Family bash in Hong Kong - one guy with blue eyes (and white hair)

Yesterday - we had one of our annual Chinese new year bashes. This one in my home.

This is my family here in Hong Kong - or at least part of them. From left to right starting with back row. Nai Woh brother in law, Po Chu wife, Kristin daughter, Ming brother in law.

Middel row: Ah Kyen brother in law, Ling sister in Law and Kyuns wife, Nai Yan brother in law with girlfriend Rosanna,

Front row: Ah Lan sister in law and Nai Wohs wife, Lings niese from the Filipines (sorry forgot your name) mother in law (Not supposed to use her name so I call her mother ) her real name is actually Chan Chun Hing, Cheuk Leun or Allan nephew of me and Po Chu and finally me, Jack, aka Cheung Nga Gok aka Ole Jacob Grønvold.

As you may notice I am the only blue eyed guy among us - which incidently reminds me about the old lady in Yongshun aria in Hunan on our last visit there in November, who asked me if blue eyes made me see more easy at night in the dark - sort of like a cat.
was sorry to disapoint her - but of course I found it interesting that she asked!

My readers can take out this as a sign that The Norwegian Missionary Society is trying to reach out to the outposts with development of the vaste Middel Kingdom of China - in places where blue eyes is a novelty.

Mannen på bildet er Rev. Chen - leder av Hunan Kristne råd og også leder av Hunan Bibel Institutt (HBI) også kjent som "Bibelskolen i Hunan" Her avbildet mens han holder andakten på Det Lutherske Teologiske Seminaret (LTS) i Hong Kong - som mange misjoner deriblant det Det Norske Misjonsselskap er med å støtter.

Fra 19 januar var lærere fra HBI på det LTS og arbeidet med læreplanene for sitt treårige studier. Rekter og lærere på LTS fungerte sammen med Misjonshøgskolen i Stavanger (MHS) som konsulenter for arbeidet som varte fram til den 22/1 2009. Dr. Thor Strandnæs var MHS sin utsending.

Studieplanene er tenkt å være mal for alle de 12 seminarene innen for Kines Kristine Kirke (Den offisielle kirken) som har tre årig utdannelse. HBI fikk utfordringen og æren av å utføre dette oppdraget og legge grunnlaget for teologisk utdannelse i Kina i mange år framover.


Dere kan være med å be for det vidre arbeidet med studieopplegget for teologiske seminarer i Kina.

Julenissen døpt på juleaften i Amazing Grace Lutheran Church Hong Kong

En strålende nyhet ikke sant? Julenissen døpt på julaften i vår menighet - Amazing Grace Lutherske kirke her i Hong Kong.
Hermed kan vi trykt invitere julenissen inn i våre kirkelig sammenhenger - der han jo i for seg har vært ganske lenge.

Fra spøk til alvor. Julenissen her avbildet mens jeg døper ham - heter egentlig Yat Him Lau og er sønnen til Connie og Ah On som begge også er med i bildet. Et søt og god gutt som veide over fire kilo da han ble født. Så stammer han jo også fra litt runde og i god stand foreldre. (Slike utsangt er mye mindre tabu her i byen enn de ville vært det i norge. Jeg har en god venn hvis kones kjelenavn på ham er rett og slett "tjukken"

Interesting Translation work in China

The Norwegian Missionary Society used to send English teachers to China.
Traveling in China recently I took a photo of this sign - hung in a country park.
It seems our work of teaching Chinese to speak English is not yet completely finished.
To bad we had to close down that program - there is still an obvious need.

Hei venner Hello friends

I found this list in a mail from.

UpWords_with_Max_Lucado@crosswalkmail.com

it was good. Maybe usefull for you too.

A partiall translation into Norwegian can be found underneath.

-- Love God more than you fear hell.
-- Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
-- Make major decisions in a cemetery.
-- When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
-- Succeed at home first.
-- Don't spend tomorrow's money today.
-- Pray twice as much as you fret.
-- Listen twice as much as you speak.
-- Only harbor a grudge when God does.

-- Never outgrow your love of sunsets.
-- Treat people like angels; you will meet some and help make some.
-- 'Tis wiser to err on the side of generosity than on the side of scrutiny.
-- God has forgiven you; you'd be wise to do the same.
-- When you can't trace God's hand, trust his heart.
-- Toot your own horn and the notes will be flat.
-- Don't feel guilty for God's goodness.
-- The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
-- Never let the important be the victim of the trivial.
-- Live your liturgy.

To sum it all up:
Approach life like a voyage on a schooner. Enjoy the view. Explore the vessel. Make friends with the captain. Fish a little. And then get off when you get home.

Norsk etter min oversettelse - i all ydmykhet.

