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Jonathan Wong
Macau Mid-term Mission
August 2006 - Present |
November 7, 2006
Macau Prayer Update 10: the slumps/humps
"our Enemy...would...have them continually concerned either with eternity
or with the Present. The Future inflames hope
and fear. Also, it is unknown to them, so that in making them think
about it we make them think of unrealities...fear, avarice, lust,
ambition look ahead. Anxiety or hope for the future is only piling up
more disappointment, and therefore more impatience, for him when his
false hopes are dashed.
If on the other hand, he is aware that horrors may be in store for him
and is praying for the virtues, wherewith to meet them, and meanwhile
concerning himself with the Present because there, and there alone, all
duty, all grace, all knowledge, and all pleasure dwell, his state is
very undesirable and should be attacked at once." CS Lewis, The
Screwtape Letters
Howdy Partners,
Synopsis of life over the past 2 weeks:
M 10/30
Feeling like my life is coming together. Met with fellow
teacher Steve and Pastor Awan which is a big answer to prayer as I've
been praying for the birth of these mentoring relationships. |
T 10/31
I'm still
feeling out the students to go deeper with . It's
like open season filling up lunches and dinners getting to
know students.
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W 11/1
I've gotten my usual
malady when I try to do too much and don't sleep. |
R
I sleep a cold over for 13 hours |
F 11/3
Good lesson to quiet
my soul, cancel everything, and discover the health care for
missionaries here (at least for minor stuff) is top-notch and drop-dead
(no pun intended) affordable thanks to the Southern Baptists.
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S 11/6
Go to China with 20 brothers&sisters to a outdoor school like
camp for team building, obstacle, and high ropes courses.
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S
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M
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T
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W 11/8
"Sports day" which is a schoolwide track and field contest.
Since I have no job, I go from 8am to 6pm chatting with students. but |
R
"Sports day"
Feeling great about student relationships. |
F 11/10
Get checked when I invite
students to Saturday's youth group. Not one can come b/c of
a legitimate or made up reason. Tina says understand what
attracts students but I'm frustrated banging my head
on the wall and not seeing fruit. |
S
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S
debate team
contest
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In this state of mind, I joined the debate team (see above) Sunday for
their championship match. PC is famous in Macau for its
debate team and routinely recruits its top students to take part.
Sometime in University I think I mellowed out but these kids reminded
me how I miss being really focused on being the best at something
academic. The past few months they've spent ~3-8 hours together A DAY,
so that now they are a close-knit, well-trained team. I met them at
3pm (they'd been at school since 10) and it was neat to see them
rehearse one last time, hug each other to release the nerves, pray for
them, and then see them go out and pretty much crush the opposition
with articulate poise and competitive relish. It got my blood boiling
even though I could barely understand a word they were saying. Chinese
students are funny b/c they'll hide much of their emotion when posing
for pictures (i know, i'm funny to them too). Hooian, the girl with
glasses on the right was so happy and relieved to have won, I thought
she was going to cry. It meant so much to her. After all the time and
sweat they put in, the difficulties they endured made winning that much
sweeter and meaningful as they saw the culmination and received the
reward for their work.
It made me think, am I going to have a day when it all comes together?
Seeing the commitment and passion of my students to something as good
but as temporal as debate inspires me to endure the slumps/humps I face
for I am competing for a much greater, eternal prize.
Thanks:
1. I'm not sick and am living healthier...seeking to sleep/arise
earlier, using pH 5.5 soap, and visiting the local tea shop for
cleansing herbal teas.
2. Enjoying Cantonese class and seeking to remember and practice more.
3. Enjoying daily life here, teaching at a quality school with lots of
fun students who like me, going to a supportive church, and caring for
those around me.
Pray:
1. I seek God in private quiet communion and in public so as Awan put
it, I will have more focus, confidence, and satisfaction in my
ministry. I'm trying to turn the corner where I'm taking select
relationships deeper and really building into a small number of
brothers and students. This is my purpose and goal, and it's been
frustrating that I haven't been able to establish these relationships.
2. Basketball Planning Ministry Meeting this Saturday. That God would
decisively move us and we'd commit in faith to follow His plan.
3. I be able to cut back on my teaching load so I can focus more on
discipleship and student ministry. I'm a little scared and hesitant to
approach the school. Pray for confirmation and wisdom.
