A SAFE LANDING?

TUESDAY 24th AUGUST
I was so glad that the pilot had pre-warned us about the steep and bumpy descent into Hong Kong Airport because that is exactly what it was. As the plane seemed to get low enough to touch the sea I heard the wheels touch firm ground and I breathed again. It is clearly a unique type of landing between water and mountains onto this reclaimed piece of land. The high blocks of flats, the huge container ships, the incredible road bridges all fight for space in these overcrowded set of islands.

I was met by David Roisetter and Jo-Jo, a friendly face amidst the crowd. David, Hilary, Abigail and Matthew are out here visiting the place they spent 4 years at volunteering and working alongside Jackie Pullinger, in the 1990's.

As I arrived at St. Stephen's and unpacked my case, finding some space for my clothes in the dormitory I will be sharing with the men who are here (the Brothers), and other helpers who volunteer to be here, I realised that I was in the middle of a true community of faith straightaway. As I sat on my bunk bed with its thin mattress, I could hear sung worship drifting all around the complex as the morning gathering took place in each of the five houses here. As I stood on the balcony on the second floor looking over the sea towards the mountains in the distance, as the low cloud hangs on the top of teh peaks and the sea wraps itself around the many islands that make up Hong Kong, already the sights, sounds and smells are bombarding my senses. When I combine that with having been up for almost 24 hours it is hard to process it all.

Judging from the first few hours it is going to be a challenge - where do I go, what do I do, how will I understand what is going on - but I am trying to put those questions to one side just now and simply be available.

That's the plan anyway! So let's see what happens next and sense faith rising in me for what is to come.