December 10 - 15, 2012

This week in the temple we had a wonderful family come from Myramar (Berma) to receive their endowment and be sealed as a family.  Just their being able to get to the temple was a miracle in and of itself.  Heavenly Father watches over these people with such care.  It is very difficult to get out of some of these countries without the help of the Lord and His tender mercies.  I was able to help with them all week and it was such a blessing.  The mother, father, and mother's sister received their endowment and then their 19 year old daughter and a daughter, 21, returned missionary were sealed together.

We also had a wonderful group from Singapore with us all week.  They were such a joy.  They all spoke English and so it was a real treat for us to work with them.  Our loyal local saints were all back in the temple after it's closing.  We all miss it when it is closed and are happy to be back.  Sister So was back from mainland.  We didn't think we would see her until after the new year.

Monday we were invited to a luncheon at a local hotel for all the staff and temple missionaries.  That was really nice and we were able to try some pretty authentic Chinese dishes.

Temple missionaries, Eldeer Chan, Sis. Clyde, Sis Rhaysen, Sis. Victor, Sis. Hathaway, Elder Lewis;
Sis. Chan, Sis. Lewis, Elder Rhyasen, Elder Victor, Elder Hathaway, Elder Hoskiins

President Aki and the Lewises

After the luncheon Bro. & Sister Choi, Assistant Temple Recorder, took us to a new garden market at Mon Kok East.  I found some crochet thread and Sister Rhysaen found a green scarf for her choir outfit for Christmas.

Wednesday we went to find the middle level escalators.  The longest escalator in the world.  It goes way up the mountain close to the Peak.  We were thinking, what's so great about this.  After getting to the top you get to walk back down.  A little hard on the knees as it is pretty steep.  But on the way down we remembered there was a museum close by we should see.

The beginning of the mid-level excalator

Mar Jean on her way down

 We found the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Museum.  What is so significant about this building is that the Church owned it as church headquarters in Hong Kong from 1960 - 2004.  It is a beautiful building.  History of the building:  Kom Tong Hall, where the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum stands, was named after Ho Kom Tong, brother of the magnate Robert Hotung and a comprador of Jardine, Matheson & Co.   Completed in 1914, this building marks the blending of Chinese and Western architectural styles.  Thanks to the Ho's family and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Kom Tong Hall is well-preserved as an invaluable asset to Hong Kong's cultural heritage.  It has beautiful woodwork throughout with a gorgeous staircase going up three floors and stain glass windows.  When the Church owned it they built a baptismal font which is still in place in the home.  For a good 20-30 years all baptisms in the Church were held here.

The Church had outgrown the facility and began working with the Hong Kong government on selling the property and getting access to the Wanchai property.  That was completed in 2004 when the building was sold to the city.

The courtyard

On our way out of the museum we met Velma, a member of the Church who was in the area to pick up the child she watches.  She hasn't been to Church for some time but would like to come back.  Her holiday, or day off, is Saturday so she will need to go to the Branch which meets on Saturday.  We actually have Church, Sunday meetings, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Two missionary couples are called to serve in the Branch Presidency of these Filipino Sister Branches.  We gave her name to the mission office so the Sister Missionaries can contact her.

Elder & Sister Chan, from Washington came over to Harborfront Apartments with us Friday night.  Their lease is up this month and they are thinking about moving over here with the rest of the missionaries and wanted to take a look at the apartments.  I invited them to dinner and Sis. Chan whipped up some noodles I had.  It was a very delicious soup she made.  Elder Chan gave Paul a much needed adjustment.  Sunday they invited us to go to one of the Chinese Wards which meets in our building to meet some of the local Saints.  It was a great Sunday.  More later.

Saturday evening was our Temple Devotional for all temple workers and their spouses.  We worked from 7:45 - 1:45 and then went home for a short rest and then came back to the Kowloon Tong building, which is right across from the temple for the devotional.  Elder Watson, Area President and his wife spoke at our devotional.  They gave us a beautiful Christmas message.     

Sister Ho, one of my coordinators.

Sister Aki ordered two pigs for the dinner after the devotional.

Sister Chow, a trainer.  She helps me with my language training.

Sister Lewis and Sister Kesler, mission office secretary, from Harriman, UT

 As we left the devotional we had a beautiful view of our Temple.  What a beautiful sight.

We left for Church at 8:15 Sunday morning and met the Chans to attend Church with them.  Elder Chan is a great translator.  He translated all of Sacrament meeting and didn't miss a beat.  We then attended SS and RS.  We saw many of our temple workers and patrons in this Chinese Ward.  I then went on to choir practice in our Branch and Paul went to Ward Council meeting.  The Chans stayed for our Sacrament Meeting.  Elder & Sister Victor spoke and gave wonderful talks on the temple and provident living.  We are blessed to be here together.

