Time to catch up - General Conference till now

The office has been quiet.  The area presidency were in Salt Lake for General Conference so their secretary takes turn taking time off.  We have opportunity to slow down a little bit.  Here is an update on our assignment:

FSY:  for both Hong Kong and Taiwan is going well.  We will need some more training for the counselor so they could run the week long program.  Taiwan did a wonderful job at a promotion video after I showed them the one they did in Hong Kong.  Then, theirs was so good, we need to redo the one in Hong Kong.  So I ended up working on the promo video.  This is the first time I use Window movie maker and I am learning a lot.  May be by the time I am done with this mission, I would be so good at it that I could edit and make my own home movie!  UPDATE:  Hong Kong now has 150 plus youth registered (100 after our recent FSY Go fireside on 4/15/17), Taiwan is slowly coming up, currently, they only have 300 plus signed up, still 500 short of what is projected!

HOUSING assignment:  A couple has been called locally as service missionary, Elder and Sister Lau.  Elder Lau used to be the bishop and worked as engineer for the temple before retiring.  We happened to be visiting their ward - Tsim Sha Tsui ward on the Sunday before being setting apart.  They bore their testimony of how their call come about.  Sister Lau said she has a feeling they should serve a mission.  She was talking to her daughter about her desire and unknown to her, her daughter started talking to her bishop, this is around the time we were being asked to help but the Area President want someone local first, the Area Seventies were asked to write up something like a job description to present to Stake President so they could recommend a local couple to serve a Service mission.  I loved how Heavenly Father works.  While we were worrying, He has already had all worked out. Elder and Sister Lau is now going to be the couple who will take over this housing assignment.  UPDATE:  They are going great and has been helping to locate new apartment, sign new lease and make repairs to apartments.  Sister Ferguson and I were able to go out to Shum Shiu Po and get fabric to make curtains for the apartments, we figured we are saving a lot for the mission because the fabric we go were only HK$10 a yard, we purchase 43 yards for only $430 and made 10 curtains!

Missionary Application clerk:  I was asked to take over the clerk position after Sister Orton left with the intention for me to train Sister Sellers.  She is not very good at computer but is willing to learn and try.  I have been working with her over the last month and she is almost there.  I am hoping she will be able to take over the assignment totally by the end of April.  UPDATE:  Mission accomplished.  Sister Sellers did three application without any help from me.  I emptied my drawer of all missionary application clerk files and put them in her drawer.  I am cutting the tie and she is now on her own!   

Communication:  Easter campaign is coming up, instead of the 8 videos the church is offering, we are making 8 memes that highlight the  principles of peace instead.  We have the largest geographic area with 11 difference languages and sometimes it is impossible to provide all the translation because of time constraint.   We are also managing a facebook page for Timor Leste.  After the Easter campaign, we hope to begin the Christmas campaign since we already know what the Church will be doing for
Christmas this year.  UPDATE:  India facebook page came out as the shining stars.  Besides putting up the church videos and the memes we produced, they also have local members shared an experience on each of the 8 principles of peace.  It was wonderful to read the stories.  I wish the other other countries would do the same and truly share thru social media!

YSA:  We continue to support the YSA in their meetings and activities.  They are wonderful SA.  We pray for them that their desire might be granted to have eternal family!

I love the talk given by Elder Bednar during the Priesthood session.  We are called to serve and it does not matter what we are assigned to do.  The matter of fact is that we are called by God thru His servant.  WE know we are called by Heavenly Father and does not matter what we are assigned to do, we are helping to build up his Kingdom and move His work forward!

Another talked was the one given by Elder Yoon Hwan Choi who served the mission president in Seattle.  I love his quote on standing outside of rain "Look up, open your month and drink it".
I made a poster in both Chinese and English and shared that on my facebook page (Hong Kong contact only). Hope you like it:

South China Morning Post

We are "almost" famous!

South China Morning post wants to do an article about the church after TV Pearls did a report on the Church, after some convincing of the Area Presidency and President and Sister Lam, they agreed to have some missionary interviewed by SCMP reporter.  They did an half page article on the April 8 Saturday newspaper and an video on their website.  If you scroll down to the bottom of this page, you will see the link to both the article and the video.

We were told that SCMP wants to do an article about the history of the church in Hong Kong, but the article was more on missionary work then anything else.  The interesting part was that the reporter had asked a lot of question that a normal person who does not know about the church would not ask, question such as:  What do you do if a church member break the rule? What do you do when someone does not want to go on a mission?  As it turns out, there is an "anti" article on an anonymous ex-mormon, who said the Church owes him an apology.  He was excommunicated when he had an affair with a young woman in Hong Kong while he was on a mission!!!  He was so bitter that he wrote a book about it but he wouldn't disclose his name!!

