A Satisfying Day

Wednesday is almost past, but as I look back, it was a blessed day. 

We got ourselves ready by 7:45 a.m. so that we could be down in the entryway of the school to greet the students and parents as they arrived.  Students hardly come alone.  They come with mom, or a grandparent, and sometimes a dad.  The adult carries the bag until the child enters the porch area, then quickly transfers the bag to the child's back, dusts off the child's coat, and straightens anything that needs to be done.  The child is ready to enter the school.

Before they get to the front doors, we try to greet them with a smile, a handshake, a high five, or some other kind of a welcome. It usually elicits a smile or a greeting.  As they move through the doors, they move right or left so that they can swipe their card over the sensor that registers their attendance (also done at the end of the school day).

Today was "excursion" day - all classes in the school boarded busses or coaches to travel to some sightseeing/fun place.  I was with the fifth grade group that headed for the Hong Kong Cultural Museum.  Before we arrived, five children had tossed their breakfast (the teachers said that they weren't used to riding on a coach bus - the driver was also rather sporadic in his driving).

A docent met a group of us (about 50) at the entrance of the museum, and proceeded to lead the children on a tour of a display area called "New Territories," the northernmost part of Hong Kong, and the last to be developed.  It still has large wild areas of mountain and marshland, and so is a great area to study.  The museum showed archeological finds as well as how the place looks today.  After a half hour of listening, the students began to fan out and look on their own.  But they did know that we would meet one hour later for a picture in the entryway.

While the children looked, we chatted with them when we could, and later went out on our own with Maisie, one of the teacher leaders.  Abby and Emily and I viewed some of the beautiful scrolls and then some of the ceramic area, and lastly went to the children's hands on area.  A great museum with lots of translation in English.

For lunch, four students had been chosen to eat with us.  Joe, Niki, Al, and Sam at first were shy, but quickly opened up.  The conversation around the meal was great, and I was impressed at the ability of these 10 year olds to speak English.

We headed to the Christing bookstore in the mall, then to a candy store, and finally to the grocery store to pick up a few breakfast supplies: yogurt, bananas, apples, milk, and juice. We are pretty standard on breakfast.

In the late afternoon, we headed to another primary school via light rail to have pizza with the GEO's (Globally Engaged in Outreach).  Also at our supper was Albert (from last year), a wonderful evangelist and great friend.  Coming just a bit late was Valerie Vaitl from my days at Calvary Chapel, Madison.  She had taught in Slovakia, and is now a teacher here in Hong Kong.  Married to a man from New Zealand and has two children.

Home to our rooms for the day's evaluation, devotions, and preparation for teaching primary classes tomorrow morning.  The night will go quickly.

Wow, the team is doing great.  Tonight, Bre was recounting all that she had eaten: eel, squid, goose, and more.  All are eating well and serving with a great amount of energy.