-- Elsk Gud mer enn du frykter helvete.
-- La et barn ta deg på en spasertur en gang i uka.
-- Ta de store avgjørelsene på en kirkegård.
-- Når ingen ser deg, lev som om noen gjør det.
-- Vær vellykket hjemme først.
-- Ikke bruk morgendagens penger i dag.
-- Be dobbelt så mye som du klager.
-- Lytt dobbelt så mye som du snakker.
-- Only harbor a grudge when God does.

-- Ikke slutt å være glad i solnedganger.

-- Behandl folk som engler - du vil møte noen og være med på å skape andre.
-- Det er bedre å være for generøs enn å være for gjerrig.
-- Gud har forgitt deg, du bør være klok nok til å gjøre det samme.
-- Når du ikke ser Guds vilje - stol på hans hjerte.
-- Fokuserer du hele tiden på egne meninger vil du ikke høres god ut.
-- Ikke føl deg skyldig for Guds godhet.
-- Livet blir levd stykkevis - så vit hvor du er.
-- Ikke la det viktige bli ødelagt av det trivielle.

Letter of Appreciation to Norwegian Missionary Society (NMS)

I got a very nice letter in a frame the other day - well actually it was The Norwegian Missionary Society who got it (NMS)

Here is a picture of the letter.

The following is the content of the letter:

This year the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong celebrates our 95th anniversary. Besides giving thanks to God, we would also like to express our gratitude to our partners in mission!

When we started in 1913, this seminary was built only to train Chinese Lutherans. Nowadays, we not only have Lutherans, but also have students from more than 70 different denominations and independent churches. We are not only training Chinese but, as a regional seminary, also have students from 19 different countries

We are one of the most international and ecumenical seminaries in Asia. In 1913 we had only 5 professors that were all male missionaries. Nowadays, we have 27 full-time faculty members, of whom only 1/3 are missionaries, the rest are local scholars. There are female as well as male professors. In 1913 we had 16 students, all of whom were male and wanted to be clergy. Today we have 700 students. Half of them are females and half of the students are not seeking to be ordained, but to witness to the Gospel in all different professions. We have become one of the largest seminaries in Asia. This is a great improvement but we could not have reached this level without you. For this we have deep appreciation!

You helped us not only in quantity but also in quality! Through your cooperation, you help us to understand things from different perspectives and make us become famous for providing innovative ideas to Hong Kong and Asian Churches. We are the first seminary to teach Biblical criticism, Ecumenical Theology, Feminist Theology, Ecological Theology, Religious Dialogue, etc.
We cannot inspire Asia about these insights without your accompaniment. For this, we have deep appreciation!

You help us in enormous ways - you pray for us, support us financially, send us excellent missionaries who provide us with various wonderful talents. You are courageously stand by us facing all the challenges.

You are a vital part of our community and we feel privileged about it!

THE LTS COMMUNITY, year 2008


Of course it warmed my heart to be able to receive this letter. I felt privileged too and so does my wife - Po Chu Groenvold who is one of the teachers at LTS.

So let it be known - what NMS was part of starting in China back in 1913 - only 11 years into our presence there has with the help of many partners: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, The Finish Evangelical Lutheran Mission and others have grown to something big and wonderful here in China - serving God to the best of their abilities.

I am going to hang the frame on my office wall here in Hong Kong.

Christmas letter from Rev. Jane Yau Changsha, Hunan

Translation into Norwegian underneath:

Dear friends:

Christmas day is coming, in the joy to the world today, my best wishes to everybody here: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The changeless sunshine travels year after year between north and south tropics, like god’s love which never achanges, as warm as intercession and communication of brothers and sisters. In the past year, I gave thanks for the happiness of serving; I put forward prayer for bitter moment; I was touched for experiencing your love; I am carrying eternal “hope” with God’s almighty.

This October, Rev, Parviainen, a 97 year-old Finlander, came alone to China, visited the church where he used to stay and nurture. His coming was reminiscent of Huqin, Eggen, Braadland, Paunnonen, Krannila, LiXimian, SiBotao, Wurster, Larsson, Grohs, Williams,etc. Many predecessors and new generation church men’s owes to Jesus, with warm feeling to China along with supports to China’s development since China’s Reform and Opening-up 30 years ago, all of that will inspire me to continue to devote myself.

I am still in charged of Hunan Church “Three self” President and Bible Principal. I’ve been experiencing the rebuilding of Hunan Bible School, growing with it. Now I have committed and entrusted to Executive Principal with daily works. I have shifted my focus to societal service projects of the church, such as “The training for the competency of church societal service”, employing more church workers to get involved, utilizing other methods to spread out Gospel. This year, there are another nine students enrolling in normal elementary schools from our deaf school, ultimately 100 deaf students receiving training each year.

This year, we prey for two things: firstly, prey for the 100mu land from province government to rebuild Hunan Bible School. Secondly, help southern-Changsha Church build a new church.