After the block meetings we had a baptism.  Sister Rizzo Amancio was baptized by Elder Wu.  She had met the missionaries a few years ago in the Philippines but did not  pursue it after a few lessons and then she came to Hong Kong and saw the Elders again and felt like this time she would like to know more.  We are blessed to have her in our Branch.

Elder Bingham, from Alpine, Elder Wu, Sister Amancio, Sister Alma, 

 Elder Lewis needed to stay and help with Tithing Settlement but I wanted to go tot he Kowloon Tong building for the Christmas choir performance.  We missed most of it a couple of weeks ago and so, I by myself, well I should say I walked to the MTR with the Victors and got on the same train with them.  They got off and I continued on to Prince Edwards where I changed trains and got off at Kowloon Tong and started walking to the chapel.  Heavenly Father was looking out for me because as I was walking thru the station I saw the sister missionaries who were also going to the performance.  I walked along with them.  It was well worth going to even by myself and I made it home safely about 8:30.  Paul walked in about 9:30.

It's wonderful to be back at the temple again.  We have had some marvelous experiences and thank Heavenly Father for this wonderful opportunity to serve here with these wonderful Saints.

I sent out a Christmas letter and update on our family.  We want you to know how much we love the Savior and are so grateful for His birth and life and we testify that He lives and loves us and has provided a way for us to return to live with Him again.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2012

Mar Jean & Paul Lewis

lewismarjean@gmail.com     1-801-935-9596      paulmarjean.blogspot.com

As we pause to contemplate the past year and the blessings which we have received, we are overwhelmed with gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His bounteous blessings.  We are grateful to take this opportunity to remember the birth and life of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  President Monson’s message this year reminds us what is really important.

 “Discover anew the Christmas spirit—even the Spirit of Christ.  When we have the spirit of Christmas, we remember Him whose birth we commemorate at this season of the year: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). I wonder if we might profit by asking ourselves, What gifts would the Lord have me give to Him or to others at this precious season of the year?  May I suggest that our Heavenly Father would want each of us to render to Him and to His Son the gift of obedience. I also feel that He would ask us to give of ourselves and not be selfish or greedy or quarrelsome.” 

We would like to give a quick update on our family.  Paul and I are serving a mission in the Hong Kong Temple.  We arrived in September and are having a wonderful experience and meeting the most incredible people from all over Asia.  Our temple district is quite large and we see people from India, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, China, Mongolia, and many other islands of the sea.  I am so proud of Paul; he can do the veil in Cantonese.  There are six couples and one single sister serving here.  Before coming we attended some family reunions, had great times with the kids at Lake Powell and Island Park.  We are very blessed.

Kimberly and Gary are very busy with their four children.  Gary works at Ridley as a pharmacist in Jerome, ID and Kimberly has been working there a couple days a week as a tech.  .  Kimberly still does exercise at the Rec center every morning at 5:30.  She’s an inspiration to all of us.  She climbed Mt. Borah in Idaho.  Pretty scary if you see the pictures.  She still serves as RS Pres. and Gary is on the HC.  Courtney (15) got her driver’s license this year and that is a big help to Mom. She is on the school dance team and is doing well in school.  Kaylee (13) is in the 8^th grade, an excellent student and is also doing dance.  She is definitely a great helper.  Mallorie is 10 and is fun fun fun.  She is doing Tavasi, (singing & dancing).  Brayden (8) was baptized in August.  He makes good choices and loves to build Legos and play video games.

Kory and Katie have been busy moving into their new home this year.  They decided to finish off their basement and yard and started a small farm out back.  They had two pigs, 2 dogs, 1 cat, six chickens, and three ducks.  Katie is serving in Primary and Kory in Scouts.  They took several trips to Lake Powell this summer and fall.  Tyler turned 12 and received the Aaronic Priesthood.  In November he, Courtney and Kaylee and their dads went to the Jordan River Temple together.  He loves basketball and the Miami Heat.  Josh (8) was also baptized in January.  He also likes soccer, baseball and basketball.  We were able to watch several of his games.  Gage (5) started kindergarten this year.  It was tough on him and his mom but I think he likes it pretty well now.  He is a rough and tumble kid and ended up with stitches in his head recently.

Kelly and Rob have had a good year.  We love living close to them.  We hope we help each other.  Rob has been very busy at work. Consequently never in a picture but he does exist. There have been lots of fires.  He serves as Elders Quorum President and Kelly is Wolf Den leader (which I think she is starting to enjoy).  Kelly has been working on fitness this year.  She started with three series of Boot Camp and has now moved to cross fit.  I must say she looks terrific. I should have joined her but I’m too lazy.  Robbie (9) has been playing basketball and is doing great. He is a good student and likes to read.  Riley (6) started kindergarten.  We love his smile.  He likes baseball and watching Star War movies.  Brody (3) is a bundle of energy.  Today he made us smile “he wanted to Skype his grandma” and he showed us how he can stand on his head. 

We feel very blessed.  We feel love and support from our children, grandchildren and extended family and friends.  We wish each of you a Merry Christmas and thank God for having you in our lives.