March 4 - March 10

 Paul started out Monday by going to the bank and depositing the money.  On his return we met at the Rhyasen's apartment to gather whatever goodies we wanted.  This is their last week here in Hong Kong and they will be closing their apartment.  So rather than have to move everything they would rather give it away.  We all went home with lots of things for our own apartment.

Sister Hathaway and Paul

Sister Victor having a look around.

Elder Hathaway, Hoskins, Paul, Sister Hoskins, Sister Hathaway, Elder & Sister Rhyasen

 Shortly after clearing them out we all headed to Hong Kong Island to Al Dante for their farewell luncheon.  They leave for home (Vancouver, Washington State) on Friday.  We will miss them.  They have been such wonderful friends and have shown us the ropes in and outside the temple.

Lunch at Al Danta

Renee and Allan Rhyasen

Elder & Sister Hoskins, Sister Aki, Elder & Sister Chan

Sister Victor, Hoskins, Tai, Rhyasen, Aki, Chan, Hathaway, Lewis.  Sister Clyde  had just returned from the hospital and was not able to make it.

Hathaways, Akis, Tais, Rhyasens, Chans, Lewises, Hoskins, Victors

 Sister Clyde came home from the hospital this morning and is doing really well.  She will take a couple of days to recuperate and then be back at the temple.

Sister Clyde has been advised by Dr. Bertin and President Aki that it will be best if she returns home where she can be closer to her family and receive the medical care that she needs.  This was very disappointing news to her but she has come to accept the counsel of her priesthood leaders.  We will miss her warm and loving smile and kind ways.

It was a great week at the temple.  We serve this month on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and evenings.  We see area missionaries who serve in the evenings and new local workers that we haven't met before.  We love it.  President and Sister Wan are on duty in the evenings and it has been good to serve with them.  Coming home late we often stop for a treat at McDonalds.  We can get an ice cream for 32 cents.

This week was Asia Women's Conference and so we have seen many ex patriots at the temple so lots of English.  Of course we have still had our faithful Mandarin saints also.  Elder Lewis and I usually do the 4 pm session as officiator and follower.  The conference began on Thursday evening so we, Sister Hathaway and I went over.  It started with check in and service project followed by a general session at which Eldere Larry Wilson, Sister Wilson and spoke.  He is in the Area Presidency.  "Trust in the Lord With all Thine Heart"

Sisters at the table I was working at.  Dorothy Culwell Haiyang, China, Cherie Poland Jecarda, Indonesia; Ruth Holmberg Changzhou, China

 The service project started with 300 yards of fleece and we ended up with 81 quilts for the Crossroads Foundation here in Hong Kong.  We worked on them each day of the conference and were finished with the conference ended.

The sister on the left is visiting her daughter here in Hong Kong who justs had twins.  She is from Phoenix and is the other grandma of President & Sister Wan,    

Mar Jean & Dorothy Culwell

 The amazing story of this woman is that she lived in Palmyra when we were serving our mission there in 2007-08.  Is it not a small world in the Church?

There were many breakout sessions and some general sessions at which Sister Susan Gong, Sister Lesa Stevenson and Sister Julie Beck spoke.  The theme of the conference was Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord, lean not to thy own understanding".

Candy Fife, wife of Tim Fife from Camarillo

Sister Tai, wife of our new District President, of Japanese descent and they have six children

This sister and I cut fabric for two hours together.

Time for the Rhyasens to go home after a wonderful year in the Hong Kong Temple.  They made a huge contribution.

Our last goodbyes Thursday night.

Friday morning the Rhyasens were picked up at 5:30 am by President Aki to be taken to the airport.

Paul & President Aki

President Aki and Elder Rhyasen loading luggage

Elder & Sister Allan & Renee Rhyasen

Picture sent from the airport as President Aki deposited them at the international airport headed for Portland, Oregon

 Saturday Paul and I joined Sister Clyde for one last trip to Stanley where she needed to exchange some things she had purchases.  We had a delightful time.  We even found a few things we had to have.  We stopped for lunch a Paisano's pizza which just happened to be at the end of the market.

Sister Clyde and me on the double decker bus to Stanley

Sunday we needed to be at the Church by 11:30 for a Bishopric and Council meeting so we left the apartment at 10:30.  A very good day at church.  President Collins was back and that is always good. My little Primary class is wonderful and I am enjoying these two sweet girls.

