Coming close to the end of the year

23 more school days until summer…

Does that not sound really short? I’m excited, but I will also try to savor these last days of my junior year.  Another year have passed, next school year will be different. Many teachers and administrators are leaving. Thats one thing I will be bummed about, every day seeing these teachers and knowing that in 23 days, I might not see them again.

Saturday night was the HKIS Annual Ball at the Convention Hall in Wanchai. It was a very big and formal event. I got there quite early, being there in case they need any hands to help around the venue. During the cocktails, there was a band playing with Kelly Pokorney as the singer. She has a beautiful voice and sang very well! Many guests started to arrive shortly after.

I was a student volunteer for the evening along with many other students. Our jobs were to sell raffle tickets during their dinner and help to be markers for the live auction. I had a different job so I wasn’t assigned to any tables which actually worked better for me. For most of the evening, I walked around and socialized with the faculty and the parents that attended. There were many who recognized me and immediatly greeted me, but there were a few that took me a while to remember where or when I met them. I enjoyed socializing.

There was a dedication for Mr. Handrich because he will be retiring this year and returning back to America. That reminded me of all the teachers and faculty that will be leaving and that made me upset. On a selfish part, I wish they would stay for just one more year until I graduated but because of varies reasons, I’m glad they’re moving on to a different place and perhaps start a new life or return to their home. Mr. Handrich is one of the faculty that I will miss dearly. Even though I am not very close with him, I still knew that if I wanted to talk he would always be there. Walking into the school in the mornings with him standing there greeting students, being able to stop and chat for a couple minutes – It builds a good relationship between the faculty and the students. He’s contributed a big part to HKIS, one of a kind.

The auctioneer for the night was my friend Jehan. I have not seen him for a month or two now, haven’t talked to him much lately either. We’ve both been busy with our lives, but it was good to see him. Looking forward to catching up with him sometime soon.

After the live auction and the HKD performances, the dance floor was opened and the band started playing.  Faculty, parents, and students danced the night away. It was nice to see everyone enjoying their time. Many of us danced for a long time, Danny M and I decided to go to the Flying Pan to grab some breakfast before heading home. How nice to chat, glad we are able to be closer since Cambodia.

It was a good night!

– J.Lam

Your love is deeper than the cross,
higher than the heavens,
reaches beyon the stars in the sky.
Jesus, Your love has no bound

(Kutless – Jesus Lord of Heaven)

It continues to ring…

Wow! It’s been a night, a great night. School was quite long today, mostly I think is because I had my mind of Matt Redman and Louie Giglio the whole day. And finally.. hours and hours, minutes and minutes passed by – I was walking into ICA ready to rock out!

Matt Redman was amazing. He has an amazing talent, he has a beautiful voice. His band was great, the bass player was quite entertaining. Their heart for God is present through their music. There is no way to explain the feeling being right in front of the stage, in front of three main speakers (going deaf), having my brothers and sisters in Christ all around me jumping in joy singing, shouting and worshipping God. The concert have been over for a few hours now, and the music, the loudness continue to ring in my ear.

For a while, I just closed my eyes despite of all the loudness, singing and shouting around me, and asked God to speak to me. I asked him to take everything out of my mind and speak to me. And I had a couple of images in my head, from FISH and the performances yesterday by the Christian Leadership team from Colorado Springs. He continued to show me images, and slowly said.. Don’t being so distracted and come back to me.
For the past few minutes, I have been debating which part of this song I should put here.. I keep listening to this song over and over again, and the whole song is so amazing. The words are so powerful. So I’ll have to put the whole song here.

Matt Redman – You Never Let go.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Louie Giglio, with no doubt, is a great speaker. I heard him for the first time during DCLA last summer and was over-welmed by it. He once again amazed me. One very clear thing I remember from DCLA from his sermon was “We are a part of a BIGGER story.” Tonight, he gave us one question. “What are we living for?” When he asked us, two boys behind me – they were perhaps in Middle School, or younger – answered to themselves. “To glorify God! To live for Jesus! Yes, we’re the generation!” I was amazed by their faith and trust for God. Some people grow up, and they have no purpose in Life but these boys, along with other youth have a purpose in life. They have realized their purpose and they are chasing that dream.

Afterwards, we all headed to the food court across the street and grabbed some food. I was still high, those who were there would’ve realized, I was jumpinp, skipping, talking loudly, going crazy in the food court with strangers all around us. Being able to be around a group of youth who are in LOVE with Christ, who goes Insane for Christ, who lifts everything up in the name of Jesus is a feeling that you don’t get any other way.

