Today we had a very special Family Home Evening with President and Sister Wong. Sister Wong shared her conversion story. It is easy to see how she became the Temple Matron.
One day when she was waiting to catch a bus, she saw the door of a church open. Something inside caught her eye and she entered to look at the picture on the wall. It was a picture of 5 beautiful buildings. Two missionaries approached her. She asked them what these buildings were. They told her they were Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: the Salt Lake Temple, Logan, Manti, St. George and the Kirtland Temples.The Salt Lake Temple was her favorite. The missionaries told her about temples. She was curious and wanted to learn more. She decided she wanted to get married in the Salt Lake Temple. She was only 12 years old, not yet a member, but she knew she wanted to be married in the Salt Lake Temple. She took the discussions and was baptized.
Back then, Sunday meetings were held in the morning and afternoon. Even though she lived far away from the church in the New Territories, she was determined to attend all her meetings. One dark evening when she was walking home past an ancestral hall, she saw a man with a bag on his head. He looked like a ghost. It frightened her and so she stopped going to the afternoon meeting. Shortly after that incident, the family moved to the Tsim Sha Tsui branch. It was there that she met her future husband, Patrick Wong. And as she desired, so many years earlier, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple!
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| Sister and President Wong of the Hong Kong China Temple |
About 5 years ago, she had a dream and saw President Hinckley. He spoke to her saying, "It won't be long." One week later, they were called to be Temple workers in the Brisbane Temple. Shortly after that they received a call from President Eyring to be the Hong Kong Temple President and Matron.
Miracles happen in the Temple every day. Sometimes we hear of them and sometimes they are just to sacred to share. Sister Wong shared this one with us.
About 1 1/2 years ago, a family from India came to the Temple with their 3 children ages 10, 13, and 14. Their eldest daughter was confined to a wheelchair. The family was sealed, and baptisms were performed for their ancestors. The 2 daughters sat in the lobby while the son and parents did baptisms. Sister Wong decided to ask the daughter in the wheelchair if she wanted to do baptisms.
Though afraid, she agreed to try. Sisters Castleton and Soloman helped get her dressed. Her father came and carried her to the font. Petrified, she sat on the stairs for 1/2 hour, waiting till she had enough courage to enter the water. She tried several times unsuccessfully. Then finally, she succeeded! There was such a big smile on her face. Everyone had tears in their eyes.
The family returned the next day. This time she did 2 baptisms; on the third day, 3; then 4 on the forth day, then 5 on their final day. The mother hugged Sister Wong and said she never thought she would see her daughter be baptised. Then the mother shared with Sister Wong the vision she had. She saw her daughter in perfect condition.
Yes, miracles happen every day. We just don't always see them.
President Wong was called in 1992 to be Stake President in Hong Kong. That year President Hinckley announced that they would build a Temple in Hong Kong. As they looked around for an appropriate location to build the temple, it was decided that it would be built in Kowloon Tong. President Wong was rather concerned about the location, and informed President Hinckley that this location might not be very desirable because of all the hotels. Pres. Hinckley replied that that would be good because many people from far away would be coming. "No, Pres. Hinckly, you don't understand. These are not the kind of hotel that you or I would stay at. These are 'love' hotels."
Don't worry, it will be OK. As construction of the temple began, one by one, the hotels disappeared. I
In 1996, the Hong Kong Temple was elected as the Best Building in Hong Kong. During the Open House, a man from Sweden came to see it. President Wong had escorted him through the temple. He wanted to see more. He wanted to know more about the Church. Because it was an Open House, there was to be no proselyting inside the Temple, so Pres. Wong could not tell him anything. He kept asking to see more, so he showed him the basement. He still wanted to see more, so he was shown the garage. Still not satisfied, he wanted to know more. Finally, as they stood outside of the Temple, President Wong was able to tell him a little about the Church. Upon his return to Sweden, his whole family joined the Church.
President Wong also shared a story about a couple on the verge of divorce. As they entered the temple, you could literally feel the tension between them. But one trip to the temple and under great inspiration and wise council, hearts were softened, a divorce diverted, a family was saved. Another miracle. The temple will not change challenges, but can change attitudes.
One day an 80 year old father and his 40 year old son came to the temple wanting to be sealed to his deceased wife and daughter. Normally, this would not be a problem, however, the son was deaf and dumb. He could neither read nor write. It had taken 5 years for him to learn the gospel well enough to be baptized. President Wong called his technology staff together to figure out how they would be able to communicate with the young man so he could understand the endowment. They finally had a plan worked out, but it would take doing the session in slow motion, perhaps 3-4 hours. The father however, having much faith, said to just do it normal, make no special concessions, he knew his son would understand. Because of his great faith, his son understood everything. The miracle: he had never spoken, but this day, he mustered all his strength to form a word and said his name. Never having read or written, he requested a piece of paper, and wrote. Yes, miracles happen every day.
Of course, Family Home Evening would not be complete without refreshments. In our tiny apartment, we set a new record of 20 people breaking the old record of 17. Unfortunately, we didn't get everyone into the picture.
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| Refreshment: Chocolate pudding cake with whip cream topped with dragon fruit, kiwi, and strawberries |
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| I just included this pic because I look thinner at this angel (but I'm not really.) |
March 15 (Tuesday)
The Ides of March - This date became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC.
In our family, it is a month to many celebrations.
March 12 - my Dad's birthday (Jimmy Lee)
March 14 - my brother-in-law's birthday (Victor Mochizuki)
March 16 - my granddaughter's birthday (Azia Burton)
March 18 - my mother-in-law's birthday (Lili Chan)
March 24 - my birthday (Judy Chan)
March 25 - my grandson's birthday (Beckham Chan)
March 30 - my sister's birthday (Jane Devonshire)
March 31 - my uncle's birthday (Jack Lee)
March 16 (Wednesday)
Happy Birthday to our little Azia Bunner...Sweet 16! She's now old enough to drive, and has access to my car. I'm not worried though. She has always been responsible.
There was a special session held at the Temple today for all the Asia Area Mission Presidents and the Asia Area Presidency. Also Elder Brent Nielson of the Seventies was here. He's over the Mission Department of the Church. Unfortunately we weren't assigned to do their session, but I did get to see everyone as they filed past my post as I was on hallway duty. There's always a special feeling when the church leadership are in the Temple.
March 17 (Thursday)
OAD. It was a cloudy, dreary day so we spent most of it inside. It gave me a chance to catch up on the stories of the Sisters of Pen. 3. Around 5:00 Shirley called and invited us to go out to dinner at an Indian restaurant. I was more than ready for an outing after being at my computer all day. I learned something...I'm not a fan of Indian cuisine.
March 18 (Friday)
A quiet day at the Temple. Saw a couple from India who had spent the week coming to the Temple. It always warms my heart to see people from other countries coming to take out their endowments. I may not like Indian food, but I sure love these people!
March 19 (Saturday)
Up at 5:00 a.m. for an early shift. Not my favorite time of day, and my least favorite shift to be on. But once I get going, it's great to be in the Temple.
One benefit of the early shift is getting off earlier. Went to get groceries and ran into a sale on the street...2 pairs of shoes, 2 pants, and a dress...and the bonus being that the Canadian dollar is on the rise! Yeah!!
March 20 (Sunday)
Another fun class with the Sisters in the Self Reliance Program. We're getting near the end, and I can feel their excitement building as they work towards getting their certificate. They have given their proposed business a lot of thought and I hope they will keep in mind and apply the information from this program into developing a very successful business for themselves and their family.
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