China 2011 Travel Blog

Today was a travel day as we left Hong Kong to enter mainland China.  We are now in Xixong in the Sichuan Province.  After one minor-ish hiccup (almost not having a plane ticket for Emily-the other, wiser one), we took a roughly two and a half hour flight followed by a three hour drive in a small bus, or more like a van.  We're pretty tired.

Once we arrived at the hotel, we had dinner with members of the Religious Affairs Bureau in the province, a few local pastors, and one of the church's elders.  The food was excellent (although I was hoping for spicier Sichuan food). They admittedly selected more bland food for the safety of our tastebuds.  They were gracious hosts and we were offered the opportunity to experience a traditional Chinese meal. 

One of the dishes was hard for me to pick up with the chop sticks and the hosts thought it was most funny and laughed "with" me.  (It was quite embarrassing, I would like to say.) For the rest of the evening, they took concern over my eating.  It was just fine and I was more than full by the end of the meal because they kept bringing food.

After dinner, the group gathered to practice "Give Thanks" so we may sing it in church tomorrow at one of the local congregations.  Peter Shen (our host this week in Sichuan Province) will be preaching so we'll see if we have a translator.  Now it is time to rest for an eventful, enriching, God-filled week in Sichuan Province.  Good night!