Great. We're just going to take a time to just pray as a church a little more about,
we call this the pastoral prayer, just to really pray for the city, pray for the things that are
also on God's heart. And so even though I'll be leading us, you know, out loud, just feel free to
be praying in your own hearts, to amen to what I'm saying, to be praying under your own breath for
what God is burdening you with. All right? So let's just take a time to really say, God,
we can't do any of this without you. All right? Let's pray. Father, we just confess our need for
you. And even this week, this morning, just the ease in which we are distracted, God, by
honestly trivial things at the end of the day, things that do it with our own comfort,
and our own pleasure, God. But this morning, we just want to come and look at you again, God.
What is on your heart? Who do you care about, God? And we know you love this world. You love the world
so much that you sent your son to die for it, God. And you love this city. And God, Lord, we just,
we just humble ourselves before you this morning and ask you to just change our city, God. We cry,
how long, oh Lord, until you come back in glory, God. But in the meantime, we know, Lord, that you are
in the process of making something new in this city, God. So this morning, we pray over the divisions.
We pray over the hurts. We pray over the fear. We pray over the anger, God, that is gripping our city
right now. Lord, we pray over the elections that are happening as we speak right now. We pray for
every polling station. We pray for all the people who are serving and volunteering. We pray for every
candidate, God. No matter whether we agree with them or not, whether we're voting for them or not,
we pray for them, God, because they were made in your image, Lord Jesus. We pray for everyone who
will be voting, God. Would you just keep them safe? We pray for the police, Lord, who will be watching
over the polling stations. Would you guide them, Lord? Would you watch over them, God? Lord, we need you
in this time. We need you in all times, God. But right now, Lord, we just cry out to you on behalf
of our city, Lord. Lord, would this day just be a day where your people shine? Even as they vote,
as they talk to their friends, would they point them to the greatest hope that we have?
Eternity with you. Hope, joy, eternal joy. Adoption by the King of Kings. God, we give our city to you.
And Father, we also just continue to pray for all the marginalized. In this time of political and
social unrest, God, we also just, Lord, help us not to lose sight of those who are really just hidden,
the minorities, the ethnic minorities. We talked about some today, but there's also the Nepali community,
the South Asian community in Hong Kong, the refugees and asylum seekers, Lord,
those who are trapped in red light districts all over Hong Kong,
young single moms, teen moms who are just struggling to make ends meet and to take care of their
infants, God. We need you, Lord. We need you to open our eyes to them. And Lord, would you just watch
over them? Would you continue to minister to them supernaturally? Would your Holy Spirit
just speak to them to know, to let them know that they are loved? They are known by their creator,
God. And Lord, use us as your people, as your hands and your feet to speak and to touch, Lord,
to hold onto those who are hurting and who are broken, God. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.
We're going to invite the scripture readers to come up to do our scripture reading and lead us in that.
The scripture reading comes from Revelation and Deuteronomy. Please follow along in your bulletins
or on the screen. From Revelation 7, we read,
After this, I look and behold a great multitude that one could number from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm bronzes in their hands,
and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures,
and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor and power and might to be our God forever and ever. Amen.
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying,
Who are these clothes and white robes, and from where have they come?
I said to him, Sir, you know.
And he said to me, These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.
They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
And from Deuteronomy 10, we read,
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but to fear the Lord your God,
to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
and to keep the commandments and statues of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good.
Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heavens of heavens,
the earth with all that it is in it.
Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them,
you above all peoples, as you are this day.
Circumcise, therefore, the four skins of your heart and be no longer stubborn.
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords,
the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow,
and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
You shall fear the Lord your God.
You shall serve him and hold fast to him,
and by his name you shall swear.
He is your praise.
He is your God,
who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.
This is the word of God.
Amen.
Thank you, Janet.
Thank you, Gary.
If you're new with us,
we've been going through as a church the book of Revelation,
and the closing book of the Bible,
and it's been quite a journey.
And I don't know if you've noticed,
I think one thing that you've,
if you've been following the series with us,
the one thing that I think has kind of struck us,
and has surprised us,
is just how much of the book is actually about mission,
and evangelism,
and being a witness for the Lord Jesus.
We talked about martyrs,
and people just speaking for the Lord,
and prophesying on behalf of the Lord.
And another interesting aspect,
I think,
that we've been hitting,
is this vision of people from every nation,
and tribe,
and tongue,
and language coming together.
And that's the passage from Revelation 7,
that we just read.
That's one really good example,
of this idea,
over and over in Revelation,
we see this idea of people,
uniting around,
worshiping God.
And it's a beautiful image,
isn't it?
Because we all know the racism,
and the division that's just racking,
not even just Hong Kong,
but across the world.
And here God is saying in Revelation,
that actually,
that's not the last word.
History is actually moving in the direction,
and that one day,
everybody,
every tribe,
every tongue,
all of God's people,
no matter what your socioeconomic background is,
no matter what your language is,
no matter what your history is,
that for those who call on Jesus' name,
who worship Him,
everyone will be united
around the throne of God.
So this is kind of just to show you that
Revelation is kind of our framework.
