November Newsletter 09

Africa to Asia

November 2009

An insight into the ministry of LCM S missionary Megan Birney serving Christ in Hong Kong

With a grateful heart... November is a time that helps you hone in on what you are thankful for and how you show thanks. It is strange that I have now spent two Thanksgivings in a row in two extremely different cultures. In Africa, I was reminded of the little things to be thankful for everyday; clean water, three meals , and mosquito netting. Here in Hong Kong I find myself thankful for the people around me. I am so thankful for my students, parents, and co-workers. This month has been very focused on relationships. The class I am currently taking through my Family Life Ministry program focuses in on relationships within the family system. In my Bible study we are reading “They like Jesus but not the Church” which focuses on how we relate to other people especially non-Christians. While all other things that this world has to offer are trivial, the relationships we make and the ability to share the saving grace of Jesus is eternal. This month has been a blessing in building new relationships in new ministry opportunities! I recently began working more closely with Lui Cheung Kwong College. Once a month I help contribute to the Form 1 student fellowship assembly. Also, on Friday afternoons we supplement English into two class lessons. Lessons are mostly English and Religion however in December I will be co-teaching a Home Economics cooking class for Form 3 (9th grade) students. Ginger Snaps! This month I also began teaching two English tutoring classes on Saturdays at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Tsuen Wan. Tsuen Wan is another large area in New Territories about 30 minutes from Tuen Mun. All together, I am now teaching two intermediate beginner English tutoring classes and one intermediate English tutoring class. The majority of my students are excited to learn more English which makes my job a lot of fun! On November 13th, Ma Chan Duen Hey College (MCDH) in Po Lam held an American FunFair for primary school students. Together with a short-term team from Oklahoma, church members from Church of all Nations, and other Hong Kong LCMS missionaries we had a fairly large representation of Americans! The students and teachers did a great job decorating booths and creating games to fit different states and regions. I manned the Florida booth the majority of the day helping students to make their own orange juice. Over 600 oranges later, almost all of the attendants had experienced a delicious taste of Florida! MCDH is the headquarters of the International Interface program which helps bring many short-term teams to Hong Kong. In December, we will be given the opportunity to judge students and perform during Music Day at MCDH. On October 31st we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Lutheran Church — Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS). The LCHKS shares the Gospel in many different ways through many different outlets throughout Hong Kong. Along with 37 congregations and 20,000 students in LCHKS schools, the LCHKS also runs many social outreach and programs for the elderly. It was great to be in Hong Kong to celebrate such an incredible event! The Lord has greatly blessed this month. Along with teaching new classes, I also was invited to attend the wedding of Irene, one of the teachers that I co-teach with at Lutheran T.S. Siu Leun School. It was beautiful and a privilege to be a part of her special day. We were blessed to have an LCMS World Mission Thanksgiving dinner here in Hong Kong. It was great to fellowship with teammates and friends from around Southeast Asia. Blessings to you this holiday season!

“Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30 : 4,5

November 2009

LCMS World Mission

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800-433-3954 www.lcmsworldmission.com

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[email protected] •

Learn more about the work of • LCMS World Mission in Asia: www.lcmsworldmission.org/asia • •

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Prayer Requests “For this reason, I kneel before the Father…” Eph. 3:14 That God would continue to open eyes and ears for our EFL ministry in HK; for opportunities to speak the Gospel in a meaningful way to the 1500+ students we interact with each week. Strength, courage, and love to share His grace with the people of Hong Kong. Praise for the Fluegges safe travel to Pretoria and continued prayers as they settle into their new city and ministry. For our special outreach opportunities in the month of December. Prayer for the people preparing for baptism at all of the LCHKS churches on 12/25 For the Lutheran Church - Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS); that the Lord would continue blessing the efforts of the LCHKS in growing God’s kingdom. The students & professors at the CLET in Dapaong, Togo; that God would steady their hearts to pursue their calls to leadership training in serving the Lutheran Church bodies of West Africa. My CUNE Family Life Ministry graduate program. For the future. My fellow LCMS long-term missionaries serving internationally, for the opportunity & strength to live out Christ’s love through service around the world. For the hearts of those needing to know the grace of our great God

Contact Info

American FunFair @ MCDH November 13th

[email protected] Postal mail can be sent to: Miss Megan Birney Concordia English Center (Tuen Mun) Lutheran T.S. Siu Leun School P.S. No. 5 Butterfly Estate, Tuen Mun, N.T. Hong Kong Check out my blog: acrossanoceansizedlove.blogspot.com Visit my project page: www.lcms.org?13343 Download my prayer card: www.lcmsworldmission.org/prayercards Access my photo albums: picasaweb.google.com/megaroonski

If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please e-mail me at [email protected]!