Public Affairs in Malaysia

This week was particularly interesting because we added the dimension of traveling to our Missionary experiences.

The week started out wonderful because we met with my old buddy Chan Gaa Yan. We had lunch with Brother Chan,  his son Lance, and Lance’s wife Tracy. The restaurant he invited us to eat at is a traditional Chinese Restaurant with both good and gross food. It was fun to get together and share old memories with Gaa Yan while watching Karen try to swallow things never before introduced to the inside of her mouth. I was watching her in my peripheral vision try to hide something the size of a large prawn head including eyeballs with a few kernels of rice in her small bowl so our hosts would think she had eaten it. Although it was a good effort by Karen,  it was not at all conspicuous to our hosts,  who were gracious in allowing Karen to think she had succeeded in her attempt at deception.

Brother Chan is not currently active in the church,  but was happy to share with us that his son is currently serving as a Bishop of one of the Wards here,  and his daughter’s husband is a Patriarch in one of the Stakes here in Hong Kong.  Also,  his son in law is the grandson of Ng Gat Hing who served as the first Hong Kong Temple President and is a revered early member of the Church here, but has since passed away.

Before the end of our lunch we had been invited to several of the upcoming Chan family events such as birthday parties and baptisms that will take place in the coming months. It appears that we will have many opportunities to help Brother Chan recapture the light that once burned so brightly in his soul. I am so glad that we found him and we are able to reconnect after so many years.

After our day with the Chans, we packed and prepared to leave the next morning for a few days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I am surprised by the size and beauty of the cities in this part of the world. There are eight and a half million people in the city which is the home of the Petronas Towers, two of the most impressive buildings in the world.

Our Missionary Assignment is to bridge the gap of time between the Patterson’s leaving and a new Senior Missionary Couple arriving. We are to act as the interim support couple to the Malaysian Public Affairs National Director whose name is Carol Ng. Carol is Karen’s age, a widow of twelve years and a mother of two, a son and a daughter. She is a Realtor and is very capable of her assignment in Public Affairs.

While in Malaysia,  Carol introduced us to a friend of the Church in the Department of Women Development, Dr. Raja Kamariah Raja Mohd Khalad.  She also introduced us to a Rotarian, Rajah Renno,  that has placed over three thousand wheelchairs as a partner with LDS Charities throughout multiple cities in Malaysia. In the few days with Carol we were able to help her become more familiar with News room, Newsroom Facebook, the Public Affairs Network, and the Opinion Leader Data Base. We also met with the Public Affairs Council and became more aware of their plans and objectives for the next year.

Of course, like all the wonderful members we meet  in Asia,  Carol wanted us to experience some of the sights and sounds of Kuala Lumpur. So, we enjoyed time driving around the city and eating at a few of her favorite restaurants, including a Thai Restaurant and a Noodle House.

We traveled home on Saturday so we missed going to our  Saturday Branch this week.

This last week was a busy week for us with the travel,  and was fun to see a new country, but it sure feels good to be back in Hong Kong. I guess it hasn't taken long for us to make this little apartment of ours are new home.

This was such a highlight of our mission so far,  having lunch with Brother Chan whom Lynn taught the Gospel in 1973.

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia,  the Petronas Towers and Park.

First stop in the tower was the skybridge linking one tower to the other.

It was the perfect place to get a good view of Kuala Lumpur.

View from the Observation Deck.

Roaming the market place.

Prior to our meeting with the Malaysian Ministry of Women.   Notice no missionary tags.  When meeting with Government leaders we can't send any kind of message that we are trying to convert the Muslim people to our church.

Visiting one of the Mosques

Here I am with Carol Ng,  our Public Affairs Director in Malaysia

This Mosque was very nice, but not near as big and beautiful as the "Blue Mosque" we visited when in Istanbul a couple of years ago.

This is the Parliament House.

We climbed up to the Batu Caves where once inside we saw Hindu temples and shrines.   Wild monkeys everywhere!  I learned my lesson in Thailand.    I held on tightly to my phone, and didn't get too close to take pictures!

Inside the Caves.  

A wonderful experience traveling to Malaysia.  Our last meeting was with Carol,  our Public Affairs Director,  and Raja,  (Raja is Muslim),   who works closely with LDS Charities providing wheelchairs for those in need  who can't afford them.  Raja is a wonderful friend to the Church.