Weeks 5 & 6

Reunion at the Kwum Tong Ward

The weeks are flying by!  So much goes on continually that it is getting harder to keep track of the time.  We went to church Sunday, April 2 at the Kwun Tong, an old established ward.  There were a few old faces and names that either recognized Dan, or he recognized them.  It was good to see a few people who remembered one of the ladies that Dan baptized, who served a summer mission, married and moved to Toronto.  We have kept in semi-contact with her, and even were able to visit her while touring in Toronto with the Tabernacle Choir.  She has unfortunately divorced and became inactive. This past Wednesday night we went to the Kwun Tong for a reunion of sorts and had a wonderful time visiting with old and new acquaintances. This was partly in honor of this sister since she is spending this month in Hong Kong.  However, she was unable to attend.  We are hoping to see her before she leaves for Toronto in a few weeks.

Indexing at the Wan Chai Building

Tuesday, April 4 was the Ching Ming Festival, or Grave Sweeper's Day.  It is similar to our Memorial Day where they honor their dead by sweeping the graves of their ancestors.  Our office was closed so the senior missionaries all went to the temple early in the  morning to work in anticipation of a larger than normal attendance day due to the fact that so many people--mainly Filipino sisters would be off work.  I was given a tour of the temple--and given small assignments in anticipation of our callings to be temple workers.  

Later that day we went back to our office building, which we call the Wan Chai Building, or Church Administration Building, to help to
run an indexing marathon.  Since Dan and I indexed a lot of names last year in our Bountiful ward--me 1,000, Dan 6,000, we helped to teach the Filipino sisters how to index.  By 8 PM we had almost indexed 1,000 names!  Everyone was so pleased.  Most of the names we did were from the Philippines. 

While we worked, some of the Filipino sisters told us their stories, and they are heartbreaking.  One sister came from a very large family, and her father was murdered in the fields by a partner who wanted all of the land.  Because the mother wasn't able to support all of the children by herself some of the older children had to be sent out to work without completing their education.  She described the hardships they were up against, and yet they remained faithful through it all.  Wow!

Tuesday group conducting class

Since most of the Filipino sisters don't have a knowledge of music (and yet they love to sing!) the branch president's wife had a meeting with a few of us to talk about the music needs and how we could help.  The church has a basic music program for learning to play the piano simply and conducting.  One of the senior missionaries already has been teaching some piano students, and I had already begun one, but we decided that I should teach the conducting course to however many people would like to take it.  Any future piano students would need to take the conducting course first, as there are many skills learned that segue into learning the piano.  Therefore, for the last couple of weeks I've been teaching classes each day--the same lesson each day for a week, but to different branches, then a new one the next week.  We're all enjoying the classes!

We caught up with some old friends, Allen and Jill Andersen who we have kept in touch with over that past 30 years through Operation Smile.  It was fun to go to lunch with them one day, and to pal around with Jill for the afternoon as she showed me one shop after another. It's hunt and peck around here--one store for this ingredient, another store for another.  Jill is a member of the Friday night choir group--Songs of the Heart--which Esther Chow conducts.  Jill has been subbing for Esther while she's been in the states for Conference, then seeing her daughter and son-in-law, James Bertin.  

And I saw James Bertin!  I was sitting in the chapel a couple of weeks ago watching General Conference when in walk James!  He comes here for business on a regular basis, he said.  I took him upstairs to the office where Dan was working on a medical issue and the two of them chatted for awhile.  He was a missionary here when one of the people Dan is working with on activation was serving a summer mission, so they were happy to chat.

After Conference I helped serve and clean up upstairs for lunch for a meeting of all of the Area 70's in the Asia Area after a meeting that they were having.  What a powerful group of men!   

A highlight of our week was having lunch with Rose Ma, an Operation Smile volunteer from years past.  She had come to see us years ago in Utah so it was good to connect with her again.  Her health is not good, but she's still the same spunky Rose.

We received our temple calling!  We will be serving on Tuesday nights.  The first night I met sisters that I would be working with, and then spent time alone trying to learn things.  We are looking forward to this calling.  I will be doing English, but they encourage us to learn in Cantonese.  Ugh!

Dragon fountain near the ferry

Dinner anyone?

http://asiacalls2017.blogspot.hk/Since this is also our journal, it may appear a bit long and trivial.  I apologize for that.  If you wish to be removed, please tell me and I promise I won't be offended!  Please know how much we love and care for you, our family and friends.  Continue to pray for the missionaries everywhere.  

