July 22 - 27, 2013

Coming home from Church last Sunday we walked through the mall and saw these skirts.  Wow 39HKD, that's only $5.  So Monday we went back over to this mall and bought some for the girls.  Hope they fit.

Between the four of them they should be able to figure it out.

After getting home from there I went grocery shopping by myself so I took the cart, which Paul hates to use.  For me it is great, I don't end up breaking my arms off carrying it all home.  A Chinese lady stopped me and showed me how to attach the cart to the shopping cart.  I usually try to put it inside the cart, but how lame is that.  It fits inside the handle with the wheels on the bar at the bottom.

Friday we were off and decided we had better go to Shenzhen one more time.  Our visa runs out on the 31st and we are not planning to renew it.  This is a view going into China.  It's about a 45 minute train ride (stay on the same train) from our home, Hung Hom Station.  

Going through customs and the boarder

Waling around the mall we found this wonderful window/mirror which made us look really skinny.  

We got to Shenzhen rather early, nothing even begins to open until 10:30 and usually 11 or later.  Of course we were snagged by the hustlers as soon as we arrive.  They are actually very nice people trying to get us to come to their shops to shop.  However they are usually selling handbags, watches, shoes or electronics.  We were looking for keyboards for our mini ipod.  

On the way to Aeon, a/ large department store, we came across the one and only garden we have seen.  Remember the picture I took of the small fruit growing?  Well now it is just about ready to pick.  

This is the rest of the garden.  Just growing between the sidewalk and the fence.

 While at Aeon we were looking for folding chairs and found two that would work.  In our apartment we have only six chairs and when the eight of us get together we have to find something to sit on.  This will work out great.  We'll try it out at FHE tomorrow night.

Sunday we were blessed to have the Jacinto family back from their trip to the Philippines.  They were gone for two weeks.  Shannon was able to practice the piano before Church and she played Joseph Smith First Prayer and We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet, with both hands.  So proud of her.  

Guillan, Rommel, Shannon, Megan and Rowena

 Even though she just got back Rowena was in charge of the dinner.  She did a wonderful job and made it easy.  We had tuna and egg salad sandwiches along with fruit.  Yummy!!!

Rowena, Mary Ann and Joy 

 Just as we are ready to leave the church, Paul decides he needs to finish one more thing before turning off the computer.  He is very diligent about his calling as clerk.  There are always some changes to be made.  Tomorrow President Collins will have his wife, Carol, and their daughter and two grandchildren here.  .

Reading lds.org we were reminded that we should be using our blog to share the gospel

“With the blessings of modern technology, we can express gratitude and joy about God’s great plan for His children in a way that can be heard . . . around the world. Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity.” — President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Ensign, May 2011, “Waiting on the Road to Damascus.”)

We had a wonderful week in the temple.  We had groups from India, Six brothers and sisters who came with their family to be sealed.  Then we had a couple from Tahiti who spoke French and they met up with their son and daughter-in-law who are living in Paris, France.  Then we had several patrons from mainland China here all week.  We were able to help with several of the own endowments, be officiator and follower on many of their sessions and help in the baptistery.  During one session Paul received French, Tahitian, Chinese and English.  

We are so blessed to be able to serve this mission here in Hong Kong.  Such wonderful, dedicated Saints and we serve with wonderful senior missionaries.  We have several new sisters and elders who have received their mission calls and will be able  to serve in the temple until they leave for the MC. The gospel is true.  Heavenly Father has been so very good to us.  Let's be steadfast and diligent and endure to the end.  

I must end with a wonderful story of our grandson, Robbie.  Sunday there was an ox in the mide.  Some friends of Kelly and Rob's called to see if they had a vac.  During the night their sprinkler had broken and their basement now had 4 inches of water in it.  Kelly ran the vac down and took their kids to church and said Rob would be down to help them.  Robbie did not want to be late for Church so he walked their on his own.  Upon arriving he took their usual seat on the 4th row and waited.  Kelly and the other two boys got their late and opted to sit outside in the foyer but Robbie stayed right there where he should be all through sacrament meeting.  We are so proud of our wonderful grandchildren.  They are making such good decisions and are always trying to remember "I am a child of God, He loves me and I love Him."  Thanks Robbie for setting a good example to all of us and of course a great thank you to Rob and Kelly who are always their to help get the ox out of the mire.