Tintin and the Secret of the Unicorn

Today we went to watch The Adventures of Tintin and the Secret of the Unicorn.

As a childhood fan that grew up on these comics, I was slightly hesitant to watch the movie. To be honest, I was afraid that it would disappoint, because in so many ways, the comics are timeless and perfect. There's just something about the pen and paper copies that seem to bring Tintin to life in a way cartoon and film can not. But the movie didn't disappoint. In fact, I was quite happy and pleased with how Spielberg portrayed the characters.

Firstly, the cinematics of this movie were pretty awesome. Rather than using normal actors for the movie, Spielberg transformed the actors into 3D CGI cartoons using motion-captured technology like the ones they used in Avatar. The result are very life-like characters that are believable, but also other-worldly. You know what you are watching is purely imaginative and fictional, as real and believable as it seems, but that's precisely the allure of the original comics as well.

Spielberg does a good job with the characters, staying faithful to how Herge portrayed them originally. Tintin is the innocent boy reporter who seeks the truth, Snowy is the faithful and sometimes mischievous sidekick, and Haddock is still the fiery drunken captain he is in the books. And of course the twins are the bumbling idiots they are as well.

The plot gets changed quite a bit and I think appeals to the audience more. For those who haven't read the comics, it has all the blockbuster thrills, turns, and chase scenes you would want. But for the comic faithful, it has the majority of the plot and inside details that make the movie nostalgic. Spielberg adds some deeper layers to the characters through their interaction (we learn more of Haddock's past and see him grow) but we never learn anymore more about Tintin's past - which is the way it's supposed to be.

Overall, I was quite happy to watch the film. It is a faithful remake of a timeless and classic comic. It doesn't seek to improve on what Herge created- it simply and effectively pays homage to what he has done. What Herge did was create a comic that was escapist in reality and Spielberg simply explores that more, with the technology we have available 80 years later. The movie won't blow your mind, but it does entertain. For what its worth, it'll likely make the old fans happy and come out with a few new ones as well.

Ball Hockey in Hong Kong

Alright, this post has been a long time coming. Since getting approval to start the ball hockey intramural club this year, I've been so excited to coach and prepare the boys (and two girls) for upcoming matches. We had one this week against ICS. So we decided to build a "shooter tutor" to help them practice their shots.

Ramus cutting the salvaged canvas from the school

Boys gluing the joints 

The Canvas was a discarded basketball pole protector

Zip-tying the canvas on the net

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Going for the competition

The first period was a 0-0 tie. We did well to force most of the play in the offensive zone. In the second, we tired a bit, but the students worked very hard. We let in a goal from a set passing play which was really nice, and lost the game 1-0. We had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds but hit the post. 

Bringing the sticks back to school.

All in all, it was a great first game of the season. We showed great strides by improving (last year we lost 8-2 or something). Looking forward to more games!

I Have a Question.

A short video sent by Mr. Laing. Teachers, any thoughts?

Divine Appointment

"Why God so good? Don't know. He is!"

On Friday night, Michelle's school organized a BBQ social at a golf club to welcome the new teachers and thank the returning teachers and their families for their service to the school. At first I was a bit wary of going since I heard the friends I hang out with (colleague husbands like me) weren't going to be there. But it turned out to be such an enjoyable evening with a divine appointment as well!

At first, we were treated to some coaching from a golf instructor at the driving range. I learned that I was winding up too much and holding my club like a bat. I think I learned the poor technique from Happy Gilmore. Anyhow, nice to just smack balls since I haven't done that for a while.

The food was really great as well. The school treated us well. We also had some nice company and got to get some of the colleagues a bit better.

But the best part of the evening was when I ran into a gentleman by the name of Howard Robinson. I was lining up for the food when I saw him approaching and I recognized him as someone who I knew. Then it dawned on me that Howard was the team leader of a construction Short Term's Missions I took to Kunming 3 years ago. His kids go to the school and he serves on the school board. What a small world! What a divine appointment.

Howard, unknowingly, was actually a catalyst in my journey here to Hong Kong. It was 3 years ago when I came back in 2008 seeking for God's direction in my life after university that I opened myself to the possibility to being in Asia. This was when I was very interested in pursuing Michelle but needed to know that God was calling me into that relationship. I signed up for several Missions trips that half a year. It was a wonderful time of seeing the world and seeking God's will.

One day while I was in HK 3 years ago, my sister brought back a promotional booklet from the Christian bookstore published by the organization Howard serves at. He sends work teams into different places to build, renovate, and fix ministry centers/homes. I was immediately drawn and signed up for a trip to go to Kunming. You can see the pictures here.

Kunming Photo Album

I remember that trip so vividly because it was a time when I really struggled with the idea of a home. I felt like a wanderer because so much of me didn't fit into the cultures I had encountered. During those months in HK, I felt homesick and out of place because though I was born in this place, I couldn't read or write the language people presumed I would know. In China, I even more alien in a place where I looked like the majority but could barely articulate my thoughts. In Vancouver, I felt a longing to go elsewhere because I felt God had placed a burden on my heart for the people in China. So the struggles of "who am I?", and "where do I belong?" surfaced during this trip.

