An awesome week with Sarah and Jill in Hong Kong

Missed last week’s blog because of some extracurricular activity. Sarah and Jill were arriving Friday night, the seventeenth, at 6:30 pm so we were busy preparing for their scheduled arrival. At least that is what the plan was until Friday morning when Karen realized they would not be getting here until Saturday night.   Just because they were "coming" on the 17th,  didn't mean they would be  "arriving" on the 17th.  She had not taken into consideration the date change the flight would experience in determining their arrival time. Which led to a day and a half of companion depression, which leads to dismal abyss, and eventually to a much happier reunion than you would have had not knowing how sad it is when you experience them not coming when you expected them too. I am not sure that the sentence preceding this one makes much sense but it is a good example of there being opposition in all things.

When the girls finally got here we were busy from sunup to sundown. Karen had a schedule of things she wanted us to do and we did them all. The Temple, Kowloon Tong chapel, Wan Chai office and chapel, Stanley, Victoria Peak, 1949 rock, Big Buddha, Wong Daai Sin Temple, Nan Lian Garden and Nunnery, Red Sail Boat tour, the MTR, the Ding Ding (which is a cable car),  the double-decker buses, the Ferries, and the taxies. Walking the TST and Hung Hom promenade and all the markets and or photo opportunities in between. They met the  Petts, James, Chandlers, Nielsons, Sellers, Thongs, Jensens, Kendells, Yans, Fergusons, Corys, Tom Crocket, President Funk, and went to lunch with Annie Wong.
I believe when the week ended and they boarded the plane for the long trip back they were ready to head back to their families and a long nap.

I hope we have other visits and we can repeat the same experience with others, because a Mission really is a marvelous opportunity and the more we can share the better it is.

The Church contributes a lot of resources helping the different countries in this part of the world take care of those that are poor or in need and those that are sick or otherwise afflicted. A lot of the projects are major initiatives lending themselves to infrastructure such as water and waste systems or educational and health facilities. These types of projects are popular with the leaders of the different countries because each project will benefit hundreds if not thousands of individuals. This work of course is amazing to behold, but occasionally a project comes along that is initiated for a single person and we get to experience the intimate joy that comes from personally witnessing a life changing event. I have included a video and the story of such an experience.

Video of boys first wheelchair experience

To read the article,click here

As we approach Easter we have received a new Video, Prince of Peace, that needs to be translated and distributed to the different countries in our Area. I hope you all get a chance to view it, it is very powerful.

Back to work and we will have more to share next week.

What a beautiful sight this was,  greeting Sarah and Jill at the airport.

Starting a little walk that turned in to a long walk,  introducing them to Hong Kong

Visiting Nan Lian Garden.  It was so pretty,  we all agreed the rain made it  even prettier!

Still rainy and beautiful at the Chi Lin Nunnery,  a large Buddhist Temple.

The harbor walk (Promenade) at our apartment is the perfect place for running, walking, and enjoying the beautiful view.

In 1949 President George Albert Smith commissioned Elder Matthew Cowley to bless Hong Kong for the preaching of the Gospel.  The date scratched in a large stone at the top of Victoria Peak says July 14, 1949.   We explored with the girls,  following directions  we were given we were able  to find it.  Barely visible and hard to read,  none the less,  it was cool to find it.  All I could make out was 1949.

We had so much fun going to Big Buddha.

Definitely a highlight doing a session together in the China,  Hong Kong Temple!

Taxis, subways, cable cars, buses, shuttles, trains, and of course ferries.  Some days using all of them in one day!

Visiting the beach at Stanley Island.

Wading in the South China Sea.

A night at the movies.  Beauty and Beast was showing in English,  with Chinese Character subtitles.

Enjoying some Fish Burgers and Fish and Chips at the Sea Food Stand.

We love living on the harbor.  It's beautiful 24x7.  

Leading the way taking the girls to the Wan Chai market.

We had Dim Sum with Annie  (our Assistant Public Affairs Director).   Annie had been looking forward to meeting Sarah and Jill.  It was fun to enjoy a very authentic Chinese lunch together!

Of course we had some mom and girls time to snuggle on the bed and watch a chick flick!


After having Sarah and Jill spend a week with us I thought it would be hard to send them home.  But, seeing how much they missed their kids,  and seeing how much their kids missed them,  (we love Face Time),  it felt right putting them on a plane!

Thank you Sarah and Jill for coming to see us.  We loved every minute.  Thanks to Caden, Riley, Luke, Landon, Colter, Oaklee, and Tayla for sharing your mom's with us for a week.  And a special thanks to Russ and Kyle for spending a week at home taking care of all this kids (and working from home at the same time),   so your wives could come to Hong Kong!

