October 8-14

Chans, Sister Victor, Sister Kesler, Rhyasens, Hathaways, Lewises, Elder Kesler, Elder Victor

On Monday six couples went to Shenzhan for the day.  Paul and I left early because we had to go to Wanchai first and deposit the money and then take the bus back to meet everyone at the train station.  We made it with ease.  

Chinese girls in costume at entrance of park

The Victors, Hathaways, Rhyasens and us hopped on the train and met up with the Chans and Keslers in Fanling and then continued on to the border.  We spent an hour or two shopping at the great and spacious building and eating at McDonalds before catching three taxis to take us to the China Folk Culture Center (very similar to the Polynesian Center).  We had a great day.  The Chans and us took a tram ride around the park.  That was good because we got to see an overview of everything.  Splendid China exhibit is China in miniature and then it took us around the different culture events. 

 

Entrance to the park

Splendid China tram ride

Tram ride around Splendid China, everything in miniature

A portion of the Great Wall in Splendid China

Paul ringing the bell at one of the stops

One of the cultural settings

We saw three really terrific shows.  One was a Battle on horseback show Golden Spear Dynasty, then Dancing Show in Traditional Chinese Costumes New Oriental Apparel, this was really good, and the evening show “A large China’s variety show epic Dragon and Phoenix Dance”.  We got home about 10:30.

Reenacting a battle

Watching the horse battle

Pictures of the evening performance.  We were not allowed to take any pictures of the costume performance.

Young girls on roller skates

The evening performance, dragon with fireworks

Beautiful costumes and dances

  More of miniature China tram ride

 Cultural Exhibits

Elder & Sister Chan

 Back to the evening performance

More of the evening performance

On our way home we had a chance to help someone in need.  There was a women getting through immigration who had two huge bags full of clothes for her shop in Africa, plus a pull case.  She was trying to maneuver all three pieces of luggage up the escalator.  Paul saw her and started helping.  After getting to the top Elder Hathaway took a side, Sister Hathaway took a side and I took another bag and we helped her onto the train and she went to Hung Hom with us.  She was trying to get to the airport for a flight to Africa at midnight.  We got to the train station but missed the bus and finally convinced her she needed to take the taxi in order to get there in time.  She called us at 11:30 and said she made it.  Luckily we gave her one of our cards.  Hopefully someday she will run into the missionaries and she will remember some members were very helpful and listen to their message.

Tuesday we went into the temple early with Sister Clyde so we could watch the training film.  Wednesday we had some Americans in the temple and also a sister from Taiwan received her endowment.  Sister Clyde got to be her escort. 

Thursday, our other assignment day, we went to our Church building and worked on organizing the Branch records.  We took a little time to walk around the neighborhood and thru the two malls we walk through every Sunday.  

The 12th of October was Kory's birthday, Happy 37.  We are so very proud of him.  He is a wonderful son, husband and father.  

Saturday and Sunday were General Conference here in Asia.  The first session was at 11 on Saturday.  We stayed for the two sessions then the Sister Temple and Area missionaries went to dinner while the Elders went to Priesthood.  It was fun to get to know the Area Sisters better.  

Elder Siebach, grandson of our Palmyra Temple President & Matron

Pres. Tia's family (in District Presidency)

The Wens

Paul teaching a YM to do a yo yo trick

Pen 3 RS sisters

Pen 3 Branch members between sessions

Sunday we went over at 9 and stayed for the RS broadcast at 3:00.  The District RS had a light dinner for everyone after the broadcast.  They were showing several languages in the Wanchai building and during Sister Reeves talk it started translating into Korean.  They finally got it stopped and rewound back into English.  Conference was wonderful and we are so grateful for living Prophets.  How blessed we are to have such guidance in our lives.  

Let's keep our covenants and all sit down in Heaven together.  

