November 5-11, 2012

Happy Birthday to Brody, who turned 3 on the 5th and Kimberly who turned ??? on the 6th.  We love you both and hope you had lots of fun.  Sorry Robbie, we cannot bring a panda home, they are an endangered species.  

We had so much fun at Ocean Park last Saturday that we talked everyone else into going on Monday and decided to join them.  First we went to Wanchai to deposit the money and then eventually met up with them at the park.  This time we saw all the exhibits and even rode a few of the rides.  The Artic Blast, the Ferris Wheel and the swing.  We saw the other wonderful panda exhibit and red tail money exhibit.

The upper park, mainly rides and a few exhibits

Elder Lewis & Elder Rhyasen

Giant Panda Jia Jia

A ride in the cable care with two senior men from Hong Kong. They wanted our picture

Panoramic views from the Ocean Park Tower

We stayed in the park until 7 pm so we could see the beautiful water and dragon show at the Aqua City Lagoon.  It was quite spectacular.  Water spouts, fire spouts, the legend of two dragons fighting until mother earth brought them to have peace together.

This week at the temple we had a wonderful Mongolian group there all week.  One of the sisters, Flower, spoke English.  She had just returned from a mission in Arizona and spoke very good English.  We were able to serve their group on sessions, in initiatory and sealings all week.  They were very faithful, they attended three or more sessions every day and completed all the family names they brought with them.  We had two young women who were traveling throughout Asia for a couple of days.  They were from the Salt Lake area and took the time to come to the temple while in Hong Kong.  A Ward from Singapore also came with their youth so the baptistery was busy all week also.   It was a great week.  Saturday Paul went in to sub for Elder Chan.  They had family that just arrived. I went in also and did two sessions and was hoping to get a third one in but they needed me to work.  President and Sister Aki finished up the Saturday with a marriage of two returned missionaries from Hong Kong.  

Thursday night there was a fireside for all the area because Sister Cook from General YW and Sister Reeves from General Relief Society and their husbands were here in Hong Kong.  Sister Cook spoke about the new YM/YW curriculum for 2013 and Sister Reeves spoke about missionary work.  They checked into the Marriot Hotel and wondered if they still put Book of Mormons in their rooms.  Sure enough they did.  She was able to talk about this book to three different employees who came into their room.  

Saturday and Sunday were District Conference.  At 3:00-4:30 they had a social where we met to visit and they had wonderful refreshments.  At 5:00 they had the adult meeting.  

President & Sister Collins our Peninsula 3rd Branch President & his wife.  They are from Scotland/South Africa

President & Sister Berrett, District President

Saturday night's theme was becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Some memorable statements:  

• The Savior said, Follow me and they immediately forsook all and followed.
• We can't insist on our timetable when the Lord has one for us.   
• Look in the scriptures and you will find answers to all your questions about raising children.  The Savior is the pattern in all things even child rearing.
• Temple worship is the path to discipleship.
• If I don't see you in the temple, I won't see you in heaven.
• The hymn "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief"  
• How do we have assurance that we are followers of Christ?  Practice what we proclaim, gradually increase our efforts to follow Him, obedience to the Savior--forsake all that is not good for us--a price worth paying, a price we cannot afford to not pay.

Elder & Sister Brown and Fe and Vilma

Fe and Vilma served in the Philippines with Elder Brown's sister 20 years ago.  Elder Brown is Branch President of several of the week Philippino Branches.

 We decided to take the ferry back to TST and then walked along the promenade home.  The skyline of the Kowloon side.

Someone's wedding pictures

It was a very busy Sunday on the Promenade

Sunday's theme at District Conference was "living in such a way that we have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with us always". 

President Hawks, Hong Kong Mission President:  Nephi returned to Jerusalem the third time "being lead by the spirit but not knowing what I should do...NEVERTHELESS I went forth"

• Share your light -- we ought to look and act different
• Share your example
• Share your testimony
• It requires courage and faith--remember the ladder of conversion we must all

President Berrett, District President:  D&C 42:14 This section is called the "Law of the Lord".  What would be of the most worth?  The thing that will be of the most worth unto you is to declare repentance unto this people.  You can take nothing with you from this life except your declaration of testimony.  If we listen to the Spirit we will have success.  The Lord's work is accomplished as we listen to the spirit and act unto it. 

Have a great week and remember "I Am A Child of God, I love Him and I know He loves me."