Love, Dan and Marian  (Mom & Dad, Grandpa and Grandma)

Asia Calls Weeks 3 and 4

HONG KONG NIGHT SCENE

Weeks 3 & 4

We went with our fellow senior missionaries (we're still getting used to being called seniors, although there are some great perks!) to the Hong Kong Coastal Defense Museum on P-day.  It is a very old (think 300 years old) fort that was built to house soldiers that are on the lookout for pirates wanting opium.

ALKY'S SON KEVIN AND MARIAN
The Bhuddist burn these to send them skyward for their
deceased relative to live in.

Alky's 16 year-old son Kevin offered to take us to the Kowloon walled city on Monday.  20 years ago it was a thriving city with tall businesses and lots of businesses and walk-up housing. Unfortunately, it was riddled with crime and prostitution, with everything falling into disrepair.  The decision was made to bulldoze the little city and is now a very beautiful park with streams, flowers, trees, walking paths and a presentation about the old walled city.  

I'm finally learning my job better!  I process missionary applications that come from the Asia Area. There is a lot of computer work involved using things I've never had to use before, but I'm kind of enjoying it.  Dan seems to be enjoying what he does, but he wishes he was busier.  Some days are slower than others.

Hong Kong Temple

One of the two highlights of the week was going to the temple on Thursday night.  With our learning curve about the buses, we were too late for the 6:45 session so had to go to the 7:15.  What a delight to see that two of the Keung Sisters, Chi Mae and Chi Kung were both there!  One was working and the other a patron.  The next week we went to the 6:45 session and saw a third sister, Chi Fang, leaving with her daughter.  Chi Mae was also working that evening.  We love those people so it was very nice to be able to see them at the temple.

WE CUT THE CAKE; THEY CUT THE .....  PIG!

The other highlight was Saturday, going to the wedding of Chi Fang's son, Jason.  The wedding itself was held in the chapel in the morning, with a reception following in the cultural hall.  There was a tiny little cake in the shape of a flower that they 'pretended' to cut, for pictures only.  What they cut next was amazing:  a pig!  All decked out like in Hawaii for luaus.  They posed just like we pose for cake cutting, only they actually cut the cake all the way down its back.  After the reception and pictures we crossed the road to the temple where they were sealed.  That night we went to the party where there was quite a feast and more pictures and tradition ceremony.  The best part of the evening was seeing all of the Keung siblings together--all eight of them!

THE KEUNG FAMILY
Bob Tuttle and I baptized the two oldest daughters in 1972
L->R: Chi: Mei, Fung, Lai, Chung, Fong, Ming, Fun, Kwun

Two Sundays in a row we went to the Tsim Sha Tsui Ward where Dan was able to  make some connections for activation.  I always have someone willing to translate for me.  The talks again were wonderful.  The members here are very strong and able.  We stayed after church for choir practice which is a real experience.  Think 'Christmas Story'--Deck the Halls.......It's real!!!  Choir practice is the true test of dedication to our calling.  

Last Thursday night we went to choir practice with a group called Songs of the Heart, a choir of church members throughout Hong Kong.  They practice once a week for 2 1/2 hours at a time and sing some pretty difficult music.  They put their heart and soul into it.  It is led by Esther Chow, a local woman who majored in voice at BYU many years ago.  She is James Bertin's mother-in-law!

Once a month one of the couple is in charge of group Family Home Evening.  We had a fun evening here in our building eating spaghetti and salad, then playing a game where we divided into teams and tried to guess by recorded voice which prophets was speaking.  It was very enjoyable but mostly wonderful to mingle with all of the temple and mission office senior missionaries.  

I taught a piano lesson last Friday to one of the Filipino sisters, Perla.  She is very sweet and eager to learn.  The church has a wonderful piano and conducting course to be used to teach people to be able to play the hymns.  She wants to be able to play by June as the current pianist will be going back to the Philippines.  

Sister Sham- Kwun Tong

Sister Choi (Pleasantview) and Dr. Yau

We ended week 4 by attending two different sacrament meetings, the Ngau Tau Kok and Kwun Tong wards.  Again, Dan was able to make some connections.  We have some activities planned to get some of these people together with one of Dan's converts who is inactive living in Toronto but will be coming to Hong Kong for a month.  They were very close back in the day.  It is such a treat to visit these wards.  The members are so warm and welcoming--and humble.  

Street scene by Kwun Tong Chapel

We look forward to next Sunday when we can watch General Conference--one week after you.  We heard about Linda Reeves being released, and Brian Taylor being called as a General Authority. That's wonderful!  We're waiting to hear about our own area here as President Funk has served as president of this area for five years, and President Wong will be leaving in a few months to preside over the Vancouver BC mission replacing Ron Burt.

