Today, the last Sunday of July is one of three or four Sundays in the year that the Hong Kong Temple opens its doors on the Lord’s Sabbath and welcomes Filipino Sisters who in the capacity of domestic workers in a foreign country, can participate in ordinances reserved for a personal Temple visit.
The Temple, because of its size and architecture can facilitate two endowment sessions in two different rooms set apart by a fifteen-minute interval. The work begins by receiving Sisters upon the completion of a special combined Sacrament Meeting hosting five Filipino Branches held in the Chapel across the street. Besides the thirty-eight sisters, times two, filling the endowment rooms, sisters fill two sealing rooms, two initiatory booths, and the baptismal font as well. Other than a few brethren used as witnesses during the endowment sessions all the patrons in the Temple today are sisters.
All the workers in the Temple are Senior Missionaries except for a few local workers and two sealers. Karen worked today in the new name booth, initiatory, and the veil. While helping with the initiatory work she was responsible for two sisters receiving their own endowments. I spent time witnessing and participating as a patron in sealings, prayers and veil work. It is hard to describe the joy experienced in the amount of work that is completed with a well-organized army of sisters in just half a day.
Hundreds of Sisters whose only free day of the week is Sunday will be participating. Many anxious and waiting ancestors and others will receive ordinances today that will allow them to move forward, and those good sisters that participate in today’s work will realize blessings from their individual efforts forever.
“And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a house to my name, even in this place that you may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life. You may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you, and crown you with honor, immortality, and eternal life.” History of the Church Volume Four.
Sister Bannagao and Sister Bacolcol serve in our Saturday Branch. They are both from the Philippines. We love the Sister Missionaries here in Hong Kong!
Every other Saturday after our block of meetings the Filipino Sisters prepare dinner, it's always a feast!
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