Rejoice Always, Pray Continually, Give Thanks in All Circumstances

A Letter from Myoungho Yang and Jiyeon Yoo, serving in China

Winter 2021

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Greetings from Hong Kong!

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

We all are familiar with this Bible passage. It contains very challenging words, especially since we are living in a time we have never experienced before. At first, people lived in fear, and then in anger, and are now exhausted with mixed feelings. I don’t know what message is embedded in this year-long pandemic. But one thing I know for sure is that our God is in control, and it is God’s will that we give thanks in all circumstances, as Paul said to the early Church Christians who also experienced many hardships in which they might not have thought of giving thanks.

As I look back at the year 2020, I still give thanks in this undesirable circumstance. It is our blessing and joy to be able to serve in Hong Kong. The Divinity School of Chung Chi College has 71 new students, even in this difficult time. The school is adjusting to new education and communication methods even while we still have many obstacles to overcome.

Jiyeon exercising.

Jiyeon and I also give thanks that we could visit the USA this summer even though it was a very short visit. It was a tough trip because we had to wear masks for about 24 hours until we arrived home in the USA. It was sad that we were not able to see friends and to visit churches.

After returning to Hong Kong, we waited at the airport to be tested for COVID-19 and stayed at a hotel one night until we got negative results. After we went home, we quarantined for two weeks. It was an unpleasant experience. But we give thanks to God that we could travel safely.

Every area of our life has been affected, but we give thanks since we can still buy groceries, worship, and meet friends online.

We are grateful that we have many friends who continue praying for Jiyeon. Though she is not one hundred percent the same as before, she has been almost fully recovered. Every day we exercise by walking around the campus. We are praying in the words of Isaiah, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31). We pray that we will see the fulfillment of these words both in our body and soul.

We remember and thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement, phone calls, smiles, and hugs, which have given us strength. We have enjoyed the power of the love of friends in Christ.

We thank you for your loving prayers and generous support that allow us to continue this ministry. We ask you to continue to walk with us in the new year. Please pray for the students who are future leaders of churches in Hong Kong and mainland China. In your prayers, please also remember Christians in mainland China, who are suffering increasing persecution in the midst of the pandemic.

I hope all of you enjoy grace and peace always in the presence of God in the year 2021 since our Lord said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 14:27; 16:33).

Blessed New Year~

Myoungho and Jiyeon