And even though today,
we're not going to be focusing specifically
on Revelation as our base text,
that we're going to see throughout
entire history of the Bible,
that this doesn't just kind of happen
out of the blue.
It's not just like one day,
God wakes up and thinks,
oh,
it's a good idea for me to unite all peoples,
and for me to eliminate racism.
But actually,
when we look at the Bible,
all throughout history,
God is a God who has loved all nations
and all tongues and all tribes and languages.
And He's always wanted His people
to reflect that as well.
And so when we get to today's main passage
in Deuteronomy,
it's one of the foundational books of the Bible.
It's one of the earliest books of the Bible, right?
And we go back to the very establishment
of the people of Israel.
And so you have the leader, Moses.
I think a lot of us know the story.
So he's been raised up to lead the people
out of captivity into Egypt.
And now Moses is at the end of his journey,
at the end of his ministry.
And he's basically giving a final sort of exhortation,
a final call to the people.
And this is what Deuteronomy is really all about.
And so he's kind of just recapping,
giving a summary of all that God has done.
He's chosen you.
He's taken you out of captivity in Egypt.
He's performed these terrifying signs and wonders,
you know, parting the Red Sea,
defeating the Egyptians.
He's brought you faithfully through the wilderness.
And now you are at the cusp of the promised land.
And so he's been raised up to you.
Now you're ready to step in.
And so when we get to this chapter,
chapter 10 that we just read,
this is all kind of wrapped up
and summarized so beautifully.
Just read with me again verse 14.
It says,
Behold, to the Lord your God
belong heaven and the heaven of heavens,
the earth with all that is in it.
This description of God,
he is the creator.
Everything, the cosmos, the universe belongs to him.
Yet, the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers
and chose their offspring after them,
you above all peoples,
as you are this day.
And let's just fast forward to verse 17.
We get this magnificent description of God.
It says,
For the Lord your God is God of gods
and Lord of lords,
the great, the mighty, the awesome God
who is not partial and takes no bribe.
And so you see,
this is kind of God's calling card.
This is him describing,
he is the ultimate creator of the universe.
He is just and fair and mighty and awesome.
And yet he has chosen
this little insignificant people group
in the ancient Near East
to be his treasured possession.
And Israel hasn't done anything
to deserve this favor.
It was simply grace of God.
And you see,
that grace isn't just a New Testament idea.
It's something that just runs through
from the beginning to the end.
You know,
it's like a couple that adopts a child,
an infant,
and what has the infant done
to deserve being adopted?
What did they do
to be so qualified?
Nothing, right?
They chose,
the parents chose
to adopt them.
The kid didn't earn anything.
And so maybe it makes sense
why God would remind the people
of his greatness
and all he's done for him
because God isn't just a loving,
you know,
parent that adopts an orphan,
but God is the creator
of the cosmos.
And he knows what is best
for the people
is for them to recognize that
and to worship him.
But here's where it gets a little,
well, it's been interesting so far,
but this is where it gets
more interesting, I think.
Because immediately after verse 17,
we get to verse 18,
and it says this,
God executes justice
for the fatherless
and the widow,
and he loves the sojourner,
giving him food
and clothing.
And after all this
majestic language
about God's awesomeness
and him being the creator
and how he's chose you,
Israel,
to be his treasured possession,
he kind of just talks
about his sort of particular care
for a few types of people.
And I think that's cause for us
to take us to maybe pause here
because maybe
this is important to God.
And when you read through
the entire Bible,
you'll actually realize
that this isn't
sort of a one-off anomaly.
Deuteronomy 10.18
is not an isolated incident,
and these three groups of people
are mentioned
over and over and over again.
It talks about the widow,
the fatherless,
the sojourner,
and also those
who are generally poor.
And I think most of us
can imagine,
I think instinctively,
okay, I can understand
maybe why widows and orphans,
they deserve special attention.
But what about sojourners?
What's that all about?
I don't even use that word ever.
When's the last time
you said sojourner
before today, right?
I didn't even really know
what it meant
until I looked it up
in the dictionary.
And so what is it?
So we're going to spend
the rest of this time
really zeroing in
on this word
because if Deuteronomy 10.18
is really what it says,
then we need to know
what a sojourner is.
We need to know
why this is close
to God's heart
and what it has to do
with you and me today.
So let's dig in
a little deeper
on this idea.
So in ancient times,
a sojourner was basically
someone who lived
in a different nation.
And you can think
of a sojourner
as someone
who's a non-citizen.
So someone without
the full rights,
the full standing
that a citizen
of a nation would have.
But in the ancient Near East,
more or less,
nations were pretty much
consolidated on ethnic groups.
So if you were a sojourner,
you were very much a foreigner.
You know,
it's not like
an immigrant country
like Canada
where it's like
a melting pot of nations
and ethnicities already.
And so if that's the case,
if you're so foreign,
why would a sojourner
be a sojourner?
Why would you go there?
And I think you can imagine
there are a bunch of reasons.
They could be escaping
war and famine.
Maybe some of them
were just drawn
to the people of Israel.
They were drawn
to the God of Israel.