4. I work hard but joyfully and guiltlessly during the week and find
downtime and creative leisure during the weekend.
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets
the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone
who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get
a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last
forever."
Jonathan
p.s. My website died. Didn't notice it was a 30 day trial.
pps. October
Pics
Adventure
Camp Pics
October 9, 2006
Macau Prayer Update 9: experimenting, language school, parents arrival
"I can't talk to someone for more than 15 minutes without telling them
about Jesus so they'll get saved" ~George Whitefield
"Just sitting for 40 hours a week and meeting with people (1 on 1),
hearing their story, praying for them, speaking truth into their life,
giving them the Bible, pointing them to Jesus, that just sounds
exhausting. If you have this gift it is fatiguing but it's also very
energizing. ~Mark Driscoll describing the gift of shepherding
Celebrating moon festival with Samuel, & also at Teacher banquet,
sharing "homemade" strawberry shortcake with tutoring center friends,
Tina and I
Dear friends,
New developments:
1. i'm getting my feet wet trying out my own website which is really
just a directory of the rest of my websites. still kinda fun though.
2. photos posted! see the website links.
3. Starting tomorrow, i will take a 2 month Cantonese speaking course
every Monday & Thursday from 10-11:30am at Jindao Language Centre.
4. i'm beginning to initiate more 1 on 1 as I explore the spiritual
gift of shepherd/counseling/pastoring. It is thrilling and fulfilling
to take the next step in relationships, and really is part of my
passion to help people love Jesus with all they are.
5. my parents are coming! Nov. 29 for 2 weeks yayyy.
6. i'm gonna start putting you who are my prayer partners to work a
little more.
I want to create 8 prayer groups each centered around a topic that
reflects my goals/aspects of life in Macau.
1. Seeking God with all my heart & Personal
Purity
2. Making Disciples
Foster healthy, spiritually fruitful friendships by
living God’s grace and truth and initiating with
Sung Ai Church members, missionaries, fellow Christians and those God
puts in
my life.
Committed to serving, encouraging and shepherding Sung Ai
brothers through ball ministry, student and small group,
playing my role in building them up and preparing them to step up,
lead,
love, and serve.
3. Language Learning
Spend an hour studying
Cantonese 4-5 days/week, meet with tutor every week, and speak
Cantonese
consistently in daily life.
4. Teaching
Committed to providing a quality, empowering, educational,
relationship-based experience where I push the
students
while creatively inviting them with flair to reach their potential as
English
speakers and young men and women.
5. Evangelism and
outside of the box (Sung Ai and Pui Ching) ministry
6. Boundaries, Sabbath,
Fun, Health
7. Future Decisions
8. Personal Character Growth
i.e. Be a cooperative, respectful, compassionate, and flexible servant to my pastors, church, and co-workers.
I've assigned each prayer partner to the group I
feel they'd most resonate with. I'll send these group emails
occasionally when i have need and hope it will help me have more
personal sharing with each of you and help you to better pray,
encourage, and keep me accountable in a specific area and in general
too. I will probably post everything (sans the emails to group #1) on
my journal so the ambitious among you can read and pray for them all if
you want. I'll also continue to send Macau Prayer Updates, so no
worries.
Hope that wasn't too confusing! check out the website! Life here is
packed but it is also growing richer as I start to give more of my
heart to God and my church and students.
Love,
jonathan
September 24, 2006
Macau Update 8: What I've Been Up To
"God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with
singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." ~Psalm 68:6
"Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the
workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out
workers into his harvest field." ~Matthew 9:37-38
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Activity Key
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Pui Ching School
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Great Love Church
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Cantonese
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Office Day
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R&R
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Weekly Schedule
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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7:00
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8:00
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English
Conversational 10th grade
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English
Conversational 11th grade
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9:00
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BPOD
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Office Day
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BPOD
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chat with parents
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10:00
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Church
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Cantonese study
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Pastor Joshua
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Coworker Meeting
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BPOD
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11:00
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Prayer
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Cantonese study
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12:00
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1:00
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Lunch
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English Games
6th grade
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English Games 5th grade
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2:00
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Downtime
cultural excursion
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Cantonese study
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BPOD
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BPOD
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3:00
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Pastor Tina
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Cantonese study
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4:00
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12th grade
College English Interview Tutorial
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12th grade
College English Interview Tutorial
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Student Group
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5:00
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6:00
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Teacher Student
Bball game
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Chinese study
w/Kei
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Aunt Yammie's
Tutoring Center
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7:00
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Soccer!
