God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,

And he has become my salvation.

(Isa. 12:1, 3)

God's Protection

On the morning of August 2, when I was in the sitting room checking my baggage and ready to leave for Taipei in a few minutes, I heard a loud noise behind my back. I turned around and saw the electric ceiling fan was falling apart, and it fell on the floor. I was really thankful that I was a few steps away; and my father was out. He used to sit under the electric fan. Praise God for His protection.

APFMMA meeting

I went to the US and Canada June 27 to August 18 for the APFMMA meeting, to have a display booth for APFMMA during the General Conference, and to visit churches and friends, sharing about APFMMA and the Cambodia ministry.

The Hong Kong Conference office executive secretary, Davis Lam, was one of the delegates to the General Conference. I was thankful that we went together and he helped to carry my 3 heavy bags. I was thankful that at US customs, the officers did not open my bags to check every piece of the stuff, otherwise I did not know how to repack all the things for sale and the display.

Many people came to visit the APFMMA display booth. During the break time our booth served as a meeting point for our Asian delegates. We could feel a sense of belonging and unity in a foreign country. Some of our delegates even helped to share the ministries with the visitors. As for myself, I am proud to be part of Asia and APFMMA. Moreover, people know where to find me, or to get information about the opportunities in Asia, or to meet the faithful prayer partners of APFMMA.

Here are some highlights of the APFMMA Executive Committee meeting :

1. After a long discussion, it is unanimously resolved that APFMMA become a Mission Agency. A committee is set up to study and to propose the structure for the change of status of APFMMA.
2. Year 2004 will be the 10th Anniversary of APFMMA. It is resolved that each member conference will plan for the celebration and I will go and join them.

Trip to Taiwan

On August 2, I went to Taiwan for five days, sharing the APFMMA ministry with the pastors in Taipei ,plus I had an afternoon with the Mission Committee Chairman to brainstorm for the Myanmar ministry, and I also preached on Sunday. I am thankful that I have very good fellowship and sharing with the pastors. But in these 5 days I slept in 4 different places ! I was thankful that Grace Chou was with me when I was in Taiwan. Grace is a Taiwan FMC missionary with the Wycliffe Bible Translators; and is having her home assignment right now.

I did not expect that I would have the time to visit the National Museum with Grace Chou the morning before I departed. I enjoyed meditating on the Chinese paintings and writings, and the long history of our nation. A member of the church is working in the Museum and is an expert in this area. He gave us very good explanations and also taught me how to interpret Chinese paintings and writings. This is what I have longed for! I praise the Lord for this unexpected gift.

Another unexpected tour was of the " Myanmar street" in Taipei just like the Chinatowns in the US . Grace Chou and I have been to Myanmar many times and we were so excited to visit the street and have Burmese food there.

Visit children's home in the Mainland

In mid August I went with our Superintendent and other pastors to visit the leprosy rehab village and nearby children's home in Lian Chiang in Mainland China . It took us 8 hours by bus to go and then another 8 hours night bus for the return trip. Some of these children's parents are the rehab patients, while some are orphans picked up on the streets by the people some years ago. The ¡§unwanted¡¨ people want the ¡§unwanted¡¨ children and feed them with just what they have, because they know how precious it is to be wanted! It is too crowded for a small house of 500 sq. feet to hold 9 children and 1 worker. We are now looking for a worker to take care of their spiritual needs and emotional needs, and also visit the people in the nearby rehab village. Then we can start a childcare program there. Pray God will give us the right worker soon so that the children can have better quality care sooner.

Assistant comes and goes

My assistant Jackeline has resigned at the end of August for further study. She has worked with me for five years and I sure have lost a very helpful assistant. I am thankful that Christina Chan comes to replace her in September. There will be a period of adjusting.

I will lose another good secretary in the office soon, but on the other hand will have a new missionary in Cambodia . Davis Lam will leave Hong Kong for Cambodia as a missionary with a term of at least three years. At first he planned to leave in mid-September, but because his very beloved and close sister suddenly is found to have cancer and is undergoing treatment, Davis will delay his departure for Cambodia until his sister has completed the treatment.

Hong Kong back to normal

Hong Kong has gone through SARS and is recovering from the blow. In this period peoples relationships have become closer, working morale is higher, more are looking for life's meaning and goals, and more people are coming to church to find the life hereafter, plus it is easier to talk about religion and the gospel. Now life is back to normal - no need to wear face masks when we go out, in the school or in the bus. However, we still have to fill out the health declaration form and take our body temperature at the airport before departure and upon arrival. Please pray that SARS will not return and will not become a regional disease in the world at the change of weather.

Please pray for some events and trips in the coming three months :

• Sept 9-15 
  to Japan - 50^th Anniversary of Tokyo Free Methodist Church
• Sept 16-19 
  attend a seminar in Hong Kong
• Sept 23-25 
  to Taipei for the Global Chinese ministry consultation
• Sept 26 
  conduct a workshop on missions in Hong Kong
• Oct 4 
  Hong Kong Conference 50^th anniversary prayer day
• Nov 8-18 
  Cambodia medical team
• Nov 18-21 
  Exploratory trip to Vietnam
• Dec 28 
  to India for APFMMA meeting and 10^th anniversary celebration, and missions boot camp

On top of these meetings and traveling, Sunday preaching and teaching Sunday school, preparation and training for mission teams, and routine office work, I have to take classes, examinations and turn in assignments in the seminary. I am taking two subjects this semester on "Pastoral counseling of the Abnormal" and "Old Testament Theology."

Please pray for me:

• To have energy and wisdom for my daily walk, especially my inner peace and calmness.

• That I will not be lost among all the busy work, but will still be sensitive to the Word of the Lord, and hear Him and walk with Him, and reflect His glory in my daily life.

With hope in our Lord,

Polly
September 2003