But you can perhaps imagine
if you're just a sojourner
in this foreign land
with people who are
so different from you,
how sort of ostracized
you might feel,
how different
you might feel.
Some of you guys
perhaps have experienced
a bit of that already.
But it's not only that.
Because more importantly,
as a sojourner
in biblical times,
you would be very vulnerable
from an economic standpoint.
So it's not just
the social things.
It's not just
your cultural
sort of comfort.
But as in,
from a financial
and economic standpoint,
you would be vulnerable.
Because as a sojourner
in these ancient times,
you would have
no land rights.
And that's important
because in an agrarian society,
land is food.
And food is your livelihood.
Right?
Food is your life.
And so maybe you can see
why also the same thing
applied to widows
and the fatherless.
Because the land rights
were attached
to the father,
to the husband.
If the father died
and you had a widower
and you had the fatherless,
they would lose
their livelihood.
They would lose
their right to the land
in that culture.
So the point
I'm trying to make here
is that God
didn't just kind of
pick three random
categories of people.
It's that in this society,
there was very specific
reasons
why he wants
to execute justice
for the fatherless
and why he loves
the widow
and the sojourner.
What he's essentially
saying is that
I have a special concern
for the most vulnerable
in society.
I have a special concern
for the most vulnerable
in society.
And so Deuteronomy 10
basically sums up
who God is.
It's fantastic.
This one passage,
God is the one true God,
the creator of the universe.
The God who loves
his people,
who loves his treasured
possession
and wants them
to worship him.
But he's also
specifically
the God
who loves
and cares for
the most vulnerable
in society.
And so in light
of this,
in light of this,
Moses explains
to the people,
he challenges them
and this is what
the adequate response
to this God is.
You've seen
who God is.
He's shown you
who he is.
This is how we should
respond.
Let's read verse 12
together.
You should fear
the Lord your God.
Seeing all these
wonders and miracles,
fear him.
He's not just your dad.
He's not just your
heavenly father.
He's the king of kings.
Walk in all his ways.
Love him.
Serve the Lord
your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and keep the commandments.
Keep the statutes
of the Lord
which I am commanding
you today
for your good.
And then verse 19,
he commands,
love the sojourner.
Therefore,
for you were sojourners
in the land of Egypt.
So if the people
of Israel
truly received
God's love,
they truly saw him
and for who he really was,
they would love him
in response.
And that would
necessarily include
caring about
what God cares about.
So the blunt truth
that is presented
before Israel right now
is that they could not say,
if I was an Israelite,
I could not say
that I know God
yet at the same time
ignore the needs
of the orphan,
the widow,
the sojourner.
You know,
this wasn't
like a charitable
bonus
at the end of the year,
where you get
your charity in.
You know,
there were no tax receipts
in ancient Israel.
This was simply about
hearing God,
seeing him,
and emulating him,
following him,
obeying him.
And that's why
you have over and over again,
as you know,
the story of the Bible
when Israel falls,
when Israel is disobedient,
you know,
God challenges them.
He's like,
I hate your,
if you read Isaiah,
I've just been reminded
of this this week.
You read Isaiah 1,
God is saying,
I hate your worship.
I despise it.
You can sing all the songs
to me you want.
You can give me
all the money you want.
You can pray all you want.
You can write the most
beautiful sermon
that you want.
But if you don't love
the downtrodden,
if you don't love
the poor,
I hate your worship.
It's meaningless to me.
I despise it.
Some serious language there.
Now,
as a Hong Konger,
21st century,
I think it's easy
for us to kind of
distance ourselves
from Israel,
ancient Israel,
and all the Old Testament
laws,
they seem irrelevant
or distant.
And it is true,
we got to be careful
that we don't just
take Old Testament
things that were written
thousands of years ago
for a different culture
and just kind of like
plop them
into our context
because it is different.
So we always have to look
when we read the Bible,
look for what is
actually timeless.
What is it that really
is about God's character
and who He is?
What is He commanding us
that is timeless?
And I think when we look
at Deuteronomy 10,
we see this description
of who God is,
what He's done,
His love for people,
His love for the vulnerable,
and those things,
I believe,
are entirely unchanging.
And so when I think
about that
and when I look about,
look at our city today,
I think we can see,
even in our church,
modern-day sojourners.
The context is different,
right?
But I think the vulnerabilities
are very much
the same in essence.
And obviously,
Hong Kong is a place
of foreigners
and, you know,
expats, right?
I think a lot of you guys
fit in that category.
And a lot of people
don't have PR,
permanent residency status here.
But I don't think
the sort of,
there's a lot of nuance here.
I don't think
if you're an expat
in a typical sense,
like you've come here
as a iBanker from UK,
I don't think you technically
fit in the sojourner category
that the Bibles talk about.
You know,
we really do come
from a place of privilege
if you're a typical expat.
Not all of you,
but just generally.
And you've come
from a place of wealth
you come here
with a fantastic job.
You know,
you're esteemed
as a wonderful white person.
You know,
I can say that
because my wife is white
and I esteem her greatly.
And let's be honest, right?
You know,
there's a little bit
of that here.
