Young Old Friends, Old New Friends, and BFF

August 15 (Monday)

A trip to the YMCA, not a likely place for a buffet lunch, but here in Hong Kong, the YMCA Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui is a very popular place. What makes this lunch so special is the special people we are having lunch with...Elder Love and Elder Taylor. Elder Zak Love was a member of the popular boy band "Beyond 5". Through the Burton's we became well acquainted with the boys in the band and Zak's family. Elder Taylor is his companion. We were excited to hear that Elder Love was called to Hong Kong. We finally had a chance to meet up with him for lunch and had a great visit. He's an awesome missionary and so is Elder Taylor!

Elder Love and Elder Taylor

Buff and Stuff @ the YMCA lunch buffet

While we were waiting for the Elders, we ran into a group from Canada. The red and white maple leaf was a dead giveaway, eh. They were students traveling through China on a Canadian promotional entrepreneurial tour. Great young ambassadors!


August 16 (Tuesday)

What a wonderful start to another week. Patron housing was full to capacity. I had the privilege of being the celestial room attendant. One by one the patrons came in. As I observed 3 special couples who had come to the Temple for their first time, my heart was full. I saw them holding hands with their eternal companion and their faces aglow. I wondered if they really realized to the full extent what blessings lie ahead for them and their families. This one single act of  being sealed together for time and eternity is the start of a family unit that will link families before and after into the eternities. I've been so blessed to witness these special moments and partake of the spirit therewith.

It's thrilling to see how the church is growing throughout Asia.

 After our shift, we went to a visa office where we were told we could apply for a visa into China. With passports in hand, we were excited about the prospect of being able to go into the mainland before we head home. The agent took a quick look at my passport and said that there'd be no problem. Then he looked at John's passport, paused, then shook his head. "Sorry, you don't qualify." What??? He said since John was born in China, then left, and had no documentation of birth, or ever having had a previous visa, he would not be approved to enter. "But I was born there! Can't I ever go back?" At this point, unless he provides some documentation, he will not qualify for a visa. Recently, the China Government has changed their ruling that anyone born in China, then leaves and wants to return must provide certain documents before being approved for entry. We'll try again when we get back to Canada. So-o-o frustrating!

Next stop, the church office building. John wanted to get some of his Hong Kong Temple pictures printed. The church is so efficient. We were introduced to Janet Cheong who handles a lot of the printing projects. She was able to get a quote for us for the pictures and we got the prints ordered.

I was informed that Janet was the Taobao master (on line ordering site like amazon). I mentioned that I wanted a get a traditional Chinese Emperor and Empress costume. With her quick fingers flying over her keyboard, she pulled up some sites with photos of various costumes. That's it! That's exactly what I was looking for. Janet was such a wiz on the computer, I asked her if she wouldn't mind ordering it for me. Within a few minutes it was done. And the price was amazingly cheap.


August 17 (Wednesday)

Happy Birthday our little Ellie Bun Bun. 6 years ago she joined our family. The first year was really rough with her rare condition known as heterotaxy syndrome. 3 surgeries in her first year, and thanks to modern medicine and Elder Russell M. Nelson's development of the heart/lung bypass machine, and a lot of prayer and fasting, she is now healthy and strong and a normal bright little 1st grader.

John cooked tomato beef for supper tonight. It was so awesome! I had 2 big helpings.

Man, you'd really have to be dying of thirst to drink this!
(Actually, the Chinese have really, really poor English skills!)

August 18 (Thursday)

I met the Ebbles family from Singapore today. She's a blue eyed blonde originally from South Africa and speaks Africano. I think her husband is American. Their children can speak English and Chinese. Their son was there to take out his endowments and was called on a mission to Japan. Such diversity.

Supper at our favorite noodle place: Lau Sum Kee. They make their own noodles and was highly rated by the food critiques. Just a little hole in the wall place, but they really pack them in, often with a long waiting line.

Portioning Noodles

Open kitchen, you can watch them prepare your meal.

On a scale of 1-10: Ambiance - 2, Flavour - 10!

We're not supposed to take photos of the security guards. Why, I have no idea. They are just so paranoid about taking any photos of anyone, doing anything. But John snuck this shot as they were getting their evening instructions. Most, if not all are from Nepal.

Harbourfront Security Team

August 19 (Friday)

Time is getting short before our mission will be done so we've been trying to get in as much shopping as we can and not leave it to the last minute. The costumes that Janet ordered for us arrived today. I was amazed at how quick it was. It was ordered on Tuesday. To my delight, the costumes looked amazing, bright beautiful embroidery and good heavy quality fabric. And mine fits perfectly. John fits great too, if he doesn't put on the sash. haha. Not sure when I'll have a chance to wear it, but it's a great keepsake.

The Dragon Lady - Empress Jude of the Dragon Dynasty

Emperor "Bruce" of the Dragon Dynasty

August 20 (Saturday)

An early shift at the Temple means we get home early. I'd like to go for a swim, but of course the pool is closed. What else is new? Went and picked up some groceries to help stock up supplies for Elder and Sister Chan, a new senior temple missionary couple who will be arriving tonight. Charles and Fanny Chan are from California, though they did live in Calgary and Edmonton for a short while. We are looking forward to getting to know them better.

Welcoming Elder Charles and Sister Fanny Chan (lens fogged up from the humidity)

Sister Fanny Chan and Elder Charles Chan

August 21 (Sunday)

Today is the quarterly Special Sunday Temple Opening for the Filipino sisters. It's always an exciting, spiritual day. I made the mistake of counting how many days we have left before we are released from our temple calling, only 75 days left! Then about 2 weeks after that, when we get home, we will be officially released from our mission.

Maribel and Veronica registering at the Sunday Temple Opening

As I sat in the chapel and thought that this would be my last Sunday Temple Day, I got all emotional, you know that feeling when your eyes well up with tears. Then across the room 2 sisters from our branch smiled and waved at me and gave me thumbs up. Again, emotions came to the surface and I thought how much I'm going to miss all these dear sisters. Then the meeting began and the choir sang. Today, I heard the choir of angels. This week has been so full of blessings as I have been touch by the spirit of so many faithful saints that have enriched my life and made my mission so incredible.
I thank my Heavenly Father for the blessings that he has bestowed upon me.

First day at the Temple for new Temple Missionaries Fanny and Charles Chan.

Last Special Sunday Temple Opening for Ngai's, Bodily's, and Chan's.