Anchors Away

The USS Nimitz was recently in town with its fleet. This time I got the chance to host 5 sailors that are on board the USS Chafee. It ended up that Friday the 4th was a public holiday, so I offered to be their Tour Guide for the day. We started off with a trip to a tailor and then Indian food for lunch. We made it up to the Peak in the afternoon, but unfortunately it was so overcast that they couldn't see the harbor. Then we headed to dinner for some wonderful Chinese. HoHo Mei. (delicious)

We got together again (plus two more sailors) on Sunday for some Market Shopping. I took them to the Ladies Market and then we went for dinner. It was a really nice time spending those two days with them.

Jatan, Nate, Matt, Paul, Me, Nick, Michelle and Jen

My birthday

Tuesday was my birthday. And here's the funny thing...When I lived in Hong Kong before(2003), I celebrated my 29th birthday and here I am celebrating that one again. And this year my little sister caught up to me. She just turned 29 on Saturday. Happy birthday, Sarah!!

In all my years, I have never met anyone who shared my birthday. Until Tuesday and I found out that 2 of my students have the same birthday. How crazy is that?!?!

Since my birthday was in the middle of the week, some friends and I went out to celebrate on Saturday night. We started out at Habibi Cafe for some really good food. Then we went to Honeymoon Dessert for my favorite dessert...Mango and Black Glutenous Rice in Vanilla Sauce. (you have to try it before you say gross...It's very good)

Lynn, Nikelle, me and Rachel


Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes, cards, emails and gifts!

Thank you!

I thank you, dear readers, for your letters, emails and prayers over these last 7 months. I have really felt your prayers and have also enjoyed getting your emails and letters via snail mail. Your correspondence has been very encouraging as I have been adjusting to life in Hong Kong.

I thought you might enjoy seeing what one of my friends, Lauren (8yrs old), has been sending me. Over the last few months, I received 4 letters with puzzle pieces in them. Today, I received the last letter and have been able to complete my puzzle!!

Thanks, Lauren. I really appreciate your hard work in making the puzzle and that you and your mom took the time to send it to me.

The Beginning of my puzzle
The middle stage of the puzzle
The finished puzzle!!!

Sweet Potatoes

Around the corner from my apartment is a street vendor selling Roasted Chestnuts and Sweet Potatoes. I have walked past this vendor since I moved in and haven't stopped. I guess part of me has been a bit nervous about buying from a street vendor and the other part of me has actually wanted to stop. Well today that part of me won. I stopped and bought a Sweet Potato for dinner. (I also realized that the other item is not Roasted Chestnuts...I'm not really sure what it is) I got home and cut into my sweet potato and got a big shock. I have never seen a white sweet potato before. But, oh, was it good. I think I will have to stop there again tomorrow after school.

Kung Hei Fat Choy!! Happy Lunar New Year

So today is the first day of the New Year on the Lunar Calendar. One of the great things about living in Hong Kong is that we have two new year celebrations. So, if you make new year's resolutions on January 1st and have already broken them by February you get a chance to start fresh on them.

Please pray for the people of China and Hong Kong as they participate in the Celebration for this holiday. Many will be traveling to their hometowns and as you may know China has been hit very hard with snow and the travel situation is not good. Also pray for those who have become Christians while away from their families and are now going to be traveling to visit these families for the first time as Christians. May the light of Christ shine through them as they spend time with their families and friends.

Navy visit

This week the USS BlueRidge was in Hong Kong. As I mentioned before I have gotten involved with the American Women's Association and I host a group of sailors for dinner when they are in town.

Caysie, Me, Loren and Steve

This time I hosted Caysie, Loren and Steve. Caysie is originally from Brooklyn, New York and is 21. She has been in the Navy for almost 2 years. Loren (a fellow Boilermaker) grew up in Haiti and is now a helicopter pilot. Steve is from Springfield, Missouri and is the Chaplain on the ship. Loren is also a Christian and is getting ready to start leading a Bible Study on the ship.

I took them out for a true Chinese Meal. They loved it.

Dried Beef and then you put it in the pockets behind it.

Peking Duck...(A Christmas Story anyone?)

Dumpling Soup.

Everything was delicious (hohomei)

Our time together was really a lot of fun. I think I was blessed by them more than they were by me. Please pray for them as they are out at sea for sometime and pray for the ministry that Steve is trying to build and for God to raise up more women and men like Loren to help work along side Steve.

Form 7 Last day

Today was the last day for the form 7 students (seniors) to have classes. They will now start their self-study as they prepare for the public exam that starts in March. Even though I didn't teach these students this year it is sad to see them go. Many of them were on the trip with our group this summer to Mainland China, so we grew close and it was so good to see them in the halls everyday.

Please pray for them as they prepare for their exams.