Entering China with a Visa on Arrival from Hong Kong and Meeting Loved Ones in Shenzhen

After our island hopping excursions for a couple of weeks in Hong Kong, we went back to the main island and stayed over for a night there. Trying to enter China without a valid Chinese visa, we prayed fervently for getting a 5 day Chinese visa at the Lo Wu border in Hong Kong. According to AI, we were advised not to go as there could always be the possibility that the customs officer would find some reasons for refusing to issue us a visa. Deparate to see our friends and loved ones in China, we took a gamble on China'a visa on arrival policy.

Praise God! We were able to get the 5 day visa entering Shenzhen, China, without much difficulties. We were excited to have finally landed on Chinese soil again after all our efforts of obtaining a visa to visit this country!

So good to meet J. again in Shenzhen! I never felt so happy landing on Chinese soil! Not long after checking into our hotel in Shenzhen, we waited and watched in the hotel lobby where J. was coming through the revolving doors with the two suitcases we left behind in his apartment. I hugged him hard and was so happy to see him again! On the second day, we took sometime for worship. S. and I took turn sharing bible verses together with J. and followed by a family prayer. It was time like this that made our time and effort worthwhile coming to China to visit J. I was very happy that J. was willing to humble himself to listen to God's word.

After our bible sharing time, we took a stroll and went to the wetland park and saw the display in the building. Since S. was bitten by lots of mosquitos and was having a bad reaction, we couldn't continue our walk around the park. Instead we went looking for a hotel to welcome our friends from Shanghai. Ru and De arrived to the hotel after midnight.

The next day we met our friends in the hotel lobby around noon. So glad our two families could finally meet in China after all the problems we have had. It was truly God's blessings! .

We went for a Dim Sum lunch at a mall right beside the Ping An Financial Centre. We spent the whole day there since it was raining all day. There were a lot to see in this huge shopping centre. I liked watching people skating in the skating rink! My friend, hubby and I, walked around this huge beautiful shopping centre while the young people went on their own way. They went for a movie in the mall while Ru and I sat and chatted. Our two families really enjoyed meeting each other again. Time flew. We went for dinner in the mall after J. and friend finished the movie.

De found out that it was S.'s birthday the next day, D. and J. left the table for a little while and came back with a nice birthday cake, with candles and birthday hats. We sang happy birthday and made our wishes. So happy we could be surrounded by family and good friends to share my hubby's birthday celebration. The next day, Ru and De were supposed to leave on the flight taking off at 8:45a.m. but the flight was delayed until late afternoon. We went to church and took the communion together! Thank God we could do that with J. as we have not done that for a long time!

After the church service, our friends went to the airport while we went for lunch at a mall near our hotel. Since we had a few hours, we walked to a theatre and watched the movie J. and Deb saw the day before - The Lychee Road which told the story of how a dedicated Tang Dynasty junior official was order to find a route allowing him to successfully transport the fresh lychee from southern China to the emperor in Xian, a highly impossible task. But it was achieved by this official's sheer determination to overcome all the obstacles and danger placed in his envoy's way. It was an excellent movie indeed!

For our last night in Shenzhen before saying good bye to each other, we enjoyed a Korean BBQ dinner at a restaurant near our hotel. It was a great time sharing with our loved ones over some comfort food!

Looking foward to our next gathering again soon! RT, Shenzhen, China, 5202081.4