Special Temple Event

We had a rather unique experience this week when we attended the Temple on Sunday. Hong Kong, because of the thousands of Filippino women that are employed here as domestic workers, has quarterly Sunday Temple Days to accommodate the many Sisters who have Sunday as their only  day a week off. It begins with a District Sacrament Meeting at the Kowloon Tong Chapel across the street from the Temple. After the meeting the Temple is flooded with women entering the front doors heading to both the men and the women’s locker rooms to change before heading  for the Sealing, Baptismal, and Endowment areas of the Temple.  The men Temple workers had to change in the Temple President's office.    It is an event like none other anywhere in the world and a wonderful example of how the Church is adapting to the needs of members in challenging circumstances.

The next day we went out exploring one of the outlying Islands with two of the Senior Missionary couples, Chatterton’s, and Sorenson’s. Lamma Island is a short ferry ride from the Central Pier and a nice place to get away from the crowds. We hiked a trail called, ” the family trail” and were able see most of the Island in a couple of hours. Before we caught the ferry back to Hong Kong we sampled some of the seafood at one of several restaurants on the pier. These restaurants are touted for their fresh seafood, which is proudly displayed squirming in crowded aquariums near each of the restaurant entrances. Every species of fish that lives on the Ocean floor seems to be a delicacy to the Chinese. I ordered the fish and chips rather than a foot long greenish yellow slug being served as the day’s blue plate special. Of course, Sister Beckstead ordered the fried squid.

We said farewell to another Senior Couple this week, Elder and Sister Roberts. Elder Roberts served here in the legal department as an Associate Area Legal Counsel, and Sister Roberts was the go to person for anything going on in the Mission. We will miss them but are fortunate that they live in Saratoga Springs, Utah so we will be seeing them again when we return home.

We met again this week in an Area Welfare Coordinating Council Meeting and reviewed thirteen projects in nine different countries. Cambodia, India, Shri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Mongolia Laos, and Thailand. I am so humbled by the thousands of people receiving aid from the Church in order to eat, drink, find shelter or sometimes just to survive. I hope we never forget how blessed we are after we return home.

I’m going to sign off by quoting President Monson: “When we can work together cooperatively to lift the level of life for so many people, we can accomplish anything. When we do so, we eliminate the weakness of one person standing alone and substitute the strength of many serving together. While we may not be able to do everything, we can and must do something.”

Have a great week!

For our P day this week we went with Chattertons and Sorensons to Lamma Island.  It's an island accessible only by ferry,  scattered with little villages.   It had a walking trail from village to village. There are no cars on the island so its walking or biking to get from place to place.

We walked from one village to the other.  It was only about 5 miles,  about half way we found this little refreshment stand.   When we got to the other village, we  ate lunch at an outdoor seafood place, then took the ferry from that village back home.  The restaurant was a little nicer than the refreshment stand.

It was nice to get out of the city and enjoy lots of greenery,  banana trees,  and a pretty view.

Just my size door!

Later in the week we took the Sister Missionaries,  Sister Amenita and Sister Miranda,  to lunch.   They are always so cheerful and enthused about their missions here in Hong Kong.

This week at our Saturday Branch we celebrated the 175th Anniversary of the Relief Society.  The theme was "Guardians of the Hearth".   Sister Kendell,  the Branch President's wife,  explained to the sisters what a hearth was.  Most of them have never seen a fireplace.   She explained the significance of the fireplace being a gathering place for the family.   The sisters love any reason to prepare a large meal for the branch after Church.

Lynn serves in the Branch Presidency in our Branch.  I'm enjoying my assignment in the Self Reliance classes.   Each branch has a class lasting 13 weeks.  They call a sister in the branch to be the self reliance facilitator,  and  each branch has a Senior Sister Missionary serve as a mentor to the group.     My group meets  from 10:00 to 12:00 each Saturday before Church.  The sisters learn how they can provide for their families when they return to the Philippines.  Here in Hong Kong it's a unique situation with all the thousands of domestic workers here,  sending their wages home to support their families.   But the Self Reliance Program in the Church is really growing and spreading throughout the Church.  Each country of course having the program catered to their local culture.  Our sisters are learning how to start their own business,  how to manage their money, how to save,  and many other skills they need in financial management.   Our sisters,  being from the Philippines,  have a manual,  videos,  and resource materials to help them learn how to start  businesses such as raising chickens or pigs,  growing rice,  and selling anything from food to clothing.  

