Strange and unusual relatives

Everyone needs a couple of strange and unusual relatives. Here I am with one of mine. Kevin Louise and I, with the help of David Lewis, used to invent some 'different' games to entertain ourselves. Stick-Tire and Blind Christian Horse Shoes were a couple of our favorites. Now we just rehash those times and are just as entertained. Takes a lot less energy.

HK Thunderboomers

The thunderboomers Friday night were just an introduction to what was coming on Saturday night.

Lightning and rain and thunder all night long and continuing into Sunday morning.  I borrowed the picture from a website of lightning over Hong Kong island.  I was not standing out in the rain trying to capture lightning in the camera.

Moving Across Kowloon

Nice to not have to use a vpn anymore.  Friendly Hong Kong.
As we were getting ready to leave Kunming on Thursday evening, we were asking, 'what were we thinking, to fly out Thursday when we could have waited till Friday night.'
After a busy day in Hong Kong on Friday we were most happy that we decided to return to Hong Kong Thursday evening.  Good days in Yuen Long with Dan and Cassy and their little ones, Joe and Louise; and visiting with Mike and Susie Harrison and their girls who also live out there.
Now we are back to Ma On Shan on a Saturday evening.

Tired

Back in Hong Kong where we're hoping to get in some rest time before flying across the Big Pond on Tuesday.
I guess two weeks really wasn't long enough in Kunming after all.  It was a go-go time.
We only have 2 work days in Hong Kong before flying out so had places to go and faces to see on Friday.
Saturday is moving day as we're moving over to another part of town.

Jane with one of the H&H workers

Half A World Away

Yesterday was David's birthday and we are half a world away. After Marianne graduated from International Christian School in Hong Kong in 1998, we've been empty-nesters in Asia. One of the hardest aspects of our lives is missing the milestones of our family and friends.

Now that we have family on both sides of the Pacific, we are truly divided. This past week we were able to celebrate Wesley Shorey's 15th birthday in Kunming but missed Dave's 36th birthday in Dallas. Next month we will be attending the university graduation of Kali Bonife, our goddaughter,  from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon but will miss Timothy Shorey's high school graduation from Kunming International Academy.

Happy Birthday, Dave
The Year of the Dragon

Hearts and Hands at Work

Hearts and Hands work: Just part of the bags being prepared for shipment. All need to be folded to about 4" by 6" and then properly packaged to be shipped and sold in the US.  

Avoiding Expensive Treatment Thru Prayer

Pray for Guo and Susan
Guo began his first chemo treatment Tuesday that is administered over a 5 day period. They have had sufficient funds to pay for the surgery and his first chemotherapy. He will need 4 to 6 treatments and the price will vary. Presently they are using Chinese medicine that is not too expensive. If he does not respond properly, they will have to use imported medicine that cost 8,000 Yuan ($1,290 USD) per treatment. They have some insurance coverage but not adequate to cover the imported medicine. Please pray that the Chinese medicine will be effective.  The deaf and disabled workers at Hearts and Hands have taken up two collections to help them. They have very little money themselves, yet they are reaching out to help. Pray that God will bless them as they give and that others will also contribute to help off-set Guo's medical expenses.
Guo is supposed to have treatments every two weeks.  He stays at the hospital during the day and goes home in the evening because he is sharing a bed with another patient that uses it at night.

Also, Susan's father [pictured] heard this past week that his elder brother died in Shandong. He was unable to return to attend his funeral as Kunming is so far away.

Pray for Diane
Our good friend, and fellow Texan in Hong Kong goes for her 6th Chemo treatment on Wednesday. She did experience fever again last week but has recovered. Keep praying for her healing.

Diane, Guo and Susan have all been faithful to share God's goodness as they have walked thru these difficult times.
We praise God for His faithfulness to help, encourage, sustain and bless them.

Assaulting Our Emotions

This country can sure slam your emotions around.


One morning I walked by a man passed out on the sidewalk. That afternoon I encountered another on the sidewalk in another part of town.
The next day we spent 3 hours sharing about Jesus with a former student and her husband; thought they were just one step away from the Heavenly Kingdom. Seeing them again Tuesday; please pray for this young couple to join God's Great Family.

What to do with men dying on the busy sidewalk?
In the morning I came across one who looked passed out.  In the afternoon I passed another on another sidewalk.  I felt inclined to at least take him a bottle of water to have when he awoke from his stupor. I soon found out that he was dead. There were shops within 10 feet of him. There were people passing by him all day. No one did anything. I asked two guys in an open door barber shop about the man. They just shrugged. I asked them to phone someone to help him. They laughed that nervous laugh of "We shouldn't get involved in this." People continued to pass by, staring at the man. I never saw anyone do anything. I never saw any authorities come to help.  There are policeman of some type all over China.
Someones brother/husband/son dying on the sidewalk and no one lifted a hand to help. Pray for Jesus to break through this non-caring culture.

Today we met with a former student and husband for over 3 hours answering questions and encouraging them to open their hearts to Jesus. They are very close to the Kingdom of God.  Please pray that they ask Jesus into their hearts when we meet with them again on Tuesday. What great joy to be able to share with them about the King of Kings

Thanks so much for your prayers.  They mean so much to us.

A Praise God update on Guo

Guo went to the hospital Monday for tests that included blood work and EKG before beginning chemotherapy on Wednesday. He will be hospitalized for the treatment.

The new prognosis is so much better than before. His diagnosis was 'late stage' cancer but after surgery and biopsy of tumor, the doctors said it was middle stage and the cancer had not spread beyond the tumor that was removed. 

