Shenzhen, Shopping, and "Sesh"

Living in north Hong Kong makes it very easy to visit mainland China.  Almost too easy.  There are loads of people who frequently cross the border (going through customs and all that entails) to the city of Shenzhen.  And most often it’s not for a weekend holiday, or even for a day trip.  It’s usually just to go shopping!  And it makes sense—things are quite a lot cheaper in mainland China.

So, I joined the fun.  Yesterday afternoon, I crossed the border, bought groceries, had dinner at a noodle shop, and got money out of an ATM (it’s $5USD to take it out of Hong Kong machines).  I like living in Hong Kong.  But, paying half price—or less—for everything, makes the mainland attractive.

On my way to find an ATM machine, I remembered another reason that people come across the border from Hong Kong.  I felt assaulted by the massage parlor hawkers on the sidewalk, who stand outside at night trying to get guys to come in for massages and sex.  For the space of a few blocks, it was every 10 meters that I was approached with: “You want massage?”, “Foot massage with beautiful girl?”, and even just “Sex?” (But they don't have the "x" sound in Chinese, so they actually say, "Sesh?")

Spread over a few blocks along the adjacent sidewalk, there are middle-aged women inviting men to come to their shops for a foot massage, etc.

I just wanted to find my ATM, but I think God wanted my heart to break again for these girls.  Some of them are kidnapped, and forced to work day and night.  Many choose to work here, with hopes of making a lot of money.  And this is a prime location for tourists who come from Hong Kong, looking for cheaper (and younger) girls.  Someone who has been ministering here for decades said, "When I'm on the metro in Hong Kong, I can tell which men are on their way to Shenzhen...you can see the lust in their eyes."

But now, back to the middle-aged women on the sidewalk, trying to lure men into their sex shops.  I imagine that these “sex-pushers” can’t stand their jobs.  I know that this is not what they dreamed of doing when they were little girls in school.  Anyway, I don’t want to get angry.  But I do want to see transformation in this region. Right before that trip to Shenzhen, I felt God was impressing upon me Psalm 43:3: “Send forth your light and your truth; let them lead me.”  I want to see light and truth uncover the darkness and deceit of the sex industry, and save the lives and souls of prostitutes and their clients, both in Shenzhen and in Hong Kong.

P.S. I didn’t realize until this week that my own neighborhood is the center for prostitution in northern Hong Kong.  Pray for this place…there’s such an oppressive darkness, but it’s mostly hidden in massage parlors and cautiously marked apartments.  All I know to do right now is to cry out until God transforms this place.

Home Group and Soup

Tuesday night, I went to a home group meeting for Kowloon City Vineyard (Jackie Pullinger’s first church plant).  I really like these people.  Maybe half are students and young professionals.  The other half are full-time live-in volunteers with the St. Stephen’s Society.  The male volunteers live with the brothers who are seeking to recover from drug addiction.  The female volunteers live with girls whose families have been broken by drugs.

I sat beside one of the new British volunteers from the girls’ house.  As I asked her about daily life at her house, I felt strongly that I should “ask her about soup”.  Even though I know that Jackie Pullinger’s church/ministry community is very accustomed to the gifts of knowledge and wisdom, etc, I still felt very awkward saying, “Hey, God wants me to ask you about soup!”

Anyway, we talked.  After a little while, I found out that the girls’ house had eaten a very plain, tasteless rice and noodle soup for breakfast. All I knew to tell her was to receive with gratitude everything God provides, and that what He provided would be good.

We had this conversation right before dinner was delivered.  Incidentally, the host had ordered an array of pizza, ribs, chicken, rice, dumplings…and soup.  It was good! :)

Later, we were sharing stories of healing and miraculous provision.  Besides the miracles of instantaneous deliverance from drug addiction (which is what St. Stephen's is most known for), they have also seen physical healings, creative miracles for missing body parts, and the multiplication of food to feed the poor.

Jackie Pullinger, founder of St. Stephen's Society, author of Chasing the Dragon

Even though I haven’t volunteered with them, I am really a fan of St. Stephen’s Society, and for the volunteers from all over the world who are helping to bring Christ’s freedom and peace to drug addicts in Hong Kong.  After the meeting, I talked with one girl from Ireland, who said, “I think that St. Stephen’s [and the church network associated with it] is grasping a part of God that not many others in the Body of Christ do.”  At age 20, Jackie Pullinger arrived in Hong Kong, with a clear call from God, with no home support or contacts, and with 100 Hong Kong dollars. Now, decades later, she runs a network of churches and of drug rehab centers all over this region.  The people who work with her live with an expectation of healings, miraculous provision, and hearing directions from the Holy Spirit as a daily part of life.  Praise God for these people!

And, fyi, they can always use volunteers: http://www.ststephenssociety.com.

Sweet Potatoes and Beggars

I was in Shenzhen earlier this week, and upon exiting a taxi, and before I could get out, a beggar had her hands inside the taxi, in my face, asking for money.

I got out of the taxi, and handed her a packaged pastry I'd bought at a 7-11, pre-planning for occasions like this.  But, she handed it back to me.  Given all the weird preservatives in those things, that was probably smart of her!

I also saw a lady selling steamed sweet potatoes near the border.  These things are great!

You'll notice that her giant heating container is on the back of a bike.  Not the most convenient way to travel, but when the police come to shoo away sidewalk vendors, they have to be able to change business locations fast!

I walked towards the border, and was approached by another beggar.  She asked me for my sweet potato. I know that beggars have to meet a certain quota of money, so that they can keep their jobs (and probably to keep from being beaten).  So they're usually not interested in food.  Anyway, I think this is the first time a Chinese beggar has asked me for food!  And, I was much happier giving her a sweet potato than a coin.

I still don't know how to respond to beggars, except to pray that God will hear the cries of the poor, and bring conversion of heart to the managers of the begging syndicate in Shenzhen.