Sellers, Women's Conference, and Lynn's Birthday

We like to write these Blogs on Sunday mornings because it feels good to reflect on the past week as we prepare to observe our second Sabbath of the week. Attending church on Saturday and Sunday is one of the benefits of serving in a Branch Presidency that meets every day of the week.

Last week after church on Sunday we went to the airport to meet the Seller’s, a new senior couple, sent to replace the Orton’s. While at the airport waiting for the Seller’s to land and clear customs we met three  Chinese members who were there to also welcome the Seller’s arrival. The Wong’s, Tony Wong, his wife, and his wife’s younger sister. I can’t remember Tony’s wife’s name but Elder Seller’s baptized her when he served as a missionary in Hong Kong (1971-73).  When the Seller’s finally appeared from behind the airport wall separating us,  it was fun to see them reunite, the Elder and his baptism, after all these years. We then with the help of the Wong’s, were able to transport the Seller’s and a year and a half's  worth of luggage to Hung Hom, their new home for the next eighteen months.

We enjoyed a day with the Chatterton’s and Sorenson's  this week. We visited a beautiful Chinese Temple and Monastery. The gardens surrounding it were immaculate and the best we have seen in Hong Kong.

We attended the temple this week with the Area Presidency and I sat next to Elder David F. Evans, I focused really hard not to do anything that would embarrass Sister Beckstead through the entire session. After the session, we attended a small testimony meeting with the Area Presidency and the other Senior Couple Missionaries serving here in the Area. This meeting is always special and something that we will never forget. This week one of the Area Presidency shared with this small group he and his wife’s meeting with the prophet when he was called to serve as a General Authority Seventy. The prophet asked him how old he was and when he answered the prophet, President Hinckley responded, “the number of years between now and you turning seventy is a long time.” Pointing out the fact that the Lord sometimes requires a lot from us. All three of the General Authorities presiding over this area have given (sacrificed) their lives and the lives of their families for the Savior and his Church. In this context eighteen months doesn’t seem like much.

Hong Kong hosted a Woman’s Conference this week that brought in sisters from all over Asia.  Karen was able to attend and really enjoyed it.   She said the speakers were wonderful and the break out sessions were really good.  What a blessing for the sisters in Asia to have the chance to come together to learn  and grow spiritually together.  Karen said she felt so blessed to be able to attend and feel the strength of the sisters all over Asia. 

This week was also Elder Beckstead's Birthday and he received many birthday wishes from many friends and family. Thank you all for your thoughts concerning him, they were all very much appreciated.

The Sisters were involved with the Women’s Conference at lunch time so all the Elders celebrated Elder Beckstead's  birthday at a wonderful Thai restaurant, Sun Thai, feasting on curries, skewers, and pad tai. Topping off the lunch with mango sticky rice smothered in sweet coconut milk.  Later that evening Elder and Sister Cory took us to dinner at an Italian restaurant,  Al Dente.  It  was delicious and fun.

It was a wonderful week and we look forward to more wonderful experiences  next week!

Last Sunday night we picked up Elder and Sister Sellers from the airport and took them to their apartment.  They are from Bountiful.  Elder Sellers is replacing Elder/Doctor Orton as the Asia Area Medical Doctor here.  It was also Sister Seller's birthday,  their Chinese friends didn't waste any time showering her with gifts!  They sang Happy Birthday to her and I in Chinese.  In the Chinese Birthday song they sing the phrase "May your blessings and longevity last as long as the Heavens exist."     In Bountiful,  the Sellers live in the same ward as our friend Scott West  (dad, grandpa,  and Kyle's  cardiologist).   We really look forward to serving with them here in Hong Kong.


For our P day last week we went with the Chattertons and the Sorensons to Nan Lian Garden.  It was really beautiful.  It was so fun to wander around the garden with such good friends,  and of course have lunch after.  Pizza Hut!  How's that for lunch in Hong Kong!

Elder and Sister Sorenson,  Sister Chatterton,  and us.

We went to lunch the other day with Elder and Sister Chandler.  They are from South Jordan,  they serve here as the Self-Reliance Missionaries for the Area.  They are such nice people!

When I ordered the Black Fish Burger,  I thought  it would be blackened fish!   I'm still trying to decide if Elder Chandler was telling me the truth when he told me they blackened the bun with black squid ink.  He ordered the same thing,  so I don't think it's true!

This past week was the Asia Women's Conference.  It was a 3 day conference with wonderful speakers,  really good break out sessions,  and  good food too!  

Last night after Church at our Saturday Branch we went to dinner with the other Saturday Branch couples.  Afterwards Lynn found a place for ice-cream and a good photo opp for the Elders.   Elder Jensen,  Lynn,  Elder Pett,  and Elder Kendell.