Bird cage in the Kowloon City park

Asia Calls

Week two and three

The days and weeks fly by here!  Our days are full and varied so there’s no chance to be bored.  Last week we hosted the mission presidents for the Asia Area which required decorating tables, serving and cleaning up.  It was especially good for Dan since he was able to meet the 11 mission presidents and their wives and be able to put faces with names.  He communicates quite regularly with the wives as they are the ones that the missionaries go to first for medical attention.  Some of the missions have a nurse, but not many in the Asia Area.   It was an extra special treat to see Denny and Teri Crockett, friends from California and the Tabernacle Choir and reconnect with them for a bit.

As part of our mission we get to take an accelerated training in self-reliance. The wonderful missionary couple who taught us the classes played a video that showed two people going up an escalator that stopped part way up and they hollered for someone to fix the escalator because they couldn’t move.  It was such a powerful and funny example of figuring out how to remedy a bad situation by your own ingenuity and not wait for others to do things for you.

We had our first free PD on Saturday!  We did the laundry—it’s a long ordeal.  Our little washer and dryer—and the drying rack had a good workout.  I think I’ll take Jennifer’s advice and take the sheets to the local laundry which will free up a lot of time—and space.  We were also able to get our little IKEA cabinets set up in our apartment giving us considerable more storage space.

Monday I began to learn how to process missionary applications.  All of the applications that come from anywhere in our area come to us first.  Sister Yan has been doing them since the Orton’s left so she was anxious for me to learn how to do them.  Wow!  It’s taken me all week to be able to process one completely by myself without asking her a question.  I’m not as savvy on the computer as I’d like, but I certainly am learning.  We have a standing appointment with Elder Wong on Wednesdays to look over the applications after Dan and I have done our part for him to look them over, add his part and submit them to Salt Lake.  I’m amazed at the quality of youth from all over Asia that are anxious to go on missions.

They wasted no time in having us talk in the Everyday Branches.  Because the domestic Filipino workers all have different days off Sacrament Meeting is held Tuesday through Saturday.  The same Branch Presidency is over each branch, which they call family.  A Filipino sister was the third speaker.  We are so impressed with the talks that were given by these sisters.  Each one was given from the heart.  Some shared experiences that were so sad, yet they all expressed gratitude for the trials that have made them stronger.    We were thinking that by attending church twice last Sunday, one with Chi Mae and back here with the Sunday Filipino ward, then four times this week that we would be translated, but we’re still here.  Oh well.

Yesterday—Thursday—we went to the Hong Kong Flower Festival after work.  What a beautiful array of flowers!  There were flowers of every kind, but more orchids than anything.  Thousands of orchids, both on display and for sale.  There were flowers in shapes of things, flowers in beautiful pots, flowers, flowers everywhere. 

A highlight of the week was going to dinner with Alky Lee and her son.  Alky was on my very first Operation Smile mission in 1992 when Tammy went as the youth representative and has been on quite a few since.  We’ve kept in contact with her over the years so it was very nice to be with her. 

Before I sign off I have to mention a funny thing about our grocery shopping trip last week.  We went to the local Park n’ Shop just before closing time.  While walking down the aisle I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and looked up to see three rats scurrying along the top of the lights and pipes.  Ooey!  Long, black rats!  I don’t even want to know what they eat at night! 

We’re so grateful for this opportunity to serve here in Hong Kong.  We hope all is well with our family and friends.  Please know that we pray for you each day. 

Love,

Dan and Marian

MTC week

We entered the MTC Monday morning at 10:30 along with about 40 couples.  Today was the third day in which we had to prepare short lessons/talks to each other and to another couple.  We work exclusively from 'Preach My Gospel', the scriptures and a few pamphlets.  PMG is an excellent course for teaching how to be effective missionaries.  Interestingly, very few of our senior missionaries will be proselyting; most will be medical including nursing, MLS (member leadership support), Family History, office.  The ones that are proselyting will be doing it from their homes in their own stakes.

Last night we had a devotional that was broadcast to 14 MTC's around the world.  Elder Ballard was the speaker and admonished the missionaries to set righteous goals and to be positive in our actions and our attitudes.  The senior missionaries were invited to sing in the choir with the young missionaries so about four of us did just that.  We sang Mac Wilberg's arrangement of 'Lead Kindly Light'.  I love that arrangement and had a hard time singing a few times because it was so moving.  There must have been at least 1,000 missionaries singing in the choir!  What a sweet ending to a perfect day to come back to our room and open up these precious Valentines!

Monday night we watched an outstanding video of Elder Bednar speaking about the Character of Christ. Elder Bednar is a remarkable teacher and inspired all of us to want to be like Christ.

We are being spiritually fed and have a greater appreciation for the missionaries and the tremendous responsibility that they have to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Dan and Marian