Wrapping Up

The beginning of the end is usually something to look forward to, but it can bring a sense of sadness if you don't want the end to come.  The team is realizing in a most real way that our days of being in China/Hong Kong are numbered - and today was the last "work day."  I've heard one member say, "I'm not ready to go home."

This morning, we again participated in The International Culture Fair on the ground level.  The same booths were up, but some had replaced their contents with easier material.  Kindergartners and families were invited to the two hour event.  Lots of fun, many new people, an excited principal greeting each new family, teachers talking excitedly with the new folks, and kids all over the place enjoying a good time.

Sharply at 11, we hopped into a van with our student partners and a couple of teachers.  We were headed to the Lutheran seminary (ELCA) settled on the top of Tao Fong Shan in Shatin, New Territories.  It was on this mountain about 100 years ago that two Buddhist monks came to rest after their service in China.  A missionary came to share Jesus, and the temple that these two monks build has become a church.  You see, the monks came to know Jesus.  Their ministry consisted of reaching out to other monks who came from China for a period of R and R.

Today the white-walled buildings of the seminary sit in close proximity to the former temple.  A huge cross sits on one side of this mountain. Students from Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong come to study here.  Our guide was from Burma, his wife and three daughters left behind at home while he studies.  He will return to his homeland and back to the seminary there to teach.

I've never been to a class one restaurant in Hong Kong, but today we visited one.  Great service, a beautiful place setting, and delicious food.  All because Principal Li had membership at this restaurant.

We left for monkey mountain where rhesus monkeys roamed freely.  While they can be dangerous to people, if you keep your distance, it is usually safe.  One monkey charged Billy, our male Chinese teacher, and jumped on him.  Being scared of such a sudden attach was all that came of it, but our team learned that those monkeys were not to be messed with. One said, "It's much better to watch them in a zoo behind glass."

A tour of a restored Hakka village - the native people of Hong Kong - ended our afternoon.  Displays showing rice planting, and many of the primitive tools used were all around the small compound.  A nice glimpse into life 50 or so years ago.

We waited until 6 pm to go out to dinner - this time totally on our own - no local, American or Chinese, to accompany us.  We headed for a Taiwanese restaurant and enjoyed our meal.  An ice cream shop beconed us to enjoy blueberry cheesecake, mango, yogurt, and vinalla flavors following.

Our team meeting and devotion; the preparation of a print for Lynette; evaluations for our time in Hong Kong; and a recap of tomorrow's schedule concluded our evening.  Judging from the looks around our circle, tiredness had caught up with us all.