Hong Kong Revisited

Well enough has happened this week to produce a blog everyday, unfortunately I have been sick with the flu so I'll make it one blog and see what I can remember.

We got here the day after Christmas - me, Matt, Gracie and Matt's mom (Mackie). I have had some medical problems, mainly just some unidentified aches and pains, that need checking out, so that was the reason for our trip. Mackie was happy to finally get to Hong Kong so we thought we would enjoy the sights for her benefit. We did have several days of fun together. We went to the Peak and rode the ferry around the harbor. We ate at a few good places and they shopped while I went to a couple appointments. But then on Saturday I woke up with the dreaded flu. Before that day was out I had run a 102 fever, thrown up violently, and moaned my way to the doctor and back wondering if I could really make it. That's where my fun ended, so I'll tell you the dilema of the day.

Mackie is supposed to fly out of Beijing tomorrow morning, which means she'll need to get there tonight and stay in an airport hotel. We had this part all planned out before we got stuck in Hong Kong. With me being sick, Matt had at first decided to take Gracie and return with his mom to our home to retrieve her luggage then get her off to Beijing. I wasn't too happy about being left in HK alone, although I'm not literally alone since we know people here. But the worst of my bug was over so that was the plan, then Gracie woke up in the middle of the night with an earache. She screamed a long time and after 4-5 days of not holding her I finally took her in my arms which was the only thing that soothed her. This morning Matt took her over to a neighboring physician who checked her ears and said they were indeed red along with her throat and that we (meaning she) should not travel for a few more days. So, Mackie in on her own. Not kosher - I know, but I am not well enough to take care of Gracie and she can't fly... so what is there to do?

This was not the first of the issues. Matt and his mom spent several hours at the travel agent on the 31st trying to figure out what to do. We realized too late we had come on an unexpected trip to HK and Mackie would need a visa to get back into Beijing to get home. After a bunch of ideas they finally decided she was just going to have to stay for a few more days and pay the penalty to chance her ticket, go get another visa, and go home later. But then we discovered that she has a multi-entry visa... amazing! I have no idea why she has that kind of visa, but she does, so PTL! So it is back to plan A - Matt and Gracie to take her... but then Gracie gets sick. So off they went this morning to get a ticket for Mackie. Yesterday they were all closed for New Year! Problem! The latest flight out of our city to Beijing is 8, the first flight Mackie can make to our city doesn't arrive until 6:30 - so she doesn't have time to get from the airport to our house, pack her stuff, and get back to the airport for her flight. Then back to plan C - change the original flight - but they said there were no seats available until January 18! Finally we decided to do this...

I called our sweet nanny and friend - Fan Jie Mei, and asked her to go to our house, pack up Mackie's things and take them to the airport. Our friendly driver was asked to buy her a ticket to Beijing, pick up the nanny and meet Mackie too to give her the ticket. Just in case, my friend Lizzy agreed to go to out house too and help gather up all Mackie's stuff while I talk to her on the phone. She speaks English - PTL! So, Matt and Gracie are at this moment getting on a bus with Mackie to take her back to Shen Zhen, just over the border, so she can catch a flight back to our city. We are counting on the Lord to bring this plan together - it is pretty insane.

Me, I'm lounging on the couch trying not to spread too many germs. Gracie and I both have appointments tomorrow and hopefully we will finally get to go home ourselves in a few more days!