[Md-sligo] CHINA TRIP, 2017 Plans and Flight purchases

[Thomas Bickford]

Dear Charles,

As you see, I am sending your message on to Frania. Virginia and I agree to
your request to visit Hospital six in Beijing. We were there before, but it
is especially important to you, I am sure, because not only did you live at
the Presbyterian compound there, but your father served as doctor there. The
building that we knew in 1947 has been torn down and the new building is
across the hutong in the area where we lived. When we were there in 1993 I
asked Clarra if the moon gate leading to the East courtyards was still
there, and she confirmed that it was. Many things change, but the medical
work still continues. We were introduced to the hospital director on that
trip, a well-spoken and polite gentleman who accepted us as interested
visitors. Jean said that she had been born in the previous building. We were
not invited in for any inside visitation, but we did have the chance to look
at the outside. The street had been widened, and the compound walls had been
taken down for the whole street, as I recall. 

     Virginia and I have registered, our daughter Ann, also. We need to
remind our daughter, Barbara, to do the same, also my niece, Carol. I am
starting to feel the excitement that comes before the trip.

Yours in Christ,

Tom
	 

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Lewis [mailto:rcljr at reagan.com] 
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 3:15 PM
To: Tom Bickford
Subject: CHINA TRIP, 2017 Plans and Flight purchases

Dear Tom:
 
Greetings in the Lord.  This letter is to fill you in on our progress with
Road Scholar. 
 
Three of us are set for leaving SFO on 13 July, 2017. Nelda and I plus my
grand niece, Clair Johnson.
 
Tickets have already been purchased:  Nelda and I will fly on 27 July,'17
from Beijing to Singapore  on Midnight of the 26th ( really 27 July at 0:30)
Claire's ticket is to fly Beijing to SFO, leaving 27 July.
 
The two of us are flying Malaysian Air to Singapore. Then on 11 August, we
will fly Sing - SFO. Our time in S.E.Asia will include a trip over to
Sumatra for a week.
 
Looking over the Tour Schedule, I can see that our day (only one day??) in
Beijing is filled with visit to the Summer Palace. 
 
But, taking a look at Tuesday evening, 25th July. After the train arrives @
7:30 PM, I can see a chance before going to the hotel, to visit Hospital #6
for a drive-by if our tour guide agrees.
 
Another chance to visit HOSPITAL #6, and actually see some of the hosp.
staff, could be the afternoon before going to Tien'anmen Square and Peking
Duck. It will mean a whole lot to me and my G'niece , Claire, for all of us
the see the hospital ( and see the Presby. Mission Compound) where our
family lived after 1947 and into the Communist controlled country until our
departure, August, 1952.  I know you too may be happy to have that
experience. So, my thought for you is to try to set arrangements with the
R.S. to put this outing into the afternoon program. This item may be
something we do in stead of going back to our hotel "for rest and swimming."
What do you think? I would rather we do this as a group rather than Nelda
and I trying to ride a taxi over to that part of Old Beijing.
 
This is all I have right now. I welcome any updates on how your groups are
finalizing their plans.
 
Yours for HIM, Charles and Nelda