October 2010

Africa to Asia
An insight into the ministry of LCMS missionary
Megan Birney serving Christ in Hong Kong

Empowered by the Holy Spirit…

...we can change the world!
Greetings from Hong Kong. I hope this letter finds you in good health and great joy. This month has
been a whirlwind of excitement all the way through! I am still learning the in’s and out’s of my new job
but am constantly affirmed that this is the work the Lord has been leading me to all along.
At the end of September, as a kick-off for our youth ministry, we organized a boat trip for middle school
and high school students to one of the outlying islands. We swam, ate great seafood, and played bas-
ketball. It was an awesome time! I’m more and more encouraged by this group of students who every
time we talk about fellowship activities or future events, end the conversation in a new idea for a service
opportunity. I am blessed to work with this fantastic, enthusiastic group and excited to be helping them
organize a food drive for the month of November.
October also brought about some great opportunities for outreach. As a congregation, we offered a
childcare program during a pumpkin festival sponsored by Hong Kong International School. We had 15
children spend the morning learning about “Shining for Jesus”. We sang “This Little Light of Mine”,
carved a pumpkin, and talked about how we are like a pumpkin when we believe in Jesus. He takes out
all the yucky stuff and makes us a new creation in Him! The organizers asked us to put on a similar
program for a fair during the spring. It’s incredible to watch God open doors within our community!
This past week I spent six days with a team from Church of All Nations in Northern Thailand on a ser-
vice trip with Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation—Thailand (CWEFT). We raised funds to
work in and support the Burma Refugee Education Program at the Mae La Refugee Camp in the Tak
Province. Since 1984, refugees from Burma (Myanmar) have been fleeing to Thailand to escape fight-
ing, forced labor, and poverty. Over 139,000 Burmese people live in refugee camps along the border.
39,000 of those refugees live in the Mae La Camp. We taught bible stories through drama, health train-
ing through demonstrations, and just had fun blowing bubbles and playing soccer. We left the camp “With might of ours
exhausted but excited to return the next day. Unfortunately, with elections across the border only a can naught be done,
week away and tensions high, some fighting broke out and we were not allowed to return to the camp.
However, God is always in control! We spent the remainder of our days working in local government soon were our loss
schools, one of which had never had a visit from foreigners! The nearby Hmong Lutheran churches effected;
were encouraged by our visit and it was a blessing to meet so many amazing people and see the great But for us fights the
ways God is using the Thai Lutheran Church and CWEFT to love and care for His people. Valiant One, whom
Though I am quite busy, I am encouraged to be doing the Lord’s work in Hong Kong at Church of All
Nations. Thank you for your continued words of encouragement, prayers, and support! God Himself elected.
Ask ye, who is this?
Be blessed! Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabbath Lord, and
there’s none other
God;
He holds the field
forever.”
-A Mighty Fortress Is Our
God

Tax-deductible gifts can be sent to…

LCMS World Mission
Missionary Support
PO Box 790089
St. Louis, MO 63179-0089

Make checks payable to ‘LCMS World Mission’

Top right & top left: Pumpkin Festival Pro-
jects. Above: A newly ordained Hmong Please write ‘Support of Megan Birney’ in the memo line.
Lutheran Pastor and his daughter watching Online gifts: http://www.lcms.org?13343
our presentation.
 October 2010
LCMS World Mission
800-433-3954
www.lcmsworldmission.com
mission.info@lcms.org
Learn more about the work of
LCMS World Mission in Asia:
www.lcmsworldmission.org/asia
Prayer Requests
“For this reason, I kneel before the Father…” Eph. 3:14
• CAN middle school & high school youth as they organize a food drive for abused domestic
helpers in HK.
• Our Children’s Ministry as we prepare and start practicing for our Christmas Cantata this week.
• For the community of Church of All Nations and Hong Kong International School
• Praise for the week of service in Northern Thailand with CWEFT and the relationships that
were formed.
• For the Thai Lutheran churches and those training to become pastors and lay leaders.
• For the Lutheran Church - Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS); that the Lord would continue blessing
the efforts of the LCHKS in growing God’s kingdom.
• The missionaries that are serving the LCHKS this year; Ryan, Andrea, Judy & Ashley.
• Theological Education in Africa; The CLET in Dapaong, Togo and Lutheran Theological
Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa.
• My CUNE Family Life Ministry graduate program.
• For individuals considering serving on the international mission field; courage and strength to
heed the Lord’s call and say "Here am I. Send me!"
• My fellow LCMS missionaries serving internationally, for the opportunity & strength to live out
Christ’s love through service around the world.
• For the hearts of those needing to know the grace of our great God

Faces of the CWEFT Burma Refugee

Contact Info
Education Program
megan.birney@lcms.org
Postal address:
Church of All Nations
8 South Bay Close
Repulse Bay, Hong Kong

Check out my blog:

acrossanoceansizedlove.blogspot.com

Visit my project page:

www.lcms.org?13343

Download my prayer card:

www.lcmsworldmission.org/prayercards

Access my photo albums:

picasaweb.google.com/megaroonski

If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please e-mail me at megan.birney@lcms.org!