Team back from mission trip to Hong Kong

A team of members from North Valley Baptist Church of Red Bluff participated in the Youth With a Mission/Far East Evangelism Team Christmas Outreach in Hong Kong, China. The team, which included pastor Dave Lamberson, Marvin Whiteman, Sue Mitchell, with daughters Nicole and Michelle Mitchell, left Dec. 10 and returned Dec. 28. YWAM and FEET combine yearly to present the Gospel in drama, song and dance in the country. The message of Christ’s birth is not taught in Hong Kong on a regular basis, and many have not heard the Bible stories or know the reason behind the Christmas holiday. The group was housed in an 600-year-old village. There were 94 people from 14 countries that participated. The housing is in three to four story buildings, with unheated rooms. Shared baths, one per dorm house, were several flights down from bedrooms and the showers do not have mixing faucets. The teams ate together in the center square during good weather.
Performances are given throughout Hong Kong at schools, malls and other venues. Each participant has a job to do in cooking, cleaning, carrying props or other needs for the troupe. NVBC’s team included the oldest participant in the event, Whiteman, 70, and the youngest, Michelle Mitchell, 10. Nicole Mitchell, 13, fractured her foot while doing cartwheels on stage but continued to perform.
According to Lamberson, the group was invited by a member of the church and a YWAM missionary. “Over 4500 heard the Gospel message and 209 prayed to believe,” the worker said in an email.
“It was the chance of a lifetime,” Whiteman said. “If there was a down side, it was not hearing Christmas music. I missed that very much. Being away from home on Christmas was difficult for all of us, but that is what we were called to do.” Whiteman also said he was impressed with the 35 to 40 floor apartment buildings everywhere in the city. NVBC is at 345 David Ave., Red Bluff. Information is available at 527-0543.
Pictured are pastor Dave Lamberson, Marvin Whiteman, Sue Mitchell, with
daughters Nicole and Michelle Mitchell.