Comings and Goings

May 16 (Monday)

Another farewell...all too quick. Elder and Sister Lee will be heading home to Texas on Wednesday. They will have 5 months to prepare to return to Hong Kong as the new Temple President and Matron. We're so excited for them, but will miss them. We will only be able to work with them for 5 days after they return before they give us our Temple release. Of course, we had to all go out for dinner.





Back row: Sisters Yuen, Tsang, Wong, Poon, Cheung, Lee, Hui, Ngai
Front row: Sisters Chan, Pun, Hathaway, Bodily

Back row: Pres. Hui, Bro. Pun, Richard Lee, Brent Hathaway, Charles Ngai
Front row: Pres. Wong, John Chan, Rob Rancie, Gary Bodily

Around 6:00 pm we got a call from Constance informing us that his mother, Phoenix, had been missing for a couple days. He didn't know what to do, so he called us. We went to meet with him to find out what we could. We decided he should report her as a missing person to the police. So we took a taxi to the police station. After filing a missing person report, we were about to go home, but they called us back and said they'd give us a ride. I never imagined I would get to ride in a Hong Kong police car! (too bad, no photos allowed)

 

I think the ride back to Constance apartment had an ulterior motive. When we got there, they came up and thoroughly searched the apartment, nosing around and asking all kinds of questions. I sat there quietly in the middle of a very crowded little room and listened as they interrogated him. It felt like I was in the middle of a very bad movie. You know the kind that is like a nightmare...person files a missing person report, and the suspicious police interrogate the poor person and makes him out to be the prime suspect. No sympathy for his situation, no compassion, just suspicion. 

 

They asked us what our involvement with Constance was. We explained we were just missionaries for the Church and became acquainted through sharing the gospel. One of the officers said he had heard about our church when he was approached a couple years ago by two elders "one Chinese and one white guy wearing badges just like you," he said. He had the whole Joseph Smith and Book of Mormon story all confused. He remembered something about seeing an angel in a forest. We tried to clarify things but he said he only spoke with the missionaries briefly on the street. At least he remembered something. I gave him a pass along card, but he said they were not allowed to accept anything of the sort.

 

Meanwhile, back to the investigation, they took our contact information and dismissed us. However, they took Constance back to the police station and said they had to finish up some paper work. I hope he will be ok, and they don't do something crazy, like throw him in jail. It seemed like they were so suspicious of him. Maybe I just watch too many movies. We'll pray that Phoenix will be found safe and sound.

 

 

 

May 17 (Tuesday)

 

We got home as quickly as possible from our shift at the Temple today so we could help the Lee's load up the van. They were moving a bunch of stuff into storage at the Temple. However, by the time we got over to their place, two of the maintenance workers had already come and loaded everything up. With nothing left to do, we just had to go out for the "last supper". We went to Yui Wah Restaurant. The food was good, the company great. Farewell till we see you in October.

 

Future Temple President Richard Lee and Matron June Lee, Me and John

 

After we got home from dinner, I called Constance to see if there was any news on his mom. He said the police had located her in a hospital, but were not releasing any further information at this time. Great relief that they found her.

 

 

May 18 (Wednesday)

 

I had a wonderful day at the Temple. I was privileged to do the initiatory ordinances for one Indonesian sister and one sister from Thailand. There's always such a special spirit there for this ordinance. Now that Sister Nora Chan has left, it feels like they are using me to fill her position. It's such a joy to be able to serve these new patrons.

 

With Nora leaving last week, June leaving this week, then the Bodily's, Rancie's, Ngai's, and us, all leaving this fall, there will only be the Hathaway's left of our current group. There are only 2 couples coming so far, but 6 leaving or already left. So if any of you have a desire to serve a Temple mission, come to Hong Kong! You'll have the experience of a lifetime.

 

Update: Phoenix wasn't feeling well, so she checked herself into the hospital. I don't know why she didn't tell Constance where she was. The doctor called him today to let him know she was delusional. We already knew this since she had met with a church psycho-therapist a couple of weeks ago and he had diagnosed her with paranoia schizophrenia. At this point, they are keeping her in the hospital and he has no idea when she will be released. This is certainly a blessing in disguise. At least now she is getting medical care. I pray they can help her condition.

