Happy Christmas From Hong Kong
2016 has been a year of new things for
us!
Firstly Reuben started in grade 5
(year 6 in the UK) at the same school as Samuel. He has already had lots of new
oportunities including learning the tenor sax … seemed like it was nearly as
tall as him though he’s growing so fast that will soon change. He’s also taken
up basketball and is on the U12 team – along with his new best friend Josh.
A new school
for Reuben has a knock on effect for Jo and I too. Until the beginning of this academic
year it’s mainly been me working with the men in our ‘new man house’ (Jo was
still home schooling Reuben). It’s a great relief to the guys that they get to
have Jo’s brillaint input too. This is especially true since we started leading
the house in May. As with most new things it’s been hard work – please keep
praying for us to learn Cantonese better as it’s now more vital than ever to be
able to communicate effectively!
We continue
to have a lot of fun mixed in with the serious business of how we can be a ‘new
creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We call the place where we work ‘new man’ house
for a good reason - as we are trying to show these guys a new way to live, to
have the fresh start which Jesus never stops offering to those who ask.
Other new things included Samuel
becoming a teenager. Here he is with his friends before the Cinema on his 13th
birthday!!! How has that come about so fast? He’s
growing in to a fine young man. It’s not easy being where we are and sharing
dad with the the guys in the house but he copes well and is enjoying life and
school! This year was his first year of drama club … landing the role of King
Richard in their production of Robin Hood.
Reuben also did some acting in a
school assembly – Paul on the road to Damascus. We’re so
proud of them both as they seem to thrive despite the challenges of being
transplanted into a new culture and a totally different environment to the one
we left behind 2 years ago.
We have had a number of visitors here
in Hong Kong (including my mum and cousin) as well as people I knew from 30 years
ago when I was a gap year student here! But it’s been amazing to make some new
special friends too. Some families that have visited have truly become brothers
and sisters for our boys (left), not to mention the ones that seem to be twins
separated at birth! (right).
What hasn’t changed is where we live.
We still have the same wonderful apartment as when we arrived. It’s amazing
that we still fit into a space that is the same size as our kitchen back in the
UK … and that I still manage to lose things. But the surroundings are beautiful
and while this is what God has called us to we are happy to share our lives and
our family with the special people that He calls to be His disciples here.
So we send our
prayers and wish you a peaceful and meaningful
Christmas
and a happy new year.
Much love,
