November is a time that helps you hone in on what you are thankful for and how youshow thanks. It is strange that I have now spent two Thanksgivings in a row in two ex-tremely different cultures. In Africa, I was reminded of the little things to be thankful foreveryday; clean water, three meals , and mosquito netting. Here in Hong Kong I findmyself thankful for the people around me. I am so thankful for my students, parents,and co-workers. This month has been very focused on relationships. The class I am cur-rently taking through my Family Life Ministry program focuses in on relationships withinthe family system. In my Bible study we are reading “They like Jesus but not theChurch” which focuses on how we relate to other people especially non-Christians. Whileall other things that this world has to offer are trivial, the relationships we make and theability to share the saving grace of Jesus is eternal.This month has been a blessing in building new relationships in new ministry opportuni-ties! I recently began working more closely with Lui Cheung Kwong College. Once amonth I help contribute to the Form 1 student fellowship assembly. Also, on Friday after-noons we supplement English into two class lessons. Lessons are mostly English and Re-ligion however in December I will be co-teaching a Home Economics cooking class forForm 3 (9th grade) students. Ginger Snaps! This month I also began teaching two Eng-lish tutoring classes on Saturdays at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Tsuen Wan. TsuenWan is another large area in New Territories about 30 minutes from Tuen Mun. All to-gether, I am now teaching two intermediate beginner English tutoring classes and oneintermediate English tutoring class. The majority of my students are excited to learnmore English which makes my job a lot of fun!On November 13th, Ma Chan Duen Hey College (MCDH) in Po Lam held an American Fun-Fair for primary school students. Together with a short-term team from Oklahoma,church members from Church of all Nations, and other Hong Kong LCMS missionaries wehad a fairly large representation of Americans! The students and teachers did a great jobdecorating booths and creating games to fit different states and regions. I manned theFlorida booth the majority of the day helping students to make their own orange juice.Over 600 oranges later, almost all of the attendants had experienced a delicious taste of Florida! MCDH is the headquarters of the International Interface program which helpsbring many short-term teams to Hong Kong. In December, we will be given the opportu-nity to judge students and perform during Music Day at MCDH.On October 31st we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Lutheran Church — HongKong Synod (LCHKS). The LCHKS shares the Gospel in many different ways throughmany different outlets throughout Hong Kong. Along with 37 congregations and 20,000students in LCHKS schools, the LCHKS also runs many social outreach and programs forthe elderly. It was great to be in Hong Kong to celebrate such an incredible event!The Lord has greatly blessed this month. Along with teaching new classes, I also wasinvited to attend the wedding of Irene, one of the teachers that I co-teach with at Lu-theran T.S. Siu Leun School. It was beautiful and a privilege to be a part of her specialday. We were blessed to have an LCMS World Mission Thanksgiving dinner here in HongKong. It was great to fellowship with teammates and friends from around Southeast Asia.Blessings to you this holiday season!

With a grateful heart...

“Sing praises to theLORD, O you hissaints, and givethanks to his holyname. For his angeris but for a moment,and his favor is for alifetime. Weepingmay tarry for thenight, but

joy comeswith the morning.”Psalm 30 : 4,5

Africa to Asia

An insight into the ministry of LCMS missionaryMegan Birney serving Christ in Hong Kong