February 18 - 24, 2013

What a great week at the temple.

The third week is when the everyday branches come to the temple to do baptisms. Elder & Sister Walker and Woolley come with their Branch members after their sacrament meeting and they usually start baptisms around 4 pm.  This week we stayed and helped out.   They always need more priesthood.  It's wonderful to work with these Filipino sisters.

This week we had a family come from Beijing to be sealed.  What a special experience.  I was able to help with the children, 17, 15, 12 and 9.  The oldest is waiting for his mission call.  It is so wonderful to see families joined together forever.

We also had a young couple come from India to be sealed this week.  They were only here a couple of days but were able to receive their own endowments and do some work for their own family.  Today we had two weddings and sealings of young couples here in Hong Kong. Today we had a young sister who received her mission call to Leeds England.  She came home from BYU to receive her endowments here in Hong Kong before leaving.   Our young men and women who receive their mission calls who live here in Hong Kong have the privilege of serving in the temple until they leave for their mission.  They go out with a great love for the temple and its ordinances.  Also when they return they begin serving again.

Today Paul officiated a session and his witness couple (Haser) were from Lake Lindero, CA.  I was a follower on a session with two own endowments from Shenzhan, China who came with about 30 people.  They brought some of their youth with them so the baptistery was busy all day. Paul has been working all week on getting the training book up-to-date and is doing a great job.

This morning at 5 am Paul was up reading the Church News and came across the announcements for new Mission Presidents and saw that President Kurt Blickenstaff and Katherine have been called to serve in Taiwan in July.  Paul served with him in the Stake Presidency in 2004.  He had a nice visit with them this morning.

Monday we went for haircuts after having a great lunch at the Mexican restaurant we found in Wan Chai.  We stopped at the Church and took care of some clerking jobs.

 Time is drawing close for the Rhyasens to go home.  The Friday workers had a little party for them.  Lots of good homemade Chinese food.  Elder Rhyasen wouldn't try it.  He's back row, third from the end and Sister Rhyasen is sitting in the front row in the front.

 Our granddaughters, Courtney and Mallorie are all set for a fun 80's party for a friend's 16th birthday.

Probably one of our last pictures of the Rhyasens and us at the temple.  We have been serving on the same shift all month and often end up walking or taking the train together.  They will be returning to Washington on March 8.  They have been a great help to all of us and the temple.

 Tuesday we went to Wan Chai to visit Triple-O's.  They were having a hamburger special.  While there we met Pres. & Sister Saclley who were in HK for the Asia Mission President's training.  They are from Calgery and serve in one of the India missions.  They were serving here in HK as executive secretary to the Asia Area Presidency and then were called to be mission president.  They had just arrived in HK early that morning and were hungry and remembered Triple-O's.  As we spoke we learned that my cousin, Kent Mendenhall and his wife are serving in Napel, which is in their mission so they will say hello for us.  The Mission Presidents had a special session at the temple early Friday morning and we were able to serve at that time.

 It was a day for running into people.  We saw our Branch missionary Elder Bingham and his new companion Elder Roper out on the street.

 A little bit further and we ran into the Sister Missionaries who serve in the everyday Branches with an investigator.

Sunday we had District Conference to sustain a new District President.  Church started at 1 pm.  We got there early so we could take pictures of our Branch members for the web page.  President Barrett and his wife have been called as mission president of Bangladesh, India.  They report in May, a little earlier than usual.  President Tai, who was 1st counselor, was called as the new president with President Hillam and Pres. Gonzon as counselors.  President Hillam's daughter served in Croatia with us. 

 We got a picture today of a couple of people.  First were the Hasers who are from Lake Lindero and Agoura, CA. We meet people in the strangest places.  We remembered some of the same people.  

We also saw Elder Woo who served at the temple with us before starting his mission in Hong Kong.  He said he is doing great.

After the conference our RS presidency wanted to go see Sister Parry.  We found out she had gone home from the hospital so we invited them to follow us home, stop for a visit with Sister Parry and come to our apartment for some dinner.  It was nice having some company over.  Felt like our YSA group in Slovenia.  Sister Parry is doing great but plans to go home for radiation/chemo treatments with the hopes of coming back.

Elder & Sister Victor, Fe, Mary Ann, Leah, Mar Jean & Paul.  LingLing took the picture

Ling Ling's in the blue.  She's our RS President

I think I will leave you with a couple of thoughts from Conference to think about.  First a group sang "Lift Up Your Hands to God".  "I need to do better".  Elder Bednar said "to act to trust and strive consistently to do better...step into the light toward Heavenly Father".  Elder Wong said "be the best..Matt 28:  come unto me all ye heavily laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart.  ye shall find rest upon your souls..for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  President Wilson said his wife always says "life is just as hard as it needs to be".  Have a great week AND DO YOUR VERY BEST.