Stepping Back to Go Forward

Happy 2025, I hope that you have all had a wonderful start to the new year, and that this year brings you joy and contenment.

You may wonder why I have chosen this picture, but for me it is a symbol of hope.  This is the cross that you find in the ruins of the old Coventry Cathedral.  Back in 2022 my dad, mum and I took a trip to Coventry Cathedral.  I had always wanted to go as I can remember dad talking about his memories of when he was a small child and being taken up Cleeve Hill to watch the bombing of Coventry.  This Cathedral has now been rebuild – or at least a new one is built next to the ruins of the bombed one.  It was a very poinient and spiritual visit.  Here was a place that wasn’t hiding or covering up the destruction, there was no attempt to fix it either – ok they maintain it so that it doesn’t collapse and is a danger to the public, but they acknowledge the hurt and the brokeness.  However, they don’t leave it there as a ruins or scar, right next to it is the new Cathedral – a very striking and well designed piece of architecture.  There is hope, joy, faith and peace in it.  There is also a strong sense of reconciliation and a look to the future.

As many will now be aware that back in late August beginning of September I made the decision that something had to change in my life.    The trajectory of my life was going absolutley no where.  I loved my Church and that was fulfilling, but one cannot live just for one day of the week to be fulfilled.  Yes, I do know that life is not all about excitment and happiness.  Instagram and Facebook posts do not show the majority of life, which can be a bit of a bore at times.  Holidays are great, but they are not reality.  When you look at the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years, it’s easy to forget that they were there for 40 years.  It is skimmed over, or interjected by the big events of the giving of the commands, the miricals.  The majority of the time they were just walking around a desert, eating the food provided by God, doing the everyday tasks that were required, living life.  And so, yes I realise there are going to be large parts of my life that are not exciting.  That I am not always going to enjoy work, that I am going to have to put the effort into making things happen.  The problem is that  I was changing into a person I didn’t like and I couldn’t see a way out.

Back in August, I lost my aunt – see the previous post to know more.  And after her funeral, and chatting with my brother, he said something very poinient and wise, he commented on how brave Dad, Mum, Uncle John, Aunty Shirley, Uncle Robin, Mandad and Nan had been in moving from the saftey of the UK to Africa, that they had gone into the unknown, they had paved the way for us.  He said that we needed to be brave to honour them.  So much of my life I have played it safe, I haven’t always pushed myself.  However, I also knew that I had to do something drastic and change something in my life.  Life in the UK wasn’t working for me.  My mental health was bad, I couldn’t see a way out, but I also knew that I had to make the decision.  I am the type of person who will make decisions that will please others, that will try and keep everyone else happy, I am easily swayed by those closest to me, and so I knew that for once I had to be a little selfish and make the decision by myself for what I believe is right for me.  So after a lot of praying, soul searching and umming and aahing I made the decision to return to Hong Kong to teach English at the same tutorial centre.  Yes I know that isn’t exactly ground breaking or new or brave – I’ve done it before, but I truly believe that God has placed me back here.  I pushed a door and it opened wide.  And at times it can be the bravest thing, turning around, and going back so that you can then move forward again.   Infact I don’t see it as going back wards at all, it’s moving forwards into what God wants me to be.  My hope and prayer here is that as I settle back and as I follow this path that God will heal my wounds, that I will learn to love myself like God loves me and that I will plow new paths and, like my old school song says, be brave and strong and true, and to fill the world with love my whole life through.

So on the 1st January 2025 I set flight to Hong Kong.  Being typical me, I knew I was having to start work on the 4th January so wanted to arrive on the 2nd so that I could at least have a day of rest inbetween landing and work that I booked a flight with the arrival in mind not the taking of.  It only dawned on me that I was flyiing out on the 1st of January at 9.30 in the morning from Gatwick.  Now being a long haul flight you need to be there 3 hours before which makes it 6.30 in the morning – that’s not a problem – used to waking up extra early to get to places for 6am in Zim, but the night before is New Years Eve – public transport won’t get me there for that time and it’s Gatwick which is a little harder for us to get to from where we are.  Typical Katherine, but never mind.  mum and I went up the night before and stayed in a travel lodge.  The flight over was a good enough flight, Emerates weren’t bad – will travel with them again and Dubai Airport is easy to navigate.

I land in Hong Kong and all is going well.  I find a taxi that takes me to the hotel so far so good.  Oopsy, the taxi doesn’t take card only cash – I hadn’t bargined on that so there I was, after 24 hours travelling running around trying to find an atm.  The poor taxi driver, was very patient and stood waiting with my two large suitcases and handluggage as I dashed down a level in a complex that I didn’t know and found it.  All’s well that ends well – he was paid with extra for his understanding.  Got into my hotel room changed and then went on the hunt for food.  The next day worked out how to get to work by actually going to work to see them, made an appointment at the bank on the Monday to sort that out, then of to TST to meet up with cousins which was special.

Started work on the Saturday, and it felt like I had never been away.  I’m a little rusty and I have new names to learn, but I have some seriously lovely students who make it all so worth it.  Kids’ Zone is a truly special tutorial centre.  It is run by the most amazing couple and I am so blessed to have them as friends.  And I am so blessed that my cousin introduced me to them back in 2017. 

I am also increadibly blessed that I am now living with a very special cousin.  God is truly working through these people to help bless me.  I hope and pray that I can bless them as much as they have blessed me.

Life is going on, it is settling back into a routine and I am taking my time before I start getting back into groups and other things.  So life revolves around work at the moment.  I hope that when I write again next month I will have more to say.  This week we are about to celebrate Chinese New Year.  We are going into the Year of the Snake.  My I take this time to wish you all a Happy and Blessed Year.  May 2025 be a year of renewal, reconciliation and healing for all.  May it be a time when we acknowledge any scars we have but look to the future and new beginnings.