A Day in Mainland China

We finally had the opportunity to visit China (Shenzhen). Ed Ngan (to Lowell's right) is a friend of Pres. & Sister Goo's. He hosted us and gave us VIP treatment, a free lunch and dinner and tickets not only to Splendid China (patterned after the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie Hawaii), but also to Window of the World (featuring miniature replicas of famous world structures) where he owns all of the restaurants. We saw some amazing performances by various Chinese cultural groups decked in their stunning colorful costumes as well as a staged battle by Mongolians riding their steeds and performing various feats of daring and expertise.

Another Granddaughter!

Just because we are distanced from our family by being away serving a mission, doesn't mean life won't continue to go on. Our only married daughter, Stephanie, gave birth Friday morning to a 7 lb. 13 oz. baby girl who they will name Mckinley. Mother, father, and baby are all doing well and isn't she a cutie? She brings to a total three granddaughters among our now eleven grandchildren. We don't feel any older but the numbers are revealing.

McKinley is actually a miracle baby---the results of invitro vertilzation---which only appeared to finally be successful just as we were beginning our mission to Hong Kong. Her parents feel this was a blessing directed to them because of our willingness to serve. The Lord blesses not only the missionaries, but those who they have temporarily left behind as well.

New Patron Housing Opens

The long anticipated completion of the new temple patron housing finally reached a conclusion during the last week of April. Approval for occupancy was given by the government and the first couple (from way up North in China) were able to stay the night there the evening they were sealed. It has a 50-bed capacity and we expect it to be filled to capacity this week with a large group here from Thailand and another group from India.

It is located almost directly across the street from the temple and will eventually also include a chapel (not yet completed) and house the distribution center. It sports a large kitchen and eating area with two refrigerators, a number of restrooms, and laundry facilities. There is even a handicapped restroom facility on the first floor. An open house is slated for July 2010.

We will now have many larger foreign groups booking visits to the temple whereas the lack of this facility has limited the number of individuals who could previously be accommodated.

Finishing Off Another Park (4 Months Later)

What began last December as a visit to Kowloon Park in Tsim Sha Tsui with the Lindsays who had only recently arrived, was finally finished with another trip to the same place with the Arnells who just arrived last month. The Lindsays were too tired to walk around much of the park and so only saw the aviary. Lowell had been wanting to go back and see what we missed those many months ago and so we finally did just that with the Arnells this past preparation day.

Hong Kong has some very beautiful "green spaces" where people can go and just relax or "get away from it all." This is another of those places. It marks a drastic change from what used to be referred to as the "cement city . "



Later that same evening, we were invited out to a fancy dinner in Lai Chi Kok by some members who remembered us from 40 years earlier, but who have not been active in the Church much at all since that time. As a matter of fact, Brother Wong Sau Sang and Sister Chow Chiu Lin's son, now 26 years of age, was just learning, (so it seemed) for the first time that evening, that his parents were members of our Church and was somewhat curious as to what we do at such a Church. His aunt and her daughter were also there and are also members, though probably also not very active. Others in the group who are active were a Sister Wong, Brother and Sister Mak (Lowell has been working with him for nine months in the temple and didn't know until that evening he is married to Sister Ling who both Susan and Lowell knew from 40 years ago), and Brother Chan, one of Lowell's former baptisms, and his wife who actually accompanied us to the dinner.

It is amazing how some old friendships seem to never die, no matter how much time has elapsed or how little contact individuals have had in the ensuing years. Perhaps this was all meant to be and there will be some good come from all such subsequent encounters .

Back to the Peak with a New Couple

We feel the need to take each new missionary couple up to Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island to let them know the significance of the events that transpired there, now over 60 years ago, when Elder Matthew Cowley offered a prayer to open this area to missionary work. Here, the Arnells (in pink and blue) from Sugar City, Idaho join the Lindsays and us for lunch, a tram ride (in a newer version than the older one pictured here) to the peak and have rehearsed for them by Susan the recent discovery of the date etched in a rock (framed between myself and Susan) following that half-century-ago prayer. A semi-foggy day somewhat obscures our view of the peninsula and mainland China in the background.

Happy in the Work!

We continue to be happy in performing the work we've been called to do. Recently a group from Thailand came with a number of youth who performed hundreds of baptisms during the several days they were here. Some of the adults came to receive their own endowment and one couple had two of their children sealed to them. They were preceded by a couple from India who came to be endowed and to have their eight year old son sealed to them. We get to be pretty close to these people as we interact with them over the course of their stay.

We also continue to be involved with young single adults who Lowell teaches in Sunday School. Here, a group of them came to view the second part of The Work and the Glory after having dinner at our apartment. The one in green is Brother Chan who Lowell has been fellowshipping for six months or so and who is now not only coming to Church regularly, but is also interacting with other young singles and enjoying the change he is making in his life.

Remembering Old Friends, Old Times

With the Ngai's visiting Hong Kong these past two weeks, we have had opportunity to find, visit, or eat with people we knew many many years ago. Charles Ngai was a clerk to a branch presidency which included Wong Chung Hei, a mutual friend of ours. His wife, Kathy, was here from Australia last week so she was invited out to lunch along with us by the Ngai's (top). Charles and Shirley Ngai also knew Stephen Tse Yuen Kai who we have mentioned before as one we are fellowshipping (from our acquaintance 40 years ago). They joined us in paying him another visit (lower right) now that he is recuperating from his recent triple by-pass heart surgery. Another close friend of Shirley's and a favorite member of our former acquaintance (though now not active) is Sister Pok Wing Lan (left) who we were finally able to contact and meet with. She subsequently came to a Church musical presentation with Susan and me. Susan and I have received speaking invitations for May in three wards (due to our new responsibilities with the temple presidency) and providentially, two of the wards we are to speak in are the ones that Bro. Tse and Sister Pok are tied to. We have invited both of them to come out to those meetings. The reactivation process is sometimes a slow one, but we will keep at it.