自2019年起，本會信徒培育部與挪威差會(NMS)和HALD International Centre合辦CONNECT計劃，這計劃有四個目標：

這計劃是由挪威政府的機構NOREC (Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation)資助，為要促進四間機構的年青人彼此交流，包括：挪威的NMS (Det Norske Misjonsselskap), 巴西的 Movimento Encontrão, 馬達加斯加的FLM (Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy) 和香港的基督教香港信義會(ELCHK)。

如想進一步認識各機構，可登入以下網頁瀏覽：
NOREC
NＭS　
HALD

Marie (CONNECT participant for the year 2024-25)

My name is Marie Fløtre Dahl, this year I am a student at Hald International School. I am having my internship in Hong Kong through NMS. I will be here for 6 months and work in ELCHK. I have now been in Hong Kong for four months and I have experienced the happiness and frustrations of living in a new culture.
In Hong Kong, good results are valued, and I have seen and experienced that. I help out in a homework tutor group twice a week, and the children are so clever and knowledgeable. The 1st graders speak English with me, it is very nice for me to be able to communicate with them. But then I also get a little discouraged that they are so good at such an early age. There is a lot of work behind it where they should rather spend on playing and making friends.
In Hong Kong there is a high level of achievement that I notice in the pace of society and the time and effort they put into their work and schoolwork. They have long days, but usually find time to meet friends and family over a meal, because in Hong Kong the food culture is strong. Here it is normal to eat out for every meal – including breakfast. For a Norwegian who only eats out at a restaurant on special occasions, it is a big contrast. Here there is no such thing as a packed lunch at work or at school. They have an hour lunch break and then go out to a restaurant and have lunch. But I would rather call it dinner, because it is a dinner portion + a little more.
The apartments in Hong Kong are very small so there is no space to invite many guests home, so meals at a restaurant are important. It is where they gather when they want to spend time with each other. This is also different from Norway, we often invite people to our homes ourselves and host guests. We also spend a lot of time and money on interior design. In the apartments here there are not many pictures on the walls, decorative pillows and candles on the tables. Hong Kong people are out all day – even when they have time off. And therefore they don’t have the same need for the cozy atmosphere at home than we in Norway like to have.
Hong Kong is smaller than the Faroe Islands in area and has a population of 7.4 million. From where I sit and write, I can see 5 skyscrapers with over 50 floors in each. Hong Kong is one of the cities in the world with the most skyscrapers, but it takes a lot to be able to provide housing for everyone, so it has to be built at a height.
With so many people in a small area, it has been a long time since I have heard the silence. Occasionally the need to seek the peace may arise, but even though Hong Kong is a small city, it also has a lot of nature and mountains. The highest mountain is Tai Mo Shan at 957 m.a.s.l. You can find more quiet areas, you just have to look a little. Hong Kong is a vibrant city, so there is always something to explore or new food to try out.
I don’t have many expectations before I came, but Hong Kong certainly doesn’t disappoint me. There are some contrasts compared to Norway, but it also puts things into perspective. Living in a new culture is supposed to put things into perspective, right?

2月26日星期日下午2至4時我們的Teens (少年人)訪問挪威宣教士。我們一行十一人去到道風山腳下，進入宣教士的園地。好像進入了世外桃源，眼前是綠油油的草地和綠樹成陰。我們受到熱誠的款待，宣教士為我們準備了挪威茶點──格仔餅和果醬，還有水果和別具特色的棉花糖燒烤……大夥兒樂透了。起初，大家以為訪問宣教士是嚴肅的事，我要求每位少年人預備一條問題，以英文向宣教士發問。少年人預備的問題十分有趣！例如：你們來了香港有多長時間？挪威有幾多人口？某套卡通電影的背景是在挪威取景嗎？……
宣教士風趣的回答，中間還夾雜著初學的廣東話，打破了我們之間的隔膜。年輕的宣教士夫婦，其實來了香港只有半年多。男宣教士在挪威有六至七年的時間服務青少年，所以很容易就和少年人打成一片。讓我們覺得溫暖的是，他們竟然為青少年預備了幾個遊戲。另一位退休的宣教士，曾經在香港工作了 30多年。為了裝備新到港的宣教士，專程從挪威再回到香港這個工場， 只為了做好傳承的工作。為福音再一次 獻上服事。這種傳承使命的精神觸動人心。
感恩鴻恩堂有機會接待挪威實習生半年。兩位實習生豐富了我們的文化體驗，也鼓勵了我們的堂會接待的文化。透過實習生，挪威差會的宣教士在2022年12月先到訪本堂，2023年二月我們Teens代表堂會，訪問挪威宣教士。 因著兩位實習生的連繫，構成教會和差會的彼此互訪和學習。
香港信義會與挪威差會有互換交流生的協議，促進文化交流，拓闊青年人的生活體驗 和信仰層面。可惜今年香港沒有青年人報名，白白浪費了資源。我們鼓勵青年人可以考慮到海外闖一闖。

