November 12 - 18, 2012

Monday we took the shuttle from our apartment to the TST (Tsim Sha Tsui) train station where we took the Tsuen Wan line to Kwai Fong.  It's a new way for us to get to church and only takes one train.  It requires a medium walk from the shuttle to the train but we like it.  Paul was able to get a lot of the paper work ready for tithing settlement which President Collins began today.  Paul's big job is to try to get everyone's records in order.  Finding people is a real problem but we have several sisters who are so good about helping us.  Yehlan is one of these.  She is the Branch mission leader and does a tremendous job.  Also Sister Lingling, our RS President, is also wonderful and they both know a lot of the sisters.

When we left the Church we went to Wancahi Bldg. to turn in the tithing receipts and stopped at Prize Mart to get a few things,  microwave popcorn, candy bars and cookies.  A very healthy diet.  On the way home we decided to take the ferry and ran into a young man who is in Hong Kong on business from Cincinnati Ohio.

Brother Mattingly from Cincinnati Ohio notice Christmas decorations are everywhere

I had a really lovely visit on the phone with Lynn Nelson and she asked questions about our apartment and I said I would include some pictures so here they are

Our bedroom

My closet, those two drawers are our  dresser, I have  that much more not showing

Our living room and dining room, notice our new rug

Kitchen area

Washer and dryer in one.  Paul never uses the dryer but hangs the clothes  on a rope line he strings up.

bathroom, again lots of mirrors

extra bedroom with desk

other end of extra bedroom

We are at the end of this long hallway.  I'm standing at our door taking the picture.  We are on the 18th floor.

 We had some wonderful experiences at the temple this week.  We had a family from India.  Two brothers, their wives and children and mother from Banglador.  One brother is a Branch President and the other is on the District Council.  One brother and his wife received their endowments and were sealed and the brothers were sealed to their mother and deceased father.  I got to visit with them in the  baptistry one evening.  This month we serve two night shifts in the temple.  We go in at 2:15 and work until closing around 9:30 pm.

We also had a group from Indonesia and one from Thailand.  I worked with two of the sisters from Thailand all week either on sessions or in initiatory.   What wonderful people.  One is a District RS President and has a daughter at BYU Hawaii.  We also have our very faithful Chinese brothers and sisters who come regularly along with several American sisters who live here.What a joy every day to go into the temple and work with such great people.

Paul practicing for Beijin

Saturday we walked to the post office to mail a package to Mallorie.  I made the mistake of telling her I bought them some really cute purses and she has been wanting to know when she was going to get them so we finally mailed them off.  I hope they like them, I thought they were so cute.  We then checked out a new grocery store that the Victors and Keslers told us about.  It's a Park & Shop International and is quite nice.  It's kind of like Ikea in the fact that once you get in you have to walk through the whole store before you can get out.

Saturday evening Tim and Candy Fife invited us to their home for dinner.  It was out in Tuen Mun.  Just took one train out to the New Territories.  We got there a little early so were going to walk through the mall but could not find a mall there at the station.  That was a first.  We then called and took the light rail two stops and Tim and his son Spencer met us as we got off the train.  Their complex is right there.  It was very nice.

Candy prepared a wonderful dinner for us even though they had had a big lunch with their ward at a German buffet.  It was fun to meet their family, they have three boys, Daniel, Thomas and Spencer and Sophie who is going to be three next week.  Candy says she is way too westernized for most of the Chinese.  They met at BYU Hawaii and lived in Camarillo, TO, for four years and then came to Hong Kong, which is where she is from and he got a job with the Church in Wanchai, Technology manager.

Paul, Daniel, Mar Jean, Spencer, Candy, Thomas, Sophie, Tim 

Paul, Cathy, Mar Jean.  Cathy is their domestic helper and a member of the Church from the Philippines.  We see her in the temple most Saturday mornings.

 Today, Sunday, we left for Church at 10;15.  Arrived at 11:00 and Elder Lewis started preparing for tithing settlement.  I worked in the library a little.  Sister Victor was busy working on the Primary program which will be on December 9th.  She hasn't had much time to prepare and so is a little stressed out, but we know it will be wonderful as they always are.

Today our new Elder, Elder Broderick, spoke.  He is from Utah and has been out 1 1/2 years.  He spoke about being happy now and not thinking that once you accomplish set number of things you will be happy.

Ben James, District Sunday School President, was our 2nd speaker and he encouraged us to gain gospel knowledge which is taking all the information that sinks into our hearts and actually changes us into better people, helping us become more like the Savior.