At Kunming I came to the realization that this world isn't my home anyways, much akin to what Hebrews 13:16 and Philippians 3:20 say. We fix our eyes towards our heavenly home. We can't hold too tightly to what we have here on earth because it's not meant to be ours to hold on to. And as I learned from Steve, the worker whose house we built, God can call us elsewhere at any time. It's best not to be too heavily rooted in a certain place.

After the trip and my time in HK I went back to Vancouver and finished my education degree and started teaching. I never thought I would be back in HK much less run into Howard again. But it's so neat to see that God brings things full circle. Three years ago I came to HK searching for God's will and his calling for ministry. I sought for a semblance of home. I didn't even have a girlfriend. Now I'm back in HK for the foreseeable future with the wife I had prayed for those long months I had spent here. Seeing Howard again reminds me that God has been so good to me. Never did I ever think my life would have turned out this way. But God has charted out my life in a way that is beyond what I could have ever imagined or written myself.

The last year, Michelle and I have seen sign after sign of God's affirmation for us to be here in HK: from having our jobs, getting our place, planning our wedding, deepening friendships, and meeting new people. Once in a while we have these divine appointments/coincidences that are a sure sign of his Hand. And in all of this we relearn the richness of God's goodness and His mighty love for us. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." We see this truth more and more each day.

Why God so good? Don't know. Just is!

Season's Starting!

Finally got my ball hockey club together this year! All the work off bringing sticks over (thanks Keith and Timmy) and collecting sticks painstakingly from the YMCA. This year the club got approved which means we have a budget to get more sticks. What started out as 5 kids shooting around has turned into a 17 person co-ed team. So thankful.

Here are some pictures of our 2nd practice.





Passing drills






Stickhandling and using the body to shield the ball.






Pass to slot for one-timers.




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Not Knowing

It has been great to still keep in touch with friends back home. Thanks to iPhone technology, I got to facetime with Debbie during my lunch break last week. As brief as it was, it was a blessed time to encourage and pray for each other. Something in our conversations struck me. She mentioned in passing how it was a big decision for Tintin and I to move to Hong Kong. Her words caught me off guard. It never really occurred to me that moving to Hong Kong would be a big decision, until now. I had a reality check. Tintin and I are in Hong Kong, setting up “home” here for the time being, until God calls us elsewhere. Sometimes this realization might be overwhelming. I wonder, “Why did God call us back to Hong Kong? Have we realized what our purposes are yet or will it be fully realized in the future? When will I go back to Vancouver? What lessons does God want me to learn?”  If I dwell on these questions too long, I might start freaking out. But what I have learned from the past year is that it is to our benefit to not know too much.

If I knew I would be in Hong Kong for an indefinite period of time, away from family and friends, I probably would have chickened out and stayed in Vancouver. My fears and doubts would have consumed me. But instead, God only told me what I needed to know for my good. That way, I would be able to proceed forward with the little faith that I have. And I guess that was what we did. I (We) learned that as we proceed, God will reveal and confirm the next steps. In this way, it makes us depend on God more. I guess that was what happened in the past year with Tintin and I. Somehow, the little steps brought us here. So, if you ask us what are the plans for the future, our answer would probably be, “I don’t know.” And it’s okay to not know too much. It’s probably for our own good. So, if you want to pray for us, pray that we would be faithful in the things God has given us. Pray that our ears and hearts will always be open to hear the confirmation and revelation of God for the next steps.

Weird Dreams

Last night I had this really strange dream where my dad was chasing me around trying to convince me to go visit my grandma for dinner. I kept running away and refusing to go. It was strange because the dream took place at UBC and I was taking the bus to get away from him. Afterwards I felt so guilty about not going. I woke up feeling as if I was abandoning my parents. 

To be honest, I haven't really interacted much with them since getting married. I've seen then a handful of times since coming back from Vancouver. But since the summer it's been a little awkward because every time I see my parents the conversation always steers towards my sister and how she is doing. I think part of me just can't handle it anymore. I don't have the energy to solve my family problems anymore and get into their mess. 

I think the struggle for me since getting married is that I need to find the balance between my time with Michelle and how I relate with my family. My parents have been really good in not demanding a lot from us (which is something I appreciate) but I have trouble with not feeling guilty about the freedom I have. Part of me of course wants to spend time with them. But whenever we do, I always feel guilty for their problems. I dont' want to feel guilty anymore. I just want to be their son and brother.

This morning Michelle and I were talking about Faith, Hope, and Love and how one day there won't be a need for faith and hope anymore because we'll be redeemed in heaven. We will just have love- the love of God that we will bask in and the love of fellowship that we share. Those are things I look forward to. Right now I'm finding it hard to have faith to hope for that. I need to be reminded that our God is good and does keep His promises. He promises to redeem and make all things new (2 Cor 5:17), and promises that one day there will be no sadness or weeping (Rev 21:3-4). Please pray I'll remember that.