all in a day

bone spurs for free.

fully reclined.

Flying to HK a day early on thursday felt last minute. Sure, packing everything in 20 minutes was a bit crazy, but when you are flying on buddy passes...you go with the flow.

After a quick drive to Atlanta during which Scott may (or may not have) observed posted speed limits, we arrived at Hartsfield ATL. Thanks to my old iphone with a cracked screen, we were able to scan the barcodes for our tickets at the self-serve kiosks and not miss our flights. Thank you Apple.

Let me just say, flying first class? It's comical when what you are accustomed to is coach. Filet Mignon? Ice Cream Sundaes? Organic wine? Fully reclining seats with built in lumbar massage? Thank you to our Delta friends for making this trip happen. And yes, those slippers and the eye mask? Sure, why not. Are the feather pillows complementary as well?

After a late night arrival, we drove through the city towards Shatin where we are staying for the week. There really is something special about this city. This week, Scott, Maik, and I will be finalizing our team apartments and taking care of last minute items. It is more than a reality check to walk around this neighborhood and see a glimpse of everyday life.

Today, we are going to visit two churches Kowloon ECC and Island ECC. After lunch, we'll meet up with our realtor and within the next day or so, we will know what our new homes will look like. Later tonight, we'll travel back to the airport to meet two more friends joining us for the week.

doulos

This morning, I received a very encouraging phone call from our team member Maik, who is already working in HK. More details will be posted at the grace campus blog soon, but for now what I can say, is that we are humbled to know we have a network in place in HK. Faculty representing universities in HK attended a dinner hosted by GCM|HK and another partner organization. The event was held aboard the OM ship Doulos, which is currently at port in HK. Simply put, we are connecting with like-minded professors who will help us serve the students in Hong Kong. After last night's event, we have relationships in place on all 8 university campus locations throughout HK. This is huge... to know some of our fist steps are clearly before us is compelling; reminding us once again, that God has already gone before us, for our joy and His namesake. (Ephesians 2:10).

fathers and sons.

surely.

In repentance and rest is your salvation -

in quietness and trust is your strength...

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,

and therefore He exalts himself

to show mercy to you, For the Lord is a God of justice;

blessed are all those who wait for him...

He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.

As soon as he hears it, he answers you.

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity

and the water of affliction,yet your Teacher

will not hide himself anymore,

but your eyes shall see your Teacher.

And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying,

"This is the way, walk in it"

when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left...

And you will defile your idols...

you will scatter them...

and you will say to them,

"Be Gone!".

Isaiah 30:15-22

the visa paper trail

chuck e. cheese

This month has been crazy. We have been on the road a lot. Chattanooga, Atlanta, Montgomery, Birmingham, Nashville, Birmingham, Montgomery. Our kids are troopers. Amazing actually. For all the many hours required of us to be in the car, albeit exhausting, they are doing very well in this transition.

As a reward on our way home, we thought... Hey, why not Chuck E Cheese. Let's just be honest. Does anyone really go for the food? Or a relatively clean table? Not likely. Even 1/3 of the games weren't working, but -- we all had fun and were able to visit friends. We even won 49 tickets and got 2 tootsie-pops. Awesome.

good idea.

kinda like paparazzi

Well. About 4:30 rolls around, and there is a wedding. Nearby. Really nearby. As a matter of preface -- I wish them well and all the blessings a beach-side wedding deserves. Sincerely. What I can say, is that we, along with 50 others, were awkwardly uninvited witnesses to this matrimonial celebration. Enough said. The highlight, after seeing it all come together, would probably be that Josh and Caleb both, pulled down their Auburn-Tigers pants (post-sandy-beach-rash-wardrobe-change) and peed (some may say urinated) on the beach during the ceremony. Albeit discreetly, I wonder if the two videographers will have a hard time editing out two small hineys, during "...for better or worse, till death do us part..."?

does it stunt your growth?

blue mountain beach

good times. again.

and the packing begins.

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