December 30 - January 5, 2014

It is hard to believe the year is coming to an end.  Monday we went to the movies and saw "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" at the Wampoa center.  That evening the Salmons hosted a FHE for us.  We had a delicious dinner of stir fry and rice and each of us brought something to add.  Later we had a wonderful lesson on how the Joseph Smith Sr. family could have spent Christmas.  We divided into groups of three and were given about 5 dates (years) each to determine what might have happened that year and how it would have affected the Smith family and their Christmas.

 New Year's Eve the temple was open.  We had a fairly good turnout.  We went home at 3:45 and decided we had better go back for the evening session in case no one was there.  As it turned out there were 12 patrons on the session and we were the witness couple.  We decided it was a great way to end the year.  We were still up at midnight and heard the fireworks but did not see them and by the time I found it on TV they were just ending.  They only last about 8 minutes on this New Year's eve.  The big fireworks will on the Chinese New Year at the end of January.

They are taking down the tree in the lobby.  They cut it up into pieces to get it out. It smelled so good.

The Salmons' kitchen

Sister Warner, Hoskins, Castleton and Salmon dishing up the food

New Year's Day all the Temple Missionaries headed off for Lamma Island for a hike.  We left on the shuttle at 9:15 and arrived at the Island about 11:00.  We have been here before but this time we hiked around the small village side.  Very beautiful beaches.  We caught the ferry back around 2:45 and then went to the mid level elevators hoping to go to the Mexican Restaurant  but it was closed so we walked down the street to the Italian restaurant the Rhysens always took us to and had dinner.  Got home at 6 pm.  Lucky for us we don't go in until 2 pm on Thursday so we did not have to get up early the next day.

Getting on Ferry 4

View from the top

Paul taking a rest on his best bed.

Sister and Elder Castleton

Elder Salmon using a local broom. 

This day January 2 was our 43rd Wedding Anniversary.  We went to lunch at JOJO's, an Indian Restaurant the Elders introduced us to.  They have a great buffet and we love all the foods.  From there we went to the temple and that evening we were both assigned to Sealings.  A  great way to spend our anniversary.

Happy 43rd!!!

The  temple was fairly quiet the rest of the week with local patrons and a few out-of-town patrons.  Saturday the Area Seventies were in town for meetings and they had a special session.  Saturday is usually our OAD but since we were all off on Wednesday we are all suppose to come in on Saturday.  They need the men but I was not needed so I was a follower on the 9 am session, so everyone could go to preparation meeting, and then a patron on the 11.  After that I left and went to WanChai to meet Velma.  She was giving her first talk in Church and I didn't want to miss it.  She did a wonderful job.  I was so proud of her even though she was very nervous.  She spoke on how the Book of Mormon has influenced her life.  Afterwards we did some practicing on the piano.  Her piano book came in and she has been practicing.  We then went to dinner at Subway and I came on home.  She called me about 8:30 just before she arrived home to check on us.  What a sweetheart.  We are going to miss her immensely.

Velma at the Victoria 2nd Branch

Velma giving her first talk on The Book of Mormon

Sunday we left early to attend the last of the Chinese Wards, Bishop Lau, temple engineer's Ward.  Many people we knew from the temple are in this Ward. Sister Lee and Bro. Cheung among them.  People were very friendly.  Also two of the Seventies were assigned to attend this Ward.  They each bore their testimony.  Elder Woo said the most important thing we can do is to love and keep our families intact.  There is nothing more important than this for our eternal salvation.

The Lau family.  He is 13 and passed the sacrament.  He's much smaller than Tyler.  

Paul also bore his testimony.  I am so proud of him.  Every visit to these Chinese Wards he has bourne his testimony and ended by saying it in Cantonese.  He couldn't get me to do it.  From there we caught a taxi to the Mon Kok Station where we caught the train to our Branch in Kwai Fang.  We arrived early and were able to get a little work done before others needed the computer.  Paul gave his first lesson in the Old Testament in Gospel Doctrine and I gave the Plan of Salvation in Primary.
It was FHE and the missionaries were in charge.  The Sister Missionaries were on splits and so had to leave so Brother Jacinto gave the lesson on how as members we are needed in the missionary effort.  Elder Victor bore a strong testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and their (The Victors and all the Sr. Couples) love for the Peninsula 3 Branch.  We then had a delicious potluck dinner.  We helped clean up and then took off.  Just before we got to the train station Paul remembered he hadn't finished the quarterly report so he headed back and I went on home.  He ended up being only 30 minutes behind me.

Sister Victor and Megan after cleaning the bathrooms

Waiting for FHE to begin.

Elder & Sister Victor

Elder Lewis actually here at the dinner with a full plate, wondering where I am.

A bounteous table

Lisa, Taeia and Yessie

In the middle of the night we talked with Kelly and Rob and found out that our Ward at home has been changed.  We lost the Cottages and the new subdivision and are back with Palmer Park and King Benjamin.  Our new Bishop is Steve Jackson, with Steve Bowers and Scott Jones as Counselors and Wade Palmer as Clerk.  What a great group of Priesthood men to guide us.

We are well into 2014.   May it bring happiness and joy to us as we continue to grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ, learn better to keep His commandments so that every blessing may be ours.  Remember the gospel is:  Faith, Repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and ENDURING TO THE END.

I am happy to say that I was able to pay out a bit of money to several children and grandchildren who were able to attend the temple every month in 2013.  What a great job.  Keep up the good work.  You have a wonderful habit going, DON'T STOP NOW.  Several of you also finished the D&C, great job.  Also another great habit, keep reading the scriptures.  They will give you power to overcome evil and keep the Holy Ghost close to you.  Let's all set a goal to do better this year.

Our challenge this year is to memorize the Proclamation to the Family.  I know you can all do this.  Start one paragraph at a time and let us know how it is coming.  I'm sure there will be a reward for all those who can attend the temple in 2014 every month and maybe for those of you who reached that goal last year you might want to add an additional visit as time permits.  Let us know who is in.

And here is something Riley, Gage and Brody can work on.  Memorize the Articles of Faith.  Start with the first 3 and let me know.

We love our eternal family.  WHO WILL SEE THIS???