I am so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong. This is such a wonderful place and I love every minute here. I cannot thank the Lord enough for letting me experience a new culture, try so much new food and feel the love of HK-people. One of the things I am so happy that I can bring with me home is the food. I can safely say that the food in Hong Kong is so amazing, and it would have been so sad if I would have to give that up. Luckily, a lot of the lovely people I have meet has learned me how to do some simple cooking. I can bring the most basic of cooking-skills with me back to Norway so I have something to remember these amazing last months. If you ever have the opportunity to travel and serve the lord, I will absolutely urge everyone to do it. It is so giving and wonderful that I don’t have enough words to describe my appreciation.

我好感恩有機會去香港，那是我時刻都覺得很奇妙的地方。我實在感謝主，讓我經歷到新的文化，嘗試很多美食和感受到香港人對我的愛。其中一樣是我愛不釋手的，並且會帶回家的──就是香港的美食。香港的食物妙不可言，我實在捨不得。幸運地我遇到很多滿有愛心的弟兄姊妹，教我做簡單的菜式。我可以把一些基本的烹飪技巧帶回挪威，這是我過去幾個月的學習和回憶。如果有機會去遊歷和服事主，我鼓勵每一個人都可以這樣做。這是滿足和奇妙的經驗，言語不足以描述我感激之情。

Hi! I would like to tell you a little bit more about why we have been in your church for almost 6 months. Both Helle and I have been attending a school in Norway, called Hald International School. In this school there are students from all around the world, also a girl from Hong Kong. At the school we have been a part of the Connect program, where we get to learn more about culture, communication and Christianity. As a part of this program, we have our internship here in Hong Kong. The program at our school is run by NMS (Norwegian Missionary Society) a mission organization in Norway, they also have some missionaries working in Hong Kong now. NMS is partnering up with ELCHK for our exchange. This means that the Hong Kong girl in Norway is part of a ELCHK congregation here in Hong Kong but she is currently working in one of NMS’ congregations in Norway while we are working in an ELCHK congregation here. Here in Hong Kong we get to work in your church, and also observe and see how things are done in a different church than our own. This also gives us the opportunity to meet a lot of people and experience the Cantonese culture first hand.

你好！我想分享我們將近6個月再鴻恩堂的體驗。Helle和我在挪威的一所學校上學，叫做Hald國際學校。這所學校有來自世界各地的學生，包括來自香港的女生。在學校，我們是連結計劃(Connect Program)的一部分，透過計劃我們可以更多地瞭解文化，溝通和基督教。我們在香港實習是計劃的一部分。學校的課程由挪威差會NMS運營，並且有宣教士在香港工作。挪威差會與香港信義會合作交流計劃。那位香港女生是代表香港信義會在挪威的教會實習，我們就在鴻恩堂實習。透過實習計劃，觀察香港的教會與我們自己的教會的不同，如何做事。這也讓我們有機會結識很多人，親身體驗廣東文化。

One of the feelings that has proven strongest for me after four months in Hong Kong, is the feeling of being safe all the time. As a girl, I can walk wherever I want to, whenever I want to, and without feeling any discomfort around it. That is a very rare feeling these days, I think.

I am going to remember the feeling of being safe and really appreciate it. I don’t want to take it for granted. Hong Kong really has something good going on there, and I know that a lot of people I have talked to feel the same. I hope I can show transparency around feeling safe in Norway and bring with me the qualities I have learned from the locals here.