Shannon

Michelle, who will be baptized this Sunday

After the block several of the Sisters, including Sister Castleton and myself, hurried off to the WanChai Bldg. for a District Enrichment meeting at which Pres. and Sister Berrett spoke on the Savior in the Book of Mormon.

I learned many things from the conference and enrichment activity but I will leave you with just a couple of thoughts.  One:  Sister Wilson said she learned early in life by listening to her Stake President's wife, she was in there home often, to say "Go serve the Lord, Honey", each time her husband left to serve. As one who yearned for a worthy priesthood holder in our home, I can testify that it was a great privilege to reverence one who would "go serve the Lord"  with my blessing.

Two:  Sister Beck said her dad always ended his prayers with their family with  "bless us, save us and crown us in Thy Kingdom.  Two thoughts that really struck me as important.

Have a great week,   There are only four weeks until General Conference.  I challenge you to relisten to all the Prophets conference talks from last conference.  If you just take the 15 you should be able to do it.

February 25 - March 4

Monday we did the usual things like going to the grocery store which usually includes several stops.  I like certain things from certain stores so we go to the International Shop & Park, then to the little produce market, then the Welcome store.  The big job is hauling it all home.  You have to be careful how much you buy and how heavy it is going to be.  Paul is very good to me and usually carries it all himself.  What a good guy.  I am very blessed.

That evening we had FHE.  The Victors were in charge and what a great evening.  We watched the movie "17 Miracles" in the club projection room.  Elizabeth Panting is his great great grandmother.  She is the sister who had the two children who left her husband because of his abuse.  He looked for her on the train and looked right at her and the children and did not recognize them.  Elder Victor said there were actually four miracles in her life instead of just the three portrayed in the film.  He shared many wonderful things about her life.  Of course, you cannot watch this movie without a box a kleenix.  They sent us home with a bag of cookies.  Unfortunately you cannot eat in this room so no popcorn.  

Sister Clyde, Lewis's, Elder & Sister Chan

Elder & Sister Hathaway, Sister Clyde, Sister Chan, Sister Lewis

This week in the temple we had a group from Beijing,  What sweet sisters.  One mother and her daughter came to the temple for their blessings.  They have been members for two years.  Right after joining the church she came down with something that left her blind.  They continued faithful even though they had to travel two hours to church and this week they were able to come to the temple receive their endowment and be sealed to her deceased husband and daughter.  We serve wonderful people this every day.

Elder & Sister Chan, Sister So (right) other Beijing sisters

This week I told a couple of sisters I needed to learn Mandarin since we had mandarin speakers all week.  They were really excited and spent some time teaching.  It will be awhile before I get this language down.  

Sister Clyde and I  went into the youth center after lunch and there was a young boy (8) waiting to be sealed to his parents who were from Thailand.  We were able to assist in getting him dressed and showing him some pictures of what to expect.  Another special experience.  We also got to help with several own endowments in initiatory.  Sister Victor got to help with her first one here in Hong Kong.
Paul was involved with these sisters in the baptistery all week.  He also spent some time on his other assignment which is organizing the training materials.  Our preparation meeting this week focused on "how do you envision the Hong Temple ten years from now".  We are waiting to receive a summary of the suggestions.

Elder Lewis leaving the hosptial

Sister Clyde's most delicious dinner.  Lucky for her Sister Aki brought  in some food for her.

Saturday just as Sister Clyde was to follow the 1 am session she got a nose bleed.  I met her upstairs where she was trying to get it under control.  President Aki gave us a ride home and I went with her to her apartment where it was still bleeding.  We got worried and called Elder Bertin, mission doctor.  He told us to go to the hospital.  Paul got a taxi for us and off we went.  We were there a couple of hours and then then took her by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth hospital.  I rode along with her.  They were finally able to get it plugged and gave her some medication to stop the bleeding.  Then ended up keeping her two days.  She came home today and was very happy to be back in her own apartment.  It was quite a weekend.  She is much better today for which we are very grateful.  

Sunday was Fast and Testimony and we had a very spiritual meeting with many of the sisters bearing strong grateful testimonies.  After church we had a baptism of Jeanette Darang.  The wonderful thing about her baptism is that her husband and child in the Philippines are also having the missionary lessons.  

Paul Sequeira, Elders Roper & Bingham, Jeanette, Mary Jane

After the baptism we had our potluck dinner.  It was delicious.