October 1-7 2012

I'm a little slow this week.  Sunday was a very long day, but wonderful.  We went to bed Saturday night about 9:30 and got up at 12 midnight to watch the first session of conference.  Went back to bed for two hours and got up at 4 am for the 2nd session.  Back to bed and got up at 8 am for the priesthood session. Then off to Church at 10:15.  Paul is still trying to get a handle on the Branch Clerk stuff and get the records in order.  We had a wonderful Fast and Testimony meeting.  Pres. Collins started off with his testimony.  He reminded us that servitude is not service.  Families can be together forever and we have an opportunity to be more than we are.  He then invited a new area missionary couple, The Parrys and a new Elder in the Branch to bear their testimonies.  They will be powerful additions to the Branch.  After the Block we had a pot luck dinner.  We got home about 8:30 pm that night.  The good thing is that we can now navigate ourselves onto the right trains to get home by ourselves.  A major step.

Filipino Sisters who are going back home and Sister Jones, teaching in mainland China

 This week in the temple we  had a group from mainland China and from Thiland.  Sister Clyde arrived from Sandy, Utah on Tuesday night.  President & Sister Aki picked her up and the Hathaways, Deans and us came down to meet her.  She is doing well and just needs a couple of weeks to get use to the time change and get her feet under her.  We are quite proud of her.  She came by herself.  She has served in the London and New Zealand temples, sang with the Tabernacle Choir and just finished serving at the Conference Center.

Chinese Sisters who came to the temple and we fortunate to serve them

Sister Victor and I have been swimming almost every day after getting home from the temple.  The weather is getting a little cooler.  Elder Rhyasen said we’ll have to have a contest who will go the longest until they shut down the pool for winter.  Sister Victor’s foot is getting better every day.  The Rhyasens have a daughter and son-in-law here for a few days.  We worked for them Thursday so they could spend time with them.

 We have found some new ways to get to the train.  Now we are walking every day instead of waiting for the shuttle.  With the humidity down it isn't too bad and the time is about the same.  You either walk or wait for the shuttle.

Wednesday after the temple we took the bus 104 over to Wanchai to drop off the church money and then we wandered around for a  bit.  Went to see the new Focus grocery story and took the ferry back across the harbor and caught the shuttle at the Peninsula Hotel which brought us right home.

Monday and Tuesday are holidays here in Hong Kong.  Lantern Festival and Mid Autumn Festival.  The temple is open on holidays so that the Filipino sisters can come to the temple.  It is a mandatory day off for them.  All the missionaries work that day.  Sessions start at 7 am an there is one every hour until 11.  All the other ordinances are also available.  Monday 2000 ordinances were performed.  On Tuesday there were 1268 ordinances.  

Giant lantern in Victoria Park

Elder Lewis waiting for the dragon parade

Sister Whitehead, The Deans, Elder Lewis The Rhyasens,

The firey dragon covered in burning incense 

The Rhyasens, Elder Victor and Sister Whitehead, the Deans and us met at 5:30 Monday night to go to Victoria Park to see the lanterns.  From there we walked to where the parade was going to be and waited for about an hour to see the dragon parade.  Nothing like I expected.  The dragon was a large rope like affair, very long with incense sticks poked into it and they were lit.  The head and tail were very large and had teeth.  Boys carried it on a stick and made it dance up and down, twist and turn.  Once we saw it we headed back and caught a bus right away and got back to our apartment to see the fireworks which were at 9 pm and go for 22 minutes.  Quite spectacular.  It was quite a night and we got it all in.

22 minutes of spectacular fireworks over the Hong Kong Harbour

Tuesday evening after serving in the temple the Victors and us took the train out to Brother & Sister Wen's home where we were having a Branch BBQ.  What a fun group of people.  They were so kind to us and we had great Filipino food, yum, yum.

Bro Jacinto, Paul & Paul Sequeire

Branch members singing karioki

 September 31, 2012 our grandson, Tyler Zachary Lewis, was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and made a Deacon.  We are so proud of him.  He got to go to General Priesthood meeting with his Dad and Grandpa Golden.

Dad Kory, Tyler, Grandpa Dave Golden

Tyler, Josh, Kory & Gage Lewis

 We know he is going to be a great young man who will honor and uphold his priesthood.  Way to go Tyler!!  Now start getting yourself to the temple each month to do baptisms.  Serve, Serve, Serve, that is where your joy will.  