After Church today we had Home Teaching with our groups.  We had seven present.  Elder Lewis gave the lesson from Elder Cook's talk on " Can You Feel So Now".  Brother Paul Sequiera is his companion and he finished up.  Then we all went to choir practice.  Next week is Branch Conference and the choir is singing.  Sister Castleton conducts and Sister Parry plays for us.

Delsa Maddrena, Venus Galicia, Lingling Cacayorin, Bem Bem Donasco, Yessie Acosta, Paul Sequeira

Some wonderful news from home.  Saturday Debbie had a bridal shower for my niece  Marcy, who is getting married December 17.  We are so happy for her.  Sheri was kind enough to send a picture of Kelly, who took the boys and drove to Idaho to attend, Staci and Kaylee.  Aren't they the cutest girls?

Kelly, Staci, Kaylee in Debbie's home

It has been a good week and we are continually blessed by the Lord in keeping us healthy and happy. Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.  

November 5-11, 2012

Happy Birthday to Brody, who turned 3 on the 5th and Kimberly who turned ??? on the 6th.  We love you both and hope you had lots of fun.  Sorry Robbie, we cannot bring a panda home, they are an endangered species.  

We had so much fun at Ocean Park last Saturday that we talked everyone else into going on Monday and decided to join them.  First we went to Wanchai to deposit the money and then eventually met up with them at the park.  This time we saw all the exhibits and even rode a few of the rides.  The Artic Blast, the Ferris Wheel and the swing.  We saw the other wonderful panda exhibit and red tail money exhibit.

The upper park, mainly rides and a few exhibits

Elder Lewis & Elder Rhyasen

Giant Panda Jia Jia

A ride in the cable care with two senior men from Hong Kong. They wanted our picture

Panoramic views from the Ocean Park Tower

We stayed in the park until 7 pm so we could see the beautiful water and dragon show at the Aqua City Lagoon.  It was quite spectacular.  Water spouts, fire spouts, the legend of two dragons fighting until mother earth brought them to have peace together.

This week at the temple we had a wonderful Mongolian group there all week.  One of the sisters, Flower, spoke English.  She had just returned from a mission in Arizona and spoke very good English.  We were able to serve their group on sessions, in initiatory and sealings all week.  They were very faithful, they attended three or more sessions every day and completed all the family names they brought with them.  We had two young women who were traveling throughout Asia for a couple of days.  They were from the Salt Lake area and took the time to come to the temple while in Hong Kong.  A Ward from Singapore also came with their youth so the baptistery was busy all week also.   It was a great week.  Saturday Paul went in to sub for Elder Chan.  They had family that just arrived. I went in also and did two sessions and was hoping to get a third one in but they needed me to work.  President and Sister Aki finished up the Saturday with a marriage of two returned missionaries from Hong Kong.  

Thursday night there was a fireside for all the area because Sister Cook from General YW and Sister Reeves from General Relief Society and their husbands were here in Hong Kong.  Sister Cook spoke about the new YM/YW curriculum for 2013 and Sister Reeves spoke about missionary work.  They checked into the Marriot Hotel and wondered if they still put Book of Mormons in their rooms.  Sure enough they did.  She was able to talk about this book to three different employees who came into their room.  

Saturday and Sunday were District Conference.  At 3:00-4:30 they had a social where we met to visit and they had wonderful refreshments.  At 5:00 they had the adult meeting.  

President & Sister Collins our Peninsula 3rd Branch President & his wife.  They are from Scotland/South Africa

President & Sister Berrett, District President

Saturday night's theme was becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Some memorable statements:  

• The Savior said, Follow me and they immediately forsook all and followed.
• We can't insist on our timetable when the Lord has one for us.   
• Look in the scriptures and you will find answers to all your questions about raising children.  The Savior is the pattern in all things even child rearing.
• Temple worship is the path to discipleship.
• If I don't see you in the temple, I won't see you in heaven.
• The hymn "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief"  
• How do we have assurance that we are followers of Christ?  Practice what we proclaim, gradually increase our efforts to follow Him, obedience to the Savior--forsake all that is not good for us--a price worth paying, a price we cannot afford to not pay.

Elder & Sister Brown and Fe and Vilma

Fe and Vilma served in the Philippines with Elder Brown's sister 20 years ago.  Elder Brown is Branch President of several of the week Philippino Branches.

 We decided to take the ferry back to TST and then walked along the promenade home.  The skyline of the Kowloon side.

Someone's wedding pictures

It was a very busy Sunday on the Promenade

Sunday's theme at District Conference was "living in such a way that we have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with us always". 

