Seven years ago on this date, I sat in a small hotel room in Wanchai Hong Kong with two suitcases, alone, going through the list of things I needed to do to set up a new life in a new country. Renting a flat, opening a bank account, getting a mobile phone line.
I had left Singapore at that time as newly qualified lawyer to chase a dream of most young lawyers at that age i.e. to work in an international firm, a "magic circle" law firm, in one of the financial capitals of the world. I took almost all my savings with me (just over S$10,000) converting them to Hong Kong dollars. More than half of that sum was used within the first week in Hong Kong to pay the deposit for a rental apartment there. I knew only one or two people, had no idea where to go find a church or a Christian community. I also did not know how long I was going to be there, since it was not a posting. Maybe two years, maybe a much much longer time.
It is hard to believe that 7 years have gone by. I have been back home in Singapore for more than a year now. Sometimes those years seemed like a dream and quite far away. But those years had a profound impact on who I am now - professionally, socially and spiritually.
In many ways, life there was not what I had expected it to be when I first went. Work-wise, I always though I thought I would build my career in a law firm, but I was instead led mid-way to a financial institution where I still am. I thought I would witness the giddy financial prowess of Hong Kong, but in fact I saw the city struggle through very difficult times (SARs and all). I thought I would become a China specialist, and travel frequently there on business, but instead my "work" in China took on an entirely different nature.
I thought I would meet many people like myself, and lead the quintessential expat life of Lan Kwai Fong parties and cross cultural networking. Instead, for the first time, I discovered I was an introvert, and did not mind hanging out with just a couple of good friends every weekend, and that I loved having my own living space (for the first time), and would spend many hours reading and thinking in my own flat.
Spiritually, it was a dry time at first. I kept comparing the church there to my home church in Singapore. I found the preaching at the international church too simple. The congregation was too American. I did not bother to join a cellgroup, because of my newfound love for solitude. It was only after the first year that God took away the sides of the box that I put myself into. Through a series of very deliberate (and often humbling) events, God made it clear that the purpose of putting me in Hong Kong was not for the promise of a high flying career or an exclusive expat life, it was to stretch my mind and heart in ways that I never did imagine.
There are so many memories from that era. So many important people that came into my life and made their impact. Best friends made for life. So many experiences that shaped the way I look at things now - work, money, relationships, family, church.
So to that first memory of a lonely Wanchai hotel room, many other images were added which now form my recollection of that period. My small rented apartment, and the many intimate dinner gatherings with dear friends held there. The Happy Valley caregroup meetings, a room filled with people from more than 10 different countries teaching and learning from one another. The weekend trips to Shenzhen bringing just the gospel and taking away the joy each time of a growing harvest. Learning a new language Cantonese which opened up the mystery of the local community for me. Working with the best brains in the industry but realizing once and for all that money, not matter how huge the amounts, would not make a place home for me.
I guess people go away to another place for different reasons. Many leave for work and a better future. Some to get away from the same-ness of home. Some leave to escape a bad relationship, or in search of a good one. Most would say, "just for the experience".
A young galfriend of mine in church shared with me about her thought processes in deciding whether to go to Beijing for a posting. She was concerned about what it would mean for her career and more importantly her spiritual life. She said she was not sure if she would be able to find the same spiritual community there. The same questions that I asked as a twenty-something. I could only tell her that whatever she is expecting or not expecting now, it is likely to be very different when she actually goes there and lives it out.
The important thing to remember, my friend, is that God's love is extra-territorial in every way and the only way to find out is not to be afraid to go when He calls. It could be a different country, a different job, a different station in life. The only purpose He has for changing our circumstances is to stretch us so that we can understand His love so much better.
I had left Singapore at that time as newly qualified lawyer to chase a dream of most young lawyers at that age i.e. to work in an international firm, a "magic circle" law firm, in one of the financial capitals of the world. I took almost all my savings with me (just over S$10,000) converting them to Hong Kong dollars. More than half of that sum was used within the first week in Hong Kong to pay the deposit for a rental apartment there. I knew only one or two people, had no idea where to go find a church or a Christian community. I also did not know how long I was going to be there, since it was not a posting. Maybe two years, maybe a much much longer time.
It is hard to believe that 7 years have gone by. I have been back home in Singapore for more than a year now. Sometimes those years seemed like a dream and quite far away. But those years had a profound impact on who I am now - professionally, socially and spiritually.
In many ways, life there was not what I had expected it to be when I first went. Work-wise, I always though I thought I would build my career in a law firm, but I was instead led mid-way to a financial institution where I still am. I thought I would witness the giddy financial prowess of Hong Kong, but in fact I saw the city struggle through very difficult times (SARs and all). I thought I would become a China specialist, and travel frequently there on business, but instead my "work" in China took on an entirely different nature.
I thought I would meet many people like myself, and lead the quintessential expat life of Lan Kwai Fong parties and cross cultural networking. Instead, for the first time, I discovered I was an introvert, and did not mind hanging out with just a couple of good friends every weekend, and that I loved having my own living space (for the first time), and would spend many hours reading and thinking in my own flat.
Spiritually, it was a dry time at first. I kept comparing the church there to my home church in Singapore. I found the preaching at the international church too simple. The congregation was too American. I did not bother to join a cellgroup, because of my newfound love for solitude. It was only after the first year that God took away the sides of the box that I put myself into. Through a series of very deliberate (and often humbling) events, God made it clear that the purpose of putting me in Hong Kong was not for the promise of a high flying career or an exclusive expat life, it was to stretch my mind and heart in ways that I never did imagine.
There are so many memories from that era. So many important people that came into my life and made their impact. Best friends made for life. So many experiences that shaped the way I look at things now - work, money, relationships, family, church.
So to that first memory of a lonely Wanchai hotel room, many other images were added which now form my recollection of that period. My small rented apartment, and the many intimate dinner gatherings with dear friends held there. The Happy Valley caregroup meetings, a room filled with people from more than 10 different countries teaching and learning from one another. The weekend trips to Shenzhen bringing just the gospel and taking away the joy each time of a growing harvest. Learning a new language Cantonese which opened up the mystery of the local community for me. Working with the best brains in the industry but realizing once and for all that money, not matter how huge the amounts, would not make a place home for me.
I guess people go away to another place for different reasons. Many leave for work and a better future. Some to get away from the same-ness of home. Some leave to escape a bad relationship, or in search of a good one. Most would say, "just for the experience".
A young galfriend of mine in church shared with me about her thought processes in deciding whether to go to Beijing for a posting. She was concerned about what it would mean for her career and more importantly her spiritual life. She said she was not sure if she would be able to find the same spiritual community there. The same questions that I asked as a twenty-something. I could only tell her that whatever she is expecting or not expecting now, it is likely to be very different when she actually goes there and lives it out.
The important thing to remember, my friend, is that God's love is extra-territorial in every way and the only way to find out is not to be afraid to go when He calls. It could be a different country, a different job, a different station in life. The only purpose He has for changing our circumstances is to stretch us so that we can understand His love so much better.
