Philippines

When I was ten weeks old my parents moved to the Philippines. We lived there for over two years. My brother Joel was born there. I of course have no memory of this but my parents have talked about the Philippines for as long as I can remember.

Well, while my parents were on this side of the world, Niel and I decided we should make a trip to the Philippines with them and visit the city of Davao in the southern Philippines where they used to live. I am glad we did. It was a pretty remarkable couple of days. The pictures that we have don't even scratched the surface of the things we saw and experienced.

 We walked all over to find a place that made this raw tuna dish that my mom remembered eating. The place was a shack but the tuna was fresh.

 China Town

 The house we used to live in. My Dad knocked on the door to see if he could look inside but the lady who answered did not speak English.

 Standing in front of the gate to the house. The house has been updated but the gate is the same.

 Chicken on a stick. Yummmm!!!

 The Bible Institute my parents used to teach at. It was so fun to visit here. People remembered my parents and they remembered me as a little girl. I think this was my favorite place to visit.

 I used to play with Joy as a little girl. Fun to meet up again 30 some years later. She now works at the Bible School. 

 My mom is standing with Nelrose. She graciously drove us around one of the days we were there. My Dad used to travel all over the island preaching with her Father. (He is no longer alive.) My dad said her Father was like a mentor to him and taught him a lot about ministry as my parents were only 22 when they arrived in the Philippines.

  On the highway back from the Bible School, we had to stop to let the sheep cross the road.

The four of us at an interesting restaurant on our last night in Davao.

We also visited the hospital my brother was born in and I was hospitalized in due to Dengue Fever when I was two. We saw the outside of an apartment building we lived in when we first moved there and went to the market my mom used to buy our food at.

It was a memorable trip. I am so happy we were able to go back with my parents.

Thorson Visit

My parents came to Hong Kong!! It was so fun to have them here. They were only in town for a few days but we did manage to get out and see a few of the sites.

We saw the view of the city from the Peak, took a Star Ferry ride, shopped in Stanley, and ate a variety of food that Hong Kong has to offer (Dim Sum, Indian, Baozi (Steamed Buns) and even Pizza). They also visited our office and met all of our colleagues.

Thanks for coming Mom and Dad!

Kayaking in Stanley

A few weeks ago, I went kayaking with some friends. We took the bus down to Stanley which is in the south-east part of Hong Kong Island. It was fun but exhausting and we all got too much sun.

Dao Feng Shan

Our home is on the side of a hill. At the top of the hill is a large white cross. I see the cross from the valley below all the time as I leave the Subway Station and start my short climb home. I had never been to the top of the hill where the cross is until this morning. I decided I would climb to the cross and have a quiet time.

 The cross says, "It is finished" in Chinese.

 This boulder says Huo zai Zhu nei or "Live in Christ".

 This is where I sat to have my quiet time. It was very special to sit here and see the cross while reading, praying, and journaling.

 Inside were pictures of familiar stories in the Bible from a Chinese perspective. This one was Jesus feeding the 5000.

 The Cross is located on a Lutheran seminary and retreat center. All the architecture is old Chinese style. This is the chapel.

Have I mentioned before that I don't like monkeys and that we see them from time to time? On my walk I saw this sign. It tells people how to be safe from monkeys. It looks as if I have a valid reason to be afraid!

Gecko

Look what I found in my shoe...

I don't mind. I think geckos are cute!!

Flower Market

A few weeks ago Niel and I visited the flower market in Mong Kok. This was the second time I had been there. I love walking the streets with Niel and looking at the flowers and plants.

We ended up buying herbs like cilantro, parsley, basil, sage. rosemary so that we could grow them and use them when we cook. We also bought two tulip plants to hang on our fence. Tulips are my favorite flower. It makes me smile every time I come home and see them.

Wet Market

The other day I stumbled upon a building in the area of Hong Kong where we live that I had not noticed before. I decided to check it out and this is what I found...

A wet market! It made my day. I love shopping at wet markets and did not know there was one in Shatin. We are able to buy fresh fruits and vegetables as well as meat and fish from various little stalls. The market also includes flowers, goldfish, chinese medicine stalls, cheap clothing and slippers as well as other odds and ends. :)