January 2010

Africa to Asia
An insight into the ministry of LCMS missionary
Megan Birney serving Christ in Hong Kong

Sun nien fai lok! 新年好! Happy New Year!

2009 was a great year, but 2010 has been pretty incredible so far! So incredible in fact that this news-
letter is being written a week into February! :)
The month began with a team from University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point coming to Hong Kong to
minister in LCHKS schools during their interim break. 1/8—1/17: They worked at LSL and Holy Cross
Lutheran School during their stay. We had a great time visiting and working with them. It was a bless-
ing to watch them interact with our students and share the love of Christ through songs, conversa-
tions, and games. 1/15—1/17: One of the many privileges of serving in Hong Kong is that it is the
Asia hub for LCMS World Mission. Some members of the Concordia Welfare & Education Foundation
(CWEF) team and St. Louis LCMS World Mission team came into town and we celebrated with a BBQ
at the LCMS office in Kowloon Tong. It is always a blessing to fellowship and reconnect!
1/15: At Concordia Lutheran School—North Point, the theme for the school year is “Noah’s Ark”. This
theme is especially neat this year since last fall a life-sized replica of the Ark opened in Hong Kong!
The Ark is located on Ma Wan Island, about 45 minutes from me by subway and a ferry. Lynette and I
accompanied the form 2 & form 4 (8th grade & 10 grade) students to visit the Ark. The students had
scavenger hunt sheets to fill out and we toured alongside and helped answer questions. While the Ark
is fairly massive, the inside includes three separate museum areas, a hotel, multiple restaurants, and
a gift shop (not including all the animals two-by-two outside!), it is dwarfed by the towering buildings
here in Hong Kong and yet in Noah’s time it was the biggest thing anyone had every seen. I walked
away in awe of Noah’s trust in God. The picture on the back side is from our trip to Noah’s Ark.
1/16: We helped out at Kindergarten Orientation Day at Sharon Lutheran School in Tai Kok “You alone are
Tsui. The theme of the day was “Wonderful Nature” and so Andrea and I ran a booth to help
them learn the English names for animals and equate them with the sounds they make. Lynette the LORD. You made
held a workshop to teach an animal song. It was a really fun day that was rounded out by a the heavens, even the
parade around the school. Photos below of the ‘animals’ are from the parade along with the Chi-
nese dance performance at this event. highest heavens, and
1/22: Each of us accompanied a different class from LCK Primary on their annual field trip. I all their starry host,
went to the Hong Kong History Museum with the 6th grade class. It was a great time to learn
more about Hong Kong and also get to know the 6th graders we don’t always interact with be-
the earth and all
cause they are often overwhelmed with their studies. that is on it, the seas
1/25—1/29: English Week at CLSNP was awesome! The English department did a great job of
planning out games and activities to help students practice their English including a treasure
and all that is in them.
hunt, conversation competition, and a lucky draw. You give life to every-
This past week has also been busy but now we are on holiday for Lunar New Year Celebration! thing, and the multi-
Andrea is in India with missionaries from Taiwan and Lynette is in Beijing with her parents who
are visiting from Nebraska! I elected to stay in HK and try to be productive. Thank you for your tudes of heaven wor-
continued prayers and encouragement. ship you.”
Blessings on your new year and the Lunar New Year!
Nehemiah 9:6
 January 2010
LCMS World Mission
800-433-3954
www.lcmsworldmission.com
mission.info@lcms.org
Learn more about the work of
LCMS World Mission in Asia:
www.lcmsworldmission.org/asia
Contact Info
megan.birney@lcms.org
Postal mail can be sent to:
Miss Megan Birney
Concordia English Center (Tuen Mun)
Lutheran T.S. Siu Leun School
P.S. No. 5 Butterfly Estate, Tuen Mun, N.T.
Hong Kong
Check out my blog:
acrossanoceansizedlove.blogspot.com
Visit my project page:
www.lcms.org?13343
Download my prayer card:
www.lcmsworldmission.org/prayercards
Access my photo albums:
picasaweb.google.com/megaroonski
If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please e-mail me at megan.birney@lcms.org!
Prayer Requests
“For this reason, I kneel before the Father…” Eph. 3:14
• That the Holy Spirit would continue to open hearts for our EFL ministry in HK; for
opportunities to speak the Gospel in a meaningful way to our students.
• Safety as many of our friends, students, and co-workers travel to see their families over the
Lunar New Year holiday.
• For the new semester.
• Pray for the students who heard the real story of Christmas through our outreach events in
the month of December.
• Continued praise for the relationships being developed with our Form 6 students at CLSNP!
• For the Lutheran Church - Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS); that the Lord would continue blessing
the efforts of the LCHKS in growing God’s kingdom.
• The students & professors at the CLET in Dapaong, Togo; that God would steady their
hearts to pursue their calls to leadership training in serving the Lutheran Church bodies of
West Africa.
• My CUNE Family Life Ministry graduate program.
• For the future.
• For individuals considering serving next year; courage and strength to heed the Lord’s call
and say "Here am I. Send me!"
• My fellow LCMS missionaries serving internationally, for the opportunity & strength to live
out Christ’s love through service around the world.
• For the hearts of those needing to know the grace of our great God
“I have set my rainbow in
Genesis 9:13a
the clouds…”