June 17 - 23, 2013

Monday morning we went to Wan Chai to deposit the Branch money and drop off the paperwork. Then we met the Elders (Ford and Nield) from our Branch and took them to lunch at an India restaurant.  It was a buffet and was really good.  I want to go back.  

We went to the Distribution Center to pick up a Bible for one of the sisters and then we packed for out trip to Macau.  Tuesday morning we left about 8 am and  took the MTR to the ferry.  This is the

Taipai ferry which would take us closer to our hotel.

On the ferry we sat next to this lovely lady.  She is a native of Macau.  She gave me a lovely jade good luck piece to carry on my purse.  That was very kind of her.

We stayed at the Lisboa hotel in Macau.  They had a big aquarium in one of the foyers.

We were close enough to the old historical center to walk there.  This is the Ruins of St. Paul square.  We found a Dairy Queen right here and they had Blizzards.  We came back several times to enjoy one.

Lots of scooters in Macau

We visited the old fort and museum.  Lots of interesting history of the city.

Waiting for the elevator on our floor which was the 14th.

While we were out one day we ran into one of the members from Macau who had been to the temple and remembered Elder Lewis baptizing her.

This is the Macau Tower and is 338 meetres in height.  It has a magnificent panoramic view of all over Macau and much of the Pearl River Delta from its observation deck.  You can bungy jump and repel from the top of the tower.  We caught someone doing it.

Paul found a nice place for a quick nap as I walked around the outside of the tower.

Catching a ride on one of the hotel shuttle buses.

A water show at the Wynn Hotel.  It goes on every 15 minutes and is set to music.  Something different every time. 

One of the hotel entries.

A view across the lake looking at the Grand Lisboa Hotel.

The Grand Tower, HardRock Hotel and Grand Crown Hotels put on a dragon show and also have a dragon mascot in one of their foyers.

 We went to see "The House of Dancinbg Water" Friday afternoon.  It is a breathtaking water-based show that draws its creative inspiration from the roots of Chinese culture, particularly the 'seven emotions' derived from classical Confucian beliefs.  It was quite incredible.  They dove into the pool from really high up and the floor would come in and out as the story unfolded.

When we got home Friday night we found all the windows and barricades up.  hey had had a storm warning of 1 and 3 so they prepare the buildings where we live.  The next day they took them all down.

Saturday I went over to the Victoria 2 Branch to meet up with our good friend Velma.  It was a great day to go.  It was their Branch Conference and President Dia was the speaker.  He gave a wonderful talk and asked them to remember three things.  1)  You are never alone 2) You are of great value 3) If you continue to work hard things will get better.  After Sacrament meeting there was a fireside given by President Walker on tithing which was excellent.  This was followed by a baptism.

Velma and I

Sister Conception.  This lovely sister comes to the temple every Saturday and I often see her and help with iniatories.  She also had a picture from the week before of Easter.  She and her brother, Rob, were in HK.  We were able to speak but did not get together 

Sunday we found the Rowena and Rommel Jacinto, Queenie and Eunice making spring rolls before Church.  I was one of the Sacrament meeting speakers along with Fe and Sister Victor.  My topic was Testimony and Conversion, a talk given by Elder Bednar in 2012.

Kim Bergeson sent us this great picture from the Blickenstaff's faarewell open house.  We saw them this morning on the broadcast on missionary work.  

Our niece, Staci, graduated from ISC in Twin Falls and has now moved to Pocatello and found a job and will go to school there.

My new visiting teachers, Yessie and Taeia.  I am so fortunate.  

June 10-16, 2013

Monday the Chans organized an outing for us to the Nam Lian Garden.  Everyone but Elder Hoskins came along.  He had caught a cold from the rain storm Sunday evening.  Also the Poons joined us.  Nan Lian Garden is situated at Diamond Hill, Kowloon, HK, occupying an area of 35,000 sq. m.  The Garden is connected to Chi Lin Nunnery to the north, with a  sprawling mountain range at its back.  It has some of the most beautiful buildings, their carvings are wonderful.  

It was also a very hot, humid day and we happy we had a fan with us.  

Lotus flowers, not quite in bloom yet.

Every tree in the garden is shaped and must take a tremendous amount of time to keep it so beautiful.

They also had some beautiful rocks.

Waterfall and restaurant behind it.

We had the most delicious ice drink made out of lichens.  It was so refreshing.  We can thank Elder Victor for this treat.

Brother & Sister Poon.  Sister Poon serves in the temple with us and is a coordinator on one day.

