::Being Transformed::

New Blog!

Dear "Being Transformed" readers,

My journey of writing and learning began on this little space when I graduated University in 2005. Since then God has done some amazing things, and these words from the previous 5 years testify to that. I may write on here from time to time but since I am now ENGAGED, my life path and priorities will change considerably. I will continue to blog but in a new shared space at

www.maikandkatie.com

I hope and pray you will continue to journey with us into the next season of life... excited to continue His story with Maik beside me...
Love,

Katie

Isaiah 64:4
From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Katie B |

Thanksgiving in Hong Kong

Well as you can see I haven't posted in ages, but that's not because things have been slow. Blogging for me is something I like to put a lot of thought into but my thoughts have been poured out into the new work and new neighborhood and new church and new campus. Yep, a LOT of new. So I thought I'd keep it simple for me and you by just sharing about our thanksgiving.

Maik has found an awesome apartment right near the HKU campus and so of course we packed 20 people into the living room and had a feast! Some friends from church, some old friends, and some new ones all joined together for this fun holiday. In explaining it to some "first time Thanksgivingers", I told them Thanksgiving is awesome because it doesn't seem to get clouded with all the materialism and paraphernalia that sometimes gets in the way of Christmas, but it's about FOOD and FAMILY, no strings attached. We simply get together, enjoy time together and share about what we are thankful for, as we reflect on the year.

I have an oven that is approximately 13 1/2" by 13 1/2" and some how I stuffed an entire turkey in there. I hunted down some sweet potatoes at the awesome local market (ok they look a little different but taste the same) and downloaded recipes from the Pioneer Woman, Food Network, and Real Simple. Real Simple was for the turkey because, well, I was afraid of what I would do to the thing, and so I found peace with that name. I did not have the time nor the kitchen space to be "brinin' and bastin'" and the bird turned out just fine if I do say so myself. Poor guy's little tail got a little burnt from touching the top of the oven, but it's nothing that a little foil couldn't fix.

And then, since there were 3 Germans at the feast we educated our Chinese friends in the art of schnitzel making and served that as well... we weren't sure if the turkey would be enough for everyone and I guess when you date a German you need to blend some traditions too!

(Thanks to Tim Lim for the lovely food photography!) Doesn't that just look yummy. I didn't get to taste it but I'm sure it was delicious. After playing a game of "get to know you bingo" (super fun) we ate and then had people write what they were thankful for on a festive little leaf and then we read them later and guessed who they belonged to. I love hearing what people have to say and what has stuck out to them over the year. Such a sweet moment!

Here's some of the crew at the feast. I can't remember if this was before or after the rousing game of SPIN UNO. If you have never played that then, you just have to come to HK and play with these guys. They make it fun.

The next day, we had our community group and I made leftover Turkey Pot Pie :) I used my leftover "perfect pie crust" from Pioneer lady (yes I made a pecan pie and added chocolate chips, of course!) and some other leftover veggies, etc and threw it all in. I had bought a new pan that I thought would fit in "baby oven" and it of course did not, so, I wrapped foil around the cracked oven door and she cooked just fine. [just letting you see into my world for a minute. my world is often revolving around a mini-kitchen].

For our second batch of leftovers we headed over to have turkey sandwiches with the precious couple who started the HKUICF (International Christian Fellowship).

ICF meeting

They are both from other countries in Asia but chose to move here and work on campus so they could open the door to a fellowship like this, which is vastly needed since there are no English-speaking fellowships on campus and many of the students prefer English. Their labor has paid off for sure and they will return home this coming summer. Maik and I truly are blessed that they invited us to continue leading it! They have two young children and we sang some hymns with them and also shared about what we were Thankful for this year. They have adopted thanksgiving into their own family traditions and maybe even made some improvements on it!

So, we survived Thanksgiving in Hong Kong. It's interesting that the grocery stores import some more stuff for stuffing, frozen turkeys, gravy and pecans at this time of the year, but I'm thankful for that. It's the little things, right?

I'm thankful that He continues to sustain me, that I am not alone but have a companion, that my family supports me, and for all of you friends who care enough to read about my life. Wish you were here!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Katie B |

Coming Home!

Hey everybody!

I can't believe it's actually here: I have a short visit to the US and am pretty excited about it.