President Hawks, Hong Kong Mission President:  Nephi returned to Jerusalem the third time "being lead by the spirit but not knowing what I should do...NEVERTHELESS I went forth"

• Share your light -- we ought to look and act different
• Share your example
• Share your testimony
• It requires courage and faith--remember the ladder of conversion we must all

President Berrett, District President:  D&C 42:14 This section is called the "Law of the Lord".  What would be of the most worth?  The thing that will be of the most worth unto you is to declare repentance unto this people.  You can take nothing with you from this life except your declaration of testimony.  If we listen to the Spirit we will have success.  The Lord's work is accomplished as we listen to the spirit and act unto it. 

Have a great week and remember "I Am A Child of God, I love Him and I know He loves me." 

October 29 - November 4, 2012

We had great plans for Monday to go to Ocean Park and check it out.  You know how all good plans go, out the window.  We went to Wanchai to deposit the Branch money and have that down pretty good now.  Then we headed to the Wanchai bldg. where we visited with Brother Albert who helped Paul with making some changes on the Branch records.  Then we stopped to visit with the Harringtons, who are Family History missionaries.  They just back from Thailand where the Saints and making great gains in their family history work.  We visited with Sister Chan who took our printer cartridge and gave us some paper and other supplies we needed for the Branch.  By the time we finished we had two heavy bags to carry.  Decided it was not a good day to go on to Ocean Park.  Instead we went searching for a Mexican Restaurant we had heard about.  We found it right at noon and had a great lunch.  We found in Slovenia if you order fajitas you can't go wrong and it was true.  They had great homemade salsa.  We picked up a few groceries from Prize Mart and headed home.

Paul waiting for the shuttle at our apartment

We are so blessed to have such wonderful accommodations.  We are close to transportation.  Shopping is not too far away, 3-4 blocks, and we are all together in the same complex and very centrally located in the city.

We have had some delightful people in the temple this week.  A couple from Mongolia have been here every day doing three and four endowment sessions.  Then we had a group of four young adults here from Thailand.  One received her endowment and again they have been in the temple every day doing all the ordinances and being on three and four sessions.  President and Sister Hawks were in the temple on Thursday as they had two missionaries going home and the first Thursday we always have the area presidency and missionaries in the temple for a session.  Paul and I have been working hard on our Cantonese at the veil and it is coming.  He is using it quite often now.

I visited with one of our workers this week.  Sister So.  She comes from Mainland China for two weeks to serve in the temple.  She joined the church in 2006.  Her employer in Japan was a member and invited her.  She and her youngest son joined.  Her oldest son was already in the military and not at home.

We had our quarterly interview with President and Sister Aki.  They are such wonderful people.  This is their third time serving in Hong Kong, well actually four because I believe they both served a mission here when young.  They were here as Mission President, then came as Public Relations missionaries and now as Temple President and Matron.

We have District Conference next week and Sister Cook, from the General YW and Sister Reeves, from General RS will be here.  There are some special firesides planned while they are here.

This month we are off on Saturday so we and Sister Clyde tried out Ocean Park.  It's a lot like Sea World.  We had a great time.  One thing you have to watch out for here are little steps.  They always show up when you least expect them.  One found me today and I went down and sprained my left hand and foot.  I'm just grateful it did not break.  I should be well in a few days.  Also on the bus I was sitting on the aisle and we went around a corner and off I slipped right onto the floor.  It was not my best day.

Sister Clyde and us waiting for the bus to Ocean Park

Isn't he beautiful?

Looking out at the South China Sea

Entering the Artic area

Today we didn't need to be to Church early so left here at 11.  We took the shuttle to the TST station, caught a train took it to the Church exit.  We then walk thru two malls and another couple of blocks and we are here. 

Great testimony meeting today.  These people are so grateful for the Gospel in their lives.  They have wonderful testimonies.  Sister Wen gave a wonderful lesson in SS on 3 Nephi 27-30, 4 Nephi.  We can certainly see ourselves in these chapters.  Ling Ling, RS Pres.,  gave our RS lesson today on Pres. Monson's talk from conference.  Remembering your blessings.  The question was "how do you feel when you are grateful for what you have and how do you feel when you don't think you have received any blessings?"  

The choir practiced today for Branch Conference coming up in three weeks.  

Sister Castleton director and Sister Parry pianist

We had to leave the dinner quickly because we had to get to the Wanchai Bldg. for President Collins to sign some papers before he left town for the week.  Sister Collins is back from South Africa.  We were all happy to see her.
In the Boise Temple dedication President Monson included this:

"Help the youth of Thy church stand firm for truth and righteousness. Open wide to their view the gates of learning, of understanding and of service in Thy kingdom. Build within them strength to resist the temptations of the world. Give them the will to walk in virtue and faith, to be prayerful and to look to Thee as their constant anchor."  