Lastly I want to talk a little bit about the Hong Kong people. I have met so many nice people here! I think Hong Kong people in generale are one of the most helpful people I have ever met. And as a person who is not familiar with a lot of the culture and the way of thinking and doing stuff, help has definitely been needed. Everyone I have met has been very welcoming and the congregation we work in has taken really good care of us.

2021-22年度的挪威CONNECT交流計劃共有兩位姊妹參加，分別是長沙灣堂的黃藝Sandy和鴻恩堂的Kary。由去年八月出發至今，她們在挪威的交流生活已過去一大半，在此與我們分享交流體會，期待她們回港後，了解更多！

Sandy：交流讓我體驗不少人生的第一次，也令我知道世界的大和耶穌基督的奇妙！

參與這個交流前，自己對挪威總感到一份連結，因為幼時就讀的基督教聖約教會堅樂小學及中學就是由挪威宣教士Annie Skau 與其他人士一同創辦，自己也是在上幼稚園時信主。後來亦知道不少挪威宣教士在上世紀末來港協助難民。不過，來到挪威前，對這個國家的認識除宣教士外，就只有三文魚和北極光。

在挪威的這近7個月中，我體驗很多的新嘗試，當中有不少都是人生的第一次。在2022的新一年中，我有不少新挑戰，由於挪威及不少歐洲國家的疫情都輕微了，所以我們都可以參與到不少青少年及群體活動！我們會到挪威的不同城市參與不同的青少年camp，與青少年相處時，我會感受到文化的不同，縱使他們只有12-17歲，但是他們給我的感覺就像一個小大人般，十分之有趣的溝通。而且挪威的營地都像世外桃源般，所以我都十分享受！

在挪威的這一陣子，我的靈修時間都多了和心情都更容易平靜下來；這都是意外的收穫。在香港嘈吵的生活，每天都跟從固有的時間表生活，使我對生活失去了熱誠；故我十分感恩有這一年在挪威交流的機會，讓我知道世界的大和耶穌基督的奇妙。

Kary：一月在挪威確診COVID時，有不同的天使及幫助，毫不孤單，亦能重新整理自己，會好好把握在挪威的剩餘時間！

來挪威前，我已聽過不少關於挪威和芬蘭的健全社會制度，所以很想藉此交流親身了解更多，特別是挪威人民對社會和文化的看法。

到達後，挪威美麗的景色令我看到上帝創造的奇妙，亦幫助我仰賴上帝。

挪威於12月時重新收緊疫情措施，當時有不少的實習活動因而受到影響甚至取消，在面對日短夜長、寒風瑟瑟的聖誕，情緒亦不免受到影響。幸好自己在香港的堂會堅持網上聚會，故仍有香港弟兄姊妹的紀念與代禱支持，是另一種無可比擬的溫暖。而在12月時，我們亦開放自己的家邀請當地的弟兄姊妹共度時光，實是學習開放接待的一大實踐。1月我們亦回到南部的學校作中期檢討，3個月足夠讓我們成長，當中亦有不同的分享，非常寶貴。雖然1月底確診COVID，但病徵輕微，隔離生活中亦得到同學及老師們的支持與幫助，直至現在我經常分享：那陣子是我最應該確診的日子，有不同的天使及幫助，毫不孤單亦給予自己足夠的安靜時間，重新整理。

今天(09.03.2022)距離離開挪威的日子尚餘99天，正式踏入雙位數，期待自己如何好好把握每一刻，亦期待回家後與大家分享之餘亦聆聽你們這年來的經歷。

Sandy 和 Kary 第一次到訪挪威人家庭，獲熱情招待，亦與他們分享自己在挪威交流的體會。

黃藝姊妹2022年3月的相片及文章分享

Sandy, Ngai Wong

I have been in Stavanger for about 5 months. And I have been in part of different youth gatherings and it was so different than what I experienced in Hong Kong’s churches.