And more importantly,
you have a clear path
to permanent residency, right?
Seven years
and you're good to go.
And so,
I don't think
we're necessarily
talking about you
even though I love you
as an expat.
And then on the opposite
end of the spectrum,
we do have refugees
and asylum seekers
and that's a whole
other issue
and we definitely
as a church
need to be thinking
about them
and thinking about
what our city
is doing
for these people.
But today
is Helper's Appreciation Day
and I believe
God wants us
to really consider
the foreign domestic helpers
in our midst
as sojourners
in a biblical sense.
And so,
did you know,
I was just looking this up
and kind of doing
some research
that 10%
of the working population
in Hong Kong
are actually
foreign domestic helpers.
That comes up
to about 400,000 helpers
and some have been
working here
for decades.
You know,
some have been helpers
here longer
than some of you
have been born.
It's pretty amazing, right?
But let's be honest,
right?
In many ways
they are treated
as sojourners.
In this hierarchical society
they are seen
as different.
They are treated
as different.
Whether it's said
or unsaid,
that's the reality.
And I'm not just talking
about the racism
or the prejudice
or just the,
you know,
just the abuse
even that happens
verbally and physically.
I'm not just talking
about that.
We know that happens.
Just read the news.
Just Google it.
But I'm talking
about legally
as a domestic helper
you are literally
treated as a different
class of people
in Hong Kong.
Some of you know this
but if you don't
let me just kind of
refresh you.
Six years ago
the Court of Final Appeal
ruled definitively
that if you are
a foreign domestic helper
you have,
you will never have
the right of abode
in Hong Kong.
You could stay here
for 70 years
if you want
but you can never
become a PR.
And that was the
policy of the government
all along.
That was the structure
that was set up
but it's a little different
when you have it written
pretty much set in stone
by the highest court
of the land
that you will never
become one of us.
You're a different class
literally.
And there's a lot
of other little things
and we can go into that
but I think another one
that obviously speaks
to us is money
and foreign domestic
helpers
they have literally
a different minimum wage
as everybody else
in Hong Kong
and unfortunately
it's not higher
it's lower.
And so that just also
I think speaks
that there's a difference here
and there's an obvious
socioeconomic
vulnerability there.
but there's a one
big one I think
that really also
underscores
is the fact that
foreign domestic helpers
their legal status
is completely based
on the employer
that recruits them
that brings them over.
So you know
if anything happens
if the contract
is terminated
they need to leave
in two weeks
I think a lot of you guys
know that already.
And so you have
an entire system
where these helpers
these sojourners
come in
and they're completely
at the mercy
of their employer.
And in this entire system
from recruiting
to agencies
and you know
all the lending
and the sort of
the loan sharks
that happen there
and just even
their dependence
on their employer
I think this entire system
just breeds
a sense of vulnerability
for them.
That they are
very
I guess
in a place
of vulnerability
they're at the mercy
and they're so vulnerable
to being taken
advantage of
right?
Now I don't
I've said a fair bit
about that
and I don't
I don't think
we need to hear
any more
from like
a middle class
Chinese
Canadian man
so I want to
invite Jonah
to come up
Jonah come on up
and Jonah
is
a
she works
as a foreign
domestic helper
in Hong Kong
but more importantly
Jonah is
a
just a beloved
sister
of
Watermark
and
the
FOF
community group
yes
thank you
and
yeah
it's just been
so good
to see her
get involved
and serve
and so
we're gonna hear
a bit of
Jonah's story
today
and just a heads up
this isn't gonna be
like the worst case
scenario
of everything
that could happen
bad to
you know
a helper
this is just
Jonah
a sister in Christ
she has a story
to tell
she has experience
you know
as a sister in Christ
and also as a helper
in Hong Kong
and so we just
want to hear her story
and she's
gonna tell us
about Jesus
amen
so
let's
let me just pray
for you really quick
and let's dive in
God just thank you
so much for Jonah
and all the ladies
who are in the
FOF group
thank you for her
I just pray that you
would use her right now
speak through her
humble her heart
show her how
beloved
she is
and how much
of a powerful
story
that she has
simply because
the king of kings
loves her