There is a long-lasting historical tie between Hunan Bible School and southern-Changsha Church, of which the former’s first monitor was the latter’s chief

priest, Rev,Frank Keller. On the outset when the school was restoring its strength, southern-Changsha Church was used to be an exercitation spot of our school student, and it is a relatively organized and experienced church, with 3700 members and 330 volunteers in merely 640 square meters. Although there are five lessons in a day, many people could only standing on corridor or sitting on the stairs. Building a larger church is always our dream. Thanks to God, southern-Changsha Church has received a first oversea funding from FELM. Brothers and sisters, with sufficient confidence, we can hear from the God: See, I will do a new thing.

The year will pass soon, while New Year is awaited: new thankfulness vs new appreciation, new tolerance vs new hardship, and new comer vs new Nazarene. Psalms 19:5­­-6 tells us: “ In the heavens’ he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. It’s rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.” Either hopes or challenges we can see tender eyes and warm hands of the God. He will accompany us for the days ahead. .

Wish God’s love being with you, no matter where you are.

Jane Yao

Church of Hunan province, China


Norsk oversettelse v. Ole Jacob Grønvold.

Kjære venner.

Julen er snart her - med det gode budkap til hele jorden. Jeg sender min beste ønsker til alle. God jul og godt nytt år.

Det uforananderlige solskinn reiser mellom nord og sør vendekretsen år etter år og som Guds kjærlighet forandrer det seg aldri. Guds kjærlighet er som varm deltagelse og og deling mellom brødre og søstre.

Jeg takker for å ha fått tjent nok et år og legger de vonde tingene fram i bønn. Jeg har blitt berørt av kjærlighet fra mange og bærer fremdeles håpet om evighet med Gud den almektige med meg.

I oktober i år kom pastor Parviainen, en 97 år gammel Finne alene til Kina. for å besøk den kirken og arbeidet i. Besøket minnet meg om andre besøk fra personer som Huqin, Eggen, Braadland, Paunnonen, Krannila, LiXimian, SiBotao, Wurster, Larsson, Grohs, Williams og så videre.

Det er mange forløper og nye genarasjoner med mennesker som har gitt seg selv til Jesus, har varme følelser for Kina og som også ønsker å støtte Kinas utvikling som begynte for omtrent 30 år siden.

Alle disse inspirerer meg til å forsette å gi meg selv til mitt arbeide.

Jeg er er fremdeles formann i Hunan “Three self” og Principal på bibel skolen. Jeg har opplevd å få være med på gjennopbyggingen av Hunan Bibel skole og veksten som har pågått.

Nå har jeg tatt over den utøvende ledelse med det dagelige ansvar. Jeg har forandret mitt fokus og arbeider nå hovedsakelig med sosialt hjelpeprosjekter - som for eksempel “Trening i Kirkelig sosialt arbeide" (Diakoni min kommentar. ). Vi håper på å bruke kirkelige medarbeidere og få de innvolvert i dette og samtidig bruke andre metoder til å spre evangeliet

Dette året har ni elever startet i normal barneskole etter å ha gjennomgått opplegget på vårt senter for døve (I Xinde i Changsha)

I år ber vi for to store prosjekter:

100 mu med land fra provins regjeringen for å gjennoppbygge Hunan Bible School. For det andre å hjelpe Changsha Nantang menighet til å bygge et nytt kirkelokale.

Det er lange historiske bånd mellom Hunan Bible School (Hunan Bible Institute) og Changsha Nantang menighetand. Den første leder var av menigheten var også leder av HBI pastor Frank Keller.

I begynnelsen da skolen fikk tilbake sin styrke ble Changsha NanTang menighet brukt som praksissted for våre studenter og er en ganske godt organisert menighetet med 3700 medlemme 330 frivillige dog bare i en små lokaler som utgjør 640 kvadratmeter.

Selv om menigheten har fem gudstjenester hver dag er det mange som må stå i korridorene eller sitte i trappene opp til kirkelokalet.

At vi nå planlegger å bygge en større kirke er svaret på vår visjon.

Takket til Gud for at Changsha Nantang ahr mottatt økonomisk støtte fra FELM brødre og søstre. (Det finske evangeliske Lutherske Misjonsselskap) Vi har nå tillit at vi har hørt Guds stemme si til oss: "Se jeg vil gjøre en ny ting."

Året er snart over - det ny kommer - med ny takk og takknemlighet, nye ting å tolerere og nye vansker og problemer.

Salme 19:5­­-6 sier til oss.

Men budskapet går over hele jorden, vitnesbyrdet når til verdens ende. Der har han reist et telt for solen.

6 Den går som en brudgom ut av sitt kammer, glad som en helt tar den fatt på sitt løp.

Om vi møter håp eller utfordringer kan vi oppleve de milde og varme hendene til Gud. Han vil være med oss i dagene framover.

Måtte Guds kjærlighet være med deg samme hvor du er.

Jane Yao

Kirken i Hunan Provins - Kina.