What I have done in Norway and how I feel:

In these 5 months, I have been to two youth camps held by The Norwegian Mission Society Youth (NMSU). I would not say I enjoy it so much but I experienced noticeably big cultural difficulties in the camps. How we discipline the youth in a Christian camp. I remembered how the youths ruined the talks and devotion. Then, how Norwegian leaders bring their concentration back. It is hugely different between Hong Kong and Norway. In Norway, the leaders would more respect them by just looking at them. I would say it was rarely happened inside Christian camps in Hong Kong.

Secondly, I am also participating in confirmation class held by a local church (St. Johannes Kirke) in Stavanger. I more like an observer at the beginning and I was so glad that the priest asked me and my partner to take part in one class. And we found that youths here enjoyed the interaction more than listening only. Therefore, churches here offer some interest groups for the youths instead of only having bible lessons. They encourage more vivid way to learn Christianity. That is a great inspiration for me to think about how Hong Kong churches could include more youth by knowing what youths want.

Feelings and thoughts for Hong Kong

Being in Norway for 7 months, I met so many kind people, especially the youth! They are friendly and willing to speak English to me which is so warm and quite challenging for them (they seldom speak English in daily). After backing to Hong Kong, I hope we could include more youth and listen to their voices in making a better church.

Sandy, Ngai Wong

What clothes did you wear today? What dressing style do you belong to? Has your dressing style ever been commented on by others? I am a 24-year-old Chinese female and grew up in Hong Kong, a city in East Asia. I was educated by Confucianism and collectivism deeply from my parents, schools, even society. We have been disciplined from many aspects; this article will focus on the dressing of women. I arrived in Norway in August 2021 and stay in Hald International Skole for 1.5 months. I came to Stavanger in October till now. I have been experienced the summer, fall, and winter in Norway observed how Norwegians dressed. It impressed me a lot of how women dressed among all ages.

After few months in Norway, I could see that the gender stereotypes are not that serious by my observations of hairstyle either on men or women. People here rarely comment (whatever is verbal or nonverbal) on others’ styles or looks. Society is trying to develop a gender-equal environment here. The spectrum in body image and dressing style in Norway is wide and colorful. I saw how Norwegians appreciate their body image. The obvious example is on TV shows: celebrity women show they are different but not just thin. At the same time, people are also confident about putting on many types of clothes. Therefore, we can see that there are so many dressing styles on the streets to build a border society. One more shocking thing I found; the elderly here usually wears Demin clothes. In Hong Kong, it is rarely to see an old lady to have Demin jeans.

Back to Hong Kong, what we dress is more conducted by gender stereotypes. We would consider more about so-called social value. The society always advocates ‘thin is beauty’ so women in Hong Kong see ‘keep fit is their destinate career.’ It is sad that we could not have self-appreciation. Therefore, I would like to start with my social circle to promote ‘body appreciation’ and empower our own. Since the body confidence shall not be given by others but yourself!

When we talk of gender equality, most of the people just emphasized the rights only but not the invisible thought or cultural conception. That is why women in Aisa still must be aware of their dressings, they would not dress what they want. Culture is the biggest barrier to gender equality. Gender equality is not only letting people have social rights but also respecting each other and getting the same number of choices. I am expecting people to freely choose what they would like to wear soon.

徐家慧姊妹2022年3月的相片及文章分享

Kary Tsui

After a fruitful beginning of the internship, a strict corona measures came in December. Under the strict corona measures, there are huge impact on our internship, since different activities and future program had been changed, cancelled or postponed. There were schedule empty on late December, which including Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Apart from the affecting from the corona measures, there are different factors attributed to this situation as well. For example, Ukirke used to hold different activities between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, yet most of the youth went back home in Christmas. Although outdoors activities can still be hold under this corona measures situation, not many youths took initiatives for those activities to be taken. Therefore, the official internship work kind of have been suspended at that time. In order to tackle the situation, we have took initiative to occupy our time, including inviting Ucrew to our home and celebrate Christmas Eve with them and receiving different guests, in order to utilise our home.

After the infield, there are different activities had been arranged, yet there was a camp still got to be cancelled. In 12th February, all corona restrictions had been cancelled, it was a good news to me that our last part of internship can be filled up with different fruitful activities.

