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Don't worry...see I haven't forgotten
Just wanted to save this to post on a special day... ;)

Two nights before Kat left for Toronto, we took a trip to Stanley in HK. It was really hot, with no clouds to break the sunlight. We enjoyed the very tourist-y market of Stanley, just walking around staring at black and white photos of Hong Kong back in the early 1900's and contempary Chinese paintings that I personally found very intruiging.

After walking around the market, we went to bay just take a look at the ocean. Wow. It'll be a while before we get the chance to see oceans on this side of the world together for a while. I really loved that moment. It reminded me of the other time when we went to Silvermine Bay and looked out at what seemed almost like a tropical, traveller magazine-shot, view of an ocean with the characteristic green hills of Asian landscapes. A memory that still seems so vivid.

After a little more walking around we stopped by a Pacific Coffee to just chill and relax for a bit. We bought a donut (I hadn't had a donut for so long) and a Chilliano to share. As we sat by the windows, we just talked randomly about what made this trip so great for us. What kind of things really stood out to us. When suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I saw a slim box sitting on top of a small counter. It was a scrabble box. So I went to pick it up and brought it to our table to play scrabble. Now this sounds extremely nerdy...I suppose Kat is getting some of that influence from me...hahaha but yea, it was fun playing b/c this was the game Kat and I were playing back during our first trip together to the cottage last year with the rest of her family. So it brought a lot of good memories along with a healthy dose of competition. ;)

But after our game, we decided to walk around and find a nice place to eat.

We walked around the street with where restaurants opened up their tables along the sidewalk right by Stanley Bay. It was a nice stroll as we walked around looking for a restaurant to eat at. We ended up going to this really nice colonial style building that used to be located in Central, but was moved stone by stone out into Stanley.

We sat outside of the El Cid restaurant. It was probably the most romantic meal I've ever had...eating outside on a patio, moonlight in view, near the coast, Spanish cuisine served on candle-lit tables, live guitarists playing and singing love songs upon request...but what really made it so special was not the food, not the musicians, not the atmosphere, but the person I was with.

There's no other person I want to be with, no other girl that I treasure more...and I thank God for blessing me so much by leading us into this relationship. I can't wait to see you back home...





IMU <3

180

The greatest compliment I could ever receive as a worship leader would be...
"When you led, I had such an amazing encounter with God I forgot you were there."

Last night I was given the priveledge of serving alongside some of the greatest musicians I know here in HK in leading the 180 group to worshipping God. To be honest, I was real nervous and I stumbling in my explanations during practice and causing all kinds of mistakes, but they were real nice about it in tryna help me out. But how did it go? It was awesome. I really miss serving in this way. And I cannot think of a better way to finish off my trip here in HK with the chance to serve in this way. Truly amazing.

Well, a quick update for those in Toronto...I'll be back this Thursday and my current schedule for this week looks like:

Mon: leave the house at 6:45am to go to China with the grandparents
Tues: come back to HK at night
Wed: last minute stuff and dinner with Family at night
Thurs: Board the plane
Thurs (Can): arrive back home...

This has been an amazing trip...really gonna miss it here. But i'm really looking forward to coming home.

Next post will probably be when i get back on Tuesday...check then ;)

Final Day @ Meyer

My last day at work!!!

I can't wait to finish my term here at Meyer. Wow. 3 months. Today marks the end of my longest job up to date.

I suppose that since it's my last day here at Meyer, I should reflect on what it's been like here.

This has been a real blessing working here. Despite my previous post describing the vary "interesting" things about life at the factory, having had the chance to work here in HK has really been by the grace of God. To be a Canadian born Chinese, who doesn't speak a lot of Cantonese, nor has an HKID, and yet land a job in HK is pretty rare. It's really by God's grace that there have been people like uncle James who are willing to bring me in to teach me and let me grow.

They say experience counts...and even though I may not feel like I've "learned" a whole lot each day, I've learned a lot as a whole.

I've learned there are always problems, but the ability to find out the right problems and the right way to approach an issue may be just as important as the solution. I've learned that here in HK, the worklife really is as people say it is, long, hard, and overtime isn't out of the blue or additional pay to your salary. I've learned that simply discussing a problem outloud helps more than hours of contemplating and thinking alone.

I've solidified the notion that what you do in the real world really is gray compared to what school teaches you.