and has anointed her
to do good works
so we pray these
things in Jesus
name
amen
Jonah
tell us a bit
about yourself
tell us about
how you ended up
in Hong Kong
and just your
background
oh
it's working
hi I'm Jonah
I'm
I came from
Bagu City
the college place
in Philippines
and
I
became a Christian
I became a Christian
in Philippines
and
after that
I moved to
Kuwait
I work
I go to Kuwait
for a work
just like this
a nanny
and
my work there
is
I enjoy
a lot
I enjoy my work
I enjoy
my work
because I travel
a lot
with my
employer
they treat me
like
like as a part
of their family
because
yeah
they treat me
like that
but
unfortunately
I was involved
with
immorality
in a godly
relationship
so
I decided
to go home
and ask
God forgiveness
ask God
for a second
chance
and that's
why
that's how
I ended up
here in
How did you
come to know
the Lord Jesus
how did you
become a Christian
I became a Christian
I came from
poor family
and
my parents
cannot afford
my
tuition fee
to go to school
and I was so
I was so angry
with my
my parents
and I
I even said
that there is
no God
if there is
God
why
why we are
poor
why
my family
cannot afford
me to go to
school
and
and that
with that
I was so
I invade
my
my family
because some
of my family
usually they are
they are rich
they are
in the political
situation like that
and they are
a leader
of a Catholic
so something
like that
so I really
I feel really
bad
and I
I really
you know
I
I feel useless
useless about
my
who I am
and
yeah
that's
but
one day
some missionaries
went into our
village
and
shared the
word of God
but many times
I ignored them
I even
tore the
the
what they're
giving
and I
ignored them
but one
day my
sister said
why don't
we try
let's try
let's go
entertain them
so
in short
we
my
my sister
go
and we
entertain them
but
the time
that's the time
I accept
Jesus my
Lord and
Savior
but the
time that
I said
my Lord
and Savior
my family
rejected me
they haven't
said
oh
because
they believe
that Catholic
is
it's the
best religion
something like that
they are the one
who is saved
they are the one
who is true
and so
my family
rejected me
and
they even
said
you better
go and
change your
family name
and
I remember
the last word
of my
grandmother
she told me
if you'll not
go back
as a Catholic
you better
change your
family name
so
that's
yeah
that's how
I became
a Catholic
wow
so
how
what happened
afterwards
when you
kind of
as you
grew as a
Christian
as you
found out
more about
what
you know
who God
is
how did
that change
you
yeah
and
actually
yeah I
continue
I continue
as a believer
and
in my
place
I
lead a
worship
leader
in
our
church
and
yeah
that's
I
continue
I fight
for the
faith
but
due to
some
circumstance
that happened
in the
church
I feel
like
you know
dry
and
sometimes
there
it's
because
something
happened
in a
church
that
I
trust
a lot
the
pastor
is
standing
in front
and
one
day
the
pastor
is
trying
to
rape
me
and
there's
a
time
I
feel
so
down
where
will
I
go
now
my
family
rejected
me
and
the
pastor
that
oh
my
tries
and
the
trying
why
God
so
all
of
my
walk
with
God
is
now
before
is
questioning
God
why
he
allowed
that
to
happen
yet
he
knows
that
I
want
to
serve
him
for
the
rest
of
my
life
something
like
that
so
yeah
that's
crazy
that's
tough
so
you
went
to
Kuwait
and
it
was
it
was
hard
spiritually
you
felt
dry
and
you
but
you
also
knew
you
were
living
immorally
and
you
were
asking
God
for
a
second
chance
how
did
that
unfold
how
did
he
end
up
giving
you
a
second
chance
yeah
I
prayed
and
I
asked
forgiveness
for
a
second
chance
and
I
told
please
give
me
another
chance
and
so
that's
why
I
tried
to
apply
for
another
job
again
and
so
I
came
here
in
Hong
Kong
and
that's
the
time
I
when
yeah
that's
the time
I
came
here
in
Hong
Kong
and
my
sister
invited
me
to
a
church
in
a
Pentecostal
church
so
I
continued
my
walk
with
God
again
there
and
I
guess
I
wanted
you
to
talk
a
little
bit
about
you
just
coming
into
Hong
Kong
as
a
helper
what
was
that
experience
like
what
were
the
challenges
what
were
the
struggles
the
first
time
I
came
here
in
Hong
Kong
my
first
employer
I
struggled
a lot
because
she's
so mean
to me
and she's
so strict
and everything
I'm not
allowed to
use mobile
and I'm
not
if she
asked me
to go
in a
store
in 30
minutes
you must
be home
like that
so strict
and everything
and I'm
not allowed
to talk
to other
nanies
and
she
treat
me
like
she
treat
me
just
like
lower
than
them
you
know
you're
just
a
nanny
you're
just
a
nanny
so
you're
just
a
nanny
yeah
and
she
treated
me
I
was
it
was
really
a
struggle
for
me
because
I
came
from
I
compare
the
one
I
came
from
Kuwait
and
my
work