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Basketball
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Wedding Chorus
Practice
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Aunt Yammie's
Tutoring Center
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Basketball
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8:00
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Basketball
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Cantonese study
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Brothers Small
Group
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Basketball
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9:00
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Basketball
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Basketball
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10:00
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Dinner
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Dinner
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11:00
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12:00
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Everyday: BPOD
(best part of the day: time with Him)
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What I have been up to...
Thank you for praying! My 1st and 2nd week teaching went well. We
went the extra mile to create a 1st class the students would remember
from buying flowers from the street vendors to Auntie Yammie baking
amazing cakes for the students. As I shook each hand of the 400
students, most of them seemed to understand and be excited about coming
back. It is such a highlight to walk through the school gates and be a
part of this community of scurrying children , friendly students and
teachers interested in the strange but engaging 'ABC'.
Thank God for:
-my 1st sermon ending with the church laying hands on the youth and
praying with renewed passion to be the family God sets the lonely youth
of Macau in. Answered prayer big time!
-genuine happiness and gratefulness for my life of teaching, ministry,
and community.
-a positive beginning to my relationships with students where I'm
already being asked "why do you believe in Jesus" and being invited to
ask if it's absurd that 1000 metal and plastic pieces could randomly
fuse to be an airplane or computer then how come we believe that the
3,000,000,000 pieces of DNA of a human body came together by chance
(thank you Mark Cahill)?
-depending on him more in prayer
-fun R&R like playing footbol under stadium lights every Sunday on
the border
I love teaching but this 3rd week it took over my life. Each week the
school asks me to teach another class and while the more classes I
have, the more time is required to prep, and the less time I have for
my other goals. As the quantity of students I teach grows to ~500, the
quality that I am able to care for them falls. They are always asking
"do you remember my name?"
Teaching is my job (complete with the novelty of professional
relationships, receiving a paycheck (i get paid?!), and wearing clothes
that need ironing i.e. not t-shirts) but it is also an art and I'm like
a kindergartener fingerpainting my way through.
Pray for:
-going to bed on time and studying Cantonese everyday
-a better memory for names and Cantonese terms and tones (yay for mp3
players)
-Pastor Awan and Peter (one of the student leaders) who I asked to meet
with me weekly to share and pray together
-grace because I don't stop snapping at people or checking out girls
because i'm a missionary
-trusting God more so i'm not pushing myself on people but simply
caring for them and inviting them to Him
awarding breakfast to a student on the 1st day of class
Student group showcasing the prizes they bought for my English classes
Finally a long quote/chop job addendum from CS Lewis' Screwtape
Letters I hope my intrepid readers will read and let sink in.
Never let them connect what they believe with what they see
or what they see with what they believe. At
the least, they can be persuaded that the bodily position makes no
difference to their prayers; for they constantly forget, what you must
always remember, that they are animals and that whatever their bodies
do affects their souls.
It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their
minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.
Make sure...he is always concerned with the state of his mum's soul,
but never with her rheumatism. Let
her recite to the god in her head, but never bare the nakedness of
her soul to the actual Enemy in heaven. Let her do that to anybody
else but Him! Remember demon, there are a million ways we will beat
them. There is only one Way they will beat us. Knowing Him.
For it is not those who try really hard and do, do, do
in his name that hurt us, but the few who actually trust themselves to
Him. The first group will die having great resumes and mediocre
spiritual lives. The second, those cursed uncursables, will live for
the Enemy's priorities and overflow with a fearsome joy that flows from
His Land but is a dreaded invading stench in Ours.
your affectionate uncle,
Screwtape.
September 6, 2006
Macau Update 7: 1st day of class
"Five minutes after we die, we'll know exactly how we should have
lived." ~ Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle
The Macau skyline as the $1 billion Wynn Casino opened tonight.
The bridge you see in the picture connects Macau and Taipa. I was on
Taipa after a co-worker meeting, walking to catch a bus when I heard
what I thought was thunder. Looking between 2 buildings, I saw a
glimpse of what you see in this picture. It wasn't until I went on
flickr.com to search for pictures of the macau skyline that I came
across the above picture that was taken tonight and realized what I had
saw...