But this doesn't stop my "work" in Asia. Last night after dinner, I sat with my grandfather for a good 2 hours or so discussing about Kam Pin. We talked about management issues, about how to increase productivity, how to get workers, and about some of the issues and struggles he faces at work. So even though today's my last day, it's not the end of my work here.

On Monday I'm gonna go with my grandparents back up to China to visit the factory one last time. He wants me to write him a report explaining my observations and my suggestions on how the company can do better at the factory. It's kinda cool. Kinda like my first consulting-type project.

Well after today I've got only 6 more days left till I'm on a plane bound for home. And since I won't be here at Meyer anymore, it won't be as convenient as before to post on my blog, so here's an outline of what's goin' on these next couple days before I'm back:

Tonight:
Saturday: shop in the morning, then chill with Derek and Tianne, then co-lead at 180 at night
Sunday: attend Tung Fook Church with Casey, Leo, and Jay, then have lunch with uncle James one last time, then try to finish off a round of shopping, and maybe dinner with Derek Ma...i'm really hoping that i don't miss the chance to sit down and talk with him before i leave...i'd be real sad if i did.
Monday: hop in a car in the morning and head to china, tour the factory, discuss, maybe eat dinner at my uncle's restaurant, perhaps go out with Jonathan at night
Tuesday: more factory touring, perhaps play a round of golf with my grandfather, then hop on a train and come back to HK so i can finish off shopping
Wed: shopping, since I've yet to buy all the stuff that I need to get for myself and others...
Thurs: morning, maybe some very last minute shopping/packing...then at around noon head to the airport, hop on AC16 and head back home....



oh yea, one last thing...if u've reached this part of the blog, can you do me one thing. Pls pray for UTCCF. We need your prayers as hasn't been the easiest with me being so far away from the rest of the committee. And when I get back there'll be loads of things to do, so pray that I'd have the strength, wisdom, and guidance that only the Holy Spirit can provide to accomplish all that needs to be done. Thanks.

Countdown: 4 more days of work...

Tuesday...almost half way through the week. Just four more days till I'm done my workterm at Meyer and I'm off to finish shopping, chatting with friends, and visiting China. I don't really know how to describe my work here at Meyer. Most of what I've been doing has been measuring and statistics work. I suppose it's the work and life of an Industrial Engineer. But as I think about it more and more and dive myself into more and more statistics...I'm beginning to discover in myself a deep understanding of, "I actually don't really like this kind of work too much." I mean sometimes the statistics are cool, sometimes it's interesting...but for the rest of my life? Probably not. I don't think remaining an engineer is really where my heart is at, nor is it what I'm really good at.

I've always told people, the reason I ended up doing engineering was because the Lord led me in this direction...but also because God gave me that ability to do math. I'm no genius, I don't have a passion for statistics or a yearning prove anything in particular (hahah unlike my buddy Mike Kim)...but I can do it. And I know it's not something that everybody has, an ability to think mathematically...and this isn't said to appear prideful or something as if I have something to boast about anyways. But if God has given you something that not everyone necessarily has, then wouldn't it be a waste to not spend your time and effort to develop to some degree of excellence. That was my reasoning for sticking with engineering.

But that's just something I can do...not something I'm great at. And here's where I begin launch off on a tangent...

I remember during first year, a guest lecturer came to UT to talk about leadership coaching. Out of his 30 min presentation, one line that caught my attention stated the idea that, "If you focus on developing what you're bad at, you only become mediocre. If you focus on developing what you're good at, you can become excellent."

Math and engineering isn't what I'm bad at, nor is really something I'm good at. I'm more than positive that this isnt' the area that I can become excellent in. But there are other things...other aspects, interests, that I know I can become excellent in...and I would rather give my time, energy, and life into those things so that I can be excellent in them, rather than spend my life building myself to be only mediocre.

Meyer and engineering, I feel is not where I can develop these aspects of myself. But this summer, I'm grateful that I could be productive and learn while staying in HK. It has been a blessing and I need to remember despite the lack of passion I have for this kind of work.

The Space of Saturday

This past Saturday was suppose to be my day off, but because my boss (Uncle James) had to go to Singapore this week and was swamped with meetings last week, the only day I could do my presentation was this past Saturday.

7:00 am...

