Africa to Asia

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

Fall/Winter 2011

A few months in review...

Apologies for my lack of newsletters over the past few months! I have been truly blessed with many new ministry opportunities and the end of my masters program! Here is an overview of Gods goodness the past few months August: CAN hosted its first summer Vacation Bible School (VBS) program. We hosted the program 2 weeks before school in order to reach out to families new to Hong Kong or HKIS. We had over 20 kids in attendance! It was a fun-filled week of Pandamania learning songs, Bible stories, and making crafts. Its been awesome to connect further with the VBS kids as I visit their classrooms for chapels. August also kicked off our new Sunday school & Bible study programming with more classes and new curriculum. September: My HKIS chapel schedule picked up. I now see 7 clusters/classes on a monthly basis and a few others every other month. This is a blessing that has given me a lot of face time with students that has helped grow relationships within the entire school community, students, parents, and teachers alike. Pastor Greg and I also lead Middle School Spirituality sessions which puts us in front of every middle school student at least once a month. God is good! September also found us officially welcoming Concordia International School Hanoi into His mission here in Asia, welcoming Pastor Greg & Michelles son, Declan Jamison Sawyer, into the world (and Gods family!), and also celebrating the 24th anniversary of our Filipino Prayer, Share, and Care group (FPSC). October: At the request of some ladies with in the congregation, I began leading a weekly Moms with Young Kids Bible study. It has been a blessing to spend a few hours a week in fellowship with them and it has also helped me to get a better look into the spiritual needs of our families. I was also blessed to help chaperone HKIS 5th grade camp 3 days in the HK wilderness with the entire 5th grade class! Hiking, pool olympics, giant sling shorts terrific ingredients for making 5th grade friends! November: The beginning of November found me in Manila leading CANs fall service trip. We worked with our LCMS partner church, the Lutheran Church of the Philippines (LCP), by volunteering at an orphanage, hosting outreach activities for street children, and helping to renovate the Manila headquarters of the LCP (photo on pg 2). At the end of the month I said goodbye to my roommate and coworker in Christ of the past 2.5 years. Lynette has blessed my life and I am thankful for her friendship and encouragement throughout our time together, She is settling in Omaha, Nebraska near her family and prayerfully seeking what the Lord has next for her. The holidays are difficulty time for missionaries overseas, away from family. This year, CAN hosted over 50 missionaries from SE China for Thanksgiving dinner. It was a blessing to be together and celebrate all that we are thankful for with a meal complete with all the fixin's! December: This month has been a whirlwind! This fall has been very busy as I completed my last two masters classes and my final program exam. Im elated to share that after 2.5 years of hard work, Im a graduate holding a M.S. in Family Life Ministry from Concordia University Nebraska. Beginning in July, my studies will continue as a complete the LCMS colloquy process and become a rostered church worker. December also included CANs annual childrens Christmas cantata (photos below), lots of Advent & Christmas chapels, and beautiful Christmas Eve & Christmas Day worship services welcoming many visitors from within our community!

2012 brings newness! New opportunities for outreach, ministry, growth thank you for your continued prayerful support as the Lord works new things in me and my ministry! Blessings along the journey, friends!
Looking for Jesus
You help make ministry possible! 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 Please write Support of Megan Birney in the memo line. Online gifts: www.lcms.org/birney

Fall/Winter 2011
LCMS World Mission
800-433-3954 www.lcmsworldmission.org mission.info@lcms.org Learn more about the work of LCMS World Mission in Asia:

Prayer Requests
For this reason, I kneel before the Father Eph. 3:14 For the community of Church of All Nations and Hong Kong International School New CAN outreach & community building programming for the Spring Planning and organizing Spring service trips to the Philippines & Cambodia Traveling mercies for my parents, who will be in HK 1/17-2/2! For the Lutheran Church - Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS); that the Lord would continue blessing the efforts of the LCHKS in growing Gods kingdom. Theological Education in Africa; The CLET in Dapaong, Togo and Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa Praise for successfully completing my CUNE Family Life Ministry graduate program. That the Lord would continue to raise up ministry partners in prayer and financial gifts for my service in Hong Kong. For individuals considering serving on the international mission field; courage and strength to heed the Lords call and say "Here am I. Send me!" My fellow LCMS missionaries serving internationally, for the opportunity & strength to live out Christs love through service around the world.

For the hearts of those needing to know the grace of our great God

Fall Service Trip to Manila, Philippines

Contact Info
megan.birney@lcmsintl.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/birney Download my prayer card: www.lcmsworldmission.org/prayercards Access my photo albums: picasaweb.google.com/megaroonski

In November I was blessed to lead a team of 13 individuals on a service trip to Manila. Our week-long trip was spent at Concordia Childrens Services Orphanage (CCS), working with street children, and helping to renovate the Manila offices of the Lutheran Church of the Philippines. Below is a photo of our group with the children & staff of CCS.

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