All in all, we thought the video was well done and the article is fair.  The pictures in this blog are the ones the photograph taken, with the intention of showing what the church is like today but since the article took on a different theme, these pictures were not use.  However, they are the property of SCMP, The photographer sent them to us as a keepsake and personal use.  I posted here to share with you.  Which one is your favorite?  I like the one where I was holding onto Elder Beckstead and the one we were on the stairs.  The youngsters are all employees of the Church!

From left to right:  Cynthia Li, Flora Ho, Kristen Tsui, Emily Chan, Sister Karen Beckstead, Elder Lynn Beckstead, Sister and Elder Yan, Kenny Fong and Chris Ng.

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2085786/day-life-mormon-missionary-hong-kong

Too good to not to share

Received this email from Elder Charles and Fanny Chan who serves in the Hong Kong China Temple.  Charles and Fanny are long time friends who lived in Vancouver, Canada.  His thoughts and feeling echo our own so I thought I should share them here with you.  We thank Heavenly Father everyday that we have this privilege to serve our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong.  While we are all children of God, Asia holds a special feeling in my heart.  Ted and I has started serving in the Temple once a week on Wednesday evening.  We hear stories and witness the sacrifice faithful members who traveled far and long distant just so they could have their family sealed.  No sacrifice can match the blessings from Heaven when a couple is sealed eternally and a family linked back generations!

Hong Kong China Temple, dedicated 1996.

Dear friends and family:

In the recent regional district conference, one of the speaker mentioned that President Nelson attended meetings in Mongolia area and later visited a Mongolian widow who lived in a tent with her son and daughter-in- law. During his visit, she pulled out two things–framed Family Declaration she received and the Temple Marriage Certificate of hers.  She pointed to her son and daughter- in- law; told President Nelson – they are the most precious to her in the earth. Eternal marriage and family are made possible by ordinances in the Holy Temple.  I turned to Fanny, we both were in tears. It was not only a story, but we have firsthand experience.  We have assisted a lot of Mongolian families whose used a lot of their resources and overcome a lot of difficulty to make their trips to HK Temple to complete their temple ordinances. They are faithful and humble, their gratitude and thankfulness of the Lord touched all temple workers.  They strengthen and edify our faith and testimony. Made our efforts meaningful.

In Hong Kong, there are about 8 million people, in any given time there were millions and millions in the public transits system; crowded and noisy, packed and rushing are the norm.  Every day we take buses and trains to and from church meetings and temple. One Sunday, we returned home from a church meeting, there were two opposite empty seats at the back of the bus.  We took them, as I looked across the aisle at Fanny, she was so calm and peaceful in a crowded and noisy environment, she seemed full of joy and satisfaction, I smiled and knew it was the blessing from serving the Lord in Hong Kong, the heat, the noisy, the rushing … are all immaterial. Our hearts feel heavenly peace.

April 2, was a historical day in Hong Kong District, the Victoria 3 Branch -the only mandarin speaking branch in Hong Kong District was dissolved. Upon the approval of the First Presidency and Quorum of 12, new Wan Chai Branch and Kowloon Tong Branch are established. Wan Chai Branch serves all members in Hong Kong Island and all other islands around HK ;  Kowloon Tong Branch, its meeting place is opposite to the HK Temple, it is the first ever mandarin speaking branch in Kowloon – its catchment area are the whole Kowloon Peninsula and New Territory, all the way to the Chinese border.  17 years ago, there were 8 mandarin speaking members to form a Sunday School class, one year later, the Victoria 3 Branch was established in Hong Kong Island for mandarin speaking members.  in April 2017, there were around 200+ mandarin members and 6 Cantonese Stakes .  Church moves chapels and meetings closer to communities, easier for people to attend church meetings and activities. The Lord’s work is progressing rapidly, prepare leaderships whenever China is ready and opened for missionary.  Church needs a lot of mandarin speaking leaders. 

Our testimonies continue to burn brightly. We are very grateful for all that we have, and especially for the opportunity to serve in Hong Kong. We are grateful to have you as our friends and our prayers are with you. We have always looked to all of you as great examples of humility and obedience. Thank you, may the Lord with you til we meet again 

Elder and Sister Charles Chan 

2nd trip to Taiwan - 2nd FSY training - a Picture tour

We had a great training weekend in Taiwan.  Stopped at Taipei for one day training and the temple then traveled to Taichung to meet with the in-session couple and logistic to review the training and plan next month's training.  WE are so impressive of all the sacrifice and planning that has been going on in Taiwan.  Now the next step begins, registration... we expect 800 youths in Taiwan!

On the way to Taiwan, taking the Cathy Pacific airline.