God has decided that we are to have perspective that is limited not
only by physical but also by temporal dimensions. As we go through
life, He is gracious to expand our perspective step by step so that
through the eyes of faith, our view begins to take more of the shape of
his view.
The last few days, I have had a rather short-sighted view. I've been
learning the ropes of Pui Ching from spending ~3.5 hours with the copy
machine (and then it broke) to trying to learn/gain respect from the
staff to working through the myriad of details in preparation for my
first day of teaching tomorrow (9/5). As I wade through my 1st day
though, I want to come back to the heart of the matter which becomes
clearer in the light of eternity. As Pastor Alcorn says, God has given
us his word so that we don't have to wait until we die to know how we
should have lived. His Word instructs and his Spirit empowers. I pray
His word and Spirit would be the anchor for your soul so that we would
live in the light of eternity. Even if we can only hear thunder and
can't see the sky. Thanks for praying the same for me!
Jonathan
August 24, 2006
Macau Update 6: Getting to know one another
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In
repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your
strength, but you would have none of it".
Isaiah 30:15
"Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor" ~Charles Spurgeon from Mark Cahill's One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven
(Church commissioning, Joshua and I in HK, Decorated Bulletin Board, Dinner with the M's (what a treat!))
Five Things To Be Sure You Have in Macau
1. Mosquito Repellent aka "mon pas soy"
2. Air conditioning or surgically removed sweat glands
3. A TV so you can learn Cantonese by watching Sesame Street and cartoons as you eat breakfast
4. Flexibility and cheerfulness in appetite and attitude
5. A persevering commitment to the people, to holiness, and to joy.
5a. friends.
Poor Kei, he was setting the camera and couldn't quite get in before it
snapped. This pic was taken the night I arrived in my apartment which
my church decorated with flowers and candles and worked very hard
(thanks Jessie!) to prepare. I wish I had a picture of my wonderful
church that saw me off State-side (if you took pictures at the airport,
can you
send them to me asap?), because side by side they are such a great
image of the Lord's grace and the faithfulness of his body, from start
to finish.
A few quick prayers...
1. Praise the Lord for a restful past week settling in to my flat, Macau life, and ministry.
2. The principal of a local Baptist college called me today to teach
English at his school too. Pray for discipline to prioritize my
schedule and do the most important things first.
3. I preach my 1st sermon this Sunday on how our church can love the
youth. Pray God would make clear his vision for the church and the
youth of Macau and that He'd show members how they can serve and love
young people.
4. Spending a meal with Uncle Paul and Auntie Diana made me realize how
precious transparent fellowship and accountability is, especially for
me as a single man. Pray I establish relationships/meetings where this
can happen weekly.
5. Pray for patience and diligence as I trust not in myself or my
support systems but in the Lord's hand alone to work his will in my
life and this land. He alone is "what i need to be sure to have in
Macau".
Each day in Macau is measured by small victories (making friends with
the grocer, passing a tract to the internet workman, not falling asleep
from jet lag on my translator (oops)). One highlight for me this week
was a conversation with Pastor Sin's 13 year old about heaven. As
usual it was in a combination of broken cantonese, english, and
somewhat frenetic gesticulations on the topic of what language we'd
speak in heaven. She didn't think we'd speak Cantonese and I agreed
because that wouldn't be heaven for me. We agreed English wouldn't do
it either. We thought maybe we'd just know what everyone was thinking,
but that brought up the fact that if everyone knew all our thoughts,
we'd be very uncomfortable. No doubt, ashamed. So how could this be
heaven? Here Joy points to her head and says 'no bad thoughts'. We
can't help but smile and just like that, we are on the same page,
connecting over the same thought, moving closer to heaven where no sin
means no shame and no fear in knowing fully, "even as I am fully known"
(1 Cor. 13:12). I think this is why I love the above picture so much,
why I had to post it despite the possibility of embarrassing my good
friend A-Kei (sorry!), because it is so candid that I feel like you
could actually know the people because you know their joy. One day, we
will all meet and there will be no broken languages or brokenness that
keeps us apart. One day we will all meet and be revealed to one
another so deeply yet without shame, because God's love is so complete
there isn't room for anything else. Until that day, may we be faithful
to rescue as many people and invite as many souls as are willing to let
go of their fig leaves and embrace eternal life. From here to wherever
in the world you are, may we show ourselves not to be impostors, but
missionaries.