Also, we have received new challenges as well, including helping Ukirke in OnsdagApent, helping Ukirke to have a time-framed religious sharing group and attend new church to share our Christian experience. Therefore, I am looking forward to these coming days of my internship.

Kary Tsui

My Norway journey begins with…

When I got a chance to join the exchange program to Norway which organising by Det Norske Misjonsselskap (NMS) and The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong (ELCHK), I was already intrigued by Norway’s social system. NMS, a voluntary organization rooted in the church of Norway. It is dedicating in sharing the faith in Jesus, eradicate poverty and fight injustice. ELCHK, one of the influential church in Hong Kong, follows the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our missions are proclaiming the gospel, administering the sacraments, edifying and nurturing believers and serving the community. The entire exchange program last for around 10 months, I have been stayed in Norway for 5 months, 5 more months to go. That is how a Hong Kong 24-year-old girl observes something about Norway in these 5 months.

Why Norway?

Norway is a well-known welfare state in Europe, this specifically attracted my attention and observation from a social worker perspective. As I worked with families with SEN kids in Hong Kong (SEN represents Special Educational Needs.) before I came to Norway, also I have committed to working with family. Therefore I would like to know more how Norway’s society and government attitude towards child’s policy and the children being treated. If there are any crises, a family violence or abusive situation happen in a Hong Kong family, the official regulations of the social workers are prioritising the great interest of the children and protecting them. However, several abusive cases were being reported until the tragedy had already happened to the child. Therefore, I believe how the care and concern to the kids are being delivered in ordinary days is an important indicator of a nation doing how well in child’s policy.

Macro perspectives and daily experiences

When I was undergoing my quarantine in the quarantine hotel, I checked the quarantine rule in Norway for updating purposes. Then I noticed HelseNorge, the website stated that the child and young people should have the opportunity to play, also accompanying children for outdoor activities at least a day is encouraged. It is fascinated! Despite the conducting on the actual policy, the courtesy towards children is respective and see the difference between European and Asian government.

Besides, I am aware there are several public spaces for children as well, including the rest area outside the washroom, also in the mall, parks with enough space and different playing facilities. These facilities are well-emerged with the neighbourhood, and it performs the significance of how a city focus on the well-being and the existence of children. Moreover, there are churches and restaurants not only offer nursery rooms, but also free diapers. I noticed there is a museum in Stavanger that offer maternity meeting every Tuesday, which allowed stay-home parent who has to eye-on-eye take care of their babies to have a social gathering and provide a social platform in removing the barrier, including providing mats and toys, free baby food. This is very innovative from an Asian perspective since the offered platform not only takes care of the physical need of the babies but also addresses the social need of the parents. Since it is always being ignored in Asia.

Micro perspectives and daily experiences

Apart from the hardware for children, the software: attitude in parenting and teaching also important in reflecting how the society concerning the upbringing of their kids.

From my observation, the important parenting attitude of the Norwegian family is caring and pressure-free. To compare with a Chinese family, the majority of the Chinese parent has high expectation towards their kids, the future-oriented target is the significant pressure source of the kids. While the parents in Norway care for the mental well-being of the children and focus on the multi-aspects in children’s growth. Besides, the teaching in school aspects focuses on self-management, including packing the toys after playing time, cleaning falling leaves with the teacher and cleaning the room after use. This addresses the basic ability rather than academic achievement.

2021-2022年度挪威CONNECT計劃的參加者：長沙灣堂的黃藝姊妹（左），鴻恩堂的徐家慧姊妹（右）即將出發前往挪威進行交流。

第一次到訪挪威人家庭，他們十分熱情好客及關心兩位學員在異地的生活。

慶祝聖誕

於NMS店擔任義工

2019-20年度CONNECT 計劃：挪威學員交流

陳柏呈弟兄（信愛堂）參加「2019-2020年挪威交流計劃」，由2019年8月至2020年7月。而2019年8月12日兩位挪威學員（Henritetta & Natalia）亦到香港實習，後因香港的疫情嚴峻，兩位挪威學員提早結束在港實習，2020年於2月5日返回挪威或到其他地方繼續實習。

了解更多：CONNENT 2019-2020 Facebook 群組