The total time I have spent in Hong Kong with the past few summers combined totals about 3 1/2 months. With that "under my belt" (by the grace of God of course) it feels "normal" to me to walk the city and engage with people or use the public transportation. I soak it all in like a sponge... the wonder of this place is still upon me, and I hope I never lose it. I don't have culture-shock moments when I walk through a wet market, or am asked to eat weird food or use chopsticks, although I don't think I'll ever really get used to the smells of some of those things. These are the daily things of these people's LIVES. They don't think twice about them and to me they are quite fascinating. I love the challenge of learning and just "being" here without having to analyze but simply to BE. I AM aware that 100 days in HK cannot allow you to know everything, and I am only touching the tip of the iceberg in discovering the breadth, height, and depth of this place. I would say now I am learning the rhythm of this place for myself. I'm not in Alabama anymore- I am living in a little area called Sha Tin- a close cousin to Alabama... ok not really, but we aren't in the "Big City" district of HK, even though over 628,000 people live in our area. It's a great mix of local Chinese and then some western conveniences not too far from our place. (Just a shuttle bus ride away...)

So what have I learned?
HE is taking care of me. He always has and always will. The things I think I am lacking in are only because He knows when and how to give me what He sees fit. When I think I "need" something to do or somewhere to be, I am reminded that God, the creator of the city, and His work, which I am a tiny part of, is a lot like the city-
*I can only see a tiny bit of what's going on at a time.
*I can walk all the streets, look at all the people, taste all the food and still not experience everything there is to experience.
*There's SO much more than meets the eye (see above quote in red) and my small mind cannot contain all that comes with 7.5 million people in this one area constantly on the move!

This forces me to be patient like never before- there's so much in front of me, yet He's asking me to wait on Him. Oh, the glorious tension! He's asking me to tap into the DEPTHS of HIM instead of rush ahead of Him because truly, there's so much more to Him- that a whole LIFETIME can't suffice to show us all of our God. In fact, it will take all of eternity to know Him- that's exciting, that's forever-- immeasurable. Mind blowing, isn't it? God builds our foundation, fills us up, prepares us so that we know our need for Him to accomplish the work HE has called us to do.

I hope there are days when you are overwhelmed by all you see of Him and other days where you are walking it out, letting it solidify in your soul. LIVING overseas is different than VISITING overseas. Not everyday is earth shattering, some days you might even get a little... bored (-gasp-) because you expect something new but what if that's the day to appreciate what you already know to be true, and dig a little deeper? What if it's the opportunity to say that Christ is enough for you and it's not an emotion you seek but Him?

Today I must delight in Him more than the adventure, the newness of this place because He IS the adventure. He has been and always will be. I pray I will never delight in the 'next thing' more than Jesus, the marvelous mystery and King of all!

Colossians 2:For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ²that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

There is a great treasure in knowing Jesus... this is a treasure worth seeking and savoring. May you discover these riches for the sake of your own heart today... He is not far from you! Just ask Him- He gives these riches freely!

0 comments