Do you think that time is chasing after us?  I always wish there were 48 hours in a day!  But my friends said, "Then you would wish for another 24 hours!"  Yes, most probably I would!   There are always unexpected things in a day.  I have read a book saying that every day we need to reserve 20-30% of the time for unexpected things, so that we will not be so stretched and tense.   Time management and a sense of flexibility are important.

God's grace and Christians' love in unexpected situations

One day in late October I got a phone call from Mainland China that my father was in the hospital.  This was so unexpected.  I went to Mainland China to see my father.

My father was lying in bed, breathing with the help of oxygen.  After two days, I was thinking whether I should leave and go to Cambodia with the medical team, because I was the team leader!  The doctor of the medical team called me from Hong Kong.  He assured me that he and two other experienced members could lead the medical team.  They comforted me and told me to stay at my father's bedside until he was discharged from the hospital.    I was much released and thankful for their concern.  I stayed with my father and every day I prayed for the medical team.

After a week, my father was discharged.   I came back to Hong Kong and went to Cambodia to meet the medical team for the last two days.  And I stayed behind to have meetings with the missionaries and the school building team. 

Praise the Lord for His sufficient grace.   Everything went smoothly and the members of the medical prayed hard.   In fact He has promised me when I read the Bible: "Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.  Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"  "Neither", he replied, "but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come."  （Joshua 5:13-14）  The Lord is the leader at all times.

After I came back from Cambodia, I went to Mainland China to bring my father back to Hong Kong to the hospital.  My father walked with some difficulty.  One brother in the church borrowed a wheel chair and one sister took a day off from work to go with me.  I was so encouraged and comforted.   "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverb 17:17).  Thank you, brothers and sisters.

In November my father was in the hospital a few times.  My uncle who is living near by helps to cook for my father when I go to the office.  

China Ministry

RMB (the currency in Mainland China) is going up but the HK$ is going down.  That means the expenses for the China ministry are going up too. Last year HK$100 could exchange RMB￥105.  In September 2007, HK$103 exchanged RMB￥100,  In early December HK$106 is needed for the same amount of RMB.   Please do not hesitate to give when you can, otherwise your money will not be worth as much as before and you will regret it!

1. At Christmas there will be 2 teams visiting 2 leprosy rehab villages.  And I will bring a team to visit the D. D. workshop.
2. D. D. workshop
   • "D. D. workshop " is a company for disabled and mistreated women.  The purpose is to give them a "sheltered workshop" to learn sewing and to support their living. We plan to purchase a house for the workshop, office and dormitory.   There are some donations already.
   • We need a full time "worker" to take care of the physical, mental, spiritual, and inter-personal development of the women.  This person may also help to coordinate some business.  Most of these women do not know how to read or write.  How wonderful if they can have a "literacy class."   Are you the "worker"?
     Please pray for a suitable house and the expenses needed. 
     Please pray for a suitable worker.

Cambodia : school project

Because of the low pay, some school teachers need to find a second job.  Some school buildings and facilities are very old and broken down.  There are not enough resources for the schools.   We will have joint venture with a Christian school organization and another church to build a school on the land we bought some years ago.

• Pray for a full time local worker to be the executive secretary, and a suitable local person as principal.
• Pray for a full time "educational missionary" to Cambodia.

Hong Kong 2008

2008 will be a year full of challenges:

1. Teaching -- In January & February I will help teach a few classes in a seminary on missions.
2. Travelling and meetings
   • Early January - go to India with a nurse to visit Mumbai Church and our Umri Christian Hospital in central India.
   • March - go to Cambodia for annual meeting & missionary retreat; and then to Vietnam.
   • April --   "Cross Culture Training Camp" in Macau for 3 weeks as counsellor.
   • August - APFMMA meeting and mission congress in India
3. Change of personnel:  Conference Superintendent, and Mission Board Chairman.  
4. Moving church - I have been assigned as advisory pastor in the Tsuen Wan Church for two years.  In May 2008  the tenant contract will be finished.   Now we are planning to purchase a place.  This is not easy because of  limited budget.  

"Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ..." (II Cor 2:14）

Wish you a blessed Christmas.

In 2008, may you walk closely with Jesus, with deeper love for Him and His people.

In His love and hope,
Polly