Until the blessed reunion,
Jonathan
August 1, 2006
Macau Update 5: I got my Blue Card!!!
"The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all,
able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those
who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading
to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and
escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to
do his will."
2 Timothy 2:24-26
"Only 2% of Christians share their faith on a regular basis" Bill Bright
Dear Friends,
Well, somebody's been praying! I returned home last Thursday night
from prayer meeting to an email from the field in Macau saying I got my
blue card and they'd like me to come a week earlier! This has sped up
everything so that:
Tonight 8/1: I will be sharing at House of Prayer at my
house. Anyone is welcome to come.
Sunday 8/6: Last day at Chinese Faith Baptist Church. I will
be commissioned in both services.
Sunday 8/13: I fly out via United at 10:17am. Come around 8am
before church and see me off!
Another praise, I have 116 people who've responded to me to partner
in prayer. Thank you!
1 more praise, God has been challenging me that if I can't share my
faith here, I can't share it there in Macau. He has also been training
me to share my faith through some of the most intense and mentally
transforming sermons I have heard (check it out at
www.markcahill.org).
I realized purposefully conversing with people
about the gospel from neighbors to waiters to shoppers has been
something I haven't done, but now I have been trying to look at the
world and people sacrificially like Christ instead of selfishly like I
usually do. It has been heart-breaking and a war, but I have shared my
faith with as many people in the past 4 days as I probably have in the
last 4 years. That is the Lord! I've been realizing that while being
a missionary in Macau is hard, being a disciple of
Christ Jesus in Portland Oregon or anywhere is just as scary and
costly, albeit in different ways, but with the same mission. I
encourage each of you to check out Mark Cahill because he's hardcore
but cuts like a knife and will get you started in the right direction.
Give me a holler, I hope to say goodbye to as many of you as possible
before I leave!
in His grace,
Jonathan
July 25, 2006
Macau Update 4: Overflowing
"I used to use scripts when I prayed, telling God what my life should
look like and what God should do to make it that way. But not any
more...Prayer is dangerous. It will never leave us the same...All
prayer is a willingness to surrender the self to God" ~Jerry Sittser When
God Doesn't Answer Your Prayer
Dad's Pie, High School Reunion, Sharing at Sunday School, Remembering
31 Years of Marriage
Dear Friends,
How are you? The past month at home has been especially precious for
me.
Praise
*for 97 people including several families who have
partnered with me in prayer! Only 3 more to reach 100!
*for being fully funded for the next year in Macau!
*Refreshing yet meaningful time at home.
8 hours of sleep and tennis 4-5 days a week is a wonderful thing, yet
it has also been great to be truly encouraged by friends, help dad lay
a new sidewalk, and share Jesus and Macau with churches and
individuals. I recently got the opportunity to reflect with my parents
over their 31 years of marriage. It was overwhelming to look back over
the years of pain and joy to see how God used decisions my parents made
to enact his plan of grace for our lives and model for me what a pure,
strong, and no-matter-what-love looks like. Praise his Name.
Pray
*Immigration to issue my blue card so I can go.
This is the last major logistical hurdle. We don't have reason to
think they'd reject my blue card (work permit) and expect them to issue
it between now and mid-August, but everyday we wait is a test of
faith. If they reject my work application, it would take 3-4 months to
re-apply which would throw a huge wrench into things so it's time to
hold onto God again and trust!
*diligence in Bible Study (everybody needs to discover the joys
of inductive bible study!), prayer, developing lesson plans, and
contacting friends
*for Jesus Christ and the gospel to be the central driving
force and heart of my life
*for at least 3 more prayer partners to pray for me once a week.
If you haven't emailed or talked to me, I know you want to be counted
in those last 3 spots!
*for at least 1 person to join me in Macau.
When I left Macau in 2004, I promised myself I wouldn't go back alone
because I felt going on mission with God was too full of a life for any
one person to experience alone. That hasn't worked out, but as I
write, I realize it is still a request God has put on my heart so if
you could pray for God to move the right person(s) and ask Him if He'd
like you to go even for a little while for his kingdom, that would be
big.
