HE leads and shows.

The magic 8 ball is deceptive. It comes upon us like a thief in the night, and it steels peace, it robs joy, it creates confusion and pain. God is not in that.

Meat Pie Perfection!

Tonight, after one failed and one very successful effort to ship a pie dish from the USA (thanks Michelle and Rob!) I made my first meat pie in Hong Kong!

YEAH!!!!

Unfortunately, as you can see, my wee little toaster oven didn't quite fit it. As they say though, "where there's a will there's a way!". Nothing that a bit of Al-foil won't fix.

... and yup - it tasted great!


Anyone have any recipes? If so feel free to send them my way - and yup - Phil and Sue if you read this it DOES mean you've got a Steak and Guinness pie being cooked for you when you get back here :)

Hot Cross Buns

Easter would have to be my favourite season of the year. Not only because of what it represents, but also just because of all the amazing memories that I have of events that occur around this time.

For instance, last year I travelled back to Australia for my brother’s wedding; was able to hold one of my good friend’s newly born daughter on Easter Sunday; stood with thousands of fellow believers in Queen’s Park singing praises to my God standing on a picnic blanket with two of my brothers (plus a brand spanking new sister in law) and my parents; had some great drives in the country; riding with my best mate and camping out in swags; holding babies I’d heard about but never seen for the first time and just general catching up with friends.

I realised on Thursday night when I saw Hot Cross Buns for sale in Wellcome how much I miss being home for Easter. In one moment, that moment, I felt a flood of memories come back as I wrestled with whether or not to purchase these outrageously expensive bread rolls.

This year has been a great Easter. Rest, Sleepins, lychee martini’s, time for reflection and meditation, recognition of the meaning for Easter.

Oh – and if you need to smile or are feeling a little down check out this clip of patches the horse – almost worth its own blog http://gprime.net/video.php/patchesthehorse

Overwhelmed, but very thankful

I feel overwhelmed by the mass of humanity that is Hong Kong sometimes. Today, Good Friday, was one of those days.

It began last night (as I tried restlessly to get to sleep) with the contemplation that Jesus, the night before his death likely would have slept very little, if at all. Images of "The Passion of Christ" floated in and out of my head as I tried to remember that the intense episode of LOST I'd just been watching was only a T. V. show.

With that remembrance, I woke early this morning to head to St Andrew's for the 10am service. (Actually, I wanted to get there early as Hot Cross Buns were being served from 9:15!). The service was awe inspiring. A perfect mix of well conducted and executed choral music, Liturgy, Scripture, places for silent meditation and a good Sermon. But more than that, I found that in all my struggles with God recently, I was reminded throughout the service that that's OK. Whatever my doubts, or inability to express myself, God loves me - just as I am. And he so loved me that while I was still a sinner, and even if I would choose be a sinner my whole life and not have any relationship with him, he died... just so that if I wanted to I could be in communion with him.

Later on in the day I met up with Ian to go to Chung King Mansions where we were to meet with C.A. and discuss the possibility of visiting detained Asylum Seekers in a detention centre 500 meters down the road from where we live.

Chung King Mansions is a labyrinth of teeming humanity from all cultures, races and corners of the earth, albeit, not necessarily representing the more affluent of society. It was there, that for the first time in a long time, I was confronted by sheer desperateness. I have no other word for the need that was displayed and conveyed in our meeting, for the stories of lives with no security, or for the bedlam that I evidenced - people pushing doors demanding bread from the single female staff worker on duty, even when told there would be a full meal provided at 5pm.

I'm really thankful that we're going to be visiting people (although I don't know when that will start), but I must admit, I'm not sure how it will go. Or, in honesty, how I will cope. I first thought that the centre would be like a prison, but better, I mean... those detained have gone through hell to get to HK, at least they would be treated with dignity and respect. I found out today that I was wrong, it's worse than a prison. It's a prison with an indefinite period of detainment, no outdoor facilities (one communal room during the day, and one sleeping room at night (which you share with others from your country regardless of ethnic tensions) . It's a prison far from home and family, staffed by people that speak a different language to you and pressure you to sign papers that will make you be sent back to the country you have fled, and a prison that is governed by a legal system you don't understand and has no provision for you.

So, I now sit in my apartment, thankful for this day, yet thankful that it's almost over.

It's peaceful here. Safe. Quiet. Relaxed. Comfortable.

How privileged I am.

Hearing - Being in the place to find new direction

Reflection 5 - Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen

1 Samuel 3:9

"One of our biggest challenges is to resist doing more. It is to be still long enough in order to evaluate our many activities. Activities which drive us to distraction and sometimes exhaustion, but which also give us meaning and fullfilment. Activities which can give us our routines and our securitu, but which can also block out the "voice" of correction and change.

We need to recognise that our much-doing is not always fruitful. It is sometimes mindless. Sometimes it is driven It can be self-protecting. It keeps us going when in fact we should be still - still in order to evaluate and to hear.

Thus a far greater challenge is not to do, but to bein in the place where we can hear; not to hear the old and familiar, but to hear again waht God thinks about our life's direction, prioirittes and activities - and to hear again what our heart is saying. This is often dificult for us. It is a struggle.

Henri Nouwen writes about learning to listen "carefully to the inner movements of hte spirit and struggling with the question "how do I follow Jesus all the way?"" This is the struggle to hear what we may not wish to hear. It is a groping towards an openness that may cause one's life to be turned around.

Yet hear new things we must! For we cannot simply continue to plunge headlong into the incessant round of activities which are not longer a part of God's direction for our lives and which no longer express our creativity and our central concerns."

Hot in a Pot

I had my first "Hot Pot" (that wasn't at someone's house) on Saturday night for Ian's group birthday dinner. For the uninitiated it's basically is pot of soup on a fire in the middle of the table which you cook food in, and retrieve when it's cooked to consume immediately.

This wasn't your usual meal though as we had a local friend with us who did the ordering... thanks! As a result I ate, for the first time in my life the marrow of a cow's bone (in the picture that's the long white wormy looking things)! I did skip on the intestine this time though... I know... a bit of a woose :) The food was good and fresh with the prawns that had been skewered live still moving when popped in the pot.

Gotta love Hong Kong!
(Click on the menu for a better picture of the HK Cuisine!)