That is a huge THANK YOU JESUS

After chemo, he will have to take expensive medicine that costs 500 RMB ($80) per pill BUT a friend from their family ch happens to have the medication and is giving it to Guo.  Last night, Chen Gang gave Guo a packet of money collected from the H&H workers.  This is the second time for them to give Guo and Susan money.  These are workers that barely make enough to live on reaching out to their friends. 

Again, we see the Great Family of God in action. How great to be a part of God's Family.

Susan told us that God had given her an opportunity to share with another couple. She had seen a very sad woman and learned that the woman’s husband had throat cancer. Susan felt led to give the woman 100 Yuan (about $15) but then kept thinking how many expenses they would have in the future. After several times of seeing the couple at the hospital, she discussed it with Guo and he agreed they should give the couple the money.  The woman was very happy and Susan was able to share Jesus with her. She has not believed yet but they will have more opportunities to share.

Picture of Guo, Susan and their son Paul.

Please click on 'home' or 'older posts' to see earlier post.

Li Bing - Grown Up

One reason we've been slow bloggers is that China still blocks facebook and blogs.  It took a couple of days to get connected to a vpn so that we could get around China's Great Firewall.
Don't worry, the Beijing Boys are still looking, so smile when you talk to us.

Wow - when did this kid become a man?  This is one of the cochlear implant patients that Jane and the team from Menlo Park Presbyterian worked with 7 years ago.  He was just a kid then. He is posing with Ingrid Chen and Hai Xia.

Busily moving instead of busily blogging

Guo and Susan's son.  He is a handsome boy with two teeth.  Looks like he is a fighting Ducks fan. Quack Quack.  

Sorry that we have not posted regularly.  Been on the move:  Moved to Kunming; then been on a fast pace ever since getting here.  We've scheduled two weeks in Kunming and beginning to think that we did not allow enough time to see everyone.  It's hard to know.  We cancelled a 4-hour bus trip from here to see someone; so they are making the trip to Kunming to see us.  

Believe with us for Godly wisdom to speak forth His Words and listen with His ears.

I promise we'll get more out to you soon.

We have very good news about Guo.  Praise be to God

On to Kunming

Hong Kong is not all tall buildings. There are many beautiful natural areas still in this city.

We travel on to Kunming today - flying out at 4 PM Friday. Please pray for safe travel and our time in Kunming. We need a few days to recuperate from our last 3-4 days in Hong Kong.  It has been a constant 'go' time here.  Thus, we have neglected posting on this blog. We hope to catch up shortly.
There has been much happening here. 

Thanks for checking in with us. This is the place where we also post our prayer requests so need your help on that for sure.

A Dim Sum Pic

This is one of our Dim Sum meals. Pictured are the fine folks who have been hosting us in Hong Kong - K.Y. and Dong. 

Heading out to Bethany today to enjoy fellowship with the staff there.

Eating Our Way Across The Pacific

We have been eating our way across and thru the Pacific

Hong Kong has some of the most amazing food around.  Last night we went to the canteen at Shatin Baptist Seminary to eat.  Uni campus? Canteen? Good Food? Bad Location. Doesn't sound like the right combination. The place was packed. The food was great.  Also great fellowship with good friends here.

The reason - they hired a great chef to get people in to help support the seminary thru the restaurant.  Pastors need to learn early about the way to put church and food together.  Great combination.

Hong Kong is known for Dim Sum.  We are about to have our 3rd meal of Dim Sum since arriving.

I was preparing my palet on the way across the Big Pond as I had two meals of Bi Bim Bop. That's one of the choices on Korean Airline. I had it flying from Seattle to Seoul and had it again flying from Seoul to Hong Kong. 

This is what all those heavy meals eventually did to me.  This was about 1 hour before I spoke to the Good Friday home gathering.  It's a good way to do a sermon prep.  Jane thinks this is a great picture.

Victory in Jesus

This is the view out our window.  The sun almost appeared the 2nd day we were here. It has been rainy, misty, cloudy all the time. We are ready for some sunshine. It really helps get over jet lag.  Actually The Lord has really blessed us with good sleep for which we give thanks.  Had a great celebration of Jesus' great victory over death.  Thanks so much for praying for that.

Good Friday, Resurrection Day Sharing

It is Good Friday
It is good for us as Jesus was willing to pay the great sacrifice for our sins that we might have everlasting life - life to the full.
Appreciate your prayers as will be sharing at a home group Friday evening.  That's about the time my brain tells me, "What are you doing up at this hour?" [Jet lag can attack at any hour.]

Sharing with a Filipino church of 30 to 40 folks Sunday morning. Our good friend, Diane Lawrence, for whom many of you have been praying, will be leading the singing.
Thanks for your prayers for sharing God's Good Word at these meetings.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POND

Three flights, 24 hours of flying time, 4 meals plus snacks and landed on the dot of 10:30 pm at Hong Kong International airport on Wednesday night. Good friend and her nephew were waiting with their van to take us to her home in Ma On Shan area of Hong Kong.

Before we boarded our first flight, LeRoy struck up a conversation with a young Indonesian man studying in Lewiston, Idaho. He was on all the same flights we were and hadn't been home to see his family in 5 years.  Makes me so thankful that I was born American and have the time, resources and finances to travel regularly to see family and friends on both sides of the 'Big Pond".  Our seatmate on the Seattle to Seoul flight was a Microsoft employee that hadn't seen his family in South Korea in a long time.  he has to fly back to the States early Sunday morning!

Recent revelation for me is that God and I are on a first-name basis.  Intellectually I knew that God 'knows my name' but now I know His name.

Thanks for journeying with us for the next month.

Reading Nana and The Bull

Everyone is reading Nana and The Bull.  Even engineers are reading it.

Snowing on Spring

It's April 1 in Spokane and it's snowing.  This is not a joke.