Saw this big duck at the airport - it is made out of used cans.  It is advertisement for recycling in Hong Kong.

Saw this at the airport toy store.  Can you tell how much they are selling this?

$400 Hong Kong at the airport.  Now I wished I kept the one Ted got from the Boeing Store.

Can't get over how much motorcycle (moped) they use in Taiwan.

They are every where!!

We did not made it to Dang Tai Fung last trip so we have dinner as our first meal in Taiwan.

Pork chop fried rice.

Pot sticker.  The food is as expensive here as in the States.

Sushi lunch on our second day.  Sister Chen to the left of Sister Wong will be serving in the Hawaii visitor center.  She just received her visa to the States and should be leaving Taiwan in a couple weeks.

The other two sisters in Sister Wong's apartment.

We used Friday as our P-day when we get to Taiwan and of course it rained all day!

Visit the church 

Visited Sister Wong's new convert baptism. Her name is Emily and her son is 9 years old named Edwin:  Emily & Winter = Edwin.

Any one interested at a "Family is forever" tie?  It is only US$13 each.

4 inches nut craved nativity scene - US $137



May be a second success in our match making business.  This couple is serving as YSA counselor in the Taiwan FSY.


On our way out, found this place so Ted can have his NTW $100 hair cut, it is about US $3.  The last one lasted him 8 weeks.

Grand baby # 7 = Macey Joan Varner

Grand baby # 7 - Macey Joan Varner made her debute on March 27, 2017.

Alicia called early in the morning Hong Kong time and said that she has some bleeding.  She had an appointment with the doctor and was told everything was okay.  She was 2 cm and 80% effaced.  Then through out the day, she continues to have mild contraction.  I told her if she could the baby in for another day or two, baby would be 37 weeks.  Then I got this text around 12 noon Hong Kong time, baby came very quickly.  They barely made it to the ER and she was born.

Stats:  36.9 weeks, 5# 15 oz, 17.5 inches long, born at 9:19 p.m

WE are so happy for the safe arrival of this little one.  I was listening to General Conference broadcast and one of the speaker mentioned that when he and his wife were serving as mission president, their son go invited to play at the Carnegie hall in New York. They prayed and his wife thanked Heavenly Father for this wonderful blessing but said that she was sad that she could not be there to support him.  She asked if it was Heavenly Father's will, they could have been there if he was invited before their mission or after their mission.  Then after the prayer, an answer came immediately:  "It is because of your service then he was invited.  Would you want to trade?"  This just brought such a comfort to me, both Courtney and Macey were born without having me around to help them with breast feeding and Ada made the comment that it is because of my service as a missionary that both baby seemed to just know exactly what to do and they have not had any problem with breast feeding issues at all.  This is just a little tender mercy for me because I really want to be their to help but I also know that Heavenly Father will help them!!

Here are some pictures:

A picture tour for the last mouth

Here more picture for our Defense museum trip:

Storm shelter in North Point for what used to be a boating community. Now it is more for luxury boats. 

The brown barrier is what is protecting the boats during typhoon and storm seasons.

What do you think we are doing?  Of course the answer is YES!!

This is a pano view of the harbour where they would fire the rocket!  It is so pretty out there!

Baby Courtney Greenhalgh turns 3 months.  She is growing way to fast!

This is Sarah Beckstead, one of the daughter of Elder & Sister Beckstead.  She is also the Millers' neighbor in Cedar Hills, UT

During the wedding in the previous post, we learned a tradition here in Hong Kong. Because Hong Kong government does not recognize temple ceremony, the new couple here has to be married civilly first by their bishop, they usually have a reception a "PIG" cutting ceremony.  They used this big chopper to cut into the pig and the chef finish and plate up the pig for the guests.  I happened to walk outside the reception hall and saw him cutting, cannot help myself taking pictures of him.  The skin were so crispy.  And the PIG were gone faster then the cake!!

Can you recognize young Elder Yan?

Art exhibit at the Hong Kong Cultural center, very talented artists with their impressive works!

A pano view of the art exhibit.  

Lehi's dream. A little girl and her mom stopped by and I had an opportunity to tell them the story of the tree of life.

This one is my favorite!  So much reminded me of little Abby, Haley, Madi and Mila!

This one is painted by a member in Taiwan.  There is picture inside a picture!  The people in the picture is looking at a picture of the Taiwan Temple.  I wouldn't mind having this one in my house.!

This one is taken by our PA director on one of his trip to Vietnam.  He just happened to have his camera out when he snap this.  I can see our Elders doing this thru town with children cheering them on!

Close up of my favorite picture!

Rachel in our office took this picture.  The light of Christ shining on this traveling car and the traveler, guiding them to navigate the rugged road!  Love the meaning behind this photograph!