Being able to bring a friend who is struggling at school, with his friends is a prayer come true. Even though he has his friends who were all probably hoping to hang out with him, but he chose to come to this concert, to worship God and to hope that God will give him the strength for all his struggles. We will be here to keep you accountable, and know that we will be praying for you. Being able to bring another friend who have been more involved since the mission trip, so have him say “yeah, it was amazing!” afterwards. Unexplainable feeling.

I could go on and on about the night, the feelings I have felt but that would perhaps bore you. So I will end with a verse that was brought to our attention this evening from Louie.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
– Colossians 3:23

Live for Him, Live for Him – Joanne

Happiness

It’s been busy.

I guess I’ll start with that. School, people, things, or maybe I haven’t been busy but I just feel like I’ve been busy? I’ve been wanting to post so many times, I’ve had ideas almost every day but then I end up not posting and forgetting it. Dang it. Anyways, mostly it’s been good though. I was having a family dinner the other day and my uncle and I started talking. He mentioned how every Saturday and Sunday morning, there is a sermon on TV and how he enjoyed watching them because the Pastor spoke very well. That morning, he was watching again and the Pastor was talking about Happiness.

So my uncle asked me, How do you attain happiness?  My first answer was “Through God.” My uncle then answered “hmm.. but what about on a more practical level? What is the difference between someone that is happy and someone that is not? The pastor talked about five main things.. what do you think they are?” We talked for a while more, and mentioned a couple of points.. he didn’t remember all five.

1) Be content with who you are and what you do.
2) Let your expectations fall once in a while.
3) Have a positive attitude, be optimistic.

I’m sure many of you already knew that, but it’s nice to be reminded of it once in a while. Going back to my first answer, “Attaining happiness from God.” Some of you have heard me talk about this. Sometimes we don’t notice the difference between a Christian and a Non-Christian. They could both be a very kind and nice person.

But I feel that there is a difference, to me, when I meet them. Maybe this doesn’t relate to many people. But I feel a different connection and a different kind of Love from a Christian. Perhaps because we all have a common goal.  Not saying the other connection and love is bad. Just a different feeling. What do you think? I could probably explain more but I’m pretty bad at explaining at the moment. So… Feel free to leave any comments please!

Sundays seem to be my best days nowadays. Church, lunch with the usual bunch, my amazing friends: Mary, Ashley, Minori, Cheryl, CT, Scott. Hang out with them, catch up, talk about our week. I’m so glad I’m able to talk to ya’ll about anything, whether it’s about friends, about family, about school, about God. Thank you 🙂

I had a great Sunday yesterday. Church, Dim sum, heart to heart talk, Google Earth, Xbox, Laughter, Intense Wii tennis, bowling and boxing, Jon, Star ferry, bus ride. Everyone deserve days like this.

Matt Redman is this Friday. and THAT is exciting!

Loving the Lord,
Joanne.

Let’s play Titanic!

This post really has nothing to do with the title but only two other people would get the inside joke from the title of this entry. Oh we will never forget… good times. I think He has now joined our lonerish sad but cool group!

Today was yet another beautiful day. I don’t understand Hong Kong weather, it’s always been this way, one day it can be gorgeous and the next it’s drizzling and raining. I guess that’s the beauty of Hong Kong.

I spent a little more than 6 hours at the Lower Primary and Upper Primary today helping out with the large ball skills clinic (little kids, R1-2nd grade), and coached, spent time and taught basketball to Middle schoolers. Honestly, I didn’t do much but it was a great feeling being able to teach some of the Middle schoolers and to see their enthusiasm.

I was walking from the Lower Primary to the Upper Primary today, and for those who have been there and know what I’m talking about, there is a little bridge built recently that connects the two divisions so the kids don’t have to cross the road. I crossed that bridge, and to my left was the playground. More like, the basketball court, tether ball, and four square playground.

So I was just slowly strolling through with my Ipod on playing some great chill songs. There was a little girl playing basketball. She was dressed like a basketball player, kind of like how I dress when I play basketball for those who know me. With a blue sky and white clouds, a little breeze, it was perfect. I stood there watching this little girl play, I don’t really know how to explain it but it was a strange feeling. It was perfect.

For some reason, it made me think of God and us. I don’t know if this is a good way to put it, but I felt like I was God in a way, and watching down on the little girl playing basketball. In her own little world, no worries for the moment. I had a picture that we were like that to God.  God is in Heaven watching over us. He is watching what we’re doing, smiling and so happy to see what we’re doing and to know that He has greatest some amazing unique people. It was a strange yet amazing feeling that left me smiling for the next few hours. In fact, even now when I am thinking about it.

Every thought of it that?

Have a good Sunday,
Joanne Lam