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.