New Year & New Perspective
(To see more, visit my blog at jennyoumans.com)
I loved Hong Kong for the first month or so after moving here in July 2014. Then, I was super busy working on ICM’s annual report for the next couple of months, thennn I was even busier preparing for ICM’s annual HK banquet for another month, then… I was miserably homesick for the months leading up to my trip back to the States. I spent about a month in the US soaking up family and friend time as much as possible. I came back to Hong Kong preparing to mourn leaving everyone behind again, but my sister came back to HK with me for about two weeks. We had such an amazing time exploring. The MTR station (metro rail here) opened the station in my area (FINALLY) so now I don’t have to rely on buses and cabs to get around all the time–serious life improvement. Showing my sister around HK was honestly perfect. We got to bond in a way we hadn’t in a while, and I seriously enjoyed her whole visit (MISS YOU SISSY!). It gave me a new perspective on the city–and reminded me of the beauty that is surrounding me every day. Her leaving was a bummer, but I was left feeling refreshed.
I went back to work feeling encouraged and ready to focus. It helps knowing I work at an organization filled with passionate people working to help people who’s lives deserve to be changed. I miss my family and friends of course, but I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be right now. If I don’t embrace that feeling, then I’ll just re-enter the cycle of being homesick and bummed. I want to soak it in and enjoy this. Being a missionary is so different from what I expected it to be. Last weekend I helped man a booth representing ICM at a missions fair at my church. Several non-profit organizations had booths set up so people could learn more about volunteering or going on mission trips with these local organizations. I was a little nervous about representing ICM as a missionary because I think people usually think of a missionary as someone backpacking through slums somewhere, all spiritual and covered in mud or something intense.
What I learned was people were really encouraged by my story. Weird. I think they needed to hear that normal (I know, debatable) people can help others by doing what they’re good at. I like graphic design. I went to school for it. I got better at it by working in the corporate world for 3 years. Now I’m still working from a desk as a graphic designer, but I’m using that skill to help others, and raising funds for that role. Therefore, I’m a missionary. The whole weekend was really great, and helped me put to bed some insecurities about fundraising and referring to myself as a missionary.
Anyway. I’m happy to be back in Hong Kong, meeting a ton of new people and trying a bunch of new things. This is a transforming experience and I can’t wait to see what happens next.