there
is
you
know
we
eat
together
with
my
employer
you
know
it's
because
in
Kuwait
if
they
eat
together
they
put
it
in
one
plate
and
all
of
us
will
eat
together
by
hand
and
yet
when
I
came
here
in
Hong
Kong
that
struggled
me
also
eating
by
hand
is
dirty
I'm
sorry
it's
dirty
something
like that
so I
compare
the
place
that I
came
in
Kuwait
that
I
came
from
a rich
family
I
have
my
own
room
I
have
everything
food
and
they
treat
you
a lot
they
treat
me
like
a part
of
the
family
and
yet
they
are
rich
family
and
so
I
become
boastful
and
I
compare
my
past
work
to
them
so
I
started
answering
her
back
if
she's
harsh
I
become
harsh
also
sometimes
but I
found
that
it's
not
good
and
how did
you find
that
how did
God
sustain
you
to
respond
to
your
harsh
employer
so
I
just
prayed
and
cried
out
to
God
I
said
Lord
forgive
me
for
doing
this
because
I
know
it's
really
hard
to
deal
also
because
if
I
do
something
that
she
asked
me
and
my
employer
my
mom
goes
to
work
and
popo
will
come
she
will
tell
me
come
on
come
on
so
I
didn't
know
which
one
whom
I
will
obey
if
my
employer
so
when
my
employer
will
come
home
why
didn't
you
do
what
I
said
because
so
I
don't
know
I
don't
really
know
so
what
I
did
is
I
really
prayed
God
but
through
that
situation
God
teach
me
how
to
humble
and
understand
them
and
through
attending
also
the
church
and
yeah
also
that
before
I'm
not
allowed
to
read
the
Bible
so
what
I
did
because
she
doesn't
want me
to switch
on the
light
during
night
time
so
what
I
did
is
I
bought
a
flashlight
so
I
just
flashlight
the
Bible
while
reading
so
that's
how
God
spoke
to
you
through
that
to
learn
how
to
love
even
a
harsh
employer
and
God
reminded
me
also
of
my
sin
my
past
sin
that
we
are
all
sinners
we
all
have
weaknesses
and
so
that's
the
time
let's
take
I
guess
talked
about
your
struggle
with
just
coming
to
Hong
Kong
and
working
here
and
the
society
here
and
the
harshness
what's
your
experience
been
in
becoming
part
of
a
church
here
I
know
you've
been
in
watermark
for
a
couple
years
now
so
we're
all
family
here
you can
be
honest
I
don't
know
I
don't
know
everything
she's
going
to
say
but
what was
your
experience
coming
to
a church
that
isn't
all
Filipino
that
we
don't
all
speak
Tagalog
or
it's
not
all
uniform
it's
quite
multicultural
what
was
your
experience
what
was
the
struggles
we
want
to
hear
from
you
I
have
been
attending
watermark
for
two
and
a
half
years
now
the
first
time
I
came
here
I
feel
shy
and
I
feel
that
I
feel
insecure
coming
here
because
I
saw
that
they
are
all
employers
they
will
see
me
also
as
a
nanny
they
will
look
me
down
as
a
nanny
so
those
are
some
thoughts
that
came
into
my
mind
and
so
I
feel
really
insecure
for
good
reason
though
right
because
that's
what
you
experienced
outside
right
yeah
maybe
it's
because
of
my
past
something
like
that
so
I
that's
and
I'm
a little
bit
shy
type
and
so
I
but I
think
God
I have
a mouthpiece
before I came
here
a sister
Janet
is my
mouthpiece
every time
they ask
she's the
one who
speak for
me
so
good job
Janet
yeah
because
yeah
and
I
feel
I
feel
like
I'm
in love
in this
church
but
what I
love
about
the
church
is that
the
teaching
the
teaching
I
really
love
the
teaching
of
the
watermark
yeah
but
through
that
the
time
that
there
was a
time
that
Janet
went
home
to
Philippines
and
I'm
alone
in the
church
so
so what
now
Jonah
you're
alone
so I
need
to
I need
to
stand
up
and
I
pray
to
God
that
God
will
help
me
deliver
me
from
my
insecurities
and so
through
hearing
the
word
of
God
and
through
you know
sister
Rhoda
sister
Christine
and
all
of
you
it
encouraged
and so
and also
you
carry
through
you
that
I was
encouraged
and
that's
the time
I feel
love
and I
feel
secure
here
I mean
yeah
through
the word
of God
and
I
was
delivered
to
my
struggle
through
also
my
personal
study
my
reading
the
Bible
and
my
devotion
so
that's
how
I
grow
and
overcome
the
shyness
and
I'm
a little
bit
shy
but
until
now
I
need
to
overcome
because
I
used
to
when
greeting
times
I
just
sitting
down
there
and
whoever
wants
to
greet
me
then
if
nobody
will
greet
me
then
it's
fine
yeah
and I
mean
that's
how
a lot
of us
feel
right
and you're
just
kind of
like
afraid
and
yeah
what
is it
about
the
word
of
God
what
is
the
word
of
God
that
you
heard
that
was
so
or
you read
that
really
kind of
gave you
confidence
you don't
have to
cite
anything
just
in
general
what
I
heard
is
that
God
is
a
God
who
loves
us
equally
yeah
who
loves
us
equally
no
matter
how
that's
what
I
heard
that
he's
not
looking
at
our
position
or
no
matter
how
higher
you
are
and
yeah
that
yeah
that's
good
and we
just
read
that
today
right
God
