A QUIET SUNDAY IN HONG KONG

We had a good night's sleep and were almost glad it was a DIY breakfast, so we chose something very light.  After a quick shower we left before 8.30 to catch the bus down to Discovery College where Discovery Bay International Community Church meets.  

Martin and Sandy, who are both in the Worship Group, have to set everything up hence the reason for going early, so we decided rather than trying to find our own way down later, we could go early with them.

Everyone was so friendly and it was good to be able to worship God with them, knowing that our own Church people would still be in bed as they are 8 hours behind us back in the UK.

I only knew the first song, but was glad to learn some new ones today and afterwards we shared coffee and chatted with some of their friends.  It's amazing that although our churches are thousands of miles apart, there is much that is the same and we really appreciated the friendliness of the people there.  

As well as many different nationalities in their Church, there are people from all walks of life, and we were thrilled when Cecilia, one of the ladies and I learned later, one of Sandy's best friends, came to lunch in the Plaza with us, after Church, and you can see them together in the collage.  Cecelia is from Korea and used to teach music in a university there, but is now living with her teenage children in Hong Kong, where they are both at university.  It was great to get to know her a little better over our lunch.

The Plaza was hosting a craft market, which is held once a month, with stalls selling many different home-made crafts including cards, jewellery, dresses scarves, wine, belts, bread and they all seemed to be doing a good trade.  Of course, they have the thing that we often don't have - good weather.

At the top is Kiki, Sandy and Martin's cat, and I couldn't resist taking this photograph when she posed so beautifully for me.

The lady in the next photograph is Yasmina, and she makes wedding dresses.  She was interested to learn that it was our Golden Wedding anniversary and wanted to take a photograph of me showing my wedding dress, next to one of her creations.  I then asked if I could take a photograph of her, and she was happy to reciprocate.  She told me that she started off making ball gowns, but then when she got married three years ago, she decided to start making wedding gowns.  What a lovely lady and so open.

The lady in the bottom left photograph is Sandra Roe, a lovely lady, who ten years ago was diagnosed with brain cancer.  You can read more about her here, www.adventuresoftheprincess.com - it was a joy to meet her and to purchase something from her stall, with 50% of the net proceeds of all sales going to charity for cancer prevention, research and cure.  

The view at the top right is from Sandy and Martin's apartment and what a view - Mr. HCB has hardly moved from the chair by the window (thanks again for cleaning them yesterday, Martin!) and there is lots to see, with the ferry going out, as well as catamarans and dragon boat racing practices across the bay.

We are so blessed to be here with Sandy and Martin - to enjoy the wonderful views, to have worshipped with new Christian friends this morning and we understand a trip to the beach is on the cards for later this afternoon.  It's going to be very hard to get back to normal life, whatever that may be, at the end of this trip.  

Thanks again for tagging along with us on our adventures - and still they continue.  M xx