I arrive in Montgomery Monday night

I will be in Birmingham on Wednesday-
So if you B'ham folks want to meet up, I am gonna hang out there for the day and would love to see you... Come by Panera between 12-4... I can't wait to see you and all those babies that have been born in the past year!

I will be in Huntsville Thursday -Saturday to be the maid of Honor in the lovely Miss Susan Dennis' wedding and join in all the festivities.

I will be in Montgomery until I fly out of Birmingham on Nov. 4... TENTATIVELY will be in AUBURN November 2...

So, all that to say I can't believe this is my first time back in 16 months and that I get to see some of your faces!!!

email or facebook me if you can meet up!! I can't wait to see everyone and share the stories of His faithfulness in Hong Kong! He is doing so much here.
LOVE,
Katie

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Katie B |

Passion HK!

We had an awesome time at Passion. It was surreal to share this with our friends, and also somewhat of a closing to a chapter of our lives as people spread out again. I will definitely miss our teammates who return to America. It definitely won't be the same without them. What a journey this has been!! Many of these students will return to Mainland to start life and jobs there. Some will try to stay in HK to find a job- pray for them as they try to obtain employment (we really want them to stay!!). I know this event was truly meaningful to us all and we really encountered the Father in a fresh way.

Continue to pray with us for the Awakening to His love and grace and glory to happen in this city!!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Katie B |

Purpose.

“Finding one’s purpose with God can be a strange and mysterious journey. Or it can be as plain as asking God for a task and then watching your desire for that task grow within you. Problem is, most of us forget to ask God to fill us with a fervent spirit to serve Him. Then years later, we wake up and realize we had our life. We made our small choices...our safe choices. But somehow we missed the richness of following our God down an uncharted path.” – Hudson Taylor

As I type this the emails are going out to those of you who have subscribe to my updates- there is big news in those and so if you want to receive that update as well, just shoot me an email- (katie@gracecampus.net) then this post will make a little more sense.

I never would have guessed that this year would turn out this way- it's totally different, but God remains the unchanging one! The only way I know how to describe it just that uncharted, strange and mysterious journey that is walking by faith in the Holy Spirit's leading. Surprises are around every corner. God is present all along the way. I am excited to step into this new season as I join in with Watermark Church. We have had some great meetings to plan for outreach, community groups, and worship for the new church. I would truly appreciate your prayers as God works in and through us to plant among the people in the West Island District of Hong Kong. (Sheung Wan/HKU/Kennedy Town for those of you more familiar with HK geography).

I look forward to sharing more with you guys, but for now I have to get ready to meet my friends at the Passion HK World Tour Event... more to share tomorrow hopefully!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Katie B |

a few of my favorites...

In case you were wondering, YES, I did make it back from the Philippines...

I have had to "catch up on life" as I often call it and still am just now catching my breath. The things that are happening here are more than exciting as Father carves out our next steps just in time. I feel like I am constantly holding my breath, and then I remember to exhale the temptation to doubt and ask too many questions, breath in His Spirit, and walk forward with Him.

So, for now, enjoy a little photo album of one of my favorite weeks this year: our trip to share with the Christ Gospel Fellowship Ministries crew in Philippines. What a precious group of friends!! Sadly enough, there is one brother (in Philippines, called "Kuya") who passed away the week after we left. He was the kindest servant of God, determined to be a part of His work in the city. I know he will be missed by many. It just reminded us again how precious each day is, and how we desire to live each day unto Him- recognizing the story that He is inviting us into is one not to be taken lightly, but one to be lived abundantly! We do not want to miss God in this story and we don't want to settle for a story that requires little or no faith. The life of faith brings about many unexpected turns and is challenging, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! It's a supernatural thing when we trust Christ to do what He wants in and through us: "...The life I live in the body I live by FAITH in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 When you are trusting that Christ is living in and through you, you experience the blessing of Christ's abundant life as your own! There's no greater adventure!

We had the privilege of being loved on by this amazing community and getting to join in their work in several places. People heard truth, children were fed, fellowship and laughter was had. What more could you ask for?!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Katie B |

What's next...

WE ARE HEADED TO THE PHILIPPINES TOMORROW!!

Here's the team (we won't be taking our party hats- even though that does represent our craziness sometimes... this is just the only picture I could find of the four of us!) and we will be serving a community in Bulacan.

Please lift us up this week! I can't wait to share what we see and what happens!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Katie B |