is
he's
a
God
of
just
he's
just
he
shows
no
partiality
right
we'll
give you
one
final
word
here
very
importantly
what
would
you
want
just
what
would
you
want
like
the
church
to
hear
in terms
and to
know
about
as
just
you
here
as a
representative
of
domestic
helpers
what
would
you
want
the
church
to
know
and
to
hear
I
think
as
brothers
and
sisters
in
Christ
yeah
we came
here
as
a
sojourner
I
used
to
sojourner
we
sacrifice
for our
family
our loved
ones
to work
here
otherwise
to
because we
need
financial
support
from our
family
otherwise
we are
not
here
so I
think
we need
to
we deserve
to be
loved
and
respected
yeah
and
because
as what
we have
heard a
while ago
that
God
is a
God
of
just
thank
you
thank
you
thank
you
Jonah
let's
give
a round
of
applause
we
love
you
thank
you
Jonah
thank
you
for
stepping
out
of
your
comfort
zone
and
just
letting
us
into
a
bit
of
your
heart
and
it
just
sounds
like
you
know
there's
so
many
struggles
highs
and
lows
but
it's
just
amazing
hearing
you
talk
about
God
and
talk
about
how
much
you
love
his
word
and
how
much
he's
changed
you
allows
you
to
see
who
you
are
as
a
broken
someone
who
struggled
and
sinned
but
who
is
loved
by
your
creator
and
I
think
that's
beautiful
and
as
I
was
thinking
about
her
testimony
you
know
I
think
one
thing
that
the
Holy
Spirit
really
convicted
me
about
is
that
I
think
I
do
need
to
apologize
and
say
sorry
I
think
even
as
a
church
many
of
us
need
to
apologize
to
the
helpers
around
us
and
I
chatted
with
a few
helpers
in the
past
month
and so
or so
I
just
asked
them
hey
what's
one
thing
you
would
want
Hong
Kongers
to
do
differently
not
in
general
but
just
in
relation
to
you
as
a
helper
and
a
few
answers
I
got
was
just
say
please
and
thank
you
to
us
another
one
was
just
honor
my
one
day
off
a
week
and
really
honor
it
don't
sneak
things
in
there
and
third
just
talk
to
us
like
normal
people
and
get
to
know
us
and
I
think
that
just
hit
me
because
I
know
I
failed
to
reach
out
to
so
often
and
I
know
in
my
head
I've
been
a
Christian
I
know
I
think
I'm
more
often
shaped
by
the
views
outside
and
if
I'm
brutally
honest
sometimes
helpers
I
may
hold
you
in
less
esteem
even
if
it's
subconsciously
or
I
may
just
naturally
gravitate
to
someone
who's
more
similar
to
me
or
speaks
like
me
or
is
educated
in
a
similar
way
as
me
and
I'll
just
gravitate
towards
them
more
and
I'll
hold
them
in
higher
esteem
and
we
know
that
that's
not
right
that's
not
who
God
is
and
I
know
that
we
can
do
better
and
we
can
change
by
the
grace
of
God
so
I
just
really
feel
like
we
also
need
to
apologize
to
you
as
a
church
as
a
people
and
we
really
need
to
work
on
this
by
God's
grace
and
the
interesting
thing
about
our
failure
though
what
gave
me
comfort
as
I
was
thinking
about
this
is
that
God
isn't
surprised
by
anything
you
know
if
you
look
back
at
the
passage
let's
take
a
look
at
verse
16
God
says
circumcise
therefore
the
foreskin
of your
heart
and be
no longer
stubborn
it's
very
graphic
isn't
it
and
this
idea
of
circumcising
your
own
heart
is
really
just
a
picture
that
you
need
a
radical
heart
change
you
need
something
to
come
in
and
just
rewire
your
heart
who
you
love
how
you
love
and
like
all
of
us
the
Israelites
were
also
self
people
and
they
needed
God's
love
to
do
that
so
that's
why
God
says
to
them
love
the
sojourner
for
you
were
sojourners
in
Egypt
I
brought
you
out
of
Egypt
remember
me
the
one
who
brought
you
out
of
captivity
in
church
when
you
start
reading
the
rest
of
the
Bible
you
begin
to
see
something
very
interesting
is
that
the
Bible
writers
start
using
the
word
sojourner
not
just
literally
but
spiritually
to
describe
the
spiritual
condition
of
all
people
sometimes
you'll
see it
translated
as
a
stranger
or
foreigner
or
alien
but
the
meaning
is
essentially
the
same
it's
that
we
are
all
sojourners
separated
from
God's
kingdom
and
this
morning
whether
you're
a
Christian
or
not
I
think
we
do
wrestle
with
being
sojourners
in Hong
Kong
right
some
of
you
guys
are
literally
trying
to
become
citizens
of another
country
through
immigration
and
investment
but
a lot
of
us
are
sojourners
in
a
social
sense
we
feel
like
sojourners
in
our
companies
in
our
families
even
we
feel
like
we're
outsiders
we're
strangers
some
of
us
feel
like
we're
sojourners
like
in
terms
of
our
finances
our
salaries
our
job
title
our
education
level
that we
always
need to
go
somewhere
else
to be
happy
we're
not
there
yet
and we
spend our
entire
lives
striving
to become
citizens
of
something
some of
us are
just so
gripped
we feel
like
sojourners
in the
life of
romance
and
relationships
and we
just need
to get
to that
