365.

One year. 

So much has happened.  

Blogging consistently is not my forte.  Posting pics on Social Media?  Well, that’s pretty easy, even our boys are doing it!!  

It’s hard to imagine that we have now been in Hong Kong for one year.  A year ago, we were on the way to the airport with our dear friends.  I can still remember it like it was yesterday.  Watching Malachi run back into our house, one last time, it was so difficult.  Saying good bye to my mom and brother – it was like having your heart taken out, yet we still came.  

Now that we’ve been here a year, it’s time to reflect on the lesson’s learned.  

We are thankful for God’s provision, His hand of protection and how He continues to sustain us and provide for our family.  Trust me, there have been many days where we’ve wanted to come home.  Days where we questioned God – why did you bring us to Hong Kong?  This has actually been a conversation that we have had more recently than not.  

This blog unfortunately is not all hype and excitement nor celebratory.  Just a heads up.

Our Facebook and Instagram pages may paint a different story – Food, travel, Food, adventures, however, the struggle is real.  We struggle with not having a vehicle.  We struggle with how the culture of Hong Kong is so different than home.  We struggle with the people.  We struggle with not living in our own home back in Brooklin.  BUT … we knew this coming here.  However, we still struggle. In short, it’s been a challenging year. 

On the other hand, we have been blessed and thankful for the opportunities to travel, to explore, go on adventures.  This past year alone, our family visited Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia, Osaka, Kyoto, and Macau.  We’re already planning trips to Thailand and Taiwan.  We would never have had these opportunities if we were still living in Canada.  There are definitely trade offs.  

So what have we learned?  What has God taught us?  

Today also marked our 13th wedding anniversary.  Gloria and I celebrated by going out for lunch at Festival Walk.  Thankful for good friends who looked after our boys.  

During lunch, Gloria asked me how I’m enjoying Hong Kong.  On the surface, it’s okay la.  Experiencing the culture, the food, the sights and YET, there’s still a sense of wanting to belong, a longing to have community.  The friends that we have here, are great and there are those whom I believe will be life long friends.  

I shared that I do love the fact that we can travel and share this time with one another, with our boys.  These are memories that we will have.  

So what is God or what has God taught me?  

1. I need Him.  We need Him.  We can’t do this on our own strength.  We need to rely on God daily.  He’s also the same God that lead us to Hong Kong.  God didn’t bring us here all the way from Brooklin, Ontario, just to leave us.  
2. Everything is not always going to be perfect.  Need to recognize this.  We are living in Hong Kong.  Will share more at an appropriate time.  
3. Humble dependence.  This really goes back to the first point.  

God continues to reveal so much about my heart. Areas in which I need to surrender more and more.  He must increase, I must decrease.

And so, the million dollar question for us at times is: When do we go home?  Or as Timothy would say, “Daddy, when are we going back to Canada forever?” My response to our son, pray.  Pray and ask God for His leading.  In the meantime, we are here.  

Pray that we would continue to be faithful.  Pray that we would seek out opportunities to continue to serve our Lord.  Pray that I would lead and shepherd my family better.  

Till next time. 

Dan