 

 

May 19 (Thursday)

This morning we did our first orientation for patron housing. When patrons come from out of town, they can stay in patron housing which is right across the street from the Temple. We just have to give them basic rules and regulations for staying in the housing unit. It costs $10.00 HKD per person per night. (less than $2.00 CAD) This group was from Thailand.

 

The young couple on the left were sealed for time and eternity.

Mongolian and Indian - just a few of our other international visitors this week.

We had an  Indonesian family at the Temple today. The parents were having their daughter sealed to them. She is a slightly mentally handicapped young adult. She doesn't speak much, but the spirit spoke loud and clear. As we finished doing her initiatory tears were streaming down her face. My heart was full. Her sister-in-law invited us to participate in the family sealing. What a special privilege.

In 1973, President Funk served a mission in Indonesia and was among the first missionaries to open that area. The father of this family was baptised by the young Elder Funk. Now 43 years later, President Funk, sealed this family together. There wasn't a dry eye in the sealing room. What a blessing..."Families Can Be Together Forever".

We wanted to get a picture with this precious family, but just couldn't get it timed together. We are not allowed to take pictures inside the Temple, nor are we allowed to go outside of the Temple with out Temple whites.

Mongolian Group - Lkhagvajargal Dalaichuluun (far right) served a mission in Mongolia at the same time as
Cal and Anne Stewart.



We tried to get photos of all the different groups this week at the Temple, but it was hard to get everyone. We did manage to speak with one of the Mongolian sisters. She could speak English. We mentioned that Dr. Cal and Sis. Stewart served in Mongolia. She said, "I know them!" I shouldn't be surprised. It's a small world within the Church. I usually don't get people's names since they are so foreign and hard to pronounce, but this sister gave me her business card. This is her name: Lkhagvajargal Dalaichuluun. And no, it's not a typo. She's the office manager of a tour company, so if anyone is planning a trip to Mongolia, I can hook you up.



May 20 (Friday)

 A big surprise in the all the Temples around the world today. For all you temple goers, you'll have to go and find out about it.

 Sister Ng, who has been working with Phoenix, called me tonight. Apparently Phoenix was trying to get a hold of me all day. But since we worked the late shift, we weren't home. Sister Ng informed me that Phoenix wanted to get released from the hospital, but they will only release her to a family member. Apparently she was wanting me to be that "family member". I couldn't get a hold of Constance to speak to him on this matter.

 

May 21 (Saturday)

 I received an early morning call from Phoenix today. She was still in the hospital and wanted us to come pick her up. We suspected that she wasn't released, but thought as long as someone came to get her she'd be able to leave...not. We had just missed visiting hours but the nurse let us in just to say "hi". She said she was all better and wanted to go home. The nurse/receptionist scooted us out but we were able to talk with the nurse once we were outside of the psych ward. She said the doctor had tried to get a hold of us, but since it is now Saturday, he will not be available till Monday. We will try to contact him then.

This afternoon Constance called to give us his new cell number. We had a good conversation, more than he has ever spoken to me before. He still has not gone to see his mom. We discussed her condition and he informed me that this isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened. There was a similar incident when they lived in the US. He really opened up a lot and said that we were the closest he has to family. That really touched my heart and I felt such empathy for him. He also said that the missionaries are the only friends they have. 

This brings to mind the Savior's admonition to "love one another", and "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." It is so sad to think that even though people may have family, they are so disconnected. So sad to think that in a world with billions and billions of people, one would have not a single friend. So sad, so very, very, sad.


May 22 (Sunday)

Today was District Conference (equivalent to Stake Conference). Pres. Benjamin Tai was released as our District President and will take a seat as the Asia Area Seventy. Our new District President is Pres. Holyoake with Brad Hillam and Bruce Larson as counsellors. President Sam Wong was the main speaker for the Saturday evening session. He was very entertaining. Brad Hillam also spoke. He was so fun to listen to. Sunday speakers included Pres. and Sis. Tai, Pres. and Sis. Holyoake, Sis. Hillam, Pres. and Sis. Lam, Pres. and Sis. Wong, Sis. Rogers and Elder Williams from BYU. If one was to put a theme to the conference, it might be "seeing the end from the beginning."