October 22-28, 2012

Monday we were invited to join one of the Chinese Stakes on their annual senior outing.  Many of the participants are working in the temple with us.  We visited the Hong Kong History museum.  First we went to the Terracotta Warrior exhibit.  Again it was fantastic.  So well presented.  In just a few weeks we will be there in person.  We then went into the permanent exhibit which is the history of Hong Kong dating back to millions of years up to the present.

Hong Kong Stake Presidency

The senior group

After the tour of the museum we took a bus back to the Chapel where we had a delicious lunch.  It was so good of them to invite us.  We had a great time.  We left and took the train to Wanchai to deposit the money from the Branch.

This week we a large group from Thailand, Singapore and Bancock.  The Thailand group had ten own endowments and many sealings.  I was privileged to help in iniatories and Paul helped in baptistry.  We were also on many of the sessions with them.  They arrive on Tuesday morning and are on the 9 am session.  Then after being sealed they continue to attend two or three sessions per day along with the other ordinances.  We developed quite a bond with these wonderful people.

The family history missionaries tell us that Thailand wants a temple of their own.  Last month they submitted 2500 names.  

Paul in the Branch clerk's office working on the records

On the way home from the Branch building we came across a barber shop and he decided it was time for a hair cut.  It was getting pretty long.  They wash, massage, cut and rewash the hair.  He was pretty happy with it.  I also need one but haven't got the courage yet.  We have heard too many horror stories.  I'm waiting to see how Sister Rhyasen's looks.  She went in today, Monday.

On our other day, Thursday, we took a trip to the 10,000 Buddha temple.  It's a hike of about 15-20 minutes to the top and I am sure there are 10,000 Buddas. 

We stopped at the Ikea store which is located close to the bottom for ice cream.  We were able to get a cone for 25 cents so we had one going up and one coming back.  

Saturday at the temple we had several of our Branch members.  One was Paul Sequeira, 1st Counselor in the Branch.  He is single and Paul invited him to dinner on our way home.  We wanted to go to Triple O,  a hamburger place originally from Canada.  We went to the Harbor Mall to find it and it took some doing.  This is a huge and I mean huge mall.  Part of it goes out over the bay.  We walked and walked and walked and on a Saturday that is no easy task because of the many many people.

Another view of the different levels and again this is a HIGH end mall.

 Cruise ships stop off here and dock from Singapore before starting their cruises.

Sunday was our opportunity to speak in Church. I told about us and Paul gave the doctrine.  Disciples of Jesus Christ, highly favored, totally committed and records are important and be sure to come and see me in the Clerk's office so we can get your records correct.  We were happy to be the first of the missionaries to speak, now we can relax.  Sister Lindsy also spoke with us.  She is a new convert of three months and it was her first talk.  She did so good.  She  told a story of a friend who called her after her baptism and invited her to a party and then wanted to know what wine she wanted to drink.  She told her she no longer drank and her friend was very offended and told her not to come.  Several days went by and they spoke again and met for lunch.  The friend better  understood where she stood.  

 I was also sustained as Librarian of the Branch with the instructions to get it in ship shape.  My first time being a librarian.  I should have taken notes at home.  You Librarians always did such a good job, I just showed up at the door and you provided me with whatever I needed.  

This is Sister Yehlan, our Branch Missionary and she is terrific.  I have never seen anything like it.  Yesterday they went out after their correlation meeting and invited two sisters to come to Church and they did.  These sisters, six of them, do this on a weekly basis.  Their investigators are so welcomed and loved that many take the missionary lessons and see a better way of life.  

Have you been to the temple this month?  Only two days left, get yourself there NOW.

Pres. Monson "I pray that you will visit the temple as often as possible.  The temple is a House of the Lord. ....To you who are able to attend the temple, I would counsel you to go often.  Doing so will help strengthen your marriages and family...Temples are places where relationships are sealed together to last through the eternities.  They are filled with faith and fasting.  They are built of trials and testimonies.  They are sanctified by sacrifice and service.