Tyler & Kory at BYU game

September 23-30, 2012

Paul fulfilling his first assignment as Branch Clerk.  We went out early to the Wan Chai bldg. to meet Elder Rippy and find out where the bank is so Paul could deposit the Branch money.  We walked over with another couple and learned a new way to get to the buses to get across the Harbor.  We got there a little early and were invited to the devotional which they were having that morning.  The Brother who spoke told a wonderful Chinese folk story.  We were able to meet up with Tim Fife.  He looks good, doesn't he? Elder Rippy then walked us over to the bank.

Tim Fife

 We caught the bus back to Hung Hom station just in time to meet up with the temple missionaries.  We were headed to the Terracotta Warrior exhibit at the Museum of History.  It was fantastic.  So well done and we learned a lot.  We went to lunch with everyone afterwards and walked home in some rain along the promenade with the Hathaways and Rhyasens.  

Hathaways, Deans, Lewises, Sister Rhyasen, Victors (Elder Rhyasen took the picture)

Outside the museum, the stairs are painted with the warriors

Tuesday we finished our Big Bus Tour.  We rode around on the red route first.  That was a good choice  because we missed some things the first time and fixed in our minds other places.  

Central District on Hong Kong Island

View of the Harbor from HK

Our first dragon siting

 We switched to the blue tour which is of Kowloon Island.  We dropped off at the Ladies Market and the Jade Market.  I think I might have found the pj's and dresses for the kids.  Also saw the ICC building which is the 4th tallest building in the world.  On the way home we saw a couple of our Elders waiting for a train.  We were in the train.

Paul carrying our groceries from the store, 18th floor by elevator

Sunday was a great day.  We left early and got to the building by 11 so Paul could get logged into the computer to do his Clerk work.  When they went in for their PEC meeting Sister Victor and I were visiting with Sister Mildred and Marilyn, who is investigating the church.  Mildred gave us a bunch of her recipes which I copied down.  We are determined to try them.  They are mostly chicken with vegetables or pasta.  Should be good. 

We were fortunate this morning to watch the RS Conference at 8:00 am our time.  What a great meeting.  I hope you all took advantage of the opportunity to participate.
Our theme for Sacrament meeting today was "Being Faithful in times of Adversity".  We have the most amazing meetings.  Three Sisters spoke and shared stories from their own lives and used D&C 122:7 as their basis. All things shall be for our good.  The why and how of the question.  All is well, God is in control.  We are strengthened.   Job--our trails are similar, family, health, wealth.  No suffering will go unnoticed, all will be for our good.  What am I to learn or change.  Remember our blessings in time of trial.  Trust, build integrity.  The second verse of "I Know My Redeemer Lives".  Care not what man can do for God is in charge.  Adversity is a part of God's plan, if we have faith we will not be afraid of our trials.
Gospel Doctrine is always good.  Claire does a great job.  Our joint meeting for 5th Sunday was taught by President Collins.  He taught a lesson from Gospel Principles about why did you join the Church?  what is it Heavenly Father has in mind for us?  what do we want from His plan?  In the end it boils down to returning to the celestial kingdom with our families.  None of us want to go back alone and our focus needs to be on how we can help our families spiritually return home.
Believe it or not after the block we had and Enrichment activity.  It continued to build on providing a firm foundation for our families.  Everyone was invited to bring a picture or something about their family.  Many had pictures of their children, husbands, parents they have left in the Philippines while they are working here in Hong Kong.  What sacrifices they are making. Then we were divided into four groups and given toothpicks and marshmallows and told to build a tall tower.  It was great fun.

Enrichment activity

Brother Barson from River Ridge 9th Ward sent us a wonderful letter this week reminding  the couple missionaries from our Ward about the blessings of the temple.  Here they are:

1. In the temple, the Holy Ghost may grant us added light and knowledge, and the privilege of receiving answers to our prayers-
2. Regular temple attendance will help us remember our temple covenants involving obedience, sacrifice and purity-
3. A significant blessing of the temple:  it serves as a place where we are taught our responsibility for others-
4. In the temple, we learn that we are part of an inspired and very real plan, headed by the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

To those four, two others come to my mind:

1. Our countenance changes from attending the temple (Alma 5:14,19)
2. Our families are blessed while we're serving in the temple

And to those, we are truly blessed to have the guidance/instruction and the wonderful temple stories from President Thomas S. Monson, "Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, Copyright 2010 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.,

1. In the temple we can feel close to the Lord
2. The temple lifts and exalts us
3. The temple brings peace to our souls
4. ... in the temple(s), miracles occur -->  the story of the Konietz family, who, living behind the Iron Curtain, received patriarchal blessings where many things were promised - during the time when political barriers between Germany and Poland prevented hope of the realization of the promised blessings, that is, hope without faith;  miracles occurred, promises were fulfilled, sealings performed by the president of the Bern Switzerland Temple, President Percy K. Fetzer, none other than the same patriarch who gave the earlier patriarchal blessings to the members of the Konietz family.  

