Simon (take two)

Last Saturday we met with an old family friend, Simon Perkins. 

We spent this afternoon with another Simon, also from the UK, at a family worship event.

His name is Simon Parry, and he is a children’s worship leader, song-writer and children’s pastor based in London. At this afternoon's event we enjoyed enthusiastic songs, dancing, games, costumed characters, stories, craft, puppetry, and more. The more-than-a-concert lasted from 2:30-5:00, and it was free!

The children got to meet Simon after the show and bought a copy of his CD. We had such a fantastic time with this talented writer and musician, but when I pressed the kids about how he compared with other Christian children's performers, they remain loyal to their early Colinisation. (Boom tish!)

Have you ever seen...? (nineteen)

... a mop on a leash?

One people, one city

Yesterday we attended a church outreach in North Point. It was a multicultural event with games, concerts, dances, food and LOTS OF PEOPLE. I seriously think half of Hong Kong was on the premises, and it made manoeuvring around the place very difficult. My favourite feature of the day was the flea market on the third floor. I spent a long time looking through all the goods for sale and found some great bargains.

After eating lunch, the children had their faces painted which attracted a lot of attention travelling home on the MTR.

Simon

This is a photo of Thecla and Simon Perkins. I knew them when I lived in the Ivory Coast, and I recall their family was always very kind and generous to ours...inviting us for meals, letting us swim in their pool, house-sit, etc. Craig and I visited the Perkins in Woking, UK, during our round-the-world trip in 2001. Today we caught up with Simon again as he has been working in Hong Kong for the last week. We met at Kowloon Park, a great location where the children could play while we chatted. It was nice to hear news about Simon and Thecla's children and grandchildren. We've promised to pray for each other, and I hope it won't be another decade before our paths cross again.

Wordless Wednesday (twenty-one)

Grandpa!

On Sunday morning the children woke to a wonderful surprise: Grandpa was here! We'd kept his visit a secret from them. Although Craig's Dad only spent two days with us in Hong Kong on his way to a conference in the United States, it was still a fun time for all. Brian came to church with us on the MTR, explored Tai Po, and went shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui.

We celebrated Brian's visit by going out to Dan Ryan's for lunch after church.

Brian brought all sorts of goodies from Australia for us. He used a whole suitcase just for our care package! Some of these products (like Coco Pops and Tim Tams) you can buy here but they have a very different taste to those from "home". Thank you to Nana and Grandpa for all our wonderful presents!

Brian also bought a special cake from a local bakery for us to enjoy for dessert last night.

The children loved seeing their Grandpa, even if it was for just a short time.

Choir Festival

Jemilla has been extra busy with after-school rehearsals in the lead up to the concert we attended tonight. She made friends from two other schools participating in the festival. She was also privileged to meet American composer Paul Carey who was commissioned to write and arrange two songs for the choirs to perform during the concert.

Here are some photos from tonight's show:

ICS Cherub Choir, singing "Music is my Life" and "Praise the Lord"

Chiu Sheung School, singing "Children of the World"

International Academy of Beijing, singing "Cantate Domino" and the very cool "Elijah Rock"

ICS Children's Choir, performing "She shall have Music" and "Glory to You"

Jemilla is second from the left in the front row.

Festival  Choir (all participants), singing "Fairest Lady", "Clap Your Hands" and "Ode to Peace"

Here is a very wobbly video of the Festival Choir performing my favourite song of the night, "Fairest Lady" by Nick Page.

Craig took this shot after the concert of all the proud parents photographing their children on stage.