Forwarding Agents:
    JESUS TO THE BILLIONS
    c/o Danny and Gail Jordan
    107 Coquina Drive
    Cocoa, FL         32922-6913
    ( (321) 632-4856 		  Field Address: 
149  Java Rd., Room #223 
 North Point, Hong Kong SAR 
( /Fax:: (852) 2561-8459 
email             Home
  Volume 14
August    1999
Issue 1 

Of House Husbands and Domestic Engineers
rabbit picture As I write this, I have just about recovered from a really nasty virus that attacked me a couple weeks ago.  It was so unusually bad that for a couple days I almost did not get out of bed.  Nevertheless, since I have received many messages asking if I was ever going to put out another newsletter, I decided I'd better put everything else on hold and get this composed and sent.  (I did start one a year ago, but other factors conspired to see it never finished...) Rabbit ideogram
China flag Of course one of the main news items all over the world recently has been the economic slowdown.  This is true also for Hong Kong, which has not known a prolonged slump for a long time.  Besides general, world-wide, economic conditions, the slowdown in Asian markets has been added to 
by the new government's policies in Hong Kong.  The unsurprising results have been an increase in unemployment and a reduction of business, but a decrease in  property prices.  This "correction" to spiraling inflation in general, and to the property market in particular, has been a long time coming.  This is due primarily to the former British government policies which sent a hefty chunk of change back home.   Another American missionary voiced outrage that the new government should take steps to curb the wild speculation in the housing sector.  It was an affront to free enterprise which has made Hong Kong what it is today, he opined.  When asked about the injustice to those who were trapped into forever paying rents which rose 25%-40% every two years, he just looked exasperated.
     The unemployment is projected to rise as high as 5-6% from a long time 3.5-4%.  There are jobs, but many are too proud to take lower paying jobs after being laid off from too lucrative, and now unreasonably costly, positions.
     An item on the evening news reported on one of many sites around Hong Kong.  A 1000 sq.ft. flat has 72 people (mostly older men) living there.  Each one probably pays about US$125 per month on rent for the space of a "cage" bed.  That's a single size bed with bars or wire on the sides and a lockable entrance.  All the person's possessions are also stored there.  The beds are stacked two or three high.
     The new suspension bridges linking the Kowloon mainland with Tsing Yi and Lantau islands, and thus to the new airport, have now been open for a year.  (The new Chek Lop Kok Airport is also finally open for business.)  One of the bridges has a tunnel system running below the normal roadbed.  During typhoons (hurricanes, to you East Coasters!), road traffic can alternately use the tunnel system.  The tunnels will also convey subway trains, including an Airport Express, which will cost about $20 one direction.  I am still waiting to see what provisions will be made to get families and their international luggage from the surface down to the underground subway pickup points.  Most subway stations have about two floors of stairs going down from the surface before any escalators are found.  Hauling 70 lb. suitcases--plus kids--down that is not something I'd relish!  Also, if you're coming to Hong Kong and planning an early departure flight, be warned.  The busses and subway do NOT start operating until 6:00 a.m.  You are, however, requested to be at the airport two hours before departure.  First flight is 7:30 a.m.  If you don't have a local friend with a vehicle, taxis are the only solution, for a fee of about $40.
Light is feeling better after the traffic accident we had in November '98 when we were in the States.  She still has some recurrent pain in her shoulder, neck and back, but she is able to function.  The chiropractor she goes to said she was no trouble to adjust; the problem was for her to stay adjusted!  Her overall muscle tone does not keep her bones where they need to be.  After we returned, she had a teaching position that required her to climb five flights of stairs eight or nine times a day, herding about 40 children, which didn't help.  She's presently working at setting up a new, central library at a Primary School.  This is part of the new government's educational initiative which requires the implementation of Information Technology (IT - read: "computers") in all the schools.  There is also now a requirement that instruction in the Mandarin language be squeezed into an already overfull curriculum.  Since there are by no means enough IT or Mandarin-teaching personnel in all of Hong Kong, the results so far have been confusion and inferior instruction.
     Due to an accreditation snafu, Light's four years of college training is not recognized by the government Education Department when it comes to assigning rank and salary level.  For that reason, Light has also begun University classes (80 hours worth) to get a recognized degree in her field.  She still has another year to go.  She is also studying a general course on computers and network management which could potentially qualify her for a promotion at her job into an IT position.