Jose with his friend.  It happened to be her birthday too

Aestra & Sister Lewis

Afterwards some of the sisters were practicing a dance they are going to be doing at a District activity.

In an email we received this week, we read a message which touched our hearts.  It reminded us that we need to be temporally and spiritually prepared and suggested that it should be an individual responsibility.  Make a goal relating to the following question "What can I do to draw closer to the Savior?"  It was suggested we read and ponder from the Book of Mormon every day, that we develop a sincere and grateful relationship with the Father through fervent prayer.  We challenge you to make a goal for yourself.  

February 18 - 24, 2013

What a great week at the temple.

The third week is when the everyday branches come to the temple to do baptisms. Elder & Sister Walker and Woolley come with their Branch members after their sacrament meeting and they usually start baptisms around 4 pm.  This week we stayed and helped out.   They always need more priesthood.  It's wonderful to work with these Filipino sisters.

This week we had a family come from Beijing to be sealed.  What a special experience.  I was able to help with the children, 17, 15, 12 and 9.  The oldest is waiting for his mission call.  It is so wonderful to see families joined together forever.

We also had a young couple come from India to be sealed this week.  They were only here a couple of days but were able to receive their own endowments and do some work for their own family.  Today we had two weddings and sealings of young couples here in Hong Kong. Today we had a young sister who received her mission call to Leeds England.  She came home from BYU to receive her endowments here in Hong Kong before leaving.   Our young men and women who receive their mission calls who live here in Hong Kong have the privilege of serving in the temple until they leave for their mission.  They go out with a great love for the temple and its ordinances.  Also when they return they begin serving again.

Today Paul officiated a session and his witness couple (Haser) were from Lake Lindero, CA.  I was a follower on a session with two own endowments from Shenzhan, China who came with about 30 people.  They brought some of their youth with them so the baptistery was busy all day. Paul has been working all week on getting the training book up-to-date and is doing a great job.

This morning at 5 am Paul was up reading the Church News and came across the announcements for new Mission Presidents and saw that President Kurt Blickenstaff and Katherine have been called to serve in Taiwan in July.  Paul served with him in the Stake Presidency in 2004.  He had a nice visit with them this morning.

Monday we went for haircuts after having a great lunch at the Mexican restaurant we found in Wan Chai.  We stopped at the Church and took care of some clerking jobs.

 Time is drawing close for the Rhyasens to go home.  The Friday workers had a little party for them.  Lots of good homemade Chinese food.  Elder Rhyasen wouldn't try it.  He's back row, third from the end and Sister Rhyasen is sitting in the front row in the front.

 Our granddaughters, Courtney and Mallorie are all set for a fun 80's party for a friend's 16th birthday.

Probably one of our last pictures of the Rhyasens and us at the temple.  We have been serving on the same shift all month and often end up walking or taking the train together.  They will be returning to Washington on March 8.  They have been a great help to all of us and the temple.

 Tuesday we went to Wan Chai to visit Triple-O's.  They were having a hamburger special.  While there we met Pres. & Sister Saclley who were in HK for the Asia Mission President's training.  They are from Calgery and serve in one of the India missions.  They were serving here in HK as executive secretary to the Asia Area Presidency and then were called to be mission president.  They had just arrived in HK early that morning and were hungry and remembered Triple-O's.  As we spoke we learned that my cousin, Kent Mendenhall and his wife are serving in Napel, which is in their mission so they will say hello for us.  The Mission Presidents had a special session at the temple early Friday morning and we were able to serve at that time.

 It was a day for running into people.  We saw our Branch missionary Elder Bingham and his new companion Elder Roper out on the street.

 A little bit further and we ran into the Sister Missionaries who serve in the everyday Branches with an investigator.

Sunday we had District Conference to sustain a new District President.  Church started at 1 pm.  We got there early so we could take pictures of our Branch members for the web page.  President Barrett and his wife have been called as mission president of Bangladesh, India.  They report in May, a little earlier than usual.  President Tai, who was 1st counselor, was called as the new president with President Hillam and Pres. Gonzon as counselors.  President Hillam's daughter served in Croatia with us. 

 We got a picture today of a couple of people.  First were the Hasers who are from Lake Lindero and Agoura, CA. We meet people in the strangest places.  We remembered some of the same people.  

We also saw Elder Woo who served at the temple with us before starting his mission in Hong Kong.  He said he is doing great.