October 22-28, 2012

Monday we were invited to join one of the Chinese Stakes on their annual senior outing.  Many of the participants are working in the temple with us.  We visited the Hong Kong History museum.  First we went to the Terracotta Warrior exhibit.  Again it was fantastic.  So well presented.  In just a few weeks we will be there in person.  We then went into the permanent exhibit which is the history of Hong Kong dating back to millions of years up to the present.

Hong Kong Stake Presidency

The senior group

After the tour of the museum we took a bus back to the Chapel where we had a delicious lunch.  It was so good of them to invite us.  We had a great time.  We left and took the train to Wanchai to deposit the money from the Branch.

This week we a large group from Thailand, Singapore and Bancock.  The Thailand group had ten own endowments and many sealings.  I was privileged to help in iniatories and Paul helped in baptistry.  We were also on many of the sessions with them.  They arrive on Tuesday morning and are on the 9 am session.  Then after being sealed they continue to attend two or three sessions per day along with the other ordinances.  We developed quite a bond with these wonderful people.

The family history missionaries tell us that Thailand wants a temple of their own.  Last month they submitted 2500 names.  

Paul in the Branch clerk's office working on the records

On the way home from the Branch building we came across a barber shop and he decided it was time for a hair cut.  It was getting pretty long.  They wash, massage, cut and rewash the hair.  He was pretty happy with it.  I also need one but haven't got the courage yet.  We have heard too many horror stories.  I'm waiting to see how Sister Rhyasen's looks.  She went in today, Monday.

On our other day, Thursday, we took a trip to the 10,000 Buddha temple.  It's a hike of about 15-20 minutes to the top and I am sure there are 10,000 Buddas. 

We stopped at the Ikea store which is located close to the bottom for ice cream.  We were able to get a cone for 25 cents so we had one going up and one coming back.  

Saturday at the temple we had several of our Branch members.  One was Paul Sequeira, 1st Counselor in the Branch.  He is single and Paul invited him to dinner on our way home.  We wanted to go to Triple O,  a hamburger place originally from Canada.  We went to the Harbor Mall to find it and it took some doing.  This is a huge and I mean huge mall.  Part of it goes out over the bay.  We walked and walked and walked and on a Saturday that is no easy task because of the many many people.

Another view of the different levels and again this is a HIGH end mall.

 Cruise ships stop off here and dock from Singapore before starting their cruises.

Sunday was our opportunity to speak in Church. I told about us and Paul gave the doctrine.  Disciples of Jesus Christ, highly favored, totally committed and records are important and be sure to come and see me in the Clerk's office so we can get your records correct.  We were happy to be the first of the missionaries to speak, now we can relax.  Sister Lindsy also spoke with us.  She is a new convert of three months and it was her first talk.  She did so good.  She  told a story of a friend who called her after her baptism and invited her to a party and then wanted to know what wine she wanted to drink.  She told her she no longer drank and her friend was very offended and told her not to come.  Several days went by and they spoke again and met for lunch.  The friend better  understood where she stood.  

 I was also sustained as Librarian of the Branch with the instructions to get it in ship shape.  My first time being a librarian.  I should have taken notes at home.  You Librarians always did such a good job, I just showed up at the door and you provided me with whatever I needed.  

This is Sister Yehlan, our Branch Missionary and she is terrific.  I have never seen anything like it.  Yesterday they went out after their correlation meeting and invited two sisters to come to Church and they did.  These sisters, six of them, do this on a weekly basis.  Their investigators are so welcomed and loved that many take the missionary lessons and see a better way of life.  

Have you been to the temple this month?  Only two days left, get yourself there NOW.

Pres. Monson "I pray that you will visit the temple as often as possible.  The temple is a House of the Lord. ....To you who are able to attend the temple, I would counsel you to go often.  Doing so will help strengthen your marriages and family...Temples are places where relationships are sealed together to last through the eternities.  They are filled with faith and fasting.  They are built of trials and testimonies.  They are sanctified by sacrifice and service.  