So I woke up and got ready. I bored the KCR and it occurred to me, that besides not being able to sleep in on a Saturday morning, I actually don't mind going to work on Saturdays. I mean who's awake at 7 am in the morning? Not very many people. I liked it. I liked the fact that I could sit in the train, with the morning sunlight pouring through the train's windows...and it was quite. It was still. It wasn't empty, it was spacious.

I like travelling early morning when everyone else is awake. I think it's something I've always liked...driving at 5am in the morning to retreats...overnight driving to PEI...the fact that I can do something that usually is fairly crowded or packed with people...I like the space, particularly here in HK.

A picture from where I stand to take the company bus.

Life in Small Places and a Camera

So after spending pretty much 3 whole months without a camera, Kat so graciously lent me hers for the rest of my trip...so I'll try to make the most of it.

I'd say one of my best descriptions of what it's like living here in Hong Kong is this, "Life in Small Places". It's been kinda interesting living in a room slightly less than a third of my bedroom size back in Toronto. But on top of that is the usual smallness of everywhere we go. Just the other night before Kat went back to Canada, we went to a Hui Lau San to eat some deserts and it was pretty small.

With that in mind, I don't think I mind living in small places. When I was younger, I used to think to myself, "When I grow up I want a house as big as the one I'm living in now...even if it's filled with just two people." But after this stay in HK, I'm beginning to think...living in an apartment or condo wouldn't be too bad. I mean if they can provide you with a swimming pool, a lobby, a parking spot, a recreation room, and a free elevator (of course you'd have to share it), who wouldn't want to...err...well what I mean is, it's a nice proposition.

Having a camera is really cool. I love taking pictures. I really like taking pictures, especially using manual settings so that you can set the shutter speed slow and get those really cool effects in your pictures. Pretty cool.

Thanks Hun!

Listen, Kindness, Repentence

Before you speak,
it is necessary for you to listen,
for God speaks in the silence of the heart.
-Mother Theresa

Usually I get up at around 6:45-6:50 and get out of the house by around 7:30 in the morning. All this so that I can take a public bus, then a train to catch the company's bus at 8, which brings me to the factory. But today, I ended up waking at 7:30. No way I'll catch it. Well possibly...but you know what, I'll just take a taxi. An extra $30 HK but it's ok...forget it, don't rush.

And for the first work day in I think 3 weeks or so I didn't rush to get out of the house. I took my time, which meant that I ended up taking my time while being fully awake to do my devos. For the past couple weeks, my devos haven't been the greatest. It consisted of reading a chapter or parts of a chapter, then praying only to fall asleep 30 secs in. I've been pretty tired. But today as I sat down and begin to just engage with God, I felt Him speak to me..."Mike you can't keep going like this. You need to spend the time with me. I want you to spend time with me." And then it hit me, that God let me miss the bus because He wanted to sit me down and tell me...I'm missing out on something vital...the unrushed, one on one time with God.

My spiritual life hasn't really dipped, I've been trying to remind myself to keep inviting God into whatever I do during the day, and as John Ortberg put it, every time we consciously do that, "it's a win". But this was different. This was the Father speaking to His child in kindness saying, "I want to spend time with you but I haven't been able to."

And I know I'm in the wrong. I want to go back. Repentence.

Here is where I begin to see an important truth ring true in my life. Often times people who aren't on track with the Lord would be told by other Christians about how they need to do it. They would begin to compare how the person can devote so much to computer games or MSN or whatever in an attempt to make them realize they have the time but choose not to spend it with God. Guilt, that's what they're trying to go after. Rebuke, that's what they think.

But what leads me to where I am today in this relationship with Him is the realization that what leads to true repentance is not guilt, not rules, not even consequences, but it's kindness. It's the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. And today I sat, listened, felt the kindness of the Father...and I'm repenting, "God, I need your help to straighten this crooked soul so that I'd spend time with you. I haven't been giving my best to know you, and I want to know you more."

Music of the Heart

I've been visiting the blogs of guys from the band lately...and have been thinking a lot about it.

Sometimes I wonder what I have to offer. It's kinda funny sometimes. I can recall countless times when I would stand with my guitar in the heat of rehearsal and just question, "What have I got to offer? These guys are so good." I feel like the odd one out. They're all like experts in their instruments...and then some. I feel so average at times.

Sometimes, I think they'd be better off if they started that jazz quartet instead. hahaha they'd earn a whole lot more money...or they'd actually earn money hahah...

