It's Been a "BALL"!

January 11 (Monday)

We went to the office of the Lee Clansmen Association in Causeway Bay in hopes of finding some information about our Lee genealogy. Unfortunately, it appears that this association isn't so much about genealogy, but more of a social club. Some of the more prominent members include Li Kai Shing, a real estate mogul and multi millionaire; and Lee Kum Kee who made his millions by selling his world wide famous sauces that carry his name. I guess our best bet to get accurate records is to go back to the original family village for the actual record books.

Our new favorite place...final dinner out with the Ball's.

 Another farewell dinner for the Ball's. We went to Nomad's Mongolian BBQ. It was wonderful! It puts our Mongolian Grill back home to shame. Not only did they have an abundance of choices of noodles, rice, vegetables, meats, sauces, and seasonings to be grilled, but they also had a salad bar of seafood and hot foods and soup. Then you could also make your own pizza! Even though we were stuffed, June and I made a pizza to share. It was magnificent. To top things off, they also had a dessert bar. And just in case you were still hungry, you could go back as many times as you want for whatever you want. Great place...we'll have to go there again. Ambiance: 9, Food: 10, Service: 9 Value: 9. Overall ****  Just a bit pricey $50.00 CAD, only $35.00 USD. The Canadian dollar is killing us!

Pick your own ingredients.

Soup and Salad Bar

Seafood...See Food...Seafood Bar

Round 3 of shrimp and clams!

So much to choose from.

You pick it...they cook it...

Mongolian style grill served in your own personal wok.

The Last Supper...well, not quite.

January 12 (Tuesday)

Today's Chuckle: I hate it when I gain 10 pounds for a role and then realize I'm not even an actor. I exercised once, but I found out I was allergic to it. My skin flushed and my heart raced. I got sweaty and short of breath. Very dangerous. Well, that's my excuse anyways.


January 13 (Wednesday)

After we finished our shift at the Temple, we went over to patron housing where our Mongolian friends were staying. We wanted to get some pictures with them. Some had gone out shopping, so we missed not getting everyone. I can't express the connection we felt with these wonderful people. There were also 2 Chinese sisters, one from Beijing and one from Macau.

Some of our Mongolian friends in patron housing.

Tsatsral and her daughter Maralgoo, and other sister whose name I don't know.

So sweet...Maralgoo

Sister Undraa - She was always so jolly.

Sister Esther Cai from Beijing and Sister Ana Choi from Macau

January 14 (Thursday)

Another farewell gathering for the Balls. Since we are one of the few who have a slightly larger apartment, everyone met here. Shirley had arranged the gathering. Besides the Temple missionaries, she also invited the Orton's and Powell's. The Powell's will also be heading home at the end of the month. Elder Orton is the mission doctor.

A gift from MaryAnn, signed copies of her book, The Eden Covenant Series 

Sister Orton 2nd on left, Elder Orton on right.

Rae Rancie, Elder and Sister Powell mission ends at end of January.

January 15 (Friday)

OAD. We went for dim sum with the Rancie's. It's been raining all day. Came home and made some rosettes for the the final farewell party for the Ball's at the temple tomorrow.

Thought from President Monson:

"God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt.

God gave man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and glories of creation."


January 16 (Saturday)

Today we had the farewell luncheon for Elder Gaylon Ball and Sister MaryAnn Ball. They go home on Wednesday. The Balls were our trainers. Ever since our first skype meeting, pre-missionary, we have had a growing friendship, one that will last forever. They showed us the ropes. Took us by our hands and lovingly guided us until it was time to cut the apron strings and set us on our way. We loved hanging out with them and all the wonderful places they took us to. Thanks for a great 7 months together. It's been a "BALL!"

It's been a Ball...actually, two Balls!

Today was also Sister Yuen's celebration luncheon as she retires as an employee at the Temple. She has worked there for 18 years, plus serving as Assistant to the Matron, Sister Wong for the past 2+ years. She will continue in that position till their release at the end of October.

The Temple Presidency with Senior Missionaries and Office Staff
L-R: Rancie, Ngai, Chan, Hui,Yuen, Wong, Ball, Bodily, Lee, Bro. Choi, Sis. Chan, Sis. Yu and daughter

I love this group of sisters: Rae Rancie, Sis. Hui, Deborah Bodily, Sis. Yuen, Nora Chan, Judy Chan, Shirley Ngai,
 June Lee, Sis. Wong, MaryAnn Ball, and Sis. Chan

January 17 (Sunday)

Another special Sunday opening at the Temple. What joy it is to have the Filipino sisters come to the Temple on this special day set aside just for them. Such a strong spirit there and many tears of gratitude. A bitter sweet day for the Balls as this was their last Temple assignment. Sister Ball had worked endless hour coordinating this event. She has developed a template for those who will take over to make it as effortless as possible, which is impossible. It will always require a lot of effort because of all the minute details involved. But we did it and all went well and run very smoothly.

Just a handful of the 140 Filipino sisters that attended the special Sunday opening.