October 15-21

We want you to know that we go to the temple daily and that it is the highlight of our time here in the mission field.  We meet the most incredible people here in Aria.  Their stories and lives are filled with sacrifice, gratitude and love for the gospel  of Jesus Christ.  Every week we have a different group of people coming to the temple as well as many who live right here in Hong Kong.  Our coordinators and local patrons are the best of the best.  What a privilege to serve with them.  The temple is beautiful and right across the street is the patron housing, mission home, distribution center and chapel.  Across the harbor is the Wanchai building which is ten stories high and houses six chapels, the area offices and area presidency offices and homes.  There are six temple missionary couples and one single sister.  They are Elder & Sister Dean, Elder & Sister Chan, Elder & Sister Rhyasen, Elder & Sister Hathaway, Elder &Sister Victor, Elder & Sister Lewis and Sister Clyde.

miniture of the Wanchai Bldg.

Bro. Suen, gardener and coordinator at the temple

temple entrance

another view of the gardens

Waiting for the shuttle at our apartment.  It leaves every 15 minutes and goes to the MTR  and  to the Peninsula Hotel

a large variety of food

Elder Lewis, Victor & Hathaway

On Monday our senior outing was planned by the Deans (who will be going home in December).  They made reservations for us to go to lunch at the Panorama Hotel.  They have a wonderful buffet which we all enjoyed.  After lunch the men went back to the apartment for fuzz ball, table tennis tournament and the sisters went to the jade market.  After spending some time there three headed home and three of us went on to the ladies market.  We got home about 10 pm.

Sisters Rhyasen, Victor, Dean, and Clyde at the jade market

Just one of a thousand stalls filled mostly with handbags, watches, electronics etc.

As we left the temple Wednesday Sister Dean asked if we wanted to go to the night market.  Sister Rhyasen and I said "YES".  We met at the shuttle at 6:30 and were off.  Took a bus and walked.  We found a few fun things.  It is fun to be with Sister Dean, she is the best bargainer and got us some good deals.

One of the longest escalators we have ever been on.  It goes up to a movie theather

Walking from the temple to the MTS we pass this basketball court, attached to a school.  Paul always wants to stop and play basketball but usually no one is there or a PE class is going on.  On this day these boys were out playing so we stopped and he asked to shoot a few baskets.  As it turned out they are all LDS.  The guy in the yellow shirt is a returned missionary.  What are the chances?

Friday night at the Wanchai they had a musical fireside with Deon Nielsen Price and her son Berkeley A. Price who have performed in China about four times.  It was a missionary program and very well attended. She played the piano and he played the clarinet and then Pres. Hawks, mission president, made some great remarks.  

Elder Siebach was also there and you can see he has been taught well, he is putting the chairs away.

After the concert we went looking for a pizza place I had seen on the way to the night market.  We found it and stopped for a piece of pizza.  It was pretty good and looks like the ones, size wise, like Costo.  

 On the way to the shuttle we passed by the Heritage 1861 plaza with a beautiful fountain, a ballet exhibit in the center and then the building behind which houses shops and an apartment bldg. in the far back.

Hong Kong skyline at night crossing on the ferry

It seemed like we were the only ones on t.he MTR, there are about ten train s connected

 We stopped at the Wanchai Building one day and they had these pictures of church buildings in Asia.  This one is in Cambodia and the one below is in India and Hong Kong building is at the top of this blog.  We, meaning the Church, do a wonderful job for our people.

 We went to Church Sunday a little later than usual.  I think we left about 11.  We had choir practice, Sister Castleton is the choir director and Sister Parry the pianist.  Brother Andersen, District Council, was one of the speakers.  Gave a great talk on doing our callings and told a story I am going to get a copy of and put on the next blog (if I don't forget).  Also one of our newest members, Virgielyn Donasco gave her first talk on faith and Elder Elliot, from England, spoke.  Next week is our turn.  I was assigned a visiting teaching route.  My companion is Marilyn Luzon and we have four sisters.  We were able to meet with Kristy Ann and Florian after the block and talk about "Keeping our Covenants"

Remember "All roads in the Church lead to the temple".  This is where we will find our greatest joy.  Keep the faith and take care of the little things, read your scriptures, pray, FHE and service.  We send our love.

Dr. Rick

My cousin is Dr. Rick.  He writes a wonderful blog.  I suggest it to you.  This week it is in prayer.  You will find it powerful.  Take a few minutes and check it out.

http://ldsshrink.blogspot.com/

"Challenge
Develop YOUR relationship with God by doing the following: 
1) Find a place that you can be alone for just a minute or two. Go there.
2) Imagine like you are the prodigal son/daughter and He anxiously awaits your visit.
3) Feel of His PERFECT love for you -

“Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you … Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God love encompasses us completely. He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Love of God, October 2009)

4) Follow these steps again, tomorrow and the next day, and the next day...5) Be aware of and follow your impressions. "  Dr. Rick