The Children's Hour

    Aletheia was attending a Methodist K2 school, but school policy changed to zealously implement the government's educational initiative.  The result was that she had several pages of homework to do every day, including learning and writing complicated Chinese characters.  The kids also had very few opportunities to get out on the playground--two 1/2 hour sessions per week and 20 mins singing time per week.  Aletheia was one very unhappy little girl.  As a result, we moved her to an English Foundation School which seems to understand children a bit better!  After a year, she is already reading simple books by herself.  However, the cost is rather high, about $685 per month.  She will be in P2 (Second grade) this school year.
     Christopher has finished K1 and will move on to K2 in September, at a "normal", Baptist-run, Chinese kindergarten.  He finally started talking last October and is doing fairly well.  Like Aletheia, he is learning both English and Cantonese, with some Mandarin.  He still remains fascinated by anything with wheels, and loves to take bus and subway rides.  Aletheia prefers taking a taxi, which doesn't happen very often!

Growth Opportunities

MConcerning the troubles Light and I have been having with the local church officials, there have been some developments, but no improvements.  After we got back we discovered that the main fellow causing many of the problems had preached a sermon the Sunday following our departure from Hong Kong (Sept. 7, '97).  In it he attacked Light without actually naming her.  It was clear to several who heard the sermon who he was speaking about, and he later admitted the fact.  He also made three major statements in the sermon which were either outright lies, or else would justify sending him back to Bible College to relearn the basics of how to interpret the Bible.  In a meeting in March '98, both of us were officially forbidden to teach (anything) at the church, under threat of being barred from (the "ceremony" of) Communion.  We also received a fax from the remaining Founder of the church stating that it was also his belief that baptism, while important, was not absolutely necessary for salvation.  This is despite his having read through about twenty pages of quotations from the Bible and Church History which contradict that position!
     Even though we are not allowed to teach at the church, we still worship there.  Why?   We still have a ministry with several of the members and so, can still be an influence for change in the church.  (A couple of the members have even been taking occasional classes at the Bible College.)  We can still worship God, even in the midst of enemies.  The Spirit has not yet called us to go elsewhere.  And, as Calvin observed, Israel's prophets did not go elsewhere to minister, even when Israel was her most unfaithful.

    Besides taking care of the children, getting them up and dressed, ferrying them to and from school and extracurricular classes, preparing their lunches, etc. I've also been keeping busy with other regular matters.
bible This past year at the Bible College, I've taught classes on the Revelation, Calvinism, Origin of Denominations, Introduction to the Old Testament, Old Testament Issues, and Philosophy and Christianity.  In my course preparation, I read Abelard and Heloise which provided very useful 
information about a little known figure in Church history who, however, was very pivotal in preparing the way for modern methods of studying the Bible.  Among other things, the school he started in Paris later became the University of Paris.  Passing the book on to our Languages teacher, Jim Mollette, resulted in adding Peter Abelard's writing to the Latin curriculum.   I also read Against the Tide by A.I. Kinnear, which is a biography of the Chinese evangelist, known in the West as, Watchman Nee.  Anyone interested in Church history should read both books.  Anyone interested in China missions should especially read the latter one.
:I recently upgraded one of the college computers to Pentium level and installed Chinese Win95 and application software.  Since I don't read technical Chinese AT ALL, this was not easy, but perseverance paid off after several attempts.  For Light's benefit with her course assignments, I've had to repeat the process on our home computer but, with  Chinese Win98 instead.  Both Chinese versions have quirks not found in the English versions!
     I've also been active on the Internet.  Not only continuing to add to our website (see the field address information above), but helping an ex-tennis-pro believer to set up his website.  The content is his, but the fancy parts are mine, including some of the theological content.  I've used this avenue to provide several people with notes and information related to Christianity and to engage a few in email dialogue on doctrinal matters, with varying results.  Of course, email has enabled me to stay in regular contact with more people who have it and use it.  And ICQ enables real-time "chats" with a handful.  It sure saves on the long distance phone bills!
 