We have had some wonderful experiences in the temple this week with 19 Mongolian saints being with us all week.  Three brothers and six sisters received their endowment and four children were sealed to parents along with several wives being sealed to deceased husbands.  What a great spirit they brought with them.  Tomorrow and Tuesday are national holidays and the temple will be filled with many Filipino sisters who will have the days off.  One of our own sisters in our Branch will receive her endowment, Mary Jane.  

We love you.  Make some good choices this week and remember Grandpa sends his love and "I am a child of God, I love Him and I know He loves me."

Gospel Insights to Ponder

From the Church News—Visit from Elders Cook, Bednar, Callister and others to the Philippeans

 Elder Callister-- He began by speaking about missionary work and gave counsel to parents. He said that parents have three responsibilities: to prepare their children to serve missions, to enter the temple and to become celestial companions.  He counseled parents to kneel and pray with their children and to teach their children that prayers are answered.He also asked families to study the scriptures, fast together and receive patriarchal blessings.

Elder Bednar also taught that faith is a principle of action and that power comes only when people act on their faith. When one prays one must ask for the power to act in order to gain spiritual power. He taught that agency is the capacity to act and not to be acted upon. He explained that "faith is not merely hoping and wishing but it is acting on something."

Elder Callister encouraged members of the Church to have faith in God and to feast upon the words of Christ for it will tell them all that they should do when they are at the crossroads of their lives. He told the young men to serve a full-time mission and encouraged parents to teach their children the way to righteousness by paying a full tithe and making a commitment to scripture study.

An excerpt from a book I have been reading.                           

Proof, How To Know the Book of Mormon is True  by Tom G. Rose pg. 56-60

Comparison of the Word of God Unto a Seed”

This discourse by the prophet Alma gives us a powerful analogy about the development of faith.  It compares the growth of a seed to how the word of God will swell-within the heart of an honest inquirer.  This analogy is beautifully explained in Alma 32:28-43.  I strongly suggest that you prayerfully read these verses several times.

How do you plant he word in your heart?  What is the word?  Alma was asked this question and his answer is recorded in Alma 33:22.  Planting the word means that you:

·         Believe in the Son of God

·         Believe that He came to redeem all mankind.

·         Believe that He suffered and died to atone for your sins

·         Believe that He was resurrected

·         Believe that you will stand before Him at the judgment day to be judged for your works.

After planting this word (seed) in your heart, you must:

·         Give this word (seed) time to germinate and begin to grow within your mind and heart.

·         Pray and ask God if Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of mankind.

·         Study the scriptures about the life and mission of the Savior.

·         Do your best to live a Christ like life.

·         Keep the Sabbath day holy.

·         Continue to nourish the word (seek) with faith, diligence, and patience.

Will you have faith to plant the word (seed) in your heart?  Only you can answer this vital question.  If you have sufficient faith to try this exciting experiment there are two possible results:

1.   

           It will grow if you do not cast it out by your unbelief.  It will begin as a tiny seedling.

This seedling must be constantly nourished or it will die.  If you sincerely pray and study the word and live the best you can, you will begin to feel swelling emotions within your breast.

These feelings will be real and exciting.  The spout will grow slowly, but steadily,  as long as you nourish it daily.

If you continue faithful, it will become a young tree

With time and constant nourishment and care the young tree will eventually become a mature tree bearing the fruit of everlasting life.

You will receive true joy and eternal happiness (see Alma 32:41-43)

2     

           Or it will die—if you neglect he word (sprout), it will shrivel up and die, because it cannot continue to live and grow unless it receives daily nourishment through your earnest prayer, study, and obedience (see Alma 32:40)