Back to Gulanyu and to church

So today we finally made it to church -- last week we were too late, this week we were too early, having gotten a time from someone passing by that was a little off. The church is Christ the King Catholic church and it is on Gulan Yu, the island neighboring Xiamen. This Sunday was much better weather than last -- clear and only moderately humid, vs. pouring rain. We took a cab to the ferry and hopped right on, found our way to the church in about 35 minutes. So I think we will be able to go quite often unless the weather is bad and the ferry iffy. The 10:00 Mass is in English -- although the pastor had some difficulties and read his sermon, I followed about half of what he said. The best part for me was the music, which was not the old church hymn singing I had feared but a full fledged guitar Mass with 6 person choir. Even recognized about half of the music -- good folk Mass favorites like "Seek Ye First" and "Sing to the Mountains". I have really been missing church and this is one time that exposure to Chinese can take a back seat to being able to fully participate. Although we liked the Mass in Beijing and had a good idea what was being said, thanks to the predictability of the Catholic service, it was hard not being able to participate. We met a few people at the church briefly, but maybe more as time goes on. There were some families, maybe Filipino and Chinese and a handful of Westerners. We spent some more time on Gulanyu today -- it is a touristy place and we are repeatedly being asked for photos with the kids, but did find some time to play on the play ground and walk on waterfront, buy a few trinkets and a pair of sandals for Michael, and have lunch at the same place we ate last week. We are calling it "Thomas's favorite Chinese restaurant" because they have fried tofu exactly like I make it. They also have yummy dumplings and an English menu.