church Shortly after we returned from the States, in February '98, we began weekly visits to a house church in a (somewhat) nearby Mainland city.  The church consisted mostly of Mandarin speaking, middle-aged women from other parts of China who had relocated for better pay.  We went to 
assist them with Bible study and discipleship training, at their request.  The women had a wide range of background experiences and many  peculiar notions of spiritual matters, not to mention Bible doctrine.  Mostly, they worshipped at the 3-Self church in the city, where they had been "baptized" by the use of a damp thumb making the sign of a cross on their foreheads.
     During the several months of meeting with them, we endeavored to instruct and correct their many false understandings.  This led, eventually, to the flat-owner and her daughter being immersed into Christ for the removal of their sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).  The other women still could not overcome their belief that the method of "baptism" didn't matter and that they had already been baptized.
     After the baptism, while the "new creatures" were drying off, the other women all gathered around the water and began using it to wash their face and hands.  Suspecting from their expressions that they were not just trying to be frugal, I asked Light to inquire if they thought there was now something special about the water.  They responded that, yes, they thought they could receive a blessing from the water. That, of course, provided still another reason for more teaching.  It also emphasized just how much they lacked knowledge and understanding of the Bible, and how greatly, strange ideas have been spread around in the Chinese Church.
     Alas, after a few more weeks of meeting, the attendence gradually dropped off to only the lady and her daughter.  One possible reason is that the meetings were originally on Friday nights, but had to be moved to Saturday nights due to my Bible College teaching schedule.  Saturday nights are also sort of a family night, requiring the women to cook for their husband and his friends.  Another possibility was due to a misunderstanding.  We decided to not go on Easter weekend due to the extreme difficulty of travel into China at that time.  Even though we announced our decision during the previous week's meeting, some thought that we had decided to stop coming altogether!  It could also be that our teaching was too strong, even though it was only the milk of the doctrine of salvation.  Light thinks that, especially since they had not yet been truly baptized into Christ, and in spite of our teaching, they probably thought of Jesus as just one more "god" to appeal to for help.
     Some weeks later, we heard that a Chinese fellow from up North had arrived to help lead them, and that the meetings were again being held on Friday nights.
     This summer, only one other missionary couple remained in Hong Kong.  That meant that the Filipino church watched over by Bro. Ben Rees needed lots of supply preaching.  Although scheduled for two services on each of 5 Sundays, I ended up preaching 2 additional services, plus conducted a baptism at the beach on a rainy Sunday.  So this summer has been a bit busier than usual.  I preached through 1 Peter.
 I have been using personal time, what little there is, to work with a young English fellow who is cataloguing the moth species of Hong Kong as part of a larger biodiversity project.  This has provided a reason to get out and get some constructive exercise by looking for caterpillars on the hillsides above us near Aletheia's school.  Some of my effort can be observed on our website.  It is also being given recognition in a forthcoming professional journal publication.  Along the way I have learned several fascinating facts that point to a creator/designer rather than to blind chance.

Greenflash Cause for Praise and Prayer Greenflash
Finances
The following is a summary of the present state of our income, expenses and current balances.  If any of our supporters wish a more detailed account covering the past two years, please contact us directly.  It is not our intent to be secretive, but to compile a complete and detailed account since the last newsletter, would take more time than I presently have available if I am ever to get this newsletter published.
 
Beginning Bank Accounts Balances:
      1/1/99
Stateside offerings + interest:
      1/1/99-7/14/99

Stateside Account Balances:
Stateside missions checking (7/14/99)
Stateside missions savings    (5/26/99)

Stateside missions invested   (8/23/99)

Funds withdrawn from Stateside accounts:
For Field expenses    (since 1/1/99)
Insurance (health, life, etc.) 

HK Based Income: (for 8 months of 1999)
Light's salary
Field-based donations
"Tent making" (part-time)
Preaching

Expenses: (from 1/1/99)
Rent & Parental support
Education for Aletheia
Education for Christopher 
Education for Light (Hon. B.Ed.)
Education for Light (Network Mgmt)
Chiropractor and Medicine
Others

 
$ 7,899

$  6,016
$13,915

$ 6,382
   2,916
$ 9,078
  18,336
$27,414

4,600
  2,602
$  7,202

$19,648
1,860
518
     252
$22,278

$ 6,830
4,084
665
5,175
884
1,294
  6,400
$25,332