Last full day

 Looked like Neil and I might get to the beginning of prayers, but he was last to get on the bus and I had to follow on the next! Meant I had a chat with a woman pastor from Thailand who was also engaged in prison work, and seems to travel quite a bit, but had strong feelings about those who travel free and go on sight-seeing trips etc - also on the cost of the hotels, which is my feeling too when you're looking at matters to do with the world's poor. Her Presbyterian church is small and she is the only delegate, though they cannot be full members. Excellent bible study buzz group and I even got up on the stage to convey our group's second statement. We were looking at John 14 on peace, and were invited to write 10 words on peace from the point of view of the powers of this world, and then we were invited to write 10 words from the perspective of the people. We had an Italian from Pax Christi, 2 delightful women pastors from the Korean Women's Church, a Japanese, a Swiss and a Canadian. The bible studies have been modelling a way of doing bible study as well as learning on the particular theme. It was then the Peace Plenary, chaired by the archbishop of Cape Town, with a very powerful African Nobel Prize winning woman speaker. Among the other contributors was a young deaf Baptist from Costa Rica who made a big impact too. After lunch caught a very little bit of a session with speakers from Iran, before heading off for sight-seeing tour including a Buddhist Temple. It was a lovely group including some jolly Philippine Baptists who were great singers, 2 from the Syrian Orthodox Church (priest lived in Brazil, the woman I think in Syria - it seems to be the case that quite a few Orthodox live in diaspora). Also Bishop of Portugal, Anglican but that was formerly the Lusitanian Church that came out of the Catholic Church over their new doctrines in the late 19th century. Visited the Dongbaek APEC centre again, the Aquarium and after the temple a coffee shop with Young (who wasn't young but liked being called it) shepherding us relentlessly - it was a lot of fun. Then back for the second Baptist meeting with far fewer in attendance, but a good catch-up. We were invited to say what we had valued - Swedish minister said about the different "we's", which resonated for me, so I contributed too along those lines, including the having attended the early morning prayers. Also one of the " we's" for me was pride in good Baptist contributions as they all had been - Angelique Walker-Smith was there and asked me to give greetings to Myra Blyth. Shared photos of the meeting by email with Rev Dr Ja Bu of Myanmar - she works for HIV/AIDS project supported by Christian Aid.Chatting with the Swedish minister, she wasn't over happy with the loss of baptist identity in their United Church though she is a committed ecumenist. Ended the day with a goodbye to Neil who has been very good company - we found we mutually served as a regular point of reference to talk things over, when you're being bombarded with so many impressions. He flies back on Friday morning, to a busy Sunday and Monday with even something on Saturday!