But a lot of times I wonder what I've got to offer. I've been thinking about it a lot...and I feel like my guitar playing has kinda reached a plateau. I haven't got the interest or the capacity to really play well. I almost feel like it's pointless to buy a really expensive guitar, b/c it'll be so underused by me. All those years of hating theory have begun to catch up...ionic modes, diminished chords, pentatonic scales...i think playing by ear has it's limits.

I think I'm beginning to really rethink my role. More and more I don't think of myself as a guitarist anymore. If everyone had the same guitar, the sound coming out of mine wouldn't sound have nearly as lovely as that of legends like jimmy hendricks, eric clapton, and dan yoo.

But i think the only thing i've really got that's unique is my voice, but I often feel like I'm still so small. Just singing sometimes throws me off. And the songwriting? I don't think there's ever been a side to my life I've been more insecure about than writing songs. I've come to the point where I just don't introduce them as my songs anymore...they're just "new songs". But for all those who don't really venture into this category, I find it real tough to write songs...or at least good ones.

I often listen to songs like "Dare you to move" or "Shadow proves" and just be in wonder. Wow, how did he come up with a line like that? Or how did make it so powerful and moving. The imagery is amazing. And I think about myself and I just kind of wish the same. I kinda hope that somehow after rewriting 100 times or writing a chorus and waiting for 2 years till verses show up. It's kinda frustrating at times...sometimes i do wonder if i'm cut out for it.

I think i've got like 200+ unfinished songs or ideas, out of writing for 6 years...with only i think 3-4 worship songs that have been used for services, and a one-hit wonder that helped raise awareness at Hart House for Make Poverty History. But 4-5 songs out of 200, maybe even 300+...actually a part of me thinks it's normal...or perhaps a little small.

Sometimes it's great...most of the time it's tough.

And Limits...

I think the one thing that drives me insane is the countless ideas, beats, melodies, and other things that go through my head and end up staying in my head because there's no way to bring them out. It's tough when there's no computer or keyboard, or you don't know the right software, so that you can actually audibly hear what you hear in your head. I guess that's the life of a desperately poor musician . It's always a challenge. Always a tension. It makes you edgy...like constantly having a word on the tip of your tongue...

It's not about defeat. It's just my trying to be real. I feel for all those musicians out there who want to make great music but just can't...who've got an inkling for something creative, but haven't got the means to manifest it...

But I'll keep giving my best...i just pray that God would somehow use what little i've got to do something impactful.

Can't wait for the next band practice...btw, we still haven't got a name.

More than Programs – Leaders as Cultural Architects

Being CCF chair next year is exciting. I'm excited to be serving the Lord and to give it the best that I can. Consequently so, I've been reading and thinking a lot about how to lead next year. Been reading a lot about leadership, innovation, spiritual formation, and organizational behavior.
Today as I was reading, something sparked in my mind and I thought I'd put it on paper, or type. So here it is. I hope some of you find it useful, and I hope especially that somehow other CCF leaders will get a chance to read it and find it helpful as they lead next year.


We've all heard it before when it comes to leadership, “it's not about programs, but about people.” And that's absolutely true. Relationships are irrefutably foundational for effective leadership.

But what happens afterwards? What does someone do that sets a person apart as a truly effective leader than just being socially adept?

Marcus Buckingham in his book, The One Thing You Need to Know, says that essentially all leadership is about is rallying people to a better future. Slightly out of the blue. Interesting thought. Not the usual leadership definition we hear. But upon reflection, I think this is so definitive of a leader.

And when I think about Jesus Christ, that is exactly what he did. The gospel he preached was not “minimal entry requirements into heaven”, but rather “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And when He says at hand, he doesn't mean coming, he means available. It's available. And as He preached this to the multitudes, He was saying, “The right and best future, where God's kingship is fully applied, is available and can be manifested in you now.” The future was available now.

Back to what do we do as leaders of people beside building relationships and rallying them into a better future. So what practical thing do we have to do in addition to those two components? I believe we have to be architects of something where people are central. Programs are not really people centered. Programs are activity centered. But culture is people centered.

For us, leaders, to rally people to a better future, and actually bring them there, we must be cultural architects who continuous lead people into a culture that enables and digs deep into their hearts.

Every organization is built on more than one person. There are always those who put their best efforts and time into bringing a group of people into that future. And as every leader has experienced, there is always the question of how to get these people to actually do it. The question of motivation. How do I get people not only on board, but rowing?

