Kunming Connections

Our Kunming, Chile, Washington Connection - Eduardo Martinez in Hong Kong.

Eduardo and Susan and their 3 daughters moved from Chile to Kunming the same time we did.  We became good friends and always enjoyed great fellowship with them.
Eduardo was passing through Hong Kong, returning to Chile after a short visit to Kunming. We were able to go into the city to visit with him briefly.

NEW RECORD- 14,000+ STEPS

VIEW ON THE TREK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN 

  WALKWAY IN CENTRAL ON HONG KONG ISLAND

Yes! On our day off yesterday, we went to Hong Kong island and Kowloon. You never realize how many steps you take when you do not have a car for transportation.

A few years ago I bought a watch that count steps, calories and distance. After we trekked down the hill and walked all over Hong Kong and Kowloon, I was over 12,000 steps before heading back up the hill to our room at Bethany Lodge. I definitely burned more calories than my watch indicated because the last 2,000 steps were on a 45 degree incline. Hopefully a few pounds will come off during our two weeks on Cheung Chau.

GOOD TO BE BACK!

LeRoy standing on the main walkway to the beach in the village

Almost feels like coming home. Two years ago we cut our trip short to return to the US for Marianne's surgery. We had just completed serving at Bethany Ministries on Cheung Chau and were planning to travel in the Mainland.

Now we are back filling in for the Pastoral Care directors for two weeks as they have holiday with their children in Thailand. All the staff at Bethany is the same so it does feel nice to slip back in our roles as relief staff.

We arrived at the end of the Easter holiday in Hong Kong and our island was packed with visitors.

All four buildings at Bethany were full, with people from Hong Kong, America, England, New Zealand and Australia.

Both of us are almost over jet lag and are thankful for sleeping longer each night.

Singing Sleepy Songs

I wonder if my grandkids have these conversations about my singing to them. Surely not.

A doting father used to sing his little children to sleep until he overheard the four-year-old tell the three-year-old, "If you pretend you're asleep, he stops."

HONG KONG ARRIVAL

After two flights, one  taxi and a train, we boarded the three-decker ferry to Cheung Chau to begin our time at Bethany Ministries. LeRoy napped on the 50-minute trip to the island.

Hong Kong Easter holiday continues to this weekend so the retreat center is packed with guests including 18 children. The past two days have been filled with good visits and reconnecting with staff members. 

We officially begin tomorrow (Friday) morning. Today we had meetings to bring us up-to-date with the new procedures. Also enjoyed a morning devotion with staff and guests.  

So good to be back!

He is Risen

Loving Others

We get lost in loving ourselves but found in loving others. - Saint Augustine