Greetings from Hong Kong from the Ling Family! As cliché as it sounds, we really CAN’T believe we’ve been in Hong Kong 18 months. We jokingly call it Asia’s answer to New York City.

Since our last newsletter focusing on the first six months of our time here we have really seen a knitting of our hearts and hands to the ministry and people at our new church-Evangelical Community Church, Kowloon. We have been so blessed to meet amazing people from all over the world that love Jesus, are hungry to serve Him, and seek to save the lost.

Overall our family is doing well but we continually feel the stretching of walking out a calling we could never do in our own strength. We opted to remain in Sham Shui Po for at least another year, feeling God was not finished with us here yet. Many of the relationships we have built are just gaining steam. Heather is still homeschooling and trying to maintain a balance for the kids who miss having grass to run around nearby and friends in the “neighborhood”. We fend off loneliness at times but God is faithful to carry us through to new mercies every day. The financial burden of living here is also something always before us, especially Paul, and we are thankful for the creative ways The Lord continues to provide.

One of the main themes the Lord has been impressing upon us is his divine sovereignty. The Lord truly is amazing and has been so faithful to literally bring the ministry opportunities to us time and time again. In the past year, the Lord has allowed Paul the opportunity to direct more and more efforts for the body in serving the needs of the local poor, the homeless, and the downtrodden. This is directly in line with what The Lord showed Paul before coming so it is wonderful to see Him orchestrate relationships and open doors where we could never have known where to begin if trying to do it ourselves. Here is a synopsis of some of those events we participated in:

We wrapped up December 2013 with doing a beautiful Caroling Outreach in several key spots in Hong Kong. With Christ centered songs, a live Nativity depiction (baby Cyrus debuted as baby Jesus), and opportunity to minister mercy gifts and gospel tracts to the needy, we had great feedback from crowds eager to engage in conversation about Jesus, salvation, His love for them, and prayer. Paul and Heather were the actors depicting Joseph and Mary and Hannah led her first solo singing opportunity during the outreach. Ellie played an angel and Nathanael eagerly handed out mercy gifts to the homeless and needy. Click here to watch the Christmas caroling/flash mob video

In spring, we also took part in a special Easter outreach in Kowloon Park. It was a drama set to an Indonesian song outlining the life, miracles, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, Paul played a key part, this time being Jesus. Kowloon park is highly concentrated by Indonesian Muslim helpers on Sunday afternoons as this is their only day of rest. So the outreach was held at several key spots within Kowloon Park the Sunday before Easter. In addition to the drama we were able to share more mercy gifts which consisted of flowers and snacks with the ladies. The Indonesian ladies are often used to being looked down upon whether it be because of their low socioeconomic status or because of the devaluing of women in their religion, so to offer them the small token of our Christ like love for them really touched their hearts. Besides this as the Lord led, we handed out tracts in their native language and invite some of them to a partnering church with an Indonesian pastor. Click here to watch the Easter outreach video

For more than a year Heather, and sometimes Hannah have been going with a group of ladies to Kowloon Park on the first Sunday of the month to share the Love of God with the Indonesians and Filipinos who congregate there. It has been an amazing time of stepping out in faith to share the love of God with total strangers, and it has been very strengthening to see how the faithful Jesus is to lead us by His Spirit to open hearts. Each time we go we pray and ask Jesus to lead us to who we should talk to. He has given us many opportunities to pray with the downcast, share his love with people who don’t know Him yet or know Him but need encouragement. We have also prayed with the sick for their healing and shared our food with the hungry.

Heather and Hannah are also getting involved with an organization in Hong Kong called Sons and Daughters which seeks to reach those trapped in human trafficking by going out to the districts where it is most heavily saturated. Hong Kong is a destination point and a transit city by which many are trafficked. At this time, unfortunately, Hong Kong does not even abide by the minimum recommended requirements set by the United Nations by which this industry can be stifled. In addition to this fact, prostitution is legal. Many women and even some men are lured here from other countries with the bait of a legitimate good job. Once they enter the country and meet with their intended employer, the employer seeks to obtain their passports and all legal documents in order to register them with the government. In truth however, they steal these documents, force them into their new life of slavery, and without any legal documentation render them defenseless when trying to report the situation to the Hong Kong government. Without their legal documents they lose all rights in the government’s eyes and have no advocate with them. Although there are those working from the legal side to eventually right this wrong, there is still a need to be met from a personal side. By visiting those districts bi-weekly there has already been success in reaching a precious few with the saving knowledge of Christ and expansion into areas is planned as The Lord brings the workers. Heather and Hannah have a burden for those trapped in the bondage of sex slavery. This growing epidemic is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world and although it is daunting when looking at the statistics, there is hope in Jesus Christ. We feel compelled to not look at the situation as a whole as much as the individuals that make it up, trusting and praying for God to lead us to the ones whom we can reach.

Most recently Paul was blessed with the opportunity to organize and lead ECC’s first “Love Banquet”. It was birthed out of a desire to fulfill the call in Luke 14:12-14 which reads
“Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

The Love Banquet was an amazing time where the body of Christ came together in unity to prepare, serve and love on the hurting community. The evening consisted of about 40 guests being treated to a gourmet catered dinner in our church’s ministry center. While the guests enjoyed a delicious meal, they were also treated to live entertainment in a dinner show style drama depicting the story of the Prodigal’s Son from the Bible, live singing and more. All of the entertainment pointed to Jesus Christ and His great love towards them. Together a group of about 60 church members came together to serve with their gifts and talents to experience the unity created by obeying Jesus’ command to us to love one another so that the world may know Him- “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35  Click here to watch the Love Banquet Video

One of the biggest surprises since living here has been seeing the huge contrast between the rich and poor classes. Although realizing that the government is very behind in meeting the needs of their vast poverty issues brings frustration, we also realize the equally huge potential for the church to meet those needs in the name of Jesus Christ. Having now had a chance to know more about the local Hong Kong needs and the ministries at work, Paul has seen that there were a lot going on in the name of the Lord but not as much unified effort. Collaboration and communication between local churches is a primary way to make a greater impact as a whole. So another thing God has been brewing is His desire for the churches to work more together as one cohesive body instead of a lot of little segmented fellowships. God has placed a burden on Paul’s heart and a vision to build an outreach management system that can help churches and non government organizations (NGO) unify and maximize their efforts in local outreach. It was just recently that God placed Paul in the right place at the right time to be part of a strategic initiatives to call churches to unify their efforts for the Glory of God and to really systematically make a measurable impact on the poor community in Hong Kong. The cry of the heart of these church leaders and NGOs is there but they are without a system in which to accomplish the task of organizing such a grand effort. Here is where God has orchestrated the divine meetings and spurred Paul on to be one of the leaders to help spearhead that effort.

Of course these are just highlights of the past several months. Each day is an adventure as we continue to adjust, aim to stay in step with the Spirit, and pursue walking in the good works He has prepared for us to do. At this junction of our time here in Hong Kong, the time has come where Paul’s schedule has really turned almost into full time ministry. Although he still seeks to “tent make” for the family, many days here are so consumed with ministry that he struggles to work into the wee hours of the night to provide for the family finances. We are so grateful to have you all as our brothers and sisters in Christ praying for us. If you do feel led to make a monthly commitment or one time donation of any amount we welcome it. Please visit our donate page for details on ways to support us.

We are so humbled by your support for us both prayerfully and financially and are grateful to partner with you in Christ’s heart for Hong Kong and Asia. Please continue to pray for us to be continually filled with His grace to serve, His protection, guidance and safely for our family, and His love for the lost.

Love in Christ,

The Ling Family