Lehtomäki, China connections - a personal journey

The author was nine when her father died, but she 'found' him again forty-six years later in a mountainous village in China, where he had been a missionary and had helped American flyers in the CBI theatre of the Second World War. Harry Fisher (1895-1960) lived in China from 1928 to 1944, only leaving with his children when Japanese forces were near at hand. During the last years of his sojourn, he helped American flyers, who had had to bail out over the Hump. His family still has the notebook with their messages and letters. In late 1944, American authorities were able to assist him and his family in their escape. This book is Ruth's personal journey through life to 'find' her father, and her two physical trips to China in 2006 and 2008 with members of her family, including three siblings who had been born there. On her first journey she visited a rural community to meet the child her family supports with monthly donations through Plan International. It was an eye-opening experience to see how millions of people are living their daily lives. Beijing, Chengdu, Lijiang, Shanghai, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Xian were also ports of call, and descriptions of these varied places add to the adventure.