Hong Kong: alluring diversity of international culture inspires love for country
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“I’m not a city girl, so at first it was a little overwhelming.”
Chadwell described Hong Kong as “very alluring,” saying it was exciting to see so many different cultures in one city. Loudin said the international culture helped inspire his love for the city.
“It’s busy. It’s honest. It’s a broad spectrum of people,” he said.
Though it was hard for the couple’s parents to think of their children moving to China, Chadwell said they are excited and planning on visiting next summer.
“They’ve been a great help and encouragement for us.”
Loudin will be the associate pastor of the International Baptist Church in Hong Kong. He is hoping to recruit two youth interns to serve a one-year internship with flights, housing and compensation for living expenses provided.
“I would love for anyone to contact me about this. It begins in the fall and ends the next summer,” he said.
Although she’s excited about the move, Chadwell is unsure about her plans once in the city.
“I don’t have to have a (formal) position. I know I’ll be helping with ministries in the church,” she said. “I’m excited because I finally have the time to just build relationships. I have the freedom to do whatever God calls me to do.”
Loudin said he wants Chadwell to be comfortable in Hong Kong.
“I want her to feel at home and taken care of. I want her to make friends and find a ministry,” he said. “She’s making a big sacrifice, first of all to marry me, but then to live across the world, away from friends and family. She is not doing it for me, though. She does it for the Lord, for the salvation of the lost and the encouragement of the saints. The Lord will take care of her. So will I.”
Even though Chadwell is confident about her and Loudin’s decision to move, she said sometimes fear tries to creep into her mind. In those times, she looks to Bible verses such as 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient. For my power is made perfect in weakness.”
The couple, who have committed to live in Hong Kong for three and a half years, plans to keep many pictures around the house to remind them of home in America. Chadwell said they would make their home a “sanctuary” where they could “feel close to one another and family at the same time.” She also said the use of the Internet and a Web cam would make it seem like their family was closer.
Chadwell anticipated it will be hard for the newlyweds to initiate contact while in Hong Kong. She asks that family and friends pray for them while they are away.
“We realized how prayer enables us to depend on the Lord,” she said.
Senior education major and Chadwell’s good friend Noelle Connell said even though she’s sad about the distance between them, she is excited for Chadwell.
“I will miss her so much, but it blesses my heart to see how God will use her passions to serve in the church,” she said.
Loudin said he is trying to plan spiritually for the move and often looks to 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 for strength.
“The greatest spiritual preparation God has given me is this: ‘my message and my words were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit, so that your faith does not rest on wisdom of me, but on the power of God,’” he said. “I am praying and hoping for the working of the Holy Spirit in the church. He already has, and I trust He will.”