September 17-23, 2012

 The Area and Temple Elders got together for their Monthly Manly Monday lunch group.  There were 15 of them.

Weinersnitzel

  Paul went over with Elder Rhysen.  After the lunch Sister Rhysen and I met them at the train station and we headed for Shenzhan to get my passport stamped with the year work stamp.  Somehow or other it slipped through when we came into Hong Kong the first time.  This gave us an opportunity to go into China.  We took the Kowloon Tong train to the end which puts you right at the border, about 45 minutes.  This is out where the sr. couples were living before they brought everyone into the HarborHorizon apartments.  It would have been a very long trip every day,  (45 min) so again the Lord is blessing us.

The bridge crossing the border into China (Shenzhen)

The Great &Spacious Building on the right

When you come across the border you come out onto a huge square.  Elder Rhysen called the building on the right the big and spacious building, it’s about six or more stories high and filled with little shops.  We went in to find the tailor.  Elder Rhysen was getting some pants altered. We looked around, lots of bartering and lots of shoes, hand bags, phones, clothes and a beautiful area filled with fabric of every kind. We visited the pearl market and got home about 7 pm.  Quite a fun day.

The Rhysens and Mar Jean in the square

 We took the Big Red Bus tour of Hong Kong to get our bearings and see if we could figure out where things are.  We started at 9am and finished about 9pm.  We first took the green tour route which took us to the south side of the island, very beautiful beaches and some of the most expensive real estate in the world.  Many of the bldgs. are $2,500  per sq. feet.  The Lily apartment/hotel was the most expensive bldg. built in Hong Kong.

 We stopped at the Stanley Market where we found some things we were looking for.  Ties for $2, chops, which we will go back for and a really nice women’s dress shop I want to go back and look at.  Also picked up some cute flower purses for the girls.

Stanley Market beach

 Our next stop was a ride on the Sanpan boats in Aberdeen.  This was a boat ride through the Harbor. 

before boarding the boat

passing by the floating restaurant

 Our next stop was the Peak Tram, right next to the US Consulate.  Thought it might be a good idea to know where that is.  It was not a really clear day but the view is amazing.  This tram has been running since the late 1800’s.  It must have been something to get up to those homes years ago, even today it looks like a challenge.  They have another huge mall called the Galleria up on top.

The tram going up Victoria Peak built in 1880's and still running today

View from the top

We then switched to the red tour because now it was about 4 pm.  We stopped off at the Man Mo Temple.  That was so filled with incense and smoke we didn’t stay long.  People pay homage to their ancestors by burning incense and paper and leaving out fruit for them.

We caught the evening tour at 6:15 which took us on the Kowloon side of the harbor pass the ICC bldg., the tallest in Hong Kong and then out to the Ladies market.  The streets have neon lights like Las Vegas but brighter and we finally saw lots and lots of people out on the streets.  We finished up about 8 and walked home along the Avenue of Stars and watched some of the synchronized light show which is on every evening.  We were tired.  

Kowloon streets at night

On our way home on the train

Some facts we learned about HK on the tour.  More billionaires than anywhere in the world.  8,000 sky scrappers, more than twice the nearest competitor, NY.  End of the century 1800’s discovered the bubonic plague was caused by rats.  There was a huge problem here in HK.  The government paid 3 and 5 cents for every rat.  It work worked well until some entreapreures started bringing in rats from China.

Wednesday we were meeting Brother Choi at 12 but finished at the temple at 11 so Paul went across the street to see the Keslers, mission office couple.  As it turned out he helped the AP’s unload a van full of cookies from a member in Wan Chai and we all got a box of yummy butter cookies.

We left the temple at 12:00 to meet Bro. Choi who was taking us to get our HK ID’s.  It went very smoothly.  He said it was the fastest one he had ever done.  Took less than an hour.  From there we went to Wan Chai.  The Victors went on home.  We found the Wan Chai Bldg and went in and I got my flu shot.  Paul got his on Monday when he went for lunch with the guys.  We were determined to find the restaurant they ate at.  It took awhile.  First we found the Triple O hamburger shop.  The Rhysens recommended it.  It’s from Canada.  Very good burgers and great chocolate milk shakes.  After eating there, we found the Friez restaurant in the next building.  We took the Starr Ferry home to Central where we walked around the Harbor Mall.  Another high end mall.  The first floor was all children’s clothes and I mean expensive.  By now our feet had about had it.  We caught the shuttle at the Peninsula Hotel and rode home.

Entrance to the Wan Chai Builiding

Church headquarters in Hong Kong

foyer

Thursday we caught the shuttle at 6:50 and met up with the Keslers, mission office couple, and went a new way to the temple with them.  I think we are finally seeing how some of these trains are the same just catch them in a different place.  Paul officiated the 9 o'clock session and I followed the 1.  Otherwise we were busy in iniatories, Paul baptized again in the baptistery, and was at the veil.  Tonight we stopped off to look at the gym here at the apartment and sat in the massage chairs until they told us it was closing for the dinner hour.  Paul has gone back down for more.

Friday we caught the shuttle at 7:00 along with the Rhysens.  It looks like rain, very overcast and muggy but still no rain even though we have been carrying an umbrella. I was a follower on the 1 pm session.  On our way home we walked to the Wellcom store and Park & Ride.  

Saturday we and the Rhysens needed to be at the temple at 6:45 so we met and took the taxi.  It gets us there in 5-10 minutes.  Saturday is a busy day at the temple. 

Sunday we had a new senior couple join us in the Pen 3 Branch, the Parrys.  They arrived last Monday so now there are four senior couples in our Branch.  Today was the last Sunday for the Rippys who are going home on Tuesday.  Another great day at Church. Our two new baptisms, Sister Lilia and Jocelyn were confirmed members of the Church today.  This Branch is amazing and we are loving them. The Branch missionaries went out in the square today and invited three women to come to church and they came. 

 Elder Lewis and Elder Victor received callings in the Branch today.  Elder Victor was called as Executive Secretary and Elder Lewis as Branch Clerk.  Sister Victor has been helping in Primary with the adorable children they have and I have been going to Relief Society.  Today was Home Teaching after the Block and then we had dinner.  It is a great time for everyone to visit.  Sister Collins, Branch President's wife, will be heading back to South Africa.  They are trying to sell their home there and then she will move here. 

A very American dinner tonight, mashed potatoes, gravy, fried chicken, broccoli,
 and watermelon in honor of the Rippys.

Paul & Brother Paul Sequeira 1st Counselor

Sister Victor, Lewis and Rippy (headed home for Washington State)

The little restaurant we walk by as we leave the Church.  Notice the octopus and intestines on the left.

Some scriptures which have been meaningful to me this week.  Alma 37: 13, 15, 17, 18, 35, 46;
Alma 38:2, 5, 12; Alma 39:8;

Have a great week and remember, remember!!  pray, read your scriptures, give service, and ponder the great love our Heavenly Father has for each one of His children.  Elder Lewis says "I am a child of God, I love Him and I know He loves me."