Dear friends,

We have heard through our sources that many of you would like to know more about our work in Hong Kong. I am glad that you are so interested in our service here and I hope that I can explain our mission a bit better. I will start with a brief introduction to our work and a little information about why it matters - I know some have asked why English teachers are necessary in Hong Kong or why we are 'missionaries' in such a modern and developed city.

We are serving as the English teachers for the Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Hong Kong. We are teaching the English classes (Levels I-IV) as well as providing English language support for the students and any faculty members needing assistance. This includes editing Master's and Doctoral dissertations, journal articles, newsletters, class papers, sermons, and answering the odd obscure grammar question for our curious community. Our door is always open.

Although the stereotype is that 'everyone in Hong Kong speaks English,' we can tell you from our experience that this is far from the truth. We don't speak Cantonese, and we notice that in our daily lives. Technically, the local students have taken English as a subject in school ever since they were young, but for those of you, like myself, who spent years studying Maths and still struggle with long division, you may understand that they need more support, especially from native speakers. Theological texts are also, in general, a little heavier than your average reading material, and theological writing demands a certain level of academic writing beyond what would be covered in a foreign language class.

We are also working with the seminary to help start an intensive summer English orientation program for our international students and strengthen the current language program here at LTS. Currently, there is no set curriculum for the English Department, and so Ryan and I had to create one when we arrived. No small task! We had to learn very quickly how to put together a course that would work with our (limited) experience and the context. We try to teach theological English, taking readings from the Bible and theological texts, as this is most applicable for our students, and after all, we are in a seminary. There had also been little consideration for the transition situation of the international students, and culture shock mixed with the stress of adjusting to graduate studies can be difficult for many (I know from personal experience!). Add to this that the international students have to function in English for their courses and social life, and you see why an intensive language program over the summer would be incredibly beneficial for their adjustment to LTS.

In addition to this, we are both considered full members of the teaching faculty and as such have exciting and diverse responsibilities.

The Lutheran Theological Seminary is unique because it operates in three languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. This is special because it allows students from all over Asia (and the world!) to come and study theology in an exciting international setting. In addition to local Hong Kong students, LTS currently has students from 'mainland' China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Scotland, Germany and Sweden. Most international students come for graduate studies, while the majority or our English students are completing their Bachelor of Theology.

The English language skills acquired in our classes help to open up a whole range of theological material that would otherwise not be available to our students in their primary language. It also increases their job opportunities and networking capabilities, as they have access to international religious/theological organizations, forums and journals. The international students take all their classes in English, sometimes their forth or fifth language, so providing assistance to them in their studies can sometimes be essential for their academic success.

International students come to study in this seminary for several reasons; for some people they cannot study theology at the graduate level (or at all) in their home countries; others come for the strong academic reputation of LTS in Asia, for example for the study of Luther in the Asian context; others seek theological education in English and complete a master's here before further studies in the United States or Australia. Many of the Th.D. students are already on faculties of theological institutions in their home countries, and some have been teaching for decades. This further degree will strengthen their capabilities to instruct and lead the next generation of theologians in their local communities.

It is especially exciting for us, in our small way, to be involved in strengthening and supporting our Christian brothers and sisters from emerging churches or those in crisis situations. We just teach English, it's not 'glamorous' 'mission' work, but somebody has to do it... and we enjoy it very much.

Thank you for your prayers,

Ryan and Katrina