Wednesday 27 April

First ever talk on issues related to counselling. Wiped out. Encouraged, feeling blessed, glad for others being brave and the opportunities too. Next talk... coming up.

Looking for reasons to keep going in an area entirely unrelated to 'here and now'. Discouraged.

Tuesday 26 April

Was able to meet some people I have been hearing about for years now and say 'I've heard about you and think you're great!'. Fun times. Met a russian who knows a friend of mine's son. WAY HUGE HEAD SPIN!

Monday 25 April

Monday. More long, good, rich conversations, special times, news, moments. A visit to Tuen Mun, sun, harbour, walks, ice cream. New cocktail bar.

Sunday 24 April

Happy Easter! A glimpse of HK City. Choice, not enough time for everything, and people will come first. New thoughts, confirming direction, an awesome gift.

Saturday 23 April, 2011

Lots of long, slow, good, deep, rich conversations today. Surreal to be back in a place where I am used to being so busy, and not having to be anywhere else more important/urgent than the current conversation:)

Friday, 22 April

Quiet day, calm, reflection on the week and Good Friday. Conversation, prayer, big picture, life changes. Love. Flights, the next leg. Contemplation.

Thursday 21 April

Heart full to overflowing. Don't want to say goodbye, or leave. Children gorgeous. Gift bag giving, ESPECIALLY SHOE GIVING: PRICELESS!!!!!! Tears. Overwhelmed, and not ready to move along yet.

Wednesday 20 April.

Wow, nearly done. Getting to know the children. Gift bag packing. Shoe buying for each child. Big bag of Peanut Butter M&M's! Awesome conversations & people.

Tuesday 19 April

Losing track of days, want to stay. Awesome conversations- thought provoking. Direction giving. A role for a Christian fair trader/counsellor? hm. Energy needing, More love giving.

Monday 18 April

First day of kids camp. Awesome team: Victorious Blues! Awesome team chant. Hoarse, hoarse throat... Kay has arrived, special conversations. Counselling, fair trade, the works.

Sunday 17 April

Church, home, supermarket, orphanage, feeding program, massive vege farm, puppy and worm farm. Hotel. Swimming, meeting, more pizza. Humid, warm, tropical, heavy air. Camp tomorrow!:)

Saturday 16 April

Travelling again, Dumaguete and children's camp. Pastors who live in the slums with their Church family. Amazing team. More eye opening to come. New sunglasses.

Friday 15 April

Last organization, joy, beauty, gorgeous product being made. Waterside slums- dread the wet when it arrives. Or the typhoons. Such a fragile exhistence. Precious gifts.

Thursday 14 April

An historic school, tiny clinic- delivering 150 babies a month, with 9 arriving before 12 today. Gorgeous. Lovely conversations, inspiration, possibilities, product matches, hope, opportunity.

Wednesday 13 April

Beautiful smiles, gorgeous children and women who are motivated and dedicated for others, Jeepneys, tricycles galore. Conversations with friends who I have finally met.

Tuesday 12 April

Today: Two flights,four movies, one book read, one seminar nearly done, many more on the way. HKIA- long walk, Starbucks, just missing the people!:)

25 words or less

I have been sitting at the airport for a couple of hours now and the plane is nearly ready to go. Have been thinking about what's ahead in The Philippines and Hong Kong, people, plans, hopes and the future. I appreciate the challenge of word limits though mine tends to be an A4 page, and the concept of a photo per day. 

For my time away, I am hoping to do both:) There are so many good things to come and I dont want to miss any of it in the 'what ifs' and well, my own plans!

So, will see where this journey takes us.....! Thanks for travelling with me!!

25 words will hopefully start next:)

The full circle.

It occurs to me that life, once again has come a full circle. I started writing this blog many years ago, because I had started a new journey, and wanted to document it somewhere. From there, lots of learning has taken place, study, countries, and now I am on the brink of returning to the place where it all began. I am checked in, and just about, almost ready to head back to Hong Kong. On my way, I will be spending time in The Philippines- the first time (terrible that it's taken so long!). The time in Hong Kong- I'm looking forward to that. Looking forward to seeing how much it has changed, and me too. I have learned so much, and yet, with all the learning, have so far to go. It's an amazing gift to be able to return, and I am intrigued as to how it's going to turn out. The trip has come together in an amazing way. With lots of connections and random bits of life that have worked themselves together. There's only so much I can do though, ask, plan, and try and put into place, and from there, others to take on, answer, and for God to well, make it all happen as He plans. I feel like I have been given a precious gift to give, but it's only an older worn gift that will accepted, or recognized. Hopefully it will be alright, no matter what, and whatever I can give will be... enough.

The happy dance

This last week, I have been anticipating the events of Friday with some dread. On paper, what I was comitting to do made sense, and within the context, seems a reasonably normal, though yes, very full plan. Talking to others, the reaction was 'are you crazy!?!', but under the circumstances, what can you do!

But, getting to the end of it, wow it was full, and long, and I wasn't sure quite how I was going to change gears again once I was done, but I did it! I wanted to sing out loud and do the happy dance: 'I did it, I did it!' because well, it was a big thing.

But it's a start, too and a process, and there is soooo much to learn still, and while this week was amazing- for me, that's not what counts at the end of the day. It was changemaking, but not me making the change. It's such a priveledged position, and I am so humbled ot be a part of it, which also means, I have a long way to go....!

Some things don't change

I'm reading a book set nearly 200 years ago in Manchester, UK. It's great, and I am so appreciating the story and writing- and how she wrote it all without computer and other helpful editing facilities!

The thing that most amazes me is its relevence still. We still have and face the same issues. The geography is different, but poverty and attitudes towards it are still often the same...!

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the story unfold!