Since arriving in Southern China, our trip has been a whirlwind. We met in Guangzhou with the first Chinese student that we were friendship partners with Jack with his friend Phillip. Jack has a daughter the same age as our little girl and they were friends when he was a student at UTA in 2005. Jack took us around Guangzhou and saw us off on a train for Hong Kong.

On arrival to Hong Kong, I exited the subway and I felt like we just came into a new world. It reminded me a lot of the day that one hikes out after a backpacking trip. The trip is wonderful and beautiful and full of wonders, but when you get to the snack bar or store you are suddenly overwhelmed with the stimuli that you encounter. It felt that way in Hong Kong. So many lights, so many shiny buildings, so many bustling people, so many non-Chinese. It was truly and experience. We also realized a lightness in a sense as restrictions on things such as internet are suddenly gone. BACK ON FACEBOOK! Yeah.

After spending the night in Hong Kong, we were able to go and visit our EMBA friend Malone. He just had a baby in the states 3-4 weeks ago and just moved to a big city within an hour of Hong Kong. Going back past the border and back again was a very lengthy process but it was worth it as he, a native inner Mongolian, took us to a great Mongolian restaurant he shared with us some extremely delicious “comfort” food for Mongolians. He is a person who has been open to friendship and is not adverse to hearing about Jesus.

On rushing back from Shenzhen, we heard a presentation about all ISI is doing around the world. Did you know that ISI now has over 200 staff members and that we are extending our reach to help birth ISM ministries all over the world.

Today was a tough day… It started off with us learning in breakfast that one of the UTA professor from Taiwan’s wives, that Lisa has been ministering to and significantly befriended suddenly passed away with a stroke at age 35 in Arlington. She left behind her husband and a three year old daughter. Obviously pray for her grieving husband for for us in the Body to be able to serve hime in his time of need. She did know Jesus which is a consolation of sorts.

We then had the distinct pleasure of doing Church with a very good friend from college and his family. After Princeton and after some jobs and degrees while in the states, he moved back to his native Hong Kong to help with the family business. At first he was not a believer but was married to a Taiwanese believer. but in the 6 years since we were last here, God got a hold of him and he chose to follow Jesus and he was baptized. This Friday, he and his family will be traveling to Africa to do mission work. I really saw a difference in him. I really felt like our friendship also went to a new level as the most important things in our lives, thing things that drive us are now the same.

The next few days, we will be in meetings with other ISI colleagues in Hong Kong. We will learn from each other about ministering to international students. We look forward to this time of connecting with such like minded people.

Things to lift up:

• Lift up the family who lost their monther and that we can minister to her family even from a difference.
• Lift up the mission trip to Africa that my college friend Andy and ther familiy is going on.
• Lift up for us to have attentive minds dependent on the Holy Spirit to guide us.
• Pray one of our key home staff people who is suffering from a chronic illness and has to go back to the states immediately. Lift up the arrangements and that the illness goes away.
• Pray for prep time and organization time for Roy as he prepares to present two projects.

Thanks all!