July 1 - 7, 2013

Wow, Monday is almost at a close and I have yet to get this blog done.  I will get with it NOW.

Monday, July 1, was a Hong Kong National holiday.  The temple was open on a Monday.  It had been closed for two weeks and was just reopening.  Many of our Filipino sisters had the day off along with many Chinese Saints.  It made for a great way to reopen the temple.  On these days we have sessions at 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.  Several of our Area Missionaries sign up to come and serve on this day along with each of the temple missionaries and many of the regular local workers so we usually end up with plenty of sisters to work.  The brethren are not quite as lucky but they manage very well.  All three members of the Presidency are available all day. Paul was assigned to the baptistery and sealings and I was the initiatory coordinator.

Paul was the baptizer for most of the day.  He was blessed to be able to assist several of our sisters from the Peninsula 3rd Branch.  Sister Mama Baby was there doing the work for her sister-in-law and brother-in-law.  She was able to have all their work completed.  Island 1 Branch had a Branch temple day and they had six own endowments.  In the baptistery Paul and one of the sisters he was baptizing really felt the spirit of these people.

The Gabon brothers also came to receive their endowment before leaving on their missions.  We meet the Gabons at Elder Andersen's conference.  They sat next to us and told us about their sons mission calls.  We asked them to let us know when it came.  Then during shut down they called and also wanted to set up an appointment for them to come to the temple.  It was a wonderful day and over 1500 ordinances were performed that day in the Hong Kong Temple.

The Victors and us coming out of the temple at the same time.

Elder Lewis, Patrick Obouo, Elder Victor.  Patrick is from the Pen 3 Branch and is our SS President.

The rest of the week was rather quiet compared to Monday.  Our faithful patrons continued to come but we were not as busy.  Many of the Chinese take the whole week off and leave the city or help take care of their grandchildren.  Paul and I were able to finish up his project of the training book which was nice for us.  We were so grateful to Helen for getting the translation pages completed for us.

Friday we decided to go see a couple of the museums in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Space museum and the Art museum.  We got there about noon but the Space museum did not open until 1 so we bought tickets for the IMAX movie, The Artic and went on over to the Art museum.

Before starting the museums we checked out the performances that were coming up.  Swan Lake Ballet and Les Missreble Hong Kong.  I would like to see these.  I'll see if I can get anyone else to go with me.

Paul waiting patiently for me to check out the shows.  You can see he found a soft seat.

 The Art museum was founded in 1962 and moved to its present location in 1991.  It has a collection of over 15,800 items.  We checked out the antiquities floors

A beautiful painted cloth about 10 feet long.

This would be a great place to watch fireworks.

This vase wss done in the 1600's

All kinds of boats are seen on the harbor.

 At 1:15 we left and went over to the Space Museum where we first watched the movie on the Polar Bears in the Arctic.

They have a lot of hands on items in the space museum.  Many things the kids could ride like a glider, walking in space.

A very interesting tree outside the museum.  I think it is a Banyan tree.

To finish off this day we went for Pizza.  We bought the 24" one, had a couple of pieces and brought the rest home for the freezer.  We will enjoy it for sometime.

Saturday after the temple I took the bus and went to the Wan Chai Bldg. to meet Velma.  Paul saw her in the baptistery that morning and was able to help confirm her.  I was busy in initiatory so missed her there.  I got there just before Sacrament meeting was out so went to the nut market and Prize Mart to pick up a few things.  I got caught in a huge rainstorm.  Luckily we do not go out without our umbrellas this time of year.  We either need it for the rain or the sun.  Paul went home and got started on the laundry.

Mary Ann Bautista and I.  She use to be in the Pen 3 Branch  but  now has Saturday off for  her holiday.

Velma and I.  She was freezing.  

 Sunday, Fast Sunday, we joined Elder & Sister Chan to go to the first Church built in Hong Kong.  Yuen Long.  Sister Chan and Elder Hathaway both helped build this building back in 1965.

Getting off the train in Yuen Long.  From here we took a taxi to the Church

They probably have at least ten missionaries here.  The Sisters are inside.

Sister Yung serves in the temple with us.  She crocheted a beautiful shawl but it was too big for her and so she gave it to me.  Lucky me. 

Brother Sing is an investigator who bore his testimony this day.  He  is planning to be baptized  this month.

Brother  and his daughter attend this Ward.  We got their picture at the temple last month when she was married.  

After Sacrament meeting we left to catch the train to our Branch.  Coming from direction we saw the name of the church up high on the building.  We use all three floors on this side of the building.  

Kristy Anne preparing the program for today.  She was all alone, something which  hardly ever happens.

Shannon has been practicing the piano each Sunday before Sacrament meeting.  These are her two sisters, Megan and Guillan.  Shannon is doing really well.

LingLing getting a really juicy kiss from Megan.

Paul is now teaching Gospel Doctrine.  He did a great job.  After the Block we had FHE and the YM/YW were in charge.  Unfortunately the youth were all gone on a school activity so their leaders, Elder Victor and Sister Kristy Anne took over.  Lots of fun and CHOCOLATE.  They had questions about the Church and if you could answer them you got a great prize.  We all had a wonderful time.

Elder Victor

Sister Watkins and answering one of the questions, Do you have a testimony of the Gospel?  If so  please bear it. 

Nova tells us how she came into the Church.  The question was "Who introduced you to the gospel?"

These are some of the birthdays from June, Kate, Sister Castleton, Bem Bem and Elder Nield and out of the picture, Elder Victor.

After the pot luck dinner was cleaned up these were the sisters left.  No one wants to leave until they absolutely have to.

Sweet Jeannette finishing up the dishes.  She is our new convert of a couple of months.  All of our new converts are doing really well.  

You might have noticed we skipped any mention of the 4th of July.  We were all in the temple working and except for watching something in TV that was about it for us.  Just lots of "Happy 4th of July's."  We are very grateful for the wonderful country that we call home.  We know it is a very blessed land which God has set aside for the restoration of His Gospel.  Now we need to remember the promises made in the Book of Mormon.  Those who keep His commandments will prosper in the land.  D&C 82:10- I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise".  Let us all be faithful and continue to learn and do Heavenly Father's will.