And I think that’s what culture is all about. It’s about developing a culture infrastructure with culture keys like servanthood. Leaders need to be willing to create a culture where a servant heart and hand should be extended to anyone regardless of position. And as an architect, they got to be the first ones to do so.

If we as leaders, and I say this because I've made the mistake more than once, focus all our efforts and time in developing great programs, it will only go so far. It isn’t sustainable, it isn’t people centered, it doesn’t always reach into a person’s core and release that goodness or passion. Culture is what we need to focus on. We have to put our hearts, minds, hands, and prayers into this, because the nature of culture is that if you don’t take the initiative to shape it, it will be shaped and possibly not in the way that it should be.


On a side note, let me clear something up. Some people may have an uneasy feeling about me saying that Jesus Christ did what a secular researcher defined. As if I'm somehow placing Jesus into a premade box shaped by a secular mind. This is not the case. Rather it is a secular mind who finds a definition out of what had already existed, in the lives of many but perfectly so in Jesus Christ.

:(

2.5 weeks...i'll definitely miss you.

Life in the Factory

So I've been horrible at keeping this blog alive...I still owe a lot of you an outline of what happened in China and Macau...it's coming. But while I'm still tryna piece it together despite the busyness, I was inspired to write about what life in the factory has been these last 8-9 weeks or so.

Hm... where to begin.

Working here isn't too bad. When I first started my term here, I spent a lot of time on the shop floor...the non-air conditioned with metal coils radiating heat shop floor. It's hot down there...and humid. I remember reading an article on the Star saying how Toronto reached a blistering 35+ degrees with a humidex of a "high" of 40. Well...on hot days, the outside temp would be nearing 30 if not above, so add onto that heat radiating metal, I'd say we're close to the same temperature. As far as humidex goes...hahah I just found out that the average over here in Hong Kong during the day is like 80-90. It's pretty humid...hahah

So that's what working here has been like. I spend most of the time in the office area where it's suppose to be air conditioned. More like everywhere in the office is air conditioned except for my section. No idea why. But I suppose after a couple weeks of it, I've gotten used to it.

I think that's one thing I've built up a tolerance for in HK, a tolerance for heat and humidity. I don't sweat as much as I did when I first arrived. Sunday I was walking around Fa Yuen Street outside and it was hot and humid, but it didn't really bug me...i guess working on the shop floor without a fan to at least cool off your sweat really trains you for high heat.

Something interesting happened today. We had a fire drill. I can't remember the last time I had one of those...maybe gr. 12? Like over 3 years ago? But imagine a factory doing that, with all the people coming out...it was kinda funny...actually it reminded me of elementary school. In typical Hong Kong fashion, the from each department who was "in charge" of making sure we got out, wore a cross guard like band around their waste and shoulder, holding up a flurouscent pink or yellow card board paper with Chinese words printed on office paper taped onto it.

Here's a heavily pixelated picture of our team, posing while we "lined up" outside of the factory during the fire drill:














How about the food?

Well here at the factory, they serve us lunch. But that's been an interesting culinary experience all on its own. Basically they have two large pots of rice that everyone scoops from. Then we all scurry away to our tables where we have mysterious dishes waiting to be uncovered. But when uncovered, the usual reaction is...well it's still mysterious. Hahah I often here the usual (in Cantonese), "What is this?" and "Who puts this kinda vegetable with this dish?" One time we had deep fried fish, and it was so deep fried...there was no more fish. It was just deep fried powder. hahah

Another intersting thing is the soup. Usually we drink soup after our meal, but we all get it from this huge pot. So one day as I walked up to get my soup, I saw another employee bring his bowl over to the pot. We usually just use the bowl we eat out from to drink the soup. But as he poured the soup from the ladel into his bowl, the bowl was substantially smaller than the ladel...so as he poured, the soup just overflowed out of his bowl and fell right back into the communal pot of soup. MMmmmm... "ga liu"

But other than that...this trip has been really interesting. Not very many people can comprehend what it's like working in a factory, let alone a factory in Asia. It's really different. When I get back to Toronto I'll be working in another factory, but this time in a multinational company. So it'll be interesting to see how different it really is.

I'm really blessed to have had the chance to get some international experience working...cuz afterall, perhaps someday I'll return to China and work in a factory once more.