New Language:Serving in HKCCC

By Sandra (New staff in Bridges International Team)

What is the feeling of serving in Hong Kong being a non-chinese speaking staff? 

22-23服侍國際生的同工團隊

If I could use one word to describe the experience so far, I would say “stretching”. I think I might have come in too naive thinking that I would face no difficulties because it is a Christian environment. The other staff have been extremely supportive and welcoming of me - constantly checking on me and being considerate of my needs as a non-Chinese speaker. The experience so far has challenged me in ways I never imagined possible. There are days when the language barrier and cultural differences are barely felt because of our shared goal and common unity in Christ and other days when it is more obvious. Though it is difficult, words cannot express how deeply blessed I feel to have been chosen by God and this wonderful team to serve with them in Hong Kong. 

How did God encourage you to serve in Hong kong? 

I am an Indian, and in my country, less than 3% of the population identify as Christian. What’s worse is that because of religious diversity and cultural tensions, only a handful of those Christians share the Gospel with others, leaving India as one of the countries with the most number of unreached people groups in the world. I also grew up in Oman, a country in the Middle East where it is illegal to share the Gospel. So when I came to Hong Kong as an international student 4 years ago, you can imagine my shock to see the Gospel being shared so freely! 

Like me, many international students come from countries and cultures in the world that have little to no access to the Gospel. When they come to a city like Hong Kong to study, it is often the first time that they are away from their families and cultural controls. Maybe for the first time in their lives, they have the freedom to hear and consider the claims of Christianity. So I have come to see that international students in Hong Kong are an extremely strategic mission field. Even though it may be hard to do missions in places like India and the Middle East, God made a way to reach these nations through these international students by bringing them to us!