November 12 - 18, 2012

Monday we took the shuttle from our apartment to the TST (Tsim Sha Tsui) train station where we took the Tsuen Wan line to Kwai Fong.  It's a new way for us to get to church and only takes one train.  It requires a medium walk from the shuttle to the train but we like it.  Paul was able to get a lot of the paper work ready for tithing settlement which President Collins began today.  Paul's big job is to try to get everyone's records in order.  Finding people is a real problem but we have several sisters who are so good about helping us.  Yehlan is one of these.  She is the Branch mission leader and does a tremendous job.  Also Sister Lingling, our RS President, is also wonderful and they both know a lot of the sisters.

When we left the Church we went to Wancahi Bldg. to turn in the tithing receipts and stopped at Prize Mart to get a few things,  microwave popcorn, candy bars and cookies.  A very healthy diet.  On the way home we decided to take the ferry and ran into a young man who is in Hong Kong on business from Cincinnati Ohio.

Brother Mattingly from Cincinnati Ohio notice Christmas decorations are everywhere

I had a really lovely visit on the phone with Lynn Nelson and she asked questions about our apartment and I said I would include some pictures so here they are

Our bedroom

My closet, those two drawers are our  dresser, I have  that much more not showing

Our living room and dining room, notice our new rug

Kitchen area

Washer and dryer in one.  Paul never uses the dryer but hangs the clothes  on a rope line he strings up.

bathroom, again lots of mirrors

extra bedroom with desk

other end of extra bedroom

We are at the end of this long hallway.  I'm standing at our door taking the picture.  We are on the 18th floor.

 We had some wonderful experiences at the temple this week.  We had a family from India.  Two brothers, their wives and children and mother from Banglador.  One brother is a Branch President and the other is on the District Council.  One brother and his wife received their endowments and were sealed and the brothers were sealed to their mother and deceased father.  I got to visit with them in the  baptistry one evening.  This month we serve two night shifts in the temple.  We go in at 2:15 and work until closing around 9:30 pm.

We also had a group from Indonesia and one from Thailand.  I worked with two of the sisters from Thailand all week either on sessions or in initiatory.   What wonderful people.  One is a District RS President and has a daughter at BYU Hawaii.  We also have our very faithful Chinese brothers and sisters who come regularly along with several American sisters who live here.What a joy every day to go into the temple and work with such great people.

Paul practicing for Beijin

Saturday we walked to the post office to mail a package to Mallorie.  I made the mistake of telling her I bought them some really cute purses and she has been wanting to know when she was going to get them so we finally mailed them off.  I hope they like them, I thought they were so cute.  We then checked out a new grocery store that the Victors and Keslers told us about.  It's a Park & Shop International and is quite nice.  It's kind of like Ikea in the fact that once you get in you have to walk through the whole store before you can get out.

Saturday evening Tim and Candy Fife invited us to their home for dinner.  It was out in Tuen Mun.  Just took one train out to the New Territories.  We got there a little early so were going to walk through the mall but could not find a mall there at the station.  That was a first.  We then called and took the light rail two stops and Tim and his son Spencer met us as we got off the train.  Their complex is right there.  It was very nice.

Candy prepared a wonderful dinner for us even though they had had a big lunch with their ward at a German buffet.  It was fun to meet their family, they have three boys, Daniel, Thomas and Spencer and Sophie who is going to be three next week.  Candy says she is way too westernized for most of the Chinese.  They met at BYU Hawaii and lived in Camarillo, TO, for four years and then came to Hong Kong, which is where she is from and he got a job with the Church in Wanchai, Technology manager.

Paul, Daniel, Mar Jean, Spencer, Candy, Thomas, Sophie, Tim 

Paul, Cathy, Mar Jean.  Cathy is their domestic helper and a member of the Church from the Philippines.  We see her in the temple most Saturday mornings.

 Today, Sunday, we left for Church at 10;15.  Arrived at 11:00 and Elder Lewis started preparing for tithing settlement.  I worked in the library a little.  Sister Victor was busy working on the Primary program which will be on December 9th.  She hasn't had much time to prepare and so is a little stressed out, but we know it will be wonderful as they always are.

Today our new Elder, Elder Broderick, spoke.  He is from Utah and has been out 1 1/2 years.  He spoke about being happy now and not thinking that once you accomplish set number of things you will be happy.

Ben James, District Sunday School President, was our 2nd speaker and he encouraged us to gain gospel knowledge which is taking all the information that sinks into our hearts and actually changes us into better people, helping us become more like the Savior.

After Church today we had Home Teaching with our groups.  We had seven present.  Elder Lewis gave the lesson from Elder Cook's talk on " Can You Feel So Now".  Brother Paul Sequiera is his companion and he finished up.  Then we all went to choir practice.  Next week is Branch Conference and the choir is singing.  Sister Castleton conducts and Sister Parry plays for us.

Delsa Maddrena, Venus Galicia, Lingling Cacayorin, Bem Bem Donasco, Yessie Acosta, Paul Sequeira

Some wonderful news from home.  Saturday Debbie had a bridal shower for my niece  Marcy, who is getting married December 17.  We are so happy for her.  Sheri was kind enough to send a picture of Kelly, who took the boys and drove to Idaho to attend, Staci and Kaylee.  Aren't they the cutest girls?

Kelly, Staci, Kaylee in Debbie's home

It has been a good week and we are continually blessed by the Lord in keeping us healthy and happy. Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.