After the conference our RS presidency wanted to go see Sister Parry.  We found out she had gone home from the hospital so we invited them to follow us home, stop for a visit with Sister Parry and come to our apartment for some dinner.  It was nice having some company over.  Felt like our YSA group in Slovenia.  Sister Parry is doing great but plans to go home for radiation/chemo treatments with the hopes of coming back.

Elder & Sister Victor, Fe, Mary Ann, Leah, Mar Jean & Paul.  LingLing took the picture

Ling Ling's in the blue.  She's our RS President

I think I will leave you with a couple of thoughts from Conference to think about.  First a group sang "Lift Up Your Hands to God".  "I need to do better".  Elder Bednar said "to act to trust and strive consistently to do better...step into the light toward Heavenly Father".  Elder Wong said "be the best..Matt 28:  come unto me all ye heavily laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart.  ye shall find rest upon your souls..for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  President Wilson said his wife always says "life is just as hard as it needs to be".  Have a great week AND DO YOUR VERY BEST.

February 11-17, 2013

This week Hong Kong continued to celebrate Lunar New Year.  Some fun news from the temple is that President and Sister Wan welcomed a twin granddaughter and grandson on New Year's day.  Their son and family live here in Hong Kong.  Elder & Sister Whitehead had their daughter and grandson visit them for a couple of weeks.  We meet them in the mall after a day at the park and enjoying ice cream.

Every mall is decorated with pinks and reds.  This is a display in the Metropolis Mall which we walk through most days to get home.  

Monday night were the fireworks to celebrate.  Thousands of people throng to the promenade to watch.  It is spectacular.  Paul and I left our apartment about 5:30 and walked to the MTR where we caught a train which brought us eventually to STS where we tried to get to the water's edge.  Not much luck so we started walking toward home and when we got to the section with Starbucks we found a spot to wait.  It filled up fast and when they started we stood on the bench to see.  They lasted about 30 minutes.  We walked on home from there and ran into the Hathaways who were also out watching.  

View of the Hong Kong side of the harbor

Can you see the number of people behind us?

More people

Tuesday we continued to celebrate.  The Peninsula 3rd Branch had an Enrichment Activity for the Sisters.  It started out with a class on finances given by one of the Filipino couples in HK followed by lunch from KFC. 

Paul S. and Mildred

Some of the girls having fun

Delsa, 

Yehlan and Vilma

Yehlan, Astra and Yehlan's sister visiting from South America

 After some socializing we had three workshops on fashion, makeup and personality development.

Makeup class

Fashion class

Personality development

Fashion class

Fashion show

Wednesday we were on holiday schedule at the temple.  We arrived early to be ready for the first session at 7am.  I was initiatory coordinator and Paul spent time in the baptistery and veil.  All together there were over 1200 ordinances performed that day with five sessions plus initiatory and sealings and baptistery busy.  

We met a wonderful couple from Mongolia who were sealed on Wednesday and then spent the rest of the week in the temple.  We found out that he served his mission in Boise Idaho and she served in Pocatello.  They didn't know each other until they got home to Mongolia.  

On our way to the temple Friday it was pretty empty except for the Victors

 Sunday we had a great Sacrament meeting.  One of our new converts, Rizza, spoke and then Bem Bem, this was her 2nd talk and Nova, our Branch mission leader.  They all did a great job.  We are so proud of these wonderful women.  Yehlan should be on her way to Canada this week.  She and Claire and hoping for their Canadian visas on Wednesday and Thursday.  We will miss them.

I was called as a primary teacher for Shannon (10) and Michelle (8).  What fun it is to teach them

Our RS Presidency  Alma, Leah, Ling Ling, Fe

For Valentine's day we received this wonderful picture of three of our grandsons, Gage, Tyler, Josh  

 Katie and the boys went to Kimberly's for the long weekend.  They got their in time for Tyler to join Courtney and Kaylee at the Twin Falls Temple to baptisms for the month of February.  We are so proud of them.  They are making it to the temple every month.  Keep up the good work.  Remember, if you keep the commandments you will be blessed.

Thought of the Week

A PENCIL MAKER TOLD THE PENCIL 5 IMPORTANT LESSONS JUST BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE BOX:

1.) EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL ALWAYS LEAVE A MARK.

2.) YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE.

3.) WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4.) IN LIFE, YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS, WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE YOU BETTER.

5.) TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU. 

We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish.