Prayer in a HongKong Mall

One of my favorite stories from Hong Kong would have to be when we went to a mall. I cannot even remember the city we were in, only that the display was beautiful and extravagant, and that there was a huge screen that showed us on the lovely display doing dramas and skits and speaking to whoever would listen. There was even a nativity scene in the midst of the celebratory trees and palaces they had put up.

We had a small backstage area that serviced us well. Helping put on clown makeup was a hilarious affair, considering three of us had to fit in a space three feet wide and six feet long at best. The floor was littered with around 18 backpacks, purses and jackets from the team,making the working space considerably smaller! My teammates who were doing the clowning were using the window as a mirror until I stepped back with one I had to help out and start putting on one of their makeup.

At the end of the program, we were to go out two-by-two and talk with people. We ran into our translator and she pointed out a lady who was sitting in the area where our dramas had taken place. She had a small boy with her. We walked up to her and asked if we could speak to her. She did not speak English, so our translator stepped in and helped! We found out that her and her son were Christians and though they had not seen our presentation, were going to stay for the second program. I asked her how she had come to know Jesus, and she told us that she had been saved for only two months! Her son goes to a Christian school, and would bring home activities about Jesus. She herself had attended a Christian school for six years when she was young, but had never done anything with what she knew. When her son brought home the information, she was once again reminded of what she had once known, and she started going to church to learn even more. One day, she finally made the decision to accept the forgiveness and relationship being offered her! The three of us prayed for her and the little boy. We continued to talk and found out that her husband was not a Christian, but instead worshipped his ancestors. This is a common practice in Hong Kong, with incense burning twice a day. We again prayed for her husband and asked the Lord to begin to pour His love out on him and to reveal Himself to her husband. After some good conversation, and some pictures taken together, we had to go and get ready for the next program. In the middle of the first dance, I looked up and noticed a man sit down next to her, and we all realized that this was her husband. He stayed the entire time and was able to hear the gospel message at the end of the program! Prayer answered! Though we did not get to speak with them afterwards, we each knew that it was a step in the right direction. It was a very awesome moment for my ministry partner and I, not to mention it was great to encourage a new believer in the faith and pray for her son as well.

More stories to come, but just thought I would share that one with you!

~*~Leave a Legacy that will Make a Difference in the World Around You.~*~

LifeChanges

Hello again everyone! It has been a long time since my last posting, but I have a good reason. I was blessed to spend my holiday in Hong Kong with Youth With A Mission. Not only did I make dozens of new friends and have even more memories, but it was life changing.

While in Hong Kong, the Lord spoke and confirmed my calling to mission work in Asia. The past two years had me going in an entirely different direction, with a ten-year plan for my life that had left me stressed, confused and drained by time I left for the trip at the beginning of December. Within the first few days I knew that my life had gotten off track from where I started when I was 15.

You see, when I was 15 the Lord laid it on my heart and gave me a call to do mission work in China and Asia. Ever since then I had worked, prayed and saved to finally make it overeseas. However, when my parents started going through a volatile seperation and divorce the past two years, I found myself changing my focus from what God had called me to do to something entirely different, and to something that I felt I could control. I would get job that would make a name for myself, get prestige, and maybe do some governmental work in Asia. Surely that was God's plan for my life. However, I had never asked or sought His will in this wish-list for control. I assumed that God would just go along with my plans, like some sort of Genie. As a seasoned Christian, I know better than this, but a shake-up in life can often deter even the most dedicated of Saints, unfortuantly.

So within the first week of the trip to Hong Kong, my life plan, focus and world-view changed drastically. My focus is now back on mission work. Permenantly.

I will be returning to Hong Kong at the end of this year, to complete a five-month training and outreach session which will teach me evangelism, preliminary mandarin and other important things I will need to know and put into practice. The outreach phase is two months long and will reach into several areas in China. After I complete the DTS, I will be able to start with YWAM as staff and become a full time missionary as Christ has called me.

However, in order to return to Hong Kong, I will need your support. Prayers are always welcomed and always treasured. Also,Any donations will be gratefully accepted and immediately put into a fund for the mission trip. Once over there, I will update on my blog to let everyone know what is going on. I thank you ahead of time for your support and prayers, and ask that you pray and ask the Lord for guidance. He will provide, and I will rest in that. So thanks everyone, and I hope you all have a great new year!

If you have any questions or are willing to donate, please contact me @

foreverafterpurity@gmail.com

or

ashleytincher@rocketmail.com

I check my e-mails daily, so a response should be quick. Thank you!

~*~Leave a Legacy that will Make a Difference in the World Around You.~*~