As we were leaving the Gardenn we had a downstorm so stopped under the bridge but it never did let up so we headed out in it. 

Sister Chan was smart and headed over immediately.  If we had all followed her we would not have got caught in a river coming down this walkway.

We went up to the 4th floor where we had a delicious lunch at the food court.

This week we had a lovely young couple from Mongolia who came to be sealed.  We had six families from India who came with their children to be endowed and sealed and we had four sisters come from Chengdu, China.  Three were endowed and one was baptized.  

Sister Lin, Sister Lui, Sister Chen, Sister Yang

Two of the India couples who were with us this week.

On Wednesday we spoke in the Victoria 2 Everyday Branch.  We found Marian there.  She has moved her records because her holiday has moved from Sunday.  She was sustained as Gospel Principles teacher.  We will miss her, she was wonderful.

The newest member in the Wednesday Branch.  She was baptized last week.

Elder & Sister Woolley and other Branch members.

Paul on his way home from the temple carrying all our belongings.

 The temple is now closed for cleaning for two weeks.  As usual we have to empty out our lockers and take everything home.

Friday was our other assignment day and we were speaking in the Friday Everyday Branch. It was a great opportunity for us to share our testimonies and love for the gospel.  We know many of these sisters because they come to the temple on the 3rd week of each month and we help them in the baptistery or endowment.

Elder Nield and Ford are also our missionaries on Sunday.  They get to go to Church six days a week

Alex Theobald was visiting from mainland China.  He is working there teaching English for the summer and comes over to the temple and church on his day off, which is not Sunday.  

Happy FATHER'S DAY!!!  Sunday was a great day at Church.  This is Paul and Rizza.  She came to the temple on Wednesday for the Holiday to do baptisms.  It was her first time and she came by herself.  Pretty amazing.  Elder Lewis got to do the baptizing.

The cooks were hard at it.  Rowena was in charge.

Lindzy, Sister Castleton and Yuli preparing Sister Castleons's presentation of Hawaiian haystacks. 

Sister Watkins demonstrated how to make zucchini bread.  

Paul finished up the day in the clerk's office taking care of the records.  We got home about 8:30.  All the kids called earlier that morning for father's and it was good to talk to each of them.  

June3 - 9, 2013

Monday morning we started off early to meet the Aki's at the temple.  We were to meet them at 8:30 to catch a taxi to the Macqu ferry.  

We met their son, Jonathan, nephew, Joel, Sam, Lea and Sonia their daughter-in-law.  They are here for a week from Hawaii.

We took a mini tour of Macau.  We entered a bus tour from the Venitian Hotel and traveled through the city seeing the A Ma Temple, the Macau Tower, St. Paul's ruins, and Senado Square.  This city is a small Las Vegas.  We learned that in the early days it was the major sea port of this area.  However, when the steamship came into being the harbor was not deep enough and that is when the commerce moved to Hong Kong and Macau became a gambling city.  Our guide told us that gambling is in the Chinese DNA.  There are 35 casinos in Macau and Sonny Ho owns 22 of them.

Rising 338m above ground, this iconic structure is the tallest in Macau offering stunning views of the city.  You can bungi jump from it and walk around on a glass floor.  

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St. Paul's Ruins.  This was once the largest Catholic Church in Asia.  It was destroyed by a fire in 1835 and the remaianing intricately carved facade is the city's most famous landmark.

Another view from the tower.

Our room at the Venitian

Our bath

Sonia and Lea standing in front of a mime in the Grand Hall.

We had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.  

Paul waiting for the shuttle to the ferry

The Venetian Hotel/Casino where we spent the night

It was our first trip to Macau.  The Church has two Branches with two missionary couples and eight missionaries.  

Saturday morning on the way to the temple the train was pretty empty and I think Dad is trying to dry out from the walk to the station.  The humidity is so high here.

A pretty quiet week for us so I am including some pictures of some of our grandkids.  Kimberly and Kory and families went to Island Park to paint the cabin and had a little fun.  

Gage ready to go.

Jos, Gage, Tyler and Mallorie at the pool.

Didn't get any pictures from the Branch this week.  I taught Gospel Doctrine and my Primary class.  There was a District Priesthood meeting at 6:30 pm so I went home with Sister Castleton and Watkins while Paul went off to Wan Chai for the meeting.  

Gage, Tyler, Josh, Katie, Kory

Mallorie and Brayden

Josh, Gage and Tyler