I have to tell you, the responses of prayer and giving have really been
humbling. Many of you give so joyfully and sacrificially that it blows
me away and I struggle with the fact that I'm taking money from people
who I know have worked hard for it. Mom reminded me though that many
of you can't go on missions now, so you want to do your part in
supporting me. I don't know how I'll ever repay you, but I know you
have given with willing, happy, good hearts so I will just say with the
apostle Paul:
"For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the
needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings
to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they (Macau
people!) will glorify God for your obedience to your
confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your
contribution to them and to all while they also, by prayer on your
behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God
in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
I plan to go ~ August 20.
a steward of grace by his grace,
Jonathan
June 30, 2006
Macau Prayer Update 3: Crash Course Reunion
"You ate dog food?!"
~Pastor Tina as I mispronounce what I had for lunch.
(Clockwise starting top left: Minister Chu, GJ and I, Jenny and I out
with students, Youth Camp, our Team and the tower of newspaper)
Howdy Friends!
It's been a little over a week since I returned from my 2 week vision
trip to Macau. It was a full, enjoyable, and enlightening trip as I
*learned the ropes of teaching from Jenny (the teacher I'm
taking the place of) and school administrators,
*had joyful reunions with missionaries, friends, and pastors
from Great Love Church,
*tutored kids who tried to teach me how to pronounce banana in
chinese
*attended a Youth Camp with some of my future students.
*got swept up in the World Cup thanks to my gracious host and
fellow missionary GJ
Macau is a construction site.
Set to pass Las Vegas this year in revenue, Macau is booming.
Everywhere they are building new hotels, resorts, and casinos. With
~450,000 people living in this land less than one-sixth the size of
Washington DC, and another 1.5 million (mainly from the Mainland and
HK) visiting each month, Macau is even more crowded than when I left it!
Macau is the land of unfinished sentences.
I realized I am like a computer with too many programs open. Adapting
to the humidity and pollution, learning a language, adapting to another
culture, integrating into a foreign school and church, working with
people who lead full lives, I felt I was functioning so slow and the
world was rushing by so fast that I couldn't finish a sentence in any
language! I used a mosquito to vocab ratio to gauge my day. If I had
learned more vocabulary words than I had mosquito bites, it was a
successful day!
Macau is a crash course in the Kingdom.
One thing I value from this trip is the crash course I received in
how much I will have to depend on God and other people. I tried to
accept always having an interpreter in my ear, never really knowing
what's going on, and seeking to communicate and understand youth whose
language I don't (yet) understand and whose background is foreign to me
by putting a lid on my emotions and calling it being flexible. It left
me exhausted and with a heavy heart.
For this I am thankful because it is a preview of the challenges I know
will grow my abilities, character, and heart in the next year. Before
a couple from Great Love dropped me off one night, they asked how they
could pray for me. When I got out, they said "you're not alone here.
You have many friends in Macau". This is why I love Macau. It strips
me down to my core but I have a family and moreover a God who sees me
through the refining.
Praise
*securing my apartment for the next year (Thanks to Jenny and
Tina) and a Cantonese school I'll be taking classes in
*vision received from my pastors about my role as a teacher, church
co-worker, and student of God's calling
Pray
*Immigration to issue my blue card so I can go!
*at least 25 more prayer partners (to reach 100!) committed to praying
for me every week
*$6000 of financial support by mid-July
*developing lesson plans for the whole school year this month
*precious time with family, friends, and the Lord to prepare me for
this key year in my life.
Thank you so much for your heart-felt support. It has encouraged me
more than I can say as new people commit to pray and give everyday. I
know this is God's work, alive and sovereign, in each of our lives.
Those who haven't contacted me, please feel free, you know it'd make my
day to hear from you!
Philippians 1:3-4,
Jonathan
June 4, 2006
Macau Prayer Update 2: Tuesday is Takeoff!
"One of
the dangers of the new generation, which
lets it “all hang out,” is that people can too quickly limit themselves
to
their weakness and figure that they don’t have what it takes, when
perhaps they
really do-by God’s grace. If you’re
going to be honest about your weaknesses, be sure to be just as honest
about
God’s strength. God’s strength is made
perfect in weakness". Greg Livingstone from Does it Work?
Faithful friends,
How fast the summer goes! After going with dad to see relatives and
friends in tropical Sacramento and a week here in Portland, I am
heading to Macau for a 2 week vision trip this Tuesday. I fly out on
flight NW 5 at 2:30pm. I'll be in the terminal from 12-1:30pm if you'd
like to say goodbye.
