What a day we all had today. With a great breakfast under our belt, we headed out for a day of touring with our guide, Tracy. Our little bus took us up to the Li River in Fuli town. On the bus, Peter led us in a devotional. He reminded us that we are representatives of our church and we needed to show all due respect to the local Chinese people that we meet. We need to be close as a team and demonstrate how Christians care for each other and treat all mankind with respect and a caring attitude. Our reading was from Matthew 15. Ernie led us in prayer.

We took a two hour trip on the River Li with its beautiful limestone cliffs and mountains surrounding us. Great opportunities for fellowship and interesting conversation. It was a cool and cloudy day on the River Li. The mist shrouding the mountains was a great site.

We had lunch at Minnie Mao’s restaurant in Yangshuo. Good food and local color. This area of western China is home to a number of small minority groups in China. The area is known for farming and tourism, no heavy industry. The local crafts are lovely. We shopped briefly on the long pedestrian street with many small shops and stalls.

Heavy traffic delayed our return to the Guilin city center and our hotel. We managed to have a very good dinner together followed by a wonderful after dark tour of the four lakes in the city by boat. It has been a water-feature day. The cruise on the lakes included viewing the golden pagoda, a huge structure for a pagoda, trained cormorants catching fish for their keepers, an amazing sight, and live dancers, singers and an on-=board flautist all displaying traditional local music and costumes. Tomorrow we travel and it is late, so I will sign off. Thank you all for your support and prayers.

From the Team, Peace and Faith, Bruce

October 18: Rest and Relaxation in Guilin