October 1-7 2012

I'm a little slow this week.  Sunday was a very long day, but wonderful.  We went to bed Saturday night about 9:30 and got up at 12 midnight to watch the first session of conference.  Went back to bed for two hours and got up at 4 am for the 2nd session.  Back to bed and got up at 8 am for the priesthood session. Then off to Church at 10:15.  Paul is still trying to get a handle on the Branch Clerk stuff and get the records in order.  We had a wonderful Fast and Testimony meeting.  Pres. Collins started off with his testimony.  He reminded us that servitude is not service.  Families can be together forever and we have an opportunity to be more than we are.  He then invited a new area missionary couple, The Parrys and a new Elder in the Branch to bear their testimonies.  They will be powerful additions to the Branch.  After the Block we had a pot luck dinner.  We got home about 8:30 pm that night.  The good thing is that we can now navigate ourselves onto the right trains to get home by ourselves.  A major step.

Filipino Sisters who are going back home and Sister Jones, teaching in mainland China

 This week in the temple we  had a group from mainland China and from Thiland.  Sister Clyde arrived from Sandy, Utah on Tuesday night.  President & Sister Aki picked her up and the Hathaways, Deans and us came down to meet her.  She is doing well and just needs a couple of weeks to get use to the time change and get her feet under her.  We are quite proud of her.  She came by herself.  She has served in the London and New Zealand temples, sang with the Tabernacle Choir and just finished serving at the Conference Center.

Chinese Sisters who came to the temple and we fortunate to serve them

Sister Victor and I have been swimming almost every day after getting home from the temple.  The weather is getting a little cooler.  Elder Rhyasen said we’ll have to have a contest who will go the longest until they shut down the pool for winter.  Sister Victor’s foot is getting better every day.  The Rhyasens have a daughter and son-in-law here for a few days.  We worked for them Thursday so they could spend time with them.

 We have found some new ways to get to the train.  Now we are walking every day instead of waiting for the shuttle.  With the humidity down it isn't too bad and the time is about the same.  You either walk or wait for the shuttle.

Wednesday after the temple we took the bus 104 over to Wanchai to drop off the church money and then we wandered around for a  bit.  Went to see the new Focus grocery story and took the ferry back across the harbor and caught the shuttle at the Peninsula Hotel which brought us right home.

Monday and Tuesday are holidays here in Hong Kong.  Lantern Festival and Mid Autumn Festival.  The temple is open on holidays so that the Filipino sisters can come to the temple.  It is a mandatory day off for them.  All the missionaries work that day.  Sessions start at 7 am an there is one every hour until 11.  All the other ordinances are also available.  Monday 2000 ordinances were performed.  On Tuesday there were 1268 ordinances.  

Giant lantern in Victoria Park

Elder Lewis waiting for the dragon parade

Sister Whitehead, The Deans, Elder Lewis The Rhyasens,

The firey dragon covered in burning incense 

The Rhyasens, Elder Victor and Sister Whitehead, the Deans and us met at 5:30 Monday night to go to Victoria Park to see the lanterns.  From there we walked to where the parade was going to be and waited for about an hour to see the dragon parade.  Nothing like I expected.  The dragon was a large rope like affair, very long with incense sticks poked into it and they were lit.  The head and tail were very large and had teeth.  Boys carried it on a stick and made it dance up and down, twist and turn.  Once we saw it we headed back and caught a bus right away and got back to our apartment to see the fireworks which were at 9 pm and go for 22 minutes.  Quite spectacular.  It was quite a night and we got it all in.

22 minutes of spectacular fireworks over the Hong Kong Harbour

Tuesday evening after serving in the temple the Victors and us took the train out to Brother & Sister Wen's home where we were having a Branch BBQ.  What a fun group of people.  They were so kind to us and we had great Filipino food, yum, yum.

Bro Jacinto, Paul & Paul Sequeire

Branch members singing karioki

 September 31, 2012 our grandson, Tyler Zachary Lewis, was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and made a Deacon.  We are so proud of him.  He got to go to General Priesthood meeting with his Dad and Grandpa Golden.

Dad Kory, Tyler, Grandpa Dave Golden

Tyler, Josh, Kory & Gage Lewis

 We know he is going to be a great young man who will honor and uphold his priesthood.  Way to go Tyler!!  Now start getting yourself to the temple each month to do baptisms.  Serve, Serve, Serve, that is where your joy will.  

Tyler & Kory at BYU game