Hong Kong --> Irvine, CA

Hey all,

Just wanted to check in with you and let you know what I've been up to since we all left Evanston. Going back home to Hong Kong was good, as it was good to see parents and catch up with friends as always. Somehow though, it didn't quite have the same effect as when I came home last year. After the first Fall Quarter I had during freshman year, going home seemed so surreal. It was like I had spent years away from Hong Kong with all its skyscrapers and the rush of the cosmopolitan life. I remember going down the roads of Causeway Bay (Chicago analogy: Michigan Avenue) with my friends, and it seemed like we were decades older then. This time, it seemed like I was home only yesterday. I did the same routines of seeing some of my good friends, and we did the same things like going to someone's house and playing Xbox, or playing basketball, or sitting in Starbucks doing nothing but chatting. However, there isn't the same sort of "I can't believe I'm home" feeling. Maybe I'm getting old. Or insensitive.

Grace and I got a chance to have lunch with Mr. Thompson, our old middle school teacher and friend, who is now married with a 3-month old boy named Jack (HE'S SO CUTE.) She shared about her extreme happiness and the place she found at NU, while I shared about HMCC and Access, as well as my experiences co-leading a LIFE group.

I also got to have dinner with my former youth pastor. Last time I had met him during the summer, there were real needs in the youth group ministry at our church, as many of the students were not connected well with one another, be it different schools or lack of interest in community at church. During dinner, I got to hear new developments from my youth pastor, that they have been doing a better job of bringing together the youth through prayer boxes and meetings, as well as movie nights and BNO/GNOs (boys night out, girls night out). My youth pastor has a newfound vision for the youth that I used to be a part of before going off to college, and it is our hope that they will develop a weekly youth group in addition to hangouts and Sundays, kind of like our ACCESS to our Sunday Celebrations.

I would like to really be able to reflect the past quarter with my parents especially. I am sharing with them my experiences as a first-time LIFE group co-leader, the challenges and the joys of leading and serving you guys. My mom is a full-time minister at our church back home, and she has the dream of serving in mainland China by reaching out to Chinese scholars (she spent a week in Shanghai a few weeks ago). She has a lot of experience, and is a warrior of prayer, and I have taken that for granted for 20 years of my life.

Overall, while this is a time for me to pause in my studies, I do not want to be complacent in my walk with the Lord. I want to be able to come back to Winter Quarter ready and willing to serve, as well as continue application in my life by learning from the mistakes I have made during Fall Quarter.

In terms of prayer, I would just like to you guys to pray that I be humble and vulnerable these next few weeks in reflection of struggles and mistakes the past quarter. My mom has been my spiritual mentor for my whole life now, and I will need prayer in order to truly open up to her and take her advice. I also would like to take this time to pray fervently for each and every one of you as you continue your journeys.

Sorry for such a long post, but take care of yourselves guys! Whatever you are going through right now, continue depending on the Lord's guidance, and let's all rejoice the birth of Jesus as Christmas is just around the corner!