promised
land
and then
I'll be
happy
then
I'll
be
home
and there's
always
another
place
to
sojourn
to
and what
we don't
see
is that
heaven
is our
true
home
that
adoption
into
God's
family
is what
we truly
need
and so
we end
up being
sojourners
in the
world
in our
sin
and we
are
separated
from
God
and there's
no path
to
citizenship
it's not
just
seven
years
the
door
is
closed
but
this
is
the
beautiful
passage
then you
get to
the
new
testament
God
says
this
in
ephesians
2
let's
really
sink
this
into
our
hearts
remember
that
you
were
at
that
time
separated
from
Christ
alienated
from
the
common
wealth
of
Israel
and
strangers
to
the
covenants
of
promise
having
no hope
and without
God
in
the
world
but
now
in
Christ
Jesus
you
who
are
once
far
off
have
been
brought
near
by
the
blood
of
Christ
so
then
you
are
no
longer
strangers
you
are
no
longer
aliens
but
you
are
fellow
citizens
with
the
saints
and
members
of
the
household
of
God
isn't
that
amazing
we
are
sojourners
we
were
strangers
but
now
we
are
sons
and
daughters
of the
God
most
high
so
this
morning
whether
you
are
a
fortune
500
CEO
or
a
helper
or
a
teacher
or
a
lawyer
or
a
doctor
or
student
whatever
you
are
the
Bible
is saying
God
is saying
your
greatest
need
is for
Jesus
to
change
you
from
being
a
sojourner
to
a
child
of
God
and
we
believe
that
this
is
the
only
place
to
be
a
child
of
God
a
son
and
daughter
of
the
king
it's
the
only
place
that
you
will
be
fully
known
for
everything
you've
done
the
good
the
bad
and
the
ugly
you'll
be
fully
known
but
you'll
also
be
fully
unconditionally
loved
you won't
find that
anywhere
I believe
it's
the only
place
where
God
can
change
your
heart
and turn
you
given
for
every
hurt
you
have
ever
caused
and
that
you
can
heal
from
every
hurt
that
you've
ever
received
it's
the
only
place
you
can
be
certain
for
life
after
death
and
so
when
you're
so
full
of
God's
love
that
will
naturally
change
how
you
live
and
so
for
some
of
us
today
I
think
we
need
to
just
recognize
that
for
maybe
the
first
time
that
I
am
a
sojourner
and
I've
been
searching
all
my
life
to
be
home
and
God
is
saying
welcome
home
I'm
ready
to
forgive
you
I'm
ready
to
call
you
son
and
daughter
come
home
and
for
those
of
us
who
are
professing
to
be
following
Jesus
I
think
we
just
need
to
continue
meditating
on
these
verses
again
for
the
Lord
your
God
is
God
of
gods
and
Lord
of
Lords
the
great
the
mighty
and
the
awesome
God
can
we
put
that
up
on
the
screen
there
that's
really
the
next
one
yeah
for
the
Lord
your
God
is
God
of
gods
and
Lord
of
Lords
the
great
the
mighty
and
awesome
God
he's
not
partial
and
takes
no
bribe
he
executes
justice
for
the
fatherless
and
the
widow
he
loves
the
sojourner
giving
him
food
and
clothing
love
the
sojourner
therefore
for
God
has
revealed
who
he
is
what
he
cares
about
and
so
if
we
call
him
God
if
we
call
him
father
we
need
to
know
what
his
heart
is
about
and
what
we're
really
saying
here
is
that
the
way
you
treat
sojourners
is
a sign
is a
litmus
test
even
of
whether
God's
love
is
alive
in
your
heart
the
God
of
sojourners
if
we
worship
him
if
we
seek
him
if
we
follow
him
we
too
must
be
a
people
who
love
sojourners
and
if
you're
just
full
of
love
right
now
and
you
don't
know
how
to
love
the
sojourner
take
a look
at
the
bulletin
there's
some
thoughts
there
better
yet
chat
with
Jonah
or
Janet
or
any
of
the
helpers
you
know
get
to
know
them
get
to
know
their
hopes
and
dreams
talk to
them
just
like
you
would
talk
to
anybody
see
how
you
can
love
them
well
God
says
love
the
sojourner
for you
and I
we were
sojourners
in the
world
you were
slaves
to your
sin
but God
rescued
you
he brought
you out
of
captivity
and into
his
family
so let's
be a
God
let's
be a
people
of
sojourners
because
we
worship
a
God
of
sojourners
let's
pray
father
we know
this is
hard
we know
that
intrinsically
we fear
the other
we fear
those who
are
different
we fear
those
who act
and speak
differently
from us
God
but we
know
that you
love
the
sojourner
God
so this
morning
we
humble
ourselves
we
stand
before
the
God
of
sojourners
and say
Lord
would you
open
our
eyes
Lord
help us
to see
our
own
condition
how
you
brought
us
into
your
family
Lord
we
were
sojourners
God
so
Lord
help us
to love
the
sojourners
whom
you
love
so
dearly
Lord
let
the
scales
of
prejudice
and
fear
of the
other
let them
just
fall
away
we
need
you
Holy
Spirit
to do
a
miraculous
work
in
us
we
need
your
love
to
fill
us
God
because
we
know
we
can't
do
it
ourselves
so
we
just
open
our
hands
our
hearts
to
you
this
day
Lord
would you
change
us
would you
change
us
in
Jesus
name
nothing
love
oh
something
I
need
to