October 29 - November 4, 2012

We had great plans for Monday to go to Ocean Park and check it out.  You know how all good plans go, out the window.  We went to Wanchai to deposit the Branch money and have that down pretty good now.  Then we headed to the Wanchai bldg. where we visited with Brother Albert who helped Paul with making some changes on the Branch records.  Then we stopped to visit with the Harringtons, who are Family History missionaries.  They just back from Thailand where the Saints and making great gains in their family history work.  We visited with Sister Chan who took our printer cartridge and gave us some paper and other supplies we needed for the Branch.  By the time we finished we had two heavy bags to carry.  Decided it was not a good day to go on to Ocean Park.  Instead we went searching for a Mexican Restaurant we had heard about.  We found it right at noon and had a great lunch.  We found in Slovenia if you order fajitas you can't go wrong and it was true.  They had great homemade salsa.  We picked up a few groceries from Prize Mart and headed home.

Paul waiting for the shuttle at our apartment

We are so blessed to have such wonderful accommodations.  We are close to transportation.  Shopping is not too far away, 3-4 blocks, and we are all together in the same complex and very centrally located in the city.

We have had some delightful people in the temple this week.  A couple from Mongolia have been here every day doing three and four endowment sessions.  Then we had a group of four young adults here from Thailand.  One received her endowment and again they have been in the temple every day doing all the ordinances and being on three and four sessions.  President and Sister Hawks were in the temple on Thursday as they had two missionaries going home and the first Thursday we always have the area presidency and missionaries in the temple for a session.  Paul and I have been working hard on our Cantonese at the veil and it is coming.  He is using it quite often now.

I visited with one of our workers this week.  Sister So.  She comes from Mainland China for two weeks to serve in the temple.  She joined the church in 2006.  Her employer in Japan was a member and invited her.  She and her youngest son joined.  Her oldest son was already in the military and not at home.

We had our quarterly interview with President and Sister Aki.  They are such wonderful people.  This is their third time serving in Hong Kong, well actually four because I believe they both served a mission here when young.  They were here as Mission President, then came as Public Relations missionaries and now as Temple President and Matron.

We have District Conference next week and Sister Cook, from the General YW and Sister Reeves, from General RS will be here.  There are some special firesides planned while they are here.

This month we are off on Saturday so we and Sister Clyde tried out Ocean Park.  It's a lot like Sea World.  We had a great time.  One thing you have to watch out for here are little steps.  They always show up when you least expect them.  One found me today and I went down and sprained my left hand and foot.  I'm just grateful it did not break.  I should be well in a few days.  Also on the bus I was sitting on the aisle and we went around a corner and off I slipped right onto the floor.  It was not my best day.

Sister Clyde and us waiting for the bus to Ocean Park

Isn't he beautiful?

Looking out at the South China Sea

Entering the Artic area

Today we didn't need to be to Church early so left here at 11.  We took the shuttle to the TST station, caught a train took it to the Church exit.  We then walk thru two malls and another couple of blocks and we are here. 

Great testimony meeting today.  These people are so grateful for the Gospel in their lives.  They have wonderful testimonies.  Sister Wen gave a wonderful lesson in SS on 3 Nephi 27-30, 4 Nephi.  We can certainly see ourselves in these chapters.  Ling Ling, RS Pres.,  gave our RS lesson today on Pres. Monson's talk from conference.  Remembering your blessings.  The question was "how do you feel when you are grateful for what you have and how do you feel when you don't think you have received any blessings?"  

The choir practiced today for Branch Conference coming up in three weeks.  

Sister Castleton director and Sister Parry pianist

We had to leave the dinner quickly because we had to get to the Wanchai Bldg. for President Collins to sign some papers before he left town for the week.  Sister Collins is back from South Africa.  We were all happy to see her.
In the Boise Temple dedication President Monson included this:

"Help the youth of Thy church stand firm for truth and righteousness. Open wide to their view the gates of learning, of understanding and of service in Thy kingdom. Build within them strength to resist the temptations of the world. Give them the will to walk in virtue and faith, to be prayerful and to look to Thee as their constant anchor."