Reasons to Praise God
-For my grandpa accepting the Lord at the age of 94*.
-For time to be at home and prepare spiritually, cross-culturally,
financially and logistically for Macau.
-For ~1/3 of my support being raised ($6,415 of $18,071) and for having
15 recorded prayer partners!
-For a 'wake-up' conversation with Pastor Brian that helped me realize
I am living a joyless spirituality.**
Pray
for:
-85 more prayer supporters.
-the Spirit to continue to guide my reflection over the past year that
I might be truly grateful even for the hard lessons in life
-an attitude of peace and joy to replace stress and dourness in living
everyday life seeking to make the most of this summer
-God's hand to be upon my trip to Macau that I may see more of His and
Great Love Church's vision for Macau and the establishing of my role as
a youth worker and english teacher.
-my blue card to be quickly approved so I can live and work in Macau
for a year.
I'm still seeking to balance honest reflection with conciseness, so in
a moment of surprising restraint, I've omitted my reflections from this
email and made the * and ** above clickable links to my journal
(www.xanga.com/jswong24) if
you'd like to read the background behind my
praises and prayer requests. See attached
to see if I have you recorded as a prayer partner. I apologize if
I don't and please email me. Thank you for seriously and prayerfully
considering to make this commitment. You are my backbone.
In Philippians 1:3-4, it struck me how Paul could thank God every time
he remembered the Philippian church and in all his prayers for them pray with joy. I think
this depth of devotion can be traced back to the depth of relationship
Paul had with this church. They were united so deeply through the
gospel that they were a part of him. As I leave for the place my heart
longs for, I thank God for you and ask He would align our hearts with
his as we put our treasure where His heart is.
striving for joy,
Jonathan
May 19, 2006
Macau Prayer Update 1: Commencement
"My own
decision (to go on a mission venture) didn't come to me as any great
revelation, no booming voice. It
was just a moment in my life when I thought about one simple thing: if
Christ gave his life for an ordinary person like me, then maybe if I give
it back, He can do something extraordinary with it."
Douglas Millham
from "A Call for Ordinary People"
Dear friends,
Well, another chapter of life came to an end last week under a
beautiful Nashville summer day as I graduated along with 1200 other
cheering undergrads from Vanderbilt University. Now as I book
(and balk at) airline tickets, study orientation materials, and enjoy
being home, I am realizing commencement also hails the beginning of a
new, challenging, and exciting chapter of life.
Joyfully praise God!
- Farewell hugs and friends. Each time as I turned away, I knew I
was leaving something valuable. Thank God for peace that comes from
knowing we are still close in heart.
- 4 life-changing years at Vanderbilt. God drew me there from the
beginning and it is such a joy to look back at how He lovingly broke,
grew, and transformed me. There is just something special about
the community and experience I was blessed to have.
- Time to be home. To breathe, be with God, my parents, and old friends.
- Encouragement. Thank you so much those of you who have
expressed interest in supporting me through prayer and finances!
As my favorite speaker says, "Do you know what it does to people when
you believe in them?"
Ask God in faith!
- Restful and rejuvenating time at home.
- A diligent and abiding mind and heart as I prepare spiritually and
logistically for a vision trip to Macau ~June 7-21 and leaving for the
year in August.
- Meaningful and significant time with my grandparents in Sacramento
who are not well. My dad and I are visiting them next week.
- A community of prayer. I am looking for 100 people committed to
praying for me for at least once a week at a set day and time. I
remember the urgency in Pastor Mayhugh's voice when he
stressed how much I need people to pray for me. Prayer is the
most important thing I need and it is the most valuable thing a person
can give. Would you prayerfully consider making this commitment?
-
A community of support. I am looking for 50 people committed to
investing financially in God's work in Macau on a monthly basis.
In total, I must raise about $1200 by June (depending on airfare) and
$18,071.33 by mid-July. One convenient way to give is by clicking
here and finding my name under 'Missionaries' to give online.
You can also use the attached blue envelope and form in the letter I
sent you. My missionary # is 881. If you have not received
my letter by some colossal
bungle, let me know and I will send you ASAP! God is
faithful! What a joy to carry out the Great
Commission in community. Thank you for being a part of my life in
prayer, giving, or even staying in touch. You are all important
to me.
because Christ gave his life for "an ordinary person like me",
Jonathan
