More from our guest blogger…

When I arrived in Hong Kong last Thursday evening I would have expected to see an airport ad reading – "WANTED: applicants for Disneyland and Superhero characters. Apply immediately." I emerged from the Immigration line and from collecting my bags and saw a large group of excited welcomers waiting in the Arrivals area – another plane in addition to mine had just arrived. Friends and family peered around, up and over the throng as they tried to spy their dear one’s face.

As I turned the final corner and burst into the Arrivals I quickly picked out Tess holding Carys – we waved and beamed at one another. Big hugs as the others in the Caldwell clan joined us. I then took in what I was really looking at: the boys were dressed as Supermen and the girls were wearing their floating yellow Belle dresses (Beauty and the Beast) complete with "shiny black shoes" and white "fur" capes. It was a precious sight and a royal welcome 🙂

As I mentioned in an earlier letter Lita and De had a MUCH DESERVED 5 day weekend off over Easter. Apart from their invaluableness we were very pleased for them to be able to relax, sleep in, visit friends and apparently on Monday they travelled to the island of Lamma for a BBQ. Mmmmmm. They are both well and much loved by this family.

You might recall I suggested we were going out to the ABC (Aberdeen Boat Club) for dinner on Saturday evening – minus JJ and Tess. (Picture above of the ABC view from near where e sat.) It turned out to be a pleasant time although Tess and Jasper were missed by the rest of us. After a play in the playground we sat on the terrace overlooking the busy Aberdeen harbour with its moored boats and junks. Behind it the famous Floating Restaurant lit up although it is not as spectacular as usual as most of it has been removed for refurbishing. Thoughts of Graeme floated through my head as he performed there as "Brenda" one evening during his sojourn in Hong Kong a few years ago. The wind was warm, the sky slowly darkened and the endless apartment lights came on as evening crept over the city.

Seb, the girls and I had dinner while Charles sipped water….. Charles was on the final hour of a 45 day fast. For Lent he gave up food and had faithfully been fasting for the entire 45 days. (Not a single morsel for 45 days other than two communions!) What an example to me of discipline and obedience. He did it for the Lord and when we arrived home and the children were in bed we prayed and he thanked God for his fasting experience and then had some hot chicken broth. 🙂

We celebrated the joy of the next day at Union Church. It was a rich time of joy and thanksgiving and worship. The service was televised and it will have made good viewing as the choir sang beautifully of the Resurrection victory, the children’s choir was a delight, a quintet movingly sang "Were You There?" and Pastor Greg spoke forcefully and challenged us to LIVE our beliefs, to get out there and be counted and not be insipid (my words).

And in closing for today I want to share with you one of my joys – each morning I waken to the sounds of the birds singing and calling from the trees. I do not know why I do not recall this vividly from previous visits but this time they are noticeable. Their calls are different from anything I am familiar with and I lay in bed and let their songs wash over me. What a pleasant way to start the day.

I send each of you my love,

Maureen xox