May 20 - 26, 2013

Monday we had an outing with the Temple Missionaries to the Kom Tong Hall, or Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum which was converted from the graceful 90-years-plus KomTong Hall.  Dr. Sun played a major role in the modernization and revolutionary campaigns at the turn of the 20th Century.  The Church had also purchased this home in 1960 and used the building as the Church headquarters, chapel, cultural hall, missionary residence until 2004.  We have visited here several times, in fact just last week with the Bergesons but today three of the missionaries and two members who lived and attended church here were with us.  

Elder & Sister Victor, Chan, Hoskins, Sister Poon, Hathaway, Walker and Lewis

Before the high-rises were built, this was a beautiful view to the Harbour.

Sister Chan, Elder Hathaway, Elder Chan, Elder Hoskins and Elder Walker 

Sister Chan was baptized in the font still found in the building.  Elder Chan was attending church here when he came down the grand staircase saw her at the bottom and said, "I am going to marry that girl" and he did.  Elder Walker served in HK in 1958, Elders Hathaway and Hoskins in 1961 and they both lived in the building.  They had many wonderful stories to tell us.

After the tour some of us went to lunch at the Italian Restaurant and Rhyasens loved.  We liked it too. It was full inside so they seated us outside and just as our food came it started to rain.  They brought Elder Hathaway an umbrella.  It was a little hard to eat so by then they were able to move the four of us inside.

Coming back Paul and I took the ferry.  As we are leaving we saw the helicopter landing and tried to get a picture for Kim Bergeson.

That evening the area missionaries invited us to their FHE.  Dr. Bertin was going to be talking about hospital stays in HK and some other vital information for us in case we got sick.  He has certainly blessed many of our lives since being here.  Sister Bertin sent us all home with a flower.  She said she thought we got enough food.

Wednesday evening we had a huge rain storm with lightening and thunder all evening.  By morning there was a black alert which means no transportation would be running because of flooding and land slides.  About 10:30 President Aki came to the complex and picked us up to take us to the temple.  We were able to open by 11:30 and had our first session at 1.  We had a big group of saints from Thailand and mainland who were staying at the patron housing who wanted to get some more of their names completed.

President Aki driving us in.

This week Brother Merrill, from the Jordan River Temple was here along with his daughter, son-in-law and his grandson, who are from Singapore.  His grandson was receiving his endowment before heading off on his mission.  As it turned out Brother Merrill and President Wan met up again after serving together in Taiwan as young missionaries.  It was a wonderful reunion.  After Brother Merrill's family left he stayed on a couple of days with the Hoskins who he knew from the Jordan River Temple.

That afternoon Arcelli came to the temple to say her last goodbyes.  She is from our Peninsula 3 Branch and is returning to the Philippines to be with her husband.  Remember she got married in  December but had to come back to finish out her contract.  Her employer allowed her to return early. We are all so happy for her but will miss her.  She was  a driving force in our Branch

Arcelli, Me, Yessie, Sue Victor

On our OAD Paul and I hopped the train to Shenzhan to get our shoes repaired.  We are going again in June during shutdown and checked out our hotel.  This is the view from the hotel.  The silver building on the right is the big and spacious building but look at the beautiful hills.

Me relaxing in the reading room

Sunday we had a special conference becaue Elder Neil L. Andersen was visiting Asia and HK was his last stop.  We had our meeting at 9 am in the Wan Chai Bldg.  Elder Andersen's message is simple but impacting...BUILD STRONGER ZION and in Mark 5:36- Be not afraid, only believe!

President & Sister Aki

Sister Wan, Assistant to the Matron

Bro Suen, coordinator and gardener at temple,  and Paul

Sister Pu, from Beijing, and Me

Brother Merrill and Elder & Sister Hathaway

Choir from Island 2 Branch

Mar Jean, Paul S. and Paul L.

Pres. & Sister Sanders, new President of  one of the Branches.  Sister Sanders comes to the temple often and is a seminary teacher.

Below are some of our Pen 3 girls, Lea, Queenie, Yessie and Michelle

Bem Bem, Alma and others

A great newly married couple, both working in HK.

Later in the day, 6 pm, they had seminary graduation.  Since we have a love of youth and seminary we wanted to attend and three of our Branch members were receiving certificates.  Below is a picture of the graduates.

Kristy Anne and LingLing

Our three students and their teacher.  Ika, Sister Wen, Russell and Parley.

Sally Balad, (mother of two of the students) and Me

At home all is well.  Everyone is busy and looking forward to their last week of school.  Kimberly and Gary went to Red Fish Lake area for a 10K run.  Kory and Katie and family went to a river fishing up by Flaming Gorge and Kelly and Rob took the boys to Island Park.  It sounds like everyone is having a great time.  Mallorie had her last TaVasi recital.  Courtney and Kaylee are preparing for their dance studio recital.  Tyler helped with the flag ceremony at an Eagle Court of Honor, Josh is finishing up soccer, Gage and Riley have successfully completed kindergarten, Brayden is finishing up his requirements for Bear, he is ready to move on.  Brody is being Brody (3) and loving it.  We feel so very blessed to have such a wonderful supportive family.  We love you all and know you will always do your very best at whatever you do.

Let me close this week with the following statement from Pres. Harold B. Lee in Sheri Dew's book "No Doubt About It"
"We have some tight places to go before the Lord is through with this church and the world in this dispensation...The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand...The only safety we have as members of this Church is to ...give heed to the prophet...You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church.  It may contradict your political views.  It may contradict your social views...But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself...the promise is that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you."  It may be that the most vital lesson we can learn ourselves and then teach our children and families in this critical era is to follow the prophet."

Lets follow this counsel and peace and safety in following the Prophet.