Anyways, I spazed out at you all. I'm sorry. (non sarcasm genuine). But you're right, we need as many trees here, and planting man made stuff taking up space when we need to keep clearings and stuff open for the yearly Lamma Forest is necessary.

And After puking and seeing stars (I'm a wimp), taking my cousin out to the Lamma Windmill, In the heat of a July... I like had heat stroke, so like putting this thing up there is a badddd idea. However, a alternative if you guys don't mind, like Tin Hau, and the Dragon Boat dragon dances. BTW which are very cool. And the dead festival... also very very cool. Maybe we can put a cross up non intrusively as before, but only on Easter.

I don't speak for the church, ultimatly it's their decision. I'm not baptised. I just go there. So I'm an outsider. Anyways, please don't think negatively for something rash and crass I may have said. If I stepped on some toes here I'm sorry. It's a really hell of way to be new to Lamma so I apologize. They're not like me, they're very nice actually.

[quote="Tigger"][/quote] That's cool, but guys please don't say we're cramming religion down peoples' throats,

Is this the same group that has the church in Sha Po Old Village?

>>> Yea, we're that Cannan Joshua church.
I




f so.... you ARE cramming religion down people's throats!!

I have two friends who are neighbours nearby, and they have made many complaints to 'this church' ... as Sundays are very busy, the lights are very bright at night, and it's constant noise all day with singing 'Praise the Lord' kind of songs and noisy socialising.

>>> I'll let the pastor know, about the singing and the lights. There's sadly no place for us to go though, because it's a "tent church". But I agree, sometimes the choir lady, will want us to sing higher and higher. so that even ALLLLLLLL THOOOOSEEE EIN SHAAAAATINNNNN, can hear it. (as she said in Chinese one time).

I find that about Lamma, lots of partying lots of children, and people calling out to each other, and blasting the stereo.... and who can forget all the ravers going "wooooooooooooooo" (those arn't dogs as I initially thought)... I find this very strange in a wonderful way. But I can't really scream out at the youngsters who have the BBQ party, to keep it down. even until around 12, right now they got the music ON.

I'm curious though why sarcastically refer to the church as "this church"? And would curtains block help block out the light? (non sarcastic geniune). That's the thing about Yeung Shu Wan, since you know better than I, as you actually live here. I'm just an outsider, that things are squishy here, like things are compressed. Back home, you got this HUGGE tuff of lawn as a buffer between houses, and "praise the Lord" music is usually damped by thick brick walls. You know the type. such as that big grey anglican one by the US embassy. Or the Lady or Lourdes on a hill far far far away from everything, (big thick forests to buffer the music), but all we got are like thin pieces of cloth. But you're right, the enthusiasm sometimes, we get carried away. But how else we are to enjoy the Lord, our religion states that once we've been found by God, or once we find God, we feel joy. When we die we go to heaven (a place to be loved eternity), our faults and short comings are forgiven, our tears are wiped away, and those who cry now shall laugh with estatic joy. It's greater than winning the Jockey Lottery, hell it's greater than the Palace of the Shiek of UAE (I saw a really wacky email photo montage of his palace bed room, and etc). A mentor of mine who suffered from many NDEs and was shown her heaven, said that it the richest house on Earth is dirt compared to the things she saw. It's like even greater than those funky mansions on the Peak! It's like been given an inheritance from some rich relative you never had. It's like that movie when Richard Pryor had to spend 30 Million in a month, to earn 600 Million (except in this case, there are no strings attached). But more importantly, it's a place where once can experience geniune love. (happy feelings). And it's a place where the last shall be first and the first shall be last. All those homeless that are pushed around, forgotten who play music at the IFC Central terminal with one eye, the mentally ill, kitties and doggies on Lamma, who are abused, people really hurting out there. Hell, this brute who pushed down and hobbling old man on Lamma one time infront of the Bayan bar (beside the bayan house, run by an Aussie couple), and the beat up his son for no reason. Well granted the son said some "fighting words", but was very dumb to a drunk boor, in a sucidal kind of way. But neverless, it's the downtrodden like this who will be liberated.

Now say hypothetically, God doesn't exist, or Christianity doesn't exist, and YOU were suddenly given these wonderful things, (regardless of religion). What would YOU say? What do YOU say when you get a raise at work, get a Christmas bonus? Do you not react in a happy super fun way? lol please be honest? If you went to Macau, and pulled the right handle, (not sure if they have slots in Macau, never been actually. I'll asume they have), it goes ding ding ding ding ding, and shoots out quarters or what ever it shoots out. Or you just keep on winning those huge square shaped chips over and over and over and over again. (that have some huge denomination on them), wouldn't YOU be making strange loud sounds of joy too? jumping up and down?

so in this case, Christians faith we know it's not a gamble, we know that our fortune in heaven is greater than anything Macau can offer. We KNOW that our homes are grander than anything on the Peak, the Marina Barque, but more importantly, these wonderful luxuries are not what we go there for, but to know love. So again how can we not make strange sounds of joy too? except in our case these gains don't end at death, unlike the Macaunese winnings do. so we're very very very happy and make happy sounds.

Seeing many Muslim Indonesian domestic helpers on weekends on the ferry out, dressed in their beautiful dresses and head scarves, it seems that there's no mosque or place of worship here?

Sun, Aug 7, the Bahá'í Faith, a major, worldwide Muslim subdivision (prosecuted in Iran) was trying to attract people interested via public talks after meeting in the Football Pitch first: "Uncover Your Spiritual Self" by the Ruhi Institute, which is promoting the Bahá'í Faith. So they might have an informal, little prayer room somewhere in Yung Shue Wan?

I almost went as it might make a good, interesting story. I'd love to learn more about the many different faiths, religions and spiritual practices practiced on Lamma and give them some publicity if they like, maybe even help them to find a few more followers. Contact me!

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Can we have a giant Swastika for the Buddhists, too?

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Thanks

IC

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Thanks

IC