Navigating our Lives

Another great week as we navigate our lives through the difficulties and challenges, the back and forth, and the good and bad of missionary life. Some weeks are long but the days are short, yet other weeks are short but the days are long. None the less, at the end of each week we reflect and realize that the sum of the whole is a positive and productive experience. Each week seems to come attached with lessons learned and blessings recognized.

The work in the office seems so much the same each week that it is redundant to continue to write about it. But, it is what we do to move the work forward,  and seems to be agreeable to Heavenly Father because he continues to shower down blessings to us and our family.

We are continuing to get closer to implementing the CRM that will help the efficiency and consistency of the PA work here. We have much better communication with Salt Lake and can feel their commitment to the project. We hope to have it in place by the end of the year so that we will have time to train those that will be using it. If we can have January through March to implement and train, we believe that would be adequate for our purpose.

We (Karen) continues to publish a newsletter multiple times during the week containing news articles relating to information requested by the Area Presidency. I have encouraged her to include the baseball scores, particularly the Rockies, because I know that Elder Funk has a interest in that team’s success. I have not been able to convince her yet of the relevance but still have until the end of the month before the season ends.

We attended our weekly meeting with Paul Hansen, the Area Director of Temporal Affairs, and other Welfare Correlation Council members, including Humanitarian, Legal, and Financial representation. I can only share that we are active in helping the temporal needs of many in this part of the world. Karen and I are blessed to serve in an assignment that allows us to be aware of the good work that the offerings of the members of our Church are sustaining.

This week two of the Sisters in our Branch will be receiving their personal endowments. Although Sister Beckstead and I have enjoyed many hours in the Temple while serving here, this will be a first for us. We have not personally known any of those we have seen realize personal Temple blessings, so this week will be very special.

We attended a concert sponsored by the National Public Affairs Council featuring the Choir, “Songs of the Heart”. Those that participate in the Choir are church members from different Stakes here in Hong Kong. It was held in a very nice auditorium in Tsuen Wan. I would estimate two-hundred or more members attended and I must admit it was a very enjoyable and entertaining evening. The Choir has been performing together for twenty years and this was their last performance. In addition to the Choir singing there were performances by musicians and soloists. We were able to see a lot of old and new friends at the concert including Sheldon Poon.

We met with the other Senior Couples this week for a grand buffet at the Hopewell Center and feasted well beyond what our bodies have become accustomed too. It would not be an exaggeration to admit that the hour spent feasting led to more than twice or even three times that amount of time spent in our bodies recuperating. A good lesson on the concept of keeping desires and passions within certain bounds.

Our home away from home.  We love serving here in the Asia Area Office.     We love the people we serve with.  The Church Employees and all the other missionary couples are really fun people.

We've talked about Annie Wong before.  She is the Assistant Director of Public Affairs for the Asia Area.  We love working with Annie and consider her a wonderful life long friend.   For the first 3 months of our mission the position for a PA Director hadn't been filled.  During those 3 months we and Annie had to just wing it and figure things out!  Looking back,  it was fun.  Now we look back on things that happened during that time and we all just laugh!

Elder Jenson (left) serves in the Every Day Branch here in Hong Kong.  He has Church,  attends all    the block meetings,  and all  associated meetings and responsibilities every Tuesday through Saturday, every week.   Elder Thong (right) is the Auditor for the Asia Area,  a huge job!  These 3 guys love to hang out and have a good time!

Last Monday we went with all the other Senior Missionary Couples to have lunch at the Hopewell Center's Revolving Restaurant,  The Grand Buffet.  It had lots of American food and was delicious !  Lots of "every" kind of food,  but believe me,  I was only interested in the American food!  The restaurant is on the 62nd floor.  The view was great,  the food was great,  and the company was wonderful!